IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  Institut  canadien  de  microreproducticns  historiques 

1980 


Technical  Notes  /  Notes  techniques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Physical 
features  of  this  copy  which  may  alter  any  of  the 
images  in  the  reproduction  are  checked  below. 


L'Instltut  a  microfilm*  le  mellleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Certains 
ddfauts  susceptibles  de  nuire  d  la  qualitd  de  la 
reproduction  sont  not6s  ci-des^ous. 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couvertures  de  couleur 


D 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 


D 


Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 


D 


Coloured  plates/ 
Planches  en  couleur 


D 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachetdes  ou  piqudes 


Show  through/ 
Transparence 


D 


Tight  binding  (may  cause  shadows  or 
distortion  along  interior  margin)/ 
Reliure  serr6  (peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou 
de  la  distortion  le  long  de  la  marge 
intdrieure) 


D 


Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 


D 


Additional  comments/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires 


Bibliographic  Notes  /  Notes  bibliographiques 


□ 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli*  avec  d'autres  documents 


D 
D 


Pagination  incorrect/ 
Erreurs  de  pagination 


Pages  missing/ 
Des  pages  manquent 


D 


Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


D 


Maps  missing/ 

Des  cartes  gdographiques  manquent 


D 
D 


Plates  missing/ 

Des  planches  manquent 


Additional  comments/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires 


The  ir/qges  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet6  de  I'exemplaire  filmd,  et  en 
conformit6  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  ea  :h  microfiche  shall 
contain  the  symbol  —►(meaning  CONTINUED"), 
or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"),  whichever 
applies. 

The  original  copy  was  borrowed  from,  and 
filmed  with,  the  kind  consent  of  the  following 
institution: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la  der- 
nidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le  cas: 
le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le  symbole 
V  signifie  "FIN". 

L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de  I'dtablissement  prdteur 
suivant  : 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


Maps  or  plates  too  large  to  be  entirely  included 
In  one  exposure  are  filmed  beginning  in  the 
upper  Ifift  hand  corner,  left  to  right  and  top  to 
bottom,  as  many  frames  as  required.  The 
following  diagrams  illustrate  the  method: 


Les  cartes  ou  les  planches  trop  grandes  pour  Stre 
reproduites  en  un  seul  clich6  sont  filmdes  d 
partir  de  Tangle  supdrieure  gauche,  de  gauche  d 
droite  et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombro 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Le  diagramme  suivant 
illustre  la  mdthode  : 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

C  O  M  P  L  E  T  E 


lilSTOKY  OF  ILLIHOIS 


FROM 


1673    TO    1873; 


ElVIBRACINa 


THE   PHYSICAL    FEATURES   OF   THE    COUNTRY;    ITS 

EARLY  EXPLORATIONS;  ABORIGINAL  INHABITANTS; 

FRENCH  AND  BRITISH  OCCUPATION  ;   CONQUEST 

BY  VIRGINIA;  TERRITORIAL  CONDITION  AND 

THE  SUBSEQUENT  CIVIL,  MILITARY  AND 

POLITICAL  EVENTS  OF  THE  STATE. 


BY 

ALEXANDER  DAVIDSON  AND  BERNARD  STUVE. 


SPRINGFIELD  : 

ILLINOIS  JOURNAL  COMPANY, 
1874. 


^L   /T)'^^    ■;  /J 


TABLE   or   OOXTET^TS. 


niAPTEU.  "  PAOE. 

I.  (iEOLOfiV  OF  ILLINOIS 1 

II.  TOE'OCJHAPHY,  HIVEltS,   SOIL  AND  CLIMATOLOGV. 

Ori^rin  of  tlio  I'liiirics:  'I'uhlc  of  Tomporatiiro  and  Rainfiill 14 

III.  ILLINOIS  ANTIQUITIES;   THE  MOUND  IJUlLDEllS 23 

IV.  THE  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS. 

Alyoniiuins  and  IrcKjuois;  Illinois  Coiifpflcrncy;  Saos  and  Foxps;  Kiekapoos; 
Maseoutiiis:  I'laiikisliaws:  I'ot  towataniios;  Art  of  Iluntiiin:  (ictu'ral  t'nnii- 
cili?;  Constitulinn  of  tlic  Indian  Family;  Methods  of  Sepultiiri';  llolipf 
ill  a  Fiitiiro  Slato;  Why  the    Iti'd  Kacc  sliould  give  way  to  the  White —    30 

V.  OPEKATIONS  OF  THE  MFSSlO.VAlilES-RXTENT   OF  THEIR  Olf-ltATTONS 

VI'  'I'O  ur,:(— The?  Froiu'li  on  tho  St.  Lawrence;  IjoSalle  Discovers  tha  Oliio    53 

VI.  EXPLORATIONS  BY   .TOLIET   AND   MARQUETTE-I(i73-1«;5 59 

VII.  EXPLORATIONS  IJY  LA  SALi-/ 

Tlie  (iriftin;   Fort  Crevc  Coeur  67 

VIII.  TONTPS  ENCOUNTER  WITH  THE   IROQUOIS 79 

IX.  FURTHER  EXPLORATIONS  RV  I, A  S.\LLE. 

His  IndiMii  (^llony  on  the  Illinois;  Discovers  the  Month  of  tlie  Mississippi  and 
talvcs  possession  of  all  the  (^ountry  in  the  name  of  tlie  Kinp  of  France; 
niiil<ls  Fort  St.  Lonls  on  Starved  Rock;  His  Color.y  in  Texas 01 

X.  1700-i;i0-ILLINOlS  A  DEPENCY  OF  CANADA  AND  PART  OF  LOUISIANA. 

The  Ciovcrniiiunt  a   Theocracy;  0[)er:itions  of  Crozat 108 

XL  niT-KVSl-ILLINOIS  AND  LOUIS!  .\NA  UNDER  THE  COMPANY  OFTHE  WEST. 

John  Law— His  liankiny  Opii-alions:  Tlic  Mississippi  Sclienu":  FonndiiiH:  of 
New  Oi-lians;  Mining.' for  the  Precious  Metals  in  Illinois;  The  Spaniards  via 
Santa  Fe  sctdc  tlu>  Conipiest  of  Illinois;  Tho.v  are  met  and  overwhelmed  by 
tlie  Missoiiris;  Fort  Cliartros  Iniilt;  F,.\terinination  of  the  Natchez;  Opera- 
tions of  the  Company  of  the  West  in  Illinois 115 


Xir.  lT:«-n5n-ILLINOTS  AND  LOUISIANA  UNDER  THE  ROYAL  C.OVERNORS. 

War  with  the  Chickasaws:  Itcath  of  C.ov.  D' Artiipuette;  Ccannicrce  of  Illi- 
nois; Milliners  and  customs  of  the  French  ;  C^ininioii  Field;  Common  ;  Inter- 
course with  the  Indians:  Avocation  and  Costiinio  of  the  People;  Mode  of 
Admliiistcrintr  the  Law:  Operations  of  the  Ohio  Conn)any  ;  Fort  l)u(.!ue8ne; 
M.  DeVilliers  of  Fort  Cliartres  defeats  the  Virjiinians  at  the  (ireat  Meadows; 
War  between  the  French  and   English  Colonists PH 


IT  TAIUJ',  OF  CONTKN'I'H. 


XIII.  IT.V.i-lTtU^TIlK  CONSI'IUaCV  OF  PONTIAC;   ATTACK   UI'OX  DKTUOIT. 

])i;-tni(ti<m  (il  tho  Uiltlsh  Posts  uiitl  Sfttkincnttf 137 

XIV.  SIWiK  or  DK'I'UOIT;  PONTIAC   tlALLIllS  TIIK   WESTKIIN  TUIIIES. 

Ills  Suliinlssion  and  Di'iitli ICO 

XV.  ILLINOIS  A.S  A   MUITLSII   I'H(?VIX(n:. 

I'lirtliil  exodus  of  tlic  Ki't'iich;  Their  dislike  of  Knurl  Isli  liiiw.and  tlie  restorntion 
of  I  heir  own  by  t  lie  C^tuebee  Dili:  l.iind  (JiinitH  by  llriiish  Coniiimndiints; 
("urious  IniliMii  Deeds;  Coniiitioii  of  I  lie  Settleiiieiils  in  17il.'i.  by  Ciipt.  Pitman; 
Itriidys  and  MeillutsH  lOxiieditioiis  to  the  St.  .Joseph  in  ITTT-l'iVH l&^ 

XVI.  ('O.NQUEST  OF  ILLINOIS  ItV  GKOUGE  KOGEUS  CLAUK IT;) 

XVII.  CLAltK  OIITAINS  POSSESSION  OF  VINCENNES. 

'I'rfatie.s  with  the  Indiuns;  Vinceiines  fulls  into  the  huiulsof  tho  English  aud 
Is  recaptured  by  ('lurk 184 

XVIII.  17T8-i:K7-ILLIN<tlS  rNDEU   VIlUilMA. 

The  Freneh  tiike  tlie  Ualh  of  Allegiaiiee;  Illiilois  County;  Anioriean  Iiniui- 
Ki'unts:  LiiHulnie'a  E.\iieditioii;  The  (-'ession  of  the  Country  and  Delays 
Incident    thereto;  No  UeKular  Courts  of  Law;  Curious  Lund  Speculation.  'Mi 

XIX.  ILLINOIS  rXDKUTllKCOVEUNMKNT  OF  THE  NOUrinVI>T  TEUHITOKY. 
Ordinance  of  1T8T:  OrBani/.atinii  of  St.  Clair  County ;  liar  of  Illinois  in  17!K);  f  lu- 

poverished  condition  of  the  French;  Indian  Hostilities,  17Ki  to  17!!,");  UuntioliiU 
County;  American  IniniiKratioin  Sickness;  Territorial  Assembly  ut  Cincin- 
nati; Notnblfj  Women  of  Olden  Time;  Witchcruft  in  Illinois.   ~10 

XX.  IKIO  ISOii-lLLINOIS  AS  PAUT  OF  THE  INDIANA  TEUUITOUY. 

Its  ()rt;anizalion;  Extinguishment  of  Indian  Titles  to  Lands;  (iov.  Harrison's 
Facility  in  this;  Land  Speculations  and  Frauds  on  Improvement  HiKhts  and 
Headrlghts;  Meeting  of  the  Legisluturc  at  VincenDes  in  ISOo;  Statutes  of 
1,«07 ~'32 

XXI.  180!)-1LLINOIS  TEIUUTOUY. 

Opposition  to  divi.^ion;  .lesse  1!.  Tlioiiiiis;  Gov.  Fdwards;  Nrtthaniel  Pope;  Ter- 
ritorial Federal  .Iud(res;The  (iovernor  avoids  the  mealies  of  the  Separa- 
tionists  and  Aiui-Seperalioiiists;  Condition  and  Poiiulatimi  of  the  Territory.  L'U 

XXII.  TNDTAN     TROmLES    IN    ILLINOIS     PUECEDlNCr     THE     WAR    OF    1813. 
The  Country  put  in  a  State  of   Defence  by  theoivanizutioii  of  KauKinM;  Coin- 

]iuniesaiiil  the  biiildiiiM:  of  Mlock  Ilousesand  Stockade  Forts;  Gov.  Edwards 
sends  tin  envoy  to  (.iomo's  Vilhijie;  Hattic  of  Tippecanoe;  Indian  Cotincil  at 
Cohokia.... 247 

XXTIL  THE  MASSACHR  AT  CHICAGO;  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  PLACE 200 

XXIV.*ILLINOtS  IN  THE  WAUOF  1812. 

Gov.  Edwards's  Military  Camp»i<rii  to  Peoria  Lake;  Gen.  Hopkins  with  2,000 
Mounted  Iventueky  liitlemen  niarc'.ies  over  the  iirairiesof  Illinois;  His  force 
Mul  inies  and  p.arehes  back;  (.'apt.  Craifr  burns  I'eoria  and  taUfs  all  its  iiihabi- 
t;ints  prisoners;  Second  Expedition  to  Peoria  Lake;  Indian  Murders;  Illinois 
and  Missouri  send  two  expeditions  up  the  Missouri  in  1H14:  Their  IJatllos  and 
Disasters ..  36S 

XXV.  CIVIL  AFFAIRS  OF  THE  ILLINOIS  TEKHITORY  FROM  1S12  TO  1818. 

Meetiiifj  of  tho  LeLM.sliiturc;  The  Members;  Laws:  Conflicts  between  thoLepis- 
liiture  and  ,Iudici;iry;  (furious  Acts;  Territorial  ISiinks;  Commerce;  First 
Steutubouts;  Pursuits  of  the  People 283 


TABLE  OF    JONTKNTS.  V. 


XXVI.  OUflANIZATION  OF  THK  KTATr:  fiOVKIJNMrNT. 

AdmiriistiMlloii  cif  (»(i>-.  Hoiid;  Our  Noitlicrn  Hoiiiidiiry;  First  Constitutional 
CiiiivontlDii  iiiiilsdniPlliinKiil'ilic  iiisl  nnnciil  friimod;  (iov.  H(ind;Llciit.-(i()V. 
M(!niird;  Mci-tintf  of  tlii^  liUKislutiire  and  eK'etion  oC  State  Olllccrs;  First 
Supreiin;  Court;  llurj  Tinica  and  First  Stuto  liuiik;  Orifuuization  of  Courts.  205 

XXVII    AI>MlN'ISTUATION   OF  COV    COLKS, 

A  ri'siinic  (it  lSiuv(!ry  In  Illinois  from  Its  oarlltmt  dnto;  Indentured  Slaves 
nUu'k  Laws;  Life  and  Cliaractor  of  Gov.  Coica;  The  effort  to  make  Illinois  a 
Sl;.ve  State  in   IHUi 1309 


xxvrrr.  miscrli^anfofs  mattfus. 

Liui.-^lative— HcorKanl/.ation  of  the  .luillclaryjChief  Justice  Wilson;  Hubbard 
as  (lovernorad  intcriin;  l'o)iiilnti(>n  of  1M:.'U;  Visit  of  Layfnyette 328 


XXtX.  AnMrNISTRATrONOFCSOV.  ETIWAUDS. 

CanipalHii  of  isr'il;  Tlic  (iidieriiiitorial  faniMdates;  Contest  between  Daniel  P. 
Cook  and  Joscidi  Dinican  I'di-  C.inM:i'e.>JS:  Cliaiaeter  of  Fdwards' speeches;  His 
cliarHres  aijrainst  the  State  liaidc  Oiliceis  and  r«sult  of  tln^  iniiuiry  into  their 
cmidiiet;  itepeal  of  the  I'lreuit  Court  System;  (Jov.  I'ldwaivls  claims  for  the 
Stute  title  to  all  ))uhlie  lands  within  her  limits 335 

XXX.  ISW— A  HKTUdSPECT. 

Advance  of  the  settlements:  Note;  Galena,  its  early  history;  Orlsrln  of  the 
term  "Sucker:"  DouRlas"  humorous  a<'coinit  of  it;  Trials  and  troubles  ot 
I'ionijers  in  new  counties;  Fiiropean  (Jolonist;  Financial  condition  of  the 
State;  Trade  and  Commerce;  Farly  Mail  Itoutea;  Newspapers  and  Literati; 
Politics  of  the  Pjople;  Militia  System 340 

XXXI.  AOMIXISTUaTION  of  (iOV.  lilOYXOLDS. 

The  riubunaitorial  Candidates;  Their  Lives  and  Characters;  The  Campaign; 
The  Witrjrins'  Loan;  Impcachuient  of  Supremo  .]u>.t?e  Smith;  W. L.  T).  Ewinp 
Governor  for  15  days 303 

XXXn.  riLACK  HAWK   WAlt. 

Winnebajro  Tlostllilif s;  Indians  unable  to  resist  the  encroachments  of  the 
Miners;  Coalition  with  the  Sioii.v;  Attack  on  a  steamboat;  Comiielled  to  sue 
for  Peace. 

a.  Sai  s  and  Foxes;  Mlackhawk;  Keokuk;  Sac  Villay-cs;  Invasion  of  the  State; 
Militia  an<l  Key  ulars  brought  into  renuisition ;  March  to  the  scene  of  danf;er; 
Black  Hawk  compelled  to  enter  into  a  treaty  of  peace 370 


XXX 1 11.  1833-SFC(1NT)  CA]*1PAIGX  OF  THF  WAIL 

ULiekhawk  induced  by  White  Cloud  to  recross  the  Mississippi;  Uefnses  to  obey 
the  order  of  Gen.  Atkinson  to  return  ;  State  forces  reorfranized;  March  to 
Kock  Hiver  and  unite  witi,  the  lieM-tilars:  Army  proceeds  up  the  river  In 
pursuit  of  the  enemy;  Hatflo  of  Stillman's  Uun;  Call  for  fresh  troops;  The 
old  forces  disbanded , 381 


XXXTV.  183,?-TITTnT»  CAMPAIGN  OF  TUF,  WAR. 

ileiiuisition  foradditional troojis;  Attack  on  AppleCreek  Fort;  Capt.Stophena' 
Kiicounter  with  the  Indians;  Orji-anlzation  of  the  New  Levies;  IJattle  of 
Kcllojj;,!?"s  Grove;  liattle  of  the  Wisconsin 390 


XXXV— 1S32— CT-OSF  OF  Till';  WaU. 

Pursuit  of  the  Indians;  Uattle  of  Rad  Axe  :  Arrival  of  Gen.  Scott  ;  Troat- 
ieswith  the  Indians;  Eastern  tour  of  the  Prisoners;  Death  of  Black  Hawk.  401 


Vf.  TAUIJ';   dl''   ('()NTi:-SlS. 


jVv 


X 


AX.Wl-  l«ll-lH!s-Al)MINI.'^TItATION  OF  CiOV.  DUNCAN. 

'llic  ('aiii|ialKii ;  l.iti!  mill  ('liitiaiti'i' nl' Diiiu'iiii ;  Mmi'  Stati.' llmiUs  aiiJ  wlnit 
lic<>aim;  (iT  llioiii ;  i^luvory  Anilal  ion  li.v  I,ii\  cjoy  ;  liiMluutli 4Ili 

XXXVri-STATK  INTKKXAI,  IMVUoVKMK.NT  SVS'I'EM 4X1 

XXXIII— IKW-IKJS—ADMlMSTHATKtN  OK (i()\  .  C'AKLIN. 

('oiitimiaiice  ol'  ilic  siilijcct  <il'  Iiilui  iial  Iiii|iri)\  (.■riii'iit ;  (.'DlUipco  ol'  the  ^^lainl 
sjsUMii;  llui'il  TiiuL's;  ItucirKaiiizaliuii  or  lliujudifiarj  in  IsU 441 

XXXIX-IS4^;-lH4(!-Al)MlMSTIiA'l'l()N  OI'  (JOV.  1-U!il). 

Tin-  (-'aiiipai)fn;  liile  ami  cliaiiuter  of  Gov.  ImjiU;  Ll .  Ociv.  Moor;  Mi'ans 
of  lltdiL'l' ti'om  l''iiiaiU'ial<iiil)Mrras»inciits;  Thu  Stalo  at  tlio  tiiniiii'i-  point; 
Ik'storatlon  ol'  her  cn.'clil 4ti.' 

XL-TIIKU.r,INOIS  AND  MKilKiAN  CANAL. 

Trials  a     1  troiiblt-s  inuidciil  to  its  coast  iiu'tioi; 474 

XLl-IH40-4--M(mMONSOli  I.A'ITKK  DA  V  SAINT.-?.  ' 

,loL>  Siiiitti  :  I'loplu'tic  iiilHsiiin  ;  Followcis  iciiio\i;  to  Mls.soiii'l  ;  E.vpul.-lon 
I'fom  tliu  Statu  :  ><cttl('iiiciit  in  llliiiois:  Olitio.vjons  Nmii\i)o  (tliartt.'f  aiulof- 
(lliiitiicca;  Ari't'st  anil  aciniitlal  of  Smilh  ;  His  asfassiimlion 4Wi 

XMI— lS44-ft-M01!MO>  'VAR. 

.MamuTof  Siiiitli's  dialli:  Chai'acfur  of  tlii'  .\Ioniioiis  ;  Aposllis  nssunio  the 
(;oven'"iciit  of  llic  Cliiircli  ;  Trial  ami  ami  afiiuittal  of  thu  assa.'s.siiis  :  Saints 
(Irivoti  Iroin  the  vicinity  of  Lima  ami  (Ircua  I'lains  ;  LcaiUnw'  Moiiiioiis  re- 
tire across  the  Mi.ssisslppl;  Italtluut  Naiivoo;  E.vpiilsioii  oftlie  luliabitants..  50H 

XLITI-ILLINOISIN  TIIK  MEXICAN  WAR 5r.':i 


XI,!V-CONSTITrTIOXAL  CONVENTION  OK   1S4T,  AND  SOMETIIINC.   OF  THE 

ORGANIC  LAW  FRAMED  liV  IT 54:5 


.'.YA  XEV-1840-]8r.L'-ADMINTRTRATIONOFGOV.  FliENCH. 
-'•     .  Lives  ami  cluiractorof  the  Ciiibernaloi'ial  (".imliilates  :  FiiiiditiK  of  tlio  State 

..     '  (lcl)t ;    Refusal  of  the  people  lojfi\c  the  Lc'sri.-^iat  lire  control  of  the:.'  iiiill  tax; 

•■  (  ^  Township  oiK^mization  :    Homestead  F.xeniption  ;  1'lie  Hloody  Island  Dil<e 

..~\  <  ■  andiispockol  War  ;  State  i)olicy  rcfrardinjr  railroads  551 

*  XLVI— THE  ILLINOIS  CENTRALRAILROAD. 

Conj-resfsional  t>nuit  of  land;  iloldlirook  ('liiiiter  ;  Hondholcler's  sctieine  ;  The 
^               T  per  cent,  of  its  gross  earniiijrs;  I'a.^sufio  of  its  (Iliaiter;   Iteiielits  tlu!  (,'oiu- 
\             pany ,  the  State,  and  individinds;  Note;  Jealousy  of  polliieiansoii  accouutof 
\  its  glory  J  Correspondenc  of  Jlessis.  Ihcese  and  Douglas 5*1 

XLVI  1-OIJR  FREE  on  STOCK  HANKS. 

How  a  liiink  mi'-'ht  be  started ;  The  siniill  note  net;  Panic  of  l.S.")4:  Revulsion 
of  18.J7;  WindiiiK  up 58o 

XLVIIT—18.in-18r)7— ADMINISTRATION  OF  COV.  MATTESON. 

Demiicratie  ami   Wliijr  (;;(]nventions;  Sketches  of  the  Cubernatorial  candi- 
•.     .   '               dates;  Financial  condition  and  physical  developnient  of  the  State;  Lejiisla- 
,^(                     tion  lK")3-5;  Maine  Law  and  riot  at  Chicu^'o;  (Jiir  coniimm  Schools  and  trials 
•  ■'  in  the  estiiblishmcnt  of  the  Free  School  system 50!) 

,       *  XLIX-DTIELSINILLINOIS  AND  ATTEMPTS  AT  DUELS. 

'^-  Affairs  of  honor  and  personal  dilllcultics, 618 


TABLE  OF  CONTKNTS.  VII. 


L-18:.!.'-lHr.il-()|{(iANr/,ATION  OFTUn  ItEPrUI-ICAN  PAUTY. 

Tlio  Illinois  Wiliiiot  Tn»\  Iso;  DissDlutioiiol  llic  Wliitfimrty;  Itcpi-iil  of  tlio 
Mo.  (^mlpl•omi^:u;  IiiIciisl- politlcul  IVclintr;  DoiijrliiH  denied  Irtc  speech  i« 
Cliiciit-'o:  Kno\viiotliinnisin:  Deiuociiitie  imd  lleinililieiiii  t'oiiventioiis  of 
lH."iti;  Kesiilt  of  tlio  uiiiupiiiu-ni  Liiicolr  .pica  foi-  Imnuouy  at  tlio  Chleiino 
Imnipiet •*•'" 

Ll-l,s57-18til--Al)MIMSTUATION  OF  (iOV.  lUSSKL. 

Life  and  elmi-aetcr  of  tlio  (Joveriior.  (iross  iittnek  >ipon  liini  in  tlio  l,e;flshi- 
turu  on  iiceoimt  of  Ills  ducliiDf  iill'iilr,  Tnrlnilenee  of  piiily  strife  and  want 
ofolllclal  eouitesy,  Ulsvrniueful  action  in  oirani/iiiK  the  house,  Apportion- 
ment bills  of  IWiT-lt,  Citnul  serip  fraud,  'I'lio  Macalister  and  Steliliiiis 
bonds •'•■'" 

L1I--0UH  SIOXATOHS  IN  COXGUESS. 

Tliulr  lives  and  clmnicters;  .Senatorial  contest  between  Lincoln  and  Douglas 

iu  1858 vrs 

Uir--lKtll-lsii.-,-AT)MIMSTl{ATtON  (1K  GOV.  YATES. 

I'ai-ty  eon  ,  eiitions  of  LS.'hJ;  'I'he  two  Kreat  labor  sy.stoms  of  the  eountry  in  di- 
rect iintagonlsni;  Life  and  character  of  Gov.  Yates;  Lieut.  Gov.  H<jtt'nuin  ; 
Condition  of  th(!  State  and  coinparativi!  ifrowtli  since  1850 71G 

LIV-TLWXOIS   IXTlIi:  WAR  OF  THE  UEIlKLtiloX. 

felavery;  Sectional  antagonism  ;  Keces.sion;  Inauguration  of  Lincoln;  Call  tor 
volunteers!  Proclamation  of  Gov.  Yates;   Uprislugof  tUo  people T32 

LV~18tU-W.I--lLr;INOIS  IN  TIIEUEIJELLTON. 

Unprecedented  siicee.su  in  furnishing  men;  Patriotic  efforts  of  women ;  Mil- 
itary operations  within  the  State '•33 

L\'I"18t;i-:.'- ILLINOIS  IN  MISSOUIU. 

IJattlesoV  Lexliitfton,  iMonroo.  Charleston,  Frcderlclttown,  P.clniont  and  Pea 
HUlgo "M 

LVII-lSfil-li-ILLINOTS  ON  THE  CUJIHEULAND,  TENNESSEE  AND  MISSISSIPPI. 
Uattles  of  Forts  Henry  and  Donclson  ;  Capture  of  Columbus,  New   Madrid 
and  Island  No.  10 , 757 

L\  III"]8C,3~TLIiTNOIS  IX  XOIITHERN  MTS.SISSTPPI  AND  ALAHAMA. 

Uattluof   I'lttsburar  Landint;;  Mitchell's  caiupaisu;  Sicsc  of  Corinth 709 

lix-i8iv.'-illtn0isin  kentucky,  noutheun  mississippi  and  middle 

tfaxe.'^s,:e. 

Uattles  cf  Perry  ville,  Bolivar,  Britton's  Lane,  luka,  Corinth  and  Stone  Uivor.  785 

LX--18fla  3-TLLTNOIS  IN  THE  VICKSnUKO  CAMPAIGNS. 

Movements  on  the  Jtlssissippi,  Battles  of  Cotfeevillo,  Holly  Sprinj?.",  Par- 
ker's Cross  Uoads,  Chickasaw  Bayou  and  Arkansas  Post 7i)U 

LXI-18B3-TLMNOIS  TX  THE  vrCKSBUHO  CAMPAIGNS, 

Battles  of  Port  (iilison,  Raymond,  .lackson,  Champion  Hills  and  Black  Rivor  : 
Oricrson's  Raid  ,  Siege  and  capture  of  Vicksburg- 811 

■  -.4- 

LXII-ILLINOIS  IN  THE  CHATTANOOGA  CAMPAIGN. 

Buttles  of  Chieamauga,  Wauhatcbie,  Lookout  Mountain  and  Mission  Ridgo  , 
Relief  oi  Knoxville 835 


VIII  TABLE  01<'  CONTENTS. 


lu\lir--im  -IM-INOIS  I.\  TIIK  ATLANTA  AM)  NASHVIU,H('AMI'.\ir,\S. 

llattlcM  (,r  I{,,,ky  iac(!  .Mmiiiniiri,  Uisiicii,  Niw  II(i|.l'  Cliiiicli,    IVacli  Tree 
Creek,  Atluiilii,  .loiieslmro,  Alatooiiu.Sin-liiK  Hill,  Frunkllii  uikI  Niwlivllle.. .  KKl 

LXIV--l»(M-5--ILU\()|S  IN  THK  .MKIllDtAN  CAMPAIGN. 

iu;i>|{ivi:h  ii.M'kdition,  kkdcctkinok  Momi-KtsiiKitM  vn'sm  vitcn 

Tu  Tin;  SKA;  KMDrcTIl  >.\  ( >K  W||.Ml.\(iT()\  ;  M.AItCIl  Tlll((ir(il*l  Till.; 
CAUOMXASi  CLOSE  OF  Tl  IK  W'AU  .... 

* • nui 

LXV--J'(  )LrnCA  L  AND  PAUTV  A  FKAIIIS  DUIUNO  THK  HKHKLLION 

8("ntlm..nts()ftl,o  Illinois  D.Muocnu'y  in  tlu^  winter  ,.r  l.sco-l ;  |'utii..tic  focllna 
on  (h..  l.ivakhm:  out  „f  iM.Mllltk.s  Irn'spcctlvc  or  ,,u.ty  as  Inspir,.,!  by 
l>()iiKlas;  licvivHl  of  imi-tlsan  loulinjf;  Constltullonal  ConviMitioii  of 
IWWi  Its  liiuhi.fcti.nsl.ms,  Conlllct  with  the  (iovcrnor.  Sotnc  lc.atuii..s  of 
tlif  liistiiinuM.t  liaiiKMl,  it  l,c.o.Mnus  a  party  •.,casiiio,  Tlio  vote-  upon  It- 
Party  Con  vent  ions  of  |h,i;.';  TIio  last  Dcniocrati,'  L(.«lslatnro  ;  Frauds  in  pnss- 
iiiK  iMlls  ;  Uui'-lion  aniouH-  tliu  people  against  tlio  I'eaee  movement  •  Military 
arrests;  Suppressing  tli(.  Cliiiaxo  V/mcs;  .Seeret  I'olitieo-Military  Societies- 
henw.eratie  mass  Convention  ol'  .lune  ITtli,  IWlli,  Hepubliean  mass  Conven-^ 
tion.Sept.,  im;  Peace  meetinKS  ollwU.     Notc--Cl.ioa«()  Con8i>iruey 806 

LXVI--Ar)MINISTllATI()N  OF  COV.  OCLKSHr. 

Hepubliean  nnd  nemoenitio  Slate  Conventions  of  1H«1;  Lives  and  ohni-neter  of 
OHiesby  and  Hmss;  Prosperity  and  eoii.Iition  of  the  Slate  duririK  tlie  U(d)el- 
lion;  Lei-'islation.  political  -.-.ml  special,  in  iHtr.-T;  H  mrd  of  K,,uali/,atioa 
established;  Location  of  the  A«:rieultural  Collejre!  Illinois  Capilais  and 
their  removal;  History  of  the  Peintentiary , ^~ 

LXVII-lKCfl-'Tli-ADMIXISTKATION  OF  GOV.  PALMEIL 

Kepublleanand  l)em<,eratic  State  Conventions,  Life  and  character  of  Oov 
Palmer,  Legislation,  the  ta.v  jrrabbinK  law,  Lak^  Front  bill,  \e    The  Con- 
stilutiononSTO,  The  jrreat  Chicago  lire 9„j, 

Clia])tor.s  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  0,  7,  S,  9,  10,  11,  12,  1.'},  14,  Ki,  17,  32,  33, 
34,  35,  41,  42,  54,  55,  56,  57,  58,  5f),  (50,  fil,  02,  03,  04;  the  Dciitl.  of 
Lovcjoy  in  30,  luid  ''Note,  Conspiracy  of  Chicago,"  in  05,  have 
been  written  by  ^Fr.  Davidson. 

Cliai)tors  io,  IS,  10,  20,  21,  22,  23,  21,  25.  20,  27,  2S,  20,  30,  31, 
30,  37,  38,  30,  40,  43,  44,  45.  40,  47,  4S,  4!»,  50.  51,  52,  5;5,  05,  00  and 
07,  have  been  written  by  Mr.  Stuve. 


PREFACE. 


Altlioiiyli  Illinois,  whose  ft'i'fissy  plains  liavo  l»coii  st.vk'd  llio 
Edc'ii  oftlui  new  world,  contains  tlic  oldest  pennaiioiit  setlk'nietits 
ill  the  Valley  of  the  MisslssiiJpi,  and  in  her  strides  to  empire  is 
destined  to  become  tlie  first  State  of  the  Uidoii,  her  his  has  been 
stranj-'ely  neglected.  Fragments  have  been  written  at  ditfcrent 
times  but  only  of  detached  periods  and  embracing  but  a  small 
part  of  tho  two  centuries,  which  have  elapsed  since  the  first  ex- 
])lorations.  To  supply  this  deficiency  and  furnish  a  history  com- 
niensiirato  with  her  present  advancement  in  power  and  civili/a- 
tion  is  the  object  of  the  present  work;  whether  it  has  been  accom- 
plished remains  to  be  seen. 

Not  having  taken  any  part  in  the  shifting  and  instructive  drama 
enacted  by  those  who  have  directed  the  affairs  of  State,  no  rank- 
liii;,'  jealousies  have  been  engendered  to  distort  conclusions ;  no 
niidiKi  predelections  to  warp  the  judgement,  treasures  have  been 
estimated  by  their  results;  men  by  their  public  acts.  While  no 
disposition  has  existed  to  assail  any  one,  it  must  be  remembered 
that  none  are  faultless,  and  to  speak  well  of  all  is  the  Avorst  of 
detraction,  for  it  places  the  good  and  the  bad  on  a  common  level. 

A  principal  aim  lias  been  to  render  the  the  Avork  complete.  A 
large  amount  of  matter  has  been  inserted  never  before  published 
in  connection  with  the  history  of  the  State;  yet  important  facts, 
though  familiar,  have  always  been  preferred  to  new  ones  of  minor 
significance.  The  main  consideration,  lioweA'er,  has  been  to  ren- 
der it  truthful.  In  the  wide  field  which  has  been  gleaned,  every 
available  source  of  information  has  been  carefully  consulted,  and 


"^^  PREFACE. 


it  is  believed  a  dej^ree  of  accunicy  lias  been  secured,  wliieli  will 
eoiiipare  fuvoiably  with  that  of  other  similar  eUbrts.  Still  there 
will  always  be  room  foi  imj)rovement,  find  any  corrections  which 
m-.y  be  otfered  by  parties  who  have  witnessed,  or  been  connected 
with  events  desc-ribed,  will  be  thanidully  received  and  inserted  in 
fntin-,  editions  of  the  work,  the  cbj"ct  being-  to  make  it  a  complete 
repository  of  relialde  facts  for  the  general  reader,  the  politician, 
tlie  lawyer,  and  all  who  may  wish  to  become  acquainted  with  the 
history  of  our  noble  State. 

To  the  nmny  in  different  parts  of  the  State,  who  have  furnished 
information,  or  aided  us  by  valuable  snogestions,  we  return 
our  thanks,  es])ecially  to  Messrs.  Kummel  and  Harlow,  Secretaries 
of  State,  for  the  use  of  public  documtuts,  and  to  the  proprietors 
of  the  State  Journal  and  State  lieokttr,  for  access  to  their  valua- 
ble flies. 

Spkinofikld,  Dec.  10th,  1873.      ,         ,  ,  ..   ,  .      •>        ... 


CnArTEK  I. 
GEOr.OGY  OF  TLLIXOIS. 


On  tlio  f>on]op:i('al  stmctiiro  of  a,  oouiitiy  dopoiul  the  pursuits  of 
its  iiili:il)it;iiits  and  tlic  in'cnins  of  its  civiliziition.  Aj^ricultni'c  is  tlio 
ont,yro  vtli  of  a  fci'tile  soil;  niinin;;'  I'csults  from  nii.icnil  resources; 
and  from  naviji'able  waters  si)riu<i'  navies  and  eoninier(;e.  ICvi'i-y 
jjreat  braneli  of  industry  requires,  foi-  its  suceessfnl  development, 
tlic  cultivation  ol"  kindi'ed  arts  and  sciences.  Phases  of  life  iind 
modes  of  thou.ylit  are  thus  induced,  whicli  <>ive  to  different  com- 
munities and  states  cliaracters  as  various  as  the  diverse  rocks 
that  underlie^  them.  Jn  lik(^  manner  it  miiy  he  shown  that  their 
moral  and  intellectual  <pndities  (h'|)end  on  material  conditions. 
AVliere  the  soil  and  subjacent  rocks  are  ])i'ofuse  in  the  bestowal  of 
we;dth,  man  is  indolent  and  elfeminate;  where  elfort  is  required  to 
1iv(>,  he  becomes  enlijihtened  and  virtuous;  and  where,  on  the  siinds 
of  the  desert,  labor  is  unable  to  i)rocure  the  necessaries  and  com- 
forts of  life,  lie  lives  a  savage.  The  civilization  of  states  and 
na^'inis  is,  then,  to  a  ji'i'eat  extent,  but  the  reflection  of  ])hysical 
conditions,  and  hence  the  ])ropriety  of  introdnciiiji'  their  civil,  ])olit- 
ieal  and  military  history  with  a  sketch  of  the  yeologieal  substruc- 
ture from  which  they  oriji'inate. 

(iKoLouY  traces  the  history  of  the  earth  back  through  successive 
stnges  of  dev(>lo])ment  to  its  rudinu'ntal  comlition  in  a  state  of 
fusion.  Si)eculative  astronomy  extends  it  beyond  this  to  a  gasccms 
state,  in  which  it  and  the  other  bodies  of  the  solar  system  consti- 
tuted a  nebnhuis  mass,  without  form  and  motion.  When,  in  the 
process  of  development,  motion  was  comnnuiicated  to  the  chaotic 
nuitter,  huge  fragments  Avere  detached  from  its  circumference, 
which  fcuMned  the  juimary  ])lanets.  These  retaining  the  rotary 
motion  of  th(^  sun,  or  central  nniss,  in  turn  threw  off  other  and 
smaller  fragmcMits,  thus  forming  the  secondary  planets,  as  in  the 
case  of  the  n)oon  which  attends  the  earth.  All  these  bodies  are 
similar  in  form,  liave  a  similar  motion  on  their  axes,  move  substan- 
tially in  a  common  plain  and  in  the  same  direction,  the  residt  of 
the  lu'ojectile  force  which  detached  thcMU  from  the  parent  nmss. 
These  facts  are  strong  evidence  that  the  sun,  and  the  planetary 
system  that  revolves  around  it,  were  oi'iginally  a  common  nmss, 
and  became  separatinl  in  a  gaseous  state,  as  the  want  of  cohesion 
among  the  ]>articles  would  then  favor  the  dissevering  force.  From 
the  loss  of  heat  they  next  passed  into  a  fluid  or  plastic  state,  the 
]ioint  in  the  history  of  the  eartli  where  it  comes  withiji  the  range 
of  geological  investigation. 

AVhile  in  tins  condition  it  became  flattened  at  the  polivs,  a  form 
duo  to  its  diurnal  rotation  and  the  mobility  of  its  particles.    At  a 


3  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


I'lii'tlicr  reduction  of  tciiipciattiR'  its  incited  disk  was  transformed 
into  a  crust  of  ij^iieons  rock.  A  j;reat  many  facts  render  it  almost 
certain  that  the  vast  nucleus  within  this  envelopin^^'  crust  is  still 
an  iucaudcscent  mass.  Comjiared  with  its  enoruu)ns  bulk,  the 
external  coxeiinji'  is  of  only  lllmy  thickness,  the  ratio  of  the  two 
bt'inf;:  as  the  l>ul]>  and  peel  of  an  (nan;;e.  In  this  world-cruciltlo 
arc  held  in  solution  the  (il  elementary  substances,  which,  variously 
cond»iuin,n,  produce  the  yreat  variety  of  I'oi'nis.  ener;.;ics  and  modes 
of  beiny,  which  diversify  and  enlivi'n  terrestrial  nature.  From  the: 
same  source  the  precious  metals  have  been  forced  into  the  fissures 
of  the  superincund)ent  rocks,  whither  the  miner  descends  and 
brinu's  tlicm  to  the  surface.  Volcanoes  are  outlets  for  the  tremen- 
dous tbrces  ycnerated  in  these  dei'p-scated  fires.  As  an  evidence 
of  their  eruptive  ])ower,  Vesuvius  sometimes  throws  jets  of  lava, 
rescnd)!inj;'  coliunns  of  flame,  1(I,(M>()  feet  in  hij^ht.  The  amount  of 
la\a  (jccted  at  a  siu,nle  eruption  from  one  of  the  vitlcanoes  of 
Iceland,  has  been  estimated  at  4(»,(M»0,(I00,(I(K>  t(»ns,  a  ([nantity  sulii- 
cient  to  covtM'  a  lari^c  city  with  a  mountain  as  hi,i;h  as  the  tallest 
Alps.  liy  the  jtnK'ess  of  congelation,  which  has  never  ceased, 
the  rocky  crust  which  rests  on  this  internal  sea  of  tire,  is  now 
supposed  to  be  from  thirty  t(»  forty  miles  in  thickness.  The  outer 
or  upper  portion  of  it  was  the  most  universal  jicolouical  formation, 
and  constituted  the  ihtorsof  the  primitive  oceans.  The  rocks  com- 
])osiii,ii'  it  ar(>  dcsij;nated  unstratiiied,  because  they  occur  inirre,iiular 
masses,  and  iuueous  from  havinj;'  oriiiinally  been  melted  by  intense 
heat.  The  \ast  cycle  of  time  extendiny'  thr((U<ih  their  formation 
and  reachinji'  down  to  the  introduction  of  life  on  the  ;;lobe,  consti- 
tntcs  the  Azoic  lujc.  The  earth's  surface,  consisting  of  ari<l  wastes 
and  boilin.i''  Avaters,  and  its  atmosphere  reekin;i'  with  jxason'ous 
j^ascs.  were  wiioUy  incompatible  with  the  existence  of  ]tlaiits  and 
aiiinuds.  Jiy  the  continued  radiation  (»f  heat  the  nucleus  within 
the  hai'dened  crust  C(»ntracted,  and  the  latter,  to  achipt  itself  to  tho 
diminished  bulk,  folded  into  huj^c  corru.ijations,  forminj>'  the  prim- 
itive mountaiti  chains  and  the  first  land  that  appeared  above  tlu? 
face  of  the  waters.  The  upheaval  of  these  vast  plications  was 
attended  with  depressions  in  other  parts  of  the  surface  eonstitntins: 
the  valleys  and  basins  of  the  original  rivers  and  oceans.  Through 
the  aucncy  of  water  the  ui)lifted  masses  were  disinte^nrated  and  the 
resulting  sediment  swept  into  the  extended  depressions.  Here  it 
settled  in  ])arallel  layers  and  constitutes  the  stratified  rocks.  In 
S(»me  localities  these  are  entirely  waidin.n',  in  others  many  miles  in 
depth,  wliile  their  uveraye  thickness  is  supposed  to  be  from  six  to 
ei,i;ht  miles. 

The  plain,  separatinf>-  tho  stratified  from  the  unstratifled  rocks, 
runs  parallel  with  the  oldest  i»art  of  the  earth's  crust.  AVheu 
solidification  commenced  it  was  the  surface,  and  as  induration 
advanced  toward  the  centre  the  crust  thickened  by  increments  on 
the  inside,  and,  therefore,  the  most  recently  formed  ij^neons  rocks 
are  the  farthest  behnv  thi^  surface.  Stratification  connnenced  at 
the  .same  plain  and  extended  in  an  u]»ward  direction,  and  heniie- 
the  most  recent  dejiosits  are  nearest  the  surface,  when  not  displaced 
by  distui'l»iu,n'  causes. 

In  the  silent  de]»tlis  of  the  stratified  roitksare  the  fornu'r  creations 
of  plants  and  animals,  which  lived  and  died  durin,i>'  the  slow, 
diayyiny  centuries  of  their  formation.     These  fossil  remains  are 


GEOLOaT. 


1V;i,uiii('iits  of  liistoi'v,  wliicli  (Miiiblc  tlic  jiToloyist  to  ONtciid  liis 
i('S'';n'('li<'si'ai'  buck  iiitotlic  rciiliiis  of  tlic  ]tiist,  iiiid  not  only  dotcr- 
minc  tlu'iv  fovnicr  modes  ol'  life,  l)iit  stndy  tlic  contcniijoi'iuicon.s 
liistory  of  tlicir  rocky  beds,  iind  yroni)  tlicni  into  systems.  I'lio 
iossililcroiis  rocks  iirc  not  only  of  ii'rcat  thickness  but  iVciiueiitly 
tlieir  entire  structure  is  an  a^<;re;iation  of  cemented  shells,  so 
nnnierous  that  millions  of  them  occur  in  a  sin.yh'  cubic  foot.  Such 
has  been  the  i)rofusion  of  lil'e  that  the  i;reat  limestone  formations 
of  the  ju'lobe  consist  mostly  of  animal  remains,  cemented  by  the 
infusion  of  minei'al  ma'.ter.  A  hw^v  part  of  the  soil  s]>rea(l  over 
the  earth's  surface  has  been  elaborated  in  animal  orj^anisms.  First, 
as  nourislunent,  it  enters  the  structiu'c  of  plants  and  forms  vej^ct- 
able  tissue.  Passiuin'  tli('i!c(>  as  food  into  the  animal,  it  becomes 
endowed  with  life,  and  when  <leath  occurs  it  I'ctnrns  to  the  soil  and 
imparts  to  it  additional  ( lemenfs  of  fei'tility.  Thedilferent  systems 
of  stratifu'd  rocks,  as  determined  by  their  organic  remains,  are 
usually  denominated  Aj>es  or  Systems, 

Tlir  Idiirruthni  Si/sloii  or  A(/r  is  the  lowest,  and  therefore 
the  oldest,  of  the  stratified  seri<'s.  I'rom  the  eifects  of  j^reat 
heat  it  has  assunu'd,  to  sonu'  extent,  the  chaiacter  of  the  ij;neous 
rocks  below,  but  still  retains  its  ori;iinaI  lines  of  stratiticatiou.  A 
])riiicipal  effect  of  tlu'  .yreat  hear  to  which  its  ro<'ks  were  exjtosed 
is  crystali/.ation.  Ci-ystals  are  IVequeiitly  formed  by  art.  but  the 
most  beautiful  s])ecimens  are  the  ]»roducts  of  nature's  lalxuatoiies, 
<lee])-seated  in  the  crust  of  the  earth.  The  Laurentian  system 
was  formei'ly  su])posed  to  l»e  destitut*^  of  orj^ainc  lemaius,  but 
recent  investi.i;atioiis  have  lead  to  the  discovery  of  animals  so  low 
in  the  scale  of  or};anization  as  to  be  re,s>'arded  as  the  first  ai)pear- 
ance  of  senti<'nt  existence.  This  discovery,  as  it  extends  theoiijiiu 
of  life  backward  throuf;h  .">(),(»()(>  feet  of  strata,  may  be  lei^arded 
as  oni'  of  the  most  important  advances  made  in  American  ^colo-^y. 
Its  sui)posed  bejiinnin^",  in  a  considerabl<>  <le;nree  of  ad\ancement 
in  the  Silurian  system,  >vas  n'jiarded  by  y-eolo.n'ists  as  t<»o  abru]>t 
to  correspond  with  the^^'radual  develo])ment  of  tyjx'siu  subse(|uent 
strata.  The  discovery,  however,  of  these  incijtient  forms  in  the 
Laurentian  beds,  renders  the  descendinji  scale  of  life  comidi'te, 
aiul  vei'ilies  the  conjectures  of  physicists  that  in  its  earliest  dawu 
it  should  commence  with  tin  'uost  simi>le  orji'anisms. 

Tlic  lluronimi  Si/sfem,  like  the  one  that  i)reeedes  it,  and  on 
wliich  it  rests,  is  Jii<>hly  crystalline.  Althouiih  fossils  have  not 
been  found  in  it.  yet  from  its  i)osition  the  infei'ence  is  they  once 
existe<l.  and  if  they  do  not  now,  the  i^reat  transforminji'  power  of 
heat  hascaused  their  obliteration.  This,  and  the  subjacent  system, 
extend  from  Labradcu;  southwesterly  to  the  f>reat  lakes,  and 
thence  northwesterly  towaid  the  Ar<'tic  Ocean.  Theydeiive  their 
names  from  the  St.  Lawrence  and  Lake  Huron,  on  the  banks  of 
Avhich  are  found  their  ])rincipal  outcrops.  Their  emergence  from 
the  (M'can  was  the  birth  of  the  North  American  continent.  One 
face  of  theui)lift  looked  toward  the  Atlantic,  and  the  other  toward 
the  I'acitic,  tlius  preilyurinu-  the  future  shores  of  this  jireat  division 
of  the  i-lobe,  of  Avhich  they  are  the  .iicrm.  Kru])tive  forces  have 
not  operated  with  suHicient  ]»ower  to  iirin,n'  them  to  the  surface  in 
Illinois,  and  therefore  the  vast  stores  of  mineral  wealth,  which  they 
eontain  in  other  places,  if  they  exist  here,  are  too  deep  below  the 
surface  to  be  made  available. 


ni«TORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


The  ISiliiridH  Af/Cj  coinparcd  uitii  tlic  more  stiihlc  I'oniiations  of 
sul)S('(iii(iil  tiiiit's,  was  one  of  coiiiiiiolioii,  in  wliicli  fire  ant'  wator 
])lav»'»l  a  conspicnons  ])art.  Kartli(|nakcs  and  volcanoes  fitriowed 
the  ,vi('ldin<;-  ciiist  with  ridj^cs,  and  threw  np  islands  wliose  erajij;y 
sunnnits,  liere  and  tliere,  stood  like  sentinels  above  the  niniicy 
deep  whieh  <hisliod  ajiiiiiist  their  shores.  The  present  diversities 
of  cliniale  did  not  exist,  as  the  teinjK'ratnre  was  mostly  dne  to  tlu; 
escape  of  internal  heat,  wjiicli  ■was  the  same  over  every  i)art  of  the 
snrfaee.  As  tlic  radiation  of  lieat  in  fntnre  ajjcs  declined,  the  snn 
became  the  controlling'  ])ower,  and  /ones  of  climate  a])peared  jis 
the  resnlt  of  solar  doniination.  Uniform  thermal  conditions  impar- 
ted ;i  corresponding;'  character  to  vejictablt^  and  aninnU  life,  and 
one  nniversal  fanna  and  tloia  extended  from  the  etpuitor  to  the 
])oles.  These  hardy  marine  types  consiste<l  of  IJadiates,  MolhisUs 
and  Articnlates,  three  of  the  fonr  snb-kinii'doms  of  animal  life. 
Seiiweed,  which  served  as  food  for  the  animals,  was  the  only  plant 
of  which  any  traces  remain.  J)nrinf;'  the  Silnrian  age  North 
America,  like  its  inhabitants,  was  mostly  snbmarine,  as  proved  by 
wave-lines  (»n  the  emeri^in;;  lands,  Thei'e  lay  aloii};'  the  eastern 
border  of  tlie  continent  an  extendetl  ridge,  which  served  as  a  bn-ak- 
water  to  the  waves  of  the  Atlantic.  The  region  of  the  Alleghanies 
was  snbject  to  great  elevations  and  dei)ressions,  and  tlu^  lattei' 
largely  preponderating,  cansed  the  deposit  ol'  some  twelve  thousand 
feet  of  strata.  Although  mostly  under  water,  there  was  added  to 
the  original  nucleus  of  the  continent  formations  now  found  in  New 
York,  Michigan,  Illinois,  \\'isconsin  and  .Minnesota.  Niagara  lime- 
stone, a  Silurian  formation,  is  found  over  a  large  extent  of  country 
in  northern  Illinois,  beyond  the  limits  of  the  coal-fields.  It  is  a  com- 
pact gi'ayish  stoiu',  suscejjtible  of  a  high  polish,  and  at  Athens 
and  .loliet  is  extensively  (|narried  for  building  i>ur[)oses,  and 
slii])i)e<l  to  ditfcrent  parts  of  th«'  State.  The  new  Capitol  is  being 
erected  of  tliis  material.  Thedalena  linmstone,  another  Silurian 
dei»osit,  is  interesting,  from  the  fact  that  it  contains  the  lead  and 
zinc  ores  of  the  State.  St.  Peters  sandstone  belongs  also  to  the 
sam(>  system.  Besides  outcropping  in  a  nund)er  of  other  localities, 
it  a])pears  in  the  blnlfs  of  the  Illinois,  where  it  forms  the  island- 
like plateau  knitwn  as  Starved  Kock.  Jn  souh>  localities,  being 
eonii)osed  almost  entirely  of  silica  and  nearly  free  from  coloring 
matter,  it  is  the  best  material  in  the  West  for  the  manufacture  of 
glass. 

The  Deronian  Age  is  distinguished  for  the  introduction  of  Verte- 
brates, or  the  fourth  sub-kingdom  of  aninuU  hfe  and  the  begiiuiing 
of  terr(\strial  vegetation.  The  latter  appeared  in  two  classes,  the 
highest  of  the  tlowerless  and  the  lowest  of  the  llowering  i>lants. 
The  Le]>idodendrou,  a  noted  instance  (»f  the  former,  was  a  nuijestic 
upland  forest  tree,  which,  during  the  coal  i)eriod,  grew  to  a  hight 
of  SO  feet,  ami  had  a  base  of  more  than  [\  feet  in  diameter, 
lieautifid  spiral  llutings,  coiling  in  opposite  directions  and  crossing 
each  other  at  lix((l  angles,  carved  the  trunks  and  branches  into 
iliomboidal  eminences,  each  of  which  wa.s  scarred  with  the  mark 
of  a  falling  leaf.  At  an  altitude  of  (50  feet  it  sent  oif  arms,  each 
separating  into  bramihlets  covered  with  a  n<H'dle-like  foliage,  d«'s- 
titute  of  lloweis.  It  grew,  not  by  internal  or  (>xternal  accretions, 
as  ]»laii!s  of  the  ])resent  day,  but  like  the  buihling  of  a  monument, 
by  additions  to  the  top  of  its  trunk.     Mosses,  rushes  and  other 


GEOLOGV. 


(liiiiiimtivc  llowi'rk'ss  phiiits  arc  now  llu'  only  siii\  i\  iiii;  rt'iii'i'seu- 
T;ili\('  1)1"  lliis  cr.vpto^iiiinic  xcjLictiitioii.wliicli  so  largely  i>i('d<»iiiiiiii- 
t('(l  in  flic  early  botany  of  the  {ilohc.  Floral  bcanty  anil  Ira, franco 
•  were  not  cliaraclcristic  of  tlu'  old  I)(^vonian  woods,  ^'o  bird 
existed  to  enli\«'n  tlieir  silent  proves  with  son;^',  no  serpent  to  liis.s 
in  their  fenny  brakes,  noi'  beast  to  j)nrsne,  witii  hideons  yells,  its 
jtantin;;'  j)rey. 

The  vertel)rates  consisted  of  fishes,  of  wliicli  the  (lanoids  and 
IMacoids  were  the  ])rinci|»al  uronps.     Tlie  toi'iner  were  the  fortv 
rnnners  of  the  I'cpfilc,  which  in  many  rcspci  ts  f iicy  closely  jcsen)- 
'  bled.     They  embraced  a  larj;('  nnmber  of  species,  many  of  wliicli 

<irew  to  a  ^ipintic  size:  but  with  tlic  excejttion  of  tiie  li'ar  and 
sf iir.i;con,  they  have  no  livin.i;'  I'eprcsentafives.  The  I'lacoids, 
sf rii<;tnrally  formed  for  advancement,  sfill  remain  amoiij;-  tlio 
lii,!^hest  typos  of  tlie  present  seas.  The  shark,  a  noted  instance, 
juduinj;'  from  its  fossil  remains,  must  liaxc  aftaiiieil  l(M>  feet  in 
leii;4tii.  ilolh  ^■ron[)s  lived  in  the  sea.  and  if  any  fresh  water 
animals  «'\iste<l  tlieir  remains  have  (>ither  jjcrished  or  not  been 
found.  »So  nnmerons  were  the  i  diabitants  of  the  ocean,  that  tlnj 
Devonian  has  been  styled  the  aiic  of  fishes.  In  their  anafomical 
.stiiiclnre  Vtas  foresiiadowed  flic  orjiani/ation  of  man;  reptiles, 
birds  and  mammals  bein^'  the  internu'diate  gradations.  The  con- 
tinental sea  of  the  ])recediny'  aji'c  still  covereil  the  larger  jiurt  of 
ZSorth  America,  extendin,::'  far  norfhwest  and  opeiiinn'  sonth  into 
the  {inW  of  .Mexico.  In  its  shallow  basins  were  deposited  sand- 
stwiies,  shales  and  limestones,  which  westerly  aftain«'d  a  thickness 
of  .->()()  feet,  and  in  the  reyi(»n  of  the  Allcjiiianies  l..")()()  feet.  The 
ji'feat  thickness  of  the  hitler  deposits  indicat«'d  oscillations,  in 
which  the  downward  inovennMit  exceeded  the  npwai'd.  Shallow 
watei's,  tberefore,  iidersjx'j'sed  with  reefs  and  islands,  still  occn- 
'■  ]»ied   the  sites  of  the   Allejihanies  and    Ifocky  Mouiifains,  which 

'  now  look  down   from  abo\e  the  clonds  on  the  finished  continent. 

!  The  tft.  Ijawrence  and  the  Hndson  may  have  e.xist<'d  in  miniafnre, 

l>nt  the  area  of  land  was  too  snnill  for  rivers  and  other  bodies  of 
fresh   watei'  «»f  considerable  extent.     In  the  disturbances  closinj;" 
t-'ie   l)e\(»nian  a.iLic  aihiitions  were  made  to  the  surface  in    Iowa, 
I  AN'isconsin  and  Illinois.     The  tworesultinu' fonnations  in  thistState 

are  the   I)e\'onian  limestone  and  the  Oriskany  sandstone.     Thei'c 
t  j'.i'e  outcrops  of  the  former  in  the  bluffs  of  flie   Mississipi)i,  l{ock 

suid  Illinois  rivers.     It  coidains  a  ;ureat  variety  of  fossils,  an<l  is 
'  used  for  building' material  and  the  manufacture  of  (piicklinu*.    Tlui 

latter  ajjpears  in  L'nion,  Alexander  and  .lackson  counties,  ami  is 
]  used  to  some  extent  in  the  manutiK'tiu'c  (»f  yiass. 

'■  The   Carhoiti/erons  Af/i'   t)pened  with    the  deposition  of  wi(h'ly 

;  extended   marine   formations.     Added   to  the   strata  i)roviously 

•  deposited,  the  cidire  thickness  in  the  rej^ion  of  the  Allejilianies, 

J  now  partially  elevated,  amounted  to  7  nnles.     Wide  areas  of  i)er- 

m  luaiu'nt  elevation  occurred  between  the  .Utli  ami  t.")th  decrees  of 

a  latitude,  endtracin.n'  most  of  the  territory  between  the  eastern  con- 

■f  tinental  bolder  and  the  States  of  Kansas  ami  Nebraska,    l-^irther 

Avestward,  and  residtin.n'  from  the  gradual  emerju'ence  of  the  Pacific 
coast,  was  an  interior  sea  whose  shallow  waters  still  flowed  over 
the  site  of  the  Kocky  Mountains.  The  winter  temperature  near 
the  p()les  was  (Iti  (.Ic.yrees.  A  stagnant  and  stiiiiiiii'  atmosjdiei'e 
rcHteU  n]»oii  the  area  now  cunstitiitiny  the  Liiited  titates  and  ikitish 


6  HISTORY   OP  ILLINOIS. 


Ainoricii.  Tlu!  McKcnzic  river,  now  filled  uitli  iccbcrji's,  ilicii 
lldwcd  tlnoii'^li  v(  idiiiit  liMiiks  to  a  coral  sea,  liavinj;'  llu'sainc  l<:iii- 
]M'i'atiii('as  tlic  (iull'oi'  Mexico  at  tlie  i)re.sent(lay.  The  most  pioiii- 
iiient  leatare  of  llie  a;^*'  was  the  roniiati<»ii  of  ('(tal.  iJeiiiji-cail.tou- 
ized  ve;i('tal)le  tissue,  tlie  raaterial  funiished  for  tliis  ]tufi»o-;e  was 
the  \ast  forest  accuaiulatioMs  |t(,'cidiar  to  the  period.  N'l.'ji'etation, 
eoninieneiiiji'  in  liie  i)re\  iotis  a;i'e,  had  now  attained  an  expansion 
which  ureally  exceeded  the  yi'owtli  of  Jd'ior  oi'  sultse(pieiit  ti'iics. 
Jii\  i.i;()raled  hy  a  warm,  Jiioist  and  winterless  elijiiale,  ami  aii 
atniospliere  sureliaryed  with  carbonic  acid  .yas,  vast  jnn^les  sja'cad 
over  the  marsliy  i>Iains,  and  im)>enetral>le  forests  c.ov(.'red  tii<^ 
njiland  slopes  and  hiylils.  'I'lie  ^iraceful  lei»idod(  ndion,  now  fully 
developed,  was  one  of  the  luincipal  coal  produeiaiy  plants;  sul»- 
serxiuj^-  the  same  ])urpose  and  associated  with  it  was  the  yinautie 
conifer,  a  nuMuber  of  the  pine  family.  The  ancient  fern,  another 
coal  plant,  .urew  to  a  lii^iit  of  S(t  feet.  Jts  ti'uuk,  regularly  fretted 
Avith  scars  and  destitute  of  branches,  ternunated  in  a  crown  of 
foliaye  I'ivaliiif;'  that  of  the  ])alm  in  i)rofnseness  and  beauty.  Tlie 
si.yillarid,  however,  as  it  contiibut(>d  most  largely  to  the  produc- 
tion of  coal,  was  the  characteristi<'  plant  (»f  tlie  period.  TIk^ 
trunk,  widch  rose  from  10  to  (»0  feet  hi^h  from  its  alternate  tlntinus 
and  ribs,  appeared  like  a  clustei<'d  column.  At  an  altitude  of  l'.'» 
or  .')(»  feet  it  sejiarated  into  branches,  covered  with  a  ;;rass  iikti 
foiian'c  intermin.uied  with  lonu catkins  of  obscure  llowers  or  stiiir^s 
of  seed,  arranged  in  whorls  about  a  c(»mnion  stem.  The  strui-ture 
of  the  trunk  was  peculiar.  ( )ne,  .">  feet  in  diameter,  was  snrr(aiiid<'(l 
Avith  <i  bark  l.'!  inches  in  thickness;  within  this  was  a  cylinder  of 
wi»od  12  inches  in  thickness,  and  at  the  center  a  pith  lOinehesin 
diameter.  8ueh  a  tree  woui<l  be  use]e>;s  as  tindKU',  bn'  the  bark,  of 
Avhich  they  larj^'cly  i-onsisted.  was  impei'vious  to  mim  id  solutions, 
and  valinible  for  the  produ<'tioa  of  eoal.  The  calainitcs.  j;rowin,ii,- 
Avith  the  sij;il.larids,  covered  Mitli  dense  bi-akes  tlu^  niarsliy  tiats. 
Their  hollow  stems,  marked  vertically  with  tlutinjis  and  horizon- 
tally Avith  joints,  <;Tew  in  clumps  to  a  hi,uht  of  2t)  feet.  Soaie 
species  were  branchless.  Avliile  from  the  Joints  of  other  s])ranj;' 
branches,  subdi\  idinu  into  wIkh'Is  of  bi'anchlets. 

The  vast  accumulation  of  veyetable  matter  from  these  and  other 
earbiaiiferous  plants,  either  imbedded  in  the  miry  soi'  in  which  it 
yrew,  «tr  swept  from  adJacciiT  elevations  into  shallow  lakes, became 
covered  Avitli  sediment,  and  thus  were  transformed  into  coal.  It 
Inis  been  estiniate<l  that  S  per]M'ndicular  feet  of  wood  were  re- 
(pnred  to  make  1  foot  of  bituminous  coal,  ■id  111  to  make  1  of 
anthracite.  Some  beds  of  the  latter  are  M)  fee'  in  thickness,  and 
hence  oOO  feet  of  timber  must  have  been  eonsMnu-il  in  their  ])ro- 
dinttiou.  The  ]>rocess  of  its  foi-mation  was  exretly  the  same  as 
])racticed  in  the  manid'acture  of  charcoal,  by  burninj;'  wood  niuler 
a  coverinji'  of  earth.  Vejictable  tissue  consists  mostly  of  carlton 
and  oxyji'en,  and  decom]>osition  must  take  place,  «'ither  nnder 
Avater  or  some  other  imper\  ions  covcrinii',  to  prevent  the  elements 
from  forndnn'  carbonic  acid  j;as,  and  vhus  escajjinn'  t(»  the  atmos- 
phere. ConlbrMdn.^'  to  these  retpnrcments,  the  immense  vej^'ctablo 
growths  fornnnji'  the  coal-fields  sidtsided  with  the  surface  on  which 
they  .irrev ,  ami  were  buried  ben<'atli  th(>  succecdin.u'  (h'posits. 
KoA'a  Scora  has  7<>  dilfercnt  beds,  and  Illinois  12;  and  conse- 
quently, ill  these  localities  there  were  as  many  diiferent  lields  of 


GEOLOGY. 


vcM'diirc  nvci'w  IicIiikmI  in  llic  dirt-beds  of  tlic  scsi.  Tims,  loiii;'  Ix'- 
loi'c  (lie  st;irr,v  cycles  liiid  mcasim'tl  half  the  history  ol'  tlic  iiii- 
loldiny-  conl^iicnt,  and  avIicii  ilrst  the  expanding'  stream  of  life 
but  <liiidy  retleeted  tlie  eoiiiiii;^-  aji'e  of  mind,  fliis  vast  snpply  of 
fuel  was  stored  away  in  the  rocky  frame-work  of  the  !.;lol»e.  Ilere, 
it  sliiinlK'red  till  man  made  liis  appearance  and  dra^';^ed  it  from 
its  rocky  lairs.  At  his  hiddinj;'  it  renders  the  factory  animate 
•with  humming  spindles,dri\in,n  shut  ties,  whirling;  lathes,  and  «'laidc- 
in.u' for.iics.  rnder  his  i;iiidance  the  iron-horse,  feedin;.;  upon  its 
pitchy  fi'a,nineiits,  hounds  with  tireless  tread  over  its  far  reacliin<{' 
track, drauuinn' after  liim  tiie  products  of  distant  marts  and  climes. 
l)\  IliP  skill  of  the  one  and  tlu'  power  of  the  other,  the  ocean 
.steamer  i>lows  the  dee])  in  opposition  to  winds  and  wa\('s,  making' 
its  watery  home  a  hi;;hway  for  the  connnerce  of  the  world. 

Trior  to  the  formation  of  coal,  so  j;reat  was  the  volume  of  cai'- 
bonic  acid  ,yas  in  the  atiuosjdiere  that  (»n!y  slow  breatiiini.^  and 
cold-blooded  animals  <'ould  «'\ist.  (!onse(pient  upon  its  coin crsiou 
into  coal, all  tlu' j>recedinj;'  sjtecies  of  i)lants  and  animals  pei'ishcd, 
and  new  forms  cauu'  ui)on  the  sta;;'e  of  bein;;-  with  oi,!.;aui/,atiou.s 
adapted  to  the  imjjroved  conditions.  In  the  new  ccoimmun,  as  at 
the  present  time,  stability  is  maintained  in  the  atnn>s|)liei'e  by  tiic 
reciprocal  relations  subsistiiif>'  between  it  and  the  iiu'omin;^'  tyjtes. 
The  animal  iuspiics  oxyu'en  and  «'Xi)ires  carbonic  acid  gas;  tiu>, 
vegetalde  inspires  «*arbonic  acid  gas  and  e\j)ires  oxygen,  thus  pi'e- 
serving  the,  (Mpiilibrium  of  this  breathing  medium.  The  coal-liclds 
of  I'lui'ope  ave  estimated  at  b'^,(>()l)  stjuare  miles,  those  of  the  I'liited 
t^tates  at  l.lO.iiOO.  The  Alleghany  coal-tield  contains  (lO.OOO  square 
miles,  with  an  aggregate  thickju'ss  of  lliO  feet.  The  Illinois  and 
^Missouri  (i(),0(H)  scjuare  miles,  and  an  aggregate  thickness  in  some 
localities  of  70  feet.  Othei-  lields  occiu:  in  ditf<'rent  localities,  of 
various  thicknesses.  In  Illinois,  three-fourths  of  the  suiiace  are 
untlcj'laid  by  IkmIs  of  coal,and  tin-  State  conseipu'utly  has  a  gicater 
area  than  any  other  nieud)er  of  the  Union.  There  are  lU  different 
beds,  the  two  most  imi)ortant  of  which  are  each  from  (>  to  S  feet 
in  thickness.  The  entire  carboniferous  system, including  the  coal- 
beds  and  the  intervening  sti'ata,  in  southern  Illinois  is  1'7,(MU)  feet 
in  thickness,  and  in  the  northern  part  only  .")()(). 

Xext  to  the  inuuense  deposits  of  coal,  tiie  JJnrlington,  Keokuk 
and  St.  Louis  limestones  are  the  most  iuii)ortant  foi'iualions. 
They  receive  their  ai)i»ellations  from  the  cities  whose  names  they 
beai' — wher(^  their  lit liol(»gical  cluirai^ters  were  first  studied — and 
in  the  vicinities  of  which  they  crop  out  in  Illim)is.  The  Turling- 
ton furnishes  inexhaustible  su]»plies  of  building  ston<'  and  (juick- 
lime,  but  is  nu)stly  interesting  on  account  of  the  immense  nund)er 
of  interesting  fossils  which  it  contains.  Along  its  northern  out- 
crop Crinoids  are  foriud  in  a  profusion  unequalled  by  that  of  any 
h)cality  of  similar  "xtent  in  the  woi'ld.  Though  initold  ages  have 
elapsed  since  their  'ucarceration  in  the  rocks,  so  i)erfe<-t  lias  been 
their  preservation,  their  structure  can  be  determined  witii  abnost 
as  much  ])recision  as  if  they  had  ])erislM'd  but  yesterday.  The 
Keokuk  is  extensively  used  for  architectural  ]>urposes,  and  fur- 
nished the  material  for  the  celebrated  iNIormon  Temi»leat  Nauvoo, 
the  new  Tost-ollice  at  Springlield,  and  the  Custom  Houses  at 
(Jalena  and  Dubucpie.  It  contains  some  of  the  most  inten-sting 
crystals  found  in  the  State.     These  consi.st  of  hollaw  sjiheres  of 


8  III8T011Y  OF  ILLINOIS. 


(luiii'tz  ;iii(l  cliMlccdoiiy  <•!'  viirioiis  sizes,  iind  lined  on  the  insido 
■\vitli  cr.vstiilcts  (»r  dilTcrfnt  minerals.  T(tns  of  specinu'ns  have 
l)e«n  taiuMi  IVdmi  llan('t«'i<  cunnly  antl  distrilailed  oxt^'tlie  I'liiled 
States  and  Kiirope.  tt»  oinanjent  the  ealtinels  of  niineiaht;.;ists. 
The  St.  Lonis  is  ahii(»st  pMi'e  eaihonet  el'  lime,  and  tlie  best  ma- 
terial in  the  State  I'ur  tlie  nuinnract  are  of  (|nieU-Iime.  It  is  hir;:;t'iy 
quanied  at  Alton. 

The  Ai/r  of  li'rptllcs  is  distiiijinisiied  for  chaiijics  in  tlu'  conti- 
nental hoi'deis.  which  ;i-enerally  ran  witiiin  tlicir  present  limits. 
The  snl)  niai'ine  ontlincs  of  the  l>ay  of  New  York,  and  the  eoni'sc 
of  the  Hudson,  indicate  that  the  adjacent  siiorcs  dniin;;'  the  early 
j)art  of  tins  aj^e  were  beyond  their  present  limits.  wSontliward  tlie 
sea  line  I'an  within  the  present  shore,  the  distance  increasing'  fi'oni 
(10  miles  in  Maryland  to  1(H»  in  (icoif^ia,  and  :.'U0  in  Alaliauia. 
U'he  Texan  .ynlf-sliore.  and  that  of  tiie  peninsula  and  Stale  of 
California,  wei'e  ])arallcl.  and  mostly  within  their  present  posiiioiis. 
These  biirders  were  frin;.;('d  witli  deposits,  winle  inland  the  lioiijdi 
of  the  old  continental  sea  was  liec(imin,u  more  shallow.  The  alti- 
tude ol'  the  Alle,i;hanics  had  nearly  reached  Ilieir  [acsent  hiyiit. 
The  Iioeky  INbuintains,  in  the  transition  from  the  close  of  the. 
])resent  to  the  beuinnin;^-  of  the  sul)se(|ncni  a.^c,  l;c,i;an  slowI>  l»t 
emei';;('  fnan  the  watei's  under  which  tiiey  had  hitherto  shuubcred. 
The  (inlf  of  JMexico  formed  a  (U-ei*  liay  exteudinu  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Ohio,  ami.  protrudinin'  itself  u<trthw('st*'rly.  covered  the  re;^iou 
of  tlie  Rocky  M(mntains.  it  may  have  connected  with  tiie  Arctic 
Ocean,  but  observations  have  b(>en  too  limited  to  ira<'<'  it  with  cer- 
tainty beyond  the  head  waters  of  the  .Missoui'i  and  Yellow  Stone. 
These  are,  therefore,  amonij,  the  more  recently  formed  rivers,  and 
cannot  be  compared  with  the  primeval  St.  liawreucc  and  lindson. 
The  .Mississipj/i  was  a  stream  of  not  more  than  one-half  its  present 
lenjjth  and  vohnne,  t'allin,u'  into  the  .uulf  not  far  fr<»ni  the  site  (tf 
Cairo.  The  Ohio  drainetl  substantiaUy  the  same  re'iiou  it  ilor:^  at 
the  prt'seiit  time.  In  the  earlier  i»art  t>f  the  a,;4c  the  ,i;('o,iirai»i!ical 
distribution  of  fossils  indicates  a  common  temju'rature,  from  IJeh- 
rin.;;-  Strait  in  tlie  Northern  to  that  of  .^ia.u'ellan  in  the  Soutlieni 
Jlemi•^|lhere.  In  the  latter  part,  howcvci'.  a  diffi  rence  is  pcrcei)- 
tible,  indicatiiiii'  also  a  difference  of  temperature  and  the  com- 
inencement  of  climatic  zones.  This  chaiiinc,  caused  by  the  partial 
iijiheaval  (»f  mounlain  chains  north  of  tlie  i'](|nator,  and  the  do- 
C'liu;- of  internal  heat,  marked  a  new  era  in  the  physical  history 
of  the  ^lobe.  As  the  I'csult.  currents  commenced  liowinji'  in  tliu 
ocean;  the  constant  monotony  of  ]Mevious  ajjes  was  broken  by 
the  ]»lcasant  diversities  of  chanuin.i;' seasons  ;  life  was  ini[)arled  to 
the  atmosplicre,  and  the  breeze  came  foilh  laden  with  the  Incatli 
of  sprin<4-;  the  temjiest  madly  burst  into  beinj;'  and  bejian  its  work 
of  destruction,  and  the  trath'-winds  (Mtnuneiiced  bIowin<:',  tad  it 
was  reserved  for  a  fntui'e  age  to  make  tliem  the  common  carriers 
of  the  ocean's  commerce. 

The  principal  formations  of  the  age,  none  of  which  exist  in 
Illinois,  were  sandstones,  chalks  ami  limestones,  interstiatilied 
with  de]M»sits  of  s;dt  and  gypsum.  Their  absence  can  beex]»Iained 
either  uitonthe  sniiitosition  that  the  surface  of  the  State  was  either 
above  the  waters  in  which  they  were  de])osited,  or,  having  originally 
b(-en  (h'])osited,  they  were  substMpiently  swept  away  by  denuding' 
agencies.     The  former  was  X)erhaps  the  case,  as  no  aiiueous  action 


GEOLOGY. 


0 


could  have  opciatcd  with  siininCiit  power  to  iciiioxc  all  tiiicrs  of 
tlw'ir  loiiiicr  I'xistt'iicc.  The  ciiaractcMistic  plants  of  tlic  coal  a;;v, 
now  dcciinin;;',  wcic^  replaced  by  c.vcads  and  many  m-w  forms  of 
(Mtnilers  and  ferns.  The  evead  was  inlerniediate  in  char.ieter. 
reseMd>lin^'  the  fern  in  the  opeiiin^i' of  its  folia^ic,  and  the  palm  in 
its  ;;•(  lU'ral  habits.  It  was  n«)W  in  the  full  zenitli  of  its  expansion, 
wliih'  the  fern  was  d.viny  ont  and  the  conifer  was  yet  to  be  devel- 
oped. .Moi't'  tiran  ltM>  an^iiospernis  made  their  appearam-e,  one-half 
«»f  them  closely  allied  to  the  trees  of  modern  forests  and  tla^  frnit 
tr<'es  of  tem|)erate  rejiions.  In  the  latlei'  ]>art  of  the  aiic  the  palm, 
at  i»resent  tiie  most  perfect  tyjie  of  the  ve;ietable  kin.i;dom,  was 
als(»  introdnceil.  New  animal  species  made  their  appearance, 
attended  by  the  extinotion  of  all  pre-exist in;^'  forms,  lieptiles 
now  reached  tlusir  cnlmination,  the  earth,  sea  and  air,  each  ha\  iiiji' 
its  jx-cnliar  kind.  Their  fossil  remains  indicate  a  lar,i;-e  nnmber  of 
botli  herbi\-erons  and  cainiverons  species,  which  i.n  many  instan- 
ces attained  a  len<;tli  of  (»()  feet.  I'he  itththyosanius,  a  pioininc  nt 
example,  nnitt'd  in  its  strnctnre  ])arts  of  scNcral  relaleil  animals, 
having'  tin'  head  of  a  lizard,  the  snont  of  a  porpoi.se.  the  tetth  of 
a  crocodile,  the  si»ine  of  a  lisli  and  the  paddles  of  a  uhale.  Its 
eyes,  enormonsly  larj^'c,  were  arran;^'ed  to  act  both  like  the  telescope 
and  the  niici'<tscop(>,  thus  enablin,y  it  to  see  its  jncy  both  niuht  and 
day,  and  at  all  distances.  It  subsisted  on  tish  and  tiie  yonn,i;'  of 
its  own  species,  some  of  which  nuisl  have  been  swallowed  several 
feet  in  length.  Associated  with  it  was  the  Pleiosaurus,  an  animal 
i'esend>lin,n'  it  in  its  genera!  struct  ire.  A  renmrkable  diiVerence, 
however,  was  the  ^reat  len.^tii  <tf  neck  possessed  by  the  latter, 
which  contained  -10  vertebric,  the  larj;cst  lunnber  that  has  ever 
been  found  in  animals  living  or  fossil.  These  two  reptiles  for  ii 
lon>;' time  luled  the  seas  and  kept  the  increase  of  other  animals 
within  ])roj)ei-  limits.  Itut  the  most  ,yi.u:uitic  of  reptile  monsters 
was  the  l,yuano<lon.  Sonu'  individuals  weie  (iO  feet  lon,i;',  1.")  feet 
lound  the  lar,u('st  part  of  the  body,  had  feet  1-  feet  in  length,  and 
thi.uhs  7  feet  in  diameter.  The  most  heteroclitic  cicaturc!  was  the 
I'terodactyl.  It  had  the  neck  of  a  bird,  the  nM)Utht)f  a  reptile, 
the  wind's  of  a  bat,  and  the  body  and  tail  of  a  nmmmal.  Its  curi- 
ous organization  enabled  it  to  walk  on  two  feet,  tly  like  a  bat.  and 
creep,  clind)  or  dive  in  jtursnit  of  ds  food.  The  aye  is  also  remark- 
able as  the  era  of  the  first  mammels,  the  first  birds,  and  the  lirst 
common  fishes. 

The  MdiniiKiliiot  Af/r  witnessed  the  increase  of  the  mass  of  the 
eartL  abo\-e  the  ocean's  IcncI  three-fold.  The  world constrm-tinj^' 
architect,  the  coral  insect,  built  up  Floiida  out  of  the  sea,  thus 
comitletinj;'  the  southern  expanse  of  ihv  continent.  Its  eastern 
and  western  boi'ders  were  substantially  tinished,  ami  sui)erficially 
its^reati)latea,us,mountain  chains  and  river  systems,  approximated 
their  present  ji;eo,^raphical  as)>ects.  The  Rocky  ^lountains  were 
elevated  to  a  lii,nht  of  7,(H»(l  feet,  the  Wind  IJiveichain  (;,S()().  the  I'.ij;- 
lloiii  :\lountains  (!,()(»(»,  Tike's  Peak  t,.1(M).  The  upheaval  of  the 
Ikocky  Mountain  re>;ion  j^reatly  enlarn'cd  the  Missouri,  jtreviously 
;in  inconsiderable  stream,  adding  to  it  the  Yellowstone,  Platte, 
Kansas  and  other  tributaries.  The  TiOwer  Mississij/pi  was  foi'ined 
and  discliarn'cd  its  \ast  volume  of  accumulated  waters  lu'ar  tlu^ 
present  coast  line  of  tin;  (Julf.  The  ele\ationof  mountain  m:!ssos 
to  snowy  altitudes  cooled  down  the  temperature  and  introduced 


10  TIISTOUY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


siihsliiiilisilly  tlic  present  eliiiiiiles.  In  lOuiope  the  eliini^'e  was 
fiiiMliiiil  tVuiii  tiopiral  to  snl»ti<ipieiil  aiid  temperate;  in  Nortli 
Anieriea  aliini»l.  As  a  ennsetpienee  tlie  luitaiiv  of  the  hitter 
openetl  with  the  oak,  poplar,  do^^wood,  nia.unolia,  ti<;',  palm  and 
othei'  plants  elosel\  reseml)lin,ii'  those  ol'  tin-  incscnt  dav. 

Of  the  animals  the  Mammoth  was  rcmarUaltle.  I'idike  the 
elephant  of  the  jjresent  <la.v,  they  wenM'overed  witii  a  redish  wool 
intermiiii^led  with  hair  and  Itlaek  bristles,  the  latter  lieinii  nior*^ 
than  a  foot  in  length.  \'ast  herds  of  these  liMii'e  erea tares,  nearly 
three  times  as  lar^c  as  the  present  elephant,  their  Ii\  in;;  represen- 
tative wandered  over  the  northein  jiart  of  both  hemispheres. 
An  indi\idMal  in  a  perfect  state  of  presei'vut ion  was  fonnd  in  l~'M), 
encased  in  ice.  at  the  month  of  the  river  Lena.  It  still  retained 
the  wool  on  its  hide,  and  otherwise  was  so  free  from  decay,  that 
its  tiesh  was  eaten  l>y  do^^s.  Their  remains  are  ahniidantly  distrih- 
nted  over  the  noithera  part  of  the  I'nited  States,  indtedded  nsnally 
in  marshes  where  the  animals  were  perhaps  nured  while  in  search 
of  food  or  water.  A  lar.y'e  fossil  specimen  was  recently  exhnmed 
in  Macon  connty.  Illinois.  L'  miles  sontheast  of  llliopolis,  in  the 
ed.^c  of  Lon.u  I'oint  Sliaiuh,  Ity  the  side  of  an  oo/y  sprin.ii'.  The 
fossils  have  heen  fonnd  in  other  localities  of  the  State,  and  the 
])rairies  may  have  heen  places  of  fre(|nent  resoit.  i'ontemporane- 
ous  with  them  were  the  Dinotherinm  and  Me.i;atlierinm.  and  other 
ereatnres  of  the  most  ,i;i,i;antic  proporti(»ns.  'I'he  ma^nitnde  of  tlu; 
]\lammoth  seems  almost  fahnloas.  l)nt  that  of  the  Dinotherinm 
]»r(il)alily  surpassed  it.  One  of  its  most  remarkahle  features  was 
its  enormous  tusks.  ]»i'oJectin.u'  from  the  anterior  extremity  of  the 
h»wer  Jaw.  which  cnrxt'd  down  like  those  of  the  walrus,  liike  the 
rhiiu>eer(»s,  it  lived  in  the  water,  and  was  well  adajiled  to  the  lacus- 
trine condition  of  the  earth  conunou  at  the  time  it  llourished.  Tin; 
^Megatherium,  h-loniiinii'  to  the  sloth  family,  was  also  of  colossal 
(linu'usions.  Its  l»ody,  in  sonu'  instances  IS  feet  Ion;;',  rested  on 
h'^i's  resemhliuL^'  columns  of  support  rather  than  or;;ans  of  locomo- 
tion. Its  s]»inal  column  contained  a  nerve  a  foot  in  diameter;  its 
I'enuir  was  three  tinu's  the  si/e  of  the  elei)liant's.  while  its  feet 
AVere  a  yai'd  in  len;^th  and  more  than  a  foot  in  width.  Thi'  tail 
near  the  body  was  two  feet  in  diameter,  and  nsed  with  its  hind 
h'^i's  as  a  tiipod  on  which  the  animal  sat  when  it  wielded  its  huyo 
arms  and  hands. 

Toward  the  close  of  theaji'c  oscillations oceuired  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  continent,  .greatly  modifyiuii'  the  condition  of  its  sur- 
face. Dui'in.ii'  the  iijiward  vibration  vast  j^lacicrs  spread  oxer 
IJritish  America  and  the  conti.u'uous  portion  of  the  I'nited  States. 
These  lields  of  ice.  becomin.u'  tilled  with  hard  boulders,  and  niov- 
in^i'  southward  by  expansion,  jiTound  intofra^inu'nts  the  nnderlyinn- 
rocks.  The  sediment  was  ^iathei'cd  nj)  by  the  moviii,n'  mass,  and 
Avhen  a  latitude  sutliciently  warm  to  melt  the  ice  was  reached,  it 
was  spread  over  the  surface.  Accumulations  of  this  kiinl  consti- 
tute the  (b'ift  ^vhi<'h  extends  from  New  h'nuland  westward  beyond 
the  Mississii>])i,  and  fiom  the  ."ilttli  pai'allel  northward  to  an  un- 
known limit.  In  Illinois,  with  the  exception  of  small  areas  in  the 
IK  »rtl  I  western  and  southern  itarts  of  the  State,  it  co\'ers  the  entire 
surface  with  a  varyin;;'  stratum  of  from  10  t(t  2(H)  feet  in  thickness. 
Mere,  and  in  other  parts  of  the  A>'est,  not  (»idy  i^iiaciei's,  but  ice- 
bergs, Avere  connected  with  its  distiibution.     The  waters  of  the 


OEOLOOT. 


11 


hikes  tlicM  t'Xtt'iidrd  soiitliwiird  pciliaps  to  llir  liiuliliiiiils,  crossiiifj 
tlif  Stiitc  iVniii  (iiiiiid  'I'owcr  cjisl  t»»\\;inl  llicOliio.  This  Itmricr 
Ini'iiH-d  llh-  soiiihcrii  liiiiils  ol'  tliis  s«-ii,  and  also  ol'  the  diil't  which 
was  disliihiitcd  oxtT  its  liotlum  i»y  Ihiatili;!;  iuidics  (»t'  ice  lilh'd  w  itii 
st'diiiiciit  |»rt>\  ioiislv  drtachrd  tVoiiitlic  i^lacins  tartluT  north.  'I'htt 
upward  aioNcmcid  of  the  juhicial  i-pocli  was  foUowt'd  li.v  a  (h'pr«'.s- 
sioii  of  the  siii'facc  Ix'hiw  its  picsciit  h'VcK  The  sidtsidciicc  in 
Coiiiicftinil  was  ,")(•  feet;  in  Massachnsctts,  17<>;in  New  llanip- 
sliirc,  L'OO;  at  .Montreal,  4."»((;  and  several  hundred  in  the  re^^ion  of 
Illinois  and  the  i'aeilie.  Trevionsly  the  adjaeent  .\tlantie  scaiioard 
extended  into  the  sea  Itevond  its  picseni  linuts;  now  it  receded, 
an*l  the  St.  I.awi'ence  and  i-ake  Clianiplain  heeanie  jinlfs  extend- 
ini:  far  inland.  As  the  residt  of  the  down-throw  the  teniiteraturc 
was  eh'vated,  causing'  the  ^^laeiers  to  melt,  and  a  farther  dissend- 
iiation  of  the  drift.  K'ennlar  ontlines,  dne  to  the  dinamic  forces, 
ice  and  water,  \ver«'  thns  iini»arte(l  to  the  snrface.  whi<'h  a  snbse- 
<pM'nt  einer^icnce  l)ronj;ht  to  its  present  level.  Orih'r,  heauty,  iuul 
utility  spraii;.;  int(»  hein.n' and  harmony  with  man,  the  hij;hest  type 
of  terresliial  life,  now  in  tin- dawn  ot'  his  existence. 

The  Ai/e  of  Man  coinment'ed  with  the  present  j^colo^iical  condi- 
tions, 'j'lie  ji'i'eat  mountain  reliefs  and  diversifies  of  climate  at- 
tcndin;^'  the  ]»rescnt  and  the  close  of  the  preccdiii;^-  n<^e,  lar;;'ely 
an^inieiited  the  variety  n\'  physical  conditions  w  liich  modify  ve»v- 
taltle  and  ainmal  life.  .Mnltiplyinji'  under  these  diverse  intlneiices, 
the  present  tlora  exceeds  1(K>,(MH)  species.  The  jtahn  alone,  cuhni- 
n;itin,u'  in  the  present  eia,  and  standiuj.;'  at  the  heail  of  the  \e;;'eta- 
l»le  kin.!;(lom,  emhraces  1,(100.  Commensnrate  with  the  variety  of 
]>lants  is  the  extent  of  their  distribution.  They  are  found  univer- 
sally, fi'om  Arctic  snows  to  Tropical  sands,  j;row  in,i;'  in  the  air  and 
watei',  coxci'in;^-  the  land  with  verdure,  and  ministerini;'  to  tin; 
wants  of  their  cousins,  the  ditlerent  forms  of  animal  life.  In  the 
Jini'^le  the  wild  beast  makes  his  lair;  the  biril  builds  her  nest  in 
their  shelteriuu'  leaves  and  branches,  and  subsists  on  their  fruits; 
aii<l  man  conxcits  them  into  inniuiierabh' tbrmsof  tbod,  ornanu'Uts 
and  material  for  the  ciuistrnction  of  his  dwellinj;s.  in  the  oak 
and  towcrinu'  (  edar  their  forms  are  venerable  and  majestic;  .urace- 
ful  and  beautiful  in  f^he  wavinj;-  folia.u'e  an<l  clin,uiu,i;'  vine,  and  i»ro- 
I'oundly  interest in.i;' in  their  .growth  and  structure;  crowned  with 
a  tloral  ma^iiiiticence  jureatly  transcendiu}''  their  jjredecessors  of 
previous  a,i:'es,  they  uive  enchaidmeut  to  the  lands<'ape,  sweetness 
toth<'\ernal  breeze,  and  retiiiement  and  purity  to  all  who  conio 
within  tli«'ir  intluence.  As  in  the  ease  of  i)lants,  a  diversity  of 
]>hysical  conditions  has  impressed  a  multiplicity  and  variety  U]>on 
the  animals.  The  ap])i()ximate  nnml»er  of  species  at  the  present 
time  is  ;>.")(I,(H»(I,  each  sub  kinudom  nmnberinii-  as  follows:  IJadi- 
ates,  l(»,()(l(»;  :\lolhislvs,  l.'(t,0(l(» ;  Articulates,  ;'',(»(»,0(l(t;  Vertebrates, 
l'!,0(>(>.  Of  the  existinji  Vertebrates,  Fishes  embrace  1(I,(KK»:  I\\'i)- 
tiles,  L',()(»(>:  i'.irds,  7,()(K>,  and  Mammals,  IV*"'*-  ^Vit'>  the  appear- 
ance of  ^laii  on  th«'  staj^e  of  beinj:',  in  the  latter  jiart  of  the  pre- 
cedinji'  a;;'e,  many  types  of  the  lower  animals,  in  which  maiiiiittide 
and  brute  ferocity  W(!re  ])rominent  characteristics,  became  extinct. 
Their  successors,  as  if  harmonizing;'  with  the  higher  life  develoi»in<^' 
in  their  ntidst,  were  f^enerally  i-eilturd  in  size,  less  brutal  in  their 
nature,  and  more  active,  beautifid  and  intelligent. 

lieceiit  di.seoveries  have  shown  that  the  appearance  of  man,  iu- 


12 


IIISTOUY  OP  ILLINOIS. 


Ntctul  of  Ix'iii;;'  roiitiiii'd  to  tli«'  ;>'(>olo;;'i('al  i\}iv  wliicli  l)ciirs  liis  iiiiiiio, 
iniist  Ik' I'xtciidcd  ItacU  to  iiii  itiilt'liiiitt' pciiod.  His  rt'iriiiiiis  :iiid 
tlu'  n  lies  of  his  iirl  show  that  he  was  a  coiitciiipoiai-.N  ol'  tlic  main 
moth;  that  h«'  witnessed  th<'  iiiiindatioii  that  Ixiricd  tlic  iiotthrtn 
plains  of  the  Old  and  New  Worlds  under  the  sea  ». I'  ice:  and  lliat 
even  lieloie  that  tinu',  wlieii  sni)  li'opieal  animal.-,  dispoited  tliem- 
si'lve.s  in  the  lorcsts  ol"  middh>  llindpe,  haxc  t  races  of  his  existeneti 
been  discovered.  Thoniili  the  ahsolnte  time  of  his  a(l\cnt  cannot 
lie  detei'mined,  he  dtndtt less  was  an  in haliitant  of  the  earl li  several 
hnndicd  tlionsand  .veais  hefore  he  was  snllicieiitly  intelli:;('nt  to 
prest'ivc  the  records  of  his  own  history.  His  apjicarance  as  the 
head  of  the  animal  kin;.^dom  nniiks  a  new  st:i;;('  in  tin*  nnfoNhnent 
ol"  terrestrial  life.  His  claim  to  this  prceminein-c  is  based  on  the 
snperiority  ol'  his  menial, moral  and  spirit nal  endownn'nls.  Ilav  in;; 
an  understandin^i' i'apaltle  of  endless  pro;^ression  in  knowledge,  ho 
is  able  to  stnd.v  the  laws  of  nature  ami  make  hem  sid»ser\  lent  to 
Ills  will  and  wants;  to  institnte  systems  of  ;;overnment  foi'  his 
liri»tcetion,  and  to  hold  in  snbjection  th(>  lower  animals,  however 
^really  they  may  exceed  him  in  size  or  physical  stren;;tli.  He  is 
the  lirst  of  terrestrial  bein;^s  capable  of  eomprehendin;j;  the  natnu; 
of  moral  relations  ;  of  dist  in^iiiisliinji  li^iit  from  w  ron;;',  and  ot'  d(  ri- 
Ainu  happiness  from  the  practice  of  virtne  ami  sniferin.i;'  in  conse- 
«pieiice  of  vice.  In  his  reverence  for  tin*  Deity  and  aspirations  Ibr 
immoi'lality  he  is  rennncd  still  further  tVom  the  animal  plain,  and 
stands  as  a  connecting;'  link  between  the  latter  and  spirit  exist- 
ain-e. 

'I'lie  present  a;;*'  still  retfuns,  in  a  diminished  dc<;rcc  of  activity, 
the  ycoli laical  Ibrces  of  pi'cvions  periods.  ICxlmsivi'  llats  at  many 
])oints  idttn;;'  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  the  deltas  and  other  allnvial 
Ibrmations  of  riv«'rs,  are  slowly  extending;  the  present  sinl'ace. 
The  latter,  in  nniny  jdaces,  is  becoming;'  modilied  by  the  prodnc- 
tnni  of  pealbeds;  in  volcanic  re;;ions,  by  the  ejection  of  lava,  and 
in  jiaroxysimd  distnrbances,  exteiisive  areas  are  still  sidtjecl  to 
elevations  and  (leiacssions,  evidently  a  eontimmtion  <»f  previons 
oscillations.  As  observed  by  Moravian  settlers,  the  western  coast 
of  (ircenland,  tor  a  distaiu'c  of  (ilKI  miles,  has  licen  slowly  sinkin;;' 
dnrinu'  tin;  last  foni' centuries.  The  border  of  the  continent,  from 
Labrador  sonthvvaid  to  \ew  Jersey,  is  snp'poscd  to  be  nnder;;()in,!;' 
ehan.ii'cs  of  level,  bnt  more  a<'cni'at<'  observations  w  ill  l)c  necessaiy 
to  (h'terndne  the  extent  of  ilie  nn)venn'nf. 

liike  the  nninterrnjited  <H)urs(^  of  hinimn  history  there  are  no 
strontily  drawn  lines  between  the  a^cs  and  their  corresponding;' 
system  (»f  I'ocks  ami  or;;anic  remains.  Cnlmincnt  i>hases  oc(  nr, 
};ivin,u'  distinctiveness  to  the  center  of  each  and  distin!;iiishini;  it, 
from  others.  The  •;erni  of  each  was  Ion;;'  working'  forward  in  tho 
])ast  bclbre  it  attaiiwd  its  fidl  dcvelo])nn'id  and  pecniiai'characicr, 
and  extended  far  into  the  fntnre  for  its  decline  and  final  extinction. 
There  is,  hence,  a  blendini;'  of  periods  and  their  prodncts,  and, 
■while  centrally  well  defined,  their  be;;innin;;s  and  en(lin;;s  are 
Avitliont  lines  of  demarkatioii.  The  ratios,  re])rescntin;;' the  coin- 
l)arativ('  len;;th  of  each  a.i;'e  as  detei'inined  l»y  the  thickness  of  its 
rocks  and  the  i.ite  of  their  foi'ination,  arc  as  Ibllows;  Salnrian, 
inelndin;;'  tlni  Laurentian  and  llnronian,  H>;  Devonian,!');  Car- 
b<mif('rons,  1.");  lve]»tilian,  2.'!;  Mammalian,  IS.  In  eonseijnence 
of  tliu  constantly  varying  eouditions  utteiuliuy  the  growth  of  rocks, 


fJKdLoOY. 


i:? 


tlu'Mc  M'siilts  tini  only  i)])])r(ixiniiitions  to  tli<>  tnitli.  Th^  (ITCt 
liowrvrr,  siiHicifiitl.v  <'»trit'('t  to  ;tivf  tlit-  |>i'(»|»(»i(ioiiiit('  (liiriition  of 
tlics*'  yrciit  ;i«'oIo;;i('iil  i'lns.  iiiid  will  <luiilttl('ss,  lt_v  rnlriic  rcsciircli, 
hv  rciiilcri'il  iiioi'o  acciiiatt'.  Could  ticliiiilc  iiilcrxals  of  tiiiK-  lir 
siil).stiliil«'(l  lor  tlicsc  liilios,  tlic  most  aiiiplc  fxidciin'  exists  to 
prove  that  tlie  results  would  lie  iiieoiiceiv al»l,v  ^reat.  I'lveii  with 
ill  the  jteriod  of  existiiiji'  eaiisi'S,  the  uiiiid  is  startled  at  the  tre- 
liieiidoiis  sweep  •>f  a};cs  re«|iiired  to  etVeet  <'oiiiparati\  ely  small 
results.  The  wateis  of  Lake  I'jie  ori;Liiiially  <'\teiided  below  the 
jueseiit  Falls  of  M.ijiara,  and  the  cataract,  in  sul)seqnentl.v  jiass- 
in;>'  Ironi  the  same  point  to  its  i»ieseiit  j)ositi(tn,  excavated  the 
intervriiin;;'  channel  of  the  river.  Allo\v  in;;  the  rate  of  iiuiveiMcnt 
to  lie  one  inch  per  year,  which  is  pcrhajis  ic  i  loo  low  an  estimate, 
it  would  require  .'!SO,(M)()  y»'ars  to  jiass  over  the  six  miles  of  ictro- 
cession,  flnd^iin^i'  from  this  estimate,  what  lime  would  be  rc(|nired 
toexcaxale  the  canon  of  the  < 'olorado,  which  is  .'!(I0  luilcs  Ion;;', 
and  has  been  worn  a  lar;;('  part  of  the  distanc(>  throu;;li  ;iranite 
from  .KiOO  to  CAHH)  I'ec't  in  dejith.  Captain  Hunt,  who  for  many 
years  was  stationed  at  Key  \\'est,  and  whose  opportunity  for 
observations  was  j;«iod,  estimates  that  the  coral  insects,  wliiili 
liave  built  up  th(>  limestone  formations  of  Florida,  must  liavo 
re(|nired  more  than  r),0(H),(MI()  years  to  complete  their  1  ibors. 


Chapter  TI. 

Tin-:  TorodKArriY,  iuyeks,  soil  and  climatolociy. 


Tlie  Hirers  ami  Topofiraphi/  of  the  State  nro  based  upon  aiid  oov- 
i'Os|>(»ii<l  witli  its  ji'colojiiciil  Ibnnatioiis.  'I'lic  siu'tiU'c,  iiicliiiatiou 
and  tlic  direction  of  tlic  interior  draina<;e  faces  the  soutliwest. 
jiock  river,  Howin,!-'  s«»utli\vestei'ly  tlironjiii  oin^  of  tlic  most  heau- 
tiful  and  fertile  re.uions,  enters  tlie  ;\lississi|)])i  just  below  tlio 
rpiter  Kajtids.  Tlie  Desplaines,  rising;' in  Wisconsin  west  of  LaivO 
3!iclii,ii'an.  and  tlowin«i'  soutliward,  and  the  Kankakee,  rising'  in 
Indiana,  sontli  of  the  lake,  and  llowin^- westwar<l,  form  tlie  Illinois. 
TIk-  latter  stream,  tbe  lar.ucst  in  tbe  State,  courses  across  it  in  ii 
soiillpvesterly  direction  and  falls  iido  the  !\Iississi]i]ti  not  tar  t'roni 
the  city  (»f  Alton.  The  Kaskaskia  rises  near  the  eastern  boundary 
of  the  State  and  the  KHli  ]»aridlel  of  latitude,  flows  in  a  southwest 
direction,  and  Ibvms  a  janction  with  the  INMssissijipi  not  far  from 
the  town  which  Itears  its  luune.  These  and  other  smaller  streams 
flow  throujih  valleys  originally  excavated  in  solid  limestone  by 
ancient  rivers  anterior  to  the  fonnaticHi  of  the  drift.  The  latter 
mat<>rial  was  sid»se(inently  deposited  in  these  prindtive  water 
coni'ses  from  10  to  moi'c  than  liOO  feet  in  thickness,  and  now  forms 
tiie  channe'  of  the  existiuii'  sti'eams.  For  the  Ibrniation  of  tlieso 
ancient  river  beds  of  sucli  jireat  width  and  freipiently  excavated 
several  hundred  feet  in  hard  carboniferous  rocks,  the  dimiiush«'d 
waters  now  lloMinj<'  within  their  lining-  of  drilt  are  v>holly  inade- 
(piat<'.  Furtln'rmore,  the  alluvial  valleys  winch  the  riveis  now 
occupy  are  far  too  broad  to  correspond  with  the  present  volnmo 
and  swiftness  of  the  waters.  The  alluvial  bottoms  of  the  Illinois 
are  nearly  ecpnd  to  those  of  the  Mississipjii,  tliou.iih  the  latter  has 
a  current  twice  as  i'a]>i(l  and  a  tinantity  of  water  (i  tinu's  as  larj^e 
as  the  former  stream.  The  smaller  streams  of  the  State  occnjiy 
valleys  filled  with  dritt,  f  hrcMiuh  which  the  waters  have  been  v.nable 
to  cut  their  way  to  the  ancient  tron,yiis  below.  Owiiijn'  to  this,  tho 
sti-atified  rocks  in  nmny  localities  have  never  become  exposed,  and 
it  is  diflicnlt  for  the  .neoloyist  to  determine  the  character  of  tho 
iniderlyinji'  fornmtions. 

Thou.iih  the  surface  of  the  State  is  peneially  h'vel  or  8li,i;htly 
undulatinji',  there  are  some  pctrtions  of  it  considerably  eleva- 
ted. The  highest  summits  are  found  alonn'  the  northern  border 
between  Free])ort  and  (lalena,  known  as  the  mouiuls.  The  cuhni- 
iiant  points  of  altitude  ureL'OO  feet  above  th<'  surroundinu'  country, 
r)7.-|  aitove  the  watei's  of  Lake  ^lichi.i^an,  !>(I0  above  the  Junction 
of  the  Ohio  and  Mississi]>]»i,  and  l,ir)(t  above  the  ocean.  Tlie  toi)S 
of  the  mounds  coincide  with  the  original  elevation  of  the  surface, 
and  their  pnjsent  condition  as  isolated  hills  is  due  to  denuding 


TOPOfJKArnY  AND  EIVFiT?S. 


15 


foires  which  have  carriod  away  the  suiTouiidiiiy  strata.  ]\I<>iiii(ls 
<><'('iii'  in  otlicr  places,  some  of  thi  in  haviii;;'  a  iii,n]it  of  .")(»  feet,  and 
frc<incnlly  a  crown  of  tinil>cr  u|»(»n  tiicir  snnunits,  wliicli  ^ivcstiicni 
the  aii]»<>aranc('  of  islands  in  snrronndinji'  seas  of  ])iaivie  vcnlure. 
l>csi(h's  the  nionnds  there  are  in  the  State  ~>  ])rincii»al  axes  of  dis- 
turbance and  elevation.  The  most  northerly  of  thes(>  enters  it  in 
Ste]tlienson  county.  crossin.i:'  I'ock  rivei'near  Dixon,  and  the  llliiuns 
not  far  from  LaSalle.  On  the  former  river  it  Itrinys  to  the  surface 
the  St.  Peters  sandstone:  on  the  latter.  nia,iiiiesian  limestone,  a 
Silurian  formation.  At  LaSalle  the  coal  strata  are  uplifted  to  the 
surface  from  ade]>th  of -KM)  feet,  which  shows  that  the  distnrltance 
occui'red  after  their  formation.  On  the  >\Iississip])i,  in  (.'alhouu 
county,  thei'e  occurred  an  U]>heaval  of  the  strata,  attended  with  a 
<lown  throw  of  more  than  1,0(10  feet.  On  the  south  side  of  the 
axis  the  JJurlin,nt(»u  limestone  of  the  suhcarhonifercais  series  had 
its  .I'ata  tilted  uj)  almost  ])er]iendicnlar  to  the  horizon.  On  the 
north  side  the  St.  Peters  sandstone  and  maynesian  limestone  were 
elevated,  and  form  the  lilulf  known  as  Sandstone  Cape.  This 
binlf,  at  the  time  of  its  elevation,  was  doubtless  a  mountain  mass 
of  l,."iOO  feet  in  hi^ht,  and  has  since  been  reduced  to  its  present 
altitude  by  the  denuding'  elVects  of  watei'.  The  sanu'  axes  of  dis- 
turbance, trendinj;'  in  a  southeastern  direction,  crosses  tjie  Illinois  (5 
miles  above  its  mouth,  and  farther  soutliward  a,inain  strikes  the 
^Mississippi  and  disappears  in  its  channel.  Farther  down  the  river 
another  ni)lift  dislocates  the  strata  lu-ar  the  southern  line  of  St. 
Cbiir  county.  This  distui'banc(^  extends  by  way  of  Cohunbia,  in 
]\ronroe  county,  to  the  Mississip])i,  and  brings  to  the  surface  the 
sanu'  limestone  and  the  St.  Petei's  sandstone.  A|Liain,  farther 
southward,  an  u])litted  mountain  rid,ue  extends  fromOrand  Tower, 
on  the  -Mississii)pi,  to  Shawneetown,  on  the  Ohio;  on  the  west  of 
the  !Mississii»])i  it  l»i'iu,<is  the  lower  Silurian  rocks  to  the  surfact' ;  in 
Jackson  county,  Illinois,  it  tilts  up  the  Devonian  limestone  at  an 
an,i;le  of  LT)  (h'yrees;  and  farther  eastward  the  subcai'boniferous 
limestone  becouu'S  the  surface  rock.  The  last  imi)ortant  ])oint  of 
disturbance  occurs  in  Alexander  county,  constitutin;;'  the  (irand 
Chain,  a  daiijicrous  reef  of  rocks,  extending'  across  the  .Mississijtpi 
and  tbrmin^  a  blulf  on  the  Illinois  slnu-e  70  feet  hiiih.  Passing;- 
thence  in  a  southeastern  direction,  it  crosses  the  Ohio  a  few  miles 
above  Caledonia,  in  Pulaski  county.* 

'/'/(('  Fonntition  of  the  Soil  is  diu'  to  !!i'eolo<;ical  and  other  physi- 
cal a,ii'encif's.  I'>om  lon<>'  habit  we  are  arcustonu'd  to  look  upon  it 
without  considerinii' its  wonderful  ])roi)erties  and  .yreat  im]»ortauce 
in  the  economy  of  animal  life.  Not  attractive  itself,  yet  its  pro- 
ductions far  transcend  the  most  <'laborate  works  of  art;  and  hav- 
in;;-  but  little  diversity  of  apju'arance,  the  endless  variety  which 
])ervades  the  ve,iietable  and  auinnd  kinii'doms  spriujis  from  its  pro- 
lific abundance.  Its  mysterious  elements,  incorporated  in  the  struc- 
ture of  plants,  clothes  the  earth  with  verdure  and  pleasant  land- 
scapes. They  bloom  in  the  flower,  loa<l  the  breeze  with  fraurant 
«»dors,  blush  in  the  clustering-  fiuit,  whiten  the  fields  with  harvests 
for  the  supply  of  food,  furnish  the  tissues  which,  wr(»nj;ht  into 
fabrics,  deco'ite  ami  ])rotect  the  body,  and  yield  the  curative 
afi'ents  for  healin.i>'  the  diseases  to  which  it  is  subject.  From  the 
saiiu^  source  also  i)roceed  the  elements  Avhich,  enterinj;'  the  domain 


'Geological  Smvpy  of  Illinois,  by  A.  H.  Worthcii. 


!  ' 


^'•■-^^-  ^viM.s.'   .'/•^,  <;. ';"ti.  in  uhH-hi ';;;'";  <-^<;i!..-  <i- 
;?""^'-,  <•-..,:;';  !^L^  ;:•,  y  i"<;y  "POM  til ,:;;:,;:':' 7'--  '"'- 


TlM.soiMv.sori   •     „  -^wl  that  forms  his 

!'"•'  ^'""nMino  ,         ,/  ^'  <'<'<-<"",.ositio„  o  •  ;  ',:^^  '/*'  .''1  'I  stratum 
^*'<'r  in  tliickn,  iv  ;        ■      ""'"<'"N<'  (Icix.sif   v..     •   ^^'"^'^  <''"l>I<)vo( 

J'><'ii,  flK,s(. ,  ,,  .  /      /"'="'  ^^''iM  "VPs  •,,.:•  •"  ^''*"  >""^f<>.v  of 

<"'N  ,ni.s,s("s    ,  Hi      ^'"  "l'J»<''-  ^lississi,,,,     '    i'"'^  V''  ^'-^<^«""<liiiS 

'""I  Cinrvin-M     I,    ;     ^  '^"""  ^''<'  M.lia,,.,f         '"^''<''' Pnwcss, 
fioia  th7M-    ,.Jf '     *  •;!^  ^''<^  '"f^'iior  so,,    '    ■ . ,    i    "*  ••'^"'"i'"lor.     ()„ 

•  i""^v."<i  the  s,^f  •  J'"^'  ;!!;*^;'''i'^oad f,,,ri,''  :;  :;:  1"="^'^  -r  wi 

to  tlH.ir«iin,!;  ,     '^,  •'  'J"y^-t  tl.cir  co„r,     .   '  n.^"  "laiJiiorMallced 


SOIL. 


17 


Iniiidi'cd  sii('('<'<'(liim'  <"iii]»ir('s,  cmcIi  ns  old  iis  tlic  ])r('sciit  iintioiinli- 
lics  of  tlic  «';irtli,  (liiiiii.ii'  tlic  pcrroiiiiaiicc  of  their  labors.  Tliis 
s]>h'ii(li(l  soil  t'oniiinj;' deposit  is  destined  to  make  Illinois  the  ^reat 
centic  ol"  American  wealth  and  |to]>ulation.  I'erliaps  no  other 
country  of  the  same  ext<'nt  on  the  fa<'e  of  the  j^lohe  can  boast  a 
soil  so  ubi(initons  in  its  distribntion  and  so  universally  ]»rodnctive. 
ICnriched  by  all  the  minerals  in  the  crust  of  the  eartli,  it  necessa- 
rily <'ontains  a  .yreat  variety  of  constituents.  Since  plants  dilfer 
s(»  widely  in  the  elements  of  which  they  are  comjiosed,  this  multi- 
j)licity  of  eomiM)sitiou  is  the  means  of  ^rowinii'  a  ureat  diveisity 
of  cr(»i)s,  and  the  amount  ]>i'oduced  is  correspondingly  lar_i;'e.  So 
ji'reat  is  the  fertility,  that  years  of  continued  cultivation  do  not 
materially  diminish  the  yield,  and  should  sterility  be  induced  by 
exc<'ssive  working',  the  subsoil  can  be  made  available.  This  ex- 
tends from  2  to  10  and  even  I'O  and  .'>(•  feet  in  depth,  and  when 
mixed  with  the  mold  of  the  surface,  j^ives  it  a  jireater  ])i()ducinji' 
cai>acity  than  it  had  at  first.  Other  States  hav«'  limited  areas  as 
productive,  but  nearly  the  entire  surface  of  Illinois  is  arable  land, 
and  when  brought  under  cultivation  will  become  one  continue(l 
scene  of  ver<lure  and  agricultural  profusi»»n.  With  not  half  of  its 
area  improved,  the  State  has  become  the  jiranai'v  of  the  continent; 
far  excels  any  other  mendter  of  the  I'nion  in  ])ackin<i- ]M)rk  :  fat- 
tens more  than  half  of  all  the  ca*tle  shipi)ed  to  the  I'^astern  mar- 
kefs,  and  if  ja-ices  were  as  renuiiu'rati\(',  could  furnish  other 
])rodncts  to  a  C(n'res])on<lin^'  exh'ut.  (Iraded  to  a  ])roi)er  level, 
and  tree  from  obsfiiictions,  the  State  has  become  the  princii>al 
theatre  for  the  use  and  invention  of  ajiricultiiral  implements. 
Owinj;'  to  tlie  eheajaiess  attendinj^"  the  use  of  machinery,  with  a 
ji'ixcn  amount  of  ca]>ita1,  a  <ireater  extent  of  lands  can  be  culti- 
>ated.  The  severity  of  the  labor  expende<l  is  also  ]>roporfionately 
diminished,  and  those  en;4a,iied  in  husbandry  have  time  to  l)ecoine, 
acquainted  with  tin'  theoretical  as  well  as  the  ]»ractical  i)art  of 
their  duties.  The  ])rofound  ])hil<;so])hy  involved  in  the  lirowth  of 
jdants  furnishes  a  fiehl  for  investijiati(»n  and  experimeut  retjuiriiij;" 
the  ln,uhest  order  of  talent  and  the  most  varied  and  extensive  at- 
tainments. Afiricultuie,  aided  by  chemistry,  vegetable  ]ihysiolof!,y 
and  kindi'od  branches  of  knowledii'e,  will  <ireafly  eidiance  the  ])r()- 
(luctiveness  of  the  laud.  Thus  with  the  ad\  antancs  of  science,  a 
su])erior  soil,  and  the  use  of  nmchinery,  agriculture  will  always 
remain  the  most  attractive,  maidy  and  i»rofitabIe  bi'anch  of  indus- 
try in  which  the  ])eople  ol'  Illinois  can  enpi^'e,  contribuiiui;'  morv" 
than  any  other  i)ursuit  to  individual  condbrt,  ami  i)ropoitionally 
adding'  to  the  iu()s])erity  of  the  State.  The  cultivation  of  the  soil 
in  all  ayes  has  furnished  emi)loynMMit  for  the  largest  and  best  p»n"- 
tion  of  mankind;  yet  the  honor  to  which  th(\v  are  enfitled  has 
never  been  fully  acknowledged.  Thoujih  their  occupation  is  the 
basis  of  national  ])ros])erity,  and  upon  its  ^uoj^jress  nam'  than  any 
other  branch  of  indnstry  depends  the  mar<'h  of  civilization,  yet 
its  history  remains  to  a  ^^reat  extent  unwritten.  Historians  duly 
ohroniclc  the  feats  of  the  warrior  win*  ravaji'es  the  earth  and  bey- 
fi'ars  its  iidud)itants,  l)ut  leaves  nnnoticed  the  labors  of  him  who 
causes  the  desolated  country  to  bloom  ajiain,  ami  heals  with  the 
balm  of  i)lenty  the  nnseries  of  war.  When  true  worth  is  duly  re- 
cognized, instead  (  f  the  nnul  and)ition  which  subju;.;at(\s  nations 
to  ac<piire  power,  the  heroism  which  subdues  the  soil  and  feeds 
2 


18 


IIISTOIIY  OF  ILLTNOrs. 


the  woilil.  will  he  llic  tliciiic  of  the  poet's  soiij;' ;iii(l  llic orator's 
('lo(|ii('iic('. 

The  Ofiii'nt  of  the  rntiii<s  lias  been  a  source  of  speculation. 
One-  tlieory  is  that  the  soil  resulted  IVoiii  the  (lecoiiipositi<»ii  of 
vejL;<'tal)le  matter  iiiulei' water,  and  that  tlie  attendiiii;'  conditions 
were  inconipiitihle  with  the  yrowlh  of  tiniiier.  Acconlin-^'  to  this 
\iew,  prairies  are  at  present  in  pi'ocess  of  formation  alonji  the 
shores  of  lakes  aiul  rixcrs.  Durin;^'  liver  iVeshets  the  heaviest 
]»articles  settle  nearest  the  chaiinei.  and  here  by  rejieated  deposits 
the  banks  lirst  became  elevated  abo\('  the  Hoods,  'riiese  natural 
le\ies  iiccoiniiiy'  snlhcieiitly  hi.uh.  are  ovcr^^row  n  with  timber  and 
inclose  lavp'  areas  of  bottom  lands  back  from  the  river,  by  which 
they  are  frequently  innndatcd.  The  waters  on  these  llats,  when 
the  Hood  subsides,  are  "lit  olf  from  the  ri\('r  and  tbrm  sloujihs, 
freipieiitly  of  .ureat  ext  lit.  Their  shallow  and  stajiiiant  waters 
are  lirst  invaded  by  mo.  ses  and  other  ai|uatic  ]»laiits  which  yiow 
under  the  surface  and  c(mtain  in  their  tissues  lime,  alluinina.  and 
silica,  the  constituents  of  clay.  They  also  subsist  iinincnse  num- 
bers of  small  mollusks  ami  other  dimiiiiiti\e  creatures,  and  the 
constant  decomitosition  of  both  ve/^etables  and  animals  forms  a 
stratum  of  clay  corresiiondin.u'  with  that  which  underlies  the  lin- 
ishrd  prairies.  As  the  marshy  bottoms  are  by  this  means  built 
up  to  the  surface  of  the  water,  the  iiioss»'s  are  then  intennixed 
wilii  coarse  j;rassi's,  which  become  more  and  more  abundant  as  tluf 
(ieplli  diinii^ishes.  Tlu'se  reedy  plants,  now  rising;'  above  the  sur- 
face, absorb  and  <lecompose  the  carbonic  acid  j^as  ol"  the  atmos- 
l)iiere.  and  convert  it  into  woody  matter,  which  at  lirst  forms  ;i 
chiyey  m(»l<l  and  afterwards  the  black  mold  of  the  inairie.  Tim 
same  ajiciicies,  now  operatiiiu'  in  the  ponds  skirting;-  the  banks  of 
rivv'rs,  ori;;inally  formed  all  tlu'  i)rairies  of  the  .Mississippi  \'alley. 
\\'('  have  already  seen  that  the  surface  of  the  land  was  snbiuerm'd 
duiiii:.';  the  dispersion  of  the  drift,  and  in  its  slow  einerii'ence  after- 
As,ird.  it  was  covered  by  vast  sheets  of  shallow  water,  which  lirsl 
Ibraied  swamps  and  siibse<pi<'ntly  i»rairi«'s.  Tlie  present  want  of 
horlzontality  in  some  of  them  is  due  to  the  erosive  action  of  water. 
The  draina^^c,  niovin<i'  in  tin-  direction  of  the  creeks  and  rivers,  at 
leii'.',tli  furrowed  the  surface  with  tortuous  ineanders.  result iiiji" 
liiially  in  the  present  nndiilatiiiiLi'  prairies.  The  absence  (»f  trees,  the 
most  remarkable  feature,  is  atti'ibutable  tirst  to  the  formation  of 
iiliiiic  acid.wiiich  favors  the  j^rowth  of  lierbacious  i)lants  and  retards 
that  of  forests;  secondly, trees  absorb  by  tlu'ir  roots lar<i(' (plant it ies 
of  air,  which  they  cannot  obtain  when  tin,'  surface  is  under  water  or 
covered  by  a  coiii]»act  sod;  and  thirdly,  they  re(piire  solid  points 
of  attachment  which  marshy  llats  are  unable  to  furnish.  When, 
howexer,  tln^  lands  become  dry  and  the  sod  is  broken  by  the  plow 
or  otherwise  destroyed,  they  ]»ro(liice  all  the  varieties  of  arbores- 
cent ve,<i-etatioi!  coininoii  to  their  latitude,  indeed. since  the  settle- 
ment of  Illinois,  the  woodland  area  of  many  localities  extends  far 
beyoiul  its  oritiinal  limits. 

TIk'  forcj^ioiny  theory  re(piires  a  larjic  nnvaryin<f  quantity  of 
water,  while  another,  perhajts  ecpially  jilausible.  is  based  on  aque- 
ous conditions  almost  tln^  reverse.  It  is  well  known  that  the 
diflerent  continental  masses  of  the  j^lobeare  in  ji'eneral  siivrouiKled 
by  /ones  of  timber,  and  have  within  them  belts  of  {grasses,  and 
centrally  laryt'  areas  of  inliosi»itable  deserts.    On  the  Atlantic  side 


PKAIRIES 


19 


of  Noitli  Ainciic;!  tlicro  is  ;i  coiitimioiis  wooded  r(';;i()n,  cxtcndiiiff 
iVoiii  IIiids(m  !)ii\  to  tUt'  ^'nll**!'  .M('\i('(»,  wliilc  on  1  lie  Pucilic^  n  siiiii- 
l;ii'  ;irlt<»r»'s<'ciit  j;io\vt!i  ciiiltrjiccs  sonic  of  the  most  j;i;4iinti('  spcci- 
nicns  of  the  vcyctiiltlt'  kinydoni.  W'itliin  tlicsc  l)iii!'ls  of  timber, 
wliieli  ii]»])i-o;i('li  encli  other  in  tlieir  iioitliern  ;ind  soiitiieni  I'eiieiies, 
iire  tlie  ^I'ciit  pi'iiii'ies  exteiidiii.i;'  tninsverselv  iici'oss  (lie  Mississippi 
\';ille.v.  iiiid  li;i\  ini;'  tiieir  ,ui'e;itest  e\p;iiisiou  in  tiie  v;ilie.v  of  tlie 
Missouri.  I'^ii'tiier  west  witi'd,  from  incre;isin,u'  dryness,  tiie  .uriisses 
entirely  disiipjM'iir,  iind  tlie  <;reiit  Amerienn  Desert  usurps  tlu'ir 
phiee.  'I'liis  iilteruiition  of  forest,  i)rinrie,  nnd  desei't.  e(»rres- 
ponds  witii  tlie  precipitation  of  moisture.  The  ocean  is  the  j^reat 
source  (►f  moisture,  an<l  the  chuids  are  the  vehicles  employed  for 
its  distrihuticm  over  the  land.  l''rom  actual  measureuK'nt  it  has 
been  ascertained  that  tln'V  disciiai',ye  most  of  fiieir  water  on  the 
exterior  rim  of  the  contiiu'iits ;  that  farther  toward  the  inteiior 
tlie  amount  ]>i'ecipitated  is  less,  ami  finally  it  is  almost  entii'cly 
supplanted  by  the  aridit\  of  the  desert,  in  a  section  extendin;;' 
across  the  continent  irom  New  Voik  to  San  I'rancisco,  the  amount 
of  rain -fall  strikingly  coincides  with  the  alternations  of  wood-land, 
l>raii'ie,  and  desert.  The  i'ei;ion  extending  tVom  New  York,  which 
has  an  aiiniiai  rain-fall  of  I'J  inches,  to  Ann  Arbor,  Inninj^'  LM) 
inches,  is  heavily  covered  with  timiu'i';  thence  t(»  (lalesburj;',  111., 
havinji'  L'(J  inches,*  is  mostly  pr;iiri<'  interspersed  with  clumps  of 
forest  ;  thence  to  I'ort  Laramie,  haxiiii;'  20  inches,  it  I'apidly 
changes  to  a  continiU)Us  ]»raiiie;  thence  to  l''ort  Vounni,  having' 
only -■{  inches,  it  l)ec()mes  an  inhos])itable  desert;  ami  thence  to 
San  Fi'ancisco,  havinu'  1*2  inches,  it  chanii'cs  to  lirxuriant  forests. 
Illinois  is  thus  within  the  re.yion  of  alternate  wood  and  jirairie, 
Avith  the  latter  lar.ii'cly  ])redomimitin,ii'.  This  wide  belt,  owin;^'  to  a 
difference  of  c;!i»acity  for  retainin.ii'  moisture,  has  its  eastern  and 
western  boi'ders  thi'own  into  ii're<;ular  outlines,  resemblinj^'  deeply 
indented  bays  and  i»roJectin,<;'  headlands.  ^\s  the  result  of  decreas- 
\u'^  moisture,  only  IH)  arborescent  species  are  found  in  the  wooded 
rcijion  which  on  the  east  extends  a  considerable  <listance  into 
Illinois,  and  all  of  these.  excei)t  (t.  disappear  fai'thei'  westward. 
The  diminished  ])recii)itation  in  Illinois,  an<l  the  iireat  valley  east 
of  the  31ississip])i,  while  it  has  an  unfavor;'ble  elfect  on  the  growth 
of  ti'ccs,  seems  rather  to  enhance  the  .yrowtli  of  crojis.  Fn  further 
(•onlirmation  of  this  theory,  the  same  physicial  laws  which  hav»! 
diversitied  North  Anu'rica  with  forest,  prairie,  and  desert,  have 
])roduced  similai"  effects  upon  other  continents.  Hence  it  is  that 
South  America  has  its  Atacanni,  Africa  its  <.;reat  Sahara,  lOurope 
its  barren  steppes,  and  Asia  its  rainless  waste  of  sand  and  salt, 
e\tendinj>'  tlironyh  more  than  KM)  dej;rees  of  lonjL;itn(l<'.  AH  these 
desert  jdaces,  wliere  local  causes  do  not  interfere,  are  fiirt  about 
by  f^rassy  ]>laiiis  and  belts  of  forest. 


*  'I'lic  snlijiiiin'i!  Iiil)l(' liM.s  lii'i'ii  kiiicUv  t'liiiiislKMl  lis  by  I'liif.  r.iviuirstiiiic,  ol'  Li)iiibiiiil  Tiii- 
vi'isity.  It  will  be  seen  tli.il  tbr  intMii  ;ii\iiM;il  l('iii|ii'int  lire  nf  ( ialc.sliiii'Z  is  4^  ilciiri'i's,  iiiiil  its 
mean  iiniiiiiil  |>ri'('i|ilt!itiiin  of  nxiistiiri'  '^4  iiiclus.  Tlii'  sdMlliiin  iiiid  wi'.sti  in  portions  of  the 
State Nliijlitl.v  t'xcccd  tlio  aliovo  li;iiiies: 


Jini.  1  Feb. 

Mar. 

Apr. 

May. 

June.    .Tilly.    Aug.  !  Sop.   !  Oi-t.      Nov.  !   Dec. 

Aiin'l 

5     '5:2 

ye"  14  y4>> 

14 

"     1  ••*     "^    1   r-     '^ 

;«)»  2.'>'4!)»!r'S  GO" 

H 
TO" 

H.  2     2.  3    1  2.'  2     z.'  2     £.'  ?  '  S.i  2    :  z. 
;)-j'.")9n;40  "1"  4:1  c;!",;!'}  .'iii'>  a,-)  y.v'iii  •J(i'>  \s 

ST 
3' 

•26 

LM) 


IIISTOKV  ()!•'  ILLINOIS. 


Some  ciiiiiicnt  jjliysicists  refer  tlie  treeless  eliiirncter  of  the  };reat 
};i'iiss,v  plains  to  the  ineciiiinieal  iiihI  cheinieiil  t-haraeter  of  the  soil. 
J'eriiaps,  in  the  constantly  \ar\lii<i'  physical  conditions  of  dillerent 
hicalities,  tlie  forces  alhuled  to  in  tiiese  theoiies  ad\anced,  may  all 
cooperate  to  produce  these  ;;reat  jirassy  expanses,  which  consti- 
tnte  so  Iar;^('  a  part  (tf  tin-  earth's  siirfuce.  To  Illinois  they  are 
inexhanstiltle  sources  of  wealth,  and  as  intimately  connected  with 
hei' destiny  as  liie  yreat  coal  lields  which  underlie  them.  Hoth  are 
the  «'.\pressiou  of  natural  law,  hoth  destined  to  funush  the  State 
with  the  elements  of  fiitnri!  ^ireatness  and  p()wer,  and  hoth  i>ro- 
]>hetic  of  laltor.  intelli^i'ence  and  the  enjoyment  of  a   noble  man- 

lUMld.* 

The  ('liiiitih)lo(i!/  of  the  State,  in  c<»nnm»n  with  other  countries  of 
the  same  latitude,  has  four  seasons.  'l"he  meltinu'  snows  of  winter, 
jl'euerally  atteiuled  by  rains,  convert  the  rich  soil  of  the  prairie  into 
mud,  and  rendei' early  spriu;^  the  most  uni»leasaut  part  (»f  the  year. 
The  heat  of  summer,  althou;ih  nutre  intense  than  in  the  same  lati- 
tude on  the  Atlantic,  is  "greatly  relieved  by  the  constant  breezes 
which  fan  the  jtrairies.  Autumn,  with  slowly  diminishinji'  heats, 
terminates  in  the  serene  ami  beautiful  season  known  as  Indian 
summer.  Its  mild  and  uniform  temperaiure,  soft  and  hazy  atnuts- 
])hei(',  and  forests  beautifully  tinted  widi  the  huesof  dyinii'  folia/^c, 
all  <'onsi>ireto  render  it  the  pleasati.'  jtart  (»f  the  year.  Next  t'ome 
the  boreal  blasts  of  winter,  with  its  social  liresides,  and  tinklinij 
bells  in  the  mystic  liyht  of  the  nu)on,  as  merry  sleij^hs  skim  over 
the  level  snow  clad  prairies.  The  winter  has  its  sudden  (-hauiics 
of  temi>erature.  causin,u'  (-((Ids  and  other  diseases  arisiu;;'  from 
extreme  vicissitudes  of  weather.  This  is  tlu^  most  nnfavorabh? 
feature  of  the  climat*',  which  in  other  respects  is  salubrious.  The 
}>'eneral  belief  that  Illimtis  is  scourged  by  bilious  diseases  is  sub- 
stantially unfounded,  i'  is  well  known  that  the  i)ioueers  of  Ohio, 
Indiana  and  ;\liclii,i;an  suffered  far  woi'se  from  nnilarions  diseases 
than  th(»st!  who  lirst  subdued  the  soil  <tf  Illinois.  The  cause  of 
this  is  ai)parent.  The  malaria  of  marshes  and  unsubdued  soils  in 
wooded  (listri(!ts,  excluded  from  tin'  liuht  of  the  sun  and  a  free 
circulation  of  air.  is  far  more  malignant  than  that  of  the  i)rairie 
ha\  iu.u'  the  full  beuetit  of  these  c(»untera('tin^'  ajicnts.t 

The  most  distinjitiisliinji-  feature  of  the  climate  is  its  sub-tropical 
siuunu'rs  and  tin'  arctii^  severities  of  its  winters.  Tlu'  newly 
airived  iMijilish  immij^rant  is  at  first  inclined  to  comj>lain  (»f  these 
climatic  extremes,  but  a  short  residence  in  the  country  soon  con- 
vinces him  that  many  of  the  most  kindly  tVuits  and  plants  could 
not  be  cultivated  and  matured  without  them.  Owin;;'  to  this  troi)i('al 
element  of  the  summer,  tln^  lu'ach,  "irajx',  sweet  potato,  cotton, 
corn  and  other  i»lauts  readily  mature  in  Illinois,  thoujih  its  mean 
annual  temperature  is  less  than  that  of  Knj;land,  whei'e  their  cul- 
tivation is  impossible.  These  facts  show  that  a  hiyh  tempei'ature 
for  a  short  season  is  nunv  benelicial  to  some  of  the  most  Aalued 
])lants  than  a  moderate  temperature  lonji'  contimu'd.  This  is  well 
exemi)litied  in  tin-  cidtivation  of  our  jiii-at  staple,  maize,  or  Indian 
corn,  which,  wherever  the  conditions  an'  favorable,  yields  a  jureater 
amount  of  nutriment,  with  a  given  amount   of  labor,  than  any 


*Sei'  (ifoftiapliii'iil  Smvi'.VM  of  Un'  Stati',  iiiid  Fiislii's  I'Uysitiil  (Ji'iij^vaiiliy  of  tlic  Mi.ssis- 
sipjii  Valli'.v. 

tl'"(»st('i's  I'liysiial  Ucography. 


C'LIMATOLOdY. 


21 


known  (MTciil.  it  WHS  ori^iiniill.v  ii  tiopiciil  j^iass,  iuul  wlu-n  culti- 
Viitcd  in  icuions  of  a  lii;^!!  and  protractt'd  trnipfratiirc.  cxliiltits  a 
stronji  tcndcncN  to  rev cit  to  ilsoi'i<^inal  (•••ndition.  In  the (i id t  States 
it  ^Tows  to  a  "^icatciliij^lit  than  tartlnT  nortliward,  hnt  its  vicid  ot' 
fciccd  iscoiiTs)>ondin;ily  less,  in  tiif  \  alleys  o|iciiiii.u  sc;i\\ar<l  aloii;;- 
tlie  i'aeitic  slope,  it  attains  a  niedinni  si/e.  I)ut  tails  to  inatiiic  lor 
tin' want  of  sntlicieiit  In-at.  iience  the  distiiets  of  its  niaxininni 
])i'odii('tion  must  he  I'ai'  noi'tji  of  its  nati\'e  latitndes.  and  have  tiio 
Itenelit  ot'  short  hut  intense  sMniniei'  lieats.  in  Illinois  and  adja- 
cent parts  of  the  ^^reat  valley  its  ;>reate.;t  yield  is  aliont  tiie  41st 
]>aralle1,  and  llioii<;'li  la i' less  ini])osin.<^' in  its  appearance  than  on 
the  (iidf,  its  prodiietixc  capacity  is  said  i:.  he  four  fold  -ireater 
than  either  there  or  on  the  i'acitie.  it  is  wonderfnl  that  a  jilanb 
.slionid  nii(h'j';L;()  snch  a  .yreat  transfoi'niation  in  stiiu'tnic  and  nat- 
ural liahits,  and  that  its  greatest  ]»iodncin^'  capacity  shonid  ho 
neai'  the  noi-thern  limits  of  its  jtossihle  ctdtivatioii.  'I'hese  facts 
isn^ii^est  tinestions  of  ^^rcaf  scientilic  \ahie  iclative  to  the  de\eloii- 
meid  of  otlu'j'  j)lants  hy  renH)vin,i;'  llieni  from  tlieir  luitixc  localities. 

One  of  lh«'  cans«'s  wjiich  assist  in  iiapai'tin^'  these  extremes  to 
the  climate  may  he  Ihns  «'\]»laiiwd.  'I'he  different  continental 
masses  (lni-in<;'  the  sniiimer  liecome  lapidly  heated  iindo'  the  inthi- 
<'ni'e  of  the  snn,  wliile  the  snridnndinii  oceans  are  less  sensitise  to 
its  eir«'<'ts.  As  the  residt,  the  lands  Itoi'deiin;^'  on  the  sea  have  a 
<'o!a]>arativeIy  mild  temjieratniv,  while  the  interior  is  snhject  to 
intt'iise  lieat.  i)in'in!:>'  winter,  tor  similar  )-e;isons,  tiie  interior 
Jiecomes  si'verely  cold,  wJjile  the  sea-^irt  shoi-e  still  enjoys  a  innch 
milder  tenijx-iatnre.  ihif  a  uicatei'  modifying  intlncnce  n]>on  the 
rlimate  are  the  wimls  to  which  it  is  snhject.  The  sokicc  of  lliese 
is  at  tiie  e(]uator,  where  tlie  air,  becomin;;  raritied  from  the  elfeets 
of  heat,  rises  and  Hows  in  vast  nmsses  toward  the  )»olcs.  Oil 
reachiniL,'  col<ler  latitudes  it  desc<'iids  to  the  earth,  and  as  :in  nnder- 
«'nrreiit  n'tnrns  lolhe  <Mpiator  and  sM])i»lies  the  tropical  vaciiuui 
I'ansed  by  its  previous  ascent.  Jf  the  earth  were  at  rest,  the  two 
lunler  and  two  n))j)ej'  cnii-eiits  wonid  move  at  rijiht  an.i;ies  to 
the  eijnator.  i?nt,  owin,i,'  to  its  daily  rev(»hition  from  west  to  east, 
the  nnder-cnrrents,  as  they  jiass  from  thej>oles  toward  the  iMpialor 
where  the  rotation  is  ureatest,  fall  behind  the  earth,  and  that  in 
the  nortln-rn  hemisjiliere  Hows  from  the  northeast,  and  that  in  the 
tsonthern  from  the  sontheast.  in  like  nmnner  the  iiit]>er-cnrrcnts, 
Howin.ii;  from  tlie  yreatei'  veh)city  of  tlie  tMjnator  towaid  the  less  at 
the  jtoI«'.s.  j^'et  in  adv.MU'c  of  the  eaitli ;  and  the  one  in  the  north 
flows  from  the  sonthwe.^i,  and  the  other  in  the  south  fiom  the 
lioilhwest.  If  the  .ylobe  wei'e  a  pei-fectly  smooth  sjihei-e,  the  flow 
<tf  the  wimls  ;,s  al)o\'e  described  would  be  uniform,  but  the  former 
beiii;,'  crested  with  luouutain  chains,  the  latter  are  broken  into  a 
jireat  variety  of  local  currents.  In  a  belt  of  about  I'o  de.yrces  on 
«'acli  side  of  the  (Mpnitor,  tlw  nnder-currents  blow  with  the  jireatest 
I'eiinlarity,  and  are  called  trade-winds,  from  their  imixatance  toiniv- 
i^ation  aud  connnerce. 

in  makinjj;  an  apjilicatiou  of  these  .ureat  inimary  currents  to  tlie 
valley  of  the  .Mississij)])!,  and  conse(piently  to  Illinois,  it  will  be 
.seen  that  the  southwest  winds,  descending'  from  their  eipiato- 
rial  altitude,  become  the  j»re\ ailinji'  winds  ol'  the  surface  iu  (air 
latitude.  l>esid<'s  these,  the  northeast  trade-winds,  in  their  jiro- 
gress  toward  the  (Mjuator,  im])inj;('  ajuainst  the  lofty  chain  of  the 


oo 


F  I 


ll^i    s 


II! 


niHTouv  OP  r,Lmor.s. 


i 


ir^ 


ClIAPTKU  TTT. 
ILLINOIS  ANTlQriTIKS— THK  :\I()rXI)  lU'lLDKHS. 


It  is  tlic  opinion  of  nntitiiiiii-iiins  tlnit  tlii-'c  distini't  rin'<\s  of 
])('()|»I('  iivcfl  in  North  Auicricii  prior  to  its  occnpiition  l».v  tlic  present 
])opniiiti<tn.  Of  tln'se  tin-  Iniilders  of  tin'  nnij^niliceiit  eities  wliosc 
remains  are  fonnd  in  a  nnnilier  of  localities  of  Centra)  Anieriea 
wei'e  the  most  civilized,  .huiuinji"  from  tiie  rnins  of  hrolcen  eolnmns, 
J'allen  arches  and  the  ciMiml»lin.n'  walls  of  temples,  i»ahices  an<l  pyr- 
jimids,  \vhich  in  s(»nie  jdaces  for  miles  Iteslicw  the  jiionnd,  these. 
(•iti<'s  must  have  been  of  ji'reat  <'xtent  and  very  ]»o]Hdons.  TIm^ 
mind  is  almost  startled  at  the  renn)teness  of  theii'  anti(piity,  when 
we  consider  the  vast  sweep  of  tinn- necessary  toer<'ct  siu'h  colossal 
strnctnr(\s  of  solid  masonry,  and  alterwards  convert  tln-ni  into  the, 
j>rcsent  utter  wreck.  Comparing'  their  com)»let<'  desolation  with 
the  I'uins  of  Ualhec,  Palmyra.  'I'heltes  and  Menii)liis.  they  must 
lia\e  been  old  when  the  latt<'r  wei'e  heini;'  built.  May  not  America 
then  be  called  the  old  world  instead  of  the  lU'W  ;  and  may  it  not 
liave  contained,  when  these  Central  Anu-riean  cities  weuc  (^v«'cte<l, 
a  civilization  ecpial  if  not  snpei'iin-  to  that  which  contenipoiane- 
ously  existed  on  the  banks  of  the  Nile,  and  made  I'iji'ypt  th«'  laadle 
of  eastern  arts  and  science? 

The  second  race,  as  determined  by  the  character  of  their  civili 
zation,  were  the  mound  builders,  the  remains  of  wh(»se  works  con- 
stitute the  most  int(>restin,u'  class  of  antiipiities  found  within  the 
limits  of  the  l'nite<l  States.  Like  the  luins  of  Cential  Ameiica, 
they  antedate  the  mo.st  ancient  icciu'ds;  tradition  can  furnish  no 
sicconntof  them,  and  their  character  can  oidy  l)e  ]»ai'tiiilly  jL;Ieaned 
intni  the,  int<'rnal  evidences  which  they  tlu-mselves  atVord.  They 
consist  of  the  remains  of  what  was  ai>i)arently  villa^(\s,  altars, 
tem]»les,  idols,  cemeteri«'s.  monuments,  camps,  fortitications.  jylcas- 
ure  grounds,  etc.  The  farthest  i'eli<'  of  this  kind,  discovered  in  a 
northeastern  direction,  was  near  Ilhu'k  river  on  tlie  south  side  of 
Lake  Ontario.  Thence  they  extend  in  a  southwestern  diieetion 
l)y  way  of  the  Ohio,  the  Mississippi.  Mexican  (iulf,  Texas,  New 
]\iexicoaiul  Voucatan,  into  South  Anu-rica.  Conunencinj>'  in  Cata- 
ran,ijus  conuty.  New  York,  there  was  a  chain  of  forts  extending 
more  than  ."iO  miles  southwesterly,  not  more  than  4  or  ~>  miles 
ajtart,  and  evidently  built  by  a  people  rude  in  the  arts  and  few  in 
iniml)ers.  Further  southward  they  increas<'  in  nunil)er  and  mag- 
nitude. In  West  Vir,<>inia,  near  the  junction  of  (irave  creek  and 
the  ( )hio,  is  one  of  the  most  aujiust  monunu'uts  of  remote  anti(piity 
found  in  the  whole  country..  According;-  to  measiu'cment  it  has  an 
altitude  of  *M)  fi-et,  a  diameter  at  the  base  of  lOO  feet,  and  at  the 
summit  of  -tii  feet,  while  a  partial  examination  discloses  within  it 


24 


IIISIOIJV    (tF    II.I.INdlS. 


II, 


the  ('xist(>iic<'  ot'iiDiiiy  tliou.saiMls  ol'  liiiiiiiin  Klu-lctoiis.  In  Ohio, 
wlicl't'  tli«>  iiioiiikIs  Ii:i\c  liccli  ciU'rl'iiIlN  txiiliiilinl,  niv  toillid  sninc 
of  til*-  most  ('\lciisi\f  :iii(l  ilitrirsiiii^  t  liiit  occur  ill  tlic  i'liilcd 
Stillcs.  At  tlic  liioiilii  ol'  the  .MllsUiii;;illii,  iiiiioli;;  a  iiilliiltci' of 
curious  works,  w us  a  rcctaii;^iihir  fort  coiitaiiiiiij;  10  acres,  I'licirclcd 
In  a  wall  of  earth  IC  feet  lii;L;li,  and  perfmated  with  openings 
reseiiiMiii};'  gateways.  In  the  inoiiiid  near  the  fort  were  found  tln^ 
remains  of  a  swnrd,  which  a|)|)eared  to  ha\e  Iteeii  hiiiied  with  its 
owner.  Itestiii;^  on  the  forciiead  were  found  three  laijic  copiier 
bosses,  plated  with  sihcr  and  attached  to  a  leather  iMiekler.  Near 
the  side  of  the  liod\  was  a  plate  of  siixci'.  which  had  perhaps  In  en 
the  upper  part  of  a  copper  sea  I  ilia  id,  portions  of  w  liicli  were  liih  d 
with  iron  rust,  doiilitless  the  reinaiiis  of  a  sword.  A  fort  of  siinilai' 
coiistiiiction  and  diinciisioiis  was  fouial  on  Lickin;^'  ri\er,  iiear 
Newark.  I'aj^iit  f^ateways  pierced  the  walls,  and  were  jiiiardt'd  liy 
iiioiinds  directly  opposiic  each  on  tiie  inside  of  the  u^ak.  At  (ir- 
cle\  ille,  on  the  Sciot(»,  there  were  two  forts  in  Jiixiapositioii:  the 
»iiie  an  exact  circle  (!(»  rods  in  diameter,  and  the  other  a  |ierfect 
s(piare,  .V)  rods  on  each  side.  The  circular  fort ilicat ion  was  siir- 
roiiiide<l  l)y  two  walls,  with  an  inteiAcniii,;^'  ditch  L'd  feet  in  depth. 
On  Taint  creek,  IT)  miles  west  of  (  hillicothe.  besides  other  exten- 
sive works,  w  as  discox cred  (he  remains  of  a  walled  town.  It  was 
biiill  on  the  siiinmit  of  a  hill  aitoiit  .'>(*()  Icet  in  alliliide,  and  ciician- 
passed  by  a  wall  10  feet  in  lii^lit,  madeof  sioiie  in  their  naliiial 
state.  The  area  thus  inclosed  contained  i.">t»  acres.  On  the  south 
si(h'  of  it  there  were  ioiiud  the  reinaiiis  of  what  app<'ared  originally 
to  lia\e  been  a  row  of  furnaces  orsmil h  shops,  altout  which  cinders 
were  found  sexcral  feet  in  depth.  In  the  bed  of  the  cre«'k,  which 
Avashes  the  foot  of  the  hill,  were  tbiiiid  wells  which  had  be<'ii  cut 
thiMtiiiih  solid  rock.  'I'liey  were  more  than  .'>  feel  in  dianu  ter  at  tlu; 
top,  neatly  walled  w  it li  jointed  stones,  and,  at  the  lime  of  diseo\ cry, 
covered  o\er  by  circular  stones.  So  numerous  were  works  of  this 
kind  ill  Ohio  it  would  re(|uire  a  lar^e  \(iliime  t«>  speak  «)f  them  in 
detail. 

Aloiiii'  the  Mississippi  th<'y  reach  their  maxiimim  size  and  coiilaiu 
some  of  the  most  interest inji'  relics,  'i'lie  number  of  mounds  found 
here  at  an  eai'ly  day  were  estimated  at  ima-e  than  .'>.(l()i»,  the  smallest 
of  which  were  not  less  than  I'll  feet  in  hi.yht,  and  KUt  feet  in  diam- 
eter at  the  base.  A  lar,ue  number  of  them  wei'e  found  in  Illinois, 
but,  mifortuiiately,  most  ot'  those  who  haxc  examined  them  wero 
little  (pialitied  to  furnish  correct  informatiou  res])ectiii>i'  their  real 
character.  It  is  greatly  to  be  rejiietted  that  the  State  has  iie\«'r 
ordered  a  survey  of  these  works  by  persons  (pialilied  to  do  tlui 
subject  Justice.  .Many  of  the  most  interest  iii<>'  have  been  ruthlessly 
destroyed,  but  it  is  belie\ed  a  suflieieiit  iiumbei'  still  remain  to 
justify  an  examination.  It  may,  however,  be  safi'ly  assumed,  fiiuii 
what  is  already  know  n  respcctiii;;'  them,  that  they  wero  substantially 
the  same  as  those  Ibund  in  other  parts  of  the  I'liited  States. 

One  (d'  the  most  siu^^iilar  eart  hworks  iii  this  State  was  found  in 
the  lead  region  on  the  toi»  of  a  rid;4e  near  the  east  bank  of  the 
Sinsiiiawa  creek.  It  resembled  some  hiine  animal,  the  head, 
ears,  uose,  leys  and  tail  and  yeiieral  outline  of  which  beiiii;-  as  per- 
fect as  if  made  by  men  versed  in  mo(hrii  art.  The  iidj;e  on  which 
it  was  situated  stands  on  the  prairie,  .'!(i(»  yards  wide,  100  feet  in 
liight,  and  rounded  on  the  lop  by  a  deep  th'^iosit  of  clay.     Ceu- 


ANTlgrniHS — Mdl'M)   lUILUKKS. 


ti'iill.v,  aloii;;  tli«'  line  of  its  siiiiiiiiit  iiinl  tlirnwii  ii|i  in  tlic  t'oriii  of 
an  riiil):iiikiiM-iit  llii'cf  ItM't  iiiuii,  t-xtciHlcd  tlit>  uiitliiif  tiTii  (|iiii(liii- 
])('<),  liii-iisui'ili;;  L''")!)  Icct  iVoiii  the  tip  ol'  tiic  nose  lo  tlc'  cIkI  oI'  IIk^ 
tiiil,  iiiid  lia\  iiiu  a  widtlinl'  IxhIv  at  tia-  rnitfi' of  IS  t'ct't.  'I'la' 
la-ad  was  .">.")  let  I  in  Ituulii,  tlifcars  Id,  lfj;s  (iO,  and  tail  7.">.  The 
(■iir\atiii'c  in  ixitli  tlif  I'oit'and  liiial  lc;;.s  was  nataial  to  an  iiaiinal 
l.viiiy  on  its  side.  The  general  (»atliiH'  ol"  tlir  liiiiiic  most  iitariy 
rcscinltlcti  tlic  cxtiiM't  animal  known  to  ycoloLiists  as  tlic  Mcjuatia'- 
I'inni.  'I'Im- *|n<'stinn  natarallv  aiiscs,  Itv  w1h)Mi  and  lor  wlial  |>iii'- 
l>oMi'  was  this  caitii  li;;ni'(j  raised.  Some  have  conjectured  lliat 
iininlx'i's  of  this  nowcxtind  animal  lived  ami  loamed  over  the 
])i'aii'ies  of  iliinnis  w  hen  the  miHind  Unilders  first  nnide  their  a|)|M'ai'- 
aiM'c  in  the  npiter  pait  (tf  the  Mississippi  Valley,  aial  that  their 
uonder  and  admiration,  excited  1>,\  the  colossal  dimensions  of  tliest; 
lni;;e  cicatares,  IomimI  exii.'cssion  in  the  erectitai  ol'  this  limine. 
The  holies  of  sona'  similar  jui.nantic  animals  were  exhnmed  on  this 
stream  aiioat  •'(  miles  iVom  the  same  place.* 

David  Dale  Owen,  a  <'elehrated  western  ju'eolojiist,  in  his  report 
to  the  land  olliee  in  |s;!!>,  refers  lo  a  nnnd»er  of  liyiires.  similar  lo 
the  one  alto\e  deserihed,  as  exisliny  in  Wisconsin,  lie  IliinUs  they 
>V('reeonne<'te<l  with  the  totemic  system  of  the  Indians  who  forau'riy 
«lwelt  in  this  |»art  of  the  c(aiiitiy.  When,  for  example  a  distin- 
ynislu'd  chief  died,  he  infers  that  his  elan>meii  raised  o\er  his  body 
ii  mound  j'esendilinu  the  animal  which  had  iteen  nsi-d  as  a  syiidiol 
to  desi<;iiate  his  fandly. 

^Ir.  l'ii'eckenrid,i;<',  wh(»exaanned  the  antiipiitios  of  the  westein 
country  in  IS17,  speakiny of  the  mounds  in  tin'  American  I'lottom, 
says:  "The;;reat  iMoaher  and  the  extrenu'l.\  laru'e  si/e  of  some 
of  tlieiii  may  he  re<;arded  as  fnrnishinj;,  with  other  circinnstances, 
evidence  of  their  anti(piity.  I  have  sonu'times  been  indnced  to 
think  that  at  the  period  when  they  were  constructed  theic  was  u 
])opulaiion  here  as  numerous  as  that  which  (Mice  animated  ihi^ 
boiders  of  the  Nile  oi' of  the  I'iiiphrates  or  of  .Mexico.  Tlie  most 
nnna'rous  as  wctl  as  considerable  (»f  these  remains  are  found  in 
l)recisely  those  parts  of  the  coinitry  where  the  traces  of  a  inina'r- 
ous  |io|)ulation  nd.i^ht  be  looked  for,  namely,  frcan  the  mouth  of 
the  Ohio,  on  the  east  side  ol'  the  Mississippi,  to  the  Illinois  rixcr, 
and  on  the  west  from  tlie  St.  [''rancis  to  the  Missouri.  I  am  per- 
fectly satislicd  that  cities  similar  to  those  of  ancient  Mexico,  of 
several  hundred  thousaml  souls,  have  existed  in  this  country.'" 

Says  Ml'.  (',  Atwater,  the  author  of  an  able  work  on  the  anti(pii- 
ties  of  Ohio:  "•Nearly  opposite  St.  Louis  there  are  traces  of  two 
such  cities,  in  the  distance  of  o  ndles.  They  were  situated  on  the 
Cahokia,  which  eiosses  the  Anu'rican  Hotvoni  opposite  St.  Louis. 
One  of  the  mounds  is  .S(H)  yards  in  eircumferenc(>  at  tlu'  base,  and 
1(K>  feet  in  hi^^lit." 

The  follow  inji' descrijition  of  this  mound,  which  is  the  lariiest  in 
tlie  Uniteil  States,  is  condensed  from  an  aiticle  in  the  l!elle\ille 
E(((i1c :  It  is  silimted  (l^^,  ndles  northeast  of  St.  Louis,  and  is  ctim- 
moidy  known  as  the  Monk's  mound,  from  the  Monks  of  La  Tiai)[)0 
lni\  in,u'  settled  on  and  arouml  it.  It  is  an  irregular  oblonji,  ex- 
temliuii'  north  and  south,  ami  its  shoi'test  sides  east  and  west. 
The  top  contains  about  .'5.'^  acres,  ami  about  half  way  (low  n  the 
sides  is  a  terrace,  extendiufi'  the  whole  width  of  the  nn)und,  and 

*Galeua  Jett'eraouinu,  lt<5J. 


1/ 


ANTU/riTIl'.S — MOfM)  111  II.DI'.I.'S. 


L'7 


toj'.v,  tVolii  4  to  "»  feet  ill  tliiiiiHlcr,  wvw  cxIhiiihmI  mmih'  ."{()  (ret  Im^ 
low  tli(>  sitrriin-,  iiiiil  liiid  <>vi*li>iitl.\  Im-cii  iisciI  in  tlir  iiiaiiiiriirtiin' 
(iT  -~:ill  liv  III*'  iiiomikI  Imildt'is,  or  stmic  nlliiT  iiiirinit  |u'o|ilf,  <lil'- 
r«'i'('iil  IVoiii  tlir  |ii«'si'iit  liHliiiiis.  Till- 111  liiiciiil  t-lniraclfi' ut'  tlitso 
works  not  lu'iiiji;  ii  contioNfitnl  point,  tin-  iiit|iiii.v  arises  wlio  wci'o 
(licir  Itiiiltlfis  /  Tlic  liv|iolln'sis  that  tlu>y  wcri-  tlic  ancestors  of 
tlie  A!;.',nii<|iiiii  anil  other  trilies  louml  li\iii<4'  in  their  iniiist,  when 
lirst  \isiletl  1»,\  I'airopeaiis,  Imt  ill_\  ae<-or»ls  with  thee\i<leiiee  I'lir- 
iiisiied  \t\  an  exaiiiiiiatioii  of  the  I'aets.  'i'he>e  eiirioiis  relies  a rtt 
t'ra;iitieiits  ol'  a  liistoiy  wiiieli  point  to  a  peoi»le  tlilVereiil  in  physi- 
<-al  striieliire  I'roiii  the  red  men,  and  ^reall,\  in  ad\  aiiee  ol' tliein  in 
iii't  and  ei\  i!i/alioii.  'I'he  latter  in  general  area  tall,  rather  slen- 
der, strai;>'lit  liiiilied  people,  while  the  toniier  were  short  and  tliieU 
set,  had  low  loreheads.  hiuli  eheek  holies,  and  were  reiiiarUalile  tor 
their  lar;;e  eyes  and  liroad  eliiiis.  Their  limits  were  short  and 
stout,  while  the'"'  '.vliole  ph.vsiipie  more  elosely  n'semhied  that  ot' 
the  ( lerinan  than  anv  exist  in;;  raee.  The  remains  of  their  art  also 
indieated  a  people  wholly  tlistiiie!.  I'^roin  these  tnmiili  lia\f  hreii 
taken  siher,  iron  aial  copper  implements,  exliihitiiifi  in  their  coii- 
striictioii  a  tle^rce  of  skill  ;^rea(ly  excee<lin;L:  Indian  inucniiily  and 
worknianship.  The  lar;;c  nimilier  of  medals,  Itracelets,  pipes,  and 
other  iiistriimeiits  made  of  copper,  show  that  its  use  anions  them 
was  iniieh  more  extensive  than  iliatof  the  other  metals,  'fhey 
may  liaxc  possessed  the  lost  art  of  hardeiiiii;;  it,  for  cut  stone  is 
occasionally  found  in  some  of  their  works.  The  maimfacture  of 
earlheiiware  was  one  of  their  most  advanced  arts ;  vessels  madti 
Ironi  calcareous  Itreccia  have  heeii  taken  from  their  toiidis.  eiiual  iit 
(piality  to  any  now  made  in  Italy  from  the  same  material.  A  coii- 
siderahle  niiliilter  of  these  were  urns,  coiitaiiiini;  hones,  wlil«-h  ap- 
pear (o  have  heeii  hiiriit  helore  they  were  deposited  in  them. 
."Mirrors,  made  of  isiii};las,  were  of  frecpieiit  o<-ciirieuce  in  tho 
iiioiiiids.  .Many  of  them  were  lar^c  and  ele^iaiit,  and  must  liiiv«! 
answered  well  the  purpose  for  which  they  were  inteiidcfl.  Could 
tla-y  speak,  they  would  doiihtless  tell  us  that  the  primitive  helles, 
whose  eliarms  they  rollected,  had  the  same  fondness  for  personal 
decoration  that  distiii.unishes  tiieir  sisters  of  the  present  day. 

'1  heir  haiiilatidiis  must  have  heeii  tents,  structures  (»f  wood,  (U- 
some  other  perishahle  material;  otherwise  tlieir  remains  would 
lia\('  heeii  numerous.  'J'lie  remains,  however,  of  lii'e-i>laces, 
liearths  and  <'liimiieys,  imhedded  in  the  allinial  hanks  of  the  Ohio 
and  .\Iiiskiii,4iini  rivers,  are  frcipiently  hroii^ht  to  li^lit  1>\  the  ac- 
tion of  their  waters.  'I'lie  Indians  of  these  localities  never  erecti'd 
.siicli  works;  while  their  j^reat  de)ttii  helow  the  surface,  and  its 
lu-avy  jiiow  til  of  trees,  is  evidence  that  they  were  not  made  hy  l-ai- 
ro])eaiis,  Iieiice  must  he  referred  to  the  mound  hiiilders,  10\  ideiice 
of  this  kind  iiii;.ilit  he  multiplied  iiidetiiiilely,  hut  what  has  heeii 
said  is  deemed  sutlicieiit. 

Not  only  liati  the  mound  hnilders  made  c(»iisiderahle  i>ro;nj'ess  in 
the  arts,  hilt  they  wcr*'  not  wholly  waiitiu,u"  in  scieiitilic  attainments. 
The  lines  of  nearly  all  their  works,  where  the  situation  would  admit 
of  it,  conform  to  the  four  cardinal  points.  Had  their  authors  im» 
kiiowh'dnc  of  astronomy,  they  could  never  have  determined  tlio 
])oints  of  the  compa.ss  with  such  exactness  as  their  w(U'ks  indicate. 
This  mthle  science,  which  in  modern  times  has  };iveii  us  siuli  ex- 
teudcil  views  of  the  universe,  was  among  the  lirst  in  tlie  earlier 


28  IIISTOllV   OF   ILLINOIS. 

iijics  to  iiri'cst  tlu'  iith'iitioi)  oCiiiiiiikiiKl.  Tlic  pMstoriil  life  of  ]»iiiiii- 
tivc  liiiics,  wlicii  iiicii  dwell  in  tciiLs,  of  tlic  open  air,  witli  tiie 
liciivciil.v  bodies  in  I'idl  view,  was  very  i'avonible  to  the  study  ot" 
astioiioin.v. 

11'  I  lie  iiiouiid  builders  were  not  tlie  aiicestois  of  (»ur  Indians, 
who  were  they  !  The  oblivion  which  has  closed  over  tlieni  is  so 
complete  that  only  conjectures  can  be  ^iveu  in  answer  to  the  (pies- 
tion.  Those  wh(»  do  n(»t  believe  in  the  coniiuon  paientajie  ol  nian- 
Idnd  contend  that  they  were  an  indiijcnoMs  race  of  the  western 
lieniisi»here.  Others,  w  ith  more  i>laiisibility,  think  they  came  Ironi 
the  east, and  ima.yine  that  they  can  see  coincidences  in  the  reli,L;ion 
•  (fthe  Ilindoosand  Southern  Tartars  and  the  snp])os<'d  theology  of 
the  mound  builders.  An  idol  was  found  in  a  tomb  near  Nashville, 
4'onsistinj;'  of  three  busts,  re])resentin;;'  a  man  in  a  state  of  nudity. 
On  the  head  of  each  were  carved  the  sacred  lillet  and  cake  with 
which,  in  ancient  (ireece.  durin.i;-  sacritlces.  the  heads  of  the  idol, 
tlie  victim,  and  priest  wei'i'  bound.  The  Oiceks  are  snpjjosed  to 
Inve  borrowed  these  sacred  appliances  from  the  Persians,  with 
Avhoia  they  had  fre(iuent  wars  and  an  intimate  nnuitiine  inter- 
couise.  Another  idol,  consistin,i;'  of  three  heads  united  at  tli(( 
back,  was  taken  from  a  tond»  on  the  headwaters  (»f  the  Cumber- 
land river.  Their  features,  which  were  expressive,  exhibited  in  ii 
strikin,!^'  uunnier  the  lineaments  of  the  Tartar  countenance.  It  has 
b*'<'M  further  observed  that  wherever  there  was  a  yroupof  monads 
three,  of  tlieni  wen-  uniforndy  larger  and  inon'  favorably  situated 
than  the  rest.  The  triune  charactei-  of  these  ima/^cs  and  mounds 
;u'(^  sup]>osed  to  rei)resent  the  three  ju'incipal  ji'ods  of  the  Hindoos, 
IJrahmin,  Vishnoo  and  Si\a.  This  siip|)osi)ion  has  been  fartiier 
strcn.ythen;"!  by  the  discovery  in  numy  mounds  of  murex  shells, 
which  wore  sacred  in  the  relij;ion  of  the  Ilindoc^, used  as  material 
iu  the  constriU'tion  of  their  idols,  and  as  the  nnisical  instrumciits 
of  Iheii-  Trit(»ns.  In  di,ii;Liin,ii'  a  well  near  Nashvilh',  a  clay  \essel 
was  found  liO  fiH't  below  the  surface,  it  was  of  a  jilobose  Ibnn, 
terminatiu<>'  at  the  toj)  with  a  fennde  head,  the  features  of  v,  lucli 
wt'i'c  stron.iily  marked  and  Asiatic.  The  crown  of  tiu'  liea<l  w;i.s 
covt'red  with  a  cap  of  i)yramidal  form  resembling;-  theAsiatic  head- 
<lress.  TIm!  vessel  was  found  sittinji'  on  a  rock  from  under  vvliich 
issued  ;i  stream  of  wa.ter,  ami  amy  have  been  used  at  tiie  fountaiil 
in  performin,!:;'  the  aldutious  enjoined  by  some  of  the  oriental  re- 
li,uions.  Imleed,  for  this  purpose  the  temi»les  and  altars  of  the 
Hindoos  are  always  erected  on  the  banks  of  sonu'  liver,  as  tiie 
(ian^cs  and  other  sacred  streams,  and  the  same  practice  was  ob- 
served by  the  authors  of  the  Anu'rican  tumuli. 

From  evidence  of  this  kind  it  is  interred  that  this  people  came 
from  Asia,  and  that  their  migrations,  like  those  from  Murope  at 
the  present  day,  were  made  at  dilfeicnt  times  and  from  dili'erent 
countries. 

They  were  no  doubt  idolators,  and  it  has  been  conjectured  that 
tiie  sun  was  an  object  of  adoration.  The  mounds  were  jicnerally 
built  in  a  situation  atfoi'<lin.ii'  a  view  of  the  risin.y- sun.  \\'hen  in- 
closed with  walls  their  /gateways  were  toward  the  east.  The  ca\'es 
in  which  they  wei'e  occasionally  ibund  buried  always  ()])ene<l  in  the 
same  direction.  Whenever  a  mound  was  partially  inclosed  by  ;i 
semicircular  pavenH'Ut, it  was  on  the  east  side.  When  bodies  were 
buried  iu  graves,  as  wtus  frequently  the  case,  they  lay  in  an  east- 


ANTIQI  rj'l];S — MOINli  BUILDERS. 


29 


orii  and  western  diirction;  mid  finally,  nicdals  have  been  lonnd 
reineseiitinj;  tlse  snn  and  liis  rays  ol'  liylit. 

At  wliat  i»eri()d  tli<'y  eanie  to  this  country  is  likewise  a  matter 
ol"  siM'CMJation.  I'r(»ni  the  eoiiii»arativcly  rude  state  of  tiie  arts 
anioMji'  them,  it  has  been  ini'eri'ed  that  the  time  was  very  I'emote. 
Tlieir  axes  were  made  of  stone ;  their  laiment,  Jndj;in;4'  from  tlie 
fraj^inents  whieh  have  been  diseovei'ed,  consisted  ot'  the  barl<s  of 
trees  iiiterwo\'en  with  feathei's:  and  their  militai'y  worlds  wei'e  such 
as  a  people  would  erect  who  had  Just  passed  from  the  huuti'r  to 
the  ]Kistoral  state  of  society.  The  line  of  forts  already  referred  t(t, 
in  New  York,  were  built  on  the  brow  of  tiie  hill  w  hich  was  ori;^i- 
nally  tlie  soutliern  shore  of  l.ake  l^rie.  I>y  the  recession  of  the 
waters,  they  are  now  from  .">  to  it  miles  distant  from  tlii'ir  original 
lindts.  The  surface,  which  became  ex]»osed  by  the  retirement  of 
the  waters,  is  now  covered  with  a  xc.tictable  mold  tVom  (i  to  H> 
in<*hcs  deep,  and  it  nmy  reasonably  be  supposed  that  a  lonj;'  inter- 
val of  tiiue  was  recpured  for  the  produ«'tion  of  the  forests  by  whose 
decomposition  it  was  foiined,  \'>\\t  a  much  lonjicr  interval  would 
be  riMpiired  for  the  Niaj^ara  to  deepen  its  channel  and  thus  cause 
the  subsidence  of  the  wateis  in  the  lake. 

What  finally  became  of  this  peo|)le  is  another  (pu'ry  which  has 
been  extensively  discussed.  The  fact  that  tlieir  works  extend  into 
3Ie\ico  and  Tem  has  induced  the  Itelief  that  it  Wiis  their  i)osteiity 
that  dwelt  in  these  countries  when  they  were  first  visited  by  tlit^ 
!S))aniards.  The  Mexican  and  reruvian  works,  with  the  exception 
of  their  j;reater  majiiiitude,  are  similar,  b'elics  common  to  all  of 
them  have  been  occasionally  found,  and  it  is  believed  that  the  reli- 
fi'ious  uses  which  they  subserved  were  the  same,  (.hw  of  the  i)rin- 
«*i])al  deities  of  the  iSonth  Anu'iicans  was  tlu^  p»d  of  the  shiniui;' 
mirror,  so  culled  because  he  was  su]»|»osed  to  reflect,  like  a  mirror, 
his  divine  ])erfe<'tions.  The  same  jiod  was  also  a  Mexican  divinity ; 
and  while  other  (h'ities  wei'e  syndtoli/ed  by  imaj-es,  this  one  was 
represented  by  a  mirror,  and  held  in  yicat  ven<'ration  as  the  un- 
known ji'od  of  the  universe.  Isinjilas,  c((nnnon  in  the  mcaiiids  in 
the  Tnited  Htates,  was  the  nmterial  iicneiiilly  empl<»yed  for  the 
construction  of  miirorsin  Mexico;  but  in  South  .Vnu'rica,  obsidan, 
a  voh-auic  i>rodnct,  which  answered  the  same  purpose,  was  more 
fre(pM'ntIy  use(l.  If,  indeed,  the  Mexicans  and  l'eru\ians  wer;'  tlu^ 
])i'o;;('ny  of  the  more  ancient  mound  builders,  then  Spanish  rajiacity 
for  ^i'old  was  the  cause  of  tlu'ir  overthr<tw  and  final  extermination. 

A  thousand  othei' interestin.ii'  queries  natui'ally  arise  respt;  liuM- 
tln'se  nations  which  in)W  rep(»se  under  the  j;i'ound,  but  the  most 
searching'  investi<>atiou  can  only  }»ivo  us  va<ine  spirnlations  for 
answers.  No  historian  has  ])reserved  the  names  (tf  their  miuhfy 
<*hiettains  nor  jiiven  an  account  of  their  eX|>loits,  and  even  tradi- 
tion is  silent  respectinii'  them.  If  we  knock  at  the  tombs,  no  s|Hrit 
comes  back  with  a  res]>onse,  and  only  a  sepulchral  echo  of  forget 
fulness  and  death  reminds  us  how  vain  is  the  atteini)t  to  unlock 
the  mysterious  i»ast  u]»on  which  oblivion  has  fixed  its  seal.  How 
forcibly  their  mouldering'  bones  and  perishinj:  relics  remind  us  of 
the  transitory  character  of  liuman  existen<'e.  (lenei-ation  after 
fi'eneratioii  lives,  moves  and  is  no  more ;  tinu'has  strewn  the  tr;ick 
of  its  iiithless  march  with  the  frajiinents  of  miyhty  em[»ires;  and 
at  lenj,4h  not  even  their  names  nor  works  have  au  existence  iii  the 
speculations  of  thos(>.  Avho  take  their  phices. 


ClIAPTKR  IV. 
TJIK  IM)1A^S  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Till'  third  distiiict  race  wliicli,  accordiiiin'  to  ctliuolo^iists,  has  in- 
habited North  Aniciica.  is  tiic  prrsi'iit  Indians.  Wlicn  visited  by 
early  lOnropean  jiioiieers  tliey  were  witlioiif  (•nlti\  ation,  retinenient 
or  iitei'atiire.  an(l  I'ai'  Itehind  tlieir  ])i('(Mirs(»rs.  tiie  ni<iiind  builders, 
in  a  knowledfit'  of  the  arts.  Tiie  question  of  their  orijiin  lias  lony 
inteicsted  ar<'heoloyists,  and  is'sneof  the  UH»st  diltieult  they  have 
been  called  on  to  answer.  •  >ne  hypothc-'s  is  that  they  are  an 
oii.yinal  raee  indi^cneous  to  the  Wester  '  .,-inisi>here.  'I'liose  who 
entertain  this  view  think  their  ]»eeuliarities  <»1'  physieal  structure 
])reclu,de  the  possibility  of  a  common  i>arenta,i;('  with  the  rest  ot" 
mankind.  Prominent  amon.u'  these  distinctixe  traits  is  tlie  hair, 
which  in  the  red  man  is  round,  in  the  white  man  o\al,  and  in  the 
black  man  Hat.  In  the  pile  of  the  l-'uropean  the  colorinp,' matter 
is  distributed  by  means(»f  a  centi'al  canal,  but  in  that  of  the  Imlian 
it  is  incorporated  in  the  libr(»ns  structure.  ISrown,  who  has  made 
an  e.\haiisti\<'  examination  of  these  varieties  of  hair,  conchnle.s 
that  they  are  radically  dilferent,  and  belonj;-  to  three  distinct 
brain  lies  of  the  human  family,  which,  instead  of  a  coninioii.  have 
had  a  trinary  oi'i;;in.  Since,  therefore,  these  and  other  peculiar 
ethnolon'ieal  features  are  chaiacteristie  only  of  the  aboriginal  in- 
habitants of  America, it  is  inferred  that  they  ate  indi,i>'enons  to  this 
]tarl  of  the  ,ulobe, 

A  more  common  su|)}»osition,  however,  is  that  they  tire  ii  deriva- 
tive race,  and  sprang'  from  one  or  more  of  the  ancient  jieojiles 
of  Asia.  In  the  absence  of  all  auihentic  history,  and  when  even 
tradition  is  wanting;-,  any  attempt  to  point  out  the  jiartieular  theater 
of  their  origin  must  prove  iinsatisfact(uy.  They  are  ]>erliai)s  au 
otTshoot  of  Sliemitic  jiarenta^'e, and  some  imauine,  from  their  tribal 
oi'uaiii/arion  and  soiik'  faint  ••^incidences  of  laii;4naji'e  and  relijiioii, 
that  they  were  the  descendants  of  the  ancient  Hebrews.  (>i!;ers, 
■with  as  riiiich  propri<'ty,  contend  that  their  ])rof'enitors  were  the 
ancient  Hindoos,  and  that  the  lirahmin  idea,  which  uses  the  sun 
t(»  s\  mbolize  the  ( "reator  of  the  Iniverse,  has  its  eonnterpart  in 
the  sunworship  <»f  the  Indians.  They  idso  see  in  the  Hindoo  i>oly- 
theism.  with  its  ;!(I.O(l(»  divinities,  a  theolo<:y  corn'spondin^'  with 
the  innumerable  minor  Indian  deities,  of  which  binls,  (piadrujieds, 
ri'ptiles,  and  fishes  are  made  the  symbols.  Tiie  Persians,  and 
etiicr  piiiiiiti\e  oriental  stocks,  and  even  the  nations  of  I"]nrope,  if 
(he  testimony  of  ditVerent  anticpiarians  could  be  acceptt'd,  inij;ht 
claim  the  honor  of  first  peopliuii  America. 

Thoii^^li  the  «'.\a('(  place  of  orijiin  may  m-vei'  be  known,  yet  the 
striking  coincidences  ot'  [divsiciil  or{;anization  between  the  oriental 

30     , 


INDIANS. 


.IL 


typos  of  iiiiiiikiiKl  iiiid  tlic  Tiidians,  point  unmistakably  to  sumo 
])art  of  Asia  as  llic  j)!ac('  wIkmu'c  tlicy  ('migrated.  Instead  of 
J.S(H»  years,  the  time  of  their  ro\iii^'  in  tiie  wilds  of  America, 
as  (h'termined  l)y  Sj)anish  interpretation  of  their  ]>ieto;nrai>iii(; 
reedrds,  the  interval  has  i)eiliaps  been  tliriee  that  i»eriod.  'flieir 
reli.iiions,  sn]terstitions  and  ceremonies,  if  of  iurei^ii  origin,  evi- 
dently beloiiii'  to  the  ernde  tlieohii^ies  lU'ovalent  in  the  last  cen- 
turies before  tin'  inti'dduction  of  Mahometainsm  or  Christianity. 
Scarcely  ."iOOII  yeai's  woidd  sullice  to  l>lot  out  perhaps  almost  e\cry 
irace  of  tiie  lan;.;ua;;'e  they  l»ron:;Iit  with  them  from  the  Asiatii! 
cradle  of  the  race,  and  introduce  the  i)resent  diversity  of  al>ori- 
{i'inal  toimues.  Like  their  oriental  pro;.;-enitors  they  lia\e  lived  for 
eentiii'ies  witlniut  progress,  while  the  Cancassian  variety  of  tlu^ 
race,  nmlcr  the  ti'ansforminji'  ]>ower  of  art.  science,  and  improved 
systems  of  civil  ]»olity.  have  made  the  nn)st  rapid  advancement. 
At  the  tinx'  of  their  departure  eastwai'd.  a  ureat  current  of  enii- 
ji'i'ation  tiowed  westward  to  I']uroi»e,  makin;;-  it  a  ,ureat  arena  (;f 
hunian  elfort  and  improvement,  'fhence  inoceedinji'  farther  west- 
■ward  if  nu't  in  Ameiica,  the  midway  stati(Ui  in  the  circint  of  tlio 
;;iobe.  the  ooposinu  ciu  rent  diicct  from  Asia.  'I'lie  shock  of  the  lirst 
contact  was  the  beninnin;^'  of  tlu'  yreat  contlict  w  hich  has  sinc(3 
been  wa;i('d  by  the  I'ival  sons  of  Sliem  and  .laplieth.  The  hrst 
thouyhtofthe  Indian, when  hostilities  commenced  on  the  Atlantic. 
border,  was  to  I'ctire  westward,  it  was  fr<iin  Iveyond  the  Ailei^lia- 
nies,  accordin.ii'  to  the  tratlitioiis  of  their  fathers,  they  had  conu', 
and  in  the  sanu'  undelined  i'e,i;ion  they  loca(e<l  theii'  paradise  or 
happy  huntinji'  jiroiind.  To  emi>loy  an  aborii^inal  alleiiory,  ••'flie 
Indians  had  lon.u'  disc<'rm'd  a  dark  cloud  in  the  heavens,  cominj;' 
from  tlie  oast,  which  threatened  them  with  disaster  ami  death, 
Hlowly  risiiiji'  at  lirst.  it  seemed  shadow,  but  soon  chanticd  to  sub- 
stance. When  it  rcache(l  the  summit  of  the  Aile>iliauies  it  as- 
.snined  a  <larker  liu<':  deep  nuirmnrs,  as  of  thunder,  were  heard; 
it  was  imi)el!ed  westward  by  stronii'  wind,  and  shot  forth  forked 
ton;.;iies  of  li;j;lit nin>j;." 

The  movement  of  the  sombre  cloud  typified  thea<lvanceof  labor, 
science  and  civilization.  I'ontiac  foresaw  the  cominu'  storm  wlieii 
lie  beheld  the  Ficncli  t!a,u'  and  I'^rench  sni)rema<'y  stricken  down 
on  the  ]>lains  of  Abraham.  T(»  the  Ibitish  ollieer  sent  westward 
to  scenic  tjic  fruits  of  \ictory.  he  said:  ••  1  stand  in  thy  path."  To 
the  assend)led  chi<'fs  of  the  nations  in  council,  he  iinfolde<l  his 
schemes  of  o]»])ositiou.  deiticted  the  disasters  wiiicii  would  attend 
the  coming-  rush  of  the  Anulo-Saxou.  and  climaxed  his  iuM'ctive 
ayainst  the  hated  omMiiy  with  the  exclamation,  "  Diive  the  dojiis 
Avilo  wear  red  clothin;i;'  into  the  sea."  I'lfty  years  after  the  defeat 
of  I'ontiac.  Tecumseh.  enudatinu'  his  example,  plotted  the  consjti- 
racy  of  the  Wabash,  lie  brituyht  to  his  aid  the  powerful  iidlu- 
cnce  of  the  Imliau  ])riest-hood ;  for  years  the  forest  haunts  of  his 
clansmen  ranj>' with  his  stirrin,i>'  appeals,  and  the  valleys  of  tiie 
AVest  ran  with  the  l)lood  of  the  white  invaders.  Ibit  Tecumseh  fell 
a  martyr  to  his  cause,  and  tln^  second  attempt  to  turn  lta<'k  the  tide 
of  civilization  was  a  failure.  The  Ai>palachian  tribes,  nndei-  the 
leadei'shi|»  of  Tuscaloosa,  next  waycd  a  continucais  war  of  threes 
years  aj^ainst  the  sonthern  iVontiers.  The  ccuitlict  terminated  by 
the  sublime  act  of  its  leader,  who,  alter  a  reward  had  been  olfcied 
for  his  head,  voluntarilv  snri'endei'cd  himself  for  the  u'ood  of  his 


t!' 


Bl  I 


32 


HISTORY  OF  TIJ.TiVOIS. 


Mi  I 


li 


■ 


coiiiiti'viiicn.  After  tliis  dd'ciil,  tlic  soiitlicin  tiihcs  ahaiKloiicd 
tlicir  loiiii' clit'iislicd  idea  ol'  rc-cstahlisliiiii^-  Indian  siipicinacy.  A 
lasl  and  iVnitlcss  cfVoit  of  lliis  Uind,  1»\  the  Sacs  and  1m)X»'s  ol'  Illi- 
nois, plart'd  tlic  vast  domain  cast  of  tlic  .Mississi|)i»i  in  (lie  hands 
of  the  rntlilcss  con(|iicrors.* 

AhiniKjiiiiis  (i)i(l  IrotiUDis. — Of  tlic  several  ji'reat  brandies  of 
Nortli  American  Indians,  as  dctermineil  l)y  sameness  of  lanuna^'e 
and  mental  and  i»liysical  tvpe.  tlie  only  ones  entitN'd  to  considera- 
tion in  Illinois  iiistoi'y,  are  the  Al.u(»n(|Min.  and  incidentally  the 
Iroquois.  Uei'ore  the  cncroaehnK-nts  of  I-'nropeans  cansed  the  I'c- 
tirement  of  the  Al.^'oiKinin  tiilies. they  occupied  most  of  thel'nited 
States  lietween  the  .Jot h  and  (lOth  i>aralh'ls  of  latitudes,  and  tho 
(loth  and  l(l.")th  meridians  of  loniiitnde.  They  were  Al<i-on(|nins 
whom  < 'artier  fonnd  on  the  lianks  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  whom  the 
lOn^lish  discovei'cd  hunting;' and  lishinm'  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  iVom 
Elaine  to  the  ("antlinas.  They  were  triltes  of  lids  lineaji'e  whom 
.h'snit  missionaries  taiiyht  to  repeat  itrayers  and  sin,u'  uris  on  tlu^ 
l>aid;s  of  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois,  and  on  the  shores  of  the 
ji'reat  lakes  and  Hudson  Hay.  The  same  .yreat  fannly  wa.ucd  war 
with  th(^  Puritans  of  New  I'^niiland,  entered  into  a  covenant  of 
]»eace  with  I*enn.  and  furiushed  a  Pocahontas  to  iidercede  for  the 
life  of  the  aihculurous  founder  of  Virginia. 

The  startin,n'  jioint  in  the  wanderin<is  (tf  the  Alironcpiin  trihes  on 
the  continent,  as  determined  l»y  tradition  and  the  cultivation  of  the 
niaizi'.  their  favoriie  ceical.  was  in  the  southwest.  It  is  conjectured 
as  they  passed  up  tlu'  western  si<le  of  the  .Mississippi  \'alley,  lln'ir 
nundx'i's  were  auu'iunented  hy  ac<'essioiis  from  nomadic  clans  pass- 
through  the  central  and  southern  jiasses  of  the  Pocky  Mountains. 
Then,  turuinu'  eastward  across  the  Mississip]»i.  the  s(»uthern  niar- 
^i'iu  of  the  broad  track  pursued  toward  the  Atlantic  was  aliout  the 
.■i")tli  parallel,  the  limits  reached  in  this  direction  l>y  these  tribes. 
This  would  i)laee  .ii  the  central  line  of  march.  Illinois,  and  tlie  ad- 
jacent regions,  whei'e  the  tirst  I'airopean  e\i>lorers  found  corn 
extensively  cultivated  and  used  as  an  article  of  food.  On  reachiu!:;' 
the  Atlantic  they  moved  northeasterly  alony-  the  seaboard  to  the 
mouth  of  the  St.  Lawi'cuce.  iutroducinsi'  alou^'  their  track  the  <'ul- 
tivation  of  maize,  without  which  many  of  the  eai'ly  Pritish  colo- 
insts  must  ha\('  perished.  Next,  asceudiui;'  the  St.  Fiawrence  and 
the  yreat  lakes, they  spread  noithward  and  westward  to  IIn<lson*s 
Pay,  the  basin  of  Lake  \\'iuue|)eji.  and  the  \allev  of  the  Ppjier 
]\lississi)>j)i.  In  this  wide  dispersion  the  original  stock  was  bi«»ki'U 
into  niinor  tribes  ;  each,  in  the  eoui'se  of  time,  deviatinji'  in  speech 
from  the  jiarent  lauiiuau'e.  and  fornuu^'  a  dialect  of  its  (»wn.  The 
head  (»f  the  nnyratory  column,  circlin;^'  round  the  s(»iii-ce  of  the 
]Mississip]>i,recrossed  it  in  a  southeasterly  din'ction  above  the  falls 
of  St.  Anthony,  and  passed  by  way  of  (Jreen  Pay  an<l  T^ake  Michi- 
j>'an  into  the  present  limits  of  Illin(»is,  Indiana  ami  Ohio.  Thus, 
after  revolvinji'  in  an  in-euular  eliitseof  some  .'>(KK>  miles  in  diame- 
ter, they  fell  into  the  original  track  eastward. 

The  territory  of  the  Irocpiois  lay  like  an  island  in  this  vast  ixren 
oi"  Alu'onipnn  ])opulation.  They  had  three  conilictin,n'  traditions 
of  their  orijiin:  that  they  came  from  the  west,  from  the  north,  and 
si»runj;'  from  the  soil  «»n  which  they  lived.  Their  eonfederacy  at 
lir.st  consisted  of    5  tribes,  the  ]\iohawks,  Oneidas,  Onondajius, 


♦Schoolcraft's,  Part  5 ;  Speucci's  lllBtoiy  of  the  Uulted  States 


i . 


INDIANS. 


.33 


Cayiiuiis  and  Sciicciis,  to  wiiicli  a  (Itli.  flio  Tiiscaroias  Avas  after- 
wards added.  Macli  trilx'  liad  a  s('i)ai'at('  jxditii-al  organization  in 
Avliicli  till'  saclicins  wci'c  tlic  lulin^'  sjtiiits.  \\'lM'n  ioit'i.;^n  liiltcs 
AVi'ic  to  he  consulted,  or  tlie  jicneral  interests  ol'  tlie  eont'ederaey 
recinired  (hdiberation,  tli<'  saelienis  of  tlie  several  tiibes  met  in 
lUcneral  «'ouneil.  Hasty  writers,  jndj;inji'fr<im  tlu'li'sneeesseswitliont 
(•areliiliy  stndyiii.n'  tlieir  eliaraeter  and  history,  liave  .ui'eailv  .>ver- 
rated  tlieir  viit  lies.  'I'liere  is  ii(»  doubt  as  to  tlieii'sneeess  in  war.  Itiit 
it  wasratlier  tlie  result  of  eireunistanees than  inherent  woitli.  >s'ot- 
witiistaiulini^'  their  iiiueh  lauded  ehxiuenee.  diploiiiaey  and  eoiirane, 
there  is  little  <louI»t  that  the  A],ii(>ii(|uiii  tribes  of  the  same  latitude- 
were  in  the.se  res|)eets  fully  their  e(|uals.  As  it  ref^ards  eiaiiial 
indieatioiis,  the  lro<)Uois  had  an  excessive  development  at  the 
Itasillar  re,ni(»n,  and  the  .\lji'on(|uins  ,i  larji'er  intellectual  lob(>,  and 
the  conduct  of  the  two  races  correspoiids  w  ith  their  ceicbral  dif- 
ferences. It  is  well  known  that  fortlie  exhibition  of  brutish  ferocity 
ill  battle,  and  the  lieiidish  butchery  of  prisoners,  the  former  wer<! 
wilhoiit  ri\als.  Missionaiw  exideiice  states  that  it  was  they  who 
first  tau^^iit  the  Illinois  the  cruel  practice  of  burniiiu' prisoners  at 
th(^  stake.  JJutadmittinji'  their  natural  sn])eriority  tliey  must  have 
h)st  it  by  amalgamation,  for  it  was  customary  with  them  to  rei)air 
their  constant  losses  in  war  by  adopting'  into  their  families  the 
AV(»men  and  children  caiitured  from  their  Aluomiuiu  enemies. 
This  infusion  of  blood,  if  in  a  Jew  .yeiierations  it  did  not  .yive  the 
foreiuii  eh'nieiit  the  ascendancy,  must  have  ;;reatly  modilied  the 
original  stock.  Indeed  some  of  the  adopted  ^M/ionci^ins  L^'came 
alterwards  their  luominent  chiefs. 

Tlieir  >sue('<'ss  in  war  was  in  a  j^reat  measure  the  result  of  local 
and  otliei'  a<lvanta,<i'es.  Possessinu'  a  territory  included  in  the 
ju'csent  limits  of  New  York,  it  j;ave  them  I'cady  access  to  the 
nations  livinj^-  on  tin'  western  lakes;  while  the  Mohawk  and  the 
Jliidson  furnished  them  a  lii;^liway  to  the  tribes  of  the  sea-cc-ast. 
lla\in,ii'  by  savage  bai'barity  converted  all  the  surroiindin.i;'  nations 
into  enemies,  necessity  tauj^ht  them  the  advautaue  of  union,  lixity 
of  habitation  made  them  siijierior  in  agriculture,  while  a  ]>assion 
foi'  war  yav<'  tliem  a  ])reemineiice  in  the  aits  best  suite<l  to  jiiatify 
their  inordinate  Inst  for  blood.  1  >cpii\ed  of  these  advantai^cs  it 
is  doubtful  whether  they  would  have  been  loiiu'  al)le  to  cope  with 
the  tribes  which  they  outraged  by  incessant  attacks. 

The  Aliioiupiin  tribes  wei'e  too  widely  dispersed  to  a(biiit  of  ,i 
Jl'eneral  confederacy;  the  iiiter])osition  of  ^reat  lakes  and  rivers 
])revente(l  concert  of  action,  and  hence  each  community  had  to 
contend  sinjule-handed  with  the  unit<'d  enemy.  ICven  in  these  une- 
(pial  contests  they  were  sometimes  the  coiKiuerors.  as  instanced  in 
the  triumpli  of  the  Illinois  on  the  banks  of  the  Iroquois,  a  stream 
in  our  iStat*'  whose  name  still  commemorates  the  victory. 

It  is  not,  however,  in  the  petty  broils  of  tril)al  warfare,  but  the 
fierce  conflicts  with  the  civilized  intruders  upon  their  soil,  that  a 
correct  opinion  is  to  be  formed  of  these  rival  races.  In  these 
bhwxly  stnijijLiles,  which  decided  the  fate  of  the  entire  ab()ri,uinal 
pojuilation,  it  was  that  the  Alyonqnins  evinced  their  ^reat  su])eri- 
ority.  I'lilike  the  Iro«|uois,  who.  in  their  hauj;lity  independence, 
dis<laim'(l  to  jt>o  beyond  their  own  narrow  realms  for  assistance, 
and  who.  in  their  yreat  thirst  for  cariiajie,  even  <h'strov<'<l  kindred 
nations,  the   Algoiiqtiins  formed  the  most  extensive  alliance  to 


3-t 


IILSTOltY   or  ILLINOIS. 


I 


!|U 


I'csi.-t  ilic  ('iicroacliiiii'iil.s  oftlicir  I'-ii^iisli  (Icsirdvcrs.  Such  wnsilic 
iiiiliiic  ol'  Kiiii^'  riiilip's  Will',  wlio.  witli  liis  Aluomiiiiii  luiivrs, 
si»ri'ii(l  li'iror  iiiid  doohilidii  llnoiiylHUil  New  l';ii,i;liiiiil.  l';iiiic- 
istii('k«'ii  ill  liis  iuuliicit.v  ainl  success,  the  IMiritiiiis  iiiiiifiiiicd  iIhv 
S!i\\  (lire  |M):t('iits  (•!' ciilaiiiitic.s  ill  tlic  air  and  sky,  and  siiadowy 
tnKi|>s  di'  carccrin.y  iioi'scnicii  iiiipiinlcd  on  tlic  I'acc  \}\'  tiic  miii  and 
iiKuai.  'ITiis  compactly  toinicd  confederacy  <d'  tribes  was  o\er- 
tlirowii;  but  it  cost  tlie  ("oloiiists,  with  their  siiperior  iiiiiiibcrs, 
disciiiiiiie  and  weapons,  a  liloody  contest  to  acconi|ilisli  it.  Such, 
too.  was  tin'  ciiaraeter  ol'  the  eidniinatin,u-  stiiii^'^le  of  the  red  race, 
some  tM>  years  later,  lor  the  (huninion  of  the  western  wildenie.-s. 
}se\('i'  berui\'  Iiad  tlie  Indians  e\iiibite«l  sucii  feats  (»f  couraj^'c, 
siieii  siull  ill  diiilomacy  and  such  strateiiy  in  war;  and  ne\«'i  before, 
li(»r  aflerwards,  were  tlieir  efforts  attended  with  siicii  terrilih'  coii- 
s<'<pieiiees.  Witli  an  AI/^oiKjuiii  chief  and  Aljionqiiin  \varrioi>;  as 
tlie  eoiilrolliiii;  spirits,  a  confederacy  of  continental  proportions 
was  tiie  resiiil,  emliraeini;'  in  its  alliance  the  tribes  of  every  name 
and  liiiea,u'e,  from  the  northern  lakes  to  the  .yiill'  on  the  south. 
J'ontiac.  haxiii;;'  breailied  into  them  his  implacable  hate  of  tliti 
I'lnj^lisli  iiitriiders,  ordere<l  the  contlict  to  commence,  and  ail  the 
llritish  colonies  treml»led  before  the  <lesolatin<,i'  fury  of  the  onset. 

Of  the  tribes  of  .M^ompiin  lineafi'c  which  ftu'iiierly  «hvelt  in 
Illinois,  those  bearin;:,' the  name  of  the  State  were  the  most  tiuiiu'r- 
oiis.  .lud^inji'  i'rom  the  graves  which  were  thickly  planted  over  tlie 
prairies,  they  must  at  an  eaily  date  haxc  been  a  proiiiiiieiit  theater 
of  aboriginal  activities.  Loiij"-  before  the  intrusion  of  the  white 
man.  the  stately  warrior  marshaled  his  swarthy  clans  t(»  defend 
the  liiintiii,!;' jiromids  which  embosomed  the  homes  and  jinnes  of 
liis  ancestors.  Here,  around  the  lodji'e  tire,  the  yoiinji  biaves 
listened  to  the  ex]»loits  of  tlieir  a,u('d  chiefs  and  marched  forth  to 
j)erform  the  deeds  which  were  to  ci'owu  them  with  a  chieftain's 
honors.  On  the  ^irass-ciisliioned  laj)  of  the  jirairie,  when  (lie 
moon  with  mellow  radiance  lloo<led  the  valleys  and  silvered  tlui 
streams,  the  red  swain  went  forth  to  woo  his  intended  mate  and 
win  her  love.  Where  the  jiaine  abounde<l  which  furnished  liiiii 
with  foo<l  and  clotiiin^  he  built  the  wijiwam  in  which  his  faithful 
I)artuer  dispensed  tin*  hospitalities  of  his  fruj:al  board.  Nature 
disclosed  to  his  untutored  mind  the  simjile  (luties  of  life.  The 
opening  llowcr  revealed  the  tiiiu'  for  i)lantin,i;  ciu'ii,  the  falling;'  leaf 
when  to  provide  for  the  frosts  of  winter,  and  from  the  lower 
animals  he  learned  industry,  prudence  and  atVectimi.  His  own 
womlroiis  or^ani/ation  directed  his  thoughts  to  the  (ireat  S|)irit, 
and  in  the  spacious  temiile,  lighted  by  the  sun  and  curtained  with 
clouds,  where  the  tempest  oilers  its  loud  anthem  of  |uaise,  he 
worshipped  the  Ood  of  Nature. 

'I'lic  Illinois  (Uii\J'('<l( ritcii  were  coiiijtosed  of  li\('  tiibes:  the  Tam- 
aroas,  Michiinamies,  Ivaskaskias,  Cahokias,  and  Tcorias.  .Vlbeit 
(lallatin,  who  has  prepared  the  most  elaborate  woik  on  the  struct- 
lU'c  of  the  Indian  lan,i;ua,i;es,  <i'iv<'stlie  delinitioii  of  Illinois  as  real 
or  siipeiior  men,  and  derives  it  from  the  Delaware  word  Leno, 
Leni  or  Illiiii,  as  it  is  \ariously  writlen  by  different  authors,  'i'in^ 
t<'rmi;iatioii  of  the  word  as  it  is  now,  ami  ajiplicd  to  the  State  and 
its  principal  river,  is  of  I'reneh  oriyiu.  'I'iie  Illinois,  Miamis  and 
Dclawai'es  a.re  of  the  same  stock,  and,  accordiiiLi'  to  tradition,  emi- 
grated i'rom  the  far  west,  tlii'  first  stojipin.y  in  their  eastern  round 


TIIK  I  ILLINOIS. 


35 


(»r  iiiiui'iitinii  ill  tlic  Niciiiity  of  7,;il<('  Micliiiiiin,  tlic  st'coml  in  the 
t«'nitur_v  ol'  lii(li;iii;i.  iiiitl  tlic  lliiid  tli:it  of  I'cmisvlviiiiiii. 

Asciiily  iis  n»70  tlic  .Icsiiit,  I'litlicr  .Miiniiictto,  inciitioiis  rrc(|iH'nt 
visits  iiiiidc  by  iii(livi(lii;ils  *\{'  tin's  <'oiii'c(lci':icy  to  tlic  iiiissioimry 
stiitioii  of  St.  Ivsprit,  iiciir  the  western  cxlrcinity  of  liiikc  Siipci'ioi'. 
At  thitt  time  they  lived  west  of  the  Mississippi  in  ei^^iit  \ill:i,n('s, 
\vliitiiei'  the  Iroipjois  liiid  (lri\ cii  tlieiii  from  the  sliores  (»f  Luke  Mielii- 
<;;iii,  wiiieli  i'eeei\ cd  its  iiiiliii'  IVoiii  one  of  the  trilies.  Shortly  ill'ter- 
wards  they  eoiiiiiieiieed  retiiriiiii!;'  e;istwiird,  and  liiially  settled 
mostly  on  the  Illinois.  .loliet  and  IMaiipiette,  in  IT-h"),  descend in.i^' 
the  .Mississippi  liclow  the  nioiith  of  the  Wisconsin,  on  their  faiiioiis 
voyaji'c  of  discovery,  met  with  a  hand  of  Ihciii  on  the  west  hank 
of  the  ri\-er.  The  i)rincipal  chief  treated  (lieiii  \vitli  yrcat  hospi- 
tality. j4a\'c  them  a  cahinu't  as  a  i)ass  down  the  river,  and  hid 
them  a  friendly  farewell.  The  same  cxiilorers.  in  their  return  voy- 
'.\<iv  lip  the  Illinois,  discovci'cd  and  sto|>ped  at  the  |)rincipal  town 
of  the  confederacy,  situated  on  the  l)anks  of  the  river  7  miles  below 
the  ])i'eseiit  town  of  Ottawa,  it  was  Ihcn  called  Kaskaskia.  and 
according:  to  Manpieftc.  I'ontained  7  t  lodges,  each  of  which  doiiii- 
cilcd  si'veral  I'ainilies.  .Manpiettc  I'etiirncd  to  the  village  in  tlu; 
spriiiu'  of  I(>7."»,  and  established  the  Mission  of  the  liiiiiiaciilate 
< 'once])tion,  the  ohh'st  in  Illinois,  and  siibseipicntly  traiisfcn'cd 
to  the  new  town  of  Kaskaskia  further  southward. 

When,  in  !(i7!>.  La  Salle  \  isited  the  tow  n  it  had  .urcally  iiicrcaseiL 
iMimberin.i;'.  accordiiiu  to  Ileiinc]iiii.  KiO  lodges,  and  at  the  annual 
asscniblino-  ,,i'  the  dilfereiit  Iriltcs  from  (i.(l(i(»  to  S,()(t(t  souls.  The 
h)d;;<'s  extended  aloiii^'  the  banks  of  the  ri\('i'  a  mile  or  more,  ac- 
«'ordiii^'  to  the  niimbei'  of  its  tliictiiatinn'  jiopiilation,  which  e.\- 
tensi\ely  cultivated  the  adia<'c!it  meadows  and  raised  crops  of 
immjikins,  beans,  and  Indian  corn.  .\t  this  time  the  coiifcdciaey 
]>ossessed  the  country  from  the  present  town  of  Ottawa  and  the 
lower  I'apids  of  the  Mississijtpi  to  the  nioiith  of  the  Ohio,  ami.  ac- 
i'ordiii;^'  to  the  missionary  l""atli<'r  L'asles,  besides  tlu'  lU'iucipal 
town  occujiicd  some  10  or  lU  other  xillaycs.  In  the  irruption  of 
the  Irotpiois,  the  following  year,  the  principal  town  was  burned 
and  the  several  tribes  jiiirsiied  down  the  river  to  the  INIississijipi, 
where  IIk'  Tamaroas  wci'c  attacked  and  7(10  of  their  women  and 
<'hildren  made  juisoncrs.  These  were  burned  and  butchered  till 
the  savage  victors  were  sated  with  earna,i;(',  w  hen  the  survivors 
were  lead  into  captixity.  With  the  withdrawal  of  the  enemy  the 
tribes  rcliirned.  rcltiiiit  their  town,  and  in  Itisi'  fiirni-sheil  Ll-'OO 
of  the  .'l.SdO  warriors  embraced  in  liaSulle's  cohniy  at  Fort  Saint 
Louis  on  the  Illinois.  After  tiiis  tliey  wer<' forced  further  south- 
ward liy  norlhern  nations,  and  Teoiia.  ("aholda  and  Kaskaskia, 
became  the  centres  of  the  tribes  indicated  by  their  name*.  The 
'J'amaroas  were  associated  with  the  K.askaskias.  and  the  Michi- 
iiamies  weri'  located  near  Fort  Charlrcs  on  the  Mississippi.  Wiiije 
here  they  were  the  centre  of  -b'siiit  missionary  operul ions,  and 
<:reat  elforts  were  made  to  con\crt  them  to  Christianity,  but  with 
only  ]»artial  success. 

In  17L'!Mhey  were  siimmoucd  by  M.  Pcirier,  (!o\ cruor-deiicral 
of  Louisiana,  to  assist  in  liie  rcduclion  of  the  Natcliez.  who  were 
dislurl»inj>' the  peace  of  ihc  pid\iiice.  ()ii  I  lie  iireakiii;;  (»ul  of  the 
("hickasaw  war  they  were  a,i;aiii  called  to  tiie  assistance  of  their 
allies,  the  French,  and  under  one  of  Illinois' most  gallant  yeiierals, 


I! 


36 


IIIS'I'OK'V    (tK   ILLINOIS. 


(I;  l 


|i      ! 


tln'  Clicviilici'  D'Artnjiiiu'ttr,  tlicy  siicccssivcly  sloruird  iiiul  ciinicd 
two  nl'  till' niciiiv's  stiuu^liolds.  :iii(l  would  have  taken  a  third  but 
for  tilt'  fall  ot'  tlicir  licroic  leader. 

ill  eoniiiiou  with  othef  westeiii  tribes  they  beea me  involved  in 
the  coiisiMiaey  of  rontiae,  but  tioiii  fieiiiieni  defeats  by  siilToiind- 
inj;  tribes,  and  loiij^'  eontaet  with  eix  ili/ation,  they  had  lost  to  a 
jtreat  extent  the  warlike  eiier>:y.  tor  which,  aeeordin;;' to  tradi- 
tion, they  were  aneieiitl\  distin^nished.  When,  therefore,  lin^ 
^reat  chief  visited  thcni  in  the  antnnin  ot'  17<il,  their  zeal  did  not 
meet  his  expectations,  and  he  told  them  if  they  hesitated,  he 
■\vonlil  '•consume  their  tribes  as  lire  doth  the  dry  ^rass  on  the 
jiraiiics."''  I'Mnally.  when  I'ontiac  lost  his  life  by  the  lian«l  of  an 
Jlliiiois,  the  nations  which  had  followed  him  as  a  lea<ler  (h'seended 
t'loiii  the  lutrth  and  the  east  to  aveujif  his  death,  and  almost  an- 
iiihiiatcd  the  tribes  of  this  li!iea,ii('.  'I'radition  states  that  a  band 
of  fujiitives,  to  escajie  tlu'  ;;eneial  slaujihter.  took  refiii;e  on  the 
liijili  rock  which  had  been  the  site  of  l\at  St.  Louis,  'riiere  they 
were  besiejicd  by  a  superior  force  of  the  l'ottawatand«'s.  \vhoni  the 
^I'eat  stren.yth  of  this  natural  fortress  enabled  them  easily  tokei'p 
at  i»ay.  Hunger  and  thirst,  iiioic  Ibiinidabh'  em-mies,  however, 
soon  aeeomplished  w  hat  the  foe  was  unabh'  to  eileet.  Their  small 
(piantity  of  provisions  ijuickly  faileii.  and  their  su|»|>ly  water  was 
stopped  by  the  enemy  sevcrinj;  tin- cords  attached  to  the  vessels 
by  which  they  elevated  it  from  the  river  Ix'lovv,  Thus  eiiviroiu'd 
by  relentless  t'oes.  they  took  a  last  linjicrinu' look  at  their  beautiful 
hunting  grounds,  spread  out  like  a  panoiama  on  tlie  j^eutly  rollin>;' 
river,  and,  with  true  Indian  fortitude,  laid  down  and  expired  with- 
out a  siyh  or  a  t<'ar.  Fiom  their  traiiic  fate  the  loftv  citadel  on 
"which  they  jierished  received  the  unpoetical  name  of  "Starved 
L'ock,"  and  years  afterwards  their  bones  were  seen  whiteuiuy,'  on 
its  summit.  The  Tamaroas,  although  not  entirely  extenniiuited, 
lost  their  icU'utity  as  ji  tribe  in  a  battle  with  the  Shavviiees,  near 
the  eastern  limits  of  IJandolph  county.  At  the  commencement  of 
the  present  century  the  <'out ractiuy'  cir«'le  of  hostile  tribes  had 
forced  the  renniantsof  this  oiu'c  iiowerful  confederacy  into  a  small 
eomjiass  around  Kaskaskia.  When  the  country  was  tirst  visited 
by  lairopeaus  they  numbered  iL'.Obtt  souls;  now  they  were  reduced 
to  two  tribes,  the  Kaskaskias  and  I'eorias,  and  could  only  muster 
I.")!!  warriors.  Their  cliict'  at  this  time  was  a  half-lu'eed  of  consid- 
erable talent,  named  l)u  (^)uoin,  who  Avore  a  medal  ]n'esented  to 
liim  by  Washini;ton,  whom  he  v  isiti'd  at  riiiladeli>liia.  In  the 
early  ])art  of  the  present  century  the  two  ti'ibes  under  his  ^iuidanco 
emijirated  to  the  Southwest,  and  in  IS.KMliey  wert'  in  the  Indian 
Territory,  and  numbereil  St  ])ersons. 

'J'lie  Sacs  and  Fouts.  who  have  ti.nured  extensively  in  the  his- 
tory of  Illinois,  dwelt  in  the  northwest  part  of  tin-  State.  The 
word  "Sau-Kee."  now  written  "Sac,"  is  lU'rived  from  the  com- 
pound word  ''  A-sau-we-kee,"  of  the  Chippewa  laiijiuaj;<'.  sis^nifyinji- 
yellow  earth,  and  "•  .Alus-ipm-kee,"  the  orijLiinal  name  of  the  I"'oxes, 
iiwans  red  earth.  Thoiijih  still  retaininii'  separate  tribal  iianu's, 
when  livinji'  in  llliiutis  they  had,  by  lon<>' residence  toi^ether  and 
inti'i'marriau'e.  become  sul)stantially  one  peo]>le.  liotli  t  ribesorij;i- 
iially  lived  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  in  the  neij;liborhood  ol'  (,)uebec, 
and  Montreal.  The  i-'oxes  lirst  renn»V('d  to  the  West  and  estal)- 
lished  themselvt's  on  the  river  which  liears  their  name,  emitty- 


SACS  AM)    KOXKS. 


37 


line    tlicy  snlVcrrd    m    si'^iial 

tlir  l''i'i'ii*-li  iiiul   tlirii'   indiiin 

■<  to  iiiiitr  willi  llic  Siics,  to  pw.- 

ri. 

'I'lic  Siirs  lu'ciiiiu'  iii\(»lv«'(l  ill  ;i  Idiiji'  ami  bluixl.v  war  willi  \]\v. 


\\\iX    illt'»    111*'    ll«'!l<l    <»t"   (  1|'<'<'II     l>av.       luir     iin>     MiinuM     ii     .-m-^HiII 

ticltat  iVoiii  tlif  ('oiiihiiM'd  toK'cs  of  tlir  l''i'i'ii*-li  and  tlirir  Indian 
allies,  wliicli  ran.M'd  tlicni  all*  rwaids  to  nnitr  willi  llic  Sacs,  to  \)iv.- 
xcnt  cxtci  niination. 


I  nc  r>ars  occanu'  ni\(»iv«'(i  in  a  lonji  ami  nioon.v  war  wim  iii<! 
Iidtjiinis,  who  <li'oV('  tliciii  tVoiii  tlicir  lialiitation  on  tli*>  St.  liaw- 
rciir*'  Inward  the  West.  Iicliriim  hclorc  these  roniiidaltle  enemies, 
t,he\  IK'M  <'ii<<»iiiilered  the  \\'.\ aiid(»ts,  l>,v  whom  (hev  were  dii\cn 
larlheraiKl  t'arther  aloii<>  the  shor<'s  of  the/^reat  lakes  till  at  leii;i;th 
tiK'.v  loiiiid  a  temporarv  resliiii;'  ]>Ia«'e  on  (ir<'eM  i'.ay,  in  the  neinh- 
lioodol'  Iheir  ?'e!ati\<'s.  Ilie  |''o\<'s.  |''or  miitnal  pniteetion  a^^ainst 
the  siirroiiiKliiiL;  nations  a  union  was  here  instituted  lielweeiillK' 
two  trilMs,  wlii<'h  has  iemaiiie<l  iiiil>roken  to  the  )treseiit  tim<'.  The 
tiiiu' oC  tlu'ir  miiiiatioii  I'rom  tli«' St.  Lawr<'iie«'  to  the  reuion  of 
tlie»i]nt(r  lakes  raunot  lie  (U'liniteiy  as^'eitaiimd.  (ireeii  I'.av  was 
visite<l  ill  !(»(;!>  hv  l''atlier  Alloiiez,  a  .lesiiit,  who  <'sial»lished  a  iiiis- 
sioiiar.v  station  tlieii'.  and  in  tin'  wiiit4'rot'  HiTL'  e\t<'nded  liislalM»r,s 
to  the  l"\»\es,  who  at  tirst  treati'd  him  with  the  .greatest  eoiiteinpt. 
Soim-  of  IIm'  trihe  had  re<'(  iitlv  been  on  a  tradiiii;  e\|i<'ditioii  to 
.Montreal,  wher<'  thev  had  he<'ii  loullv  <li'alt  with  hv  the  l-'reiieh, 
and  they  now  t(M)k  oeeasi<iii  to  show  their  reseiilmeiit  l»y  deridinuf 
the  nttei'aiM-es  of  the  missionary.  I'.y  the  exercisi'  of  threat  pa 
tieuee.  iKiwexcr,  heat  length  ohtaiiu'd  a  lu'aiiii*;,  and  succeeded  so 
Avell  in  iiiijH'essiii;;  their  minds  with  his  relij;i(ais  instiiiction  that 
when  h«'  «'\'ni>itcd  a  criwilix  tln-y  threw  tol)a«'co  on  it  as  an  olferin.u'. 
lie  soon  alli'i'NV  ards  laiiiiht  the  whole  \illa.ue  to  make  Ihesiiiii  of 
the  cross,  and  paintiiiL;'  it  on  their  shi«'lds.  in  one  of  tln'ir  war  «'X- 
jM'dilioiis,  they  ohlained  a  .ureal  victory  over  their  i-neiides.  Thus, 
ultiio  JlK'y  kiM'W  hut  little  of  its  sinniticance  as  a  reliiiions  eiiihU'iii, 
in  wai'  they  I'euarded  it  as  a  talisman  of  more  than  ordinary  jiower. 

I'^roui  (irecji  15ay  they  iiioxcd  southward,  and  shortly  after  the 
l''reni  It  i)ioueers  \isited  the  country  they  took  ])ossession  of  the. 
fertih'  jilaijisof  North\\<'st4'rn  Illinois,  drixiiiji'  out  the  Sauteaux, 
:i  branch  of  flu-  ( 'hippewas.  In  their  southern  miration,  accor<l- 
JiiiT  to  their  traditions,  a  s<'Ver<'  itattle  occurred  between  them  ami 
111*'  Ab^scoiitins.  opposij<'  the  moiijli  of  the  Iowa,  in  which  the  lat- 
ter were  del'eated,  and  only  a  few  of  them  left  to  cany  tlu'  news 
«»f  iheir  <l!sasl<'i"  to  l'ri<'iids  at  home.  Subsetpieiitly  they  formetl 
alliaii<*«'s  witli  the  Potawatami<'s  aiul  other  nations,  forced  the  dif- 
ferent tiibes  of  the  Illinois  confederacy  southward,  aixl  after  years 
of  strife  almost  «'X(erminated  them.  In  coiijunctioii  with  the  !Me- 
iKHUoiiees,  \\'inneba.u<)4's,  and  other  tiibes  liviii<j  in  the  reuiou  of 
the  lak<'s,  they  iinnle  an  att<'mpt.in  \'i'i'J.  to  destroy  the  villap'  of 
Si.  I.oiiis,  but  weie  ]U('veiiled  by  the  timely  arrival  of  (leor^t' 
JkO.Uers  ( "lark  with.'iOt)  men  from  Kaskaskia.  Finally,  in  the  I'.Iack 
Hawk  war,  wa.ui-^l  by  them  auaiiisl  the  tro<ti»s  of  Illinois  and  tlu^ 
rnite<l  States,  th(>y  attracted  the  attention  of  the  entire  nation, 
and  won  a  historical  r<'piUatioii. 

.Much  labor  has  Ix-eii  expended  to  ascertain  whether  the  cele- 
brati'd  ('hi*'!',  I'oiitia*'.  was  of  Sac  or  Ottawa  lineaiiC  If  a  simili- 
Jirity  in  the  trai's  of  character,  which  distiii.uuished  him  ami  the 
Sac  tribe,  <'oiil<l  decide  the  (|U<'stion,  the  latlei'  miiilit,  doubt- 
less, <'hnm  the  honor  of  his  i-elationship.  It  is  uiiuecessary  to 
s]»eak  of  the  couraive  and  ti.iihtiiiii' (|ualilies  of  I'ouliac.  That  of 
the  Sacs  and  tlu'i)-  relatives,  the  Foxes,  is  thus  given  by  Drake,  in 


38  iimrouY  of  ilmnoih. 


his  "  Ijlf  of  I'.hicU  lliiwk:"  -Tlic  Sues  iiml  Foxes  loii-lit  tlicir 
MJi\  IVitiii  tlic  Wiilcis  (»t  the  St.  Liiw  rt'iicc  to  (iiccii  Itiiv.  iiiid  iilh-r 
rciicliiii;:  lliiit  |)l;ir(>  not  only  siisl;iiii('<l  liicinselvcs  ;i;:;nn>t  tii<- lios 
tilt'  trilx's,  IhiI  \M'|'«'  iiMionu  the  most  :Mii\f  iiiul  «-onra,u«'oiis  in  tliti 
Miliiii<;;ition,  or  liitlit'i'  I'Ntt'iniiniilion,  of  llic  ntnni-ious  ;iuil  power- 
ful lllinoi.^  eonfeiler.icv.  Tliex  had  ni;iM.v  wins,  tdl'ensive  and  tlefeii- 
sixc,  with  Ihe  Sioiix,  tlie  I'awnees,  lln'  ()sii^;es  an'l  oilier  liilies, 
some  of  wliieh  are  ranUed  anion;;  the  most  tieree  ami  feiocioiis 
warriots  of  the  \vh(»le  ettntiiient,  and  it  does  not  ap|>ear  that  in 
these  eon:!iet>.  riinnin;n  thit»n;;!i  a  lonu  period  of  .\ears,  they  were 
found  wanting;  in  this  the  ;;reate.'>t  of  all  sa\a;L;e  virtues.  In  tin; 
Lite  war  with  (Ireat  I'.ritain,  a  part.N  «d'  llie  Saes  and  l'\>\es  fon;;lit 
under  the  liritish  standai'd  as  a  matter  of  ehoiee.and  in  the  reeeiit 
contest  helwceii  a  fragment  of  tliesi'  trihesand  llie  I  ailed  Slates, 
althoii;;h  defeated  and  literally  eut  ti>  pieees  lt\  an  overw  lielmiii^' 
foree.it  is  \cry  qiiesiionahle  whether  their  re|nita!ion  as  hiaves 
Moidd  siiU'er  l>y  a  comparison  with  liiat  of  their  victors.  It  is  lie- 
lieved  that  a  <arefnl  review  of  their  hislor,\.  from  the  period  when 
they  iirsi  estahlished  themselses  on  the  wateis  of  (lie  .Mis.sissipi»i 
down  to  the  present  time,  will  lead  the  impiirer  to  the  eoiieliisioii 
that  the  Saes  and  I'oxes  aic  a  trnl>  eonraj;foiis  pei)itle,  shrewd, 
politic,  and  eiilerprisiii;^',  with  not  more  of  teroeit>  and  li-eaehei\ 
of  charactei'  than  is  common  aumii;^-  the  liihes  by  whom  Ui<'.\  were 
sniTonnded," 

'Ihese  tribes,  at  ihe  time  of  the  iShndv  Ilau  k  ssar,  ueie  di'*  ivied  in- 
to -t>  families,  li,'  of  w  Inch  were  Sacs  and  S  Fiivt's.  As  marks  of  dis- 
tiiuiioii,cacli  family  had  its  parlicalar  tolemii-  symltol,  repri'senie<l 
by  some  animal.  'I'hcr*'  also  existed  a  peciiiiar  ensiom  amoiiji' 
them  of  marking' <'ach  male  child  a!  birth  with  black  and  while 
l)aint,  each  mother  bein-icaretid  to  apply  tlu'  two  colors  allcrii- 
ately,  so  that  each  family  and  theentire  nation  mi<4ht  lie  divided  inltt 
two  nearly  eipial  classcs,tln'  whites  and  the  blacks.  The  object  of 
these  distinctive  mai  k s,  w  liieli  were  retained  dniin;;'  life,  was  U* 
keep  alive  a  spirit  of  euudation  in  the  tribes.  In  their  j;auies, 
hunts,  and  jaiblii'  ceremonii's,  the  blacks  weic  the  competiturs  ui' 
the  whites,  and  in  war  each  parly  was  ambitivais  tt»  lake  morn 
scalps  than  the  other. 

liieiiteiiat  Tike,  in  his  travels  to  the  soarc<'  of  the  Mississipjii, 
in  ISO,"),  visited  thes*-  tribes  and  found  them  residin^i'  in  foar  inin 
eipal  \illa.iies.  The  lirst  was  at  the  head  of  the  lajiids  i>f  the  liver 
Des.Moiiies,  the  secoiid  farther  up  on  the  east  shoie  of  tiie  same 
stream,  the  third  on  the  Iowa,  an»l  the  fourth  on  liock  river  near 
its  entrance  into  the  Mississippi.  The  latter  ;;reatl\  i'\cee<led  the 
others  in  political  impoitance,  and  was  anion;;'  the  lar;;est  and 
ino.st  ])opnlous  Indian  \illa;;('s  on  the  continent.  The  *'«tuntry 
around  it,  di\  crsilied  with  ;;ro\  <'s  and  prairies,  was  one  of  the  most 
beantifid  regions  in  the  valle\  of  the  Mississip|>i.  and  ;iave  addi- 
tional interest  to  this  time  inuiored  resi(h'nce  of  the  nation. 
According;  to  liieiitenant  I'ike,  the  Sacs  luimUered  l!,.S,'>tt  souls, 
of  whom  14(10  were  children,  ITtU  wonu'ii,  and  7(K>  warriors.  The 
total  number  of  Foxes  were  17."»0,  of  whom  S.">(l  were  children,  .")tK> 
women,  and  HH)  warriors,  in  l.si*.->,the  Secretary  of  War  estiina'.ed 
tlu'  i'litire  number  of  Sacs  and  Foxes  at  4,(iO().  showin.<;'  in  the  iu- 
terveiduiLi'  ])eriod  of  20  years  a  considerable  increase  of  ])opnlation. 
After  the  iJlaek  Hawk  war,  these  tribes  retired  to  their  lauds  in 


WINN  Kill  A(  JOES — KirKAI'OOH. 


IW 


lowii,  wliciicc  tlicv  were  liiiiill,\  I liiiislci red  tit  llic  liiciiiiii  Territory, 
iliiil  ill   \S'){)   iiiiiiil)t'i'i><l  some  IlillO  souls. 

TIk' riii'lv  ti;i<liti(iiis  of  the  ]\'iiiii)h<ifioi's  i'wvs  llicir  iiiiciriil  sc;it 
on  tlif  Mt'sl  slioij' (iT  l,!ik<'  MicIiiL;;iii,  iMMlli  of  ( irccii  l!;iv.  Tln'V 
l>clif\f<hli!il  tlii'ir  iiiirt'slors  wnc  ci'ciitcil  liy  llic  ( iiriil  Spirit,  on 
till' lanils  coristil lit iiijii'  tlicii'  iiiK-icnt  tfi-ritory,  ami  tinit  tlicii' title 
to   it   wiis  :i    ;L;il't    tVoiii    tin'ir  ("ri'iitor.       'I'lic    AI^<>m|iiiiis    naiiiid 

tlii'iii     iit'li'i'    tlii>    h:i\    <io    \\  liii'll     llii'\    lixi'ij.    \\  I'i'li   III  li:i  - s.   wliicli 


Till' laniis  ('onsiiiiiiiii<4  iimmi-  iiiK'icni  it'iriiory,  aiiii  iinii  iiit'ir  iiiic 
to  it  was  a  ;L;it't  iVoiii  tin'ir  ("risitor.  'I'lic  AI^<>in|iiiiis  nainiil 
tlM'iii  attfi'  tin'  l»a,\  on  wliicli  tlicy  li\cil,  W  tfii  ni  Im  i:o;;s,  wliicli 
.siil)s('(|iicntlv  iMM'aiiic  an^ilifi/cil  in  tlir  I'onii  of  Winiichajiocs. 
Tlii'V  wen-  [MTsoiis  of  jiood  stature.  iiianl\  lifiirinj;',  lanl  tlic  clnirc- 
tcrislic  itiack  <'ir('iilar  liaiiof  tlieir  riice,  ami  were  ,L;eiierall,\  more 
iim-ontli   ill    tlieir  lialiits    iIkiii    tiie  sairoiiniliiiL:  triiies.     'I'lieir  l;iii~ 

4k-ii>ti>-ii       (t'-tk*       •!       ilititlt     ii'l  I  t  t  i  tl->  t  I      illi1l/*lllt      lit     IfMll-li        •lliil      wliitW-w     tli'tt      tliiil' 


triiH's,  ami  ir  may  also  De  aimed  more  imjtiaeanie  in  tiieir  iiaired 
of  tlie  Americans.  Tliey  were  jimoiiy  tlie  tirst  to  eominenee  bat- 
tle, ami  tlie  last  to  snhinit  ami  enter  into  treaties,  rnapiieasealile 
enmity  led  tliein  into  the  tield  against  Oenerals  llarmar.  St.  Clair 
and  Wayne,  and  first  in  all  the  bloody  chariics  at  TiiipeeamiO. 
They  were  ])romineiit  anion^^the  nuilherii  jiations,  which,  for  more 


40 


iriSTOKY  OF  n,r,INOTH. 


tiiMii  II  t't'iiliir.N,  \vii;;r(l  :iii  cxlcniiiiiMliiiji  wiir  ii;;i(iiisl  lln'  Illinois 
<'niiri'<l<'iiu'.\.  'riu'ir  l;i>t  iiu.tilc  iifl  ul'  lliis  kind  wiis  pcrpi'liiitt'd 
in  isd.'i,  :ini|j|ist  suMif  pool'  Kiiskiiskiii  rjiilditn.  whom  llu'v  lonnd 
;;;ilin'iin.u  .s|  inwlti'irics  on  Hit'  piiiiiic  iiltnvf  tin'  low  n  u  iiirli  Immis 
liu'  nnnic  ol'  tiit'ii'  Irilir.  Scizinu  ii  cun^iilrnililc  nunilicr  o['  tlicni, 
11h'.\  tli'd  l»»  llicir  villiijm's  Itct'oic  liir  »'iii'ii;LiC<l  l\!i>kiiskiiis  ('(niUl 
(»\»riiiki'  tlit'iri  nnd  rcsrni'  tlirir  oll'spiin^'.  Dining  liu-  ncmis  |si(» 
and  |S|  I,  ill  I'on.JMMction  with  the  ('liippfwns,  i'ii1:iwiil.iiiiics  iiinl 
Ottawiis,  tin'.v  roininitU'd  so  iintn.v  tlicrtsnnd  iniirdris  on  thf  iVoii- 
tit  r  sclth'Micnts.  (hill  (lovi'iiioi'  lldwiirds  wiis  coiiiprlh'd  lo  niiploy 
niilitiii'.N  loitt'  lo  siippifss  Hm'Iii.  W  lit'ii  iciiioM'd  lidiii  Illinois 
tlic.v  still  ict;iint'd  tlicif  (»ld  ;iniin(»sili('s  ii;iiiinst  ilic  AincriciUis, 
iUnl  went  to 'rcxjis.  tlirn  il  pio\  iiicc  ol'  Mexico,  to  ;^t't  hi-sond  tin' 
Jiiiisdictioii  of  the  I  nit  I'd  States.  'I'licv  da  lined  relationship  with 
the  I'otawatainies,  and  perhaps  the  Sa<'s  and  i'\i\es,  and  Sliaw- 
lices.  The  follow  iii;ilradil  ion  respeeliii;^'  the  orijiin  of  this  iril»«f 
Mils  related  in  l.^lL',  at  the  Indian  Snpeiintendeiiey  at  St.  Louis, 
l»v  Louis  Ifod    Ts,  a  Shawnee: 

"It  is  nian.v  years  a  uo  since  the  niindier  of  the  Shawnees  was 
verv  jireai.  They  were,  on  an  inijiortant  occasion,  encamped  to- 
^i'etheron  the  prairie.  At  iii;^ht  one  half  of  them  fell  asleep,  tin* 
otners  remained  awake.  The  latter  a liandoiied  the  sleepers  hefore 
niorniiif;,  and  betook  themselves  to  the  <'onrse  where  the  snn  rises. 
Tin'  others  fiiadnallx  |Mirsned  their  roiiti'  in  the  dire«'tioii  where 
the  ,siin  sets.  This  was  the  orii;iii  ot  the  tw<i  nations,  the  tirst  of 
wliicli  was  called  the  Shawnees.  and  the  other  the  Kiekapoos. 
I'lior  1  '  's  separation  these  nations  were  considered  ttne.  and 
were  blessed  with  bounties  aboNc  any  blessings  which  are  now 
enjoyed  l»y  any  poition  of  mankind:  and  they  ascribe  their  pres- 
ent depressed  condition,  and  the  w  illidiawal  of  the  fa \  i»r  of  Provi- 
dence, to  the  an,i;er  of  tli«'  (Ireat  Spirit  at  their  sei»aratioii. 
^\inon,ii  the  many  tokens  of  di\ine  favors  which  they  iVn-inerly  en- 
Joyed  was  the  art  of  walkiiiji'  on  the  surface  of  the  ocean.  I»y 
Avhichthey  crossed  from  the  Mast  to  America  without  vessels. 
Also  the  art  (»f  restorin.^'  life  to  the  dead,  by  tin-  use  of  medical 
art,  continiied  for  the  >^iiace  of  six  Innirs.  N<'croiiianc\  and  pro- 
jdiecy   were  wilhtlier  cir  highest   state,  and   were  jnactieed 

without   fei^inin;;';  :•  ne,  such   were   the  ;iifts  ot  heaven  to 

them  that  nothi'  ,trt  of  their  iiieonceivable  power  to  per- 

form.    And  at  Shawnees  ha\e   waiitleied  to  the  reinoiest 

AVest,  and  reti.  I'^ast    t(»  the  orijiinal  plac*- of  separation,  the: 

W(uld  will  have  linished  itscjire«'r.  It  is  believed  by  tlu'  Slniwiiees 
that  the  consnmniatit)!!  of  this  iirojihecy  is  not  far  distant,  because 
they  have,  in  fnllillinent  of  it,  reached  the  extreme  westc'rii  point, 
and  are  now  retrouradin.L;  their  steps." 

A  frajiineiit  of  the  Shaw  nee  nation,  in  early  times,  dwell  in  llio 
.southeastern  part  of  Illinois,  in  the  vicinity  of  Shawneetown, 
which  beais  their  naiiie.  The  nation,  bold.  ro\iii.u  and  advt'iilnr- 
ous,  ori.uinally  inhabited  the  Atlantic  seaboard,  between  the  Alta- 
maha  and  .lames  rivers.  iU'cominji'  embroiled  in  wars  with  Iho 
Ii'o({iiois,  to  save  themselves  s(»ine  took  refnjic  in  the  ("arolinas 
and  I'lorida.  True  to  their  native  instincts,  in  their  new  location 
they  soon  came  to  blows  with  the  owners  of  the  soil,  and  about  the 
year  IT.'iO  removed  to  the  Sciota.  in  the  present  State  of  Ohio. 
xV-bout  IT.')!*,  a  discontented  fraction  broke  off  from  the  rest  of  the 


MASCorXlNS— riAMvl.SIIAW.S. 


41 


Iiiitioii  iiimI  went  to  I'iist  Tt'iiiii'ss«><>,  iiiul  llifiicf  to  llifii'  Inciitinii  <iii 
the  Oliio,  ;il  Sliitu  lii'i'liiwii.  Ilcl'c,  in  t'liliiliiDii  willi  lii'i^liliorili;;' 
tribes,  they  i'c;;:!i'<lf<t  Illinois  ns  siicrnl  ;^i'oiiuil,  iiml  •liii'iii;^'  I'oii- 
tiiir's  wiir  iissistcd  in  icpi'llin;^  ilu-  iittcinpts  ol'  llicir  lln^lisli  cnc- 
inirs  to  ^rl  possi-ssion  ol  Ilit- I'uMnliv  in  tlif  |)i'('>cni  lipiits  ol'  llu; 
iStiit*>.  licir,  too,  I  Mil  1 1  till  iiisfhcs  ;in<l  tlicir  lirt'tlm-n  on  tin-  Scioln, 
olitiiinnl  iiinis  iVoni  tiic  T  rfncli,  I'oi'  w  hose  siipi-t'niii(-,\  the;,  tlrln^t  <l 
tlir  I'lontirrs  of  r*-nns,vl\:iniii  iin<l  \  ir^^iniii  with  l>loi.<l.  Sin-li  Innl 
bt'cn  tilt'  iitro*-il\  of  tiicir  cominct,  wlirn  llit-  wiii'  Wiis  o«'<':  tih>,\  iit 
lirst  snpposrtl  Iht'v  wcic  i'\c!u(l('<l  troni  tin- ^icncnil  iiniiu'sty  cx- 
tcndi-d  tootinr  western  triltes,  siikI  even  prepiired  to  innt'der  tiieir 
jirisoinTs  iind  resnnie  iiuslilities.  A  Iter  |iii\  in;^',  ii  siioit  time  lielnrt^ 
tiie  contpiest  of  ChirU.  (lestio,\«>d  tlit-  'i'aniiiitKis  in  itiittle,  tiiey  re- 
joined tlieir  l<indi-ed  on  tlie  Seiota. 

Thv  M(tsfoKtiiis  were  :i  tiil»e  I  .'Idiliii'  (Vieiidl.N  relations  witli  tin'! 
lliiiMtis,  and  are  >npposed  Itv  son.  to  liaxe  eonstitnted  a  sixth  trilx^ 
of  theiiconlederaey.  'i'he  name,  ".Masi-ontin,"  is  synonvnioirs  w  itii 
prairie,  and  was  applied  to  t Ids  triiu'  from  lin*  eirenmstanee  ot'  their 
dwelling  on  (he  ^reat  yrassy  plains  east  of  the  Mississippi,  'i'he 
Tirst  I'lnropcan  w  lio  mentions  them  is  Father  A  Hone/.,  who  ton  nd 
them,  in  KKiU,  on  the  Wisconsin  river.  .Martpn-lte  saw  them  in 
lt»7.>,  near  the  pt>ita;;('  »if  tiie  l-'ox  ami  Wisconsin  rivers.  .Marest 
states  that  tlu'V  iiad  Coiined  settlements  in  ITl'J  on  tlie  W'aliash, 
and  in  sid»sc(|n('nt  times  they  ran,iie(l  over  the  praiiies  Itt'tween  I  lie 
\N'ahasii  and  the  Illinois.  'I'hey  were  also  intimately  associated 
\vith  the  i'oxes  and  KieUapoos,  whom  they  rescndiled  in  deceit  and 
treachery.  Charlexoix  states  thai  the  .Masconlins  and  the  ivicka- 
jtoos  Hinted  with  the  I''oxes  in  a  pl(»t  (tf  tlu'  latter  a;;ainst  tlni 
Frencli,  l»nt  were  surprised  l»y  the  Ottaw as  and  I'otawatamies  and 
loO  of  them  cnt  to  i»ieces.  After  tiw  ( cssion  of  the  I'rench  |»osses- 
sions  to  the  Mnjilish,  Col.  Ci'o.uhan  was  sent  to  conciliate  the  wo  tern 
tril>es.  Ilavinu' descended  the  Ohio  to  the  site  of  Shaw  iict-towii, 
they,  with  the  Kickapoos,  attacked  and  made  him  and  his  men 
])risoners.  I'nder  the  nana-  of  Meadow  Indians  they  are  men- 
tioned l»y  (Icn.  riark,  whom,  in  177S,  they  endeaxored  t(t  cnt  oil" 
by  treachery.  8nl)se((nently  they  appeal-  to  have  been  absorbed 
by  the  Kickajioos  and  P'oxes. 

y/ir  l'i<inLisli(iirN  occupied  the  lower  Wabash  country  on  i>tli 
sides  of  that  stream,  and  west  into  the  Illinois  teirit(»ry  as  far  as 
the  dividing-  l■id^('  between  the  sources  of  the  streams  llowin<i' into 
the  Wabash  and  tlntse  falling'  into  the  Kaskaskia.  They  were  one 
ineniber  of  the  Mi<niil  Citiifcdiriicji.  This  nation,  in  early  times, 
resided  on  Fox  river,  Wisconsin,  where  they  were  visited,  in  l(»7(), 
by  l-'athers  Alloiie/,  and  Dabloii.  'i'he  latter  is  lavish  in  his  jiraise 
ot'  tln-ir  chief,  statiiiji'  that  he  was  honored  by  his  subjects  as  a 
kin.u;  and  that  his  bearinj;-  anions  his  liiiests  had  all  the  <'onrtly 
ilijiiiity  of  a  civilized  monarch.  They  were  also  visited  the  same 
year  by  St.  Siissoii.  who  was  received  with  the  honors  of  a  sham 
balth' and  entertained  with  a  ^rand  j;ame  of  ball.  lie  likewise, 
.speaks  in  fiiowinj;'  terms  of  the  antlnnity  of  the  c'.ief,  who  was 
att''iide(l  iiijiht  and  day  by  a  jiuard  of  warriors.  The  nation 
shortly  afterward  removed  to  the  banks  of  the  St.  .losepli,  and 
thence  found  their  way  to  the  NN'abash  and  Manmee.  They  wer<> 
more  lar^t'ly  represented  in  La  Salle's  colony,  at  Fort  St  '  iiis, 
than  any    otJier   tribe,  i.nd  were  active  participants  in  l..^  eoii- 


42 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


» 


s]>irii('.v  of  I'oiitiiic.  Tlio  ('(HilcdcnicN .  like  that  <»f  the  Illinois, 
Mils  rcdiicfd  to  llic  last  cxtrciiiity  l»v  ici»catr(l  attacks  I'loiii  tlic  li'o 
((iKiis.  IJiil  tlicv  liil  a  coiisidcralih'  sjiacc  in  wcstcin  annals,  and 
{iiivc  liiitli  to  Little  Tnitlc,  wlio  couiniandcd  the  Indians  at  St. 
Clair's  dcicat.  'I'lic  i'iankisliaws.  alter  rlieir  removal  from  Illinois, 
were  t lansl'eired  to  the  Indian  'I'eiiitoiy,  and  in  l.s."t(l  were  reduced 
to  1(>7  persons. 

I'lif  i'ohiirntaiiiics  are  represented  on  earlv  l^'icneh  maps  as 
inhaltitiiiiLi'  the  country  east  of  tlie  smitliern  e\treinif,\  of  Laki' 
Michigan.  At  the  month  of  the  St.  .Joseph,  falliui;  into  this  part 
of  the  lake,  the  .lesnits  had  a  ndssionary  station,  which,  accordin};" 
to  Mar«'st,  was  in  a  tliiniis'  iij^  condition  as  early  as  ITI'J.  Ilert', 
an  immeasnred  distance  .<\\\  ci\  ili/atioii.  fur  moi'c  than  half  ;i 
<'entM;y  the  devoted  nnssioimries  lalmred  for  their  si>iritnid  wel- 
fare. These  yeai's  of  toil  and  self-denial  were,  however,  little  ap 
]treciat  (1,  for  in  I'ontia<''s  war  they  jiroved  themsehes  t(»  hv 
amonu'  the  most  xindiclivc  of  his  adherents.  Disynisinji'  their 
oliject  nnder  the  mask  of  iVieiMlsliip.  tliev  api)roached  the  snndl 
military  post  located  «)n  the  sajne  river,  and  having  ohtain<'d  in- 
gress, in  a  few  nunntes  bntcheicd  the  whole  of  the  ^^arrison,  except 
three  men. 

l''roni  this  locality  a  jtortion  of  the  tribe  passed  iiamd  the  south- 
ern extremity  of  the  lake,  into  inntheastern  Illinois,  Time  and  ;i 
chan.y'c  of  residence  seems  not  to  have  moditied  their  t'eidcious 
ciiaract<'r.  I'aitly  as  the  icsidt  of  liritish  intriiiine,  and  partly  to 
{iiatify  their  thirst  for  blood,  they  perpetrat<'d,  in  Ism,  at  Chicajio, 
the  most  atrocions  massacre  in  the  annals  (•!' the  nnrtiiwM'st.  After 
their  removal  iVom  Illinois,  they  found  their  way  to  the  Indian 
Territory,  and  in  1S,"((.  nundiered  I, .")()(»  souls.  The  following' 
le^i'cnd  of  the  trilte  ^ivcs  their  theology  and  origin:  "■Tiiey 
believe  in  two  ,i;reat  spirits,  Kitchemonedo.  the  j^'ood  or  benev- 
olent spirit,  and  Malchenionedo,  the  evil  spirit.  Some  have 
doubts  which  is  the  most  |iovvei'fnl,  but  the  ^reat  part  Itelieve 
that  the  (irst  is;  that  he  made  the  vvorhl  and  called  all  thiuj^s 
int(»  bein.ti.  and  that  the  otliei'  oii.i;iit  t(»  l>e  despised.  When 
KitcIuMnonedo  first  made  the  world  he  peopled  it  with  a  class  of 
beinji's  who  only  looked  like  men,  but  they  were  jiervcrsc,  nn.urate- 
ful.  wick<'d  do;;s.  who  never  raised  their  eyes  from  the  jiiouud  to 
thank  him  tor  anytliinj;'.  Seeing  this  tin-  (Ireat  Spirit  plunged 
them,  with  the  world  its<'lf,  into  a  .yicat  lake  and  drowned  them. 
He  then  withdrew  it  from  the  water  and  made  a  single  nnin,  ii 
very  handsome  utiini;'  man.  who  as  he  was  lonesome,  apiieaied 
sad.  Kitchemonedo  took  i)ity  on  him  and  sent  him  a  sister  to 
cheer  him  in  his  loneliness.  Af*^er  many  yeais  the  yonn<i  nniii 
had  a  dream  which  he  told  to  his  sister.  Fiveyoun^  men,  said  he, 
will  conn'  to  your  lod^e  dooi'  tonight  to  visit  you.  The  (ireat 
Si>irit  forbids  you  t(t  answer  or  even  look  up  and  smile  at  the  first 
four;  imt  when  the  iiftli  comes,  yon  may  speak  and  lauj;h  and 
show  that  yon  are  pleased.  She  acted  accordiiijily.  The  first  of 
the  five  stran.i;crs  that  called  was  I'sama.  or  tobacco,  and  having;' 
been  i'epuls<'d  he  fell  down  and  died:  the  second.  Wapako.  or  a 
])umi>kin.  shared  the  same  fate;  the  third.  Ivshkossimin,  or  melon, 
and  tlie  fourth.  Kokees.  (U'  the  bean,  met  the  sanu'  fate;  but  when 
Tamil!  or  .Montamin,  which  is  maize,  presented  himself,  she  opened 
the  skill  tajiestry  door  of  her  lod,i;e,  laiij;lied  very  heartily,  and 
gave  liiiu  u  friendly  iecei»tion.     They  were   immediately  marrietl, 


potawata:mies. 


43 


iUid  fiuiii  this  iiiiioii  tlir  Iiidiiiiis  siniiii.u'.  'raiiiiii  loitlnvitli  buried 
tlic  lour  uiisiU'ci'sstMl  siiilms,  ;iiid  IVoiii  tlicir  urip.cs  tlicic  sxvi'W 
toliucco,  melons  ol'  nil  soils,  mid  liciiiis;  iiud  in  lliis  iiiaiiufr  tlic 
(licit  Sjiiiit  |>ro\id('d  that  the  lacc^  whicli  lie  iiad  made  shoidd 
ha\c  so;;i('thii:;4'  to  olVcr  him  as  a  liitt  in  tiieir  feasts  and  ceremo- 
nies, and  also  sometliin.i;'  to  pii)  into  tlieii'  ((brhs  or  kettles,  aloiij;' 
wit  li  theii'  meat.'"* 

rmtioiis  ol'  the  < 'iiipjiewa  iuid  Ottawa  trilies  were  as-oeiated 
with  the  I'otawataiiiies  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  |ire>(  nt 
limits  of  lliin(iis.  Thev  were  anion.!;'  the  most  ciier.uctie  and  iiowev- 
fnl  nations  of  the  iiorlhwcst.  and  loiiiiht  with  .ui'eat  teroeitv  in 
most  of  the  wars  caused  1>\  the  w<'stward  athanee  of  civilization. 
In  th<'  coiis]»!racv  of  I'oiitiac  thev  were  the  immediate  followers  of 
the  yreat  war  chief,  and  impelled  l»v  his  imperious  w  ill,  at  Detroit, 
3Iackinaw  and  other  Ihitish  jiosts.  they  wcic  without  rivals  in  the 
work  of  <-arna,i;'e  and  death.  The  iSui'tciiii.r,  n  luaiich  of  the  Cliip- 
])ewas,  dwelt  on  the  eastein  hank  (tf  the  Mississippi,  and  had 
xillaiics  on  tin-  sites  of  ijock  Isli.iid,  (i>uinc\  and  other  adjacent 
l>laces.  'l'he_\  wei'edri\en  west  of  the  ri\'er  hv  the  Sacs  and  Foxes, 
aftei' which  theii- piiiicipal  town  was  l)av«'n]>ort. 

All  these  triltes  have  intw  passed  licvoiid  tiie  limits  of  the  State. 
Some  lon.n'  since  were  e.\t<'nninated,  while  tin-  dcticnei'aie  otl'spiiiij;' 
of  othei's  are  found  in  the  Indian  'feiiitory  and  other  parts  of  the: 
west.  liillcNilile  as  if  hewn  from  a  rock,  thev  were  unable  to  adajit 
themsehcs  to  liie  retpiiicments  of  civilized  life,  and  could  but  tlce 
before  it  or  j)eri>h.  Their  fast  disappeariiiii  {graves,  and  the  reli<-s 
«)c<'asioiially  tiii'iied  ii])  by  the  plow,  are  now  the  only  melancholy 
vestiyt's  of  their  ibi'iiier  existence  in  Illinois. 

In  common  with  the  whole  Indian  race,  theii'  most  exalted  con- 
ception ol  .uloi'N  was  success  in  wai',  and  a  knowledjic  of  its  arts 
the  most  valuable  attainiiieiit.  The  a.u'cd  chief  looked  back  to  his 
exploits  in  battle  as  the  ciowiiin.ii  acts  of  his  life,  while  the  .urovvin.L:,' 
youth  hniked  forward  to  the  time  when  he  vv(Mild  be  able  to  win 
<listinction  by  like  feats  of  ]»row('ss.  ( 'ivili/.atioii  otters  to  the 
votaries  of  ambition  not  only  the  sword  but  the  |)en.  the  forum,  the 
jtalhs  of  science,  the  painter's  brush  and  the  sculptor's  chisel;  the 
isava.iie  lias  only  the  triiini|ihs  of  the  war  path.  The  war  par- 
ties of  the  prairi<'  tribes  consisted  of  volunteers.  The  leader  who 
att(  iiipted  to  raise  one  must  have  previously  distiiiivuished  himself 
ill  (a-der  to  be  successful.  He  (irst  appeale<I  to  the  patriotism  and 
eouraue  of  the  warriors,  and  was  careful  to  intimate  that  the 
(lr<'at  Spirit  had  made  known  to  him  in  dreams  the  success  of  lii.s 
enteiprise.  Then,  painted  vviHi  vcimillion  ti>  symbolize  blood,  he 
coiniiieiice<l  the  war  dance.  This  performance  exiu'cssed  in  panto- 
iiiiiiK'  the  varied  incidents  of  a  successful  campaij;ii.  Tlie  braves 
eiiterini;  upon  the  warpath,  tlu'  postiiiiidf  sentinels  to  avoid  sui'- 
piise,  the  advance  iiitii  the  enemy's  country,  the  formation  of 
ambuscades  to  strike  the  unwary  foe,  the  strife  and  carnage  of 
battle,  the  wiithiii.ii'  victim  sinkini;  under  the  blow  of  the  war- 
<'liib,  the  retreat  of  the  <'neiiiv,  the  scalping'  of  the  slain,  the  feast- 
\uiX  of  vultures  on  the  |)utrid  bodies,  the  trium]ihant  return  of  the 
war  pai'lv  to  their  villauc  and  tlie  torturin.u  of  iirisoners,  were  all 
portiayed  with  the  vividiu'ss  and  vchemeiKc  of  actual  warfare. 
Warrior  after  warrior,  vvisliiiij;'  to  volunteer  for  the  expedition,  ra]»- 


*Si.lio()l(.'iiil't. 


44 


niSTORY  OP  ILLINOIS. 


ii  li-; 


lit 


!;'■ 


'I   .til 


'f 


VI 


n  ^  1^ 


r 


i<lly  fell  into  tlic  (liiiicc  witli  tlic  leader.  Kacli  one,  ke(']»iii<i'  time 
uitli  llie  iM'iil  of  llic  (Iriiiii.  s\H-i[  ill  iiia/.y  ('ir<'i<'s  aioiiml  a  coiiiiiioii 
cciiti'c,  until  with  increased  iiiiiiilx'is  tlie  wiiol*-.  in  iiioxciiiciit  and 
iiproai',  I'csenilticd  tlic  wiiirlwind.  TIjc  s<'\<'iai  actois  taxed  tlieir 
jiiiisciilar  en('r,uies  to  llie  ntiiKist  endiiiaiK'c.  slaiiipin.u'  tlie  >;P(>iind 
Avitii  ;;i'eat  liny,  tiiiowin^'  liieir  Itodies  into  liie  diil'ereiit  attitudes 
«)!'  eonihat,  di.st<trliii.ii  tiieir  laces  with  the  IVeiizy  of  (h'liions.  and 
utt«'i  in>;- the  wai'cry  witli  tlie  rii.yhtriil  shriek  el'  niadnieii.  Tiiese 
hideous  or;^ies,  walciiii;  lij)  all  theliieand  eiier^y  of  the  Indian's 
sitiil,  weie  a  littiii^-  ]»reln(le  to  the  premeditated  eai'iiauc  If  a 
yoniiL;'  nian  participated  in  the  dance,  it  was  tantamount  to  an  en- 
listment, and  he  could  not  atterwar<ls  lioiioral>ly  withdraw. 

'J'l(r  Arl  of  J/iniliiH/  not  (Mily  siipi)lied  the  Indian  with  food,  Imt, 
like  that  of  war,  was  a  means  of  jiratifyin.u'  iiis  ioxc  of  distinclion. 
The  male  children,  as  soon  as  tliey  acipiired  siifticieiit  a;^('  and 
sti'en^tli.  were  furnished  with  a  how  and  arrows  and  taii,;;lit  to 
shool  hirds  and  other  small  uame.  SiK'cess  in  Uillin;^  lar.uc  (piad- 
ru]te<ls  re<|uired  years  of  careful  study  and  ]»raclice.  and  the  art 
was  as  sedulously  inculcated  (»n  the  minds  of  the  rising-  jiciieratiou 
as  are  the  elements  of  reading,  wiilinu'  and  aritlimeti',  'i  thecoin- 
liion  schools  of  civilized  communities.  The  mazes  ol  the  forest 
and  the  dense  tall  uiass  of  the  juairies  were  the  best  fields  for  the 
exerci.M' <»f  tin-  hunter's  skill.  No  feet  cinild  he  impressed  in  the 
yieldinji  soil  hut  they  wei-e  oltjects  of  the  most  ri.^id  scrutiny,  and 
I'eNcahtl  at  a  glance  the  animal  that  made  them,  the  direction  it 
Avas  pursuing,  ami  the  time  that  had  elapsed  since  it  had  passed. 
K\eii  if  the  surface  was  too  hard  to  admit  of  indentations,  siu-li 
Avei'e  his  w  (Uideiliil  powers  of  olisci'V  atioii.  he  discoxcied  <m  it 
evidences  of  a  trail  Irom  which,  with  scarcely  less  ceitainly,  he 
derived  tlu-  same  information.  In  a  forest  countr\  he  selected  for 
Ills  places  of  amliusli  \  alleys,  hecause  they  are  most  IVecpieiilly  the 
)'esort  of  jiiiine,  and  sallied  forth  at  the  first  peep  of  day.  in 
useejidinji'  the  valleys  he  was  careful  to  take  the  side  ol'the  stream 
uhieli  threw  his  shadow  from  il.  thus  ieavinu'  his  \  iew  iinohsti'uc- 
ted  ill  the  opposite  directi«Hi.  The  most  easily  taken,  perhaps,  of 
all  the  animals  of  the  chase  was  the  deer.  It  is  endowed  with  a 
<Miri()sity  which  prompts  it  to  stop  in  itslliuht  and  look  hack  at  ilu^ 
appi'oachin.u  huiiler  w  ho  always  a\  ails  himself  of  this  <(|iportiniity  to 
let  lly  his  fatal  arrow.  An  in.iiciiious  method  of  takin.u  this  aniiual, 
])racti(!ed  by  the  Indians  on  the  small  tributaries  of  the  Mississijipi, 
Avas  the  use  of  the  t(U'cIi.  j-'or  this  imi']iose  they  coiistructt'd  their 
I>ark  canoes  witli  a  place  in  frcuit  foi'  the  reception  of  a  laij^c  ihiiii- 
beaii,  whose  linht  was  preveiitetl  from  rexcalini;-  the  hunterby  \]n>, 
intei'position  of  a  screen.  As  he  descended  the  iiariow  streams, 
the  i\i'i'\\i  seeing' only  the  lij;ht.  was  attracted  by  it  to  the  bank.s 
and  <'asily  shot. 

Hut  by  far  the  noblest  oitjects  of  the  chase  which  the  Indian  eii- 
C(>untei('(l  (Ml  the  ja'aiiies,  was  the  bulfaht.  It  is  an  animal  conlined 
to  lemperate  latitudes,  and  was  found  in  larjic  numbers  by  the  first 
explorers,  roaming'  o\er  the  yi'assy  ]»lains  of  llliiatis,  Indiana, 
►Southern  .Alichijian  and  Western  Ohio.  It  has  a  remarkably  larji'e 
<'lies|,  a  heavy  mane  co\  ciiiiu  the  w  hole  of  its  neck  and  breast,  horns 
turned  slightly  upward  ami  lariic  at  the  base,  eyes  red  and  fiery, 
and  the  whole  aspect  furious,  in  its  native  haunts  it  is  a  furious 
and  (ormidable  animal,  worthy  of  the  indian's  prowess.     Like  the 


THEIR  OENERAL  COUNCILS. 


45 


moose  iiiid  otlicr  iiiiiiiiiils  of  the  saiiir  t';iiiiily,  iiatiiic  liiis  bestowed 
on  it  tlieiiiost  excuiisile  power  of  scent.  Tlie  inexperienced  liiinter 
of  tlie  i»resent  d;iv,  luiiiwiire  tiiiit  the  tainted  liree/e  lias  i'e\caled 
liis  lu'cscncc  to  tlieni,  is  often  siirpri?;ed  to  see  tlieni  inj;in.ii  their 
rapid  llii^lit  aeidss  the  prairies,  at  a  distance  of  two  or  tliree  niih'S 
in  ad\ance,  witliont  any  apparent  canse  of  ahirin.  He  is  tlierefon! 
necessitated  to  dismount  and  approach  tlieni  on  the  leeward,  under 
eo\er  of  the  horse.  When  within  a  inoper  distance  he  vaults  into 
the  saddle  and  speeds  forward  in  the  direction  of  the  prey,  which 
coininences  its  reti'cat,  .ycttinii' over  the  .uionnd  with  ^reat  raiiidity 
for  animals  so  unwieldy.  Intnitively  it  directs  its  c«Mirse  ov«t  the 
most  broken  and  dillicult  i^roniid,  caiisiiiu  Itoth  horse  and  rid<'r  to 
frequently  imperil  their  ii\es  by  falling;.  \\  lien  wounded  they 
sctnictimes  turn  with  ^reat  fiiiy  upon  their  pnisiier,  and  if  he  hap- 
pens to  l)e  dismounted,  notliin,u'  but  the  greatest  coolness  and  de\- 
teiity  can  sa\  e  his  life. 

The  itow  and  arrow,  in  the  hands  of  the  tiibes  which  formerly 
raiiucd  the  prairies,  wi'iv  said  to  be  more  forniidaltle  weapons  in 
linntin.n'  the  imil'alo.  than  the  li'iins  sui)se(pieiitly  intr(idiH*e<l  by  lOu- 
ropeaiis.  'I'he  arrows  could  l)e  discliar,ii('(l  with  .ureater  lajiidity  and 
with  scarcely  less  precision.  Such.  too.  was  the  force  with  wiiieh 
it  was  propelled,  that  the  .greater  pait  of  it  was  jicnerally  imbedded 
in  the  body  of  the  biitl'alo,  and  sometimes  protruded  from  the  oppo- 
site side.  Deep  grooves  cut  in  the  side  of  the  missile  permitted  the 
rapid  elfnsion  of  blood,  and  animals,  when  pierced  with  it,  siir\  ived 
only  a  short  time. 

( )iie  of  the  modes  of  killinji'  the  bulValo.  ])racticed  l»y  the  Illiiutis 
and  otliei'  tribes  of  ilie  West,  was  to  drixc  them  headloiii;  over  the 
l)reci|>itoiis  banks  of  the  rivers.  Uutfalo  IJock,  a  larLiC  promontory 
rising  lifty  oi-  sixty  feet  hijih,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Illinois,  six 
mih'S  below  Ottawa,  is  said  to  have  deri\'ed  its  name  from  this 
jiraetii'e.  It  was  customary  to  select  an  active  yoiin.u'  man  and  dis- 
jiuise  him  in  the  skin  of  the  bulTah*,  prepared  for  this  purpose  by 
]»reserviny  th(^  eais,  head  and  horns.  Thus  (lis;^uised,  he  took  a 
]»osition  between  a  her<l  and  a  clitl'of  the  river,  while  his  coiiipan- 
ioiis,  on  the  the  real'  and  eae-h  side,  put  the  animals  in  motion, 
following'  tlie  dr'coy,  who,  on  reacliinj''  the  precipice,  disa]»i)eare(l 
in  a  )>reviously  selected  crexice,  while  the  animals  in  front,  pressed 
by  the  ino\in;4'  mass  liehind,  were  precipitated  over  the  brink  and 
crushed  to  death  on  tlie  rocks  below.  'I'he  Indians  also  often  cap- 
lured  lar.ii'c  numbers  of  these  butValo,  when  the  rivei's  -were  frozen 
o\cr,  by  dri\  inu'  them  on  the  ice.  If  the  jii'cat  wei.<;ht  of  the  ani- 
mals broke  the  ice.  they  were  usually  killed  in  the  water,  but  if  too 
stionj;'  to  break,  its  smoothness  caused  them  to  fall  powerless  <m 
the  surta(!e,  when  they  were  remorselessly  slaughtered,  lony  after 
sui>plyiii,n'  the  demands  for  food,  mei'cly  to  gratify  a  brutal  love  foi' 
the  destruction  of  life. 

Their  General  (Utnncih  were  composed  of  the  chiefs  and  oM  men. 
AVhen  in  conneil  they  usually  sat  in  concentric  circles  aiound  the 
speaker,  and  each  indi\idual,  iiotwithstandin,u'  the  tiery  passions 
tliat  rankled  within,  ]»reserved  an  exterior  as  immovable  as  if  east 
ill  bronze.  JJefore  comnienciiiji-  business,  a  ]tersoii  apjieared  with 
the  sacr«Ml  j)ipe  and  another  wiili  lire  to  kimlle  it.  After  iteinj;" 
li.yhted,  it  was  presented  first  to  tJie  heavens,  secondly  to  the  earth, 
thirdly  to  the  j»residin,i;'  spirits,  and  lastly  to  the  several  councilors, 


40 


niSTORY  or  ILLINOIS. 


!i 


I 

k 

:     . 

1 

i 

, 

> 

\ 

f! 

I 

if 


OiK'li  of  wiiom  look  a  wliitt'.  These  foiiiiiiliticsAvcrc  observed  with 
its  iimcli  sirii|>iiloiis  exii-tiiess  ;is  state  etiiinette  in  (',i\  ili/ed  courts. 
Alter  file  speaker  ('(»miiieiiee(l  niid  Iteciiiiie  iiiiiinated  in  the  ilisens- 
sion  of  iiis  subject,  his  stiitue-like  iiiiditois  sijinilied  tiieir  iisseiit  to 
whiil  lie  said  l>v  (hep  uiiltnrMi  ej;icni;itioiis.  'riiesc  ^iil  lieriM;;s.  in 
di.t^iiily.  .j^rinity  and  decornin,  were  sc;ircel,v  e(|n;d!ed  li\  tiie  deli- 
berative bodies  of  the  most  enb,nlitened  centres.  It  is  siud  that 
the  Fiidiiins  were  wont  to  express  tlie  jireiitest  snrprise  on  witness- 
ii!,U  tlie  l!\it\  e.Nliiliiled  \>y  l-'rencii  oirieials,  in  tlieir  i»nb!ic  iisseiii- 
blies  ;it  l''ort  ( "Inirtrcs. 

'I'lie  indiiin  council  Inid  no  antliority  to  .yive  force  and  valiibty  to 
its  rnactments.  If  it  decided  to  cnjia.uc  in  war.  it  had  no  power 
til  <  nfoice  its  eniistnients,  and  therefore  \olunteers  had  (o  lij^lit 
llic  baliles.  If  its  decrees  of  peace  were  obsei'ved,  it  was  not  the 
resnlt  of  coinpnlsiou.  bnt  (\]U'  to  the  conlifh'iice  whicli  the  nation 
placed  in  its  wis(l<iin  and  inle.^rity.  Where  conn<Mls  were  con\ cik d 
lor  ne.:L;otia!in;n'  t  :e;!t  ies.  or  terms  of  [)eace,  the  presentation  of  .uil'ts 
was  often  a  |iaii  of  the  procecdin.us.  1(  was  customary  on  tliese 
occasions  foi'  the  orator  of  the  intciccdin.u'  party  to  rise  and  pre- 
sent them  to  those  of  the  assembla.ue  who  were  to  be  concilial(  (1. 
A  paj'iiculai-  object  was  as>ii;ned  to  each  ,i;ift,  which  the  >]:(  aker 
exphiiiU'd  as  he  proceeded  in  his  discoui'se.  ( 'orrespoiidin.u'  with 
the  \arions  objects  to  be  accomplished  by  nejicttiat ion,  there  were 
ijifts  to  propitiate  the  (!reat  Spii'it  ami  cause  him  to  htok  \vith  favor 
upon  the  council;  to  open  the  ears  and  minds  of  the  contractinjf 
]»arlies.  that  they  mi^ht  hear  what  Avas  said  and  undeistand  their 
diit.\  ;  lo  inter  tjie  bones  of  the  dead,  ami  heal  the  Avoniids  of  their 
]i\in^'  friends;  to  bury  the  tomahawk,  that  it  mi.ulit  not  aj^ain  bo 
used  in  sheddinii  blood,  and  to  so  bri;nhten  the  chain  (»f  friendshi]» 
that  the  disalfecled  tribes  miulit  excr  afterwai'ds  be  as  one  people, 

'i'lie  thonulits  uttered  in  these  connciis.  and  on  other  public  occa- 
sions, w<'re  iVcijUenily  of  a  hiuh  older,  Heejily  imbued  with  the 
lo\c  of  free  (lorn  and  independence,  their  ideas  on  these  suljects 
were  ^  iieiali\  of  a  lofty,  unselfish  and  heroic  charactei',  I'iiiiiot- 
ism,  their  most  cherished  \irtue.  furnished  their  orators  with 
themes  for  the  most  stirriiiji'  apiieals,  I'airenucss  of  laiii;ua;',:(' 
uecessitat<Ml  the  tVe<|iieiit  cmiilo,\  iiient  of  metaplioi's,  many  of  which 
were  surprisiii,ul\  beautiful,  simple  and  api)iopriate.  'fhe  fi<'<|m  nt 
ust'  of  imaLvery  made  it  dillic'dt  for  the  interpreter  to  follow  tli<  in 
in  llicir  liyiiratiNc  xcin  of  thought  and  do  the  orator  Justice,  Jbit 
while  this  was  true  it  Mas  much  more  fre(|i!ently  the  case  that  the 
traiisla!<ir  .greatly  improNcd  ilie  diijiinal.  It  may  also  be  add«'d  that 
some  of  the  most  sparklin;^' j-cms  of  what  jdirports  to  be  Indian 
e!o<jUciice  a  re  not  liini;  but  the  fanciful  creations  of  writers,  i'oiitiac's 
speeches  are  fre(]iieiitly  referre  !  io  as  aiiioii.n' the  best  specimens 
of  aliorijiiiial  elo(|iience.  The  following'  retort  was  made  by  Keokuk, 
in  answer  to  charucs  in-efeired  against  his  ]>eoi)le  by  the  Si(»uxs  at 
a  con\(»catioii  ofchict's  in  is;;7,  at  the  national  capital: 

"They  say  they  would  as  soon  make  peace  with  a  child  as  witli 
us.  They  know  better,  for  when  Ihey  made  wai- ou  us  they  fouud 
us  men.  They  tell  y(ai  that  pi  ju-e  has  often  been  made  and  wo 
ha\e  biokcii  it.  How  happens  il  then  that  so  many  of  their  braves 
Jia\c  been  slain  in  oiir  country,  I  will  tell  yon:  They  invaded  us, 
Ave  ne\('r  invaded  them;  none  ot  our  braves  have  been  killed  in 


CONSTITUTION   OF  TnH  INDIAN   I'AMILY. 


47 


tlicir  1:111(1.     Wc  liavo  tlioir  sciilps  and  we  can  toll  yon  wIkm'o  avo 
todk  tliciii;' 

lUack  Hawk's  sjx'ccli  to  Col.  ICiisticc.  in  cliari^cor  Fortress  Moii- 
r(»o.  wlicM  lie  and  his  tcllow  ])i'is<>iM'rs  were  set  at  liberty,  is  luit 
only  elo(|iient.  Itiit  shows  tliat  within  his  chest  of  stci'l  there  heat  a 
heart  keenly  alive  to  the  emotions  ot  uralitiKh' : 

"  I'rotlicr,  I  liavc  eoinc  on  my  mvn  pMit,  iind  in  lii'liiiH' (>f  my  roiii]i;inio)is,  to 
bid  \(m  fiircwrli.  Our  urcMt  iMtlicr  liiis  al  Icnutli  liccii  |)l(ii<c(l  to  in-rniit  lis  to 
rrliirii  to  our  Imiiliiiir  uriiinids.  W'c  iiavc  liuriid  tiic  tiiiiiMliMwK'.  inid  llic  soniul 
of  till'  ritli'  will  licrciiricr  only  hriiiu;;  dcatli  to  llic  dccraiid  liir  IiuHmIo.  IJi-otli- 
cr,  you  liMvc  treated  liie  red  men  verv  kindly.  Yonr  s(|iia\\s  have  made  ilunv 
pre'^ents,  and  you  liave  uiven  iIk  ni  jileiity  to  eat  iind  drink.  'Die  ninnoiy  of 
y()\u*  friendsliip  will  remain  till  tlie  (!reai  Spirit  says  it  is  time  for  Hlaek  Hawk 
to  sinir  ids  dealii  soiiir.  IJrollnr,  your  iioiises  are  numerous  as  IJie  leaves  on 
tile  trees,  and  your  youiitr  warriors  like  the  sands  upon  llie  shore  of  the  \)\<j; 
lake  that  rolls  liefore  U.S.  The  red  man  lia.s  hut  t'ew  houses,  and  few  warriors, 
hut  the  re(l  man  litis  a  jwart  wliieli  throbs  as  warmly  as  tlu;  luart  of  his  white 
brother.  The  (Jreat  Spirit  has  niveii  us  our  huiitinu;  n'ldiinds,  and  the  skin  of 
the  deer  whieh  we  kill  there,  is  liis  I'avoriie,  for  its  color  is  white,  ainl  this  is  I  ho 
emblem  of  pe.aee.  'this  huntiim- dress  and  these  fealln  rs  of  the  eauh'  are  wjiile. 
Ai'eept  them, my  brother;  I  haveuiven  oiielike  this  to  tin;  White  Otter.  Aer^pt 
of  it  as;i  meinoiial  of  I}la<k  Hawk.  WluMi  he  is  faraway  this  will  serve'  toremiml 
you  of  him.     May  the  (Jreat  Spirit  bh  ss  yoii  and  your  ehihlreii.     Farewell." 

Coiistifiitioii  of  the  Iiulidn  Fninili/. — Tiie  most  important  social 
featni'e  of  tiie  i)rairie  and  other  triites,  and  that  Avhich  disarmed 
their  I>arl>iirism  of  mnch  of  its  rei)iiisiveness,  was  the  family  tie. 
The  nnirital  rite  which  ]»recedes  tiie  faMiily  relations  re(|iiire(l  only 
the  consent  of  the  parties  and  their  ])areiits,  witlnuit  tiiiy  conciir- 
I'ciit  act  of  mao'istracy,  to  jx'w'i'  it  \  alidity.  The  hnshand,  with  e(|iial 
facility,  mij^ht  also  di.s.solve  this  tie  or  increase  the  niindier  of  his 
wives  withotit  limit.  Thoiiyh  the  marriau'c  coiiii>act  was  not  very 
strono,  the  ties  of  coiisanoiiinity  wererij;idly  ]»reser\('d,  and  iiered- 
itary  lij^hts,  ji'cncrally  traced  tlir(»n,iih  the  female  line,  were  handed 
down  from  the  remotest  iineestiy.  JMtr  this  ])nrpo.se  they  had  tin! 
instirmion  of  tiie  Totem,  an  einhlem  which  .M-rxcd  as  a  liadiic  of 
distinction  forditferent  clans  or  families.  This  tamily  snrname  wa.s 
represented  by  some  (|n;idrnpe(l,  liird.  or  otiier  oliject  of  the  ani- 
ni;d  world,  as  the  wolf.  deer,  hawk,  tl<;c.  nill'erent  dejirees  of  rank 
ami  dignity  were  indicatetl  by  \arioiis  totems,  those  of  the  bear, 
wolf,  and  tni'tle,  Ix'iny'  lirst  in  honor,  secured  the  oicatest  icspect 
for  tlio.se  who  had  tiie  ri.yht  to  wetir  them.  ICacli  clansnnm  was 
]»roii(l  of  his  (Misiiiii,  and  if  a  member  of  the  fraternity  was  killed, 
lie  feit  called  upon  toaveii,o'e  his  death.  As  the  ditferent  meinbers 
of  a  clan  were  connected  by  ties  of  kindred,  the,v  wore  ]>roliiltited 
from  intermarriau'c.  A  I>ear  coiild  not  marry  a  Uear,  lait  miuht 
take  a  wife  from  the  \VoIf  or  Otter  clan,  wher(d»y  all  the  branches 
of  a  tribe  or  nation  becamo  niiited  by  bonds  of  consan,oiiinit\  and 
friendship.  I>y  this  siinjile  institution,  notwitlistandinii  the  wan- 
deriiiu'  of  triites  and  their  \  icissitiides  in  war.  family  linea.u'c  was 
])re,sei'\('d  and  the  hereditary  ri^lits  of  I'lirnishino'  chiefs,  accorded 
to  certain  clans,  was  transmitted  from  iicnei'ation  t(»  jicneratioii. 

Thoiii^li  in  many  of  the  most  endearino' relations  of  life  the  men, 
iVoiii  immemorial  custom,  exhibited  the  most  stolid  indifference, 
yet  instances  were  notwantinj;'  to  show  that  in  their  laiiiily  attach- 
moiits  they  fre(piently  manifestod  the  jj,Teatest  alt'ection  and  sym- 
l)athy.  No  calamity  can  cause  more  ,i;rief  than  the  loss  of  ;i  itrom- 
isiny  son,  and  the  father  lias  often  yivon  his  life  as  a  ransom  to 


48 


IIISTOIJY   OF   TLLIXOIS. 


save  liiiii  riniii  llic  stiikc.  A  slrikiii^i' instance  ol"  lliis  kind  uccnr- 
rt'il  in  tiic  wardl'liif  ITtli  crntiirv  lirtwccM  tlic  I'oxcs  and  ('liip|ii'- 
"was,  near  Mdnlrcal.  In  tiiis  war  tin'  I'oxcs  captincd  the  son  ol  u 
C'ck'hnitcd  and  a;^t'd  cliitl' di'  tlic  <  liipitrwas,  nann'd  IJi-ans  wall, 
wliilc  the  latlii'i'  was  al>scnt  iVoni  liis  wigwam.  On  rcarhinL;  his 
lionic.  the  old  man  heard  the  hear!  rending'  news,  and  knowing' 
what  the  lato  of  his  son  would  be,  followed  on  the  trail  of  the  enemy, 
and,  alone,  reaehed  the  Fox  villaji*'  whiU'  they  were  in  the  act  of 
kindlin,<;'  the  lire  to  roast  him  ali\c.  lie  ste|i|)ed  holdly  into  the 
artMia  and  olfered  to  taice  his  son's  place.  ••  .My  s(m,"' said  he  '-has 
seen  but  few  winters,  his  feet  ha\c  nexcr  trod  the  war  path;  liut 
the  hairs  of  my  Ix'ad  are  white:  1  ha\(hiin.u'  many  scalps  over  the 
<iia\esofmy  lelalions,  which  I  have  taken  from  the  heads  of  your 
Avarriors.  Kindle  the  liicaitoni  me  and  send  my  son  lo  m\  lod^c"' 
The  olfcr  was  acc<-|)ted  and  liic  father,  w  ithoiit  deij^ninj;'  to  utter  a 
}:roan,  was  burned  at  the  stake.  Such  are  the  sexcrities  o!' sa\  a,m^ 
warl'are.  amidst  which  the  famil\  is  maintained  with  a  heroism 
which  has  no  ]tai'allel  in  eivili/ed  life. 

'I'lif  MiHiixIn  iif  SrjntUinr,  anions'  (he  lndi:;us,  \arie<l  in  dilfcrent 
hx-alities.  It  was  connnon,  am<uij;  the  ;i(Ulhern  foi'cst  ti'ibes  of 
the  rnite<l  States,  to  choose  eie\atcd  spots  above  the  reach  of 
tio(»(ls,  for  places  of  burial.  Not  having  suitable  tools  for  iiiakin;i' 
excavations,  they  intei'red  their  dead  in  shallow  j^raxcsautl  (ilaced 
over  them  trunks  of  trees  t,)  scenic  tliciii  from  d<  pr<'datioii  by  wihl 
beasts.  'I'lie  bodies  we;e  sometimes  extcndc(|  at  full  h  u,uth,  in  an 
eastern  and  wesicri'  direction,  liut  nua-e  fret|ucntly  in  a  sittin^i'  pos- 
ture. The  Illinois  and  other  prairie  tribes  freipu'iitly  placed  flieir 
dead  on  seafiolds  erected  on  eminences  commanding;'  extensi\e 
and  jiietuvescpu'  views.  The  corpse,  alter  receivin;;'  its  wrapi>iiijis, 
Mas  deposited  in  a  rndecoltin.  fancifully  painted  with  red  colors.  In 
this  condition  they  were  jtlaced  on  scallblds  decorated  w  ith  ,i;itts  of 
livin.u'  relatives,  ami  built  snlliciently  iii.uii  to  i»roteet  them  from 
Avohcsand  other  animals  of  prey  infesting'  tln'  luairies.  Ihit  Jud;;inji' 
from  the  remains  of  graves,  by  far  the  greater  jiart  of  the  ancient  in- 
hal  >il  a  lit  s  of  Illinois  and  the  .idjacent  parts  of  the  Mississipj)!  N'alley, 
deposited  lar.nc  numbers  (d  their  dead  in  a  common  tomb,  and  ^cn- 
erally  marked  the  place  by  the  erection  of  a  mound.  The  plains 
and  allu\  iiims  of  Southern  Jlliiiois,  lia\e  in  iiuiny  places  been  liter- 
ally sown  witii  the  dead,  exincinn  a  density  of  population  ,ureatly 
cxeeediiiii' that  found  l»y  the  lirst  l']uro[)ean  I'Xplorersof  this  re;;ioii. 
Theenstom  of  raisin,u  Iieaps  of  earth  over  tlu' .graves,  was  jM-rhaps 
]U'actieed  as  a  mark  of  distinction  for  the  tombs  of  emim'iit  [(ersoii- 
a.ucs.  and  for  such  as  contained  the  bodies  of  warriors  slain  in  bat- 
tle, oi'  were  made  comiiKUi  r«'positaries  for  the  dead  of  whole  elans 
and  \  illa.^es.  It  is  sometimes  dillicult  to  distiiij;iiish  between  the 
])laces  of  sepulture  raised  by  the  ancient  mound  builders,  and  the 
more  inodern  jiiaves  of  the  Indians.  The  tombs  of  the  former  wcrt^ 
in  ji'eiieral  laij^cr  than  the  latter,  were  used  as  receptacles  for  a 
j;reater  number  of  l»odies,  and  contained  ri'lics  of  art  evinein.!;'  a 
lii;;lier  deyrce  of  civilization  than  that  attained  by  the  present  ab- 
orijiinal  tribes.  The  ancient  tmimli  of  tlu' moniid  builders  have  in 
some  instanc(\s  been  a]i]U'oi>riated  as  burial  places  by  the  Indians, 
but  the  skeletons  of  the  latter  may  be  distin;;uishe(l  from  the  osteu- 
loyical  remains  of  the  former  by  their  greater  stature. 


5IETIIODS  OF   SEPULTURE. 


49 


The  existence  ofii  future  stnte  was  rojrardod  by  Hieju-airie  tribes 
as'  ail  aeliiaiity,  and  upon  tliis  idea  was  i)n'dieated  tlie  eii^toiii 
of  de|n)siliii<i  in  tlie  jiraves  of  departed  friends  tlieii'  tinorite 
iiiipleiiieiifs,  and  sneli  as  tiiey  tlion,i;iif  would  l»e  useful  to  them  iu 
the  land  of  spirits.  When  a  wari'ior  died  tliey  i)laeed  with  him  his 
waicliib,  liWH  and  red  paint,  and  some  limes  liis  liorse  was  slain 
upon  his  -irave,  that  he  mijilit  be  ready  to  iii(»iiiit  and  i»roeee<l  to 
to  liis  a]>])<tiiit<'d  plaee  of  I'cst  in  the  land  of  si)irits.  If  a  femaUj 
was  to  l)e  inteiTcd.  tliey  placed  with  her  a  kettle,  canoe  iiaddles, 
articles  of  ai»i)ai'el,  and  other  ol)jects  of  feminine  use  and  iut<'i('st. 
No  trait  of  cliaracter  was  iiim-e  comnieiKiable  in  the  Indian  than 
his  scrupulous  re^^ard  for  the  j^raves  of  his  ancestors.  Not  even 
tlie  invasion  of  his  huntini;'  j^ronnds  roirsed  more  (piickly  his  ]»at- 
riotism  and  lysentiiiei  t,  than  the  ruthless  deseciati(»ii  of  tlie  j;iaves 
of  his  fathers,  by  the  mdiallowed  hands  of  strangers.  So  lou^' as 
any  ])art  of  tlieir  iierislial)!;-  bodies  were  supposed  to  remain,  they 
■were  j))-()mi»ted  by  icvereiic<'  to  visit  tlii'  sacred  i)laces  where  they 
.slept,  and  ])our  out  libations  to  their  departed  sjtirits. 

Man  is,  by  natiir«s  a  r«'li;iious  beinj;.  The  exhibitions  of  lii.s 
f'liaiavter,  iu  this  i-espeet,  are  as  universal  as  are  the  disphiys  of 
liis  social,  iiitell-'ctual  and  moral  nature  No  nations,  triltes  or  iii- 
•  lividiials  have  Iceii  found,  whatever  may  be  tlieir  isolated  coitdi- 
ticm  or  dejitli  of  <b'jira(lati(»ii,  but  they  ai'e  more  or  less  ^ioverned 
by  this  inherent '  lenient.  While  the  reli^iioiis  sentiment  is  univer- 
sal, its  manifes'ations  are  as  \arious  as  the  dilfereiit  de<;rees  of  ad- 
vancement made  by  its  sultjectsin  kiutwledjic  From  the  ignorant 
idolatoi'  who  bows  down  before  a  lifeless  iniaj;eor  some  abject  tbrm 
of  aiiiinal  life,  to  the  devotee  of  a  more  eiili^^hteiied  theolo^iy,  tln^ 
de\otioii  is  the  same,  but  their  theories  and  ]iractices  are  iiitinitely 
divers<'.  The  faculties  which  make  man  a  worshijipinji  beinj""  are 
uiiciian^ieable,  and  may  not  its  iiianifestations  become  uiiil"oriii, 
when  tlie  immutable  attributes  of  tli(>  <leity,  and  the  invariable 
laws  instituted  by  him  for  the  yovernmeut  of  the  human  family, 
Jire  i>ro])erly  studied  and  understood. 

TIm' red  man  of  thei)rairies  and  ibrests,  like  tlie  rest  of  mankind, 
was  also  ])sycholoiL;ically  religious.  Without  si)eakinj;'  of  the  diver- 
sitii's  of  belief  entertained  by  ditfen'iit  tribes,  only  the  ji'eneral  fea- 
tures of  their  laitli  can  be  <;iven.  Prominent  amonji'  these  Mas 
the  idea  that  every  natural  ])Iienomenon  was  thesju'cial  manifesta- 
tion of  the  Cireat  8]tirit.  In  the  mutterin<;s  of  the  thunder  cloud, 
ill  the  aii;nry  roarof  the  cataract,  or  the  sound  of  the  billows  which 
beat  ujxin  the  shores  of  his  lake-jiirt  forests,  he  heard  the  voice  of 
the  (ireat  Spirit.  The  li^htninji's  Hash,  the  mystic  radiance  of  the 
stars,  Avere  to  him  familiar  displays  of  a  s])irit  essence  whicli  up- 
held and  jiovei'ued  all  thijij^s,  even  the  minute  destinies  of  men  ; 
while  the  Indian  attributed  to  the  (Jreat  Spirit  the  ^ood  he  eiijoyi'd 
ill  life,  he  re<'o<inized  the  existence  of  evil.  To  account  for  this, 
without  attributing  inalevolenceto  the  (ireat  Spirit,  an  antaj-'onis- 
tical  deity  was  created  in  his  tlieolo<;y,  whom  he  re,iiar<led  as  the 
l)oti'nt  ])ower  of  iiialifjiiancy.  J>y  this  duality  of  deities  he  was 
careful  to  jiuard  his  j^ood  and  merciful  God  from  all  imi>utationsof 
evil  by  attribiitiiifi-  all  the  bad  inb'iitions  and  acts  which  atilliet  the 
huiiiaii  family  to  the  Great  F>ad  Spirit. 

Doubtless,  in  part,  as  a  result  of  missionary  instructions,  tlie 
Illinois  and  other  branches  of  Algonquin  stock,  designated  their 


50  niSTOllY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


(Iroiit  Spirit  as  tlu^  Aiitlior  of  Lift',  the  I'plioldcr  of  the  I'liivcrsc. 
Tlu'.v  believed  liiin  all-wise,  all-iMiweiliil,  and  all-fi'ood,  and  \ari- 
ously  assijiiied  liiiii  a  d\velliii;n  place  in  (lie  snn.  moon  or  indetinite 
slvies.  Tlicy  not  onlv  distiii.uiiisiied  tlie  principle  of  <j:o{n\  and  evil 
!  by  two  anta^^tHiistic  jiods.  iait  snpplied   tlicni  willi  an  inininiciaitle 

I  innnber  of  minor  divinities,  whose  ollice  was  to  execnte  tlicir  will. 
Tlu'se  consisled  of  birds,  i'ci»tiles,  fairies,  spirits,  and  a  j; real  \a- 
j'icly  of  oilier  objects,  some  iteiiiu-  inslriiiiieiilalities  (tf  ;4(mm1  and 
t>tliefs  of  e\il.  I'lider  such  a  iiiiiltii>licity  of  aiila;;»»nistic  poweis, 
I'verythin;;  wliicli  the   Indian  saw  or  heard  in  (Ik-  external  world 

iini^ht  be  liiecaMseof  intense  liojte  or  fear,  and  keep  him  in  per- 
]»etiial  donlit  as  t(»  whether  it  foreboded  liood  or  e\  il.  A  prey  to 
these  mysterious  fears,  lie  readily  fell  into  the  belief  of  sorcery 
and  other  siipi)ose(l  maiiie  inllnences.  I'^roni  this  cause  they  were 
j  constantly  \iclimized  by  their  in'iests,  Jujij^Iers.  and   prophets,  a 

class  who  lived  l»y  these  ini|)ositi(»ns  instead  of  linntiiiiu'. 
;  Til"  belie!'  in  a   future  state  was  coiiiinoii.     According  to  their 

j,  traditions,  which  had  been  modiiied  by  missionary  teacliinjis.  the 

'  \vicked.  at   death,  sink   into  a  dark   rctribiiti\c   streaii:.  wiiile   the 

''  jidod  are  rewarded  with  an  abode  in  a  delightful   hiiiiliiiji  ;^roiind. 

i  In  their  lively  imaucry,  they  spoke  of  this  place  as  the  land  ot  the 

|j  blest,  or  the  country  of  souls,  throujiii   which  meaudered   nciitly 

«  llowiuu'  rixcrs.     They   supposed   these  streams  replete  with   e\er.\ 

kind  of  llsh  suitable  for  ibod.  and  that  those  who  bathed  in   tlieiii 
Avere  exempt  IVoiii  tlu'  ills  which  afllict  life  in  the  present  state  of 

II  beinj;'.  ()v«'r  the  surface,  aiirceably  diversilied  with  hills  and  val- 
leys, were  prairies  interspersed  with  noble  forests,  under  whose 
islielterinj;'  branches  disported  the  \arious  creations  of  animal  life. 
IJirds  warbled  their  swet^test  music  in  waving'  yroNcs.  and  nolde 
animals  grazed  on  the  vei'dant  plains  so  numerous  and  prolific  that 
the  demands  of  the   hunter  were  always  met  without  cxliaustiii!; 

y  the  sui)ply.     Xo  tempest's  destrncfi\e  blast,  n(»  wasting'  |iestileiice 

|,  nor  desolatinti'  cartlapiake.  emanating'  from  the  Sjiirit  of  l']\  il.  oc- 

'.  currcd  to  mar   the  sweet  and  \aiied  jileasurcs  of  life.     Such   was 

the  Indian's  fiitur(3  state  of  existence,  the  (hvcliinii  iilace  of  the 
Great  Sjiirit,  who  welcomed  home  at  death  his  wauderiuji  children. 
I  The  belief  in  this  terrene  elysium,  the   Indian's  most  exalted  idea 

J  ol'iiaradise,  (h>iibtless  explains  his  stoical  indilference  of  death. 

;  "With  him 

I  "  TiuiL"  comes  luisis'licd  for,  luirciirctlcd  flics; 

I  PIcMScd  thiit  lie  lives,  liiippy  tlliit  lie  ilics." 

^  As  it  regards  the  Indians  in  <;'tnieral,  it  is  an  adaji'o  amonj;'  those 

whose  observations  have  been  the  most  extensive,  that  he  w  ho 
lias  seen  one  tribe  has  seen  them  all.     This  seems  to  be  true,  iiot- 
(  witlistaudiiii;-  their  wide  ,ii-co<4ra])liical  distribution,  and  the  ,i;reat 

i;  oxtrenu's  of  climate  to  which  they  are  exjiosed.     Whether  enjoy- 

^  inji"  the   jireat    abundance  and   mild   climate   of  the    Mississii»])i 

N'alley,  or  chilled  and  stinted  by  the  bleak  and  barren  rejiions  of 
ij  the  extreme  noith  and  south  of  the  hemispheie.  over  w hich  they 

•■  arc  scattered,  they  Inu'e  tiie  same  <;'eneral  lineaments.     '"AH  pos- 

sess, tliou,!nh  ill  varied  dejirees,  the  same  huiji',  lank,  black  hair, 
tin'  dull  and  slee]»y  eye,  the  full  and  comi)ress<'d  lips,  and  the 
salient  liiit  dilated  nose.''*  The  cheek  bones  are  ])romincut,  the 
nostril  expanth'd,  the  orbit  of  the  eye  squared,  and  the  whole  niax- 

*Schoolcraft! 


I>nHAN^ARAOTKRrSTI(,'M, 


»l'"-v  n'«i...i  ,M»,„I,.r,M,s      Tlw "^ -3 

"•.HI,  is  „v.,i  '   "  V  '  '''f'*'"""^-.  Til,.  I         •''  ':'•'""'  \vi.ii., 

'"■•'"  i"^'i(        ;'\"''  i''!.v'^'<-'<iiv  inn.,,-,,! "V      '""'•'''•■""'  ""'.V 


«'<•  lOII  J(     ||j,.i,f.,|I,.    .,,     ,         •■■■."  "'"M.isrcf      u    (i     (1.,.    I'  ">inii 

;;:-,«r.f  l:n;;r ,;;---. ;,S^ 


niSTOUY   OF    ILLINOIH. 


flic  truck  of  tilt'  piilc fiiccd  iMoiict'i',  iiuil  tcrmiiiLj  iiiillittiis  of  a 
lii;:lici'  lift'  li:i\t'  t;ikt'ii  I  lie  placf  tif  a  ft'w  Wiiinlfiiii;^  liinitt'is  aiid 
llslit'iiiicii.  After  ('t»liiiiilMis  iiiiit[t>  kiitiwii  to  ICiiitipciiiis  tiic  »'xis- 
Iciitt'  of  tlic  iit'W  wtultl.  ]»rit)iit.\  t>f  tliscovery  wiis  ctnisitU'rctl  as 
coiift'iriii^'  uptiii  tilt'  ^(»vt'iiiim'iits  iiiMlcr  w  liosc  |iati'oiia;it'  it  was 
iiiatlf,  tilt'  ii;:lil  tif  t'.\tiii;;iiisliiii;^  the  liiiliaii  tit"  .  I'iii^laiiil,  in 
tlif  fxt'icisc  t»f  this  ri;ilit,  tn-atctl  the  Imliaii^  .siili.laiitially  as  she 
dill  Iht  own  sul»j('('ts.  Slit^  icspcftcd  tlit'ir  claim  to  occii|>y  and 
list  tlic  ct>iiiiti\  lor  tlii'ir  own  hciit'tit,  but ditl  not  pciiiiit  tlicni  to 
alienate  it  except  tt»  her  own  people,  in  accordance  with  the  jain- 
cipU^  of  l'-n;;lish  law  that  all  titles  to  laiids  iiro  vested  in  the 
cn»wn.  The  I'nited  States,  hy  the  aet|nisition  of  intlepeiitlenee, 
sneceedctl  ttt  the  rij;ht  of  the  mother  ctaiiitiy,  and  has  forced  npon 
them  similar  iestrietit»ns,  antl  accortletl  the  same  privileges.  Lii 
every  instance  the  ji'overnment  has  extin;iiiisheil  their  title  by 
treaty  or  purchase.  It  iinist,  however,  be  atlinitttHi  that  in  many 
instances  these  treaties  j^rew  ont  t»f  wars  prt)voketl  by  frontier 
settlers,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  tleniandin^'  territtay  in  the  way  t)f 
reprisal.  It  must  also  be  atlileil,  that  when  lainls  have  been 
obtained  by  purchase,  the  considerutiun  was  I'rctiuently  of  the 
must  trivial  character. 


■i* 


C'lIAPTKR  V. 

OPEIJATION  OF  Til  10    iMlSSlONAIIlKS— KXTKXT  OF 
TIlFlJi  EXl'LOJJATiOXS  UT  TO  KIT.J. 


Allliimjili  •'oiiiinorcial  I'litiTjuisc  is  i)(M'liiii>s  tlir  |>i'in('i])al  ajiJ'iit 
foi- the  (lissciiiiiiatinii  of  ri\  ili/atioii  in  the  iiiidcx  cIoimmI  i(';;iniis 
^)\'  tlic  ^Idbr.  its  «'\h'iisi()ii  into  tlic  INlississijipi  \allc\  was  due  to  a 
diJlVrcDt  caii.-if.  IMdiircrs,  actuated  l»,v  a  i('li:;i(»iis  Icrvni-  and 
OMtlnisiiisii)  liitlirrlu  witlioiit  a  ])ai'allrl  in  lli*>  liislorv  of  tlir  world, 
wciT  tin"  liisl  to  cNjjlin*' its  trackicss  wilds,  and  attempt  to  teaeii 
its  savayv  iiiliahitants  the  it'tinenients  of  eivili/ed  life.  These 
self  den.viii.u  e\j»!<)re)'s  helon.ucd  )iiostl.v  to  tin'  .lesnits  or  the  Society 
of  Jesus,  a  fanions  j'eliyious  ord«'i'  foiindetl  hv  lyiiatins  Lo_v(/ia,  a 
S|>anisli  knivhl  of  tlie  sixteenth  rentnrv.  lie  nave  (»iit  that 
the  eojistitntion  of  his  ordcj'  was  ui\eii  liini  by  immediate  in- 
sj»iratioii.  Nolw  itlistanilin;;'  his  hinli  jactensions,  he  at  tirst 
met  with  little  eiieoiirau'ement,  and  the  I'oiK',  to  whom  he  applied 
for  the  aiithoiii  V  of  his  sanction,  releir«'«l  him  to  a  committee  of 
cardinals.  The  latter  decided  that  liis  i>ro))oscd  estahlislMnent 
Moidd  not  only  he  iis«'Iess,  l)nt  danj^erons,  and  tlie  I'ope  refused 
to.i;i\(*il  his  aj»j)ro\al,  Too\ei'come  the  seiuj)les  of  the  Poim',  in 
addition  to  the  vows  of  other  orders  lie  re(|uir«'(l  the  members  of 
liis  society  to  tak<'  a  aow  of  obedieiicv  to  the  Pope,  Avherehy  they 
Itoujid  themselves  to  _yo  whit lu'rsoeA cr  he  should  direct  them  ill 
the  service  of  icliyion,  without  i'e(iuirin,ii'  anvthin^^  from  him  as  ii 
means  of  sn]ij»oit.  Jn  otln')-  orders  the  ])i'imarv  object  of  tho 
mojdi  is  to  se|)arate  hinis<'lf  from  the  rest  of  tlu'worhl,  an<l  in  the 
.solilud*'  of  the  cloistei'  to  jaactii'c  acts  of  self-mortilication  and 
])niity.  lie  is  e.\))ect«'d  to  eschew  the  pleasures  and  secular  affairs 
of  life,  and  can  onlv  benefit  mankind  by  his  exam]>le  ami  i)ra\('rs. 
l.ovola,  oji  the  contrary,  jtrcfeired  tiiat  the  members  of  his  society 
.should  jnin^le  in  theaffairsof  men,  and  thev  were  accoi'diu^ly  ex- 
fmj»ted  from  those  ansterities  and  cer<'monies  which  consumed 
much  of  the  tinu'  of  other  oi'deis.  Full  of  the  i<lea  of  im|>licit 
oJK'dience  wjiich  h«'  ha<l  leaiiied  Irom  the  jtrofession  of  arms,  ho 
>4ave  to  his  order  a  .n«»vernment  wholly  monarchical.  To  a  j^cneial, 
ulio  should  be  chosen  foi-  life  from  the  sev«'ial  ])rovinces,  the 
members  wei'e  c<un])elled  to  yield  not  oidy  an  outward  snlunission, 
Itut  wer<>  ]'e(juii'ed  to  make  known  to  him  even  the  thoughts  and 
leeliiin's  of  tlieii'  inner  life.  At  the  time  this  offer  was  made,  tho 
pa]>al  ])ow<'r  had  received  such  a  shock  from  the  refusal  of  many 
initions  to  submit  to  its  authority,  that  the  I'ope  could  not  look 
ii]»ou  it  with  iudilf«'i-ence.  He  saw  that  it  would  i)!ace  at  his  dis- 
posal a  body  of  the  iiH)st  riji'orously  discii»Iined  ecclesiastics, 
whose  powerful  intluence  wouhl   eiial)le  him  to  re]>el  the  violent 

o3 


M 


inSTdUV    or    ILLINOIS. 


jiHSMiilts  with  wliicli  the  |>ii|):il  system  \v;is  cvcrywlicrt'  ussiiilcil. 
lit' tlifi'clorr  iiiilli(ii'i/<'*i  till'  t'slaliljsliiiinit  nl'  ilic  uiilri,  ;iii*l  up 
lM»iiitt'(l  L(i\i»Iii  ils  liist  ;;('in'i;il.  'Ilif  icMilt  prtncd  llic  tlisfrrii- 
iiii'iit  nl  tlic  I'tipc,  lor  tlif  ('ii;^iiit'iA  Im-  lliiis  |iiit  in  iiiwlioii  :il  no 
(tistniit  *l:iy  t>\t<'ii<lnl  its  iiilliit-nrr  to  tlir  iitlcrniost  limits  of  llu> 
ciii'tli.  i'x't'oi'c  tile  tci'minalioii  ut'tiir  I'itli  rtirliii'v ,  llit'  Mxirly 
I'm  iiisiicd  tlic  (■(iiicatoi's  in  mo>t  til'  tlif  Ciitlioiit-  ftmnliit's  ol 
Hni'o|ic,  ii  prix !!«';;'('  wliit-li  «>\t'itt'il  a  mort' ctnitroiin^j:  iuliiu'ncc  in 
niiililin;;  natitinal  tliarat-tfr  than  that  uhicii  t-manatcs  tVtim  all 
other  sonifes  eomliiiied.  Allhoii;;li  takin;;  a  \ti\v  of  poxeity.  it 
mana;;t'il  ttt  lapiilly  inei'ease  in  wealth.  I'ntler  the  pretest  ot 
pronnitiim  the  snceess  tit'  their  iiiissitms,  they  tilitainetl  the  piivi- 
Ii'l;!'  til'  tiailii'^  with  the  natitms  they  were  iinleav  oiin;.;'  to  etinxfit, 
anti  thus  fretpiently  lietame  the  masters  til'  e\tensi\e  etinnneiiial 
enterprises. 

Ih'sitles  the  .lesuits,  the  Ivcettllet  mt>nks  litire  a  t  tins|iit  (it)i(s  [>art 
in  the  iiisliiry  t»t'  the  I'lt-neli  Amerieaii  po'-^essioMs.  '['hey  were  :i 
liianeh  til'  the  l-'raneisean  tirtler,  I'tniniletl  in  the  early  |»arl  til'  the 
l.'Uh  eentury  by  St.  Francis  til'  Assist,  a  matlman,  saint  or  hert>, 
acetinlin;;  to  the  tlill'ei't  nl  \  lews  entertainetl  respeeliii;;  him.  Like 
all  other  saints,  he  heeanie  the  siilijeit  tit' .^iiperiiatural  \  isitatitms, 
etmsistiu;^',  in  his  ease,  lar;:fly  til'  tlit'ams  revt-alin^;  tt)  him  the 
natnre  tit"  the  wtirk  whieli  prov  idenee  liatl  ealletl  him  to  perl'tirm. 
In  entering'  itptm  the  labors  tit'  his  mission  he  tlressetl  in  the  la^s 
of  a  he^^ai',  antl  at  last  pitsentetl  hiniM  IT  in  a  slate  til"  ntulity  tt» 
the  I'lishtip  tif  .Vssisi,  antl  lie;;j;t'tl  the  mantle  til"  a  peasant.  lie 
next  rohlietl  his  t'athei',  tti  ^I't  means  to  hnild  himsi'lf  a  chapel: 
ertiwtls  <;alheretl  tti  listen  to  his  I'anatieal  appeals,  antl  Kiirope 
stitin  became  tltittetl  tiver  with  the  convtnts  of  his  tinier.  In  the 
course  of  time,  the  Franciscans  lost  the  \  i'^or  ft»r  which  they  weif 
first  tlistinjiiiishetl.  but  the  IkCctillets,  a  nl'ormetl  bianch  tif  the 
tirtler,  at  the  time  tif  the  l""reneh  e\plt>ralians  still  retaiiictl  much 
t)f  its  pristine  spirit,  'rhese  two  ortlers,  antl  incitlentally  that  of 
iSt.  Siilpice,  played  an  imptntant  part  in  the  expU»ration  antl  colo- 
nization t»f  the  Mississippi  valley. 

'file  St.  Lawrence  and  its  chain  tif  lakes  enterinji  the  continent 
on  the  east,  antl  the  Mississippi  fitun  the  stintli,  arc  thi^  twti  jiveat 
avenues  thron;.ih  which  l^nropeaiis  lirst  niatle  their  way  to  Illinois. 
The  ftirmer  tipenin;^-  witii  a  bi'tiail  cstiiai-y  iidt>  the  Atlantic, 
tlirectly  opptisite  ICnrtijie,  lirst  ili\ertetl  a  portion  tif  its  (iallic  end- 
jiratiou  to  the  i'ej;'it)ns  drainetl  by  its  tributaries.  I'itmeers.  letl  by 
the  intlefati;;able  desnits,  stion  reachetl  lUintiis.  and  maile  it  au 
imi-.tirtant  centre  in  the  vast  schemes  iirojectetl  by  the  rrench 
court  ftir  the  iH)Ssessit)ii  of  the  .Mississippi  valley. 

The  Frvnch  on  tliv  St.  lAiivrvii<r. —  .\s  early  as  l.").'!."),  ft>ur 
years  before  the  tliscovery  t»f  the  .Mississippi  by  DeStito,  .latt[Ut.!.s 
Cartier  ctintliu'tetl  an  cxpetlition  Iti  tiie  St.  bawrenee.  which  he 
ascemletl  as  far  as  the  islantl  t)f  Orleans.  Several  attempts  w«'ro 
shortly  afterwiirtl  matle  to  jdaut  colt)nies  in  the  newly  tlisctiNcretl 
rejiitin,  but  they  failctl  in  ctmsei(iience  tif  the  inclemency  tif  the 
climate  antl  Imsiilities  tif  the  natives.  France,  at  that  time,  was 
too  much  en<ia<;<'tl  in  wars  ttt  further  exhaust  her  resources  in 
formin.ii'  settlements,  ami  it  was  not  till  KIOS  that  a  ]iermanei)t 
ctiltiny  was  estaltlishetl.  i>nrini;'  this  year  Champlain,  a  boltl 
iiciviyator,  Avith  a  number  tif  ct»lt>nists,  sailed  up  the  St.  Luwreuee, 


KAlli-Y  EXPLOUKUS. 


05 


iiiitl  liiiult'd  ut  llic  loot  of  the  Inl'ty  |»r«»moiitoi_\  wliicli  risi's  in  tlin 
iWr^U-  luliiicd  1»V  tin-  colilliii'iMT  ul'  IIm-  Si.  riiiirlis.  ( ';ii  |i('litcl's 
weir  set  to  wuik,  mimI  within  n  few  wccKs  n  pilr  nl'  Imiiilinus  msv 
iM'iir  tilt'  Wiitn's  ('(!;:(•,  tlic  t'wst  i't'|)i«'s<'ntiiti\<'s  «»t'  tlit-  s|iiUMt»iis 
rliMrclics,  convents,  dwcllinji's  und  i'!ini|iiiits  wliicli  now  I'oiin  tin' 
opnlrnt  iind  i'iil<'iiirisin>;'  cits  of  (j)iiclu'c.  TIu'M'  l»ni!(lin;;s  consti- 
Intt'd  lli<>  lii':i(li|niii'l('i's  of  < 'Ii;iin|ihiin,  :inil  wt-ic  sniTonndcil  liy  il 
\\iio<|*-n  wail  pici'ccd  witli  o|Miiin;:s  foi' a  iimmiIk'I' of  >niiill  cannon. 
'l"o  .sccMic  tilt'  lViciHislii|»  t»f  tilt'  lliii'tiiis  ami  iH'i;4iilioriny'  Ai;;(tii- 
(|iiin  nations,  ( 'iiainpiaiii  was  iinlnct'il  to  assist  tlicin  in  a  war 
a.uainst  tiic  ii'o<|iiois,  iniiai)itin;j;  tlic  coiintr.v  stnitii  of  tlic  St.  Law- 
rt'iict'.  \'ictoiv  attcndcti  liis  .siipcfior  ai'ins,  Imt  it  nronscd  tlic. 
iiii)»la('al»l('  lialc  tif  tiicsc  triltcs,  and  for  a  jx  liod  of  !•(>  years  tlicy 
continncd  towrcal;  tlicir  fnr\  ii|Min  tlic  Indian  allitv  of  I'lancc, 
aiitl  niatcriall,\  contriltiircd  to  tlic  linal  ovcrtlirow  t)f  licr  ptiwcr. 

In  H)].')  Cliainplaiii  returned  to  {''ranee,  and  hroii.^lit  l)ac!<  with 
liiiii  four  l'cet)llct  monks,  (ircat  was  tlic  astonisliineiit  of  the 
Indians  at  lirst  helioldiiijLt'  these  iiiemlieaiils,  elatl  in  tlieir  rude 
<;()Wi)s  of  coarse  ^^ray  cloth.  'I'lieir  lirst  care  was  tt»  select  a  siti! 
iititl  erect  a  <'oiiv»'nt,  the  completion  of  which  was  Iitniored  l)y  the 
ceicliratioii  of  mass.  All  New  l'"rance  pailicipated  in  tlie  myste- 
rious rite,  while  from  llie  sliii)s  and  ramparts  of  the  fort  cannon 
thiimleretl  forth  an  apjtroN  in;^'  salute.  'I'lieii- jiicat  oliject  was  the 
.sahatioii  of  the  Indians,  and  iinappalletl  hy  the  perils  that  awaii<'d 
them,  t  liey  met  in  conncil  ami  assi;;iicd  to  eacli  his  pro\  ince  in  llit> 
>ast  (ieltl  of  lahois.  As  the  result  of  ninvearied  elVort.  they  estah- 
lisht'd  missions  frtim  Xo\a  Scotia  to  Lake  Ilni'on.  Imt  liiidin.^' tlic 
task  too  yi-cat  foi'  their  siren,:ulli,  they  applied  to  tlic  .lesnits  for 
jissistance.  'I'lic  followfi's  t)f  Loytda  ea,ii('rly  respondetl  to  the 
iii\  itiition.  and  Canada  for  the  lirst  time  saw  the  order  which,  in 
aitcr  years.  lii;iired  so  extensively  in  her  history.  Tlion^li  snlVer- 
iiiy- iiiiisf  he  their  fate,  and  pei'haps  martyrdom  their  crow  !i.  tliey 
jieiiclrated  to  the  most  remote  I'c^ions  and  \isited  the  most  w  ;;r- 
like  tribes.  Missions  wt'if  established  on  the  Str;iits  of  St.  ."Mary, 
the  noillicrn  slioi-cs  of  I>ake  Iliii'oii,  the  tributaries  of  Lake  Alielii- 
jian.  and  liiially  ainoiii;  tlieir  iiiMterate  enemies,  the  Iitxpiois. 

<'hi:m]»laiii.  after  having  acted  as  <4t)vcrnor  ibr  a  period  of -7 
years,  died  on  the  Cliristmas  of  l(i."!."»,  a  hundred  years  after  the 
lirst  visit  of  ('artier,  and  was  biiiicd  in  the  city  he  had  Ibunded. 
Sharing'  with  others  of  his  time  the  illusion  of  lindin,u' a  ]»assa!.ie 
jici'oss  the  continent  to  the  Pacilic,  he  made  voyages  of  iliscovery 
with  a  view  of  lindinj;'  ilie  Itm^  soiinht  commercial  highway.  In 
one  of  his  excursions  lie  discoveicd  the  lake  w  liicli  b'ars  his  name, 
iiiitl  was  anioiiy  the  Jii'st  Enro]>eans  who  set  their  I'eet  on  the 
lonely  shores  of  Lake  Ilnroii.  What  indesci'ibablc  tlionulits  mnst 
liaxc  thrilled  his  bosom  ;iy  he  looked  out  on  its  broad  exi>anse,  or 
perhaps  awt"!  by  its  majt-s.ic  solitudes,  he  listened  with  str.iii,::;e 
delight  totlie  loinl  refrain  of  its  billow-lashed  shores. 

{)is  o'cri/  of  flic  Ohio  1)1/  J.aSdllc,  It ili'.l.— After  the  de;itli  of 
Cliai:i|»laiii,  tlu'  next  actor  in  tiie  tiehl  of  ex]»loration  \\as  Koliert 
Csvaliei',  better  known  as  I^aSalle.  His  father's  fa mil\- was  amonj;" 
the  old  ami  wealthy  biirjiliers  of  Ivoiien,  l"'raiiee,  and  its  seveial 
ineinbers  were  fretpieiitly  entrnstetl  witli  iiii|»ortant  positions  by 
the  jiovei'iimeiit.  Ivobert  was  boi'ii  in  1(»4.">.  and  early  exliiliited 
tlie  liaits  of  eliaiaeter  which  distiiiiiiushed   him  in    his  western 


5G  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

career.  Iliiviiif;'  a  wealthy  iatlier,  Ih'  (  njoyed  aiiiiile  lacilities  lor 
oblaiiiiiij;-  an  education,  and  made  rjipid  pro.uvess  in  the  exact 
sciences.  lie  was  a  Catholic,  and  il  is  said  a  Jesnit  ;  Itnt  jiid^ing 
from  Ids  snbse(|uent  Ute,  he  was  not  a  relij>i()us  entliiisiast.  The 
orch'r  of  Loyola,  wiehU'd  at  the  centre  l>y  a  single  will  so  compli- 
cated and  so  harmonious,  may  ha\e  attracted  his  youthful  ima;ii- 
iiation.  It  was,  however,  none  the  less  likely  that  when  he  found 
himself  not  at  the  centre,  but  movin.ii'  in  a  ]>rescribed  orbit  at 
the  circumference,  he  would  leave  it.  Ilaxinu'  an  individuality 
Aviiicii  could  not  i>e  molded  by  a  sha|>in^'  hand,  he  was  better 
(|ualitied  for  a  ditfei'cnt  sphere  of  action.  Me  therefore  ])arted 
with  the  -lesiiits  on  .nood  terms,  with  an  unblemished  character, 
for  his  lofty  ambition  com])letely  dixestcd  him  of  the  petty  aiu- 
mosities  to  w  liicli  urovelin^'  niiiuls  are  subject. 

lie  had  an  oldci' brother  liviuj;'  in  Canada — a  i)ri«'st  of  the  order 

of  St.  Sul|>ice — au<l  it  was  this  cir<Mimstance  which  induced  him 

to  emigrate  to  America.      His  connection  with  tlu'  .lesuits  deprived 

him.  under  the  laws  (»f  France,   from  iidicritinji'  the  property  of 

his  t'atlier.  wiio  died  shortly  before  his  departure.     He,  however, 

receixed  a  small  allowance,  and   with  this,  in    the  sprin,i;'  of  KKili, 

arrived  at    .Montreal.     Here  he    tbund  a  c<»iporati(»n    of   priests, 

known  as  the  Seminary  of  St.   Sulpice,   who   were  ('isposiu!.;  of 

lands  on  easy  terms  to  settlers,  lio]»inj;'  by  this  means  to  establish 

a  bairier    of  settlements    between    themselves    and    the    hostile 

Indians.     The  superior  of  the  senunary,  on   hearinji'  of  LaSalle's 

arrival,   .gratuitously  offered   him  a  tract  of  land  situatc«l  on  the 

St.  bawreuce.  S  miles  above    Montreal.     The  j;iaut  was  accepted, 

and  tliouiih  the  i)la;'e  was  yreatly  I'xpo^ed  to  the  attacks  of  sava.^es, 

rt,  it  was  favorably  situated  for  the  fur  trade.     Commencinji- at  once 

; '  to  improve  his  new  domain,  he  tra.-ed  out  the  boundaries  of  a  pal- 

1^  isaded  v  iila,u('.  and   disixtsed  (»f  his  lands  to  settlers,  who  were  to 

li  pav  for  them  a  rent  in  small  annual  installments. 

1}  While  tiius  employed  in  developiuii'   his  seiiiiiory,  he  commciiced 

[*;  studyiii,u'  the  Imiian    lanjiua.ycs,  and  in  three  years  is  said  t(»  have 

("  made  rapid  progress  in  the    Iroquois,  and  ei^lit  otiier  ton^iU's  and 

dialects.     Fr(»m   his  home  on  the  banks  of  the   St.   Lawrence,  his 

till  >u,L;hts  often  wandered  over  the  "wild  ind<nowu  world  toward 

sunset,''  and   like  former  explorers,  dreamed  ol'  a  diu'ct   westward 

])assa,i;-e  to  the  commerce  of  China   and  dapan.     While  musinji- 

upon  tiu'  subject,  he  was  visited  by  a  baud  of  Sene('as,  and  learned 

fiom   them  tiiat  a  river  called   the   Ohio,  risiui;'  in    their  countiy, 

tlowed  into  the  sea,  l»ut  at  such  a  distanc<'  that    it  retpiiied  eijiht 

months  to  reach  its  mouth.     In  t'.iis  statement  the  Mississippi  and 

its  tributary   were  considered  as  one  stream,  and   with    the  ,u('(»- 

,i',rapliical   views  tiien   prevalent,  it   was  supposed   to  fall  into  the 

,uulf  of  Calilbrnia. 

IMacin,ii' ureat  contidence  in  this  hypothesis,  and  determined  to 
make  an  ex|»Ioration  to  verify  it.  he  rejiaired  t(>  (^>uebt•(^  to  »>l)tain 
from  (bivernor  Courcelles  his  a|»proval.  His  itlausiltle  statements 
soon  won  over  to  his  plans  both  the  (b)Vernoi'  and  Intendant 
Talon,  and  letters  patent  were  issued  antlutrizin;^'  the  enter- 
piise.  Xo  pecuniary  aid  beiuj;  fiirnislied  by  the  government,  and 
as  LaSalle  had  expended  all  his  means  in  improv  inji'  his  estate,  he. 
was  compelled  to  sell  it  to  procun^  funds.  The  superior  of  the 
Seminary,  beiny    favorably  disposed    toward    him,  bought    the 


DIFiaOULTIES  ENCOUNTKKKlJ.  57 

j;r('iit«'i'  ])iii't  of  liis  iiiii)i()V('in('iit,  niid  iciiliziiij;-  1,'S0()  li\  res,  lie 
jxiicliascd  Ibiir  ciiiiocs  iiiid  tlic  iit'ccssary  supplies  lor  llu  cxiicdi- 
tioii. 

The  SciiiiiiJU'.v,  iit  tlu'  saiiie  tinic,  was  ])i('])ariiiji'  lor  a  similar 
cx])loi'ati()ii.  Tlic  ]»ri('sts  of  this  orinaiii/.alion.  ciimlatiii;^'  tlio 
<'iit('i']»ris('  of  the  »I('siiits,  liad  ('stablislicd  a  mission  on  tlir  iiortli- 
orii  slioie  of  Lake  Ontaiio.  At  tliis  point,  licarini;'  of  ]»opnlons 
tribes  furtlier  to  tlic  noitli\v<\st,  tlicy  resolved  to  essay  their  eon- 
version,  and  an  e.\j»edition,  under  two  of  their  nniidter,  was  titled 
out  foi' this  pnrjKJse.  On  j;oinj;' to  (^Mieltee  to  i)roeure  the  neces- 
sary ontlit,  they  were  advised  l>y  the  (lovernor  to  so  modify  their 
plans  a.-:  to  aet  in  concert  with  TiaSalle  in  explorinji'  the  ureat 
rixcr  of  the  west.  As  the  I'esnlt,  both  expeditions  weic  jnei'ut'd 
into  oiM' — an  arran.ii'ein«'nt  ill-suited  to  the  .ycnius  of  LaSalle, 
whom  natui'e  had  formed  for  an  undisputed  chief,  rather  than  a 
eo-lal)orer  in  the  enterprise.  On  the  (ith  of  duly,  lOtii).  everythinj;' 
was  in  readiiu'ss,  and  the  c(»mbined  party,  nundx'riniii'  lit  persons, 
i'lnbaiked  on  the  St.  Lawrence  in  7  canoes.  Two  additional 
eamx's  cariied  the  Indians  wh(»  had  visited  LaSalle,  and  who  were 
now  actin,n'  as  liuides.  Threading'  the  dexious  and  romantic  mazes 
of  the  I'ivei'  in  o]»|)osition  to  its  rajiid  current,  after  three  days 
they  aj)j)eared  ^m  the  broad  e.\i»anse  <tf  Lake  Ontario.  Their 
•i'uides  led  them  thence  directly  to  their  villau't',  on  the  banks  of 
the  (leiiesee,  where  they  expected  to  lind  i;uides  to  lead  them  to 
tin'  Ohio.  LaSalle,  oidy  ]>artially  innlerstandin;^  their  lanj^uajic, 
was  compelle«l  to  c<vnfer  with  them  by  nu'ans  of  a  desuit  iiriest, 
stationed  at  the  villau'e.  The  Indians  refused  to  fui'uish  a  con- 
ductor, and  ev<'n  l)Uined  before  their  eyes  a  ]>risoner  from  one  of 
the  westei'n  tribes,  the  only  jterson  who  could  serve  tlu'm  as 
gnide.  This  and  other  unfiiendly  ticatment  which  they  received, 
caused  them  to  sus]»ect  that  the -lesuit.  Jealous  of  tlieir  euteri>rise, 
liad  iiitentionally  misrej>resented  their  oliject,  for  the  purpose  of 
defeatin;:'  it.  With  the  liopi^  of  aecomjdisliiu^'  their  object,  they 
liuii'ered  fora  month,  and  at  length  had  the  iiood  fortune  to  meet 
with  an  Indian  fr;un  an  Inxjuois  cohuiy,  situated  near  the  head 
of  the  hdie,  who  assured  them  that  they  could  there  tind  what 
they  wante<l.  and  olVered  to  conduct  them  tiiither.  With 
renewed  hope  they  .^iladly  accepted  this  prolfered  assistiince,  and 
left  the  Seneca  villaji'e.  '''nrsini;'  alonj;'  the  southern  shore  of  the 
lake,  they  ])assed  the  montu  of  tin-  Nia<iara,  where  they  heard  for 
the  lirst  time  the  distant  thunder  of  the  cataiT.et,  and  soon  arrived 
safely  am<tn,i;'  the  lro(pM)is.  lleic  they  met  with  a  friendly  recep- 
tion, and  were  informed  by  a  Shawnee  jMisoiU'r  that  they  could 
reach  f\e  Ohio  in  six  weeks'  time,  and  that  he  would  unitle  them 
thither.  Delighted  with  this  nnexpected  .yood  foi'tuue,  they  pre- 
]»ared  to  comnu-nee  the  Journey  when  they  nnex])eetedly  heard 
of  the  arrival  of  two  I'^renclnnen  in  a  nei.i;hb<u'in<>'  villa,u('.  One 
of  them  jM'oved  to  be  Louis  '•'•et,  a  yomi.u'  man  of  about  the  a^e 
of  LaSalle,  and  destined  t  .  acquire  fame  l>y  his  explorations  iu 
the  west.  He  had  been  sent  by  Talon,  the  intendant  of  Canada, 
to  exjdore  the  coppei'  mines  of  Lake  Sui)eri(»r.  but  had  I'ailed.  ancl 
was  now  0',i  his  return.  (ii\iny'  the  priests  a  mai>  i'ei>resentiu,i;' 
sucli  parts  <»f  the  upper  lakes  as  he  had  visited,  he  iufornu'd  tiiem 
that  the  Imlians  of  those  reiiious  were  in  lireat  lu'cd  of  spiritual 
advisers.     On  re(!eivin<;  this  information,  the  missionaries  decided 


58  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


tliat  the  Indians  ninst  no  loiij^vr  sit  in  darkiu'ss,  and  tliouf;]it  that 
tlic  discovcrv  of  llic  iVIississipiti  mi^ilit  be  ctfcctcd  as  easily  1>\  a 
nditiiciii  idiitc,  tlir(>u,n!i  tiicsc  triix's,  as  by  .yoin.u'  fartlicr  south- 
ward. l-aSallc,  rcmonstiatinji'  against  tlieii-  (h'tcrniination,  in- 
foriiird  them  tiiat  this  direction  was  inii)ractieahh',  and  in  case 
tliey  slionld  \  isit  tliat  re.uion,  they  wouhl  periiaps  liiid  it  ah'eady 
occupied  hy  tlie  .Jesuits.  He  liad,  for  some  tinve,  been  al'llicted 
witii  a  violent  fever,  and  finding  his  advice  unheeded,  he  told  the 
■priests  feliat  his  condition  would  n(»t  a<linit  of  tbllowinii:'  theui 
iuither.  The  i>lea  of  sickness  was  douittless  a  ruse  to  etbct  a. 
scjiaration;  for  the  invincii)le  determination  (»f  LaSalle  never 
pernntted  an  eideri»iise  which  he  had  undertaken  to  be  defeated 
l)y  other  considerations.  A  friendly  ]»artin.i;  was  ai'ian^cd,  aud 
ai'tcr  the  celebration  of  mass,  LaSalle  and  his  men  fell  back  to 
Lake  Ontario,  while  the  Snlpitians  descended  Ciraud  river  to 
Lake  Va'w. 

The  latter  ])rosecuted  their  Journey  up  the  lakes,  and  (»n  .irri- 
vinj;'  amon;;'  the  Indians  of  whom  .loliet  had  spoken,  they  found, 
as  I^aSallc  had  surmised,  Manpu'tte  and  Dablon  established 
amony'  them.  Learnin.u;  too,  that  they  needed  no  assistance  from 
8t.  Suii»ice,  nor  from  those  who  made  him  their  i»atron  saint,  they 
retraced  tlieir  stei)s.  ami  arrived  at  -Montreal  tlie  followiufi'  dune, 
w  ithout  haviu,i>'  made  any  discoveries  or  converted  an  Indian. 

Tlu'  course  pursued  by  liaSalle  and  his  ]»ai'ty,  after  Icavin;^'  the 
priests,  is  inxohcd  in  doidtt.  The  mtist  reliable  record  of  his 
movements  is  that  contained  in  an  ammynutus  ])aper,  which  pur- 
]>oits  to  hav«'bcen  taken  from  the  lijis  of  LaSalle  Idmself,  durin.u' 
a  \  isit  subsc(juently  made  to  Paris.  Accordiuu  to  this  stat<'mcut. 
lie  went  to  Onondaga,  whei'c  he  obtained  j^uidcs.  and  passed 
tlH'nce  to  a  tributary  of  the  Ohio,  south  of  Lake  iu'ic,  followed  it 
to  the  ju'incipal  liver.  and  descended  the  latter  as  far  as  the  falls 
at  I,ouis\ilie.  It  has  also  been  maintained,  that  he  reached  the 
JMis.sissippi  and  descended  it  sonu-  distance,  when  his  men  de- 
serted, and  he  \\as  compelled  to  return  aloue.  It  is  staled  in  the 
same  manuscript,  that  the  followiu.i:' year  he  end»ark<'d  cm  Lake 
Erie,  ascended  the  Detroit  to  Lake  Huron,  and  jiassed  throu^ih 
the  strait  of  ^Mackinaw  t(»  Lake  Michigan.  Passinjito  the  southern 
slioi'e,  he  ]>rocecded  by  hind  to  the  Illinois,  which  he  tbllowcd  to 
its  contlueuce  with  the  .Mississi])|ti,  aud  descended  the  latter  to 
the  .'With  (h'^ree  of  latitude.  Here,  assured  that  the  river  did  not 
fall  iido  the  unlf  of  Califorida.  but  that  of  Mexico,  he  returned, 
with  the  inlcution  of  at  sonu'  future  day  e\|»lorin^'  it  to  the  mouth. 

The  statement  that  he  visited  the  falls  of  the  Ohio,  is  <loubt- 
less  cori'ect.  lie  himself  afliiins,  in  a  letter  t«»  Count  Fro\itcnac, 
in  KiT",  that  h<'  (liscovere<l  the  Ohio,  and  descended  it  to  the  falls. 
]Moreo\('r,  .loliet,  his  rival.  subsc(|iH'UtIy  made  two  nnips  icpre- 
senrin.u'  the  re^iion  of  the  .Mississipjii  and  the  lakes,  on  both  of 
which  he  states  that  LaSalle  discovered  and  e\i»lore<l  the  Ohio. 
It  is,  jterhaps,  ;dso  true  that  liaSallc  discovered  the  Illinois,  but 
that  he  descended  eitlici'  it  or  the  Ohio  to  the  Mississippi  before 
the  discovery  of  , loliet,  is  imi»robable.  If  such  had  been  the  case, 
heccrtaiidy  wouhl  June  left  written  evidence  to  that  etfcct.'as  in 
th<'  case  of  the  Ohio  especiidly,  when  the  piiorily  of  .loliet's  dis- 
covery had  become  a  matter  of  yreat  notoriety. 


CiiAri'KK  M. 
KXri.OlJATlONS  1)Y  -K^LIKT  AND   .AL\  IJQrKTTK— Km.!-"  To. 


LiiSnllc  li;i(l  t'\i)l(H'(Ml  out',  and  ijorliaps  two.  roiitt's  to  tlic  ]\Iiss- 
issippi,  hut  as  yet  tlu'  iii>|>t'r  ]»oi'tion  of  tlic  ;^i('at  river  had 
|)rolial)Iy  iicNtT  hccii  seen  h.v  any  I'jiropcaii.  Tlic  lioiior  of  iiiaii- 
iiiiialiiiy  llic  successful  attciui)t  to  reach  this  stream  is  i\nv  to  M. 
Talon,  who  \vis]»e(l  to  (ilose  the  loun'  and  useful  term  of  his  servi- 
ces, as  tile  lutendant  of  Canada,  by  rt'iiiovinu'  tiie  mystery  wliieli 
enshri>U(h'(l  it.  I'\>r  tliis  ]»ur|tose  lie  selected  Louis  .loliet,  a  fur 
trader,  to  conduct  the  expedition,  and  .Jacques  Mar(|uette,  a  Jesuit 
missionary,  to  assist  him. 

'i'alon,  howevei',  was  not  to  remain  in  the  country  loni;'  euouuh 
to  witness  the  completion  of  the  enlerpi'ise.  A  misuudcrstandiii;;' 
aio.se  between  Inm  and  (Jovernor  Courcelies  in  rej^ai'd  to  the  juris- 
diction of  tlu'ir  respective  oflices.  and  Uotii  asked  to  be  r»'called. 
TJK'ir  recpusts  wcic  granted,  and  early  in  tlie  autumn  of  l(i72. 
Count  I'^i^ontenac  arri\cd  at  <i)uebec.  to  take  the  jtlace  of  tlic 
relii'iuu'  .u'oNcrnor.  lie  belouj^cd  to  the  hi,iih  uol)ility  of  France, 
Mas  well  ad\anced  in  life,  and  a  man  of  pronspt  and  decided 
ai'tion.  'riiouirh  iutoh-rant  to  euennes,  he  ])artialiy  atoned  for  this 
fault  by  his  urcat  ma,L:nanimity  and  dexotiou  to  fiieuds,  while  his 
cliarm  of  niaum'rs  ami  speech  nnide  him  the  favorite  and  (una- 
uient  of  the  most  polished  cii'cles.  His  career  in  Canada,  at  lirst, 
was  beset  wilii  opposition  and  ennnty.  but  its  close  was  rewarded 
with  admiration  and  sratitu(h'  for  his  broad  views  an<l  uushaUeu 
lirmiM'ss,  when  others  dis]>aired. 

r.efore  sailing;-  for  I'rauce.  ,M.  Talon  reconnneiided  to  I-'roti-naf' 
Joliet  and  iMarcpu'tte.  as  sidtable  jtersous  to  execute  his  projected 
discoveries.  The  former  was  born  at  (j>uebec.  in  Hlt.">,  of  lunuble 
I'.areiita.ii'c.  He  was  educates!  by  the  .Jesuits  for  the  priesthood, 
but  eariy  abandoned  his  clerical  vocaticai  to  enuaiic  in  the  fur 
tra(h'.  Tiioujih  renouiicin,u'  the  priestliood.  he  still  retained  a  par- 
tiality for  the  oi-dei'  which  had  educated  him.  and  no  doidit  this 
was  the  principal  I'cason  which  induced  'I'alon  to  labor  for  his 
appointnu'iit.  INisscssiu.y'  no  \ei'v  salient  ]>oiuts  of  character,  lu^ 
yet  had  sullicieni  enterprise,  boldness  an<l  determination  i)roperly 
to  discliar.u'e  the  task  Itefore  him. 

His  coUea^iu'.  .MarcpU'tte,  /greatly  surpassed  him  in  bold  «uit- 
lines  of  character.  He  was  born  in  l(i.'}7,  at  Laon,  Fiance,  inheri- 
tin.u'  from  his  ])arents  a  ndnd  of  ;^r<'at  relijiious  snsce])ti!)ility.  ho 
early  united  with  the  .lesvuts.  and  was  sent,  in  l(i(!(i,  to  America 
as  a  missionary,  where  he  soon  distiuuuished  himself  for  devotion 
t<t  his  profession.  To  c<»nvert  the  Indians  he  pcnetratcil  a  thousand 
miles  in  advance  of  civilization,  and  by  his  kind  tittentious  in  their 


\m 


60 


IIISTOUY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


Jiiid  it:iss<'<l  IIm'Iicc  ii[)  Fox  river  imd  Luke  \\'iiiiicl»:i,i;(>  to  ;i  villn^c 
of  tlif  .Miiscoiitiiis  and  Miaiiiis.  .Martiiicttc,  who  iicvci'  siil'lcrcd 
tilt'  hcaiitit'.s  of  nature  to  escape  Ids  attention,  speaks  in  ehxpient 
terms  of  tlie  broad  prairies  and  tall  forests  wliieli  lie  saw  IVom  tluf 
suiiiinit  of  tlie  liill  on  wliicli  it  wassilnated.  His  admiration  of 
the  scenery  was,  ln)wever,  fireatly  exceeded  by  the  Joy  whicli  he 
exjierienced  at  heholdin^i' across  planted  in  the  midst  of  the  place, 
and  decorated  with  some  of  the  most  xahied  of  Indian  imple- 
ments. With  due  ceremony  they  were  introduced  to  a  conncil  of 
cliiefs,  when  ;\Iar(pH'tte,  pointin^^'  to  -loliet,  said  :  "  .My  friend  is  an 
envoy  of  I'-rance.  to  discoxci'  new  countries,  and  I  am  an  endtas- 
sadoi'  from  (!od,  to  enlighten  tlu'm  with  the  Irutlis  of  the  gospel."* 
The  speaker  then  nnnlethem  some  i»resents,  and  asked  lor  .uiiides 
to  conduct  them  on  their  way.  Thoiijih  the  Indians  rejiarded  their 
journ«'y  as  exti'emely  hazardous,  these  were  granted,  ami  the 
voya.ucrs  re-endtarked  in  their  canoes.  All  the  \illa,i;e  followed 
them  down  to  the  rixcr,  W(»nderin^'  tiiat  men  could  he  found  to 
umh'itake  an  enterpi'ise  so  frauj;ht  with  danp'rs.  'IMieir  .unides 
led  tiiem  safely  through  the  de\i(ais  windin.us  of  the  river.  Iieset 
Avith  lakes  and  nnii'siu's  over<irown  with  wild  rice.  The  seed  of 
this  plant  largely  furnished  the  Indians  with  food,  and  subsisted 
innncnse  iiund)ers  of  biids,  which  rose  in  clouds  as  the  travelers 
adxam-ed.  ^\rri\inii'  nt  the  ]M>ila.s4(',  they  soon  cai'ried  their  liuht 
canoes  and  scanty  i>a,i;,iia.i.i('  to  the  Wisconsin,  about  three  miles 
distant.  Fi'ance  and  papal  Christendom  were  now  in  the  \alley 
ot'  i!m'  Mississippi,  ready  to  connnencc  the  drama  in  which,  for  the 
lU'Xl  succeedin^i' !M>  years,  they  were  the  principal  actors. 

Their  j^uides  now  icfusetl  to  accttmpany  them  fnither,  and 
endeavoi'ed  to  induce  them  to  return,  by  recitiuj;'  the  dan.^ers  tliey 
nuist  encounter  in  the  further  prosecution  of  tlie  Journey.  They 
(Stated  that  huj;e  demons  dwelt  in  the  j;reat  river,  whose  voices 
could  be   heard   at  a   loiiy'  distam-e,   ami   who  cnuulphed   in  the, 

I'llo'i  III)'   \V';lfii|'<     nil    W'iiii  <'tiiiii>  M'ifliiii      tlii>ii'   i'i>:ii-li         Tlii-v     :i1.^ii   ri>iiri>. 


JOLIET  AND  MARQTTKTTE. 


61 


tlicir  natural  beauty  tlio  most  skillful  trainiiijiof  rultuvcd  liauds. 
Tlie  ITtli  ol' .June  hroujilit  tliciii  to  the  iiioutli  of  t lie  livci,  and 
Avitli  yicat  Joy  tlicy  ])us!i('d  flicir  fiail  harks  out  on  the  Hoods  <if 
tlic  lordly  Alississi]»|»i.  Diiftiiiu'  rapidly  with  tiic  current,  the 
scenery  of  tlie  two  haidvs  reniinded  tlieni  of  the  castled  shores  of 
their  own  Iteautiful  rivcis  of  Fiance.  For  days  «»f  travel  they 
]»assed  a  constant  succession  of  headlands,  sepMrated  l>y  Lirace- 
fidly  rounded  valleys  covered  with  v<'idure,  and  gently  risini;  as 
they  r<'cede  from  the  mari^in  of  the  waters.  The  rocky  suniiiiits 
of  the  headlands,  risyij^-  hi,t;h  above  their  <;reen  bases,  had  been 
"wrought  by  the  corrodin.y  elements  into  a  yreat  variety  (»f  fantas- 
tic forms,  which  the  lively  ima;^iinitiou  of  Manjuette  sha]»ed  int(» 
towers,  ^iyantic  statues,  and  the  crumblinji'  ruins  of  fortihcations. 
On  .li'oinji'  to  the  heads  of  the  valleys,  they  could  see  a  country  of 
the  ;;reatest  beauty  and  feitility,  ajipan'utly  destitute  of  inhabi- 
tants, yet  preseiitiuji'  the  ai»peaiance  of  extensive  manors,  under 
the  fastidious  cultivation  of  lordly  ]»ro|)riet(»rs.  IJy  and  by  uicat 
herds  of  buffalo  a])peared  on  the  op|»osite  baidvs,  the  more  timid 
females  kee]>in,i>'  at  a  safe  distance,  while  the  old  bulls  ai)proaclied, 
and  throuji'li  their  tauj;led  nnincs  l(»oked  deliance  at  the  stiaii^e 
invaders  of  their  j;rassy  I'calms. 

Near  a>  hundred  miles  below  the  mouth  of  the  Wisconsin,  the 
voyaj^ers  discovered  an  Indiau  trace,  Icadinj;  from  the  western 
shore,  .loliet  and  Alarcinette,  l«'avinj;'  their  canoes  in  chai',u('  of 
their  men.  detci'mined  to  follow  it  and  make  themselves  ac((uainte(l 
"with  the  tribes  of  this  region.  3Iovin;:;'  cautiously  throu;;h  prairies 
and  forests,  rendered  beautiful  by  the  verdure  and  bloom  of  .July, 
they  discovere<l  a  villauc  near  the  banks  of  the  river  au<l  two 
others  on  a  hill  half  a  leaj^ue  distant.  Counnendin^'  themselves 
to  the  ])rotection  of  Heaven,  they  approached  and  shouted  to  at- 
tract attention.  AVlien  the  commotion,  excited  by  their  uuex]><'cted 
salnti'.  had  partially  subsided,  four  elders  advanced  with  uplilted 
cabimets  to  nu'ct  them.  A  IViendly  fireetinji'  ensued,  and  alter  in- 
lbiniiu<i'  the  Frenclunen  tha*^  they  were  Illinois,  they  comliicted 
them  to  their  Aillaj>e.  Here  they  were  jtresented  to  the  chief,  w  ho, 
standinj^'  near  the  door  of  liis  wijiwam  in  a  state  of  comidete 
luulity,  (lelivered  an  a<ldress  of  welcome :  "I'renclnnen,  how  bright 
the  sun  shines  when  you  come  to  visit  us  ;  all  (»ur  villaj;e  awaits 
you.  and  you  shall  enter  our  wijiwams  in  ])eace."  After  enterinji' 
and  smokin<i'  a  friendly  pipe,  they  were  invited  to  visit  the  j^reat 
chief  of  the  Illinois,  at  one  of  the  other  Aillajjcs.  FoUowed  by  a 
motl<\v  throufi'  of  warriors,  scpiaws,  and  chihlnMi,  they  ])roc<'ede(l 
thither  and  were  received  with  jireat  courtesy  by  the  chief.  On 
outerin,i>'  his  wij^wam,  tilled  with  the  dij;nitaries  of  tlu^  tribe,  Mar- 
quette announced  the  nature  of  their  enterpiise,  asked  for  informa- 
tion concerninji'  the  3Iississip]»i  and  alluded  to  their  ])ati'oii.  the 
(io\-eriior  of  t'anada,  who  had  Innnbled  the  Inupiois  and  compelled 
them  to  sue  for  ]>eace.  This  last  item  <»f  information  was  j:(»od 
news  to  these  remote  tribes,  and  drew  from  their  chief  the  compli- 
ment that  tlie  "j»resence  of  his  j>uests  added  flavor  to  their  tobacco, 
made  the  river  more  calm,  the  sky  more  serene  and  the  earth  more 
beautiful."*  Xext,  followed  a  rejtast,  eonsistinj;'  of  hominy,  fish, 
and  buffalo  and  doy's  meat.     The  Frenchmen  i)artooksumptionsly 


Discov.  of  the  Great  West. 


Gti 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


(»!'  all  tlic  (lislii'S,  ('xc(']»t  tlic  liist,  wliicli  tlic.v  iailcd  to  iipincciatc, 
altliniijiii  one  of  tlic  {^Tcalcst  Indian  (Iclicacics.  The  jifiicioiis 
hosts,  witli  true  forest  coiirtt'sy,  as  tlic.v  dislicd  out  the  dilfcrciit 
aiticlcs.  first  blew  tlicir  liicalii  upon  cacli  iiioisci  to  cool  it.  and 
tlicii.  wilii  tlifir  o\\  n  hands,  placed  it  in  the  iiioutiis  of  their  j;uests. 
They  endea\()r<'d  to  jiersiiaiU'  the  e\i>lorers,  l»y  depict  ill};  the  yreat 
dangers  they  wdiiid  incur,  to  abandon  their  oliject.  I''indin.L;'  that 
tiieir  elforts  were  unavailing,  on  the  follow  inuday  they  huip^dii 
the  neck  of  .Mar(|iiette  a  sacred  caluiiH't,  hrilliaiitiy  decorated  with 
feathers,  as  a  pioteclioii  ainon<4'  the  tribes  lie  was  about  to  visit. 
The  last  mark  of  respect,  which  the  chiefs  could  now  offer  tiieir 
departiii,ii'  friends,  was  to  escoi't  tlu'in  with  (>(>(>  of  their  tribesmeu 
t(»  llu'  ri\<'r,  where,  aftei'  their  stolid  manner,  they  bade  them  ;i 
kindly  adieu. 

A.::ain  they  were  alloat  on  the  broad  bosom  of  the  unkiiowu 
stream.  Passiii;:,'  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  they  soon  fell  into  the 
shadow  of  a  tall  i)i'om<mtory,  and  with  j;reat  astonishment  beiield 
the  repi'eseiitation  of  two  monsters  painted  on  its  hd'ty  limestom^ 
front.  Accordiiii;-  to  .Mar(|UeUe,  each  of  these  frinhtful  lij;iires  had 
the  face  of  a  man,  the  horns  of  a  <leer.  the  beard  of  a  ti^cr,  and 
the  tail  of  a  tish  so  lonii  that  it  ]>assed  around  the  body  o\er  the 
head  and  between  the  Icus.  It  was  an  oltject  of  Indian  wtu'ship, 
and  .yreatly  impressed  the  mind  of  the  ]»ious  missionary  with  the 
niM'cssity  of  substitutini;'  for  this  monstrious  i(h»latry,  the  woishi]! 
of  the  true  (Jod.*  Ilefore  these  tijiiiresof  the  idols  had  faded  Irom 
their  minds,  a  new  wonder  arrested  their  attention.  Tlie\  ran 
into  the  curi'ent  of  the  Missouri,  swccpiiiji'  directly  across  iheir 
ti'ack,  and  threateniii,i;-  to  en^iulf  theiii  in  its  muddy  waves.  Fra,ii- 
nieiits  of  trees  were  driftin.L;'  in  larii'e  numbers,  which  must  have 
c<niie  from  a  \ast  uiduiown  wilderness,  judj;inji'  fnuii  the  magni- 
tude of  the  stream  wiiieh  bore  them  alouji'.  Passing'  on,  it  was 
ascertained  that  Ibr  se\-eral  miles  the  Mississippi  refused  to  min- 
gle with  the  tuiltid  lloods  of  the  iiitriidiii,i;'  stlcam. 

S(»oii  the  forest  covered  site  of  St.  Louis  ai)])cared  on  the  ri,!;ht, 
Itiit  little  did  the  \<»yau'ers  dream  of  the  emporium  which  now  tills 
the  river  with  its  extended  commerce.  Farther  on,  their  attention 
Avas  attracted  by  the  coiitlueiice  of  the  Ohio,  a  stream  which,  iix 
the  ])urityof  its  waters,  they  found  wholly  ditferent  from  that  pre- 
viously passed.  Some  distance  below  the  mouth  of  this  eastern 
tributary,  the  banks  of  the  ri\('r  becaiiK  skirted  with  a  dense 
jii(»wtli  of  cane,  whose  feathery-like  foliap'  formed  a  ]ileasin;^ 
contrast  witii  that  which  they  had  jtassed  above.  I>ut  a  {greater 
A'e.'^'etable  wonder  was  the  Spanish  moss  w  liich  huiiii'  in  lonu'  fes- 
toons from  the  branches  of  the  trees,  exipiisitely  beautiful,  yet, 
like  funeral  draiu'iy,  excitiuii'  in  the  behohler  feeliiiiU'.s  of  sadness. 
Anotlier  chanjic  was  the  increasin;;-  heat,  which,  ii(»w  ra]>idly  dis- 
sipated the  hea\y  fojis  which  previously,  to  a  late  hour,  had  hun^' 
over  the  river,  (.'louds  of  mosipiitos  also  aiipeared  in  the  relaxing' 
atnios|)here,  to  annoy  them  by  day,  and  disturb  tlu'ir  much  needed 
rest  at  ni.uht. 


•Xi'iir  the  month  of  tlic  Tiiisa  Crcok,  on  the  blulT,  there  is  a  smooth  roek  in  a  caveril- 
oiis  clelt.  iiiiilei'  an  ovoihanuiiiy  dill',  on  whose  tace,  "lO  feet  Irom  the  base,  are  iKiiiUed 
some  ni\eient  pietiires  or  hii-ro^flyiihics,  of  jrreat  Interest  to  the  eurioufi.  Tliey  aro 
placeil  in  a  liori/.ontal  line  from  eaut  to  west,  reprosontin^  men,  plants  and  aninails. 
The  paintiniis,  thoiif.'li  protected  Irom  dampncssiind  storms,  arc  in  yreat  i)art  destroyed, 
marred  bv  portions  of  the  rock  beeoiainii-  detached  and  faliinu  down.  See  I'rairie  tilate, 
IS.VJ. 


JOLIET  AND  MAllQUETTE. 


03 


^^'itll()ut  siisiK'ctiug  thv  ])i'es<>iu'o  of  Indians,  tlic.v  siiddnily  <1is- 
roNci'cd  ii  imiiilx'i'  on  tlic  ciistcin  banks  of  tlu'  river.  .Mai((ii«'tt(i 
licld  aloft  tlic  svnihol  of  ix'acc,  fiiniislicd  liiiii  by  the  Illinois,  and 
tlic  sava<;('s  approaciicd  and  invited  lam  and  Ins  party  aslioi'c. 
Ileic  tliey  were  feasted  on  bidfalo  meat  and  beai's  oil,  and  after 
tlie  repast  was  over,  were  informed  tliat  tliey  conld  reach  tlie  month 
of  llie  I'ix'ei'  in  ten  days.'  'Piiis  statement  was  donl»tless  ma(h'  with 
tile  best  intention,  i)nt  witli  little  trntli,  for  the  distance  was  not 
far  from  1,(>0(>  miles. 

'J'akinii"  leaxc  of  tiieir  hosts,  and  lesnminj;-  the  jonriiey,  (hey 
])eneti'ate(l  a  lonj;'  monotony  of  bintfs  and  for<'sts,  and  aiiain  dis- 
eover<'d  ln(1ians  near  the  month  of  the  Arkansas,  nu.shinii'  from 
tlieii'  wi,irwams  to  the  rixcr,  some  of  tliem  sallied  forth  in  canoes 
to  cut  off  their  escape,  while  others  |»lnn<;('d  into  the  water  to 
attack  them.  .Maripiette  displayed  the  calumet,  which  was  iiii- 
lieeded  till  the  ari'ival  of  the  chiefs,  who  ordei'cd  the  warriors  to 
<lesist,  and  condnctcd  them  ashore.  A  coid'ei'ence  ensned,  and  as 
soon  as  the  Indians  niiderstood  the  nalnre  of  the  visit,  they  be- 
came reconcih'd.  The  day's  j)rocecdin;LiS  closed  with  a  feast,  and 
the  ti'avelers  sjjent  the  ni;;Iit  in  the  wij^wams  of  tlieii'  entertainers. 
]Cai']y  the  next  day,  messenuci's  weic  sent  by  the  latter  t(»  tlu^ 
Arkansas  trilx-  on  the  I'ixcr  below,  to  apprise  them  that  Fi'ciich- 
mcii  were  about  t(»  descend  the  stream.  As  announced,  the  exjdo- 
rcrs  ])roceeded  a  distance  of  24  miles,  when  they  were  nu't  by  ;i 
depniation  of  three  Indians,  wlio  in\it<'d  them  to  visit  their  town. 
Assent  bein^jf  ^^'ivt'n,  they  were  conducted  thither  and  seated  on 
mats,  which  had  been  s]>read  for  their  receiftion  un(U'r  a  shed 
before  the  Iodide  of  a  ]>rincii)al  cliief.  Soon  they  were  surroun(hul 
l>y  a  semi-cinde  of  tlie  villa.^'ers — tlie  warriois  sittin,u'  nearest, 
next  tlie  elders,  while  a  promiscuous  crowd  stared  at  them  I'roia 
the  outside.  The  men  were  .stark  naked,  and  the  Avomen  imper- 
fectly clad  in  skins,  wearinj;'  their  hair  in  two  masses,  one  of 
which  was  Iteliind  each  ear.  Fortunately,  there  was  a  youn,^'  man 
in   the   villa j>e  Avho  could  speak  Illinois.     By  his  aid,  JNlanprntto 


Dccame  niroieraoie. 

It  was  now  the  middle  of  July  and  the  voyagers  debated  the 

]tropriety  of  furthei'  len«itlieiiin.Li'  out   their  Journey.      They  liad 

liccn  on  the  river    foui"  weeks,  and  concluded  they  had   descended 

sufliciently  far  to  decide  that  its  outlet  was  on  the  Atlantic  side  of 

tlie  continent.     Their  jn'ovisions  wei-e  nearly  exhausted,  and  they 

also  feared  if  they  visited  the  river  Ixdow  tliey  mi^ht  be  killed  by 

the  savaji'es,  and  the  benetit  of  tlu'ir  discovery  would  be  h)st. 

Intluenced  by  those  considei'ations,  they  determined   to  retra(!e 
*iw.;,.    of.^,^c      T  ,>.ix-;.,,v   +!..>     A  ,.i-... .......  ,-ai.....,,     <-i.,,,.   ,.,,,. ...,..,,.,.....,1 


:l 


64 


mSTOUV    OV    ILM.NOIS. 


sntVciinji' with  i\ii  attiick  of  (lysciitcry.  Her*'  tlicv  were  iiir(inii('<| 
l),v  (lie  lii(li;iiis  that  tlic  IMiiiois  i'liiiiislicM  a  iiiiich  iiioit' direct  loiiii^ 
to  tlui  hikes  tiiaii  the  Wiseoiisiii.  Actiii};'  upon  this  iiit'oriiiatioii, 
they  entered  the  lixcr,  and  found,  l>esi(U's  liein;^-  nior«'  direct,  that 
its  ji-entie  eurrent  ollered  less  lesistanee  than  lliat  of  tlie  .Mississ- 
ijijii.  As  they  ad\anced  into  llie  eonntiy,a  scene  opened  to  liieir 
view  which  j;ave  renewed  stren^^th  lo  tii«'ir  wearied  Itodies,  and 
awoke  in  tin-ir  ian^nid  minds  the  j^reatest  adndration  and  enthu- 
siasm. I'laiiies  s|>read  out  hefoic  tiieni  lieyond  llie  I'eacli  of 
vision,  coxcred  witii  tall  ;ii'ass,  wiiich  nnchdated  in  tiie  wind  likei 
waves  of  a  sea.  In  furtiier  imitation  of  a  watery  ex]>anse,  tho 
surface  was  stu(hh'd  with  eluni|is  of  tindter,  resendilinj^'  ishinds, 
in  wiiose  jiiacei'nl  outlines  eonid  lie  trace<l  peninsulas,  shores  and 
headlands.  I'Mowers,  surpassing  in  tlie  delicacy  of  their  tints  the 
]>amper<'d  pioducts  of  cultivation,  were  profus»'ly  s|.rinkled  over 
the  j^rassy  landscajie,  and  ;;a\('  their  wealth  of  fraurauee  to  the 
jtassin;;' bree/e.  Innnense  herds  of  hidfalo  and  deer  jii'a/.ed  on 
these  rich  pastures,  so  pi'olillc  that  tlie  continued  destruction  of 
them  for  a<:(>s  hv  the  Indians,  had  failed  t(»  diminish  their  nnui- 
hers.  l'"orthe  further  sujiport  of  human  life,  the  rivers  swarnn-d 
Milh  lisli,  ;;reat  <pnintities  of  wild  fruit  j;rew  in  the  f»trest  and 
l)rairies,  and  so  numerous  wer«'  watei-fowl  and  other  Itirds,  that 
the  heavens  wei'e  fre<|uently  ol)scnr«Ml  hy  their  tli;^iit.  This  favo- 
rite land,  with  its  profusion  of  ve;iftaltle  and  aninnd  life,  was  the* 
ideal  of  the  Indian's  Elysium.  The  explorers  spoke  of  it  as  a 
terrestial  para<lise,  in  which  earth,  air  and  natcr.  unbidden  by 
hilior,  contributed  the  nn»st  copi(»ns  supplies  for  the  sustenance  of 
lite.  In  tin' early  l''rencli  exiilorat ions,  desertions  were  of  freqiu'iit 
occurrence,  and  is  it  stranj;-e  that  nn-n,  wearied  by  the  toils  and 
restraints  of  civilized  life,  should  abandon  their  leaders  for  the 
abundance  and  wild  imlependence  of  these  prairies  and  wood- 
lan<ls  .' 

Passing'  far  up  the  river,  they  sto]>pe(l  at  a  town  of  the  Illinois, 
called  Kaskaskia,  wh(»se  mnue,  aftc  rwai'ds  transferi'ed  to  a  dilfer- 
enl  locality,  has  become  fani(»us  in  the  history  of  the  country. 
Here  they  secured  a  chief  and  his  men  to  comluct  them  to  Lake 
]\Iichij;an  and  ])roeeeded  thither  l)y  the  way  oi'  the  ri\ers  Illinois, 
Desplaines  and  ("hicajio.  I^'oliowiuiu'  the  western  shore*  of  the 
lake,  they  entered  (ireen  J>ay  Ihe  latter  jiart  of  Septendier,  haviuj^ 
been  absent  about  four  moiiths,  and  traveled  a  (listauce  of  L',.")(tO 
miles. 

ManpH'tte  stopp<'d  at  the  mission  on  th<'  head  of  the  bay,  to 
rejiair  his  shattered  health,  while  .loliet  hastened  to  (^lU'bec,  to 
reixtrt  his  discoveries.  Hitherto  fortune  had  fi'reatly  favored  him, 
and  it  was  oidy  at  the  tcrndnation  of  his  voyaji'e  that  he  met  his 
lirst  disaster.  At  the  foot  of  the  rapids,  aboxc  Montreal,  his 
canoe  was  ca])sized,  and  he  htst  the  manns«'ript  eimtainiuji-  an 
account  of  his  disci »vei'ies,  and  two  of  his  uumi.  lie  says,  in  a  U't- 
ter  to  dovernoi' Frontenac:  "  I  had  (Escaped  every  peril  from  the 
ludians;  I  had  passed  12  rapids,  and  was  (Ui  tin*  ]>oint  of  disem- 
barkinji',  full  of  joy  at  the  success  of  so  h)n,<;'  and  difticult  an 
enter[)rise,  wlien  my  canoe  capsized  after  all  the  dan,u'er  seenu'd 
over.  1  lost  uiy  two  men  and  box  of  i)ai)ers  within  sijilit  of  the  liist 
French  settlenioiits,  w  liich  I   had  left  almost   two  years  before. 


JOLIET  AND  MAIIQT  KT'J'K. 


(}.'. 


Notliiiiy  rciiiJiiiis  to  u\o  iii»\v  Itiit  iii.v  life,  iiiid  tlic  indent  (Icsiic  to 
fin|»l(».\  it  on  ;iiiy  service  von  Mi;iy  |>le;ise  to  direct." 

W'lieii  tlie  snccessfiil  issue  of  tiie  voyii;:;'e  heciiiiie  known,  ii  Te 
Jhinii  \\:\s  clniiited  in  tlie  ciitliednd  of  (^)iieliec,  jind  mII  ("imndii 
Viis  tilled  Mitii  joy.  Tile  news  crossed  tlie  Atliiiitie,  :ind  l'"r;ince 
saw,  in  the  vistii  of  coniinji' yeais,  :i  \  ast  de))endency  sprin^iinji' np 
in  llie  yreat  \allev  pailiaily  explored,  which  was  to  eniieh  her 
merchant  ])rinces  with  the  most  Inei'ative  conmierce.  I''eaiin^' 
that  i'^n^^land,  whose  settlenn-nts  wei'c  rai)idly  e\tendin;n'  alonj;-  tlie. 
Atlantic,  mijLiht  attempt  to  ^rasp  the  rich  prize  liefore  she  eonhl 
<)c<Mi|).\  it,  she  eiidea\()r<'d  to  prevent,  as  far  as  possihle,  the  .^eii- 
ei'al  piililicity  of  the  discovery.  .loliet  was  rewaided  by  the  ;^ift 
of  the  island  of  Aniicosti,  in  the  j^ulf  of  St.  liawrence,  while 
]\Ia)'<pn'tte,  who  had  rendered  the  most  valuable  services,  was  sat- 
islied  with  the  coiiseionsness  of  ha\  iny  jterformed  a  noble  duty. 

Mai'(piette  siilVcred  loiii;'  from  his  malady,  and  it  was  not  till 
tlie  aiitiimn  of  thi'  following' year  that  his  snpei'ior  ]»ennitted  him 
to  attempt  the  execution  of  a  loni;-  cherished  object.  This  was 
the  establishment  ol"  a  mission  at  the  piincipal  town  of  the  Illinois, 
visited  in  his  re<'ent  voyai^c  of  <liseo\eiy.  With  this  purpose  in 
view,  he,  set  out  on  the  L'.'>tli  of  Octobei',  1(>7I,  accompanied  by 
tw(»  J''renchmen  and  a  number  of  Illinois  and  I'otawatamie  Ind- 
ians. The  lich  and  \aried  tints  of  autumn  w<'re  now  lapidly 
C!han,<rin,;;'  to  ;i  rusty  brown,  and  eiiteriii";'  Iial<e  Michi.iian,  they 
i'oiiiid  it  cold  and  stormy,  l.iitfeted  by  adverse  winds  and  waves, 
it  was  nioi'c  than  a  month  before  they  reached  the  mouth  of  tlu! 
<'hica.H'(»  I'ivei'.  In  the  meantime  .Alarcjuette's  disease  had  returned 
in  a  more  malignant  form,att«'nde(l  by  liemorrhajic  On  ascendiiij;' 
the  ("liicayo  some  distance,  it  was  found  that  his  condition  was 
j^rowin.i;' worse,  c(Hnj)eIliii:n' them  to  land.  A  hut  was  erected  on 
the  bank  of  the  river,  and  here  the  invalid  and  the  two  i"'i'eiiclinieii 
pi'cpared  to  sjieml  the  winter.  As  it  wore  away,  the  enfeebled 
missionai'y  was  unceasiii;;-  in  liis  sjdritual  dexotions,  while  his 
<'omi»anions  ol»tained  food  by  shooting-  deer,  tni'keys  and  other 
jiaiiie  in  the  surrouii<liii,<;'  forests.  Tin-  Illinois  fui'iiished  them 
Avitli  coi'ii,  and  frequently,  by  their  ]»resence  and  other  kindly 
atleiitions,  ni'catly  cheeicd  their  lonely  exile. 

.AiarijUette,  buruin,u'  ^vith  the  desire  to  establish  his  c()ntenii)la- 
ted  mission  before  he  died,  consecrated  himself  anew  to  the  service 
of  the.  N'ir.iiin,  and  soon  be^au  to  I'eiiain  his  strength.  l>y  the 
L!th  of  Mar<'h,  beinj;'  able  to  rec(»mmen<'e  his  journ«'y,  the  two 
jiwu  carried  their  canoes  over  the  portajic  between  the  Chica.n'o 
and  I)es]»laines,  and  connnenced  to  (h'scend  the  latter  stream. 
Amidst  the  incessant  rains  of  ojieninu'  s]>riiij4'.  they  were  rapidly 
borne  forward  on  the  swollen  riverto  its  junction  with  tlu'  Illinois, 
and  down  the  latter  to  the  object  of  their  destination.  Here,  it  is 
said,  he  was  viewed  as  a  nn'ssenn'cr  from  heaven,  as  he  a  isited  the 
wii^wams  of  the  villau'ei's  and  discoursed  of  paradise,  the  Re- 
deemer of  the  woi'ld,  and  his  atoiu'inent  for  sinfid  men.  The 
o.xcitement  at  len.i>'tli  drew  to<>etlier,  on  tin'  i»lain  between  the  liver 
and  the  ]»resent  town  of  Utica,  some  ."»()()  chiefs,  and  a.  j^reat  nn- 
knowi!  >i.iicoui'se  of  warri(»rs,  women  and  children.  In  the  midst 
of  this  mnltitude  lie  exhibit<'(l  four  larju'c  i)ictnres  of  the  Holy 
\'ir.uin,  ami  with  nvout  earnestness  hai-an.uned  them  on  the  duties 
of  Christianity,  and  the  necessity  of  makingtlieir  conduct  conform 


;  I  ' 


I 

t 


I  : 


(iO 


IIISTOUY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


to  its  pioccpts.  Tlic  ;iii<li('iic('  wcir  (l<'i'|tl,v  iiiipicssi'd  willi  Iiis 
};(»s|»('l  tcjicliiiiiis,  :iii(l  cji^crlv  Itcsdinilit  liim  to  i'i'iii;iiii  \vi(li  tlifiii, 
ii  icciiicst  wliicli  Ills  liisl  wniiiii;;'  si  relict  li  it'iidcictl  it  iiiipussiltlc 
to  jiiaiit. 

I'iiKliiij;  he  imist  Iciivc,  tlic  Iii(li;iiis  ^ciwioiisly  I'mnislicd  liiiii 
uitli  iiii  t'scort  to  the  hike,  on  wliicli  lie  ciiiltiiikrd  witli  liis  two 
t';iillitiil  :itlt'ii<t:iiits.  Tli(',\  tiinit'il  llicir  caiiocs  in  tlif  diicction  of 
tile  mission  on  the  striiit  of  .Mackiiniw,  wiiicii  tlic  iiftlirlt'tl  mis- 
sionary liopcil  ro  ivacli  ht'forc  lie  (lied.  As  tlicy  coasted  alonutlio 
caslcrn  sIkuc,  adxanriny  Mav  li(';4an  to  dt'ck  tin-  foicsi  with  licr 
\crnai  hcanties,  but  tin'  eyes  ot'  the  d,\iiij4'  priest  were  now  too 
dim  to  lieed  tlM>m.  On  tlie  I'.MIi  of  tlie  inuiitii  he  conM  '^o  in* 
faitlier.  wlien,  at  his  re(|nest,  iiis  tw(»  friends  ian(h'd  and  Itnilt  ii 
Inil.  into  wiiieh  In-  was  eaicfnily  cdnveyed.  Aware  tliat  lie  was 
lapidiy  appntaehin^'  his  end,  in',  witii  j;reat  eom]»osnre.  uave 
dii'eeli«»ns  eonceiniiii;'  his  Inirial,  and  tlianked  (iod  that  he  was 
|)ermitied  to  die  in  tin-  wilderness  an  nnsliakeii  believer  in  the 
faith  which  he  had  so  de\ otcdly  preached.  At  ni.uht  he  told  his 
weaiy  allendanis  to  rest,  and  when  In-  found  death  ai)pr(>acliin}4' 
he  A'ould  call  them.  At  an  early  honr  they  wen^  awakened  by  a 
feeble  voice,  ami  hastening'  to  his  side,  in  a  few  moineids  he 
breathed  liis  last,  j;raspin;;'  a  crtmilix,  and  mnrniurin>;' tin-  nanu' 
of  the  Nir^iii  .Mary,  ilavin^i'  buried  his  remains  as  directed,  his 
trusted  companions  hastened  to  .Mackinaw,  to  aum)unce  the  sad 
news  of  his  demise. 

Three  years  afterward,  a  i)aity  of  Oltawas,  huntinn'  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  his  juruve,  deterndned,  in  accctrdance  with  a  custom  of 
the  ti-ibe,  to  cany  Ins  bones  with  them  to  their  honu'  at  the  nus- 
sioii.  llavin,n'  opened  the  inra\-e  and  carefully  cleaned  them,  n 
funeral  jtroccssion  of  .'!0  canoes  bore,  them  toward  .Mackinaw,  the 
Indians  sinj;in<4'  the  sonj^s  which  he  had  tau;;lit  them.  At  the 
shore,  near  the  nussion,  the  sacred  relics  were  recei\('<l  by  tlu^ 
l)riests,  and,  w  ith  the  solemn  ceremony  of  the  church,  deitosited 
mider  the  tiour  of  the  rude  chapel. 


('ii.M'TKK  VI r. 

KXPLOKATIONS  I5Y   I.aSALLI:. 


"NVc^  must  now  turn  iVoiii  Aliir^incftc.  wli().s('  yrciif  piety,  (Micijiy 
'.111(1  st'lt'ilniiiil  iiiiidc  liiiii  :i  iiMiih'l  ul'  tlif  ni'dcr  to  uliicli  lie  Itc- 
loiiiicd,  iiiid  !i!;jiiii  iiitiodiicc  LiiSidlc  on  llic  stiij^c  of  acticMi.  Tlio 
|»r»\ioiis  xoviinc  liJid  well  ni^li  cstMlilislicd  tlic  fiict  llint  the  Miss- 
issippi discliiiii;<'d  its  Wiitcrs  into  tlif  (lull'  of  Mexico;  yet  he  ;mi(1 
oMiers  now  enleitiiiiied  tlie  opinion  tliMt  some  of  its  j:reiit  tviitii- 
tiiries  mi^lit  nHonl  ii  direct  |i;iss;i^c  to  tlie  Pm'ilic.  it  was  the 
jii'Ciit  jnohlen)  of  the  a;;'e  to  discover  this  pMssa;;('.  and  liaSallii 
]ii'oposed  not  only  to  sohcit  l)y  exjilorini;' the  ^reat  ri\erto  its 
month,  Imt  to  erect  a  fort  on  its  ontlet,  and  tints  seenre  to  l-'rancc 
the  j)(>ss('ssio"  of  its  valley,  To  fnrthei'  his  oltject,  he  fiained  llio 
intluence  and  sn]t|)ort  of  l-'rontenae,  and  induced  some  of  tho 
Canadian  merchants  to  become  i»arlneis  in  the  adNcidiMc. 

yurt  Froiitcnac. — Tin' new  uoveiiH)!' had  no  sooner  Iteeii  installed 
in  olli<e,  than,  with  eaji'le  eye,  he  snrveyed  the  icsoiirces  of  Cana- 
da, and  ]»repared  to  ji'et  tln'Ui  nmlrr  Ins  control.  LaSalle  Innl 
inlornu'd  him  that  the  Mniilish  and  Irocpiois  were  intri;.;nin,i;-  w  itli  the, 
Intlians  of  the  npper  laUes  to  indnee  them  to  hreaU  their  ])eaco 
with  the  Frencii,  and  transfer  their  trade  in  ]»eltries  from  M(»u- 
tieal  to  Xew  York.  Partly  to  connteract  this  design,  and  in  part 
to  monopolize  the  fnr  tracle  for  his  own  heiietit.  he  determined  to 
Iniild  a  fort  on  Lake  Ontario,  nci-.r  the  site  <»f  the  present  city  of 
Kingston,  Ticst  lie  shonid  excite  the  Jcalonsy  of  the  merclnints, 
he  yave  out  that  he  oidy  intended  t(»  make  a  lonr  lo  the  uppei'  part 
of  the  colony,  to  look  alter  the  Imlians.  Ilcinjii  witliont  snilicient 
means  of  his  own,  he  retpiired  the  nu'rchant-  to  fnrnish  each  ii 
certain  number  of  men  ami  canoes  \\w  the  exjicdition.  When 
spring' open<'d,  he  sent  LaSalle  in  advance  to  summon  the  Iroquois 
sachems  to  meet  at  the  site  of  the  proposed  fort,  while  he  followed 
at  Ills  leisure.  In  olx'dieiice  to  his  call,  the  chiefs  arrived,  and 
were  nuich  ideased  with  the  attentions  shown  them  l»y  the  .li'ov- 
ernor.  Flattered  by  his  blandishments,  and  awed  by  his  audacity, 
they  suffered  tln^  erection  of  the  fort,  which  was  called  Frontenac, 
after  its  founder.  The  ji'overnor  writes  :  "  With  the  aid  of  a  ves- 
s«d  now  bnihiinj:",  we  can  comnnintl  the  lakes,  keep  jtcace  with  the 
Ir(t(pn)is,  and  cut  off  the  fnr  trade  fr(»m  the  JMijilish.  With 
another  f(nt  at  Niagara,  and  a  second  vessel  on  tln^  river  above, 
Avc  can  control  the  entire  chain  of  lakes.''  These  far-reachinji," 
views  accoi'ded  well  with  the  sehenu's  of  LaSalle,  who-was  shortly 
afterwards  emi)loyed  in  reducinj;  them  to  ])iactice.  The  erection 
of  the  fort  Avas  in  violation  of  the  kind's  re<>idati(nis,  which  re- 
quired the  fur  traders  of  Canada  to  carry  on  theii'  trade  with  the 

(57 


''t  !i 


4 


08  HISTORY  OF  ir.T.lXotS. 


I  ! 


Iiidiiiiis  witliiii  tin-  liniits  of  lli«'  scttlciiM'iits.     In  \  icw.  Ii(»\v('si'i',  nt' 

its  ;^l'Cill  im|Mil'tilli('<'  lis  il  liiciilis  til'  (Irfclicc  il;;ilili>l  llii'  IroqNtils.  ;i!l 
l(>;^;il  (ilijt'ctioiis  \\fi'«>  \\iii\  <'(l,  :iii*l  |iro\isioii  wiis  iiiiMh'  lo  iiiiiiiiliiiii 
it.  It  iilsn  st'ivcd  iis  a  sirppiii;;  sloiic  lor  its  siil».-,c<iiiciit  nwiicr  to 
iii;iU»'  otlifriiinl  ;;i«'!it<'i- west  waul  strides  in  tln'caiisc  of  discovery. 

Ill  1(171,  i.aSalle  \  isited  I'laiiee  to  petition  the  Uiii;;  tor  the  rank 
ol'  iiol>ilily,  aiid  to  negotiate  with  iiiiii  lor  a  ;:i'aiit  in  seij;ll(.r,^  of 
tile  new  tort  and  ad.jaeeiit  lands.  Asa  eoiisideratioii  for  the  lat- 
ter, lie  ii;;reed  to  reiininirse  hiiii  I'orwliat  it  had  already  cost  to 
niainlain  in  it  an  adei|nate  ;^ari'isoii.  and  provide  lor  the  spiiiliial 
wants  of  tiie  selllenieiits  that  ini;:hl  ;:allier  alioiit  it.  Mis  |ielitioii 
was  yniiited.  and  heretiiiiied  to  Canada  the  propiietor  of  one  ol' 
the  most  \aliiaWle  estates  in  the  province.  His  relatives,  plea.sed 
with  his  llallerin;;'  prospects,  advam-cd  him  lari^c  suiiis  of  inoiicv, 
which  enaliied  liiiii  to  coiriply  with  his  a;:reeiiieiit.  Ilesides  I'lir- 
iiishiiii;  the  stipulated  military  and  clerical  forces,  and  providiti;; 
a  chapel  for  the  latter,  he  liiiilt  four  small  decked  vessels  to  cair.v 
trei.L;lil  lo  the  head  of  the  lake,  u  hither  he  next  expected  t<»  ad- 
vance. A  jieiiod  <»f  mere  than  three  years  now  succeeded,  in 
which  all  Caiiiida  was  rent  with  civil  fends.  .Mtercatioiis  spran;^ 
lip  lietweeii  rival  traders  ;  .lesiiits  and  Ifccollets  were  einhit  Icred 
l»y  dissensions,  and  the  civ  il  ant horilies  liecame  corrupt,  and  eii- 
}>ii;^ed  in  iiitrijuiies,  attended  with  the  ;;reat«'st  acrimony.  It  was 
impossihie  for  a  person  of  LaSalle's  proininciice  to  avoid  Itccomiiiin 
a  mark  for  the  shafts  of  those  who  dilfered  with  him  in  o|iiiiioii 
and  interest.  As  soon,  however,  as  he  could  extricate  himself 
from  the  Jarrin;;  tactions,  he  a/iiiin  visited  France,  to  obtain  the 
recojiiiition  and  support  of  the  ;i()V('riiiiient  in  his  contemitlaled 
iindertakiii;^'.  His  oliject  heiiij^  regarded  with  favtir  by  the  minis- 
ter, he  was  aiithori/ed  to  proceed  with  his  discoverii's,  and  occupy 
tlie  new  found  countries  by  the  erection  of  forts,  while,  in  lieu  of 
other  sujiport,  he  was  granted  a  monopoly  in  ItiilValo  skins,  which, 
it  was  believi'd,  would  be  a  source  of  ;;reat  wealth.  His  relatives 
much'  additional  advances  of  money,  and  in  July,  1(!7S,  \w  sailed 
with.'Sd  men  and  a  laij^c  siijiply  of  iinplements  for  the  const  met  ion 
and  oiitlit  of  vessels.  After  a  prosperous  voyaj^c  he  arrived  at 
(Quebec,  and  pro(X'eded  tlieiUM'  up  the  river  and  lake  to  his 
seijiiiory. 

Amoiiii'  file  eiii]»loyes  lie  had  broiijilit  with  him  was  an  Italian, 
named  Henri  Toiiti.  who  had  lost  one  of  his  hands  by  the  exi>lo- 
sioii  of  a  {grenade  in  the  Sicilian  wars.  Not withstrindinn-  the  loss 
of  his  hand,  and  a  constitution  naturally  feeble,  his  indomitable! 
Avill  made  him  su]»erior  to  most  men  in  |>liysical  endurance. 
J'lcsides  these  (lualities,  so  valuable  in  the  pioneer,  he  possessed  ii 
fidelity  which  neither  iidversity  nor  th(^  intrijiue.s  of  enemies  <roul(l 
swerve  from  the  interests  of  his  employer.*  On  his  way  tliroii,i;h 
(^nel)ec,  he  also  obtained  the  services  of  yi.  Laiiiotte,  a  person  of 
much  eiierjiy  and  intej^ity  of  character,  but  not  8o  etlieient  an  as- 
sistant as  Tonti. 

Ainonji'  the  missionaries  who  becaine  associated  with  LaSalle  in 
his  future  exi)lorations,  may  be  mentioned  Louis  Hennepin,  (labriel 
Itibourde  and  Zeiiobc  Membre.     All  of  them  were  Fleminjis,  all 

♦!lis  fiitlicrliMil  hi'L'ii  rovei'imr  of  (raotii,  hut  lli'il  ti>  Krunoe  to  escape  tlio  jiolitienl 
oniiviilsi()ii><  of  111-*  iiiitivo  coiiiitry.  If e  wiis  nil  sible  iliiiuiuler,  iiud  won  UistiuctiDii  as 
the  inventor  of  Tontine  Life  liisuninoo. 


I.AHALLK. 


00 


IN'coIlcts,  lull  ill  other  i»  >|m'cIs  din't'iciit.  II('tiiM'|tiii,  in  ciirlv  litV', 
read  witli  iiii\\cii."it><l  ilt'li;;lil  tin-  ixh  t'litiiii's  itt'  tiiiv  t'lt'is,  mimI  I'clt 
ii  iHiniiiiK'  <l<'sir»'.  lo  visit  slrjiii;;)'  liimis.  Vifldiii;;  to  liis  niiiii;; 
piiNsioii,  lie  .-.I'!  out  on  a  io\  in;^  mission  lIii'on;;li  Ilollinul,  wIhtc  In) 
«'\|»os('(l  liinisfir  in  trt'nrlM's  and  scij^cs  lor  tin-  sanation  of  the 
M>ldicr.  I<'indin;;,  at  lcn;>'tli,  Ins  old  inclination  to  ti'a\'('l  rt'tnininji;, 
lie  ol>tainfd  |>ci mission  of  Ids  snitciior  to  \  isit  Anu'iica,  wImti',  iu 
armi'dann'  with  Ids  wandi-rin;;'  piorliv  itv,  hr  lircanic  (■oniifcltMl 
villi  till'  adventures  of  LaS  'c.  In  this  capacity  lie  won  distinc- 
tion as  an  cNplorei',  hut  altei..ai'ds  tarnished  his  reputation  with 
lalse  pretensions.  K'il»oiii'(ie  was  a  hale  and  cheerriil  old  man  of 
l)\  years,  and  ihoii^li  possessing;' I'ewer  salienl  points  <it'  chaiaetei' 
than  lleniiepin,  he  ,ur*'idly  excelled  liiin  in  purity  of  lil'e.  lie  rc- 
iioiinced  station  and  '.':!S(>  tor  the  privations  o!'  a  missionary,  and 
at  h'st  was  stricken  down  Ity  the  parricidal  hand  of  those  he  fain 
Mould  have  heiielite«l.  Meiidirc,  like  I  leiinepin,  is  accused  ol'  \  anity 
and  falsehood,  lie  must,  howi'vei",  have  possj-ssed  redeeiiiinj; 
traits,  I'oi-  he  Ion.;-  remained  the  faithful  companion  of  LaSalle, 
ami  liiially  peiisiied  in  his  service. 

On  arriviiii;  at  the  tort,  LaSalle  sent  1.")  men  with  merchandise 
to  Lake  .'Michi.uan,  to  trade  for  furs.  Aftei'disjtosinn  of  tlie;;oods, 
tla-y  weie  insliiicted  to  proceed  with  the  haiti'icd  coinmodilics  to 
Illinois,  and  there  await  his  arrival,  'i'he  next  step  he  hoped  to 
liialie  ill  liis  westward  pioi^ress  was  the  erection  (d"  a  fort  at  the 
month  of  the  liver  Nia;;aia.  lie  tlioii;;lit  if  he  coidd  control  this 
];cy  to  the  chain  of  lakes  al)ove,  he  could  also  contiol  the  Indian 
trade  of  the  inlei-ior.  I'or  this  piii'iiose,  l,aMotte  and  lleiiepin, 
uirh  I(»  men,  on  the  IStli  of  November,  emharked  in  one  of  tin! 
•small  vessels  which  lay  ;it  the  fort,  and  started  for  the  month  of 
the  river.  l»etaided  by  adverse  winds,  it  was  not  till  the  filii  of 
December  that  they  reached  their  dest ination  and  etfected  a  land- 
in;^.  Here  they  met  with  a  band  of  Seiiecas  from  a  nci.i^hborin;;" 
villa;j;e,  who  i;azed  ii|»on  them  with  cnrions  eyes,  and  list<iieil  with 
•il'eat  wondej'ineiit  to  a  soii.i;  which  they  siiny  in  honor  of  their 
.sale  arrival.  AN'hen,  however,  the  erection  of  a  foil  was  coin- 
liii'iK'cd,  tlu'ir  snrprise  <ia\e  way  to  Jealoiisy,  and  it  became  iieces- 
.sary  lo  obtain  the  consent  of  the  cliiefs  before  llie  work  could  !m3 
<'omj)Ieted.  \\itli  this  object  in  view,  LaMotte  and  Hennepin, 
loaded  with  jjii'seiits,  sot  ont  to  visit  the  ]»riiicipal  town,  s'lnatecl 
near  the  sit<'  of  IJochestcr,  New  Vorl<.  Arriviiiu  tliitln".  fter  ji 
j(»iiiney  of  ."»  days,  they  wei'e  i'eceive<l  by  a  committee  o!' ;._  chiefs, 
to  whom  lln-y  made  known  their  object.  La^Molte  distributed 
jiifts  aiiM)n.n' the  clTu'l's  with  a  lavish  hand,  and  by  means  of  his 
inlerpr«'te)',  used  all  the  tact  and  eloiineiice  of  v»  liicli  lie  was  inas- 
t(  r  to  ;j;iiui  their  consent  lo  the  erection  of  the  foil.  They  readily 
received  the  ;;ifts,  but  answered  the  interpreter  with  evasive  ^cii- 
t'lalities,  and  the  embassy  was  coiii]ielIed  to  ictiii'ii  without  a 
definite  rejdy.  In  the  meantime  LaSalle  and  Tonti,  who  had  been 
delaine<l  in  |trocnrinj;'  sii]>plies  foi'  the  new  settlement,  arrived. 
They  had  also  encountered  unfavorable  winds,  and  LaSalle,  aux- 
icais  to  liasien  forward,  entrusted  one  of  his  vessels  to  the  pilot, 
■«vho,  disi'enardinnhis  instructions,  sutfereil  her  to  becoiiu'  wrecketl. 
The  crew  escaped,  bnt  with  the  exee]»tiou  of  the  cables  ami 
anchors  inteiidi'd  to  be  used  in  bnildin.t;'  a  slii])  above  the  cataract, 
the  car^o  was  lost.     JjaSalle,  who  was  nunc  than  an  (udiuary  uuis- 


70 


lll,'|(.i;s    (.1     ||J,|\(»IM, 


III  ()(■   liiili;iii    <li|il<»iii;i('\ .    ii<\l    \i.|li'(l    (lie   Sciicciis,  ;iiiil  |i;uliiilly 

<llll.lilll-<|    lli^     |('l|ll<->l.        Ill      lil-ll     ol     III!'     loll,     he     VMM    jK'l  mil  li-i|    lo 

Mfrl  :i   Uiin'linii,><'.      'I'lii-  Uii-,  i<»iii|(lc|«  d,  :iimI  ii-fij  iis  ;i   iliclli  r  lor 
till'    liK'ii    (liiriii;/    llic    r-iiMlili;4    u  ilil <-r,  :i ii<l    :i    ili'jMr>ilor,\     I'oi     iiii-r 
(•li:iii<li  ■•<•  ill  lii-'    -iil(^cr|ii(iil  I  i.iiMiicI  ion  '   on  lin-  !;ikc,^. 

riir  <ii  iljiii.  A  iiiorc\il,il  <-oii -kIm.iI  ion,  :ini|  llnil  \',lii(li  iir\l. 
cU'^:tlJ.i-<\  llii'  ;ill<nli<tn  ol  !,;iS:ill<-,  \\;l^  llic  liiiihliii;.;  of  ii  \(>  «  I  on 
I  lie  lis  <-r.  '11 M-  jMiiiil  (IimIciI  loi  llii-  |iiii|)o-i-  u;i-s  on  I  he  iM^t  -idi* 
ol  IJM-  ri\i-i.  ;il  llii-  inoiilli  ol  (';i\ii;si  <'ri<l>.<i  iiiilc-  ;ilio\c  (lie 
(•.il;ir;i<'l.  'IIm-  incn  si  i  iiv;.'!''!  nji  llic  -Ic(|)  lii:.'lil  ;il)os<  l,(\\i  lou 
Uilli  llif  n<'C(->-;ii\  (•(|iii|.in(iil  -,  iiiiii  on  llic  :."J(|  ol  ,l;;iiii;il\ ,  Kii'.t, 
('iiliinicnci'il  llic  Lilioiion  l;i  L  ol  cai  i)  iiiv  llicin  lo  IIk  point. 
Hclcclcd.  -onic  r:  iiiiici  <li  l;iiil.  .\iii\iii;.'  I  li  il  In  i .  'I  on  1 1  iinincilj 
iilc|\  coiiiiiicnccd  Ihc  lii-K  ol  IpiiiI'Iiii;.'  llic  \i'-cl,  \'.liilc  l,;i,S;i||(i 
l'cliirii<-<l  lo  Iroiilcinic.  lo  icphicc  the  loic^  uliicli  lijil  liccn  lo>|, 
in  llic  l;iKc.  .\ol  w  il  ji>l;iinliii;j  llic  nlN  inpl  ol'  liii'  Scnccii'-  |ti  Imiii 
llii'  \  c.^M'l  iis  .>lic  ;jic\s  on  llic  -locli  ■.,  ill  line  lime  \|ic  \\;i  ^  lini  'Inil 
iiml  rc;ii|\  lo  hiiincli.  'lite  lirin^j;  ol'  cniinon  Jiinonnccil  iicii-oiii' 
|ilclioii.  iinil  ;i>  l'ic  men  clnmicil  a  .son;;  in   honor  ot    I  heir  .>iii-cc  .s, 

:ilii|  Ihc  lliiliiin-  -hlieil  ;il  the  no\e|  'Ivill,  .lie  ^'Kieclnlh  [.'hijiil 
oiil  on  llic  \\;ilci.^  ol'  Ihc  .\  i;i;j;ir;i.  hniinji  Imt  coii--I  iiii|  ion,  llic\ 
ucic  i^icalJN  aiiiiizeij  at  the  \t\i-.  ol  Ihc  hii.vc  inoiiilci-,  l»nl  now 
llie\  looKcil  >\illi  increa.^cil  .-.nr|»iiM'  at  Ihc  ^'iiin  iiin//,le,s  of  ."»  <mii- 
iion  looKiii;^  lliroii;ili  In-r  |iorl  hole  ,  ami  a  hii;.M-  eicaliiie,  |iail  lion 
ami  |iarl  ca;j;le,  laiAcil  on  the  |no\\.  The  ti;.  nic  ua-  a  iJiiHin, 
al'lci'  wliii'li  llic  \csscl  uas  naineij,  in  jionor  ol  I  li<- arinoiial  licat' 
iiiys  <»r  IVonlciiae.  She  wa.-  taken  I'liil  her  n|»  the  ii\cr,  w  here  i  Ik* 
men  sn|)|tlici|  hci  wiih  ii;;;.'in;i.  ami  'I'oiiti  anxionsly  avvailcii  iIk' 
ariisal  of  LaSallc  'l'hi>  iliij  not  occur  till  .Xnyiii,  he  liasin^;.  iii 
the  ineaiiliinc.  Iiicn  ilelained  l»\  (iiiaiicial  ilillii  all  ie  •>,  vK'^^il'^r  ••Hi, 
ol'llie  allciii|il  ol  cncinics  lo  in  jnie  III  ■  I'll  dil .  He  liioirdit  uilU 
liiin  iiilioiii'de  and  Meniliie,  to  |ire;ieh  the  I'ailli  anion;;  tin  liilics 
ol'  tlid  west,  which  he   nou   |»;o|io>.-d  lo  \\\{. 

To  dcCcr  tin-  <'nter|iii,sc  loii;;ei-,  uonld  l»c  lo  dclent  il,  and  on  tin* 
Till  of  Aii;;iist,  HiTM,  till'  \(tya;^ei'-  eiiiliaiKcd.  'I'iic  cMcuded  .sails 
of  their  lillle  rral't  catehiiiv.  iln-  Itrcc/.c.  Iioic  hcrsalclv  out  on  Ihc 
lio.som  of  l/ilvc  i'irie.  .Never  Itel'oic  had  licen  |ii.-iiiicil  in  its 
waters  the  iiiia,!L'.e  ol'  lint  leriii;/ caiiv  a -.  ami  to  llic<liiHin  l«-lon;4H 
tlie  honoi' ol'  lii-l  coiiisiii;^  tin-  lii;.diwav  uliii-Ji  is  now  whileneil 
with  I  he  sails  ol'  smh  an  e\|ciiilcd  coiiimcice.  .Mtct  a  )iio.-|)cioiis 
vo\a;^e  lip  the  lake,  tjiev  cnlcrcd  the  iJelioil.  and  |»as-ed  on  cacli 
bank  a  jiieasant  HMc«'CMsion  ol'  |iiaiiie-  and  I'on'Sts,  alive  witli 
piiiie.  'I'lie  men  |ea|)ei|  a-lioie,  and  ^ooii  the  decks  of  the  <  ii  illiii 
were  Ktrew  n  w  il  h  the  dead  liodie>  ol'dcei ,  tnrkev  >  ami  hear-,  npou 
whose  llesli  llieeievv  feasted  W'lli  the  ;'reatesl  reii>li.  A  •cendiny;■ 
I-ake  St.  ("lair  ami  the  rest  of  ih"  strait  lliey  entered  I,ake  nnroii, 
which  ap|»ear<'d  like  a  vast  mirror  ■ct  ma  I'raiite  fantastic  w  itii 
ror-ks  ami  verdure.  So  oiiie  and  Iraiisparenl  were  tlie  waters, 
llie  lisiion  llic  pclililed  liollom  lie|o\'  seemed  the  onlv  inlialiitant.s 
of  earlli,  w  liii<-  their  litlle  hark  Moated  like  a  .loml  in  inni  air 
aliove  tliein.  .\t  liisl  tlie  vova,;jc  was  piospcioii-.  Mini  islet  after 
islet  loomed  n|»  licfore  tliem,  which  the  strange  iniia;;!-  of  tlie, 
waters  converled  into  iinye  'I'ritons  .slaikin;^  rapidly  l»v,  ami  di.sap- 
)ii  ariii;4  in  I  he  di-lame  In  hind.  Soon.  Iioucvcr,  tlieliiecze  lieforn 
whieli    tiiey   moved   iresiiciicd    into  a  ^ali^  and   at  last    Itecame  an 


i.ahai.m;. 


I 


iiW/yy  Iciiipcisl,  (%n\H\l\n  lln*  ^iTiih-nl  ;il;iriii.      All  Iril  In  |)i;i,\  iii;^  cs- 

•  •i|.l  liii'  |(iiol,s\lio  w;iri  iii<;ciiw<|  ;il  ilic  idcji  ol  i;^ii<tlil.\  |iiTi^liiiiy 
III  iIh-  hiki-,  Jil'liT  li;i viii;^  hn-iiMid  llic  .^loiiiii  :iiiil  \soii  tin-  Ikhioi.s 
(iT  llic  oi'ijiii.  I.;iS;illc  ;iinl  llic  iiiiirs  cvoLi-ij  Ijii- ;ii(|  ol'  Si.  An- 
lli<iii\  III  l':i(lii:i,  'A  lioiii  IIk'V  <l)'<'liii'<-i|  llic  |i;ili<iii  oIIIh  <  \|ii'ilil  iuii, 
:iiiil  jHoiiii.^i'il  ii  <')i;iji('l  ir  III'.  SMiiiM  i|i-li\i-i'  till  III  lioiii  llii-  ili-MHir- 
iii;.'  \\;i\i'.>.  'I'lic  h;iiiil,  il  i>  s;iiil,  iiii-i\\cic<l  tlicii-  |)i;i\cr-;  lliir 
liillow  lo.s.scd  liOhOMi  of  IIh-  i;il.c  lici'Jiiiif  Hiiil,  jiikI  till-  (irilliii  imln 
iiilolJK-  hlriiils  111'  .MiicKiiKi  w  iiiiiniuiril.  A  .saliili-  of  cmiimou  :iii 
iiii(iiii;im|  I  lirir  ;irj'iv;il  ill,  llic  .livsiiil  iiiii'^io/i,  wlicic||n\  cMccii  d  ;i, 
);i  inline,  ;iiii|  Jiiiiiic(|i;ilc|  y  ii)i;iirci|  In  I  he  c|i;i)ic|  lu  nlli  r  I  li;iiil.  s  lur 
(lii-ii   iiciiil  i|ili\  ii;iiii'i-. 

lliiCj  MiiiliT  llii-  li;ii|ii\V  III'  IIm-  <rii^-i,  llic  Mdiiiic  nl' iii:i  nnnuii 
iiiiil  iicrlril  :i  li:i/.,'iiii'  loi'  lli<-  lur  lr:iiic,  uliidi  tlicv  c:iiiici|  im  ujlli 
or  williniil  II  liicii-ic,  ;is  l»c;sl  Miitcd  llnii  iiiliicslN.  All  ol'  llii-iii 
Inol  (  d  i'. 'I  II  jc;il()iis  c_\cN  ii|iii;i  i,;iS;illc,  lull  ii|iciily  cxlnidcij  ;i  vvcl- 
riiiiic  lo  liiiii,  tli;il  llicv  iiii^dit  ;illii,\  mi '|iiiiiiiis  ic.-.|icil  m  .;  IJicii' 
hccicl  i|csi;4ii<  ii!-'iiiii>l  liiri  ciilci)iiiic.  Willi  iiiul  i\  <m  III  I  Ic  l»ct  l<  r, 
IIk'  liiili;iiis  .sididi'd  liiiii  uilli  it  volli-v  of  iiiiiskcl  j'\ .  ;iii<l  -nun 
.■swiiniicd  III  ('iiiioc.s  ;ii(»iiiid  llii' <  ii  illiii,  w  liidi  I  lic\  cidlcd  :i  l|(i;iliii;.' 
Jnil.iiiid  c\idcii|j\  jcyiudcd  ij  uilh  ;;n;ilci  rmiti  ii\  lliiiii  ;.'(nid 
«ili.  Nnl  niilv  llic  /csidi-iil.s  wc/c  ,s'crcll\  liuililc,  lnd  il  .-oon  ;i|t- 
jic.ijcd  lii;il  llii  null  men  li:id  Jiiuvcd  lic;ic|iciiiiis.  Mn-I  ol'  tlin.i* 
III  li;id  .  till  ii|i  llic  hikes  willi  liici'(di:iiidi.-sc  jiiiij  Mild  il  :iiid  l.<  |il 
liic  jniiiccdi,  in,.|c;id  ui'  i^n'tiiu.  uilli  llniii,  ;i.s  diicdcd.  In  llliiinis. 
liiiS.iilc  iiirolcd  i'niir  nl'  llic/ii  ;it  ,\Iiichiii;iu .  ;iiid  mhI  'I'nnli  In  i  he 
.Sir.iil.s  1)1'  iSl.  .M;ii'\   iillir   I  w  n  nl  ini,-.  whnin    in-  ;ilsn   ..iieci  eded    in 

•  ■iijiliiJiii;^^. 

y\.s /-nnn  iis'lniili  iiliiiiied,  I,;i,S;illc  weighed  iiinlinr  ;iiiil  .died 
lliinii.'^li  llic  .Slr;iit.s  inlo  hiiKc  .Mie|iii;;iii,  iind  i.indcd  ;il  ;.ii  i  I  .ml 
Jiciij-  I  he  cut  III  nee  of  (ijceii  l>;iy.  i  I  ere  he  uiis  neciv  ed  \\  il  li  ;^reiil. 
lin,-']iil;i)il>  h,\  :i  i'olii \v:il:tiiiie  eliid',  ii/id  md  with  :i  niiiiilier  nl' his 
liiidcrs,  wlin,  unlike  Ihc  olhers,  h:id  r;iitlilidl,s  di.-|in.Mi|  nl'  his 
^nndsiind  enlleiUd  ;t  hir^e,  (jiniiilil.v  nll'Ms.  lie  iil  nnee  n-Mihcd 
Jo  send  ilieiii,  uilh  nllie|-s  he  liiid  colledcd  on  llie  \\;i>  In  Ni;i;;;iiii, 
i'nr  the  III  /idit  of  lii>  eicdiUns.  Siidi  ;i  I  iiiiisiid  inn  Uii--  nnl  mil  hnr 
JZ'd  li\  his  liieii-.c  nl' diseiM  c)_\,  \d  Ids  will  uiishiu,  :iiiil  d<,|)ile, 
I  lie  jiioUv^t  III'  his  rnllnwer.S,  llic  I'lll-H  wcie  e;iiliei|  ;iiin:iid  I  he  (uif- 
iiii.  'J  he  pilot,  jirici'  <Jis)iosin};  of  Ihc  <':ir;;ii,  \\;is  inliiided  lo 
rdiii'Ji  uilli  her  to  the  mi'. 'hern  .shore  ol'  the  hike.  I  Icr  liiiinons 
thiiiidereil  i'oilli  il  |iiirlin;.:  .siiliile,  iiiid  mioii  tli«-  little  hiiik  nidtcd 
out  nl'  si^lit  in  the  ili>lnncc.  IjiiSiillc,  with  the  leniiiiniii;;  iiien, 
iinw  cinliiirked  in  ciinnes,  hidcn  with  ii  I'lir^c,  tools  iind  ;inii.>;,  :ind 
htiirtcil  lor  the  nioiith  of  l!ic  St.  .Iii-e)ih.  I  id'orl  iiiiiite!;. ,  ihcy 
round  the  jiikc  hiokcn  uilh  eniist;iiit  stnniis.  uliidi  riei|iH'>:!  i\  im- 
pcrilcil  tlicir  own  lives  iind  niiide  them  Ircmlilc  ioc  the  jiitc  nl  the 
(iiillin.  .Mler  il  Inii^  \  ii,\  ii^c,  in  uhidi  llie\  siiU'eied  iiindi  liiini 
liiird.diip  iind  hunger,  llie\  iiiri\c<i  iil  their  dcstiiiiil  ion.  Here 
Hiey  cx|»e<d<'.d  lo  iiicci  williToiiti  ;ind  tucntv  ol'  the  nun  uhn 
Jd't  .Miidviliiiw  siinilltiilieoisly  .,itli  the  (irillln,  cxjicdin;.'  lo  iiiiike 
tlieir  «ii_v  iiloii^f  the  t- •'*.  n  mIioic  ol'  the  hike.  .Mti-r  wiiitiii;; 
Home  time  in  Viiiii  tor  iiiriMil,  those  who  liiid  enme  with    |,ii- 

»Siill<' iiij^'cd  ii)iiin  liiiii  llic  necessity  of  iinsltin;^  Iniuiird  to  oliliiiii 
corn  I'lnm  the  lllinnis  lidore  they  dcpiirted  lor  llieii'  u  inter  hunl- 
iiiK  groiiinls.     He  decided  it  iinuise  to  j;riint  tlicii  leipiesi,  iind,  lo 


72  IIlSTOllY  OV  ILLINOIS. 


divert  tlicir  iiiinds  IVoiii  the  subject,  eomiiieiieed  llie  erection  of  ii 
lort.  Alter  l;d)oriii,u'  some  twenty  d;iys,  and  the  structure  was 
far  ad\aiiced.  Tout i  and  ten  of  his'coiiipauiims  arrivi'd.  At  tiui 
instance  of  LaSalie  lie  immediately  went  back  with  two  men  to 
hasten  torward  the  others,  win*  were  witliont  ]»r()visious,  and  hmit- 
in.y  as  a  means  of  support.  On  their  way  a  \iolent  storm  overset 
their  canoes- and  destroyed  tiieir  ]>rovisions,  and  tliey  were  c(»in- 
pclU'd  to  return.  Shortly  after,  of  their  own  accord,  the  absent 
men  made  tlicir  way  to  tlie  fort,  and  the  entire  party  was  ayaiu 
united,  'fiie  only  care  wliicii  now  o]ti)ressed  LaSalU'  was  the  ab- 
sence of  the  (iiiftin.  .Vmple  time  had  elapsed  for  her  return,  l»ut 
nowhere  on  liie  wild  solitude  of  waters  was  lie  clie( red  with  the 
si,ulit  of  a  sail.  K'ncful  forcbodin,i;s  sa<ldened  his  breast  when  lie 
tliou;;lit  of  her  fate,  aiiil  two  men  were  sent  down  the  lake,  with 
instructions  to  conduct  her  to  the  mouth  of  the  St.  .Joseph,  in  casci 
they  wei'c  able  to  lind  her.  The  fort  was  linislied  and  nained 
]Miami.  after  a  neij^IilMtrin,^'  tribe  of  Indians. 

W'idiout  further  delay,  on  the;  od  of  December,  1(>7!>,  the  |»arty, 
numbering'  .'».'!  persons,  c(»mmencc<l  ascendin<i'  the  St.  .h>sepli. 
Already  tiie  inar.iiins  of  the  sticain  were  .ulassed  with  sheets  of  ice 
and  the  adjacent  forests  were  .lii'ay  and  bare.  Four  days  broimht 
them  to  the  site  of  South  ISeiid,  to  look  for  the  path  leading;'  at-ros.s 
the  jiortajie  to  the  Kankakee.  A  Mohe<;'an  iiuuter,  who  accoinjta.- 
]iic<l  tlie  expedition,  and  who  was  n(»v-  expect«'<l  to  act  as  a  j;iiide, 
■was  absent  in  (piest  of.j^ame,  and  LaSalle  sallied  forlh  to  tiud  tlie 
way.  In  the  blinding'  snow  and  tangled  avoovLs  he  soon  becaiiK^ 
lost,  and  the  day  wore  away  without  his  return.  Toiiti,  becoitiin.u' 
alarmed  for  his  safety,  sent  iiieii  to  sciair  the  forest  and  tire  uiins 
to  direct  his  course  to  the  camii.  It  was  not.  hoivever,  liii  ilie 
next  afternoon  that  he  made  his  appearaiwe.  'I'wo  opossums  daii- 
ji'h'd  in  his  .yii'dle,  which  he  had  killed  with  a  club,  while  siispcinhd 
l»y  their  tails  from  oNcrhanuini;'  bou,i;hs.  After  iiiissinji'  his  way, 
he  was  compelled  to  make  tlie  circuit  of  a  larj^c  swamp,  and  it  was; 
late  at  nij^ht  before  he  ^(»t  back  to  the  river.  Here  he  tired  'is 
yun  as  a  siyiial,  and  soon  after,  discoveiin}.>a  lijiht,  made  up  to  it, 
supposinji'  it  came  from  the  camp  of  his  men.  To  his  sur|)rise  it 
proved  to  be  the  lonely  bivouac  of  some  Indian,  who  lia<l  lied  at 
the  report  of  his  j^nii.  lie  called  aloud  in  several  Indian  tonmics, 
but  only  the  levi'iberations  of  his  voice  in  the  siirroiindiniL;  soli- 
tude met  his  ear.  Lookin;;'  around,  he  dis(;overed  under  the  trunk 
of  a  huii'e  tree  a  coiu'li  maih'  of  dried  jivass,  still  '■  '.rm  ami  im- 
pressed with  the  form  <d"  its  recent  occui>ant.  He  took  possession 
and  slcjit  unmolested  till  moriiinji',  when,  without  further  ditilicnlly, 
he  found  his  way  to  cam]).  Meanwhile,  the  ^lohejraii  hunter  Iiail 
arrived,  and  soon  the  whole  ])arty  stood  on  the  banks  of  the  Kan- 
kakee, coiirsinu  its  way  in  /.i,iL;-zaj;s  amonj^'  tufts  of  tall  <iiass  and 
clumi>s  of  alder,  into  its  curn'iit,  which  a  tall  man  niijiht  easily 
iiestride,  they  set  their  <'anoet<,  and  shiwly  moved  (hiwn  its  shiic- 
gish,  slimy  waters.  So  full  was  its  channel  that  the  voyji^crs 
seemed  sailinsi'  on  the  surface  of  the  ground,  while  their  evening- 
shaihiws,  unobstructed  by  banks,  fell  far  beyond  their  canoes,  and 
trooped  like  liufic  phantoms  alony  by  their  side.  \>y  and  by  it 
j>rew  to  a  consideral>le  stream,  from  the  drainafic  of  miry  barrens 
and  reedy  marshes  skirtinji' its  banks.  Still  farther  on  succeeded 
prairies  and  woodlands,  recently  scorched  by  the  tires  of  Indian 


LASALLE. 


limilci's,  iiiid  Ik'ic  :iii(1  tlicrc  (Iccjily  sciirrcd  witli  tlic  trails  oC  luif- 
liilo.  Ocnisioiiiillv,  oil  the  (list;iiit  vci'uc  ol"  tlic  piiiirics,  llicy 
could  sec  liidiiiiis  in  pursuit  of  tlicsc  iiiiiiiiiils,  wliih^  at  iiij;lit  1li<; 
lioii/oii  l)hiz('d  witii  camp  tires  wiicic  tlicv  were  cookiiij:'  and  fcast- 
iu}X  iil'<»"  tiK'ir  swcctiv  flavored  meats.  LaSallc's  .Molie<;an  liunter 
liad  been  iiiisiiccessiul,  :iiid  liis  Iiall'-starved  men  would  jiladly 
have  sliared  witli  tlie  ln<lians  tlieir  ricli  repast.  Their  wants  were 
howcNcr  niiexpeetediv  relieved  by  the  ha])i>y  discovery  of  a  lin;ne 
bull  so  deeply  mired  he  was  iimtlile  to  esciipe.  So  jMtiidei'oiis  was 
his  hu,i;'e  body  that  when  killed  it  re«piired  lli  men,  with  the  aid 
of  cables,  to  extricate  him  from  the  mud.  K'efreshed  with  a  boini- 
til'ul  repast,  they  a^ain  betook  themsehcs  to  their  canoes,  and 
soon  entei'cd  the  Illinois,  meanderinj;' Ihroiiiili  plains  of  richest  \er- 
dure.  They  were  then  the  ]»astiii'e  grounds  of  innumerable  deer 
and  bulValo,  but  now  wondrously  transformed  into  scenes  of  a,i:ri- 
(■nltiiral  tliiift.  On  the  riylit  they  passe<l  the  liiiili  plateau  of  IJiif- 
falo  ifoek,  loiiii'  the  fa\diite  resort  of  tiie  Indians.  Farther  down, 
on  the  left,  appeared  a  lofty  i)romontory  beautifully  crested  with 
tii'es.  and  soon  destined  to  be  crowned  with  the  bulwarks  of  an 
im inclinable  fortress.  iJelow.  on  the  north  shoi'e,  stood  the  priii- 
(•ijial  town  of  the  Illinois,  in  which  Ilennepiii  counted  -Kll  lodges, 
each  c(nitainiii,u'  from  (i  t<»  S  families.  These  structures  were  made 
of  jioles  in  the  foiin  of  an  oblonj;'  rectaniilc.  Those  com])osin;i'  the 
sides  rose  ])erpendiciilaily  from  the  ground,  and  at  the  toj*  were 
united  in  the  form  of  an  arch.  Others  crossing;'  these  at  ri,i;ht 
an^h's  completed  the  framework,  which  was  aiterward  neatly  in- 
closed in  a  <'overiiiji  <tf  I'lishes.  As  had  been  feared  by  the  voya- 
<i'ers,  tli<'  Illinois  were  absent,  and  their  Nillau'c  a  \oiceless  solitude. 
TIk^  pres<'nce  of  savaji'cs  is  ot'teii  a  cause  of  alarm,  but  now  the 
ease  was  nnersed,  for  LaSallc  desired  to  obtain  from  them  corn 
for  his  fainisliini;' coni]>aiiioiis.  Soon  some  of  his  men  discovered 
lari^'c  (plant  ities  of  it  stored  away  in  pits,  but  at  lii'st  refrained  troin 
takinji"  it,  lest  they  niiylit  seriously  offend  its  owners.  Necessity, 
liowever,  jicnerally  yets  the  better  of  prudence,  and  they  took  a 
quantity  suflicieiit  to  sujiply  their  ])i'esent  wants,  and  departed 
down  the  liver. 

On  the  1st  of  .laniiary,  KiSO,  they  aj;aiii  landeil  to  hear  mass, 
and  wish  each  <»tlier  a  happy  new  year.  I"\itlier  Hennepin  closed 
the  exercises  by  liaranjiuinj;-  the  men  on  the  importance  of  patience, 
faith  and  constancy.  I'wo  days  afterward  they  entered  the  ex- 
]»aiision  (»fthe  river  now  called  I'eoria  Lake,  after  the  Indians  who 
dwelt  upon  its  banks.  Columns  of  smoke,  rising'  jiiaeefully  fi(»in 
the  I'orest  below,  now  announced  the  i»resence  of  Indians,  who, 
LaSallc  liad  reasons  to  suspect,  were  averse  to  his  enter) iri.se.  Dn- 
disniaye<l,  they  moved  (h»wn  the  lake,  which  soon  nari'owe<l  to  the 
nsiial  width  of  the  river,  when,  just  beyond,  they  discovered  some 
SO  Illinois  wiiiwaiiis  on  the  opposite  banks.  l)r(»ppiiifi'  their  pad- 
dles and  sei/inj4'  their  weaixnis,  tin'y  were  rai)idly  bcn-ne  toward 
the  astounded  savaj>cs.  LaSallc,  aware  that  the  lea;t  hesitancy 
on  his  ]»art  would  be  construed  as  fear,  Icajied  ashore  with  his  lit- 
tle band  of  l''r<'iK'hmen,  each  armed  ami  ready  for  action.  Such 
andacitv  Mas  too  much,  even  for  Indian  heroism.  Wonu'ii  and 
children  trembled  with  fear;  brave  warri.Ms  tied  in  the  utmost 
teri'or,  but  a  few  of  the  more  bold  rallied  and  made  overtures  of 
peace.     Two  chiefs  iulvauced  an<l  displayed  a  calumet,  wliii'h  La- 


.■!i;i 


■^1 


::^: 


74  niRTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Siillo  I'cco^'iii/.cd  l»,v  cxliihitiiii;  (iiic  olliis  (iwii,  itiid  llic  liostil*'  (Iciii- 
oiistnitioiis  tcniiiiiatcti  ill  I'liiMid.^liii).  Next  succeeded  a  reiist,!iiid 
A\  Idle  some  jihiced  llie  lood  in  the  iiioiitiis  ul'  tiie  Freiiciiliieii.  ulli- 
crs,  will)  ui'eat  ol)se((Mi(»iisiiess,  ^I'eased  tlieii'  feet  Avitli  bears"  oil. 

As  soon  as  LaSalie  c(ndd  diseiiua^^c  hinisell'  IVoiii  tlicir  caresses, 
lie  iiiloi'iiied  tlieiii  tliat  in  descending  tiie  i'i\ei'  lie  had  \  isited  llieir 
town  and  taken  cofii  IVoin  their  .uranaries,  il«'  stated  that  he  had 
been  forced  to  the  eoniinissioii  of  tiiis  nidawfiil  act  to  save  his  men 
from  liiiiij;'ei',  and  was  now  ready  to  make  restitution.  In  e\|»lain- 
iii.u'  tile  object  of  his  visit,  lie  said  he  liad  come  to  erect  a  fort  in 
their  midst,  to  protect  them  a.^ainst  the  iro(|iiois,  and  to  build  u 
la rji'e  canoe  in  which  to  descend  (he  Mississippi  to  tlu^  sea,  and 
thence  return  with  ^oods  toexclianut'  lor  their  i'wvs.  If.  however, 
tliev  did  not  regard  his  ]>laiis  with  fa\(ir,  he  concluded  liy  statin;!; 
lie  would  i>ass  on  to  the  Osaj^cs,  in  the  jtrcseiU  limits  of  .Missouri, 
ami  .nive  them  the  l>eiietit  of  his  trade  and  intlneiice.  The  allusion 
to  these  Indians  aroused  tlieii' Jealousy,  which  had  loiii;  existed 
between  the  two  tribes,  and  the  Illinois  readily  assented  to  his 
A\  ishes.  and  were  loud  in  theii'  jtrofessions  of  t'rieiidslii]). 

Xotwithstaudiiii;'  this  auspicious  i'ecei>tioii.  it  soon  became  evi- 
dent to  LaSalle  that  secict  enemies  were  intriunin^  to  defeat  his 
enterprise.  Some  of  his  men,  dissatislied  and  mutinous  from  the 
lirst,  secretly  endeavored  t(»  foment  disallection  and  ill-will  in  the 
bettei- disposed  of  his  foHoweis.  'I'hey  re|uesented  to  their  coiii- 
ra(les  the  folly  of  lonuer  reiiiaiiiiiiii  the  dupes  and  slaves  ol'  a 
leader  whose  wild  schemes  and  imaiirinary  hopes  ecuild  never  i>e 
I'ealized.  AVhat  could  lie  exi»ected.  said  lliey.  after  ibllowini:  him 
to  the  extreme  coiilines  of  the  earth  and  to  remote  and  dan,i;froiis 
seas,  but  to  either  miseralily  jierish  or  return  the  \ictims  of  dis- 
ease and  ]>o\('rly.  They  urycd  that  the  only  way  to  escape  these 
e\  ils  was  to  return  before  distance  and  the  waste  of  streii'^^th  and 
means  I'eiidered  it  imi»ossible.  It  was  even  hinted  that  it  miulit 
be  best  to  escape  from  their  jireseiit  calamities  by  the  death  of 
tlu'ir  iiutlior:  then  they  nii^iit  retrace  their  steps  and  share  in  the 
<'r«'dit  of  what  had  already  been  accomplished,  instead  of  fnriliej- 
ju'otiactin;^'  their  labors  foi'  another  to  monopoli/e  the  hoiiois. 
Fortunately  those  who  entertained  these  \  lews  were  too  few  in 
iiiimbers  to  reduce  tlu  in  to  practice.  I'nable  to  elTect  anythiiij^' 
Avitli  their  own  countrymen,  Ihey  next  turned  to  the  sava.^ics. 
]lavinj;<»btained  a  secret  interview,  tliey  informed  them  that  La- 
tSalle  liad  entert'd  into  a  conspiracy  with  the  liMxpiois  to  etVect 
their  destruction,  and  that  he  was  now  in  the  country  to  ascei  tain 
their  streii.uth  and  build  a  ibrt  in  I'liitherance  of  (his  object.  They 
also  said  that,  while  he  was  ostensibly  prepariii>4'  to  visit  I'ort 
I'rontenac,  liis  leal  object  was  to  invite  th«'  Irotpiois  to  make  an 
invasion  into  th'  ir  connti'y  as  soon  as  he  was  pi^ejiared  to  assist 
them.  The  Indians,  «'ver  suspicious  and  ready  to  listen  to  charj;-es 
of  tliis  kind,  became  morose  and  reserved.  LavSalle,  iiotieinji'  t  heir 
altered  <lemeaiior,  at  once  suspected  his  men.  and  soon  obtained 
inforiiiati(»ii  establisiiiii;^'  tlie  truth  of  their  peilidy.  To  r<'m(.\  e  the 
false  iini»ressions,  he  reminded  the  Indians  that  the  Hmallness  (»t 
Ids  foice  indicated  a  mission  of  peace,  and  not  of  war:  and  that 
neither  |>rudence  nor  humanity  would  excr  permit  him  (o  form  an 
alliance  with  the  Iicupiois,  whose  brutal  and  rcNenncful  conduct 
he  had  always  reyai(le<l  with  horror  and  delestatitm.     His  j;reat 


LA8ALLE. 


scif  iiDsscssioii  ;iii(l  iViiiikiicss.  l(»i;('lli<'r  with  tluM-vidciit  tnitlil'iil- 
licss  of  Ills  iciiiMi'ks,  ('<tiii|)i('t»'lv  (li\»'St('(l  tli«'  s;i\  lilies  of  siis|ii('i(iii 
iind  rcsfoicd  liiiii  to  tlicir  coiitidciM't'.  I'mlkcd  in  tlicii'  clVoits  to 
iii;ik<'  riiciiiics  of  tlic  liidiiiiis.  the  coiispiiators,  ns  a  lust  rcsoif, 
soii.ulit  tlic  life  of  tiicii' ('iripiovcr.  I'oisoii  was  secretly  pliiccd  in 
Ills  food.  l>nf  fortuiic  a.yiiiii  ciiiiic  t(»  liis  rescue.  l>y  the  timely  iid- 
iiiiiiistratioii  ol'  nii  tiiilidote  tiie  |M»isoii  was  iieiitiiili/ed,  and  his  iil'e 
Avas  saved.  'IMiiswasaii  a^e  of  poisoners,  and  it  had  not  heen  loiiy- 
since  a  siinihii' iitteiiipt  a.nainst  llie  life  (tf  LaSalle  had  Ix-en  made 
at  l''ort  l''i'oiiteiiac. 

Hardly  had  hiiSalle  esea])e(l  the  niaehinations  of  his  own  men, 
1)efoi('  he  Itecaiiie  imolved  in  the  meshes  of  others,  with  wliom  he 
sii--!aiiied  not  e\'en  the  most  remote  connection.  The  new  in- 
ti-i.Lrnes,  LaSalle,  in  a  letter  to  Coiuit  I'^rontenae,  atlrilmtes  to  the 
.Jesuit  Priest,  Allonez,  then  a  missionary  amoiiii'  the  Miainis. 
I'erliiiiis  LaSalle  on  account  of  his  |iaitiality  for  the  Kecollcts,  or 
more  likely  fearin::,'  that  the  latter,  throiiiiih  his  intlneiice,  mi.ulit 
hccoiiie  more  pot  cut  Ihaii  his  own  order,  he  sent  a  .Mascoiitin  chief, 
called  Moiiso,  lo  excite  the  jealonsy  of  the  Illinois  ajiiiinst  him. 
They  <'ame  (Mjiiipped  witii  itreseiits.  which  drew  to.i;«'ther  a  ni.i;htly 
<'onciave  of  cliiej's,  to  whom  Monso  nnbosomed  liis  oitject.  Ilisiii";' 
ill  llicir  miilst  he  said  he  had  lieen  sentlty  a  certain  l-'i^enchnian  to 
warn  them  a;;aiiist  the  designs  of  I>aSaIle.  lie  tlK'ii  (lenoni;ced 
liiiii  as  a  spy  of  t  he  I  liMjiiois  on  his  way  to  secure  t  he  co-opcrat  ion 
of  tribes  l)eyoiid  the  .Mississijipi,  with  the  hope  that  by  a  com- 
bined attack,  to  either  destroy  the  Illinois  oi' drive  them  from  the 
country.  In  conclusion  he  added,  the  best  wa,\  to  avert  these  ca- 
laniilies  was  to  stay  his  fai'ther  |»ro^ress,  by  cansiiiii'  the  desertion 
of  his  men.  Ibninj;'  thus  roused  the  siisjiicions  of  the  Illinois, 
the  envoys  hnriidly  dejiarted,  l(\sttliey  mi.uht  have  toconfront  the 
object  of  theii'  fold  aspersions.  The  next  mornin;;'  the  savau«'s 
looked  suspicions  and  sidleii.  ^\  jilance  sniliced  to  convince 
La8alle  that  new  dillicnlties  awaited  him,  nor  was  it  Ion;;' till  ho 
ascei'tained  tlicir  charactei-.  A  chief,  to  whom  the  day  before  In^ 
liad  uivcn  a  liitei'al  supply  of  presents,  ]irivately  informed  him  of 
uhal  iiad  transpired  at  the  council  the  jtrecedin^-  iii^ht.  This 
information  was  <'onHrmed  by  what  occurred  at  a  teast,  jiiveii 
short  1>  aitei'ward  by  a  brother  of  the  ]>rincipal  <*hiet',  to  Avliich 
LaSallc  and  his  men  were  iiiviteil.  While  the  repast  was  in  pre- 
jiaration  their  host  endeaxored  to  ]»ersna(le  them  to  abandon  tlieir 
journey  by  nm^Hiiifyin^' the  dangers  which  would  attend  it.  lie 
informed  them  that  (he  object  of  his  imitation  was  not  only  to  re- 
fresh tiieii'  bodies  luit  to  )'emo\  e  from  their  minds  the  infatuation 
of  farther  attemi>tin.i;  an  errand  which  could  never  bo  aoooin- 
l)lislied.  If  yon  endeavoi'  to  descend  the  .Mississi])])i,  said  he,  you 
will  Iind  its  banks  beset  with  tiilies  whom  nc'iher  numbers  nor 
coiiraye  can  overcome,  while  all  who  enter  its  waters  will  be  ex- 
]»osed  to  the  devonrinii'  fan;;s  of  seri»ents  and  unnatural  n)onsters. 
Should  they  avoid  these,  he  added,  the  river  at  last  boconns  a 
succession  of  I'an'inu'  whirIp<iols,  Aviiich  i»Iunm'  In'adlon^'  into  a 
storm  snutten  sea,  from  w  liieh,  if  they  entered,  osca]i(  would  Ik; 
im|)ossiltle. 

The  most  of  TiaSalle's  men  knew  little  of  Indian  artifice,  and 
were  /greatly  alarmed  at  tin-  thoujiht  of  liavin<;  to  encounter  such 
formidable  ix'iils.     Sonio  of  the  older  and  nuu'e,  oxporioucod   eu- 


'  •! 


IT*  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


(Icavoicd  to  expose  tliese  iiiisre|»re.s(  illations,  hut  as  we  sliall 
l»iesentl,v  see.  with  only  parlial  sii<-eess.  I.aSalle  knew  in  a  iiio- 
iiieiit.  iVcnii  wliat  liad  iieeii  toM  liiiii,  i  n' ol)jeet  ol'  t in' speaker  was 
to  (leceive  liis  men  and  seduce  tlicni  fntin  tlicir  alle.uiaiiee.  A  tier 
o\pressiii,i>-  ]iis  tliaiiks  for  tlie  timely  waniiii,u-,  lie  replied  as 
follows ; 

"Tlir  u:rc;itcr  tlic  (iMiiLicr  tlu'  ifrciilrr  \\\r  luuior;  mid  i  vcn  if  ilic  ilanu-fi'  Wivo. 
rciil,  II  I'^rciulmiaii  would  luvcr  \k-  iilVaid  lo  iiic(  t  il.  JJiit  wire  iiol  tin-  llliiiuis 
jridiiiis?  Had  tiny  imt  Iiccii  deluded  hy  lies?  We  weiv  iml  .'isleep,  my  hri'lliei', 
w  lieii  >roiiso  cMiiii'  to  tell  yon,  under  cover  of  iiiulit.  thai  we  were  spies  of  the 
Iloi|iioi^.  The  l>resellts  lie  "jjave  yoil,  t  hut-  you  niiullt  belli  ve  his  fidsidioods, 
iire  ill  Ihls  iiiomenl  buried  In  the  earth  under  this  lodji'e.  If  he  lold  the  irutli 
why  did  he  skulk  away  in  the  <laik:-'  W'hydid  he  not  show  liiuiself  Ity  davV 
Do  you  not  sei'  thai  when  we  lir>l  eaine  ainoni;'  you,  and  your  ('ani|)  was  all  in 
confu-'ion,  We  ('ould  have  killed  you  wilhoui  iieediiii;-  help  from  llie  Iro(|nois, 
iind  now  while  1  am  sprakiiu',  could  we  iiol  put,  your  old  men  lo  death,  while 
yt)ur  youiiir  warriors  are  all  u'one  away  to  liiinl.  If  we  imant  to  make  war 
(Ml  yoii,  we  should  m'cd  no  help  from  the  lre(|unis,  w  ho  ha\i'  so  often  fi  li  thu 
fore<'  of  our  arms.  Look  al  w  hat  w<  have  lirou<;lil  you.  ]|  is  i  ol  wi  apon^  lodis- 
stroy  ymi,  but  merchandise  and  tools  for  your  jfood.  If  you  still  harbor  evil 
tiiouiihls  of  us,  be  i'vnwk  as  we  areand  speak  them  boldly.  (Jo  afler  Hie  iiu- 
posti-r,  .Moiiso,  and  brini;- him  back  Ihat  we  may  answer  him  faci'  to  face;  for 
lie  never  saw  either  us  or  the  Iroipiois  anil  what<Mn  he  know  of  the  pints  hu 
jucleiids  lo  reveal '/  " 

Tiie  savajiC  orator,  too  mneli  astounded  at  these  disclosures  to 
attem]»t  a  reply,  ordered  the  feast  to  proceed. 

LaSallf,  siis))ieioiis  of  danii'ei',  tlie  niyiit  after  the  feast  stationed 
sentinels  near  the  lodges  of  the  French  to  watch  the  iiio\  eiiieiits 
of  their  recent  eiitei'taiiiei's.  The  ni^ht  passed  without  distnrh- 
ance.  and  at  early  (hiwn  he  sailed  tortli  to  tiiid.  that  instead  of 
Matcliiii,u' the  enemy.  <>  of  his  men  had  iiasely  deserted.  Diuilit- 
less,  ill  part  to  escajic  the  imauiiiaiy  daii;;ers  already  alluded  to, 
but  mostly  on  account  of  ]>revious  disaffection,  they  had  aiiaii- 
doneil  their  employer  at  the  time  when  he  had  the  liieatest  need 
of  their  services.  LaSalle  asscmiiled  the  remainder,  and  spok<'  in 
severe  terms  of  the  liaseiu'ss  of  those  who  iiad  left  him.  '•  If  any 
one  yet  remains, "  he  continued,  "  who  from  cowardice  desires  to 
I'etnrn.  let  him  wait  till  sprin.u',  and  he  can  tiieii  uo  without  the 
stijiiiia  of  ilesei'tioii.  "  One  of  the  i»rincipal  dilliciilties  alteiidino' 
tlie  early  I'lcncli  entcr]»rises  of  the  West  was  to  procure  trusty 
iiieii.  The  wilderness  Wiis  full  of  va^ahond  hunters  who  had  lied 
from  the  discipline  of  cixilized  life,  and  now  exhiliilcd  an  extreiiio 
of  lawlessness  ]iro])ortioned  to  their  pre\ious  jcstiaints.  Tlieir 
I'reedom  from  care,  and  immunity  fr<uu  the  (•o*nse(|nences  of  crime, 
rendered  them  a  ]ierpetual  lure  to  entice  others  from  the  duties  of 
lej^itimate  emi>loyment. 

Fort  Vreccraurc. — LaSalle,  wearied  with  these  dilliciilties,  now 
determined  to  erect  a  fort  in  which  he  and  his  men  minhtjiass  the 
winter  without  molestation.  A  site  was  chosen  on  the  east  side 
of  the  liver,  a  short  distances  lielow  the  outlet  of  the  lake.  This 
Avas  the  extremiry  of  a  ridu*-  approiichiiiy  within  I'lH)  yards  <»f  the 
shore,  and  i»rot<'cted  on  each  side  hy  (h-ep  ravines.  To  fortify  tlio 
hlutV  thus  formed,  a  ditch  was  iXw^  hehiiid  to  connect  the  two 
raxines.  KmliankiiM  nts  were  thrown  up  to  increase  the  altitude 
of  the  dirt'erent  sides,  and  the  whole  was  surrounded  with  a  ijalisade 
li.")  feet  in  lii.iiht.  The  work  was  completed  hy  erectiuj.;'  within 
the    enclosure   hiiildiiiys   for   lIu-    a«commodation   of    the     men. 


LASALI-E. 


77 


LiiSiillc  Itcstowcd  (HI  it  tlic  iiiiiiici 'it'x  t'cd'ni'.*  iiii  iii»|»t'll;iti(>ii  wliicli 
still  |M'i|H'tiiiitcs  tilt'  iiiislortiiiics  iiiid  disappoiiitiiit'iits  ^A'  its  loiiii- 
»l«'r.  Tlic  Indians  rcmaiiicd  tViciidi.v,  and  tlir  new  tortilicalinii 
snltscivcd  more  liic  pniposc  of  a  sanctnaiy  tlian  a  place  l\)v  the 
disciiai'.yc  ol'nulitaiv  dnty.  Ilcnnc|)in  prcaclicd  twice  (in  flic  Sah- 
Itatii,  cliantcd  \ cspeis,  and  ic,i;i'cttcd  that  tlic  want  o\'  wine  pre- 
vented tlie  cclchration  of  mass.  .Meniere  daily  visited  the 
Illinois  and,  despite  their  tilth  and  (lis;L;iistin,u'  inanners,  laltorcd 
e;iriicstly,  Itiit  with  little  success,  lor  their  spiritual  wcllai-e.  Siicli 
was  tlic  lirst  l''rciicli  occupation  ol'  the  Icri'itory  now  enihraccd  iii 
the  present  limits  of  Illinois.  Tlic  place  of  this  ancient  fori  may 
still  Itc  seen  a  shoit  distance  below  the  outlet  of  I'eoria  Lake. 
]''or  years  after  its  erection  the  country  around  the  lake  remained 
the  home  of  sa\  a.ycs,  and  rich  iiasture  ;;ronn(ls  for  herds  of  deer 
and  Iinffalo. 

Ilitlicrto.  LaSalle  had  entertained  some  liojie  tliat  the  (.'rilliii, 
which  had  on  hoard  anchors,  li^f^inji',  and  other  neccssaiy  articles 
r<»r  the  constrnction  of  another  vessel,  mij^lit  still  he  safe  llo 
proi>osed  to  hiiild  a  vessel  on  the  Illinois,  freij;lit  lier  with  hulVah* 
liides,  collected  in  the  descent  of  the  Mississipjii,  and  thence  sail 
to  the  West  Indies  or  I'rance.  and  dispose  of  the  carjio.  Tlic(!rif- 
liii.  howcNcr,  with  her  much  needed  stores,  ne\'er  made  her  ajipcar- 
ance.  It  was  variously  helicNcd  at  the  time  that  she  had  found- 
ered in  ;i  storm — that  the  Indians  had  hoarded  and  hnrnt  lici  — 
and  tl.'at  the -Icsiiits  had  coiitrixcd  her  dcsti'uctioii.  I^aSallc  was 
of  o|)inion  that  Iier  own  crew,  after  r(>iiio\inji' the  car;;!)  of  furs  and 
nierchandise.  sunk  her  and  then  ran  away  with  their  ill-uotteu 
spoils.  But  the  cause  of  the  loss  was  of  little  inoment  ;  they  wcrti 
^oiic.  and  thcic  was  no  alternative  left  LaSalle  hut  to  return  to 
J''contcnac  and  .yet  others  to  su])ply  their  ]>lace.  His  j^reat  anxiety 
in  coiinectioii  \\ith  this  step  was  the  fear  that  others  of  his  men 
ini.ulit  take  a(lvanta,n'e  of  his  ahseuce  and  desert. 

While  i('\(>lviiij4  this  .suhject  in  his  mind,  an  incident  (K'ciirred 
which  enal>led  him  to  disabuse  their  minds  of  the  false:  state- 
ineiifs  thc.\  had  licaid  in  regard  to  the  dan.ti'crs  of  the  ^lississippi. 
Dining-  a  hunt  in  the  vicinity  of  the  fort,  he  chanced  to  meet  with 
a  yoiinji'  Indian  who  had  been  absent  .some  time  on  a  distant  war 
excursion.  Finding  him  almost  famished  with  hunii'ei,  he  in\  ite(l 
him  to  the  fort,  where  he  refreshed  him  with  a  jicnerous  meal,  and 
questioned  him  with  ai)])arent  inditferenee  respectin'i'  the  ^Missis- 
sippi.  ()wiii,n' to  his  lon^' absence,  he  knew  nothinji' of  what  had 
transpiicd  between  his  countrymen  and  the  French,  and,  with 
preat  in,i;('iiuousncss,  imparted  all  the  iiifoiination  re(piirc(l.  La- 
iSalle  now  ^a\('  him  presents  not  to  mention  the  interview,  and, 
■with  ii  number  of  his  men,  icpaircd  to  the  cam])  of  the  Illinois  to 
expose  (heir  misre[>resentatioiis.  Ha\in.y'  found  the  chiefs  at  a 
feast  of  bear's  mci  t,  he  boldly  accused  them  of  fidsehood,  and  at 
once  proceeded  to  verify  his  charjucs.  The  Master  of  Life,  he  de- 
clared, was  the  friend  of  tiutli,  and  had  revealed  to  him  the  actual 
charactei'  of  the  .Mississippi.  He  then  jiax'e  such  an  accnrato 
ac(M>unt  of  it,  that  his  astonished  but  credulous  auditors  believed 
his  knowl(Ml<re  had  been  obtained  in  a  snpernatuial  manner,  and  at 
once  confessed  their  j;uilt.  It  was  their  desire,  they  said,  to  have 
him  renniiii  with  them,  and  they  had  resorted  to  artifice  for  tliks 

'"  Broken  hearted.  " 


lirSTOllY   OF   TIJvTNOlS. 


purpose.  Mild  not  (o  do  liiiii  ;iii,v  iiijiii'.v.  'I'liis  coiifcssion  rciiiovcd 
:i  priii*-ip:il  (Miisc  of  desertion,  and  hanislied  IVoiii  tlie  mind  of  La- 
Salle  a  I'lnitliil  source  ol  anxiety.  liCst  idleness  siioiild  hreed  new 
distui'l>anecs  ainon^'  Ids  men  diirin;^'  Ids  aliscnce,  lie  set  tlieiii  at 
woi  k  on  tlie  new  vessel.  Some  of  Ids  best  carpenters  had  deserted, 
yet  eneiiiV  supplied  tlie  place  of  sUill,  and  hefore  his  depai'Inre  lui 
saw  the  new  craft  on  the  slocks,  rapidly  approaching'  completion. 
He  also  tliou.i^iit  that  llennepiii  mi.u'ht  accomplish  j; renter  results  liy 
e\|»loriii,u  the  rpjter  .Mississijipi  than  liy  preachiiit:  sermons,  and 
lie  was  therefore  reipiesled  to  take  charge  of  an  expedition  for  this 
]>iirpose.  The  friai',  not  wisliiii;^'  to  incur  the  dan^^ers  of  the  under- 
taking;, plead  liodily  infirmitN,  and  endeavored  to  have  one  of  his 
spiiiliial  collea,!;'iies  appointed  in  his  stead.  K'iltoiirde  was  too  old 
to  endure  the  hardships,  and  Memhre.  though  disgusted  with  his 
clei'ical  duties  amonji"  the  Illinois,  preferred  an  iiiiplcasani  lield  of 
labor  to  one  besei  with  perils,  ilcuiiepiii,  lindin^  iio  alteniatix  c  hut 
toaccepl.  with  rare  modesty  and  ^reat  reliance  upon  pro\  ideiice, 
says:  "Anybody  but  me  would  have  been  iniicli  much  friiihtenccl 
with  the  daiii^crs  of  micIi  a  Journey,  and  in  fact,  if  1  had  not  placed 
all  my  trust  in  (lod,  1  should  not  liax'c  been  the  dupe  of  LaSalle, 
who  exposed  my  life  rashly.."  A  profusion  o\'  ,i;ifts  was  |)laced  in 
Ids  canoe,  tf»  conciliate  the  Indians,  and  on  the  last  day  of  Febru- 
ary, I<IS(»,  a  i»arty  assembled  on  the  banks  of  the  Illinois  to  bid 
liim  him  farewell.  I'^ather  K'iliourde  iii\-oked  the  blessiiiy-  of  heaven 
o\er  the  kneelin.n'  form  of  the  clciical  tra\eler;  his  two  compan- 
ions, Accau  and  l)u(iay.  plied  their  paddh's.  and  they  were  sot 
concealed  from  view  in  the  meanderiii,u' cliaiiiiel  (jf  the  river. 


m 


CriAPTKii  'S'lir. 
TONTI'S  KNC'OUXTKi;  WITH  TIIIO  1  F{fK,)I'OrS. 


Only  two  (lays  aftcrwanl,  aiiollici'  partiiij''  occmTcd  at  tlic  ii\«T. 
It  was  MOW  I.aSallc's  time  t<i  lii<!  adini  to  tlic  sccik's  wlit'iv.  diiiiii!^ 
tlir  winter,  iiis  iiioliNcs  liad  hccii  soot'ten  iiusrcpicsciitcd  and  ini- 
j)n,iin('d.  I.cav  iny'  Tuiiti  in  coniinand  of  tlic  tort,  ;;aiiisoiM'd  w  itii 
tlirce  or  lour  honest  men  and  a  dozen  knaves,  lie  set  out  Idi'  I'ort 
J'^rontenae  with  I'onr  men  and  liis  Moiu'^an  hunter. whose  laithl'nl- 
iiess  was  a  |»eriM'tnal  reladie  to  l''reneh  liekleness  and  treachery. 
The  winter  liatl  l)een  severe,  and  his  i)ro;L;ress  np  the  liver  was 
j;reatly  retarded  by  driltinj;' sheets  of  ice.  Jicachin;^'  I*coria  Lake, 
the  ice  was  nnliroken  from  shore  to  shore,  and  the  party  was  coni- 
]»elled  to  land  and  make  sledj^cs  on  which  to  dra;;'  their  canoes  to 
u  )>oint  in  tiie  river  above,  where  the  swiftness  of  the  cnricnt  ke]»t 
the  channel  oiten.  Little  tlionyht  these  lonely  wandereis  that  the. 
desolate  s]iot  where  this  incident  traiis]»ired.  was  one  day  to  re- 
8(aiiid  witli  the  iramp  of  the  mnltitnde  which  now  tln'on^s  the 
.sti'ccts  of  i'eoi'ia.  A  laborions  mai'ch  of  four  leajiues,  tliron,nii 
iiieltinj;'  snows,  ])laced  them  above  tli(^  icy  bai'rier  of  the  lake,  and 
they  launched  their  canoes.  Thence,  to  the  ,:;i'eat  town  of  the, 
Illinois,  they  found  the  river  at  different  iioints  blocked  with  ice, 
and  their  Journey  was  iiuulc  alternately  by  land  and  water,  in  the 
drenchinj;'  rains  of  o|M'inn^'  sprinj^-.  They  found  the  xillajic  with- 
out inhabitants,  and  its  lodges  crested  with  snow.  The  adjacent 
meadows  were  still  locked  iu  the  fetters  of  winter,  and  the  more 
distant  forests,  beaided  w  itli  crystals,  flashed  in  the  nunninj^'  sun 
lilcea  sea  of  dianu>nds.  Yet  the  fiozen  landseajte  was  not  without 
lite.  The  impress  of  nioccasined  feet  could  be  traced  in  th(!  snow, 
and  occasionally  a  stra.uinliuj;  butfalo  could  be  seen,  and  one  of 
them  was  shot.  While  his  men  were  smokinji' the  meat  of  the 
aninnd,  LaSalle  went  out  to  reconnoitic  the  country,  and  soon  fell 
in  with  ;>  Indians,  oiu'  of  whom  i)roved  to  be  the  i)rincipal  chief 
of  the  Illinois.  Inviting-  him  and  his  associates  to  his  cami>,  he 
made  them  jtreseiits,  and  refreshed  them  Avith  the  best  food  his 
scanty  larder  could  liuiiish.  lb- then  informed  the  chief  that  he 
was  on  his  way  east  to  procure  arms  and  amniunition  for  the  de- 
fense of  his  tribes,  and  obtained  from  him  a  ])romise  that  he  would 
send  provisions  to  his  men  in  th(!  fort  duriuf;  his  absence.  While 
here,  he  visited  (Starved  Eock,  the  remarkable  cliff  previously 
alhuled  to,  a  nule  or  more  above  the  village,  on  the  southern  bank 
of  the  river,  lie  afterwards  sent  word  to  Tonti  to  exannnt!  and 
fortify  it,  incase  an  outbreak  of  tlie  Indians  rendered  it  necessary.* 

*Scverrtl  years  since,  it  was  soleetetl  l)y  some  cntorprisiiiijr  Yanlcecs  as  a  site  lor  a 
town,  wliioli  tliuy  very  approi)rlately  culled  Gibraltar  ;  but  now  it  rctuaiua  houseless, 
as  in  the  time  ot  the  great  explorer. 

79 


ti^l' 


lU)"ft 


80  inSTOUY  OF  ItJJXfUS. 


Oiitlif  I'llli  (if  Miin-li  LiiSiillc  It  11  tlir  \  illiiut',  anil  t'ontiniicil 
liis  Jdiiiiifv  as  hcriiic,  paillv  li\  land  iiinl  in  part  li\  walcr.  liil 
williin  two  miles  til'  the  site  ni' .l<i!i(  1.  Here,  in  (•(in,-c(|n«'ntc  dl" 
the  ii'c.  tlicy  foninl  the  liirtlin'  ascent  of  tlie  liver  inip  ssihic.  imd, 
eoneealini;  tlieir  eanoes.  prepared  to  nniKe  a  niareli  d!  I  ly  aeidss 
llie  eonntiy  to  liake  .Mielii^ian.  .loiiineyin.u  laUewaid,  tliey  I'lmnd 
(lie  euuiiUy  a  dreary  waste  of  nind  and  half  melted  snow.  Intel- 
seeled  lieic  and  there  l»y  .swollen  streams,  some  ot'  wliieh  they 
\vade<l.  and  others  they  crossed  on  rails.  (Mi  the  L'.'td  tliey  were 
jiladdeiied  hy  the  distant  surfaee  of  the  laKe  ^•limiiieriin;'  tliroii;j;li 
the  opeiiiii^^s  of  the  forest,  and  at  iii;^hl  stood  on  its  liaiik.  thank- 
ful tiiat  Ihey  were  safe,  and  thai  tiieir  hard^diips  had  heeii  no 
worse.  The  next  day  they  followed  its  wiiidin;;  shores  to  ilie 
month  of  the  St.  Joseph,  and  restetl  at  ni.uhl  in  the  fori.  ller«' 
LaSalle  found  the  iw'o  men  whom  he  had  sent  to  look  for  the 
(irillin,  and  learned  IVom  them  that  the,\  had  made  the  eireiiil  of 
llie  lak«'  without  learning;'  any  tidiii;.:s  of  her  fate.  Deiiniiiu  it 
useless  to  flirt  her  eontiiiiie  the  search,  he  ordered  the  men  t<t  re- 
port Ihemsehes  toToiiti,  and  started  himsell  across  the  trackless 
wihis  of  Southern  Michi;;an.  to  avoid  the  delay  attending;  the 
indirect  route  hy  way  of  the  lakes. 

il  was  the  worst  of  all  seasons  for  such  a  Journey,  and  almost 
e\ery  league  traxeised,  Itroii^lit  with  it  some  new  liai'dship.  Now 
they  were  lascerateil  by  luamlily  thickets,  now  Ihey  ithiii;:cd  up 
to  their  waists  in  the  mud  of  hall' frozen  marshes,  and  now  tiny 
wer<'  chilled  in  wa<liiiji'  swollen  streams.  Doyjicd  hy  a  pack  of 
sa\  a;^es,  they  were  compelled  to  pass  the  iiij:lits  without  lire,  to 
escape  their  murderous  at.tacks.  A\  len;;tli,  with  two  of  their 
niimher  sick,  they  airi\ed  at  the  head  of  a  sti'cam  sn|>]>ose(l  to  he 
the  Huron,  which,  after  makiiiji'  a  caiioe,  they  descended  to  tin; 
J)(  troit.  Thence,  marchin^castwavd  to  the  hike,  .)(•  miles  disian!, 
tliey  einharked  ill  a  canoe  and  pushed  across  (he  lake  toi'  tin  tails 
of  Niajiiira,  whither  (hey  arrived  on  Kasier  Monday,  KJSO.  Here  lie 
found  tin'  men  left  sit  the  eataiaet  tlu'  i>revious  aiittimu,  who  not 
only  eonlirmed  the  loss  of  (ho  (iritrni,  hut  informed  liim  that  a 
ear.uo  of  merchandise  helon^iii;;'  to  him,  valued  at  L'li(HI  livres,  had 
recently  heeu  swallowed  up  in  (he  (iulfof  St.  Lawrence.  LeaviuiLi' 
the  weary  com])auioiis  of  liis  jucvious  Journey  at  >.'ia<:Jii'a,  he  set 
out  w  ith  fresh  men  for  Fort  rronteitac,  and  on  the  (ith  day  of 
i\iay  discovered  tliroii<;li  the  hazy  atmosphere,  (he  familiar  oiit- 
liiii's  of  liis  seifiuioiy.  lie  had  now  traveled  within  (io  days  the. 
distance  of  KlOO  miles,  w  hicli,  ccuisideriuj;'  the  circumstances,  was 
oiH'  of  the  uiost  reniarkahle  journeys  ever  uiade  hy  the  early 
]''r«'iich  e\]>lorers.  I'ossessini;  an  in\  incihle  de,termiiiati(Ui  and  ii 
fram<>  of  iron,  lie  surmounted  ohsta(;l"s  from  wiiicli  a  person  less 
favorahly  endoAved  would  have  turned  away  in  disi)air.  How 
clianji'ed  has  since  heccnue  the  wilderness  throiijih  which  he  wan- 
dered. Its  dark  forests  have  become  a  rejiion  of  har\  ests,  and  the 
traveler  of  to-day  accomi>lislies  in  less  than  ♦wo  days  the  Journey 
Avliich  reiiuired  of  him  more  than  two  mouths. 

At  the  fort  he  learned  that  his  agents  had  treated  him  with  had 
faith;  that  his  creditors  had  seized  his  jirojierty,  and  that  several 
canoes  beloufiintj  to  him,  h>ade(l  with  valua'des,  had  been  lost  in 
the  rapids  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  Without  useless  re])ininfi',  ho 
hastened  to  Montreal,  where  his  presence  excited  the  greatest  sur- 


TONTI'H  KNroUNTffiK  WITH  TltK  IK()<>r(»IH. 


81 


prise,  iiiiil  wIhtc,  iiotw  itlistiiiKliii;^  liis  ^rciit  tiiiiiiiciiil  losses,  liis 
])('l'si)ii<il  ililliM'iMT  *'Ii:iIiI(mI  liiiii  to  ol)tiiiii  (lie  liecessMrv  sii|)|)lics. 

A;;ilili  lie  (lircclfd  his  course  west  wind,  lo  siieeui'  llie  loildni 
liojie  iilider  Toiiti,  isoliitetl  IVoiiitlie  rest  of  niiiiil^iiMJ  on  llie  dis- 
tiiiil  liiiiiks  of  liie  Illinois.  At  l-'ronteniie  lie  reeeiveil  iiitelli^^cniu^ 
of  iiiiotlier  of  those  eiiishin;;'  Mows  w  hitli  iioth  iiiitMre  iinci  ninii 
seemed  to  lie  niiiiinn' iit  the  sneeess  of  his  enler|iiise.  Twiunes- 
sen;Liers  eiinie  with  a  letter  IVoMi  Tonti,  statin;;-  that  soon  after  his 
de|i!irtiire,  nearly  all  his  men  had  deserted,  and  that,  itefur*' 
lea\in;.',',  they  hail  destroyed  the  fori,  and  throw  n  awav  stores  they 
Mere  iinahle  lo  eany.  The  n<'Ws  of  this  disaster  had  hardly  l»een 
received,  hefore  twiitiaders  arrived  fr(»ni  the  Mppei'  lakes,  and 
fnrlher  slated  thai  the  deseiters  had  destroyed  the  fort  on  the  St. 
tlose]ih.  seized  a  ;:reat  ((iiantily  of  fuis  lielon;.;iii,i;  to  him  al  Macki- 
naw, and  then,  with  others,  deseendini:  tin-  hd^es,  had  plnndered 
liisma.ua/iiie  at  Nia;;ara.  Ami  now,  they  ad<led,  some  of  them  are 
nMnin.ii  down  the  norlheiii  slioie  of  the  lake  to  miirdei'  him.  as  a 
means  ul'  escapiii.-.;  iiiiiiishment,  while  others  are  coasting'  the 
south  shore,  with  a  \iew  of  ri-aciiin;;  Albany,  and  .yetiin;;-  hcNond 
1ms  jni'isdietioii.  On  receijit  of  this  information,  LaSalle  chose  9 
of  his  trnstiest  men.  and  sallied  forth  to  m<'et  them.  Comiiii;' njion 
them  liy  snrpiise,  he  killed  I'of  theii-  Miimiu'r  and  captured  7,  w  hom 
he  impiisoned  in  the  fort  to  await  the  sentence  »»!'  a  <'i\il  trihnnal. 
It  mi,i:ht  he  snpjtosed  thai  LaSalh'  ha<l  r(>aclied  the  utmost  limits 
of  hnman  endnrance,  on  seeing'  the  hopes  of  his  enterprise  so 
tVe(|neidly  le\  «Iled  to  the  ^loiind.  While,  however,  weaker  men 
■wonid  have  turned  away  in  dispair,  no  eye  could  detect  in  his 
stern  demeanor  an  altered  ])urpose  or  a  shaken  resolve.  His  only 
liol»e  now  seemed  to  be  in  Tonti,  and  could  that  faithful  ollicer 
l»reser\<' the  v<'ssel  <'ommenced  on  the  Illinois,  and  the  tools  which 
had  been  conveyed  thithei' Avith  so  much  labor,  it  nn^ht  constitute 
an  anchor  to  which  he  could  attach  the  driftiui;'  wreck  of  his 
f(»rtun<'s. 

]la\  iiiiL;  ])rocui'e(l  sujiidies  and  everythiiijn' needful  for  the  outfit 
of  a  vessel,  without  furthei'  (h'lay  he  set  out,  on  the  KMholWu- 
^iist,  for  Illinois,  accom]>anied  1  his  lieutenant,  La  Forest,  and  L*."> 
nien.  He  ascended  the  river  llund>er,  <'i'ossed  Simcoe  Lake,  and 
descended  the  Severn  into  Lake  Huron,  over  which  he  jiassed  to 
the  Straits  (»f  ^Mackinaw.  At  the  stati(»n  he  found  it  ditlieult  to 
replenish  his  ]»rovisions,  and,  not  to  be  (h-layed  for  this  purpose, 
he  i»nslied  forward  with  lUmen,  leaving'  LaI"'orest  and  the  remain- 
der to  follow  us  soon  as  they  could  procure  sup])lies.  November 
24th  he  arrived  at  the  St.  .losepli,  ami,  anxious  to  jaish  forward 
more  iai)idly,  he  left  tlu'  ^reatei-  ])art  of  the  stores,  with  o  nu'ii, 
at  the  ruiiu'd  foit,  and  with  the  remainder  ascended  the  river, 
cntssed  th(^  ])oi-ta^"e  and  eoninu'nced  tlu'  descent  of  the  Kaidcakee. 
Not  nieetin;:>'  with  any  traces  of  Tonti  and  his  men,  he  concluded 
they  must  still  be  at  the  fort  on  the  river  below,  and  hastened 
thitlu'r,  jureatly  relieved  of  the  anxiety  he  had  felt  for  their  safety. 
Kumors  for  sometime  had  prevailed  that  the  Irocpiois  were  mecli- 
tatin^-  a  d(\scent  on  the  Jlliuois,  and  should  it  ])rove  true,  itmi,<iht, 
after  all  his  labors,  involve  his  entei'])rise  in  ruin.  On  enterin.^' 
the  Jlliuois,  he  foiiiul  the  ^reat  jtrairies,  which  he  had  left  the 
]»revious  s])rinj!;'  sheeted  in  ice  now  alive  with  buffalo.  Sonu'  were 
sleeping  on  the  sward,  many  were  cropping'  the  tall  grass,  while 
6 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  ■'^RGET  (MT-3) 


4 


^''Ldo 


7. 


Lrf" 


L-?/ 


t/j 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25  11.4   11.6 


1^ 

tim 

IM 

IIIIIM 

iii 

1^ 

IIIM 

1^ 

m 

u 
t. 

li^ 

IIIM 

IMUI 

111  1.8 

^^ 


<? 


d? 


/ 


/^ 


^ 


82 


IILSTOUY  ()]■'  ILLINOIS. 


;;r()iil)s,  to  slake  their  (liiist,  were  iiioviii;^'  toward  the  river,  whero 
Ihi'V  looked  with  sli'aii.u'e  l)e\vil(ieriiieiit  at  the  passiiii;-  canoes. 
Wherever  a  s(Hiad  ai»iieai'e<l.  il  was  ;iiiarde<l  by  bulls,  whose  t'or- 
iiiidal>Ie  iiiaues  and  iiiisiiiiitly  tbi'ins  nii,L;!d  well  have  inspired  an 
approaehinj;'  foe  with  terror.  lint  il  \<as  rather  with  doniestie, 
rivals  than  lorei;:ii  enemies  they  i)erlbriMed  the  greatest  teats  of 
])rowess.  nattered  heads  and  splintered  horns  told  of  many  l>at- 
tles  foii.i;ht  anions'  themselves  as  the  result  of  i^ailantry,  or  peihaps 
tile  more  ambitions  motive  Iteeomini;'  the  eiiami»ions  of  their  sha;^^:y 
herds.  Tiie  [)arty  wishinj;'  a  su|ii>ly  of  bntVal«t  meat,  landed  and 
eoiiimenced  a  wai'fare  on  the  tem])tin,i;'  name.  Some  dra,!:.u('d 
themsehcs  throniiii  t lie  thick  ^rass  and  witii  nnerrin,i;  aim  bi'ou.nht 
down  their  favorite  animals,  while  others,  willi  less  labor  and 
jii'eater  success,  concealed  themselves  liehind  the  banks  of  the 
river  and  shot  snch  as  came  to  diink.  Twchc  hiiinc  carcasses  re- 
waich'd  the  labors  of  the  hunt,  whicli  the  men  cut  into  thin  Hakes 
and  dricfl  in  the  sun  lor  future  use. 

With  abun<lant  sui»i)lies  they  a,uain  started  down  tlie  river, 
])leased  with  tin'  jirospcct  of  rejoinin.ii  the  nu'n  nmler  Tonti  ami 
reliev  in^'  their  wants.  Soon  loomed  up  before  lin'm  the  rocl<\  cit- 
adel to  vvhicli  LaSalle  had  directed  the  atteutiou  of  Tonti.  iuit 
they  Ibund  on  a  near  apjtroach  its  lofty  summit  unfortilieib  At 
the  <;reat  town  of  the  liiiuois  tlu-y  were  a|)paUcd  at  tiu'  scene 
wiiicli  o|)eued  to  their  view.  No  hunter  appeared  to  break  its 
death  like  silence  with  a  salutatory  whooi>  of  vvelconu'.  The  i>lain 
on  which  the  town  liad  stood  was  now  sirevvn  with  the  charred 
tVa.^ments  of  lodges,  which  had  so  I'ecenlly  swaiined  with  sa\  a,ue 
life  and  hilarity.  To  render  more  hideous  the  ])icture  of  desola- 
tion, larj^e  uunduTs  of  skulls  had  been  i»laecd  on  the  ujipcr  ex- 
tremities of  lodye  ]»oles,  which  had  escajied  the  devouring;  llames. 
In  the  midst  of  the  hoiiois  was  the  rude  fort  of  the  spoilers,  ren- 
dered fright  ful  with  the  same  ,i;hastly  relies.  A  near  ai»proacli 
showed  that  the,  j;Ta.ves  had  been  robbed  of  tlu'ir  bodies,  and 
swarms  of  buzzards  Avei'e  discovered  .yluttiu};'  their  loathsonuj 
stomachs  on  their  reekiiii;'  corruption.  To  complete  the  work  ot 
destruction,  the,  yrowinj;'  corn  of  the  village  had  Iteen  cut  down 
and  buint,  while  the  i)itscontainin<i' the  products  of  jn-evious  years 
bad  been  rilled  and  Ihcii'  contents  scatteied  with  wanton  waste. 
It  was  ev  ident  the  suspected  blow  of  the  Iro«piois  had  fallen  with 
I'clentless  fury.  No  other  denizens  of  the,  wilderness  were  capable 
of  ])crpetratinji'  such  acts  of  barbarity  and  uidudlovvccl  deseci'alion. 
LaSalie  carefully  examined  the  scene  of  these  hellish  oi'.uic  s,  to 
ascertain  whether  Tonti  and  his  men  had  become  the  victims  of 
sava,ii'e  ven,yean(!e.  Nijihtfall  terndnated  his  labors,  and  no  certain 
traces  of  their  presence  Avere  discovered.  The  uiuhlly  canijt  lire 
"was  kindled,  and  the  men  now  listeiu'd  with  rueful  faces  at  the  dis- 
cordant chorus  of  wolves,  each  striv  inn'  to  ^et  his  share  of  the 
putrid  bodies  which  liad  been  resurrected  iroiu  tlie  vilage  jiiave- 
yard.  Sleep  at  lenutli  came  to  their  relief,  but  LaSalle,  peridexed 
Willi  uui'crtainty  and  tilled  with  anxiety,  spent  the  whole  niiilit  in 
])onderinj4'  ovci'  the  ])ro])er  course  to  i>ursue  in  futuic.  In  his 
search  the  i)revious  day  he  had  discovered  (!  posts  near  the  river, 
on  each  of  which  was  ])ainted  the  tiyure  of  a  man  with  ban«la,yed 
eyes.  Sui'misinn'  that  the  li;.;ures  nn,L;ht  represent  (J  French  pris- 
oners in  the  custody  of  the  Iroquois,  at  daylight  he  made  known 


TO^Tl'S  ENCOUNTER  WITH  THE  TUOQUaiS. 


83 


liis  iiitciitidii  of  li'.tlici'  (Icscfiiiliiii;'  tlic  livci'   to   iiiilold  the  iiiy.s 

IflV. 

Heroic  liis  (Icitiirtiuc  Ii<'  i>nl''i('(l  .",  of  liis  iin'ii  to  coiK'ciil  tliciu- 
selves  Mild  i»!i;;^';iji('  in  tlie  liollow  of  some  rocks  situated  on  ii 
iiei,:;Iiltoriiii;' island,  iiiid  keep  a  sliaip  lookout  Ibf  t'lii-tlior  develoii- 
jiieiits.  Tliey  were  instnieted  to  relVaiii  iVom  tlie  use  ol"  lires, 
Avjierehv  tliev  iiiij;]it  atti'aet  the  attention  of  enemies;  and  should 
others  of  the  men  arrive  tlie.v  were  to  secrete  lliemselves  in  the 
same  jtlace  and  await  his  retiuii.  lie  now  set  out  with  the  1 
i-eiiiainiii,:;  ni('n,eacii  pidperly  armed  and  I'liinislK d  with  merchan- 
dise to  conciliate  the  Indians  who  mi,i;ht  ite  met  on  the  way.     ,Se\- 

eral   Icaynes   helow    the   town   tlie,\  landed  on  an  island,  near  the 
..  ,..'t,...i.    .a,,...,,     .,1.....,,    ii...    ('....itii',.    mil,..;..     i..>.i     i..i-.,i.    i./.c,..,,. 


western  shore,  where  tin-  fnuiti\('  Illinois  had  taken  icfii.ue. 
Directly  opjjosite,  on  the  main  siiorc  was  the  deserted  camp  of  the 
lro(luois  enemy.  lOacli  chief  had  carved  on  trees  ol' the  forest  the 
totem  oi'  liis  clan,  and  siun^i  imlicatin,!;'  the  streiiylh  of  the  forces 
lie  had  led  to  the  war  and  the  niimhcr  of  the  Illinois  he  had  killed 
and  ca])tiired.  I'^roni  these  data  I.aSalU' eoncliided  that  theeiitire 
streii.!L;th  of  tlu'  invaders  could  not  have  been  less  than  .)S0  war- 
riors. Xothin.u'  was  found  to  indicate  the  ])i'es(  iice  of  Fienchmen, 
and  LaSalle  a.uaiii  fell  down  the  river,  and  ]»asscd  in  o'le  day  (» 
additional  cainjis  of  the  Jllinois  and  as  many  more  heloni^in;;'  to 
their  enemy.  J'>otli  ](arti<'s  seemed  to  liave  reti'eated  i";  compact 
l)r»dics  toward  the  HKMith  of  the  liver.  l':;.>siii^'  I'cori::  Lake  lliey 
found  the  fort  destroyed,  as  stated  in  the  letter  of  Toiiti,  hut  the 
vessel  was  still  on  the  stocks  and  only  sli,;.;]itly  injured.  Further 
«jii  they  discovered  t  additional  camps  of  the  oi)posin;i'  armies. and 
near  (he  mouth  of  the  river  met  with  the  iisiial  .sequel  of  an  Iro- 
(jiiois  iinasioii.  On  the  distant  ver<;t' of  a  meadow  they  discovered 
the  half-charred  bodies  of  women  and  cJiildren  still  bound  to  the 
stakes,  where  they  had  sulVered  all  the  torments  that  hellish  hate 
t'oiihl  dcxise.  The  men,  regardless  of  (heir  lu'lplcss  cliar.ycs,  had 
«'\  ideiitl\  lied  at  the  first  approach  of  danger  to  sa\e  themselves. 
Their  wives  and  children,  unprotected,  fell  into  the  hands  of  tlie 
enemy,  who,  in  addition  to  tliose  w  ho  had  iteeii  biirnt,  thickly  cov- 
«'rcd  the  place  with  their  iiiaii,!^led  bodies,  many  of  which  l»ore 
marks  of  brutality  too  horrid  lor  ree(»i'd.  ilelpless  iiiuoeeuee,  in- 
stead of  excitin.i;' comjiassioii  in  the  hearts  of  these  monsters,  had 
oiilyiier\ed  them  for  the  (ieiidish  task  of  iiidisci  iminate  slaii,i;liter. 
LaSalle,  seeing  no  traces  of  his  lost  men,  itidccedcd  to  the  mouth 
of  the  ri\er,  where  he  saw  the  ^reat  hi,uliway  which  for  years 
had  been  the  object  and  lioiics  of  his  ambition.  Its\as(  Hoods 
rolled  mysteriously  onward  t(»  an  unknown  Ixairne,  Ibr  tliedis- 
eoxery  of  which,  with  new  resolves,  he  determined  to  devote  his 
life.  J  lis  men  proj)osed,  without  fiirtlu'r  delay,  to  proceed  on  the 
Ion;;'  contemplated  voyage,  but  LaSalle,  hedged  in  by  untoward 
comjdicatioiis,  Mas  compelled  to  await  a  more  faxorable  time. 
Thinkiu,!;'  that  Touti  ini^lit  still  be  in  the  iii;;lib(uliood,  he  fastened 
to  a  tree  a  ])aintin<i'  represeiitiii,n'  himself  and  jiarty  sitliii,ii'  in  a 
canoe,  and  beariiii;'  the  i>ipe  <»f  i»eace.  To  the  paintinj;  h<'  attaclu'd 
a  letter,  addressed  to  Tonti,  the  i»iir])or(  of  which  was  (hat  he 
should  hasten  iij)  the  river  and  Join  him  at  (he  .urcat  (own  of  the 
Illinois.  The  party  next  coinmeiiced  the  ascent  of  (he  river  (o 
the  same  jilace,  and  vi.uoroiisly  plyiii^their  jiaddles  ni^ht  and  day, 
arrived  at  their  destination  iu  1  tlays.     JJuriii^  (he  upward  voyaye, 


84 


IITSTOUY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


tlic  .yrciit  coiiict  of  K'SO  iii<ilitly  illiiinincd  tlic  stiiiiycxpaiisc  abovo 
tiK'iii,  prujci'liii;^'  its  \iist  tail,  with  a  terrible  hiilliaiiey,  a  distance 
<il'  (!(>  (le.iMi'ees,  LaSalle  sjieaks  of  it  as  an  ohjeet  of  scientilie  iii- 
(piirv,  while  Increase  Matiu'V,  a  celel»i'ate<l  >.'e\v  ilnjiland  divine, 
Avitli  the  snpeislition common  to  his  time,  said  that  "it  was  fiau^iht 
Avitli  teirilic  portent  to  the  nations  of  (lie  world," 

At  the  Indian  town  tiie.v  found  the  men  wiio  had  been  left  be- 
hind, unharmed,  and  anxiously  awaiting;  their  return.  After  yet- 
tin;^'  some  coin  from  tlie  ra\aji'ed  granaries  of  the  burnt  \  illa.!L;«', 
the  whole  i)art.\  embarked,  and  commenced  the  ascent  of  the  river. 
On  tiie  (Jtii  of  .January,  KiSl,  they  arrived  at  tlu' junction  of  the 
])es|»laines  and  ivankakee,  and  passinji'  up  the  latter  a  short 
distance, they  discovered,  not  far  from  the  shore,  a  rude  hut.  La- 
Salle landed,  and  enterinj;'  it,  found  a  block  of  wood  which  had 
I'ccently  been  «'ut  with  a  saw,  thus  indicatiuji- that Tonti  must  ha\e. 
l)assed  uj*  tlie  river,  This  discovery  kindled  anew  the  hopes  of 
the  dispaiiin^'  voya.ii('rs  that  tiieir  friends  were  still  alive,  and  with 
liyhtt-r  hearts  they  started  directly  (»verland  to  Fort  .Miami.  On  the 
way  the  snow  fell  in  blindinji'  storms,  and  not  \mu<x  suthciently 
com])act  f(»r  the  nse  of  sih>w  shoes,  LaSalle  hd  the  way  to  open  :i 
traclv  and  iir^i'e  on  liis  followers.  Such  wastiie  depth  of  the  snow, 
liis  tall  fijiurcwas  fre<iuently  buiied  in  drifts  up  to  his  waist,  while 
the  remainder  of  his  [)erson  was  sliowf  r<'d  with  the  crystal  bui'- 
densof  bouj^hs  overhead,  whenexcr  he<'hanced  to  tout-'i  them.  On 
reachin;^  their  };oal,  LaSalle's  tirst  incpiiry  was  for  Tonti.  No 
tidiujis,  liowe\ cr,  had  been  heard  from  him,  and  the  hope  he  had 
entertained  of  meetinj4'  him  liere,  was  chanjivd  to  disappointment. 
IjaI''orest  and  the  nu'U  whom  he  had  left  behind,  with  commenda- 
ble industry  had  rebuilt  the  fort,  ju'cpared  ji-nuind  f(»r  raisin;;'  a 
cro])  the  ensuing  year,  and  sawn  uuiterial  for  building'  a  new  Kship 
on  tlie  hdce. 

We  must  now  endeavor  to  rehite  the  adventnre.s  of  Tonti. 
^Meanwhih',  we  will  leave  LaSalle  in  the  sheltcrinu'  walls  of  the 
foi't,  ]»ondering  over  the  wasted  energies  of  the  ]iast,  ami  the 
gloomy  ])rospects  of  the  future.  Yi't  his  ndnd,  so  full  of  expedi- 
ents, soon  found  means  to  evolve,  from  the  fragments  of  his  luined 
fcntunes,  lu'w  resources  for  the  furtherance  of  his  daring  schemes. 

It  will  be  renu'inbered  that  Tonti  had  been  left  in  connnand  of 
Fort  Crevecteur  with  1.1  men.  ^lost  of  these  disliking  LaSalle, 
and  having  no  interest  in  his  enterprise,  were  ripe  for  revolt  the 
tiist  oi)])(n'tnnity  that  ]nonnsed  success.  LaSalle, stern, ineompre- 
hensil>Ie  and  cold,  was  much  better  rpnditied  to  connnand  the 
respect  of  his  men  when  present,  than  secure  their  good  will  and 
lidelity  when  absent.  His  dei>artur<'  eastward  was,  therefore,  the 
eonnneiu'cnu'iit  of  unlawful  acts  ann)ng  his  nn'n.  A  short  time 
afterward,  another  event  occurred  which  greatly  increased  the 
s])irit  of  insubordination.  The  twonu'U  who  had  been  sent  t(tloolc 
for  theOiiflin,  had,  in  ])ursnanci' (,f  liaSalle's  oiders,  arrived  at 
the  fort  with  disheartening  intelligence.  They  infoiined  the  al- 
ready disalfected  gai'iison  that  the  (Irillin  was  lost;  that  Fort 
J''rontenac  was  in  tlie  hands  ofLaSulle's  creditors,  and  that  he  was 
now  wholly  without  means  to  pay  those  in  his  eni]»loy.  To  ]»rev<'nt 
the  desertion  of  his  men,  it  v  as  usual  for  TiUSalle  towithhohl  their 
wages  till  the  term  for  which  they  were  employed  should  exjtire. 
Now  the  belief  that  he  would  ne\'er  i»ay  them,  gave  rise  to  a  siiirit  of 


illlll    no    XXMICI      llilll     IH'f     >tllll     <l     !('»      Illl    II,     ll(']lill  (I'll       KM      IIII,>      [llll|MI>«, 

tliiiii  tlic  garrison  of  the  tort  refused  loiij^cr  to  siiltniit  to  iiutlioi'ity. 
Tlieii-  fij-st  act  of  lawlessness  was  llie  (lest nietioii  of  tlie  fort;  aft<'i' 
uliicli,  tliey  seized  tlie  aiimiiuiit ion,  provisions,  and  other  poi'ta- 
bles  of  value.  an<l  tied.  Only  two  of  their  inunber  remained  true, 
one  of  whom  was  the  servant  of  I.aSalle,  who  immediately  hastened 
to  ai)prise  'I'onti  of  what  lia<l  oeenrred.  I  le,  thereupon,  disjiatelied 
4  of  the  )iien  with  iiim  toeariy  the  news  to  LaSalie ;  two  of  wiioni, 
as  Mc  have  seen,  siiecessfnlly  (lisehiirj;ed  their  dnty,  while  the. 
others  ix-ilians  desei'ted. 


8(5 


IIISTOKY  OF  ILLINOIS 


Ciicli  \\  i.L;\viiiii  (lis;^ni';;»'(l  its  boisfcroiis  iiiid  iistniiiidcd  iiiiiiatcs. 
A\'»iiiM'ii  Miiitclicd  llicii' cliildicii,  and  in  a  ilcliiimii  of  rriL:lit  wan- 
dcred  aiiidcssly  about.  r('ndin,u' tlu' air  with  t  heir  scii-aais.  'I'lii^ 
iiicii.  iiKiic  self  possessed,  seized  tlieii"  arms,  and  in  a  wild  paato- 
niinie  of  i>atlie,  eoniineneed  nervin;^' tlieniselx  es  for  tin-  coiiiinj'' 
IVay.  Tonti,  lonj;'  an  olijeet  of  siispieion.  was  soon  siu'romided  hy 
an  anjiiy  crowd  ol'  wairiors,  w  Iio  a<-eiised  him  ol'  hein^'  an  emissary 
ol' tlieenemy.  i  lis  inal>iiil  \  properly  to  defend  himself,  in  hoitse- 
(juenee  of  not  fidly  underNtandin.u-  their  laniiiia^c,  left  llieni  siill 
in<'lined  to  lieliexc  him  ^idlty.  and  they  seized  I  he  forp'  and  otlin- 
cU'eets  l>ron;;ht  from  the  fort,  and  threw  tlu'm  int()  tiie  rixcr. 
]  )on  1)1  in. n'  their  a  l)iiily  to  defend  themselves  without  the  assistance: 
of  liieir  youn.i;-  men,  who  were  absent  on  a  war  expedition,  they 
embarked  their  woun-n  ami  chihbcn  in  canoes  and  sent  them  dow  u 
to  the  island  whei'c  liaSalle  had  seen  theii'  deserted  huts.  Sixty 
warriors  remained  with  them  for  protection, and  the  rennunder, 
not  exceedinji'  KK>,  returiu'd  late  in  the  day  t«»  tin-  villauf.  Alonj;- 
the  adjaeeid  shore  they  kindle(l  hu:;'e  Ixndires,  which  I'asi  their 
•ilare  for  miles  around,  ^ihiin^  (he  viihiue,  river  and  distant  niar- 
^iinsof  the  forest  witliihi-  li^ht  of  day,  Thecntire  u'.uht  was 
spi'ii:  in  ^reasiny'  their  l»odies,  paintin;;'  their  fa<'cs  and  |,»erfonu- 
inj;'  the  war  (hince,  to  prepaie  tiieniselves  for  the  aj»proachin,!;  con 
llict.  At  early  dawn  the  scouts  who  had  l»een  s(  nt  out  n-turned, 
closely  followed  by  the  !ro((Uois,  most  of  whom  were  aimed  with 
j^uns,  j)istols  and  swords,  oblainetl  from  the  Knj:lish.  'I  lu'  scouts 
innl  seen  a  chief  arraye<l  in  French  costume,  and  repoited  their 
suspicions  thai  l.aSalle  was  in  the<'ampof  tlie  enemy,  an«l  Tonti 
a.uain  becamean  oltject  of  .jealousy.  A  concourse  of  wildlv  ^estic- 
idalinu'  saxayt's  imnu'diately  jiathered  about  him,  demandinji'  his 
life,  and  nolhinj;'  saved  him  from  their  uplifted  weapons  but  a. 
]>i'onuse  that  he  and  Ins  <  en  would  ;:o  w  ith  them  to  nu'ct  the  en- 
emy. With  their  suspicions  pai'tially  lulled,  they  hurriedly  crossed 
the  river  ami  ap|ieared  on  the  plain  beyond  Just  as  tlieenemy 
<'nu'rj;('d  in  swarms  from  tin-  woods  skirtinii  the  banks  of  the  Vvv- 
iidliou.  The  two  foes  were  now  face  to  face,  and  both  comnieiic<'(l 
discharjiin^'  their  ,uuns  and  simultaneously  leaping;'  fnan  sidi'  to 
side,  for  the  puri>ose  of  doilpin;.;  eacii  ((ther's  shots.  'I'oidi,  seeiu^i" 
the  Illinois  ontnuaiberedand  likely  tosusiaiu  a  defeat,  detei'nnueil, 
at  the  innniiK'Ut  risk  of  his  life,  to  slay  the  li|^lit  by  an  attempt  at 
mediation,  rri'snminj;' on  the  treaty  of  [leai-e  then  ex istiuy,' be- 
tween the,  French  and  Iro(inois,  he  exchanp'd  his  '^nu  for  a  belt 
of  wamimm  and  ad\  anced  to  m  'et  the  sa\  a;^e  nudt  itude.  attended 
by  three  compaiuons,  who,  bein,^'  umu'cessarily  exposed  todan^ici-, 
lie dksinissed  them  and  proceeded  alone.  A  short  walk  bronjiht 
liim  into  the  midst  of  a  ]iack  of  yelpin.;.;  <levils,  writhin;:.'  and  dis- 
torted with  liendish  rajic,  and  inii>alient  to  sln-d  his  blood.  As  the 
result  of  his  swarthy  Italian  complexion  and  half  savajie  eostuuie, 
he  was  at  first  taken  for  an  Indian,  and  before  the  nustake  was 
disco\-ered  a  yoniiiii'  wariioi'  approached  and  stablu'dat  his  heart. 
Fortunately  thebhule  was  turn«'d  aside  by  conn u;^'  in  contact  with 
a  rib.  yet  a  lar.ut'  tlesh  wound  was  inllicted,  which  bletl  pi'ofusely. 
At  this  juncture  a  chief  discovered  his  true  character,  ami  he  was 
led  to  the  rear  and  etlbrts  nmde  to  staunch  his  wound.  When 
sullicienlly  recovered,  he  declared  the  Illinois  were  under  the  pro- 
tection of  the  French,  anddeunuided,  in  eunsideratiou  of  the  treaty 


TONTl'S  ENCOUNTER  WITH  THE  IIIOQTTOIS. 


87 


l»('t\v('('ii  tlic  hitter  iiiid  tlic  Inupiois.  tliiit  tln'v  sIkhiM  Itc  stitt'crcd 
to  rciiiniii  witlidiit  I'lirtlKT  iiidlcslntioii.  Diiiiiii;' t  Iiis  coiirci'dicc,  a 
,V<>iiii^'  wiinidi'  siiiit<'lit'<l  Toiiti's  lint,  iiiid,  tit'ciiiu'  willi  it  to  the 
iVoiil,  licld  it  alolt  on  tlic  end  (»f  Ids  ^iiii  in  \  icw  ol'  liic  Illinois. 
Tlic  latter,  Jntl.uin,!;'  IVoni  tins  eireiinistiinee  that  their  eM\(>\  had 
been  killed,  can  set  1  the  l>attle  to  "breeze  n]!"  with  increased  inten- 
.sit,v.  Sininltaneoiisl.y,  intclli^cnec^  was  i»r()iij;lit  to  the  lro(|iiois 
that  Freiiciiiuen  Avero,  Jissistiny  their  enemies  in  the  li;^ht.  when 
the  contest  ovei'  'i'onti  was  renewed  Mith  redoubled  fnry.  Some 
declared  that  he  shonid  he  innnedialciv  |)nt  to  death;  while  oth- 
vrs,  liiendly  tit  I>aSalle,  with  e<iual  earnestin'ss  demanded  that 
ln*sh(»uld  be  set  at  hbcrt.v.  J)nrinji'  their  clamorous  debate  his 
l)air  was  several  times  lilted  by  a  hninc  savaj^c  who  stood  at  his 
back  with  a  scalpin.n' kniie,  ready  tor  execution. 

Tonti  at  length  turned  tJie  cnri'cnt  of  the  anjiry  controvi'rsy  in 
Jiis  tiivor,  by  stating  that  the  Illinois  were  1,L'(H)  stronji,  and  that 
tliei'c  wer<'  (»0  I'lcnchnu'n  at  the  villaj^'c  ready  to  assist  them. 
'J'his  statement  obtained  at  least  a  partial  credence,  and  his  lor- 
menters  now  determined  to  u>H'  him  as  an  instiument  to  delnde 
the  Illinois  with  a  pretended  trin*e.  The  old  wari'iors  therelbre 
advaiiced  totheJVont  ami  oi'dered  the  lirin,u' to  cease,  w  Idle  Jonti, 
dizzy  Irom  tlu'  loss  of  blood,  was  furnished  with  an  emblem  (»f 
l>eace  and  sent  sta^'^^ci'in.u'  across  the  ])lain  to  rejoin  the  Illinois. 
The  two  trials,  who  had  Just  returned  from  a  distant  hut,  whither 
they  had  I'ctired  for  pra.\er  and  meditation,  were  the  liist  to  meet 
him  ami  bless  (iod   Ibr  what  tliev  regarded  as  a  miraculous  deliv- 


t'rance.*  With  the  assurance  broiijiht  by  Tonti,  the  Illinois  re- 
<'rossed  the  I'iver  lo  tlu'ir  Iod,i;es,  followed  by  the  enemy  as  far  as 
the  oj>posite  bank.  >.'ot  loiij;' aftei',  lar^c  numbers  of  the  latter, 
umh'r  the  inrtext  of  hiintin^,  also  crossed  tin' liver  and  hiiiiy  in 
tlireateiiin^i'  ;;roups  about  the  town.  These  liostd«'  indications, 
air,  tl>'  well  known  disrej^ard  which  the  Iro(piois  had  always 
evinced  for  their  jtledjics,  soon  conviiic<'d  the  Illinois  that  their 
only  safety  was  in  lli;^lit.  \\'ith  this  conviction  they  s»'t  lire  to 
their  anc«'stial  homes,  and  while  the  vast  \olnme  of  tlame  and 
ismoke  diverted  the  attention  of  the  enemy,  they  (juietly  droppcil 
down  the  river  to  rejoin  their  women  and  cliildreii.  Shortly  after, 
the  remainder  of  the  Jroipiois  crossed  the  river,  and  as  soon  as  tli« 
contlam-ation  wo-dd  itermit,  entrenched  themselves  on  the  site  of 
the  \illa,n'e.  Tonti  and  his  men,  n'mainiii;.;'  at  the  village,  were 
orilered  by  the  sus])iciou>s  savag'es  to  leave  their  hut  and  take  up 
theii'  abode  in  the  Ibit. 

At  liist  their  ass(M-iates  seemed  niiuili  elated  at  the  disciiiulitiu'e 
of  the  Illinois,  but  two  days  aftei'.  when  they  discovered  them  re- 
<;onnoit«'rin,i;'  on  the  low  hills  Ix-hind  their  intreiichments,  their 
conrajie  j^reatly  subsided.  With  fear,  they  recalled  the  e\a,u^(ia- 
tionsof  Tonti,  respect  ill  ^' their  numbei's,  and  immediately  concluded 
to  send  him  with  a  hostage  to  makeoNcrtures  of  j)cace.  Ilestarled 
on  his  mission,  and  lu^  and  the  hostajne  were  received  with  delijiht 
by  lli(^  Illinois,  who  readily  asseided  to  this  jjrojxisal  which  he 
brou.niit,  and  in  turn  sent  back  with  him  a  hostaj^cto  the  Ii-o(pU)is. 
Oil  his  return  to  the  fort,  his  life  was  again  placed  in  Jeopar<ly.  and 


•Mcinbre.  perhaps  i)r()iii|)tecl  by  vanity,  cliiiins  that  he  acootiiiianieil  Tonti  in  tliis  in- 
terview. This  is  the  only  'nstance  in  wliieli  he  is  oharffed  with  a  want  of  veracity,  and 
doubtless  in  nians'  res|)ects  was  ii  good  man. 


88  IIISTOUV  t)l<'  ILLINOIS. 


tlif-  trciit.v  Wiis  with  ;;r('iit  tliriiciiltv  riitilirtl.  TIm'  Vdiiiij^'  and  iiicx- 
]»ci'i»'ii('('(l  Illinois  li(islii;;t' Itctiaycd  t(i  his  cial'lN  inlcrvicwcrs  lluj 
niiMici'iral  \vcal<M('ss  «»!'  Iiis  liilic,  and  tlu^  sava.ucs  innncdiatcly 
iiislicd  upon  Tonti,  and  ciiariicd  iiini  willi  lia\  in^'  dcpiixcd  tlu'iu 
of  tiic  s|)oils  and  lioiiors  (»t' a  \  ictoiy.  '•  Wiicrc,"  said  tlicy,  "arts 
all  yoiw  Illinois  \vani(U's,  and  wiicrc  arc  the  Firnchincn  you  said 
were  anionn'  tlit'Mi  '."  It  now  rccinircd  all  tlictact  orwiiicli  lu'  was 
niaslcr  to  cscaiH'  tlif  jircscnt  diricnlty,  wliicli  lie  liad  hionjilit  on 
liiniscli' liy  tlic  artilici'  employed  to  I'scaitctlu' one  previous.  Alter 
nnieli  opposition,  the  treaty  was  eonelnded,  Itnt  the  savaj^cs,  to 
show  their  contempt  I'oiit,  inimetliately  commenced  theconslruc- 
tioii  ot'canoesin  which  to  descend  the  river  andattack  the  Illinois, 

'I'onti  ma naj^iMl  to  apprise  the  latter  of  their  dcsiyns,  and  he  and 
]\lcnd>i'e  wcr(^  soon  alter  summoned  to  attend  a  coiuicil  (d' the  Iro- 
(pHiis.  They  still  labored  under  a  wholesonie  fear  of  Count  Fion- 
tenac,  ami  disliUin,u' to  attack  the  Illinois  in  the  |)rcsencc  of  the 
French,  their  object  was  to  induce  ihe  latter  to  loa.e  tho  country. 
At  t  he  asscndtlin^i'  of  the  council,  (!  i)ackaj;'es  (d'  beavei-  skins  were 
inli-odnccd.  and  thesaxauc  orator,  presenting' them  separately  to 
Tonti,  explained  the  nature  of  each.  '•  The  lirst  two, "  said  lie, 
''were  to  declare  that  the  children  of  Count  I'ronteuac, that  is, 
the  Illinois,  should  not  be  eaten  ;  the  next  was  a  pl;>s(er  to  heal 
the  wounds  (d'  Tonti  ;  the  next  was  oil  wherewith  to  annoint  him 
and  .Mendtre,  that  they  mijiht  not  be  fati;;ut'd  in  travelin;^' ;  the 
ucxt  pr(»claiuu'(l  that  the  sun  was  brijiht ;  and  the  sixth,  and 
last,  rc<|uirc<l  tlieni  to  decamp  and  jio  houu'. '"* 

.\t  the  mention  of^oin;;'  home,  Tonti  demanded  of  tliem  when 
they  intended  to  set  tlu^  example  by  leaviuji' the  Illinois  in  the 
])eaceable  jiossession  of  their  coiuitry,  which  th>y  had  so  nnjnstly 
imadcd.  The  council  j;re\\  boisterous  and  an;:ry  at  the  idea  that 
they  should  be  demanded  to  do  that  which  they  re<)uired  of  the 
French,  and  some  of  its  nu'Uibers.  for'iettiii;^  their  previous  ]»h'd^(', 
declarcil  that  they  would  "eat  lUinttis  (lesli  before  they  departed." 
Tonti,  in  inutalion  of  the  Indian  nninncr  of  expressiuji'  scorn,  iu- 
di.uiiantly  kicked  away  the  lu'csentsof  fur,  sayin,;;,siuc»'  they  nu'aut 
to  devour  the  chihb'cu  of  Could  Froideuac  with  cannibal  ferocity, 
he  would  not  acccjd  their  .uifts.  This  stern  rcbnkc  of  perfidy  re- 
sulted in  the  expulsion  of  Tonti  and  his  companions  from  the 
couucil,  and  the  next  day  the  en  raj;e(l  chiefs  ordered  them  to  leave 
the  country. 

Tonti  had  now,  at    the  .urcat  risk  of  his  life,  tried  every  ex[)edi- 
cut  to  avert  from  the  unoffeudinii'  Illinois  the  slau,i;hter  which  the 
unscrupulous   invaders  of  their  soil  wer(>  seeking;'  an  op])ortunity 
I    ■  to  effect.     There  was  little  to  be  accomplished  by  remaining,'  in  (he 

coiiutiy,  and  as  a  lon,!.;('r  delay  nu^ht  imiicril  the  lives  (tf  his  men, 
he  determiiu'd  to  depart,  iH)t  knowing;'  when  or  where  lie  would  be 
able  to  rejoin  LaSalle.  With  this  (d)ject  in  view,  the  ])arty,  con- 
sisting of  (I  jtersoiis,  endtarkcd  in  canoes,  which  soon  pi'oNcd  leaky, 
and  llu'y  were  compelled  to  laud  for  the  pui'pose  of  making;'  I'e- 
])airs.  WhiU'  thus  duployed.  Father  Jiibourde,  attracted  by  the 
beauty  of  tilt!  surroundiii,n'  Iandscai>e,  wanderetl  forth  ainoii<;'  Ihe 
proves  tor  meditation  and  prayer.  Ntd  returnin;i'  in  tine  time. 
Tout!  became  ahirmetl,  and  started  with  a  coiuiiauiou  tt>  ascertain 

'Discoveries  of  the  Great  West.— I'uikmun. 


TOM'l'S  KNfJOITNTKK  WITH  J'lIE  IllOtiUOlS 


SO 


tlic  riiiisc  <»f  llic  loiij;'  delay.  Tlicy  soon  discovered  (nieli.s  ol'  Ind- 
ians, l».\  w  liniii  it  was  sii|>i»<)sed  lie  iiad  been  m  i/ed,  and  ^^niis  were 
lired  to  direct  Ids  rclnrn,  in  case  in-  was  still  alixc.  Sceinj;' 
nothing-  of  him  dnriii;;  the  day,  at  ni;;ht  they  li.iilt  lires  al(in;;tli(» 
bank  of  the  livcr  and  retired  to  the  opposite  side,  to  see  who 
nn^ht  appioach  them.  Near  midnight,  a  nnmhei'  of  Indians  were 
seen  tlittin<;'  ahoni  the  li.^lit,  liy  whom,  no  donlit,  had  heen  made. 
the  tracks  seen  the  previons  evening;'.  It  was  afterwaids  learned 
that  they  were  a  hand  of  Kicka|»oos,  who  had,  for  several  days, 
been  hoveling-  ahont  the  camp  of  the  Iroipiois  in  (piest  of  scalps. 
>»'ot  l»cin,i;'  snccesstid  in  ohtainin.u'  the  oltject  of  their  desires  from 
their  enemies,  they,  Ity  chance,  fell  in  with  the  inotfcnsive  old 
friar,  and  s<'alped  him  in  their  stead.  "Thus,  in  the  (l."»tli  year  of 
Ids  a^c,  tin'  only  In-ii'  to  a  wealty  lini'.unndian  hoMs<'  perished  under 
the  war  club  of  the  savaj;es,  for  whose  salvation  he  had  renouncctl 
easo  and  aftlueuce."* 

During'  the  performance  of  this  traucdy,  a  far  more  revoltinj;' 
one  was  beiniu;  enacle<l  at  the  j^rcat  town  of  the  Illinois.  The  Iro- 
quois were  tearinji'  ojx'n  the  j;raves  of  the  dead,  and  wreakin;^; 
their  veiijicance  ui»on  tln^  bodies  made  hideous  by  putrifa<'tion. 
At  this  desecration,  it  is  said,  they  even  att;  portions  of  the 
dead  bodies,  while  sul)iectin,u'  them  to  every  indignity  that  brutal 
hate  could  inllict.  Still  unsated  by  their  hellish  brutalities,  ;Mid 
now  unrestrained  by  the  presence  of  the  French,  they  started  .'n 
)>ursuit  of  the  retreatin,!;'  Illinois,  Day  after  day  they  and  the 
oi»posiii,<;'  forces  inovt'd  in  compact  ariay  down  the  river,  neither 
bein;;'  able  to  yain  any  advantaj^c  over  the  other.  At  k'n};t]i  they 
obtained  by  fals<'ho{)d  that  which  nnndx-rs  and  ju'owess  denied 
them.  They  jiinc  out  that  their  oi)ject  was  to  possess  the  count ly, 
not  by  destroy  in, y-,  l)ut  by  driviiij;'  out  its  i»resent  inhabitants. 
Deceived  b.N  his  mendacious  statement,  the  Illinois  separated, 
some  descending;'  the  ]\Iississipi>i,  ami  others  crossinj;'  t(>  the 
■western  shore.  I'nforf  unately,  the  Tamai'oas,  more  credulous  than 
the  rest,  remained  near  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois,  and  were  sud- 
denly attacked  by  an  oveinvhelnun^'  force  of  the  enemy.  The  men 
tied  in  dismay,  and  the  wonwu  and  children,  to  the  numbci'  of 
7(M>,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  ferocious  enemy.  Then  followed 
the-  tortures,  but<'lieries  and  burinn;is  which  only  the  infuriated 
ami  iiubruted  lro(pu»is  could  ]»erpetrate — the  shockin;;' evidence  of 
Avhieh  I^aSalle  saw  only  two  weeks  afterward.  Aftei'ihe  ravenous 
]n»rde  had  sulliciently  j;lutted  their  ureed  for  carnage,  they  I'ctircd 
from  the.  country,  leadinj;'  with  them  a  nnudier  of  wonuMi  and 
chihlren,  whom  they  reserved  either  for  adoption  iido  their  tribes, 
oi'  as  victims  to  .yrace  the  triumphs  sonu'times  accorded  them  on 
their  return  home. 

Their  departure  was  the  signal  for  the  return  of  the  Illim)is, 
■who  rebuilt  their  town.  The  site  of  this  celebi'ated  village  Vias 
on  the  northern  bank  of  the  river,  where  it  Hows  by  the  modern 
town  of  (Jtica.  Its  inuuediate  site  was  on  the  j^reat  nu-adow 
which,  iit  this  ])oint,  ori<;inally  stretched  up  and  down  the  stitam. 
The  larji'e  (juantities  of  Itones  and  rude  imi>lemeuts  of  sava;4'e  life 
which  are  annually  turned  up  by  the  plon,i;lisliai'(',  are  the  only 
sad  traces  of  the  populous  tribes  that  onc.-e  made  this  locality  their 


♦Discovery  of  the  Grout  AVest— rarkiuiiu. 


90 


niSTOIlY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


]»riiicii)al  lioiiic.  Altui;^  tlic  soiitliciii  sulcofllit'  livci-  cxtciMls  a 
I'liiiuc  of  hills,  wliirli  tcniiiiiatt'  a  iiiiji-  and  a  hall'  ahnvc  in  tlic 
naliiial  altutincnt  Unctwn  as  Staivctl  IJock,  on  wiiich  llic  l-'icncli, 
in  Kisj.  Iiuilt  a  lort.  Scvcial  miles  lirluw.  an  ()|icninji  (iccnrs  in 
the  hills,  tluonuii  'Aliich  IIh'  waters  of  the  I'.i^-  \'crniili(»n  nnite 
with  (h(»st'  {){'  (he  lllin(»is.  It  was  In  means  of  these  pioniinent 
landmarks  I'rancis  Taiknian,  lvs(|.,  a  tew  ,\ears  since,  was  enabled 
tu  idenl  il'\  the  site  of  the  Intlian  town,  w  hieh,  lor  nnin\  ,\  ears  pre- 
\  ions,  was  entirely  unknown. 

Alter  the  death  of  Ilihonrde,  the  men  nnderTonti  ajuain  resnmed 
tlic  aseent  of  the  river,  lea\  iii.ii  no  evidein'c  of  their  passa;;*'  at  the 
janetion  of  the  two  streams  w  hieh  form  the  Illinois,  'i'lieir  craft 
a;;ain  iiecominu'  disahled,  they  al)and:»ncd  it,  and  the  party  started 
on  foot  for  Lake  Michi;;an.  Theii' snjiply  of  piovisions  soon  l»e- 
canie  exhansted,  and  the  ti'avelers  were  comi)elled  to  snhsist  in  a 
;;i'eat  na'asnre  on  roots  and  acorns.  One  of  theii'  companion.s 
wandered  otf  in  search  of  ;;anie,  lost  his  way,  and  several  «lays 
elapsed  before  he  had  the  ;;(>od  fortinie  of  rejoiniiii;' them.  In  his 
al»sen<'e  he  was  w  illiont  Hints  and  l»al''.ts,  yet  c(aitrived  to  shoot 
s(Hne  turkeys  l»y  usiuj;'  slnj-s  cut  friai'  a  pewter  porrinjicr  and  a 
lirehrand  t(»  discliarj;e  his  piece,  it  was  their  ol>iect  to  reach 
(Ireen  JJay  and  liiul  an  asylum  for  tlie  winter  amonji'  the  Potawat- 
amies.  ,\s  the  result  of  pri\alion  and  exposure,  Tonti  fell  sick  ot 
a  fever  and  ^icatly  retarded  the  ])ro;ires^  of  the  march.  Nearinji' 
Groeii  Bay,  the  c(»ld  increased  and  tlu^  im-ans  of  suhsislenco  |>ro- 
]toilionately  diminishiiiii'.  the  pai'ty  woidd  lia\e  perished  liad  they 
not  found  a  few  ears  of  corn  and  some  frozen  squashes  in  the 
fields  of  a  des«'ited  villa;^e.  Mear  the  dose  of  Xo\»'nd)er  they  had 
the  ii'ood  fortune  of  reacliinii'  the  I'ofawatamies.  who  iiireeted  them 
with  a  warm  reception,  an«l  siipplieil  them  with  the  necessaries  of 
life.  Their  chief  was  an  ardent  admirer  of  the  l-'rench,  w  liom  ]w 
had  befiiended  the  year  i)revioiis,  ami  was  accustomed  to  say: 
'•There  were  but  three  ^reat  captains  in  the  world,  himself,  Ttmti 
and  La  Halle." 


riiM'i'i'.i.'  ix^. 

FlJRTlIKli  KXPL()I{ATI()NS  I5V  LaSALLE. 


"\\  (•  iinist  now  ii'tiiiii  l(»  liiiSjillc,  wliosc  cxploifs  st;m(l  out  in 
siicli  hold  relief.  In  (lie  previous  discoveries  1m'  li;id  oitserved 
Unil  white  eneiidi's  were  nsin^'  the  lr(M|iiois  to  eiiennn cut  ids 
o|iei':itions ;  tinit  Iheii'  incnrsions  must  lie  stopped,  or  liis  defeat 
wiis  inevitable.  Alter  due  consideration,  he  conelinled  the  hest 
wav  to  prevent  their  inr(»ads  was  to  induce  the  westei'U  trihes  to 
I'or^et  tliei)'  animosities,  and  nndei'  a  league  against  tlieii'  inexora- 
ble enemies,  eoloui/e  ihem  around  a  fort  in  the  \a11e\  of  tln^ 
Illinois,  where,  witli  the  assistance  of  I'rench  arms  and  I'lench 
,U<'Ueralship,  t\\r  c(nnnn»n  enemy  would  he  iniahle  further  to  molest 
tlieni.  I'lcncli  colonists  could  teach  them  the  arts  of  agriculture, 
llecollei  moidxs  instruct  liu-ni  in  their  religious  duties,  and  the 
shi|ts  of  l'"rance  su]>|d\  nn-rclmndisc  t(»  ti'afiic  with  them  for  the 
rich  harvest  of  furs  annually  .uathcred  from  their  \ast  interioi' 
wilds.  .Meanwhile  he  proposed  to  explore  the  ^lississippi.  and 
make  it  a  highway  for  the  conunerce  of  the  world.  'I'lius.  conclu- 
ded iiaSalle.  the  jdains  of  Illinois,  which  foi' centuries  have  been  a 
.slaughter  pen  tor  warriiiji'  savages,  ndnht  l»e  made  the  theatre  of 
a  ci\  ili/alion  as  fannins  as  their  i)ast  history  had  been  rendei'ed 
inianious  by  deeds  of  earnaue.  To  the  execution  of  this  new  ex- 
)»edi«'ni  for  advaucinj;'  his  plans,  he  now  turned  his  attention. 

After  the  teii'ible  scouruc  of  Ixinn'  Philip's  war.  a  number  of  the 
conipu'red  Indians  left  their  eastern  homes  ami  took  refu.uc  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  fort,  whei'c  LaSalle  had  spent  tlu'  winter.  'I'hesi^ 
wei'e  mostly  Altcnakis  and  Ab)hejiaus — the  latter  havin;;'  fiunisiied 
the  hunter  who  had  so  often,  by  his  supeiioi'  skill,  i»ro\  iiled  La- 
Salle's  hungry  followers  with  food,  lie  wasalso  master  of  several 
Indian  dialects,  which,  at  this  i)articnlar  Junctuie  of  LaSalli'"s 
atVaiis,  he  (;ouId  use  with  ji'reat  advanta.u'e.  To  these  exiles  from 
the  east  LaSalle  lirst  dir<'cted  his  attention,  and  tbtnid  them 
unaniuM>iisly  in  fa\(M'of  casting'  their  lot  with  his,  askin,!^ no  rec- 
omi>ense  save  the  privilej'e  of  callinjn"  him  chief.  A  new  ally,  in 
the  person  of  a  ])oweiful  cldef  from  the  valley  of  tlie  Ohio,  also 
a|)peareil,  and  asked  i>ernussion  to  enter  the  new  confedeiation. 
LaSalle  I'cplied  that  his  tril)e  was  too  distant,  hut  let  them  come 
to  me  in  the  \  alley  of  tln^  Illinois,  and  they  shall  be  safe.  The 
chief,  without  stipulatinj;'  fni'ther,  aijreed  to  Join  him  with  l."i() 
warriors.  To  reconcile  the  Mianns  and  Illinois,  and  thus  s<'cure 
their  co-operation,  was  now  the  i»rincipal  obstacle.  Althouuli 
kindred  tribes,  they  bad  loi)<i,been  estranj>'ed,  and  it  was  only  after 
the  re(H'nt  (b'|)redations  of  tlu'  Tro(|uois,  they  beyan  to  see  the 
advuntaye  of  ox>pusiijy  a  united  front  to  their  outrayes.      Wish- 


02 


IIIHTOUV   or    H.LINOl.S. 


in;;  lirst  to  consiiU  the  Illinois,  iiiiiii,\  of  wliotn  had  returned  sitter 
tlicevacnation  ol'tlie  Iroquois,  tlie,v  found  liie  itniiriesstill  encrusted 
w'.tli  snow,  from  the  dii/.zliii;^  whiteness  of  wliieli,  l/aSalle  and 
sexeial  of  the  men  lieeame  snow  liliiid,  aud  were  compelled  to  eu- 
<-ami»  under  tiie  ed;;e  ol  a  forest  till  they  could  reco\«>r.  While 
sulfrrin<;'  from  the  loss  of  vision,  they  sent  out  a  companion  to 
^iatiier  pine  leaves,  which  were  supp(»sed  to  he  a  specitic  f.ir  their 
nialaily.  ^^'llile  on  this  errand  he  had  t  he  •^ood  fortune  t'allin 
with  a  hand  of  the  P'oxes,  from  whom  he  learned  that  'I'onti  was 
safe  amon;>'  the  Potawatamies,  and  that  Hennepin  had  pas-id 
thron;;h  tlieii  country,  on  his  way  to  Canada,  'fhis  was  wiienme, 
news  to  LaSaile,  who  had  Ion;;  Iteen  anxious  in  re;;ar<t  to  his 
safety.  Tin!  attlicted  « ion  after  recovered,  and  the  snow  liaxin^' 
iuelt(  J,  they  hiunehed  their  canoes  into  the  swcillen  triluitarx  (tf 
tile  Illinois.  l'"oil()wiu.ii- the  ri\er.  they  fell  in  w  itli  a  l>and  of  tint 
Illinois,  rau;iin;ii' the  prairies  in  quest  of  ;:ame.  LaSalle  expressed 
Ids  regret  at  the  jireai  injury  they  had  sustain-'d  fium  the  Iro- 
qu()is,and  ui';;'ed  them  to  form  an  alliance  witii  tiu-ir  kindred,  the 
3liamis,  to  prevent  tin-  recurrence  of  sinular  disasters  in  the  fu- 
ture, lie  promised  them  that  he  aud  his  companions  woidd  lake 
up  ihei)- abode  anuHijL;' tln-m,  furnish  them  with  ;;'oods  and  arms, 
and  assist  in  defendi;i.u'  them  in  the  attacks  of  the  common  enemy 
of  tiie  Alj;dn(piin  race.  I'ieased  with  La.Salle's  pro|M>.sil  ion.  liiey 
supplied  him  with  corn,  and  pr(Mnised  to  c(»nfer  with  others  of 
theii'  countrymen  on  tiu'  suhject,  and  lei  liiiii  know  the  result. 

IIa\in,y- completed  lli^  ne,n(Uiatioiis  with  the  Illinois,  he  sent  La- 
F(';'<'st  U>  Mackinaw,  whither  Tout i  was  expecied  to  ;.;(»,  and  where 
both  )f  them  wci'c  to  remain  till  he  coidd  follow  them. '  It  now 
rciiiaiued  for  him  to  consult  the  .Miamis,  and  he  accordiuuly  visited 
one  of  their  principal  \illajics  on  the  jioita.uc  lielweeii  the  St. 
(losepli  aud  the  Kankakee.  Here  he  found  a  hand  of  Iroijiiois, 
w  ho  IumI  for  some  time  demeaiieil  themselves  with  the  ^^reatest 
insolence  toward  the  \  illa^crs,  and  had  spoken  with  the  utmost 
coiitcnipt  of  himself  and  men.  He  .sternly  reitiiked  them  for  tiieir 
jirro;;a!u*e  ami  calumnies,  which  <'aused  them  to  slink  away,  and 
iit  niiilit  tiee  tlu'  country.  The  Miamis  were  astonished  heyomi 
nicasiiie  when  they  saw  LaSalle,  with  only  1(1  l''renclimen.  put 
their  hau^ihty  visitors  to  lli.iiht,  while  they,  with  hundreds  of  wai- 
riors,  coidd  not  even  secure  I'cspeet.  LaSalle  now  resohcd  to  use 
tile  i)resti;i;e  he,  Inul  ;;ained  iii  fiirtlierinj;'  the  ohject  of  his  visit. 
There  were  present  in  the  villau'e  Indian  refiiiices  from  recent 
wars  in  N'irjiinia.  New  Vork  and  Khode  Island,  tt>  whom  LaSallo 
communi(!ated  the  mitnre  of  his  errand,  and  promised  Ikhucs  and 
]trotection  in  the  valley  of  the  Illinois.  Ft  is  a  goodly  and  heau- 
tiful  land,  said  he,  ahoundinj;'  in  name,  and  well  siipiilied  with 
^i'oods,  ill  which  they  should  dwell,  if  they  would  only  assist  him 
in  restorin;>'  amicahle  relations  hetwceii  the  Miamis  and  Illinois. 
The  co-operation  (»f  these  friendless  exiles,  ,vho  now  knew  how  to 
Aidiie  the  hlessinjis  of  |»eace  and  a  settled  i!  ihitation,  was  readily 
enough  secured. 

The  next  day  the  Miamis  were  assemhled  in  council,  and  La- 
Salle matle  known  to  tlieiii  he  ohjects  he  wished  to  accomplisli. 
J'roni  lonji'  intercourse  with  the  Indians,  he  had  hec(»niean  exjx'rt 
in  foi'est  tact  and  elo(|uence.  ami  on  this  occasion  lie  had  come 
well  provided  with  presents,  to  give;  ailditional  efticacy  to  Ids  pro- 


LASALLK 


!(;{ 


('('(•(liiiys.  lie  Ix'^TMii  Ill's  a(l<1r('SM,  wliiclt  i'onsistcd  <»("  mctuplidii- 
ml  iilliisioiiH  to  tlic  «h'ii«l.  1»\  disliilMitiii;;' jiil'ls  iiiiioiij;  IIh'  lixiii;;. 
rrcsfiililiy  tliflll  will)  cloth,  lie  loltl  IIm'Iii  il  Wiis  In  rn\cr  llicir 
<lt';i(l  :  ;;iviii;4'  tliciii  Imh'lifis,  li.-  iiirnniMil  tliciii  tliiit  llicy  wcir  to 
l)iiil(l  ;i  sciilVoltl  ill  tiM'ii- liotior;  <listril)iitiii;>' iiiiioii;;  tliriii  Ix-iKls  mikI 
lirlls.  he  statfd  tlicv  wcic  to  il('cur;itc  tlifir  persons.  Tlic  li\  iii;^-, 
while  ilppropriiltili;^'  these  pieseiits,  were  j;ie;iil,\  pleilsed  ;il  the 
eniiipliiiieiits  piiid  tlielr  (lep:il'teil  Irieiids,  iiiid  thus  jiliieed  in  ;i 
Miiliihle  stiile  of  iiiiiid  for  thiit  which  wits  lo  follow.  A  chief,  foi' 
wlioiii  they  eiitertiiilied  the  ;;ie;itest  ri'speet.  ii;id  l'e<'elitl\  lieeii 
killed.  :iiid  l.iiSidle  told  tlieiii  he  w oidd  i':iise  him  from  the  (lend, 
iiieniiiii;^'  Ihiit  lie  would  nsstiine  his  nniiie  ;iiid  pi'o\  ide  I'oi  his 
liiinil,\.  This  ^•eiiei'oii.s  olfer  was  even  iiioie  tlinii  Intlinn  ^rn\ity 
could  heiir.  nml  the  whole  iisseinlduii'e  Itecnine  iiproiirioiis  with  e\- 
citemeiil  ititd  iippliiiise.  Lnstly,  tocon\iiice  them  of  the  sincerity 
of  ills  intentions,  lie  piv(>  iliein  (i  ;>'uns,  si  nuinher  of  liateliets,  niid 
tliiew  into  llii'ir  midst  a  liUjuc  ]»ile  of  elothin;;',  caiisiiijn'  the  eiitiic 
iiiiiltitiide  to  explode  with  yells  of  the  most  e\tra\a^anl  delijiht. 
After  tills,  LaSalle  tliiis  linished  ids  iiaraii;;ue; 


"  He  will)  is  my  iiinst(  r,  aiid  llii'  muster  of  all  this  (inintrv,  is  a  mi.iflity  chief, 
J'earid  hvllie  wiii>lr  woi'M  ;  lint  he  loves  peace,  and  his  Words  jire  for  u-ooil 
mIoiu'.  lie  is  called  the  kinj;  of  France,  and  is  tlie  miirlitiest  aiuontr  theclnel's 
tieyond  tlie  great,  water.  '''■;  ifoodness  extends  even  to  your  chad,  and  his 
sniijeets  come  amonji  yoti  I  'se  them  to  lite.  J5nt  it,  is  ids  will  to  jireservo 
tlie  lil'elieJiasf^iven.  It  is  his  .  11  that  you  should  ohey  liis  laws,  and  maUe  no 
war  without  the  leave  of  Froiilenac,  wlio  conunaiids  in  his  name  at  (^iieliec, 
and  loyi's  all  the  nations  aliki',  heeaiise  such  i-i  the  will  of  the  threat  kintr.  ^'oii 
(inuhl,  then,  lolive  in  peace  with  your  iieiLddiors,  and  above  all  with  the  '111- 
iioi^.  Von  had  canse  of  (piarrel  with  them,  Inil  their  tlefeat  has  aven,i;e(|  yoii. 
'flionn'h  they  are  still  .■-trong,  they  wish  to  make  jieace  with  yon.  J5e  eonient 
with  I  he  f;lory  of  haviiii^  compelled  ihem  to  ask  for  it.  Yon  have  an  iiderest 
in  jireservini;  them,  since,  if  the  Irocpniis  destroy  them,  thej will  next  destroy 
yon.  Let  ns  all  ohey  the  ureat  kini;,  and  live  in  peace  undir  his  jiroteclion. 
Be  of  my  mind,  and  use  these  tiun.s  1  have  given  you,  not  lo  make  war,  hut 
onl3'  to  hiuil  and  defend  your.sel  ves  ""* 

Ilavin;;' thus  far  Ix^eii  .successful  in  iinitinn'  tiui  western  tribes, 
lie  was  now  ready  to  ti.se  the  alli  nice  foiined  in  further  extendiu.i;' 
liis  discoveries.  I'iist,  it  was  necessary  to  return  to  Caiiadii 
and  collect  liis  .scattered  resources,  and  satisfy  his  creditors. 
Toward  the  latter  jiart  of  May,  UW I,  they  left  \'\>v\  Miami,  and 
after  a  short  and  prosperous  triii  anivt  d  at  Mackinaw,  w  here  they 
liiid  tile  liapi»iiiess  of  meetinj;'  with  Toiiti  After  the  kindly 
^reetili,iis  of  the  loiiy'  iiliseiit  friends  were  over,  each  i-eeouiited  the 
story  of  his  misfortunes.'  Such  was  LaSalle's  (■(iiiaiiiinit,\  and 
even  cheerfulness,  that  .Meinhre,  in  admiration  of  his  condnci, 
exclaimed:  ''Any  one  else  exce(»t  him  would  lia\e  altaiid(»iii'd  the 
enterprise,  but  he,  with  it  tirmnes.s  and  constancy  which  never  had 
its  equal,  was  more  resolved  than  ever  to  push  forward  his  work,'' 
Jlaxiii^'  reviewed  the  past,  and  formed  new  resohcs  for  the  future, 
the  party  embarked  lor  rronteiiac.  The  watery  track  of  1000 
miles  inter\eiiin^'  between  them  and  their  destination,  wiis  soiui 
cros.sed,  and  IjaSalle  was  a^ain  in  consultati(»n  with  his  creditors. 
]n  addition  to  the  cost  incurred  in  biiildiiiji  the  fort,  and  maintain- 
ing in  it  a  j.;airi.soii,  he  was  now  further  burdened  with  the  debt 
of  sub.setjtient  fruitless  explorations.  The  fort  ami  sei;,;iiiory  were 
iiiort^aj;ed  for  a  lar;,a'  sum,  yet  by  partiiij;  w  itli   .some  of  his  mo- 

*  Discovery  of  the  Great  West— Pivrltiniiu. 


i  '^l 


04 


TIISTOllY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


iiopolics,  iind  Nccnriiij;'  aid  from  a  wcaltli.v  relative,  lie  iiiaiiajicd 
to  satisty  Ills  ciTtlilofs  and  seeiire  means  for  anotlnT  ontlit. 
Owiiii;'  to  nnavoidaltie  (',  lavs  the  season  was  far  advanced  wlien 
hi.;  ttotilla  was  pnsla  1  ont  on  the  waters  of  Lake  .Miehiuaii. 
Their  canoes  were  iiea(h'd  foi'  the  iiionlli  of  tli<'  S(..luse|»ii,  and  as 
they  slowly  creitt  alon;;  the  dreary  siiores  ol'  tiie  lake,  it  is  easy  to 
ima",i  K^  the  mor«'  dicary  tiion^^lit  that  harrassed  the  niiud  of 
LaSalle.  A  past  of  nnre([iiittcd  toil  and  sad  disapi>ointineiit,  a 
]>!'"seid  eniltittered  hy  tiie  ton;;iie  of  hate  and  shin<ler,  and  tlie 
fntnr'  eloinU'd  with  nncertainty,  ninst  have  intrnded  tlienischcs 
into  ills  mind,  lait  could  not  for  a  moment  divert  him  from  liie 
accomplishment  of  tlieurcat  oltject  whicii  for  years  had  iicen  the, 
;;;,i(iin,u'  star  of  his  destiny.  Tiie  trees  were  bare  of  the  heaiitiliil 
autumnal  foliage  when  at  ler.^th  the  walls  of  Fort  ^liaiiii  rose 
above  the  waste  of  waters,  and  they  drew  ii]»  their  canoes  on  the 
adjacent  shoic.  The  cohimns  of  smoke  thar  rose  liiu'h  in  the  >;till 
>>'()vember  air,  told  LaSiille  that  his  ,Mohe;;an  and  ^Vbcnaki  allies 
were  awaitinji' his  retiirn.  ^^'otwithstandin^  these  were  the  rem- 
nants of  the  triltes  ••  whose  midni.uiit  yells  had  startled  the  lior- 
<ler  haddets  of  New  Mn.iilaiid  ;  who  had  danced  aiound  I'urilan 
scaljts  and  whom  Puritan  innijiiiiatioiis  i»aiiited  as  incarnale 
lieuds, "  LaSaile  chose  from  them  IS  im'U  to  accompany  linn. 
These.  ad<led  to  the  l''reiichmen,  made  41  men.  who,  (m  the  I'ist 
of  Deceinbei',  KiSl,  set  out  on  this  famous  exjiedition.  Toiiti  and 
some  of  the  men  crossed  in  advance  to  the  mouth  of  the  Chica.u'o, 
where  they  were  soon  aftei'Joiiied  by  LaSalle  and  the  rciiiainder 
of  the  men.  The  streams  beinji' now  sheated  over  with  ice,  and 
the  land  covered  with  snow,  they  were  compelled  to  construct 
sledji'es  on  which  to  di'a.u'  their  .;:'><'s  and  ba^'^a^c  to  the  w<'s- 
tern  b)'ancli  of  the  Illinois.  Findin;^' it  also  brid.ii'cd  oxer  with  ice 
they  tiled  down  it  in  a  loii^-  procession,  jtassed  tlie  teiiantless  vil- 
la.Ljc  of  the  Illinois  and  tbuiid  the  river  open  a  slioit  distance 
below  Peoiia  Lake.  The  season,  and  other  U!ifa\ orable  circum- 
stances, reach  red  the  buildiii.u'  of  a  vessel,  as  ori,uinally  c(Uitcin- 
jilated.  at  this  i»oint  wholy  impossible.  Thoy  were  compelled 
theielore  to  proceed  in  their  canoes,  and  on  the  (ith  of  February 
they  rea<'lied  the  (Jreat  I'iver  which  was  to  bear  them  onward  to 
the  sea.  Wailing' a  week  for  the  lloatin.i;  ice  to  disaiijieai'.  they 
.glided  <lowii  the  current  toward  the  ;L;reat  niiknowu,  which  ;;!! 
Ibrmei'  atteni]its  had  failed  to  ])enetrate.  The  tirst  nij^lit  they  en- 
camped neai'ihe  mouth  id"  the  Missouri,  and  witnessed  its  o|(,i(|ue 
floo(ls  invade  the  i)Ui'er  waters  of  the  Mississippi.  Ke-iMidiarkiiin' 
the  next  morniu^ii'  they  passed  several  interestin,u'  localities,  au(l 
after  scNcral  days,  landed  on  the  litth  of  February,  at  Chickasaw 
bliitfs  for  the  pur|»ose  of  jidin.u'  out  in  (piest  of  name  to  supply 
their  failinii' provisions.  Here,  one  (»f  the  hunters  named  I'liid- 
homme,  lost  himself  in  the  dense  I'orest,  and  it  was  only  afti'r  ;i 
search  of  moie  than  a  week  he  was  fimnd  in  a.  starvinp,'  condition 
and  brouiiht  to  camp.  Meanwhile  LaSalle  caused  a  fort  t(»  be 
erected  whicli  he  named  I'rudhomme  to  evince  his  condolence  for 
the  siilferinji'  of  the  hunter,  who  with  a  small  ])arty  he  lelt  in 
charji'e  </■  it.  .\.uain  eiiibarkin.i;' on  the  tortuous  river,  they  wen^ 
soon  appri.sedby  theopeniiiji'  buds  of  semi-tro])ical  vegetation,  that 
they  were  ra[>i(ily  entering  the  realms  of  spring. 


LASALLE. 


95 


On  tlic  l.'itli  of  ]\rar<'li.  tlicir  jittfiitioii  wiis  ni'icstcd  by  tlui 
hodiiiiiii;' of  iiii  liidiiiii  ilniiii,  and  sliouls  jodcccdiiij;-  from  a  war 
dance  on  tlic  M't'st<'ni  side  of  (lie  river.  lU'ini;  imaltlc,  in  consc- 
(|ii('nc('  of  a  foii'.  to  set'tlic  antliors  of  tlic  dcnionstiations.  tlic.v 
icliicd  to  tlif  opposite  shore  and  tlirew  np  hreast works  as  a 
means  of  ])r(»teetion.  Wlien  tlie  nnst  rolled  away  tlie  astonished 
savages  for  tlie  first  time  saw  tlie  stranii'ers.  wlio  made  siiiiials  for 
tlieni  to  eoiiie  over  the  I'ivei',  Sexcral  of  them,  aeeeptin^'  the  iii- 
\itation,  were  met  midway  the  stream  l»y  a  Frenehmaii.  who.  in 
turn  was  invited  in  a  friendly  manner  to  visit  their  \illa,i;'e.  TIk^ 
whole  party,  tlins  assnred,  crossed  the  river,  and  LaSalle  at  tiieir 
liead  marched  lo  the  o])eii  area  ol"  the  town.  Here  in  the  midst 
of  a  vast  concourse  of  admirinji'  villagers,  he  erected  a  cross, 
l»earin,y'  tlie.  arms  of  France,  ^lemiire  san;^'  a  hymn  in  canonicals, 
and  liaSalle,  ha\in,^'  olitained  from  the  eliiefs  an  acknow  led^c- 
nieiil  of  loyalty,  took  [lossession  of  the  coniitry  in  tiie  name  of 
the  kiiii;-.  'J'his  li\-ely  and  jicnerous  jieople,  so  different  frou!  tlie 
cold  and  tacitiun  Indian.",  of  the  north,  were  a  trilie  or  the  Ar- 
kansas, ami  <hvelt  near  the  niontii  of  the  river lieariii!.':  their  name. 
The  travelei's.  on  taking  leavi'  of  them,  were  furnished  with  two 
j^nides,  and  next  jiassed  the  sites  of  \'icl<s1»nr,u'  and  (Irand  (lulf, 
Avhere,  ISf  years  afterward,  were  foni^ht  Moody  stni^'iiles  for  the 
<h)ii)iiiion  of  tlie  river  they  were  endeavorinu'  to  explore.  N<'ar 
LMH*  miles  below  the  Aikaiisas,  their  jiiiides  ])(iinted  out  the  direc- 
tion of  the  \illaj;'e  of  the  Taeiisas.  Toiiti  and  Menihre  were  di- 
rected to  \  isit  it,  anil  wereureatly  surprised  at  the  e\  iih'iices  (if 
ci\  ilization  wliicii  it  exhiliited.  Its  lar^c  sipiaic  dwetiiii,i:s.  luiilt 
of  sun  (li'ied  mortar  and  arclie<l  over  with  donie-shaped  roofs, 
Avere  situated  in  lU'^nlar  ordei-  around  a  sipiare.  The  residence  of 
tlie  chief,  made  in  the  san.e  maiiner,  was  a  single  hall  10  feet 
sipiare  and  lighted  1»y  a  s"n,ule  door,  in  which  he  sat  in  state, 
awaitin;;' the  arrival  of  the  \isitois.  lie  was  surrounded  liy  ii 
eoni't  of  (JO  old  men  clad  in  r(  lies  of  mnlliery  bark,  Avliile  near  his 
l>ersoii  sat  his  three  wives,  wlh»  howled  whenever  he  spoke,  to  do 
luiii  honor.  After  making-  l.im  a  iinniiierof  ]ires»'nts,  which  he 
yracionsly  received,  the  A'isitors  proceeded  to  examine  the  tem]ile. 
similai'  in  size  to  the  liuildini;-  occiipie<l  l>y  the  kin-;'.  A\'itliiu 
were  the  bones  of  dejiarted  chiefs,  and  an  altar  kept  i)ei'])etiially 
burning' by  the  two  old  men  de\ote(l  to  this  sacred  otiice.  On  the 
top  of  the  temple  were  carved  three  eajiles.  lookin.ii'  towanl  the 
east ;  while  around  it  was  a  wall  studded  with  stakes,  on  the  tops 
of  which  liiiiii;'  the  skulls  of  enemies  who  had  been  sacriliced  to  the 
Sun.  The  chief,  in  response  to  a  friendly  call,  \  isited  the  camp 
of  LaSalle.  A  master  of  ceremonies  was  sent  to  announce  his 
ooinin.i;',  after  which  he  made  his  a])pearance.  r<ibed  in  wliiti ,  and 
attemled  by  three  ]H'rsoiis,  two  of  them  bearinii'  white  fans  and 
the  third  a  disk  of  burnished  copper.  The  latter  was  doubtless 
intended  to  re])resent  the  Sun,  which  was  not  only  an 
object  of  worshij),  but  the  .source  wlienc(>  the  chief  claimed 
his  ancestors  were  derived.  His  dcnieanoi'  was  yraxe  and 
<li<>iiilied  in  the  presence  of  LaSalle,  who  treated  him  with 
becoming?  eotutesy  and  frieiidslii]i.  After  receivini;'  a 
number  of-  presents,  the  iirincijial  object  of  the  visit, 
lie  returned  to  his  village,  ami  the  travelers  started  down  the 
river. 


96  HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 

yiiortly  al'rciwiinl,  tlicy  I'cll  in  with  Jiiiotlnr  Iriln',  and  IjaSallo 
'vvisliiii^'  to  approach  tlit'iii  in  a  iVicMtllv  manner,  cncaniix'd  on  tlu^ 
opposite  sliore.  lie  then  peiiiiitted  Tonti,  uitli  a  lew  companions, 
to  nnd<e  tiieni  a  visit,  Aviio,  tindin;n'  them  lavoiabl.v  (lisjxtsed,  La- 
Salle  and  .Mend»re  also  Joined  the  jiarty.  Tiiey  next  \isited  one  of 
the  Indian  \illa,y('s  and  were  made  the  recipients  of  a  lu.spitaiity 
limite(l  only  liy  tin'  means  of  their  j;-enerons  entertainers.  They 
Avere  the  Nachez,  and  LaSalie,  leai'ninj;-  that  the  i>rincipal  town 
was  not  far  distant,  reDaired  thither  to  have  an  iiderview  with  tiie 
head  chief  of  the  t  rihe.  As  amoni;  the  Taensas,  he  saw  here  a  royal 
residence. a  tem])leof  thesnn,  witii  i'  leipetnally  Iturnin;;'  lire,  and 
oIImm'  e\  ideiiees  of  nn)re  than  ordii  .ly  Indian  pvoj;i'ess,  llefore 
lea\  in;;',  LaSalle  erected  a  cross  in  tin-  midst  of  tiie  t(»wn,  to  which 
was  attached  the  armsol' I'' ranee,  an  act  which  tlie  inhabitants  re- 
;;arded  with  ;4i'eat  satisfaction,  i)nt  had  they  known  its  nn/anin;;' 
their  displeasnre  W(»nld  iia\'e  been  eipndly  intense. 

Next,  they  discoM-red  the  month  of  Kcd  River,  and  after  pass- 
ing' a  ninnher  of  other  \illa,u('s,  fonnd  tliemselves  at  the  Jniu'tion 
of  tin'  tlu'ce  chainn'ls  of  tin-  river  whicii  hraneii  olf  into  the  (inlf. 
.V  ditferent  party  entered  each  jtassa^e,  and  as  they  moved  sonth- 
ward  the  water  rapidly  ciian.u'ed  to  brine. and  the  land  l)ree/,e  became 
salty  with  the  breath  of  the  sea.  On  tlie  fith  <d' April  '••Thein'oad 
bosom  of  the  great  (Jnlf  opened  on  their  sight,  tossing  its  restless 
billows,  limitless,  voiceless  and  lonely  as  when  luirn  of  chaos,  with- 
out a  sign  of  life.""* 

The  great  mystery  of  the  new  world  was  now  unveiled,  T.aSallo 
had  at  last  trinm])hed  over  «'\ cry  opposing  obstacle,  and  secured  a 
fame  which  will  live  as  long  as  the  floods  of  the  great  river  roll  to 
tin'  sea  and  ini[iart  fertility  to  the  valley  through  whicli  they  tlow. 

.V ft er  coasting  ibr  a  short  tinu' the  marshy  shores  of  the  (iulf 
and  its  inlets,  the  ])arty  ascended  the  river  till  its  bunks  became 
sidlicieiitly  dry  to  atford  a  landing.  Here  LaSalle  erected  a  col- 
umn on  which  he  inscrilx'd  the  words:  "Louis  le  (irand  Koy  de 
France et  de  }sa\arre,  K'egne  ;  Le  Neiivienu' Avril,  l(IS2." 

Jn  homn-  of  his  King,  he  called  the  country  through  which  ho 
had  ])asse<l,  Louisiana,  and  eonunenced  the  ceremony  of  taking 
foi'mal  possession  by  military  display  and  the  imposing  pageantry 
of  the  Catholic,  church.  Standing  by  the  side  of  the  column,  he 
proclaimed  in  a  loud  voice  : 

"  bi  tlic  nuiiic  (if  tlic  most  liiiili,  inii;'iity,  invincible,  iiiiil  victorious  Prince 
Lo\iis  liic  (Ji't'iii,  by  tlic  irnici!  of  God  Kiiiii'  ot'  Prance  iiiiil  Navarre,  tourleeiUh 
ol'tiiat  name,  I,  Ibis  Dili  day  orAjiril,  l(iS-2,  in  viiUie  of  the  coinmissiou  of  iiis 
]\[ajrst3-,  wbieli  I  bold  in  my  band,  and  wbicb  may  be  seen  by  all  wbom  it  may 
concern,  bave  taken,  and  now  do  take,  in  tli(-  inune  of  bis  in.ajesty  ami  of  liis 
successors  to  tbe  crown,  possession  of  Ibis  coiinlry  ot  [joiiisiana,  the  seas,  bar- 
bors,  ports,  t)ays,  adjacent  straits,  and  all  the  nations,  jjeoples,  provinces,  citiis, 
towns,  villages,  mines,  minerals,  tisberi(S,  streams  and  rivers,  comprised  in  ibu 
limits  of  the  said  Louisiana." 

A  song,  with  volh'vs  of  musketry,  closed  the  ceremonies  by 
Avhicli  the  realms  of  France  received  the  stui»endous  accession  of 
the  great  region  drained  by  the  ^lississippi  and  its  tributaries,  t 

The  voyagers  having  now  aceomplisiied  the  great  object  of  the 
expedition,  started  on  tlu'ir  Inaneward  Journey.  The  tribes  which 
luul  treated  them  with  so  unu'li  civility  and  generosity  in  the  down- 

*niaeoverios  of  the  (Jrcat  West. 
tMonette's  Vul.  of  the  Miea 


LASALLE. 


&7 


ward  voyajio,  wcio  now  IVoin  sonic  ciiusr  aliciiiitcd,  aiid  iiHlis])os('<l 
to  let  liini  Iiivv<'  food.  On  arriviuji'  aiiionj^'  tin-  Naclic/,,  tli(\v  tomid 
tliciii  liostilc,  and  wliilc  llicy  abnndaiitlv  .snpidicd  tliciii  witli  coi:!, 
tlif.v  at  tlu'  sann'  tini«'  sniToundcd  tlicm  -witli  a  la  •;;('  Ibicc  to  cut 
tlicin  oil".  Fcariiiji',  ]iowcv<t,  to  make  an  attack,  tlic.  travelers  de- 
]>ar(<'d,  and,  witlMtnt  i'nitlicr  molcslation,  i'ca<-1icd  J''ort  IMiid- 
Inininie,  ulicie  LaSallc  was  sci/cd  Avilli  a  dani^crous  illness. 
I'nable  to  go  liiinseli',  he  sent  Tonti  and  a  few  companions  to  aii- 
noi!nc<'  tlie  news  ol'liis  discoveries  at  ^Mackinaw,  whence  if  was  to 
lie  uis]iatched  toi'anada.  .Mthoniiii  carcrnll.v  atten<ied  by  Mein- 
hi'c,  he  lay  sick  in  llie  Ibrt  tiil  tli<'  lattei'  part  of  -Inly,  when  he.  ill 
a  ,L>iea(  ineasnre,  recovered,  and  reached  .Mackinaw  on  the  1st  of 
»~ic]il<'nil)ei'.  Thence  Menibre  was  sent  to  France  with  dispatches 
iiialun^'  known  the  <;randeiir  of  LaSalie's  disco\('ii<'s  :  the  \  ast 
rciiion  visited;  the  iinnieiisity  of  its  iiioitntain  iaiij.':es,  and  itsj;reat 
plains,  vei)ie(l  by  mi,i;hty  streams. 

it  was  LaSalie's  intention  also  to  visit  France,  bnt  hearing-  that 
the  Iroijiiois  were  about  to  I'enew  tln-ir  attacks  on  the  wcslcin 
tribes,  he  decided  Ihatliis  presence  was  necessary  to  the  safety  of 
Ids  ])roJectc(l  ])olicy.  He  accordin,i;Iy  ictiirned  to  the  Illinois  ri\-er, 
whither  Tonti  had  already  preceded  iiiin,  and  at  once  coniiiiciiced 
])rcparatioiis  to  meet  tin-  enemies.  As  a  means  ofdcrcnce  it  was 
detcniiiiied  to  (brtify  Starved  Koek,  whose  mililaiy  advanta.ues 
had  previously  attra<tted  the  attention  of  LjiSalle.  From  the 
waters  which  wash  its  base  it  rises  toaii  altitude  of  ll.'.">  feet.  Three 
of  th<'  sides  it  is  impossible  to  scale,  while  the  one  next  to  the  land 
may  be  climbed  with  dilliculty.  ]"'rom  its  sumnut.  almost  as  inac- 
cessible as  an  eaj;ie's  nest,  the  valley  ol"  the  Illinois  s])reads  out 
in  a  landscape  of  exquisite  beauty.  The  I'iver,  nearliy,  stru.n,nles 
between  a  number  of  woodid  islands,  while  fuitlK-r  below,  it  qui- 
etly meanders  thi'ouii'h  vast  meadows,  till  it  (lisa|ipears  like  a 
thread  of  liiiht  in  the  dim  distance.  Here,  on  the  siimniit  of  this 
rocky  citadel,  in  the  month  of  November  lic^  b('<;an  to  entrench  him- 
self. Storehouses  were  constructed  from  the  tiees  that  <;i'ew  on 
the  top,  and  when  the  su]>ply  was  exhausted,  at  immense  labor, 
timl'ers  were  di'a<>f;cd  uj)  the  steej)  ascent  to  construct  a  palisaded 
inelosiire.  \\'itli  the  eoiniiletion  of  this  stronj;hold,  which  was 
<;alled  in  honor  of  the  French  Kwg  the  Fort  of  St.  Louis,  the  In- 
dians l)e<>an  to  ji^ather  ai'ouiid  it,  rei^ardin;^- LaSalle  as  the  ureat 
chamjuon  who  was  to  ]>rotect  them  a.iiainst  the  IiTxpiois.  'i'lie 
country,  which  lay  under  the  ])rotection  of  the  fort,  recently  strewn 
with  the  fi'hastly  lelicfs  (tf  an  JrcMpiois  victory,  now  bet-ame  ani- 
mated with  a  wild  concourses  of  siivajije  life.  The  givnt  town  of 
the  Illinois,  the  .lerusalem  of  these  tribes,  Fluenix  like,  had  s]»run<if 
from  its  aslies,  and  ayain  echoed  with  the  tramp  of  some  (),0()0  in- 
liabitants.  In  addition  to  the  Illinois,  there  were  scaftered  along 
the  Aalley  of  the  river,  amonp;  the  nei<;hborin<>'  hills  and  over  the 
adjacent  plains,  the  fraj>inents  of  10  or  IL'  other  tribes,  numberiiij«' 
sonus  14000  souls.  ]\Iiamis,  from  the  s(mrce  of  the  Kankakee; 
Shawnees,  from  the  Scioto,  Abenakis  and  ]\Iohe,nans,  from  the 
Atlantic  seaboard,  and  other  tribes  whose  rou<ih  names  are  too 
unpleasant  for  reccu'd,  had  buried  their  animosities,  and  now 
loiinu'cd  here  and  there  in  lazy  f^roujis,  while  their  wives  ])erforme(l 
the  drudgery  of  their  camps,  and  their  children  gainluded  and 
whooi)ed  with  the  reckless  abandon  of  mad-cai)s.  LaSalie's  nego- 
7 


98 


IITSTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


ti:iti<»iis  Avitli  tlic  wcstciii  AI,ii(»ii(|tiiiis--;ii(l(Ml  by  tlic  iiiii\crsiil  lior 
lor  inspired  l»\  tlir  luiiliil  iittiicUs  (tl"  llic  li()<|iu>is — had  iiicl  with 
iiiU'Xiiiiiplcd  siirccss.  in  wiitinj:  to  tiic  I-'icim-Ii  Minister  oi'  Ma- 
rine, lie  wrote  that  liis  e4)l()n_v  liad  sjirniiiH'  up  as  if  by  nia.L;ie,  in  a 
■siiiiih'  niulit.  and  contained  l,()()(t  warriors  and  sonie  I'O.dOO  sonls. 
)'>y  llie  iiii\  ileii'es  whicii  had  been  eonferrcd  on  Inni  as  a  discoverer 
lie  rnh'(i  liis  wild  domain  as  a  seiinniory.  and  granted  portions  of 
liuul  to  his  followers.  Jjittio  prolit,  however,  was  realized  in  this 
nianner,  for  the  .ureater  part  of  his  men  were  so  reckless  that 
tiieir  Iradncers  weri'  wont  to  say  of  them  that  eacii  married  a  new 
s(juaw  every  day  of  the  week. 

To  maintain  his  colony,  he  now  fonnd  it  necessary  t(»  furnish  its 
memlters  with  protection  aj^ainst  the  coinnioii  enemy,  and  iner 
chandise  to  barte)'  for  tiie  immense  (piantities  of  furs  annually 
jiiitliered  in  the  interior  of  the  continent.  I'i('\  iously,  the  aveinic 
of  trach'  lay  tliroiii^h  Canada,  but  it  Mas  LaSalle's  intention  to 
establish  an  entrepot  at  the  inoiith  of  the  Mississippi,  whereby  his 
colony  would  have  the  a<h aiita;;c  of  ilirect  intercourse  with  the 
AVest  Indies  and  Enrope.  AVhile  he  was  thus  inatnrinjn  i)lai's  for 
the  beuelit  of  his  colony,  his  coteni]torai'ies,  either  thronjiii  en\  y  or 
too  short-sighted  ti>  coniitrelieiid  his  objects,  were  strivinj:' to  defeat 
them.  Unfortunately,  (lov.  Frontenac  had  been  recalled,  and  De 
La  Uarre,  an  avaricious  old  naval  oiHcer,  had  been  sent  out  to 
take  his  place.  His  conduct  soon  ])i-oved  tliat  he  was  wholly  iiiitit 
ibr  the  olVice  he  was  called  to  till.  Like  his  predecessor,  he  was 
fiuilty  of  violating;'  the  royal  ordinances  rein'nlatiii.1;' the  fni' trade, 
but  the  former  partially  atoned  tor  this  wronj;-  by  an  enerjiictic  ad- 
ministration of  ]»nblic  affairs,  while  the  latte:'  added  inability  to 
his  faults,  whereby  the  best  interests  of  tlu^  coiintiy  became  paral- 
lized.  He  was  the  s))ecial  chanipiitn  (>f  the  enemies  of  I>aSalle, 
Avho,  enji'rossed  with  the  affairs  of  his  colony,  was  ij^-norant  of  tln^ 
ji'reat  Jealtiiisy  with  which  his  affairs  were  reiiarded.  Xot  kiiow- 
itiii'  the  disposition  of  La  J>arre,  he  wrote  to  him  froi.:  h'ort  St. 
]iOuis  in  the  sprinj;-  of  KJS;;,  expressinj;'  the  ho|)e  that  lie  would 
have  the  same  i;ounsel  and  support  from  him  that  he  had  '•  ceixcd 
from  his  ])redecessor.  After  caiitionin.u'  the  (lovernor  that  his  en- 
emies would  endeavor  to  misrei»resent  his  objects  he  i)ro(;eeds  to 
jiive  an  account  of  his  ex])loratious: 

With  only  22  Frenchmen,  he  states,  he  had  formed  amicablci 
relations  with  the  \arions  trilu's  ali»n,i;'  the  ?ilississippi,  and  that 
his  royal  patent  enabled  him  to  establish  forts  in  tln^  newly  dis- 
covered country,  and  to  make  pniuts  around  them  as  at  Fort  Fron- 
tenac.    lie  adds  : 

"Tlie  losses  in  my  enterprise's  liiive  exceefletl  40,000  crowns,  I  iini  now  un- 
iii!i'400  ItMjruis  sontlnvest  of  tliis  ])l;»e<'  to  iiiilnec  tlic  CliieliMsaws  to  follow  llie 
Sliiiwnccs  iiiul  other  tril)es,  iind  settle  lilve  ilieiiuit  Fort  St.  Louis.  It  remained 
only  to  settle  French  e()loni.><ts  liere,  iiiul  this  I  ]j;ive  alreiuly  done.  I  hojie  yon 
will  not  detain  them  us  violators  of  tin;  laws  itoverninir  the  fur  Iradc;  wlien  they 
comedown  to  Montreal  to  make  iieces.sary  jinrehases,  I  am  aware  that  I  liave 
no  ri,;:ht  to  trade  with  the  trihes  who  descend  to  ^Montreal,  and  I  shall  not  ])er- 
niit  such  trade  lo  my  men  ;  nor  have  I  ever  issued  licenses  to  tlmt  eft'ect,  as  my 
enemies  say  that-  I  have  done." 

5s"otwithstundinf:f  this  reasonable  rexpiest,  the  men  he  sent  on 
important  business  were  retained,  and  lie  a  second  time  wrote  to 
the  governor: 


LASALLE. 


no 


"TIk!  Iroquois  arc  jicniii  iiiviulini^-  the  rountry.  T,iist  yi'ai'  flu>  Miaiiiis  were 
soalanncd  by  tlicm  tliat  they  abi'iuioiicil  tlicir  town  and  IIimI,  h>it,  on  luj'  rctiiru 
tlii'V  came  back,  and  liavc  been  induced  to  settle  wilii  the  niiiiois  at  my  Fort 
of  SI.  Louis.  Tlie  Iro(iuois  iiavi,'  lately  niiirdereil  sonut  I'aniilies  of  their  mitioii 
and  tliey  arc  all  in  terror  ai^ain.  I  am  afraid  they  will  take  flight  and  so  pre- 
vent tiie  Missouris  and  iiciiildiorins;  tribes  from  cominii- to  settle  at  St.  Loiii.s, 
as  they  arc  about  to  do.  Bome  of  the  lliirons  anil  French  tell  the  IMiamis  tiiat 
I  am  keeiiinu'  tlu  ni  here  for  the  IriKiiiois  to  deslny.  1  iiray  tiiat  you  will  let 
me  liear  iVom  yon,  that  [  iii;iy  ,i!;ivc  lhes<'  people  some  assurances  of  proleclinn 
before  they  ar(^  destroyed  in  my  sis;ht.  J)o  not  sulfer  my  men  who  have  come 
down  to  the  sctth'tucnts  to  be  lontrer  jircveiited  from  nturniiii^.  There  is 
irreat  need  here  of  reiid'orci'iuents.  The  Iro(inois.  a-^  I  h;iv(!  said,  have  lately 
entered  the  country,  and  a  irreat,  terror  jircvails.  I  lijivc  postponed  iroinij;  to 
^lackinaw,  bi'cause,  if  the  Irmpiois  strike  any  blow  in  my  absence,  the 
Miainis  will  think  ih-.tl  am  in  letiunc  with  them;  whereas,  if  I  and  tlicFrciicli 
stay  amons;-  them,  they  will  reji-ard  us  as  [iroteclors.  I5ut,  Monsieur,  it-  is  in 
vain  that  we  risk  our  lives  here,  and  that  I  e.xhaust,  my  means  in  order  to  ful- 
fill the  intentions  of  his  majesty,  if  all  my  uieiisurcs  are  crossed  in  the  settle- 
ments lielow,  and  if  I  hose  win)  u'o  down  to  brim;'  luunitions,  wit'iont  whicdi  we 
cannotdefend  oursidves,  are  detained,  under  prete.vts  Irumpe'l  up  for  the  occa- 
sion. If  I  am  prevented  from  bringini;-  uj)  me-n  and  supplii's,  as  I  am  allowed  to 
do  by  the  permit  of  Count  Fronlenac,  then  uiy  patciit  from  the  kini^-  is  useless. 
It  would  l)e  very  hard  for  us,  after  having- done  what  was  rc(piired,  even  be- 
fore the  time  i)reseribed,  and  after  snlferin!^  severe  losses,  to  have  our  cfiVu'ts 
frustrated  by  obstacles  i^ot  up  desijfnedly.  I  trust  that,  as  it  lies  with  you  aloue 
to  i)ri'vcnt  or  to  permit  the  return  of  the  lueu  whoiu  I  have  scut  down,  you 
•will  not  .so  act  as  to  thwart  my  |)lans,  as  part  ^  l'  the  i^oods  which  I  have  sent 
by  them  belonj^  iu)t  not  tome,  but  the  iSii'Ur  (i(^  Toiiti,  and  are  a  i)art  of  his 
pay.  Others  are  to  buy  munitions  indispensable  for  our  defense.  Do  not  let 
my  creditors  sci/e  them.  It  is  for  their  advantau;e  that  my  fort,  full  as  it  is  of 
aoods,  should  be  held  against  the  enemy.  I  have  only  20  men,  with  scarcely 
100  pounds  of  powder,  smd  I  cannot  long  ludd  tlie  country  without  more.  The 
Illinois  are  vcr\' capricious  and  uncertain.  .  .  If  I  had  luen  enough  to 
send  out  to  reconnoitre  tin-  eneniy,  I  would  have  done  so  before  this ;  but  I 
li.ave  not  enough.  I  trust  you  will"  put  it  in  my  pow"er  to  olitnin  more,  that  this 
impori.'int  colony  maj'  be  saved."  * 

Wliilc  LiiSiillc  Wii.s  tliu.s  coft'cspoiidiiiii'  willi  tlic  uovcnior,  tlie 
liiU(M'  wa.s  wiitiiio-  Icttcfs  to  tlic  Ficiicli  ('()l(»iii;il  .Aliiii.slci',  siiyiiig 
tliiit  lie  (ioiihtctl  flic  rciility  of  litiSjillc's  discovci'it'.s ;  that  with 
scafce  a  srow  of  vaualioiids  lie  wa.s  about  to  set  liiiiisclf  up  its 
kiii^i',  and  wa.s  likclv  to  involve  Canada  and  the  western  ti'ibes  in 
a  war  with  the  InKpioi.s.  The  extent  to  which  the  enemies  of  La- 
Sallc  sntfcrcd  liicir  jcalon.'sic.'s  lo  lead  tliciii  asti'ay  may  l»c  yiitlicrcd 
fi'om  tlie  ]Mistiire  of  atfaii'.s  at  tiu'  time,  'fhe  ;;'ovciiioi'  of  New 
York,  witli  the  iio]»(^  of  divertiii}^'  the  fur  trade  fioni  .Montreal  to 
.\lltaiiy,  wa.s  incitiii'f  the  Iro(|nois  to  make  another  attiick  on  the 
wcsiern  tribes.  Alrhon.uli  tliis  ])rocecdiiio'  was  IVaii.uht  with  the 
oreatest  (hin.^'cr  to  ( 'amnhi,  yet  La  IJarrc  and  his  political  menials 
were  willin.u'  it  mioht  succeed,  and  the  entire  country  be  endan- 
.yered,  provided  it  resnlfecl  in  the  rniit  of  LaSalle.  When,  there- 
fore, tliese  ]>ests  of  the  ioresf,  under  the  iirlliience  of  l>ritish 
intri,uiie,  were  a^iiiin  makin,i;'  preparations  to  invade  the  country  of 
the  Illinois  iiiid  .Miainis,  instead  of  an  earnest  ettbrt  to  check  their 
<lesi<;ns,  they  even  enconraut'd  them  to  kill  LaSalle  and  cut  olf  his 
snpi»iies  to  ai<l  them  in  their  diabulical  woi'k.  The  continued  cal- 
nmnies  nttered  a,i^ainst  LaSitlle  tit  length  reaehetl  the  ear  of  the 
kin;ii'.  who  wrote  to  his  Canadian  o'ovcrnor,  statino'  that  he  was 
con\  iiiccd  that  LaSallc's  discoveries  vsere  ns.-less.  and  that  such 
entcrjtrises  oii^iit  to  i»e  jirevented  in  the  fntiire,  iis  they  tended  to 
diminish  the  revenues  deiived  from  the  fur  trade. 


♦Tills  totter  is  dated  Portage  de  ChIca(?ou,  4  Juni,  1863.— Disiov.  of  the  Oreat  West. 


](>0 


lIISTOltY   r)F   IIJ/.NOTS. 


I)(».iMics.>,  )  ii,]/()hi('iu'<l  b.v  rlic  l<!ii;;'s  JcttiT,  llic  ^lovcnior  now 
(Iftcniiiiit'd  to  sci/c  lM»it  rroiitciiac.  iiiidci'  llic  [nctcxt  tluit  Lil 
iSiillc  li:i(l  not  fiillilltMl  tlic  comlitioiis  of  liis  coiitiiict  by  iiuiintiiiii- 
iiiji' a  siilliciciit  ^iiiiisoii.  Despite  the  remoiistriiiice  of  LaSalle's 
creditors,  lie  sent  two  of  liis  political  associates  to  take  coiiiiiiaiid 
of  the  fort.  As  soon  as  this  was  accomplished,  tiie.v  coiiiiiieiiced 
livinji' on  LaHaile's  ]ii'o\isions,  ami  were  afterward  chaijicd  with 
sellint;'  those  which  liad  been  fuiinslied  b_\  the  kin^  for  their  own 
jMivate  1m  iiefil.  The  ;^-overnoi'  also  sent  an  otticci'  of  the  kind's 
dra;;<tons  to  Fort  St.  Lonis,  aiui  nnnh'  him  the  bearci'  of  a  letter  to 
LaSalle.  demanding-  his  pr<'scnce  at  (j)nebec.  MeanMldle  rnniors 
were  still  rife  at  the  I'"oit  that  tlie  Irotinois  were  jicttinj;'  ready  tor 
an  invasion,  and  the  tribes  coinprisinji  liic  colony  tlew  to  liaSalle 
ami  beson^ht  him  to  t'nrnish  the  promised  succor.  Cut  off  from 
snpitlies,  and  idbl>ed  of  the  men  whom  lie  had  sent  to  securii 
them,  he  was  L;reatly  mortifu'd  to  lind  himself  wliolly  unable  to 
make  i^ood  his  pled;;e.  Fortunately  the  rumors  were  prenuilure, 
but  as  his  ivlations  with  the  /.governor  were  otherwise  intolerable, 
he  determined  to  visit  I'ranee  ti»  obtain  I'clief.  With  this  object 
in  \  icw,  he  IclY  Tonti  in  command  of  tiie  fort,  and  on  his  way  to 
(}iu'bec  met  with  the  {governor's  otliccr,  who  made  known  to  him 
the  natiiie  of  his  mission.  LaSalle,  snbmittinj;'  fiiacefnlly  to  an 
indijLiiiity  he  could  not  well  avoid,  wrote  to  Tonti  to  receive  the 
otliccr  with  line  courtesy,  whereu[>on,  without  further  business, 
they  parted,  in  due  tinm  the  dra<;oon  arrived  at  the  tort,  and 
lie  and  Tonti  spent  the  wilder  haimoniously,  the  one  com- 
manding' in  the  name  of  tlu^  governor,  and  the  other  in  that  (»f  La- 
Salle. The  threatened  invasion  (»f  the  Iroquois,  thouj^h  ])ostpoued, 
was  not  abandoned.  ])urin^'  the  latter  part  of  the  sjtrinji'  they 
made  an  incuisioii  o  the  country  and  attacked  the  fort,  but  the 
rocky  citadel  ju'oved  too  strong'  for  tlie  assault,  and  after  a  siej;e 
of  (■>  days  they  w«'re  coini)elled  to  retire. 

LaSalle,  on  arrivinji'  at  (Quebec,  sailed  for  France,  taking  a  last 
leave  of  the  jii-eat  arena  in  which,  tor  the  last  l(»  years,  he  had 
been  the  priiicijial  actor;  had  snll'ered  the  most  harrassinji'  anxie- 
ties,  and  had  Avon  the  jiroudest  triumphs.  From  Ibrest  solitudes 
and  sipialid  wigwams,  a  ])rosi»erous  voyaj;e  introduced  him  to  thc! 
busy  thron.iis  and  sculptured  ma;;niiicence  of  the  French  capital. 
Jts  venal  court,  bewildered  by  the  pompous  display  of  wealth  and 
the  trai)i)in<is  of  i»ower,  repirded  with  little  interest  the  solu'r  lia- 
bilinu'uts  (»f  honest  worth.  l>ut  the  son  (d'the  burj^jlier  of  l^»nen, 
unm(»ved  by  rejial  vanities,  and  with  a  natural  di,nnity  far  tran- 
scendinti  the  tinsel  of  titled  rank,  announced  his  discoveries  to 
the  jiiddy  court.  He  asked  for  means  to  return  to  the  new  tbund 
lands,  and  to  tbund  a  colony  on  the  .Mississi|)j»i,  to  protect  them 
from  thc  intrusion  of  tbreiuners.  Two  ]ioints  on  the  ]Mississi|»pi 
]»ro]»erly  selected  and  Ibrtitied,  he  arj;ued,  would  <;uar(l  the  whole 
inteiior  of  the  continent,  with  its  vast  areas  of  fertile  lands  and 
boinidless  resources.  Count  FVontenac  j>ave  him  the  aihantajic 
of  his  iutlueuce,  the  minister  of  nmrine  eutere<l  with  vijior  into 
the  scheme,  .and  recojunu-nded  it  to  the  king',  who  also  became 
fascinated  with  the  lilitterinji-  ])roject.  As  an  act  of  justice,  ami 
to  show  his  ai)])reciation  of  LaSalle.  he  ordered  LaUarre  to  restore 
to  him  the  ])ossession  of  J'\)its  Frontcn.M'  and  St.  Louis,  and  nudio 
reparation  for  the  danuige  he  had  sustain  'd  by  their  seizure.     La- 


LASALLE. 


101 


Siill(»  iislicd  for  two  sliijis,  but  tlio,  kiii^',  in  his  zi'al,  fiiive  liini  four 
— Ill*'  l-'iiiiicnis,  tlic  \W\h\  tilt'  AmiaMc,  iiiid  tlic  -lolly.  Two  liiiii- 
<lr«'(l  iiiiil  «'i;;li).v  iiu'ii  ciiiltaiktMl  in  tlic  cxiirdilioii,  coiisistiii;;'  of 
('(•(•Icsiiistics,  soldici's,  sailors,  iiiccliaiiics,  sevoral  families,  aiul 
even  a  number  of  iiirls,  Inred  by  tlie  jj-osix'cts  of  marria;;c 
iii  tlie  new  laii<l  of  promise.  Siiiili  were  tiie  colonists  wiio  wei'(! 
to  plant  tlie  standard  of  l^'rance  and  civilization  in  the  wilderness 
of  liOidsiaim.  As  in  most  of  the  early  attempts  at  colonization, 
the  men  were  illy  qnalified  to  /jfiapple  with  the  stern  work  it  was 
l)roi»osl'd  to  aeeomplish.  iJnt,  w(»rst  of  all,  was  the  naval  com- 
mander, Jh-anjen,  who  was  envious,  self-willed,  delicient  injmly- 
nient,  and  foolishly  proud. 

On  tin'  tirst  ol'  An.>;ust,  KiSt,  they  sailed  from  Ifoehelleon  their 
adventurous  voyai^e.  friMinent  calms  retarded  their  pro;;ress, 
and  when  at  lei)<;th  tlu'y  aiiived  at  Ilispaniola,  the  Fiancais, 
tilled  uith  munitions  and  other  necessaries  for  the  colony,  was 
captn)'e4l  by  a  JSjianish  jirivateer.  This  disaster,  for  which  IJeau- 
jen  was  evidently  to  bhime,  w;is  the  tirst  of  the  disasteis  which 
afterward  alteinhd  the  e\pe<lition.  After  obtainiiii;  snpitlies.  and 
.searchin;:  lor  inform;\tion  in  rej;ard  to  the  direction  in  which  he 
uuist  sail  t(»  tiud  ilie  outlet  of  the  !\Iississip]»i,  the  voya.u'e  \v;is  re- 
newed. On  enterinjL;  the  (iiiil"  of  Me\ic(»,  and  sailing;  in  a  iKtrth- 
westerly  direction,  a  sailoi-  at  the  mast-head  of  the  Amiable,  <»u 
the  L'Sth  of  December,  discovered  land.  In  coasting;  alont;'  the 
sIkmc  toward  tin-  west,  searchin;^'  I'oi-  the  n\outh  of  the  river,  they 
inc;intionsly  j)nssed  it.  l'r(»ceedinj;'  further,  LaHalle  <liscover«'d 
the  mistake,  but  JJeanjen,  i<'fusin;;  t(»  return,  they  at  lenj;th  landed 
at  3l:itaj;()i'(l;i  I'.ay.  I'hitei'inji'  this  arm  of  the  i^nlf.  they  discov- 
ered a  coiisideraltle  riv4'i-  failing'  into  it,  Avhi<'h  I.aSalle  conchided 
mi^ht  be  the  Lafourche,  the  most  western  <»utlet  of  tiie  ^lississipi)i. 
If  his  conJectuJCf*  w<'re  true,  he  preteru-d  to  ascend  it  to  the  main 
streaJH,  insTea4l  of  returtiin^' on  the  ^^ulf  against  contraiy  wintls, 
and  the  still  ;;ri'ater  inii)ediment  of  IJeaujeu's  obstina<y.  lie  ha(l 
diiferc'l  with  LalSalle  froj)i  the  commeiu-ement  of  the  voyage,  and 
in  every  instance  ju'oved  to  be  in  the  wi'on,ii",  and  now.  to  ;;et  rid 
ol'  him.  he  ju'cfei'rcd  ti>  debark  his  followers  on  the  Inne  shore  of 
the  bay. 

I'or  this  ]nni)os('.  the  Aiidable  w."i<ihed  anchor  and  entered  the 
iniri'ow  passai/e  icadiuiC  into  the  Itay,  but  Avas  unfortunately  ca- 
I'cened  over  by  the  sand  banks  <ibstru<'t in^'  the  chamu'l.  LaSalle, 
■with  a  .sad  heai-f.  beheld  the  disastei',  yet  with  cool  and  patient 
oinTfiy  set  himself  about  the  work  of  renn>vinji-  the  earyo.  A 
<Hiantity  of  jvowder  ami  Hour  was  saved,  but  lu'csently  a  storm 
arose,  and  the  stranded  vessel,  rent  assunder  1>y  the  waves,  scat- 
tered the  remaiidnji'  treasures  uiuui  the  ravenous  waters.  After 
the  landinii;"  was  eftected.  the  Indians  became  troubles(»me,  and  a 
tort  was  iuiilt,  with  i>r('at  labor,  two  ndles  above  the  mouth  of 
the  l^a  Vaeca,  a.  small  stream  falling'  into  the  Hay.  L;iSalh',  as  in 
previous  instances,  named  the  forritication  St.  Louis,  in  honor  of 
liis  kin;;.  Here  he  planted  the;  arms  of  France.  oi)ened  a  tield  for 
j'hintin;;  a  crop,  anil  thus  foumled  the  tii'st  •■'I'ench  settlenu'iit 
nnnle  in  Texas.  The  country,  thus  fornndly  occupied,  .yave  t:) 
France  a  chtim  which  she  never  abandoiu'd  till  Louisiana  became 
a  part  of  the  United  States,  nelirly  ll't)  years  afterward. 


102 


IIISTOIJV   or   ILLINOIS. 


The  scciK'  iinmiid  llic  toil  wiis  not  iiiiiiitcrcsiinj;,  niul  (n  somo 
cxtfiit  rclii'vi'd  Hit' dfjfclioii  iiri>iii;4-  IVoiii  ilic  i-ccciit  iiiisrorliiiics. 
Tl.c  t)ii\,  Itordi  red  hy  iiiiii'.-^iit's,  >tn'tclicd  awity  in  a  smillicaslrrii 
direction,  wliilc  tiic  otiiiw  pitiiits  of  i lie  ciiiiiiiass  spread  (iiit  in  an 
expanse  of  |)rairie  spi'iid<led  wilii  the  liri;;Id  tlowers  'or  wliieli 
Texas  is  reniari<al>lc,  and  uidcii  siili  rani;  ld;;li  anion;;iiie  lloial 
beauties  ol"  sontln'i  II  j^ardens.  At  certain  seasons  of  (lie  year,  tlin 
<;rassy  area  was  dotted  over  with  .i;ra/iii;;  hnffaio,  whilt'  tiii'  adja- 
cent waters  swarmed  witli  (ish  and  water  fowl.  Necessity  soon 
lan.^iit  the  colonists  the  best  niethotls  of  secnrinj;- them,  and  tlui 
sports  of  the  anj;Ier,  the  hnnter  and  tiie  fowler  not  <»idy  .yave  /est 
to  their  wilderness  life,  bnt  fiiini>lied  them  with  an  abinidance  of 
food.  It  was  ciistomiiry  tor  the  women  to  miiinle  in  the  hiintiii;^ 
]tartiesand  assist  in  cullin.^  iii»  tin-  meat,  and  tinis  a  hnnler  and 
fair  huntress  itccame  enamored  (tf  each  oilier,  and  were  mairied. 
Their  nnplials  were  solemnized  with  the  usual  e.\|)r<'ssions  of  mcr- 
I'inieiil,  forllic  .uennine  i'reiichman,  whatever  maybe  hissitnation, 
always  thinks  it  better  to  be  merry,  than  to  brood  o\vv  the  mis- 
foi'tnncs  he  is  unable  to  remedy. 

LaSalle,  ha\in.i;'  pro\  idcd  for  the  security  «>f  his  people,  next 
■went  l.">0  leaji'iics  alonj;'  Hie  coast,  east  and  west,  to  search  for  the 
liidden  liver,  but  without  success,  lie  also  determine«l  toniak*-  a 
tour  of  observation  toward  the  mines  and  settlements  of  Northern 
]\Iexico.  After  cousnminj;'  four  unnilhs  in  this  expedition,  and 
ji'atheriny  such  inlbrmation  from  tin'  Indians  as  conviiic<'d  him 
that  his  previous  conjectures  ii'speciinu  the  situatitm  of  the  Miss- 
issippi river  Were  correct,  theparty  rctraceil  thi'ir  steps,  and  arrived 
at  the  fort  March  (Jth,  KiSll.  travel-worn,  weary,  and  theirdotlies  iii 
tatters.  Soon  after,  it  was  ascertained  that  the  Uelle,  the  only 
remainiuji-  vessel,  had  been  sunk,  and  her  carju'o,  consisting-  «>t'  ihe 
personal  etVecls  of  LaSalle  and  a  ;^rea'  quantity  of  amunition  and 
tools,  were  s<'attered  in  the  waters  of  the  jJiulf.  Thi'  hiss  was  a 
fatal  blow  to  all  attem|)ts  in  tlie  future  to  move  the  colony  to  tlic^ 
^Mississippi,  and  left  little  hope  of  the  unhappy  exiles  ever  a^aiii 
Iteholdinji'  the  vine  clad  hoiiu-s  of  their  siinn\   !•' ranee, 

LaSalle,  forced  by  the  necessities  ot'  his  situation,  now deler- 
niined  to  make  his  way,  castwiird,  to  the  MississijH)i,  ami  thence 
to  ( 'anada  or  France,  to  obtain  relief.  Xo  sooner  had  he  tbrmed 
this  resolve,  the  oll'sprini;-  of  dire  extremity,  than  preparations 
were  completed  for  the  join  iiey.  April  L'L'd,  IJd  men  issued  from 
the  fort  and  made  their  way  across  the  ]»rairie.  followed  by  the 
anxious  eyes  of  those  who  were  left  behind.  Day  after  day  they 
held  a  northeasterly  diicciion.  passint;-  through  n  country  of  wild 
and  pleasini;'  landscaiies,  made  uj)  ol'  prairies,  woods  ami  .proves, 
<>reeii  as  an  emerald  with  the  heauty  oi  May.  After  haviii.^'  made 
a  distance  of  sonu'  KM*  miles,  their  ammunition  and  provisions 
failed  them,  and  they  were  com]telled  to  return  to  the  fort  without 
liaviii,u'  accomplished  the  object  of  their  journey.  Twenty  men 
Innl  pme  out.  but  only  S  returned,  some  havin.ii'  (h'serted.  and 
others  perished  in  ilie  attemiii  to  I'caeh  ihe  fort.  The  latter  num- 
ber would  doubtless  have  been  .ureatly  increased,  but  for  the 
assistance  of  lioises  purchased  from  theCeiiis  Indians,  the  most 
easterly  tribe  visited.  The  temporary  elation  produced  by  the 
return  of  the  absent  party,  soon  _ya\e  way  to  (hjection.  and  La- 
Salle had  u  heavy  task  to  pievent  the  latter  from  beeominy  (lis- 


LASALLE. 


103 


])iiii'.  II(>  WHS  iiiit'iijilly  stcni  iiiid  uiisyiiipatlii/.iii;^',  .\ct  lie  could 
Nortcii  into  coiiipassioii  jit  tlio  gn^iit  exirciiics  ol'  d;iii;;t'i'  iiiid 
(listless  of  tliosc  ;il)()iit  liiin. 

Tlic  Mudiicitv  ol"  liopc  witli  wlncli  lie  still  cliiiij;'  to  I'k^  iiccoiii- 
plisliinciit  of  his  ol)j(ct,  dctci'iniiH'd  liiiii  to  niidcc  a  second  and 
more  ]M'i'scv('rin<;'  cfifort  for  this  jjiirposc.  It  was  decided  that  the, 
adventiir<'rs  should  consist  of  LaSalle,  liis  hrotlier,  and  two 
iie|tliews,  ("a\  alier  and  Moraii^ct;  Dallant,  a  person  of  r^'pntahle 
biitli;  jjcotot,  ii  sur,i;'eon  ;  .lontel,  who  afterwards  hecanie  the 
historian  of  the  expedition,  and  some  !.*((  others.  Ai!.oitji'  those 
left  behind  were  the  wonn-n  and  children,  and  Z«'nol>e  Meniltre, 
•who  had  so  Ion,!;-  followed  the  foi'tnnes  of  LaSalle.  l'lver,\  thin<>' 
bein;;'  in  readiness,  the  travelers  for  the  last  time  entered  the  rnde 
diapel  of  the  fort,  mass  was  solemnly  celebrated,  and,  wit  li  tiie 
dond  of  incense  which  rose  from  tbe  altar,  ascended  the  prayei's 
of  the  coloinsts  for  the  success  of  the  Journey.  Next  came  the. 
])artin;L:',  of  si^iis,  of  tears,  and  of  eml»races — all  seemin;;-  intui- 
ti\<'ly  to  know  that  they  should  see  each  other  no  more.  -January 
iL'tli,  i(»S7,  the  chosen  band  filed  out  of  the  fort,  placed  flieir  baj;- 
,uaj;('  ou  horses,  and  started  otf  in  the  direction  of  the  ])re\ious 
Journey.  l'ushiii,u'  forward  across  ])raii'ies  and  woodlands,  anionj;" 
tribes  some  friendly  and  some  hostile,  they  passed  the  llrazos,  and 
encaiiijM'd  on  the  loth  of  March  near  the  western  waters  of  the 
Ti'inity.  They  were  now  in  the  vicinity  of  some  corn  which  La- 
Walle  iiad  coiKjealcd  in  Ids  xirevious  Journey,  and  lie  seid  Diillaiit, 
Leotot  ami  some  (ttliers,  to  j^ct  it.  The  ;^raiii  was  found  .s])oiled, 
but  in  returning'  tiiey  shot  some  lar.uc  j;aiiie,  and  sent  for  liorsesto 
convcv  it  to  camj).  Moranji^ct  an<l  two  others  were  sent  on  this 
<'rraiid,  and  found,  when  they  airived,  the  iiK'at  cut  nj),  and  that, 
nccordiii.n'  to  a  woodland  custom,  the  hiintei's  had  approjuiated 
.some  of  the  best  jiicces  to  themselves.  ^loran^ct,  whose  \  ioleiit 
temjter  had  i>reviously  i^ot  him  into  difliciilties,  berated  them  in  a 
violent  manner  for  claimiii,ii' this  ]»ri\  ile<;'e.  and  ended  by  takin.ii'  all 
tile  meat  himself.  This  outburst  of  jiassion  kindled  to  an  a\ ciiji- 
in.ij  Hame  a  ;;rnd,i;e  which  had  for  some  time  existed  Ix'tweeii  Du- 
JIautan<l  LaSalle,  and  the  foi'mer  cons]>ired  with  Leotot  to  take 
the  life  of  his  neidiew.  Xi.^ht  came  (ui,  the  evening'  m(>al  was 
♦lispatched,  and  when  the  intended  \ictini  had  fallen  aslee]),  the 
assassins  a]t)troaclicd  and  shot  him,  Theconimission  of  one  crime 
jicnerally  requires  anotln'r,  to  sa\(>  the  ])eii)etrator  from  merited 
ininisliment,  and  LaSalle  was  marked  out  as  the  next  object  of 
veiiu'eance. 

Two  days  i)assed  by  and  the  latter,  hearing  nothing  of  his 
ne]»liew,  began  to  eidertain  rueful  forebodings  in  regard  to  his 
safety.  At  length,  unable  longer  to  endure  his  suspense,  he  lett 
.Jontel  in  command  of  the  camp  and  started  in  search  of  his  rela- 
tive. Accompanied  only  by  a  friar  and  two  Indians,  he  a])- 
])roached  the  ca]n]>  of  the  assassins,  and  when  near  by  (iicd  a 
pistol  to  sunniio-.i  tliem  to  his  ]rescnce.  The  cons])irators,  rightly 
Judging  who  had  caused  the  repoit.  stealthily  ajtjiioached  and 
shot  their  intended  victim,  Leotot  exclaiming  as  he  fell,  "■  You  are 
down  now,  (irand  Lashaw,  you  are  down  now."*  They  then  des- 
poiled the  body  of  its  elothingy  and  left  it  to  be  devoured  by  the 


Mouette's  Val.  of  the  Jlisa. 


104 


IIISTOIIV  OF  ILLIKOIH. 


Willi  l>cii.sls(»rtlu'l«tr«'Ml.  Tims,  at  lliciijic  of  I.5,  in  liis  vigorous  iiisiii- 
IuxmI's  |>riiii('.  |l(•^i^lH■(l  one  uiiosc  exploits  liiixc  ((fiicjill^  ciiiiclMMl 
the  iii>t<ii.\  oltlic  lU'W  world,  ilis  successes  r«'(|iiiie(l  lor  tlieii  ae- 
coiii|)lisliiiieiit  an  niwlannted  w  ill  and  invincible  coiiiii^^c,  wliicii  lew 
conid  lirin^  to  Hie  aid  of  an  enle; prise,  Ilis  lailiires  were  paitly 
caused  i»v  I  lie  \astiiess  of  his  scliena  s,  and  in  pail  Itecaiise  liis 
iiiipeiions  nature  would  not  permit  liiin  to  conciliate  tlic  •;'ood  will 
of  those  he  eniplovcd  and  was  compelled  to  trust.  NN'liile  he 
yiasped  one  link  in  the  chain  of  his  extinded  enterprises,  another, 
tlirou<;li'treacher,v,  sli|»ped  from  his  hand. 

••  il,  isi'iwy  to  riclvoii  up  Ilis  (Irl'rcis,  lull  it  is  Mot  ciisy  ti)  hide  from  sijrlil  Mk; 
IJoinuii  vii'liics  llml  rcil('cmc(l  llicin.  MchcI  hy  ii  lliroiiy  of  ciu'mii'H,  \n:  sIuihIh, 
lil<r  llic  ICiliii'  of  Isriicj,  jiciiil  and  slHilliiicrs  ;il)o\r  llirlii  nil.  lie  wiis  il  IdWrr 
of  ii(laiiiiiiit,  airiiinst  whose  iiniU'cirnahlc  fiont  iianlslii|)  anil  ilaiij;rr,  llicrauc  of 
•nan  and  tlir  <l(ii>cnfs,  I  lie  siaillurn  sun,  llic  norllicrn  lilasi,  fatlLMic,  laniino 
and  <lis(asc,  delay,  disMpiioiiilinent  and  deferred  linpe,  (  ni|iiii(l  their  nuivei» 
in  vain.  That,  very  pridi>  whiili,  Coriolanus-like,  d(  rlareil  itself  most  siernly 
in  the  lliickesl  prevs  ol'  Iocs,  has  in  il  sonii  Ihiii;;'  to  ehalh  ii.nc  admiral  ion.  Never 
under  the  impeiiclrahle  mail  of  paladin  or  crusader  heal  a  heart  of  more  in- 
tripid  lueltle  than  wilhin  the  stoic  panoply  that  armed  the  liicast  ol'LaSalle. 
To  estimate  ariuht  the  umrvels  of  his  jiaiient  loiiiiuile,  one  mu>t  follow  on  his 
track  Ihrouuh  llie  va.-l  s('<ne  of  iiis  iniernnnahle  jounnyinus,  those  lhou>.inds 
of  weary  miles  of  forest,  marsh  and  river,  w  heri',  a.uain  and  aj;'ain,  in  the  hitler- 
iK's.s  of  hallled  slriviuif,  the  unlirinu'  pil'^rim  pushed  onward  toward  liie  ;.;oal  he 
was  never  to  at  tain.  America  owes  him  an  enduring  uu  uiorj' ;  for  in  thi^  mas- 
culine liyiire.  east  in  iron,  she  sees  the  heroic  pioneer  who  guided  iier  to  tho 
possession  of  hi'T  richest   heritage."  * 

Tho.se  who  were  not  in  sympathy  w  ith  the  assassins  coticeahMl 
their  fe.sentnient,  and  on  the  I'd  day  after  IIm'  inurdev  the  i)aity 
Mils  iioain  in  motion.  On  the  main  stream  of  the  Trinity  they 
"Were  a,i:ain  compelled  to  halt  for  the  purpose  of  lui.viii;^'  provisions 
ol  tlie  Indians.  Here  the  two  murih-rers,  who  had  arroj^ated  to 
tlieiiisel\-es  the  coiiiniaiid  of  the  cxiM-ditioii,  dcchired  their  inten- 
tion of  lettirninj;  to  the  fort,  and  there  biiildinj;'  a  slii[>  in  whii-h  to 
i'scaiio  to  the  West  Indies.  This  impossible  scheme, toj^cther  with 
tlieii'  refusal  to  let  their  acc()ni|»lices  in  the  murder  share  in  tho 
spoils  ohtained  hy  it,  .soon  led  to  dissensions.  'I'lie  breach  itipidly 
w  ideiied,  and  tit  last  the  a^ofieved  jiartics  shot  the  mtirder«'rs,  an 
act  which  was  but  tlu"  iccoil  of  the  crimes  they  were  the  tiist  to  in- 
troduce. Thus  ended  the  bloody  trajicdy,  enacted  with  such  atroc- 
ity Ity  these  pione«'fs  of  Clnistianitv  and  «'ivili/af  ion,  that  even  the 
debased  sava^ic  of  the  wilderiiesss  looked  on  with  the  utmost 
ama/emcnt  iin<l  horror. 

.loiitel,  with  the  brother  and  neiihew  of  LaSalle  and  4  others, 
whose  innocence  would  permit  them  to  return  to  ci\ili/,ation,  com- 
menced anew  their  tviivels,  leavinji,-  the  ji'uilty  behind.  Proceeding' 
in  il  northeastern  direction,  they  encountered  by  day  a  monotony 
of  tan.uled  forests,  j^ias.sy  plains,  and  miry  fens  ;  by  ni^ht,  chilly 
rains  alternatiiijn'  with  starlit  skies,  in  whose  jiale  and  mystic 
radiance  they  soundly  slcjit  and  dreamed  of  ab.sent  friends  and 
distant  homes.  At  Icnjutli,  after  a  Journey  of  two  inonths,  iu 
wiiich  they  had  been  leil  by  o'liides  furnished  by  various  tribes, 
they  stood  on  the  banks  of  the  Arkansas,  oi)posite  an  Indian  vil- 
lage. (Jazing  across  the  stream,  their  eyes  fell  on  a  hut,  nestled 
among  the  trees  of  the  forest,  while  a  cross  near  by  showed  it  to 
lie  the  abode  of  Christians.     Actuated  by  a  common  impulse,  they 


'Discov.  of  tlie  Great  W^est.— Purkman. 


LAMALLE. 


105 


fell  on  tlit'ir  Uiicfs,  iiihl  with  riiiotioiis  of  ^niititinlc  tliiiiikt'd  (iod 
lor  liiiviii^  Miifctnl  llit'iii  to  this  outpost  of  cix  iliz;itioii.  Two  iiirii 
issiH'tl  troiii  tilt'  ciiltin  iiiid  tiled  :i  sidiitf.  whicli  liciii^  iiiiswcrftl  l»y 
11  voMcy  iVom  llif  tiiivch'rs,  a  caii..;-  put  out  Iroiii  t lie  shore  iiiid 
li'irit'd  tliciii  oMT  tin'  strciim. 

'I  he  ioii^  lost  waiidcicis  wci'c  cordially  <{i«»i'tt'd  in  their  ni(»tlier 
ton;;ne  by  the  oeeupants  of  the  dwcllin.u.  who  proved  to  lie  (>  of 
Tonti's  Mien,  whom  he  had  left  here  in  his  assent  of  the  Missis- 
sijtpi/  This  noble  otVieer,  who  had  iteeii  restored  to  th(>  eoiniiiand 
of  the  fort  on  the  Illinois  by  order  of  the  Kiii.u,  had  heard  of  Lil 
Salle's  disaster,  and  iiiiiiiediately  e(iiiipped  an  expedition  with  his 
own  means  to  reli<'Vi'  him.  With  L'.")  Freiieliinen  and  o  Indians,  he, 
left  the  fort  on  the  l.'tth  of  l''ebriiary,  KiSi;,  and  soon  descended 
the  Illinois  and  .Missi;,sip|»i  to  the  (!nlf.  Not  tiiidin;;' any  traces 
of  him  at  the  month  (»f  the  i-iver,  1m'  sent  his  canoes  to  scour  the 
shores  for  a.  distance  of  .'!(►  lea;^nes  on  either  side.  Not  seeini;  or 
lieariiiji' anythin.^  of  l.aSalle,  who  at  the  same  time  was  waiideriuLi 
anion:;  the  wilds  of  Texas,  in  a  search  equally  fruitless,  he  relia<'('d 
liis  course  to  the  fort  on  the  Illinois,  lea\  iiiu,  as  already  mentioned, 
HOMK^  of  his  men  near  the  imtiith  of  the  ArUansas.  The  travelers, 
from  motives  of  |»olicy,  carel'nlly  concealed  the  death  of  LaSalle 
IVoin  their  hosts,  and  when  siitlicieiitly  recruited  rccomiiieiiced 
theirjoiiniey.  I'roceedinji'down the Arkaiisas,tli('ysoon  found  t hem- 
selves  on  the  yreat  lixcr  which  had  so  loiijii'  been  the  object  of 
their  search.  The  l.'ltli  of  Sepleiiil»cr  found  them  at  the  coiitlii- 
eiic*' of  the  Illinois,  ami  II  days  more  broiijiht  them  to  the  tort- 
crowned  rock,  which,  like  a  sentinel,  stood  watch  over  its  peaceful 
waters.  They  landed  and  were,  soon  met  by  paitiesfrom  the  fort, 
mIio,  after  the  usual  s.ilntatious,  iii((nircd  for  LaSalle.  Siilistit  ut- 
in^'  adroitness  for  a  frank  a\dwal  of  the  truth,  they  replied  that 
they  had  left  him  in  Texas,  and  at  the  time  of  their  depaitur*'  he 
was  in  liood  health. 

It  is  said  the  oltjcct  of  the  evasion  was  to  enable  the  old  priest, 
Cavalier,  hs  the  icpresentalive  of  LaSalle,  to  derive  some  advaii- 
tajic  for  himself  and  coiii])aiiions  in  the  settlement  of  his  brother's 
estate.  T(Uiti  v,as  al)seiit,  li;;litiii,i;' the  Irocpiois.  but  his  lieiiteiiaiit 
received  *lieni  with  a  salvo  of  musketry,  and  provided  for  thcni 
comfortable  (piai'ters  in  the  fori.  Tonti,  not  lon;n'  alter,  returned 
from  his  niaitial  expedition,  and  listened  with  |)r(»tbund  interest 
ami  symjiathy  to  the  story  of  the  disasters  and  siitferinys  of  the 
tra\ clers,  as  I'clated  by  the  elder  Cavalier.  He  did  not  scruple  to 
tell  Tonti  the  same  stoiy  by  which  lu;  had  deeeived  others  in  re- 
j^ard  to  the  death  of  liis  brother.  Moreover,  after  liviiit;'  for 
months  on  the  hospitality  of  his  ^ciierons  host,  he  ad<led  fiaiul 
and  meanness  to  dece]»tioii.  This  tla,i;raiit  outraiic  he  perpetrated 
by  for,iiiii};'  an  or<ler  (Ui  Tonti,  in  the  name  of  LaSalle,  for  1,000 
livres,  in  furs  and  other  yoods,  which  his  uusiispectinii'  victim 
generously  delivered  to  him  at  tiie  time  of  his  departure. 

On  leaviui;'  the  fort,  the  tra\ clers  proceeded  to  .Alackiiiaw,  where 
tliey  exchanged  their  ill-j>'otten  furs  ihv  elothinjL';  and  means  to  de- 
fray their  exi»enses  liome.  Without  further  delay,  they  made 
(heir  way  to  (^>uebec,  and  thence  t(»  l-'rance,  whither  they  arrived 
in  Oetober,  1()<SS,  havinf-'  spent  more  than  four  years  in  their  dis- 

•Tlils  vrna  the  coimnencement  of  Arkansas  Post,  ciipturetl  by  Gen.  McCleruund  dur- 
lujf  tlio  iiubelUon. 


100 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


taut  wiilKlrriuns.  Tlicv  wt'ic  iik-ii  of  only  a\t'i:i;;i'  iil>ility  iiiMi 
rilcr;iV,  \fl.  iiio\c<l  lt,\  llii'  lii(»>l  iiifssiii;^  lifccssilv.  IImv  |ii'1  ruiiiird 
oiH'olllif  iiiu>l  iciiiai  kiiltlf  \n\a.i;r.s  (111  locoid.  'I'licy  iii>\\ ,  lur  I  hi- 
lll'Ht  tiiiit',  <li\iil;'<'il  llif  st'ci'ct  <>r  l/iSalliAs  tiratli,  ami  tiir  kiii;^' 
issiHil  (H<|('is  tor  ilic  aiifsl  III'  all  wliu  wcic  |»ii\ y  to  liis  niiiidci'. 
It  tlors  mil  a|i|itMi'  n-rlaiii  llial  any  ul'  tlicm  wrir  t>\  «-i' siiliji'di'd 
to  a  niiiiiiial  |iros('<-iiii<iii:  Itut  iiiimir  has  it  lliat  part  nl'tlicni  pci-- 
islicd  liy  liit'ii'  nwii  hands,  and  |iait  by  ihc  Indians,  \vli(ini  tln'ir 
jnisdt't'ds  i(ins»'<l  In  Ncn^ncancf. 

in  Ihi'  niiMn  lime  the  ncwscil'  haSailc's  death  aixi  irachcd  'I'lmli's 
niiii  (in  the  Ai'Uaii>as,  and  was  ihcnci' ."Uiicd  to  him  in  tin-  loit 
on  I  he  illiiKiis.  It  is  uioi'(>  rasy  to  ima;L;im>  than  d<-sci-ilM'  the  I'rcl- 
in;:;s  of  this  ni'isl  dcMilcd  ol'  all  LaSallc's  rdlluwcis  w  hen  he  Icaiiitd 
thf  tragical  manner  ul'  his  death.  Hnt  wiliiuiil  ii.seles>  waste  ol' 
time  in  ^liel'  for  him  w  lioin  he  had  so  Ion;;'  and  so  laithliilly  served 
and  who  was  low  iieyond  reaeh  (iT  help,  he  deteiiniiied  to  make  an 
eiroil  to  resei.e  his  pelisliin.L; colonists.  Imh'  I  his  pni|)ose  he  lel't 
the  I'oi't  in  Deeeiidier,  ItiSS,  with  .1  I'leiiehmen  and  >'*  Indians,  and, 
iil'lei' a  toilsome  Joniney,  arrived  at  the  month  ol'  it'ed  lki\er.  where 
he  leai'iM'd  that  some  of  the  aeeompliei's  of  LaSalle's  mnrdeiers 
were  in  a  \illa;:('  some  SO  leagues  distant.  On  makiii,u'  known  his 
inteidion  to  \isil  the  town  all  his  men  rei'iised  to  aeeompan,\  him, 
exeept  two,  a  j-'renchman  and  an  Indian.  Not  bein;;' aide  toeul'orer 
oliedienee.  he  resolutely  set  out  with  ihem.linf  nid'orlnnalely  a  Tew 
da\s  al'terward.'..  lost  the  greater  pari  ol'  his  ammnnilion.  Still 
nmleterred,  he  pushed  on  to  the  town,  imt  no  trace  of  the  eriniinals 
could  he  found.  When,  howc\ci',  he  (|in'stioned  the  villagers 
lespectiii;;'  them,  he  concluded  from  their  sus|iieious  demeanor, 
that  they  had  pre\  iously  been  there,  and  thai  the  Indians,  incensed 
ill  their  misdeeds,  had  probably  p>d  them  to  death.  I  la \  in;;' accom- 
pli islied  nothing  thus  far,  and  now  aiiiiost  without  ammnnilion.  w  it  li 
iiiller  disappointment  he  was  compelled  toretniii.  In  retraciu;;' 
their  steps  they  met  with  more  than  the  usual  amount  of  hardships 
atteiidin.y  a  march  tliroiijih  an  um'X|ilored  wildei'i\ess.  On  arriv- 
ing'at  the  Indian  \  illa;u'e  on  the  Arkairsas,  Tonti.  as  the  residt  of 
exliaiislion  and  exposure,  became  sick  of  a  I'cNcr,  but  recoxcred  in 
time  to  I'eacli  the  fort  on  the  Illinois  by  tlnr  first   oi'  Se|ileniber. 

This  nnsuccessfnl  effort  uas  the  last  attempt  made  to  i-esciie  tln^ 
uid'orluiiale  colony  fioin  fln^  sava.uc  imnuiisity  thai  shut  them  out 
from  home  and  civilization.  Their  linal  destruction  by  the  Indians 
was  learned  from  the  Sjianiards  of  Mexico.  Sjiain  clainn-d  the 
couidry  boi'derinn'  on  the  (Inlf  of  iNIexico,  and  from  the  capture  of 
LaSallc's  vessel  in  the  West  Indian  Seas,  his  designs  became 
known.  After  several  attempts  to  llml  the  location  of  his  colony 
and  destroy  it,  a  Mexican  expedition,  .ynided  by  on(i  of  the  Frciicli 
deserters,  pushed  aci'oss  the  wilderm'ss  to  the  foit.  Seeiii;;-  no 
evidences  of  life  without,  the  SjiaiMards  spurred  their  lioises 
tliroiiyh  the  open  jiiatcway  of  the  fort,  and  fouml  oidy  the  ruins  of 
"w  hat  had  once  constituted  the  stoi'cs  and  furniliirc  of  the  jiai-rison. 
J-'roin  French  desertors  domesticated  amouii'  the  Indians,  it  was 
learned  that  alioiit  .'»  months  before,  a  band  of  savau'cs  ambusln'd 
themselves  under  the  banks  of  the  river,  while  others  drew  the 
pirris(Hi  out  of  the  fort  for  the  ])urpose  of  trallic.  At  a  yiveii  si^- 
luil,  the  concealed  foe  rushed  from  liis  co\-ert,  and  immolated  indis- 
criminately the  men,  wonu'U  and  children.     Thus  ends  one  of  the 


LASAr,],!',. 


iiiosf  t'xtt'iisivj'  t'X|il(>nitioii.s  known  to  lii.slory.  As  ii  ^ji-cal  ;>i'o- 
;;r.i|>!ii("il  iiiN<'ov('r.v,  it  is  onl.v  s»c<»ml  to  tlwit  wliitli  niiiiic  iiiiowu 
to  ICiiio|M'  tin-  cNlsli'iin'  of  tlir  NNi'slcni  ll»'iiiis|»li('ic.     'I'lic  ;;iiiit 

XiillcN     lIlllS    IJH'OWII   l>|M'll    ililS    silllT   Im'CII    lilit'll   Willi    il    l'0|l>lt'lhllin|| 

ol  |iio,s|M'i'oiis,  ii:i|>|)V  stiitcs.  Til*' cil V  wliirli  ilc:)! lMlt'|ii'i\ cii  liini 
III'  roiiliiiili;;,  iilid  wliicll  his  >.ii;:iicit,N  loioiiw   Woillil  litcuiiii'  niu- of 

till'  \i\{".[\   iiiiii't  ;of  iIm>  riirtli,  is  now  tli*'  ('iiipoiiiini  of  tlii>  South. 

Aiiii'iiiM  owes  him  a  ilrl.t  of  mnlitmlr  wiiirli  shr  will  cNtT  l>r  1111:1- 
l)ir  lo  p.iv,  iiiiil  iii'hivi'  iiiiUiiifr,  as  a  t,\lM-  of  iiicaiiialc  (•ii(-r;;^\,  liis 
dccd,^  -lif  will  M('\('i'  foi';L;t'l. 


Ill wKi'iN.-  It  will  111'  I'iMiii  iiilxTcil  ttint  Iji\Sii1Ii!  Im\ln>f  crmcliiilccl  tliitt  lli'iiiicjilii 
ciiiijil  ild  iiion  Li'oiiil  li.\'  I'Vjiliii'lriu' till' llllniiis  Miul  rplicr  .Mlssls<<l|i|>l,  tliiiii  In  |>i'i'.irliliiu 
8i'riii>>i>~.ini<l  t  lial  lir  Willi  I  \\  u  i'ci'ii|i,nilnii-i  wiTi'  "riii  on  Ilia  I  iiil-.>liiii.  ilavlnu'  •Ii'miikIiiI 
till'  I  IhtiniMiiiil  I'oiiiiiiciiiTil  I  lie  ii-i'i'iil  nil  III'  Missl»-i||iii:,  llii'>  wi'ii'  >'iH|i|'|si'il.  mill  liilii'ii 
liv  11  li.iii'l  lit  Slur  V  Willi  niiii|ii''lril  llii'iii  ii|i  till'  liMT  111  I  111'  1,11  K  III  Si  A II I  In  ill) ,  ii  in  I 
t  lii'lii'''  III  tlirli'  \  liliiVi':-  I'l  t  III'  V'ii'liiily  III'  Mlllc  Liii',  tVlsi'oiisiii  Hit  '  lli'iiiii'|iiii  '|ii'iil  I  III' 
SiH'liiu mill  Siiiiiiiii'i'  I  iiiiiilliiLr,  iii'iiii'^Mis  11  |ili\  »li'liiii,  mill  ~liiil>  liiM'  till'  Siiiii.v  hiiiiiii.i'ji'. 
All!  iiiiiii  III  li'liiJlit  ('.inic.  mill  Willi  till'  ('iiii>iriil  111  tlii'  I'liirl  I  ii'.v  Wi'i'i'  iiii'iiiil  Mil  In 
(li'imii .  I'liii'i'i'illiiu-  li.\  wiiy  ill  I  111'  lliitii,  Mls«isvi|i|.|,  Ui.-i  iiii-iii,  anil  Fux  iiM'r>  tn  1  iiicn 
Imy.  Iln-.v  "liiiil  I  In'  ^Viiili'r  wjtii  I  lii'  .li'.iiill  MIm^  11  a  nil  Irs  W  ii  li  iln'  ii|i('ii|ri)i-  iit  S|iiinu' 
tlii',\  iiiii\i'il  iliHVi;  llir  lalii'smnl  St  I.awii'iii'i',  to  l,iiii'lii'i',\vlii'ii'  lli'iiia'jiln  win  11  rii  I'll 
liv  ilii-  !.'ii\i'iiiiii',  wini  lisliiii'il  Willi  |ii'iitiiiiiiil  jnli'ri'.'-t  |n|ln'  ri'rilal  nt  Ills  iniM'Is. 
I'l'iHii  Aiiii'i'li'ii  III'  Weill  III  I'l'iinci',  wlici'i'iin  acciiiint  nl  Ills  I  nivcls  witi'  |iiiliil-liri|  in 
(lilVi'i'i'iil  laiiuiia!;i'c,  ami  rcinl  H  It  11  ureal  iiilei'i'sl  Nut  iin'elini;'  wllli  llie  eiieuiirajje- 
liii'iit  III  I'laliee  lii'i'X|iii'|i'il,  lie  Weill  to  lliiiiiainl  ami  was  taken  Intii  Hie 'iel'\  iee  nt' 
Kitiu  W'illlaiii  Tills  iriiiiareli  wisliieu' In  set  ii|i  II  I'laliii  tii  l.iiiiisimia.  inWiK'i'il  Iniii  l<> 
niD'lily  till'  iiai  ralive  el'  lijs  ihsi-nv  ery  sn  as  to  l'a\  iir  liis  elailii  ^■il■illill^^■  In  Ills  ii'i|iiest 
III'  wiipIc  il  new  aeeoiiiit.  in  wliieli  lie  lalsely  staleil  tliiit  liel'nre  Ills  Miyaire  up  tlie  rher 
lie  llr«l  ili'Siieiiileil  it  In  tlie  sea.  'I'liiis  while  lie  emlea\  (  itil  In  roll  IjiiSaiie  nl  lil>  priiiei- 
|ml  liiiir  els.  lie  t.iriiisli.'il  Ills  own  laiiie  ami  was  iilterwarils  stiyniiili/.eil  liy  his  eniiinrj- 
DK'ii  ij.s  lliu  |iniui'  lit'  liii's. 


ClIAPTKR  X. 

J70()-171!)— ILLINOIS  A  1)EI'EXJ>EXCY  OF  CANADA  AND 
TAirrOF  LOriSLVXA— THE  (;()VKK>\MKNT  A  TIIIOOC- 
KACY— OPEL'ATIOXS  OF  CIJOZAT. 


A  Dependency  of  Canada. — Twclvo  ymir.s  elapsed  after  LaSiille\s 
friiillcss  a<^teiiii)t  to  IuiiikI  a  (•<il<»iiv  (in  tlie  ^Mississippi,  liei'orc  llie 
jiON*-!!!!!!!'!!!  ol'  FraiK'c  iiuiilc  a  sce(tii(l  eCCoil.  At  lciij;tl',  Icariiiii' 
tliat  iMiylaiKl  iiiijilit  obtain  lU'eeedence  in  tlic  ;;i('at  valley,  tlie 
Icin.i:'  set  (»n  I'oot  an  enterprise  Cor  tliis  jynrpose.  M.  <ril)er\  ille, 
Avlio  had  e.\liil»ite<l  sueli  nnitni'e  Jnd.ynient  and  [ironipt  action  in 
the  wars  of  tlie  I'^reneli-Ameriean  possessions,  was  eliosen  toeoni- 
mand  it.  Ilavinji,'  eneonntered  tlie  ieeberjis  and  snows  of  Ilisd- 
son's  [Jay  and  tlu'  bnrnin^  sands  of  l-'lorida,  lie  was  now  icatly, 
at  tlie  eonnnand  of  his  kiiij:,  to  eiieonnter  the  nialai'ions  niiirslics 
of  tlx'  Alississipi)i.  The  two  jtreeedinj;' years  he  had  estal)liNlit'd 
eolonieson  Slii])  Island  and  the  iiead  of  Lake  Uorjiine,  and  abonl  the 
liii(l<lle  of  February,  1700.  sailed  np  the  Mississippi,  to  found  a 
thii'd  one  on  its  banks.  A  site  was  selected  for  a  foil  and  set- 
tieiiK'nt,  abont  .')8  miles  below  New  ()ilean>.  and  wliiie  lie  was 
en,iia,L':e<l  in  its  erection,  Tonti  descended  from  the  fort  on  the  \\'\- 
nois,  with  a  pai'ty  of  Canadians,  (o  assist  him.  Toiili's  intimate 
acquaintance  with  the  Indian  laiijina;.;('s  and  tlie  tribes  livin.y  on 
the  I'ivei'.  made  him  a  valuable  ac(|uisition  to  tin;  new  col<,ny. 
A\ailin,i>-  himself  of  his  assistance.  DMlterville  resolve<l  to  tnrther 
ascend  the  river,  exj)lore  the  country  on  its  Itaiiks,  and  form  iiili- 
aiices  with  its  inhabitants.  Jn  coni])any  with  Tonti,  his  broliier 
l>ien\ille,  and  other  jiarties,  he  jiassed  uji  the  river  to  the  Nacluz 
trilie,  which  he  found  moi'c  powerful  and  civilized  than  others  he 
]iad  visited.  The  <ireat  beauty  of  the  smroiindin^'  couiilr\  in- 
iluced  him  to  select  it  as  thi^  seat  of  the  future  prov  ineial  jiov<'rn- 
nient,  and  tliebhdf  on  vvliich  the  city  of  Natchez  is  now  Imilt,  he 
cliose  as  the  site  of  its  capital.  lie  named  the  pros] leclivc  city 
Jiosalie.  in  honor  of  the  wife  of  his  ]»ati'on,  the  French  ininister 
of  marine,  and  lo  years  afterward  a  fort  was  erected  on  the  site 
by  his  sU(;<;essor.  D'lberville  now  returned  to  his  ships  below 
and  embarked  for  l-'rance,  while  J'.ieiiville  explored  the  conntry 
about  the  month  of  lied  river,  and  some  of  tlu'  [)arty  from  Illinois 
■were  sent  to  ramble  for  G  Jiionths  iu  the  remote  west,  in  the  vain 
search  for  j^old. 

\\"\\]]  this  expedition  down  the  Mississii)j)i,  Tonti,  the  most 
trusted  ollicer  of  I-aSalle,  disappears  IVom  the  roll  of  authenlie 
history.  The  foliowin;;-  are  some  of  the  acts  which  distinjiuished 
his  atlveutiuou.s  life  duriny  this  period:  llis  mediation  in  the  at- 

108 


A  BEPENDKNCY  OF  CANADA. 


109 


tiick  (»r  tlic  Iroquois  ajiuiiist  tlic  Illinois  in  HISO,  wlion'by  lie 
{^rciitly  iiiili;;:itf(i,  iMit  (lid  not  wliolly  incxcnt,  tlio  hulclicry  of  the 
Isittcr;  liis  ^dvci  iinicnt  of  tiic  Illinois  ;iii»l  the  associated  triUes  at 
Fort  St.  Louis,  (liiiin.!Li'  tliiNihscncc  of  LaSallc,  his  effort  to  relievo 
LaSalle  and  his  suflerin^'  colonists  in  Texas;  the  fonndii^  <»f  Ai'U- 
ansas  I'ost,  made  famons  177  years  afterward  I)y  the  I'edU'i'tion  of 
the  I'clicl  fort  located  there,l»y  .McClernand  and  his  l»ra\e  Illinois 
and  other  western  ti'oops;  and  tinally,  the  assistance  he  rendered 
DeNonville,  the  f-overnor of  Canada,  with  170  rrenchnicii  and  .".00 
Jndians  fioni  the  west,  in  his  attack  on  the  Senecas.  Says  De- 
>;oii\ille:  "(lod  alone  coidd  have  saved  ('anada  in  lOSS.  I'.nt 
for  the  assistance  obtained  from  the  jxtsts  of  the  west,  Illinois 
nnist  have  l)een  abandoned,  the  fort  at  Mackinaw  lost,  and  a  jncn- 
eral  ii])."isin^- of  the  nations  would  have  completed  the  destrnction 
of  New  France."*  liinnor  states  that,  after  the  i»eitbrmance  of 
these  acts,  he  resi(h'd  sevei'al  years  in  Illinois,  and  then  returned 
to  France. 

As  the  St.  Lawi'cnce  had  been  made  an  avenin-  fortlie  a])iu<)ach 
of  settlers  to  Illinois,  so,  afier  the  ex[»loration  of  tin^  ^Mississippi, 
it  also  became  ahi;^hway  for  the  intlowinji'of  i)o])nlation.  Throu.i;h 
tlK'se  channels,  communicatinji'  with  the  external  world,  cauie  tlie 
])ioneers  who,  lu'tween  the  years  KISO'-OO,  founded  the  villa,ues 
and  settlements  of  Fort  St.  Louis,  Kaskaskia,  Call, >kia,  and  others 
of  moi'c  recent  date.  These  settlements,  in  comnntn  with  most  of 
those  «'s(ablislied  in  the  interior  of  the  continent,  were,  to  a  j;reat 
extent,  the  work  of  the  Jesuit  and  IJecollet  missionaries.  These 
hardy  and  enteri^'isin^'  embassadoi's  of  tlu^  cross,  with  a  zeal 
Avhicli  detied  the  o])position  of  the  elements,  heat,  hunger  and 
c(»ld,  fati,!4ue,  fandne  and  ]»eslilcnce.  ent<'rcd  the  pi'airies  of  Illi- 
nois 1000  miles  in  adxanceof  its  sectdar  ])o]iuhition.  We  Justly 
adnnre  the  fortitude  of  Sndtli,  the  founder  of  V'irj^iina,  tlie  eourajic^ 
of  .May-Hower  j)il,<;iinis,  the  fathers  of  New  l-lnji'land;  but  iiil 
these  Iiad  royal  patrons;  then  what  shall  W(^  say  of  the  devoted 
nnssionaries,  who  laid  the  foundations  of  States  in  th(>  remote 
wilderness,  when  their  moimstic  vows  denied  them  even  the  feebhi 
aid  of  ecclesiastical  sui)port  ?  Neither  commercial  liain  nor  secu- 
lar fame,  l>ut  reliiiions  fervor,  could  have  nerved  them  to  meet 
the  toils  and  dangers  incident  to  their  wilderness  life. 

The  first  mission  in  Illinois,  as  we  have  already  seen,  Avas  com- 
luenced  by  ]\iar(|uetfe  in  .\]»ril.  I()7."».  It  is  said  as  he  entered  the 
rude  dwellinj;s  of  the  inhabitants  and  i)reached  of  Christ  and  tiu^ 
Virgin,  heaven  and  hell,  (h'uions  and  anjicls,  and  the  life  to  come, 
he  was  received  as  a  celestial  \  isitor.  The  Indians  besought  hint 
to  remain  amonj;' them  and  continue  his  instructions,  but  his  life, 
Avas  fast  ebbinj;'  away,  and  it  behooved  him  to  dei»art.  He  called 
the  iclipous  society  winch  he  had  established  the  "IMissitui  of 
the  Immaculate  Conception,"  and  the  town  '"  Kaskaskia,"  after 
one  of  tli(^  Illinois  tribes  bearin;^'  the  same  name. 

The  fust  military  oecu])ation  of  the  country  was  at  Fort  Creve- 
ea'ur,  erected  in  February,  UJSO;  but  there  is  no  evidence,  that  a 
settlement  was  commenced  there  or  at  I'eoria,  <»n  the  lake  above, 
at  (hat  eaily  date.+  The  first  settlement  of  which  there  is  any 
authentic  account,  Avas  commenced  Avitli  the  building  of  Fort  St. 


*nan<'r()ft. 

f  AduuIs  of  tlie  West, 


110  HISTORY  OF  ILLOOIS. 

Louis,  on  llic  Jlliiiois  livcr,  in  KiSi'.  It  n'liiiiiiicd  in  existence  at 
least  till  1700.  wlieii  Tonti  seems  to  liave  al)an(lone(l  it  and  .uone 
soutli.  l)ut  liow  Ion;:'  at'tei'  tliat  (late  is  not  delinitely  icnown.  Tiio 
oldesi  iK'iiiiiincnt  setllcnicnt.  not  only  in  Illinois  hut  llic  valley 
ol'  llie  Mississijipi,  is  Kaskaskia.  situated  (i  ndles  ahosc  the  mouth 
ol'  the  river  of  the  same  name,*  There  is  no  evidence  to  sub- 
stantiate the  statement  that  LaSalle  left  colonists  here  and  at 
(.'aliokia  on  his  retuiii  fioni  the  successl'Ml  exploration  of  the  Miss- 
issippi in  ](!Sl'. 

The  mission  hen;  ^vas  (uiyinally  established  at  the  j;reat  tovi  n 
of  the  Illinois,  I)ut  with  the  removal  of  the  tribes  farther  south- 
■\vaid.  it  was  tiansfericd  to  Kaskaskia.  leather  draxicr,  who  had 
l)i(  vionsly  been  stationed  at  31ackimiw,  ell'ected  the  remova'  s(»m(5 
time  ]»rior  to  1(I!K>.  the  exact  date  lieinjii'  unkntnvn.  lb,'  was  the 
lii'st  of  the  missionai'ies  to  ascertain  the  principles  of  the  Illinois 
lan_uua,u<'  and  reduce  them  to  rules.  \V  len  recalled  from  Kas- 
kaskia ()  Mat'kinaw,  he  was  succeeded  by  fathers  J>inneteau  and 
!'in<'t,  tiie  latter  of  whom  established  the  mission  and  villa.uc  of 
("ahokia.  So  successt'ul  was  I'inet  in  attractinj;' the  att<'iition  of 
the  ai)ori,i;ines,  his  chaix-l  was  insiilliciciit  to  hold  the  larj:c  num- 
Ixr  that  att«'ndedhis  ministrations.  The  Iinlians  under  his  chaij;e 
were  the  Tamaroas  and  ( 'aliokias.  the  latter  tribe  finnishini:' tlie 
villafiC  its  name.  Ilinneteau.  to  attend  to  his  ministerial  labors, 
t'ollowi'd  the  Kaskaskias  in  one  of  their  hunts  on  ihe  iiplauil 
}(Iains  of  the  Mississippi,  and  died.  Now  stilled  in  the  tall  ^lass, 
n(»w  p;intiii.n'  with  thirst  on  the  arid  prairie,  paiched  by  day  with 
lieat,  and  by  ni.i; lit  exposed  on  the  .'ground  to  chiliinji'  <lues.  he  was 
.seized  with  a  mortal  fever,  ami  "  left  his  liones  on  the  wildeiiiess 
lauj;*' of  the  butt'alo.''*f  Shortly  after  his  death,  IMnet  also  died, 
and  Father  31arest,  who  had  before  ex]tlained  the  myst<'ries  of 
the  cross  to  the  ice-bound  denizens  (tf  Hudson's  Uay,  ca'ue  to 
Kaskaskia  and  took:  char^ic  of  the  missions  of  Jllinois.  In  his 
<'oi  res|iondence,  he  says:  "Our  life  is  spent  in  loamin;^'  thronuh 
thirk  woods,  in  cland>erin.y  over  hills,  in  pa<ldlin;4  <'anoes  across 
lakes  an<l  rivers,  to  <'ateli  a  poor  sava<i'e  whom  we  can  neither 
tame  by  teachinjis  nor  caresses.'"  On  (Jood  P'riday,  1711.  he 
started  for  the  I'eorias.  who  desired  a  new  mission,  and  thus 
s](eaks()f  his  journey: 

"  I  (l(|)iu'ti  (1,  liavin^r  iiolliing  iilmiit  iii<'  lint  my  ci'iicilix  and  lircviarv,  hcing 
ii<C'>in|iaiiicd  by  "iilj'  two  savaurs,  wlio  iniiilil  ahaiidDii  me  I'vinn  levity,  oi- 
miiilit  tly  tlirdimli  fi  ar  df  t'licmics.  'I'iic  l(  rror  of  llirsi.'  vast  iiiiiiilialiiiahle 
rcLi'ioi.s,  ill  wliicli  for  12  ilays  not  a  siiiulc  soul  was  st'cii,  aliiuwt  took 
away  my  cmiiauc  Tliis  was  a  joiirmy  wherein  llierc  was  no  villaue.  no 
bi'idiie,  no  tVrry  lioiit,  no  lioiisc,  no  l)eMl(ii  jialli;  and  over  lioiindhss  piairiis, 
iiitcrseclcd  l)y  riviilels  and  ris'ei's,  lliroiiuii  forests  and  tliickels  tilled  witii 
briars  and  thorns,  Ihrouuli  marshes,  in  wliieli  we  somelimes  plniijred  to  the 
i^irdk'.  At  ni^ilit  repose  was  soiiirJn  on  the  u'rass  or  leaves,  exjiosed  to  the; 
winds  and  rains,  lia])i)y  if  by  the  side  of  some  rivulet  whose  waters  miuht 
(liieneli  our  thirst.  ^Meals  were  jirepared  I'roin  siuh  uamc  as  niiglit  be  killeil 
on  the  way,  or  by  roasting  ears  of  eorii." 

Early  in  the  18th  (century  he  was  Joined  I)y  Mennet,  who  had 
]treviously  founded  a  mission  on  the  ()hi(». 

"'the  gentle  virtues  I'.nd  fervid  eloiiueiice  ol'  Mermet  made  himtlies.iiil  of 
the  ^Mis'-i(ni  of  Ivask.-iskia.  At  early  dawn  his  pupils  came  to  church,  dre<sid 
neatly  and  modestly  each  in  ii  deer  skin  or  a  robe  siwn  together  I'njin  several 
skins.     After  receiving  lessons  they  chanted  canticles;    mass  was  tliuii  said  \a 

•nancroft. 
+JJiincrolt.    • 


A  DKPENDENCY  OF  CANADA. 


Ill 


i 


prcscnec  of  nil  tlic  C'iiristiiiiis,  tlic  Frcncli  ami  the  roiivcrls — ilio  ■wonicii  an 
out' side  iiiul  the  iiicii  on  the  iitlicr.  Frmn  prnycrs  iiiul  iiistnidinns  llic  mis- 
sioiiiirics  pi'dfccdcd  to  visit  tlirsick  and  iidiiiiiii>tcr  iniMJiciiic,  and  their  skill  ixh 
l)li\-^i(i:ms  did  more  than  all  tlic  rest  to  win  conHdcncc.  In  tlic  Mflcrnoon  !lio 
catcclii^iii  was  lani;lit  in  tlu'  ju'cscnce  of  liic  yoiini;  and  the  old,  when  every  ono 
without  di'^tiiiction  of  rank  or ai^c,  answered  the  ((Ucslions  of  the  missionary.  At 
(•venini;;  all  would  assend)le  at  the  chapel  for  instrnclion,  for  jtrayer,  and  to 
(•haul  the  hymns  of  the  church.  On  Sundays  and  festivals,  even  after  vespers, 
i\  homily  was  pronounced;  at  the  close  of  the  day]);irlies  would  meet  in  houses' 
to  rccile  the  (  haplels  in  alternate  choirs,  and  sini;-  p.salnis  till  late  at  ni.iiht. 
'rinse  psahns  were  often  homilies,  willi  words  set  to  familiar  tunes.  Saturday 
imd  Sunday  were  the  days  ajipointed  for  confession  and  conuiiuidon,  and  every 
convert  confessed  once  in  a  fortninht.  The  success  of  this  mission  was  sncli 
that  inarriaiics  of  the  French  inmiijirants  were  soinetiuus  solemnized  with  the 
daiiufiiters  of  the  Illinois,  aecordini;-  lo  the  rites  of  the  (.'atliolic  church.  'J'ho 
oecupaiiou  of  the  countr}'  was  a  c;uitoiimeut  amou;^'  the  mitive  proprietors  of 
the  forests  and  prairies.* 

Fallicv  Cliiirlcvoix,  who  -sisitod  Illinois  in  ITl'l,  thus  spe.ik.s  of 
th(!  <  'iihokia  and  Ktiskiiskiii  Missions  : 

"We  lay  last  niirlit  in  tlii'  villau<'  of  the  Cahokias  and  Taiuarons,  two  Illinois 
tribes  which  have  been  united,  and  compose  lu)  very  numerous  canton.  This 
villiii^^e  is  situiiled  on  a  verj'  small  river  width  runs  from  the  ea^l,  and  has  no 
WMier  e.xcept  in  the  Siirini;'.  On  this  account  we  had  lo  w.alk  half  a  leai;ue  he- 
tore  we  could  sjet  to  our  cabins.  I  was  astonished  that  such  a  ])oor  situation 
liiid  been  selected,  when  there  are  so  many  li'ood  ones.  P)Ut  1  was  told  thai  tlu; 
JIi,ssissi|ipi  washed  the  foot  of  the  villaii'e  when  it  was  built;  that  in  !j  years  it 
had  shified  its  course  half  a  league  farther  to  Ihe  wcst.jind  thai  llu'V  were  now 
thinkinir  ofchanjring'  their  habitation,  which  is  no  irreat  ail'air  amoni;-  these  In- 
Oiaii.s.  I  i)asseil  the  idght  with  the  missionaries,  who  are  two  ecclesiastics  from 
the  Seminary  of  (Quebec,  fornu'rly  my  discijihs,  but  the;  must  now  be  my  mas- 
ters. One  of  them  wasabsent,  butl  found  the  other  sucdi  as  he  had  been  rep- 
resented tome,  riuid  with  himst'lf,  full  of  charity  to  others,  and  displaying;  in 
Ids  own  pers(ui  an  amiable  pattern  of  virtues.  Yesterday  I  arrived  at  Ivaskn.s- 
kia  about !)  o'<!lock.  The  Jesuits  here  have  a  very  flourishin";  mission,  whiidi 
lias  l.alely  l)een  divided  into  two,  itbeinj^  mnre  conveiuent  to  iiave  two  cantons 
of  Indians  instead  of  one.  The  most  niuuerous  one  is  on  the  banks  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, of  which  two  Jesuits  have  the  s]iiritual  direction.  Half  a  lei><;;ue  be- 
low stands  Fort  (Jhartres,  about  the  distance  of  a  nuisket  shot  from  the  I'iver. 
JI.  de  iJoisbranl  commands  here  for  the  company  to  whicdi  the  place  belonirs. 
'J'he  French  are  now  bei!;innin<;  to  settle  the  country  bet  ween  the  fort  and  thi! 
first  udssion.  Four  leauiU's  farther,  and  about  ii  leaiiue  from  the  riv(;r,  is  a 
larjie  villau'e,  inhabited  by  the  French,  who  are  alniosl  all  Canadians,  and  have 
a  Ji  suit  for  tlu  ir  curate.  The  seeoml  village  of  the  Illinois  lie  s  I'ariher  up  Ihe 
country,  at  the  distance  of  two  leagues  from  the  last,  and  is  under  the  charge 
of  a  fourth  Jesuit. 

"The  Indians  at  this  place  live  much  at  their  ease.  A  Fleming,  wlio  was  a 
domestic  of  the  Jesuits,  has  tauj;;lil  them  how  to  sow  wheat,  winch  succicds 
well.  They  have  swine  ami  black  cattle.  TIk^  Illinois  manure  lluir  jiround 
afier  their  fasjiion,  and  are  very  laborious.  They  likewise  bring  up  poultry 
which  they  sell  to  the  French.  'J'lieir  wonuMi  are  very  nciit  handed  and  indus- 
trious. They  s[)in  the  wool  of  the  buH'alo  into  threads  as  tine  as  can  be  made 
from  that  of  the  Eng;lisli  sheei>.  IN'ay,  L-ometimes  it  might  lie  taken  for  silk.  Of 
this  they  manuf •'•lui'c  fabrics  which  are  dyed  black,  yellow  and  red,  al'ier 
wliich  they  are  made  into  robes,  which  they  s('W  logeth(r  with  the  sinews  of 
the  roebuck.  Thej  expose  these  to  the  suu  for  the  .sj)ace  of  three  ila_\s,  and 
M  hen  dry,  beat  them,  :muI  without  dilliculty  draw  out  while  threads  of  gr(  at 
fineness." 

Ucsidos  the  villa<>(\s  nicntioncd  iihovc,  othci's  spviiiiii'  up  in  stib- 
Si'ciin'iit  times,  as  i'ltiirie  dii  Kociie,  sitiiiited  ;it  tlie  l>iisi'  ui  ;i, 
rocky  bluff  of  the  Mississijtpi,  4  miles  below  Tent  Chiirtres,  and 
Pi'iiiiie  dn  Poid,  a  jnih^  south  of  Ctihokiii.  Other  missions  wcie 
also  establislied,  iind  ilomish  elerjiy  continued  to  \  isit  the  comitiy, 
and  in  the  id)senee  of  civil  government,  tu'ted  not  only  its  spiritual 

•Bancroft. 


112 


IIISTOKY   ())''  ILLINOIS. 


{iUHli's,  hilt  ;is  l('iii|t(>riil  iiilcrs  ol"  tlic  pcoiilc.  In  lliosc  diiys  of 
<)csiiit  <>iitiiiisi:isiii,  liolii  IIm'  |iric.sts  iiiid  tln'ir  Hocks,  in  iidditioii  to 
tlicir  strong  religious  feelings,  possessed  in  iiiiinv  instiinccsiiii  inte;;"- 
I'ity  wliicli  tilt'  most  ti'viii;^'  tfinptiitions  were  iiowcrlcss  to  ('(uriipt. 
It  is  ti'iic  iiiiicii  of  lliis  <'iitliiisi;isiii  \v;is  iaiiiiticisiii,  w  liicii  iiitci  prc- 
tt'd  tiic  I'csiilts  ol'  nntiirn!  I;i\v  as  sitccial  int»'r|>ositi(»iis  of  pv«>vi- 
dciicc;  wiiicli  icjianlcil  self  imposed  piivsical  pain  an  act  of  virtue, 
and  eoiistriied  tlieir  trivial  dreams  as  ])roplietic  of  future  li'ood  or 
«'vil.  Tiiese  superstitions  were  eoinmoii  to  the  a.u'e.  and  rather 
added  than  detract«'d  from  their  moral  teachinjis.  ruder  their 
I'ormative  inliiieiice,  the  lirst  Ficiich  settlements  of  Illinois  wei'O 
deei>!\  imhued  with  a  sjiiiit  of  Justice,  honesty,  charity,  and  other 
\irtiies,  which  enabled  them  to  exist  nearly  a  century  witlioiit  a 
court  of  law;  willntnt  wars  with  their  Indian  neij^lihors,  and  up  to 
llie  lime  of  r>(»isbriaiit,  without  a  local  ;^(i\-ernmeiit.  The  conli- 
deiice  inspired  by  the  priests,  as  the  ministers  of  a  supposed  infal- 
lible chnrcli,  ;;;iive  Ihein  ample  authority  to  settle,  without  the 
tardy  i>roeeedin;^s  of  courts  and  their  atti-ndant  costs,  all  dilfer- 
t'lices  which  occasionally  disturbed  the  ])eace  of  the  colonists, 
fliistice,  under  these  circmi'stances,  was  dispensed  as  iii  Israel  of 
old,  by  the  power  of  tlu'  mind  to  discriminate  between  rijiht  and 
Avroui;',  rather  than  by  laws  whose  intricacies  and  technicalities 
fre(|iiently  suffer  the  jiuilty  to  j;(»  iinimnished.  Such  was  the  res- 
pect for  ri,uht,  and  the  parental  re<iard  which  animated  the  priestly 
judj;'es  of  this  isolated  theocracy  of  the  wilderness,  it  miuht  safely 
cliallenj;e  coin]>arison  with  its  Ilebrew  ])rototyi»e  for  the  I'cliyious 
/eal  ami  virtuous  conduct  manifested  by  its  subjects. 

A  Part  of  Loui,sioit(i. — Hitherto  the  settlements  of  Illinois  and 
tliose  subsequently  founded  on  the  Lower  .Mississippi  by  DMber- 
ville  and  his  brother,  IJieiiville,  had  been  separate  depeiKh'iicies  of 
Canada.  >sow  they  were  to  be  united  as  oin'  province,  inider  the 
name  of  Louisiana,  havin<;'  its  cajtital  at  .Mobile,  au<l  in  1711 
])irou  <rArtaj;nettc  became  the  (Jovernor  (icneral.*  It  was  be- 
lieved that  Louisiana  presented  a  rich  lield  for  speculation  and 
enterprise,  and  it  was  determined  to  jilace  its  resources  in  the 
hands  of  an  individual  who  had  the  means  and  eneioy  to  develop 
them.  It  was  thought,  too.  that  the  colonists  shouhl  Itecome  seli- 
sup))ortinji',  by  prociirin,ii'  from  the  soil  products  not  only  for  their 
own  eonsiiinption,  but  to  exchaii^t'  w  ith  France  for  such  articles 
us  they  could  not  inodiice.  In  ctniforinity  with  these  views,  in 
1712,  the  commerce  of  the  lU'oviuce  was  };ranted  to  Anthony  Cro- 
zat,  an  olficer  ol  the  r(»yal  Inaisehold,  and  a  merchant  of  ^reat 
wealth.  The  kin;;',  in  his  letters  patent,  after  referriuji'  to  the 
oi'dt'is  he  had  j^iven  to  LaSalle  to  explore  the  Mississippi,  as  a 
means  of  developing;  the  commerce  of  ids  American  possessions, 
enumerates  the  inono]»olies  conferred  on  (Jrozat: 

"  I"''r(iin  tlm  iiil'iiniiatioii  we  Iimvc  received  coiifcrniiiH' t'n' ^it'iJilion  iiiid  dis- 
positimi  of  Loiiisiiiiiu,  wu  are  of  opinion  tliiittliere  niny  i)e  estnbjislicd  llierein  a 
C()nsi(leral)le  conimi  rce,  ol'  i;r(iit  iulviuitiiire  lo  France.  V\v  can  thus  oliiaui 
tVoni  the  colonists  tlie  coniniodirK's  wliieli  liitlierlo  we  Iniveln'ouu'ht  from  other 
C'oiiiilries,  and  sive  in  exeh.iniic  for  tin  in  the  nia  nu  fact  u  red  and  oilier  jirodiU'ts 
of  our  own  kin;;doin  \Vi'  has  e  resolved,  tlierefore,  to  ifiiiiil  tliu  coiiiiuerce  of 
Louisiana  lo  tlie  iSieur  Anthony  Cro/iit,  our  counselor  and  secretary  of  tliu 
household  and  revehUe,  to  whom  we  entrust  ilie  execution  of  this  project.     Wa 

'Monettu's  Val.  of  tbo  Misa.  and  Dllloa's  luUiuua. 


A  TART  OF  LOUISIANA 


li;{ 


permit  liini  to  scarrli,  open,  and  dig  all  mines,  veins,  minerals,  precious  stones, 
and  pearls,  tlironstiout  the  Avliole  extent  of  tlie  country, and  to  transport  the 
])r(iee(  (Is  lliereot' into  any  jxirl  of  France,  duriiiir  15  years.  And  \vei;rant,  iu 
]M  iprtiiily  to  him,  his  heirs,  and  all  elaindnir  under  him,  all  the  prolils,  except 
one  liliii, "(if  the  .utild  and  silver  which  he  or  they  shall  ca\ise  to  he  exporleil  to 
Fraiice  AVe  also  will  that  the  said  ('ro/at.and  lliose  claindnj^  under  him, 
shall  forfeit  the  uion(i[)()lies  herein  tcrncted  should  they  fail  In  jiroseciite  I  hem 
for  a  piiiod  of  three  years,  and  that  in  such  case  they  shall  he  fully  restored  to 
our  dominion."  * 

'I'lic  viist  rco'ioii  tlins  favinod  out,  oxtciidcMl  from  Citiiiid:!  on  tlio 
iKiitli,  Id  tlic  (iiilfoii  tlic  South;  iiiid  IVoui  tlir  Allc^liniiics  on  tlio 
(•;i..t  to  tlic  Ifocky  Aloiintiiiiis  siiid  tlic  ]U\y  of  ."\I;il;ij;(>i<l;i  on  (lio 
west.  "  ]S'ot  a  foiiiitiiin  bnbblcd  "  alon^'  Mic  siininiit  ol"  tlicsc  jivcat 
inonntain  Itariici.s  tliat  made  its  way  inttt  tlio  !\lississi]»|ii,  tliat  was 
Hot  included  in  I'^icmdi  tcifitofy.  Ci'o/at  cntcicil  the  \asf  field  of 
Ills  labors  witli  ener<:y,  and  .soon  as.sociatctl  with  liiin  La  .Motte, 
radilac,  tlie  royal  ooxcrnor  of  Louisiana.  He  exitcctcMl  to  icalize 
jireat  iirotils  from  the  fur  trade,  iait  the  |)ros|tect  of  boundless 
wealth  frojn  the  diseoxcry  of  ricii  mines  of  o(»ld  and  sihcr  was  the 
talisman  that  most  enraptured  ]iis\ision  and  induced  him  to  niaku 
tJie  most  luvisli  ex]M'nditiires  of  Ills  money.  To  carry  out  Iiis  plans, 
C'xjieditions  wei'c  made  to  the  most  distant  tribes,  ami  ])osts  were 
established  on  Ifcd  Kivcr,  tin'  Yazoo,  lijoh  up  the  Washita  at  the 
j)]'csc)it  towti  of  ^lonroe,  on  tlio  Ciindu'rland  river  near  Nash\  illc, 
and  on  the  Coosa,  4(M»  miles  above  the  month  of  the  Alabama, 
wlu're  foit  Jackson  was  built  HHt  years  afterward.  The  search  for 
the  i»i<'cions  metals  has  alwavs  been  a  mania  atfectinu'  the 
]>i()iiccrs  of  newly  discovered  countries,  and  whether  discoxcries 
arc  made  or  not,  it  .yciicrally  ictards  their  permanent  ;ufo\vtli  and 
])ros]ieiity.  'I'o  such  an  extent  were  Crozat  and  his  ])artiiers  in- 
llnenccd  I)y  this  shininj;' bnblile  that  they  frecpieiitly  iiiijoiiilied  the 
most  trivial  prosjK'cts  int<t  what  they  rcj;arded  as  realities  of  the 
jii'<'atcst  value.  An  inslaiice  in  which  they  sntfeved  by  their  cic- 
diility,  and  which  ;;i-catly  I'csembles  tlie  impositions  and  de<'ep- 
tions  of  the  picsent  <lay,  occurred  at  Kaskaskia.  Two  pieces  of 
sihcr  ore,  left  at  this  ])Iacc  by  a  traveler  IVom  .Mexico,  wi'ee  "xliib- 
ited  to  Cadilac  as  the  produce  of  mines  in  Illinois,  aiul  so  elated 
was  he  by  this  assurance  of  sncctvss  that  he  liiiiiied  up  the  lixcr, 
only  to  lind  it,  like  all  jirexions  pi'ospects,  \  isnish  iito  empty  air. 
lint  while  silver  and  j;old  could  ne*^  be  found.  lar<>('  (piantities  of 
lead  aid  iron  ore  were  discovered  ,n  .Missdiiri:  but  the  ;.;i'(  ;;t  abun- 
dance of  these  metals  in  the  civili/,e<l  portions  of  the  ,i;lobe  made 
their  ine.seiice  in  the  wilds  of  Louisiana  of  little  con.se<pienee. 

('lozat  made  an  attemi)t  to  open  trade  with  the  Si)aniards  of 
Vera  Cruz,  but  on  ,sei:cliiio'  a  Acsscd  with  a  rich  cai^o  tliither,  it 
Avas  not  ])ermilted  either  to  land  there  or  at  any  other  harbor  of 
the  .yulf.  The  occupation  of  li(aiisiaiia  by  the  l<'rencli  was  re- 
oarded  as  an  encroaclimeiit  ii]toii  Spanish  territory,  and  Crozat. 
aftei'  three  years  of  friiitles.s  ne,uotiatioiis  with  the  viceroy  of  Mex- 
ico, was  compelled  to  al>an(lon  the  scheme  (d' i-oiiimercial  relations 
with  the  ports  of  the  jiiilf.  Another  project  was  to  establish 
trade  by  land  with  the  interior  S|)anisli  jirovinces,  lait  in  this  case 
he  also  failed,  for,  after  a  protracted  ctfoit  of  ti\e  years,  his  o(),i(ls 
were  seized  and  coiitiscati'd  and  his  ai^vnts  impri,s(nied.     NOr  had 

"See  Dillon's  Indiana. 

8 


114 


niSTOBY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


tli«'  i'lir  triidc  witli  llic  liidiinis,  iiiKitlicr  soiiicc  of  aii(i»'i]i;it('(l 
wraltli,  iiict  with  siirccss.  Kiij;lisli  ciiiissiiiics  I'loiii  the  ('iiidliiias 
liiid  l»('('ii  active  ill  tlicir  clloits  tocxcitc  Indian  iiostilitics  a;;ainst 
till'  Frcncli.  and  wiicrt'Vt'r  |tiacli»'al)l(',  had  coiitKiJhMl  tin'  fur  liinh', 
h,V  fiunisiiin^  pidds  in  cxclianj;'*'  at  reduced  juices.  Aj;iictiltnre, 
the  only  resource  of  lastin^i'  jii'ospeiit.v  to  tlie  couiitiy,  liad  iieeii 
]ie,!4lecte(l,  and  t'rozat,  failinji'  to  reali/e  any  inolits  iVoni  liis  etVoils 
in  otiiei'  directions,  was  iinalile  to  meet  his  lialiilities.  lie  liad 
expeiuh'd  4-!"),()()0  livres  and  realized  only  .'KKI.ddO,  and  failiii.u  lo 
])ay  his  men,  dissatisfaction  ensued.  I)es|tairiiij;'  also  of  lieinji' 
more  successful  in  the  future,  in  1717,  he  petitioned  the  kiiii;  to 
have  his  charter  revoked,  which  was  done,  and  the  fiovernmeiit 
reverted  solely  to  the  otlicers  of  the  crown.  Diirin;^'  his  couiieciioii 
Avitli  the  i»ro\  iiice,  the  jirowth  of  the  settleiin'iits  was  slow,  and 
little  was  aconiplislied  for  their  periiiaueiit  beiietit.  The  .urea test 
])rosperily  they  enjoyed  ;irew  out  of  the  eiiteijiriseof  huinhle  indi- 
viduals, who  had  succeeded  in  estahlishin^i'  a  small  trade  between 
themsehcs.the  natives  and  some  iieijL;hl)oriiiji'Kiirt»i»eau  settlements. 
IJuteven  these  small  sources  of  ])rosj>erity  were  at  length  cut  olVhy 
the  fatal  monopolies  of  the  Paiisian  merchant.  Tlu^  white  pojm- 
latioii  of  the  country  had  slowly  increased,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
departure,  that  <»ii  the  Lower  Mississip])i  was  estimated  at  .SSO,  and 
that  of  Illinois,  which  then  included  the  settlements  of  the  Wabash, 
^I'd  souls. 

Cidzat's  partner  had  died  tlio  year  previous,  and  ^vas  succeeded 
in  hisoflicial  capacity  by  Uienville,  the  former  jLioveriior.  Prior  to 
his  installation  some  French  hunters  and  stra<i';.;lers  had  located 
in  tlie  beautiful  country  of  the  Nacliez,  and  difliculties  arising' be- 
tween them  and  the  In<liaiis,  two  of  the  former  had  been  murdered. 
JJienville  rejiaired  to  the  tribe  in  question,  and  after  puiiishiiif;  the 
guilty  i>arties,  erected  and  garrisoned  a  fort,  to  prevent  the  recur- 
rence of  similar  disturbances  in  the  future.  It  was  built  on  the 
site  selected  1<»  years  befor«;  by  his  Inother,  and  was  called  K'osa- 
lie,  the  name  ot'lhe  capital  he  iirojiosed  to  build  at  the  same  place. 
This  was  the  origin  of  the  present  <'ity  of  2v'atchez,  the  oldest  jier- 
luanent  settlement  in  the  ]\Iississi})pi  VaUey,  south  of  Illinois.* 
With  the  retirement  of  Crozat,  Bienville  was  succeeded  by  L'l'][)i- 
nai,  who  brought  with  him  50  emigrants  and  ■'}  com[>anies  of  infan- 
try, to  reinforce  the  garrisons  of  the  dirt'orent  posts. 


*rt  seems  that  Arkansne  Post  has  never  been  almndoned  since  Tontl's  men  erected 
their  cabin  there,  after  bis  fruitless  search  for  LaSalle's  colony,  in  the  spriiis  of  11).% 


Chapter  XI. 

1717-1732— 1LL1^'()IS    AXI)  LOUISIAXA   UNDER   TUE 
COMPANY  OF  Till-:  WEST. 


Louis  XIV.  liiid  recently  died,  leiiviii.u'  n  debt  ('(Hitrnetod  by 
Viir«  iiiid  extijiviijiiinee  iiiiioniitiii;;'  to  .J.OOO.OOIMKK)  Hvres.  lie 
Wiis  succeeded  by  liis  j;i;iiidsoii,  Louis  X  \',  who,  beiiii;  tlieii  only 
n  child  live  yeiirs  old,  the  Didce  of  Orleiins  was  iii>|»oiiited  recent. 
In  the  midst  of  the  tiiianeiid  eonfnsion  j^rowin^'  ont  of  the  etfoits 
of  the  reii'ent  to  [>iiy  the  interest  on  the  oveiwhehninji'  public! 
debt,  -John  JjSIW  ]>i'esented  iiiniself  lit  the  French  court  with  ii 
scheme  for  atfoi'diny'  relief.  Fie  was  the  son  of  an  l-'dinbnri^h 
banker,  and  shortly  after  the  death  of  his  father,  wasted  his  i»at- 
rinntny  by  ,nand)lin,y  and  extiavaji'ant  livinj;'.  l''or  .'{  years  he 
wandered  over  I'^nroj»e,  sni)i)ortinj;'  himself  l>y  <iainblinji'  and 
.studyinij:  the  ])rincii>les  of  timince.  Alter  i)erfectin<i'  his  theory 
lie  returned  to  EdiiibHr<jh,  and  ])nblished  the  ]>roject  of  a  land 
luiuk,  which  the  wits  of  the  day  riilicnled  by  caljinji'  it  a  sand 
bank,  which  would  wrevk  the  shij)  of  state.  Several  years  after- 
ward lie  jiresentod  liis  plan  to  the  Dnke  of  Savoy,  who  told  him 
lie  was  too  poor  a  ])otentate  and  his  dominion  was  too  small,  for  so 
jiiaiid  a  ]>ioject.  lie  tiioii,i;ht.  however,  that  the  Fi'ciich  ])eo])le 
Avonld  be  de1i^lite<l  with  a  ]>hui  so  new  and  plausible,  and  advised 
him  to  yo  to  France. 

Accordinii'  to  liis  theory  of  bankin*^,  the  eiirrency  of  a  country 
is  the  I'ciiresentative  of  its  niovin<i'  wealth,  and  need  not,  of  itself, 
have  an  intrinsic  value,  as  in  the  case  of  u'ldd  and  sihcr,  but  may 
consist  of  pa])er  or  any  substanc*'  that  can  be  conveniently 
handled.  He  insiste*!  that  the  financial  embarrassment  under 
which  France  labored,  was  not  the  fault  of  liei-  rulers,  but  an  in- 
suniclency  of  currency,  and  <:ave  Enj^land  and  Holland  as  oxam- 
])les.  The  recent,  ca]»tivatc( I  by  his  views,  jiublished  an  edict  in 
17H»,  aiithori/iiii!,-  liaw  and  his  brotln'r  to  estaltlish  a  bank  with  a 
ca])ital  of  (),(K)(),()()0  livr«'s,  the  notes  of  which  should  be;  received 
for  taxes,  and  made  redeemable  in  the  coin  curi'cnt  at  the  time 
they  were  issiu'd.  Threi'-fourths  of  the  capital  consisted  of  yov- 
ernnient  securities,  and  the  remaind<'r  in  specie.  Law  declarinj;' 
that  a  banker  deserved  death  who  made  issues  without  means  of 
redeni])tion.  The  {government  had  already,  by  arbitrarily  redu- 
cing the  value  of  its  coin,  diminished  the  debt  L''"'*?'***'*-*"***  li\  res; 
but  Law's  [>a])er  beinj>-  liased  on  the  vahu>  of  coin  at  the  lime 
lie  made  his  issues,  wavS  witlnmt  fluctuations,  and  on  this  account 
soon  commanded  a  premium  of  l.l  ])er  cent.  The  rejient  was  as- 
tonished that  paper  money  could  thus  aid  sjiecie  and  be  at  a  pre- 
mium, w'hile  .state  bonds  were  at  78  per  cent,  discount. 

115 


iii; 


IITST015Y   (»!•'    IT-LINOIS. 


Tlic  biiiikcr's  inHiH'iicc  briny'  now  irresistible,  lie  pioposed  liis 
fiiiiMius  ?\Iis^i.ssi|l|)i  sclieiiie,  wliicli  made  liiiu  a  proiiiiiieiit  actor  in 
till'  lii>toiv  (iT  Louisiana  and  lllin(»is.  The  vast  resonrees  of  l.on- 
isiana  still  liiled  the  imaginations  of  l''reneh  statesmen  with 
visions  of  bonndless  wealth.  'I'he  want  of  success  which  had 
hitherto  atl<'nde(l  the  ellorts  of  l)'Ii>er\  ille  and  Crozat.  was  still 
insuttieieiit  to  jirodnee  in  the  publitr  mind  nnire  sober  views.  The 
story  of  its  vast  mineral  deposits  was  .soon  rexivcd;  iiiydts  of 
jiold.  the  iircMliiets  of  its  siii>itose(l  mines,  weie  exhibited  in  Paris, 
and  the  sanj;iiiiie  French  court  saw  in  the  future  of  the  province 
an  empire,  with  its  fruitful  fields,  yrowiiiji'  cities,  busy  wharxcs, 
and  exhaiistiess  mines  of  ;^old  and  silver,  |)ourin;j;'  its  j)recious 
ireij;Iits  into  the  avenues  of  French  commerce.  No  .sooner,  there- 
fore, had  Cro/at  surrendered  his  charter,  than  otiieis  aiiiieiired, 
eaucr  to  enter  this  vast  tield  of  adventurous  enlcri>rise.  Accord- 
ingly, in  1717,  ail  organization  was  enected  under  the  ansjiices  of 
Law,  known  at  first  as  the  Western  Company.  Amoiij;'  the  pii\i- 
leycs  eoiifeired  on  it  maybe  mentioned  the  rii^lit  e\clusi\ely  to 
control  the  commerce  of  the  i)r<»\ince  for  a  period  of  -.">  years;  to 
make  treaties  with  the  Indians,  and  wa;;('  war  aj^ainst  tlii'in  in 
case  of  insult :  to  oi>en  and  work  all  mines  free  of  duty;  to  cast 
cannon;  build  ships  of  war,  le\y  troops  and  nominate  the  jiov- 
eriiors  and  those  who  were  to  command  them,  after  beiii;;  duly  coiii- 
inissioned  by  the  Uinji.  To  lurlher  encourage  the  company,  he 
liromised  to  .i;ive  them  the  protection  of  his  name  ajiaiiist  fbreiiiii 
l)owers,  presented  them  the  xcsseis,  forts,  miiniti<Mis  and  merchan- 
dise surrendered  by  Crozar,  and,  diirinj;-  the  continuance  of  the 
charter,  exempted  tin'  inhabitants  of  the  proviiuic  from  tax,  and 
the  com|)aiiy  from  duty.* 

The  stocks  of  the  company  consisted  of  2(l(),(KKt  shares  of  ."iOO 
livres  each,  to  be  paid  in  certificates  of  state  indebtedness.  Thus 
nearly  l(l(lO.(Hl<»,(Ki(t  of  the  most  de])reciated  of  the  ]aiblie  stocks 
Avere  immediately  absorbed,  and  the  j;overninent  became  indebted 
to  a  comjiany  of  its  <»wn  creation,  instead  of  individuals,  for  this 
amount.  l>y  mean.s  of  Law's  bank,  the  interest  on  this  ]>ortion 
of  the  i)ublie,  debt  was  proni])tly  ]>aid.  and,  as  the  result,  it  imme- 
diately rose  from  a  j;reat  depreciation  to  a  hi<ili  premium.  Any 
]»erson,  theretbre,  Avho  had  invested  KKI  livres  in  .state  boiid.s, 
Aviiich  lie  could  have  (baie  at  one-third  of  the  value  Avritten  on 
their  face,  could  now  rt'alize  their  enhanced  worth.  Larj^'e  for- 
tunes were  thus  sjieedily  ac(piired,  thouf^h  the  union  of  the  hank 
Avitli  the  risks  of  a  commercial  coiiii)auy  were  ominous  of  its  future 
destiny. 

Ibit  humanity  abounds  in  liope,  and  men,  netin^'  in  larj^e  coni- 
binatioiis,  j:ather  conrajne  from  the  increase  of  their  numbers. 
IIow  far  their  anticipations  were  realized  in  the  case  uiuler  con- 
sideration, Avill  appear  in  the  sequel.  All  France  was  now  infatu- 
ated with  the  nlory  of  Liaiisiana,  and  ima<;ined  the  opideiice 
Aviiich  it  was  to  accpure  in  cominu'  a;;<'s,  already  in  their  ;nrasp. 
Law's  bank  Avronjilit  such  wonders,  tliat  new  juivileycs  were 
conferred  on  it  daily.  It  was  permitted  to  nionoiiolize  the  tobacco 
tra<le,  was  allowed  the  sole  rijtlitto  im|»ort  nejii'oes  into  the  l-^rench 
colonies,  and  the  exclusive  right  of  retinin;^'  gold  and  silver.  Fi- 
nally, in  1717,  it  was  erected  into  the  Itoyal  Jiank  of  France,  and 


♦Martin's  Louisianu. 


LAW'S  FINANCIAL  SCIIKMK. 


117 


slxirtlv  iil'tcrwiinl  tlic  Western  C()iiii)an.v  iner;>«'<liiit<)tlfe  ('oiiipiuiy 
nf  (lie  Indies.  ;iimI  new  sliiires  (tf  its  st«»eks  were  erented  iind  sold 
ill  iiiiniense  prolits.  In  iiddition  to  the  exeliisive  ]»ri\  ile^ics  wlneli 
it  iilready  lii'Id,  it  was  now  jirnnted  tlu'  tnide  of  tiie  Indian  seas, 
the  prolits  of  flie  royal  mint,  and  the  jtrocceds  of  fainiiny  tli(5 
roval  rexcnue  of  l-'ranee.  Tiie  ^^overnnient,  which  was  altsolnte, 
i'onspired  to  fiive  the  highest  raiij;'e  t<t  its  eicdit,  and  Law,  says  a 
eoteiaporary,  ini;;ht  have  )'e.ynlat<'<l  at  his  ])leasMre  the  iiiter<'st  of 
moiiev,  til"  value  of  stoeUs.  and  the  price  ol'  lalior  and  ])rodnco.  A 
.specnlatiiifx  fr«'nzy  at  on<'e  pervade<l  tlu'  whole  nation.  The  maxim 
uliich  Law  liad  ] iroiiiiil;ua ted. ilia t  the  " hanker desei'ved  death  who 
niaile  issn<'s  iti'  paper  withont  means  of  redeni]ttion,"  was  over- 
looked <»r  fori^otleii.  \\  liile  the  affairs  of  the  Itaiik  were  nnder 
liis  control,  its  issnes  did  not  exceed  (i(»,()(M»,(l()(»  li\n's,  but  on  he- 
<'omiit.u'  the  Hank  of  France,  tliey  at  once  lose  to  1(H».(M»(>.(I(K). 
AVhelhcr  this  was  the  a<-t  of  Law  or  the  reju'cnt,  we  are  n(»t  in- 
loriiied.  That  he  lent  his  aid  to  inundate  the  whole  country  Mitli 
])aper  money,  is  conce<h'd,  and  ]»erhai>s  dazzled  by  his  foi-mer  snc- 
eess,  he  was  h'ss  jiiiarded,  ami  nnconscioiis  that  an  evil  day  was 
fast  approaj-hinj^'.  '^flie  chancellor,  who  o]>])osed  these  extensive 
issues,  was  dismissed  at  the  instanc<'  of  liaw,  and  a  tool  of  the 
recent  was  a)»]iointed  in  his  jilaci'.  Tli<'  I-'r^'iich  parliament  fore- 
saw tin'  dan^icr  approaching;,  and  remonstrate»l  in\ain  with  the 
i'e;.veiit.  The  latler  aiiniilled  their  dc<-r<'es,  and  on  (lu'ir  i)roi)osinj>' 
that  Law,  v*liom  they  rc.uarded  as  the  canse  of  the  whole  evil, 
should  lie  broiiiiht  to  trial,  an<l,  if  found  jiiiilty.  be  hiiny-  at  the 
jiiitcs  of  the  Palace  of  .Iiistice.  souk- of  the  most  ]»roiiiinent  ollicei's 
of  the  ])arlianu'nt  were  <'ommitled  t<i  jirison.  Law,  alainicd  for 
Ids  safety,  th'd  totlu'  royal  jialace.  tliri'W  himself  on  the  protection 
of  the  r<';j;ent.  ami  for  a  time  escajM-d  the  poi»nlar  indi^niation. 

Hc>  still  devote<l  himself  to  the  .Mississipjti  scheme,  the  share?* 
of  wliich  I'ose  rapidly.  In  spit<'  of  jiarliameiit,  .")( I,( X )( >  new  shares 
were  added,  and  its  franchises  extended.  The  stock  was  paid  in 
state  .S4'cinities,  with  only  1(M»  livres  for  .")()((  ot' stock,  l-'or  these 
new  shai'cs  .'lOO.non  aj)]»lications  wei'e  made,  and  Law's  house  was 
beset  fr(tm  morninj^'  till  niijht  with  ea.ucr  ap]»licants,  and  before 
the  list  of  fortnnate  stockholders  could  be  complet(Ml,  the  pnblic 
imi>atience  rose  to  a  ))itch  of  fi'eiizy.  Dukes,  manpiises  and 
counts,  with  tlK'ir  wiN<'s  and  dan^hters.  waite<l  for  hours  in  the 
streets  befoie  his  dooi',  to  know  the  result;  and  to  jireveiit  being 
jostled  by  the  blebeian  crowd,  took  apartments  in  the  a<Ijacent 
liouses,  the  rents  of  which  rose  from  lOi)  to  llMM).  and,  in  some 
instiiiices.  to  )(•<)(»  livres  ]tei'  annum.  Induced  by  ^^oldeii  dreams, 
the  demand  for  shares  was  so  yreat  it  was  thouinht  best  to  in- 
ereu.se  them  .{(MMMIO  more,  at  .">(>()  livres  each ;  and  stu'h  was  the 
ea.irerness  of  the  j>eople  to  snbsciibe,  that,  had  the  ;;(>\'ernment 
or(lere«l  three  times  that  nunibei',  they  would  all  have  b«'en  taken. 

The  first  attem]»ts  of  the  ;'omi>any  at  coloinzation  in  Louisiana, 
vroi'o  attcjKh'd  with  careless  iirodi^ality.  To  entice  emi;iraids 
thither,  the  rich  ]»rairi<'s  and  the  most  invitin^u' li<'l<ls  were  granted 
to  comitanies  which  son<iht  principalities  in  the  valley  of  the 
]\lississippi.  An  extensive  ]>rairie  in  Aikansas,  bounded  on  all 
.sides  by  the  sky,  was  jiianted  to  Law,  where  hedesiijiicd  to  plant 
a  colony,  and  he  actmdly  expended  a  half  million  of  livres  for  that 
purpose.     Fi'oni  the  represejitations  of  the  company,  New  Orleans 


lis  IIIMTOIJV    (iF    ILLINOIS. 


Imthiiic  riiiiioiis  ill  I'iiiis  as  a  Ucaiilil'iil  cil.v  Itt'lorc  llic  wuiU  uf 
nitliii;;  <l(»\vii  llic  caiifliiiikcs,  wliicli  (•(ixricd  its  .site,  had  Imcii 
('iiiiiiiiciicril.  Ka.^kaslvia,  liicii  iii(»i |\  a  laiilniiiiiciil  of  sa\a;;<'S, 
was  s|Miki'ii  of  as  an  (■iM|ii>i'iiiiii  ul'  lia-  iiidsI  rxtciisiNt-  trallii-,  and 
as  i'ivaiiii;^' soiiK' of  III*- citii's  III'  I'liiiitpi-  in  r«-rui('iiifnt,  ia.^iiion  and 
i'fli;;i<)iis  cidtiir)'.  In  line,  to  diniitt  tiiu  \v«>alliM»t'  liiaiisiana  was 
In  jadvulvc  anj^t-r.  I,aw  was  now  in  (lie  /<nitli  of  Iiis  ;;ini\,  and 
lilt'  jn'opli'  ill  III*'  /I'liitli  ol'  tlii'ir  iiii'atiialion.  'I'lic  lii;;li  and  tin- 
low,  tlic  ricli  and  tin-  |iour,  were  at  oner  tilldl  with  \  isioiis  of  iin- 
tnld  w<'atii,anil   cscry  a;;*',  sd,  rank   ;;nd  condition   were  hiivin;;' 

!1  III  I     VI'll  ilMI     vl  IW'I.  < 


and  scllin;;  slocks. 


anil  sciiiii;;  siocivs. 

'l'h<>  ctVcct  of  this  spcciilalion  on  the  pnlilic  mind  and  manners 
was  (»verwhelmiii;i.  TIh'  laxity  of  public  imaals,  Wad  enoii;j;li  lie- 
lore,  now  hecame  worse,  and  the  peniicitais  lose  of  yaiiihlinj;  dil'- 
I'lised  ilseir  liii(>n;;h  society  and  liore  down  all  piililic  and  lit  arlv 
all  private  virtue  heiore  it.  While  conlitleiice  lastitl,  an  imiuilso 
\vas  ^iiven  to  traile  never  Welor*- known.  Straii^^frs  lloekcd  to  the 
(■a|iilal  IVoiii  e\t'r\  |)art  of  the  ^thihe,  and  its  popiihition  increased 
.■ior),(l(MI  stalls.  Ileds  weic  inatle  in  kitchens,  ;;aiit'ts  ami  c\«'n  sta- 
bles, for  the  aeeoinmoilalioii  ol'  lod^cis.  Trovisioiis  shared  the 
;i'ent'ral  advance,  ami  wa;^t's  rose  ii.  the  same  propta tioii.  An  illii- 
sorv  policy  e\  fiyw  here  pre\ailctl.  and  so  da/y.led  the  eye  that  none 
coiilil  see  ill  the  hiari/.tiii  the  ilark  cloud  that  annt>iiiiced  the  ap- 
])roachiii;;  sttirin.  Law,  at  the  time,  was  by  I'ar,  the  most  inlliieii- 
tia!  man  in  the  realm,  while  his  wile  and  dauyhters.were  etinrled 
by  the  liiLiiiest  nobility  ami  their  alilaiice  soii;;hl  by  diical  ami 
princely  htmses. 

Suspicions,  liowt'\fr,  soon  arose;  sjiecic  was  deinaiidcd  ami  Law 
became  alarmeil.  The  iirecioiis  metals  had  all  h  ft  the  kin;:iloin, 
and  (•oil!  for  more  than  .')0(>  livres  was  ileclareil  an  illej;al  tentler. 

[N'dTE.— A  colililf I',  wlu;  hiifl  n  stiill  ncnr  Law's  dIUco,  ^.'nincd  nenr  2(10  llvrcs  jicr day  tiy 
Irittini;  It,  nrid  tlmlini:'  >liitiiiii('r}'  I'di'  Inuktrs  iiml  ntjii'i'  i^iiiiii.s.  A  lHiiii|iliiii'ki'<l  nnin, 
who  St  ( mil  in  llicslii'i't,  us  tlir  sti)r.>  trui'S,  yaiiiiil  coii-iilciiilili'  ■<iiiiis  by  loniiinu^  liis  lnu'k 
liM  II  wrltiiijf  ilusk  ti)  till'  CM«('i'  Hiii'Ciilulors.  l,iiw,  liiiiliii^.'  Ills  ii'Siiliiicc  toosiimll,  cx- 
t'hiintrt'tl  il  lor  t  lie  IMuco  Viniloiiie.  wljitlirr  llic  cinwil  lollnwt'd  liiiii.  iiml  t  lit' spncioua 
Eir|iiiiri' hud  tlii' iipiii'iirimcc  ol' a  iniliiic  iiinikct.  Hoollis  wiTf  t'l-fcti'd  lor  the  tiaiisiL— 
tioiiof  laislneSH  and  tlu'  su.f  of  rt'lrt'siiiin  iits.  'Ihi'  hoiijcv  aids  iiikI  piililic  (iardtMi.s 
were  liirsakeii,  and  tin:  I'iact,'  \'i  ndoiiic  hccaiin' tlic  niosl  rasliiniialiji'  lounge  lor  p.irllfs 
of  pifusiiro.  The  lIotL'l  dSiisoii  was  taken,  and  its  lini!  irardcii,  or'iaiiicntcd  with  foiin- 
tiiinsaiid  Htiitimry,  wiiH  eovcri'd  over  Willi  tents  and  pivilions  fortlie  aeeoniniodatioa 
of  filoek  .jolitiers,  and  each  tent  lieiiik'  let  at  'itHi  livres  per  iiioMth,  in  di-  a  iiioiitlily  lev- 
eniii' of  :.'.")tl.tKKI  livrrs.  I'eers,  Jiidtres  and  liisliops  tin  onj-'ed  the  lloti'j  de  Siisoii.  and 
ollieersof  the  urniy  and  navy,  ladles  id'  titlt;  and  fa>liion,  were  seen  waiflinf  in  the 
nnte-eliaiiiher  of  liaw,  to  lie^i'ii  pfalioiiof  his  stock.  He  was  iinaMe  lo  wail  lai  oiie- 
tentii  purt  of  tin;  applicants,  and  cmtv  .nei-icsof  inni'iiiiity  was  employed  totiuiiiiln 
midience.  Peer?,  whose  ditrnity  would  liaxc  lieeii  oiitra^red  if  the  reuciit  had  niado 
them  wait  lialf  an  hour  for  an  intei\  i(!W,  were  (Mintent  to  wait  li  liiairs  for  the  purposi» 
ol  seeiiDf  tin?  wily  adventurer.  lOnorin  ns  fees  were  paid  to  his  servants  to iiniioune-o 
th'ir  name,  and  ladies  of  rank  einployeil  the  hlandishmentsof  their  smiles.  One  lady 
in  imrticular,  who  had  striven  in  vain  many  days  to  see  fjiw,  ordered  licrcoaehmmi  to 
keep  a  strict  watch, and  when  he  saw  liiiii  comiiii.'.  to  drive  ayainst  a  post  and  upset  her 
eiirrlaire.  This  was  siiceessfiilly  nt'complislieil,  iiml  Ijiw,  who  witnessed  the  ap|iareiit 
accident,  ran  to  hi.'r  assistance.  She  was  led  to  his  lioiist-,  and  a.s  soon  asslie  thoiiirht  it 
(idvlsalile,  recovered  from  her  friy  hi,  aiKdotized  for  the  iiilrnsion.iuul  confessed  the 
strataf-'em.  Law  was  a  (rallaiit,  and  could  no  lontrcr  ri-fiise,  an  I  entered  her  name  on 
his  book  as  the  purchaser  of  some  stock.  Another  lady  of  nink,  knowiiiif  lliat  Law 
dined  at  H  eortain  tim(\  proceeded  tiiitlier  in  hercarriairo  and  kuvo  tlie  alarm  of  lire, 
and  while  everybody  wasscaniperiiiir  away,  sht;  made  haste  to  meet  him  ;  but  he.  siis- 

{H'ctlnnthe  trick,  rim  oil  in  1  In;  opposite  directitin.  A  celebrated  physician  in  I'aris 
iiid  boiitrht  stock  at  an  iinlaMirable  time,  and  was  an.\ioiis  to  sell  out .  While  it  was 
r»l>idly  failinir,  and  while  his  mind  was  lilled  with  the  sub.ii!i:t.  lie  was  euUi d  on  to 
atlend  a  lady  who  'lioiii-dit  herself  unwell.  Heinsr  shown  up  stairs,  be  felt  the  la<ly's 
pulse,  and,  more  intent  upon  tii.s  s'lieks  than  the  patient,  e.vclaimi^d  :  "It  falls;  pood 
(jod  I  it  falls  continually.  Tlie  lady  started,  ami  riinfiii).' the  bell  for  assistance,  .said  : 
"  O,  dot^tor,  I  am  dyiiiy,  I  am  dyiny";  it  fulls!  "  AVtiat  f.illsV"  imjiiired  tlit^  iloctor,  in 
anui/.eiiient.  "M.v  imlso.  my  imlse,"  saiil  the  lady;  "I  iiiii  iiyinsr!"  "('aim  your 
fears,  my  ciear  iiiudani,"  said  tliu  doctor.  •' I  was  spcihinx  of  the  stouks  1  have  boon 
BO  (front  a  loser,  and  my  mind  is  so  disturlied  that.  1  hardly  know  what  I  am  say- 
ing."] 


LAW'S   I'lXANf'IAL  Hf'IIEME. 


11U 


A  (H)iiiicil  nfstiitc  Wii.H  ln'ld,  Mini  il  wiis  asci'i'tiiiiu-d  tliat  L',(!(l(»,(llM»,- 
(M)l),lM)(>  ill  |):i|M-r  ui-rc  in  i-iiriil;iti<iti,  mihI  (lit-  IciiiU  sto|)|H d  |iiiy- 
iiiciit.  Tlif  |M'n|tlf  iissaiillctl  Liiw'.s  «iiniii;i<'  wilii  .stuiifs,  iiiiii  Imf 
lor  tliH  <l('\t«'rity  ol'  Ills  «-<»iicliiiiaii,  lie  woiiM  liavt;  liccii  torn  lo 
pieces.  On  tlie  rollowiii;;' (lav  liis  \\ He  ami  (liiii^liter  weie  atliirUed 
as  lliey  were  reliiniili;;  ill  tlieir  caniil^ie  (roiii  the  raees.  'I'lie  le 
iii'Ui  \wU\<^  inrniiiieil  (»r  (liese  neciirieiiees  sent  iiiiii  a  yiiaid  lor  his 
jtroteetion.  {''iinliii;:-  his  lioiise,  e\en  with  ii  j^iiaid.  iiiseeiiie.  lie 
l'e|iiiii'eil  lo  the  |i:iliii'e  iiinl  took  ;i|iiirtiiieiils  witli  the  l'e;;ent.  Snoii 
ul'terwani,  lea\iiiL;  the  kinndoin,  his  estate  anil  liliraiy  were  coiilis- 
fal<'<l,an(|  lie  died  at  N'ieiina  in  extreme  poverty.* 

The  lessons  to  he  leiiriied  IVoiii  these  wild  linaiieial  speculations, 
is,  tliiit  thee.Npiinsioii  ol'ciirrency  al\V!i,\  s  yi\es  iiii  impel  us  to  indus- 
try. I)nt  when  it  is  Icised  on  credits,  uitlnnit  iiieiiiis  of  redemption, 
it  must  meet  wilhnn  overthrow  attended  with  a  prostration  of 
business  ureally  oxerltiihinein;;  iill  tenipoijiry  iid\  antiiues. 

We  must  now  recoil II I  the  operations  of  the  compiiny  in  Louis- 
iana. On  the  2."»th  of  Aii^nst,  ITIS,  its  slii|is,  after  ;i  pleasiint 
voyaiic  eiitereil  the  port  of  Mobile,  chantin;;  the  Tc  Ihinn  for  their 
sale  arrival.  On  hoiird  the  ships  was  the  kinj;'s  lieiitenanl.  M. 
J>oisi>riant,  hearin;;'  a  commission  anthori/in;:  i>ie:.\ille  to  act  as 
}i()\ernoi'-j;ciieiiil  of  the  j»ro\iiice,  and  S(H»  iniiiii,:nranls.  'I'lie  ji<»v- 
ornor  ayain  coniinenced  the  duties  of  his  ollice,  still  eiitertaininji 
liis  pre\  ions  com  ictions  Unit  the  c;i|>itiil  of  the  pro\  im-e  should  he 
removed  Iroiii  the  sterile  sniids  of  the  Oiilf  coast  to  llie  hunks  of 
the  Aj  is.sissip])i.  lie  leasoned  that  if  estahlished  on  the  fertile 
allil\  ii.'ii  or  nplamls  of  the  iii'eat  river,  it  wimld  hecoiiM' the  ceiilrt; 
of  il  coiKiniinity  devoted  to  ;i;;riciiltiii(',  the  only  hraiich  of  industry 
that  could  .ii'ivc  perniiiiieiit  .urowtli  iind  prosperity  to  the  province. 
lie  tlieicfore  selected  the  site  now  occupied  hy  New  Orleans  foi'  a 
capital,  and  jiiavc  it  the  naim'  it  now  hears,  in  honor  of  the  i;e;i('iit 
of  l''iane<'.  I'liylit  convicts  were  sent  from  the  prisons  of  l>'r;iiiceto 
(•lear  away  the  copj)ice  which  thickly  studded  the  site.  Two 
ycHrs  afterward  the  royal  en;;ineei'  siirv«'y«'<l  the  outlets  of  the 
river  and  (leclaied  that  it  nii.ulit  he  made  ;i  I'onimerciid  jioil,  iiiid 
in  1 7<s.'>  it  hecanie  the  jirovincial  and  <-oiiiinercial  capital  of  Loiiis- 
iann.  Alllion^h  .M.  lliiltert,  who  had  chaij^c  of  the  c<»ni|)any's 
aifiiirs,  iclnctantly  conij)lied  with  the  iidxice  of  IJieiiville  in  remov- 
ing: the  dejiots  to  the  new  capitiil,  time  has  jiroveii  the  superior 
jnd.unient  of  the  former.  l''roni  a  de|M)t  for  the  comnieicial  trans- 
actions of  a  single  company,  it  has  hccome  the  emjtoiinm  of  tin; 
iiohiest  valley  (»n  the  face  of  tin'  ylohe. 

'I'he  delusion  that  dieann-d  of  sihci'and  .t;old  in  Loiiisiaiiii,  iiiid 
which  had  so  lar.n('ly  contiihiited  to  the  ruin  of  ( 'ro/.jit.  .^t ili  liaiint- 
<'d  the  minds  of  Iiis  successors.  T'liwillin;;  to  profit  l>,\  his  expe- 
rience, they  concluded  that  his  success  wiis  rather  the  result  of  Ids 
unskillful  assayers  flnin  the  ahseiice  of  the  precious  metals,  iiiid 
accordinjiiy  IMiillii)  Jicnanlt  was  made  dircctor-;:'eneral  of  the 
mines,  lie  left  I'laiice  ill  ITl'.t,  with -<M)  mechanics  and  hihorcrs, 
and  jirovided  with  all  thinj:s  necessiiry  to  prosecute  the  hiisiiiess 
of  his  olticc.  On  his  way  hither  he  hoiij^hf  ."lOtt  iie^^ro  slaves  at 
Han  Domingo,  for  working'  the  mines,  and  on  reacliiii;:'  the  month 
of  the  .Mississijipi,  sailed  to  Illinois,  where  it  was  supposed  /^old 
and  silver  existed   in  lar^«'  (luantities.     lie  estahlished  himself  a 


•Condensed  from  Hiinoroft,  Urowii's  Illinois,  and  M'Kuy's  Extniordinuiy  Delusions, 


!:,'(>  niST<)UV   OF   ILLINOIS. 

\\\\  iiiiirs  iiliii\(>  KiiskiislviM,  ill  wliiit  is  iniw  tin-  soul iiu est  roriicr 
III'  Monroe  coiiiitv,  :iiiil  ciillrtl  tlic  \ill:i^r  wliicli  lit-  loiiiKlt'd  Saint 
l'liiili|)>.  (ii'fiit  *>\|i('(-tiitioiis  pi't'Niiilcil  ill  l''i'iiiii'i-  ill  iiis  piosptTt- 
i\«-  >iii-('<'ss,  hilt  tiicv  ill!  t'liilcti  ill  (lisa|>|ioiiitiii('iit.  I'^roni  lliis 
]Hiiiii  lie  sent  out  f\|iloiiii;;  partirs  into  various  jiaitsol'  Illinois, 
wlilcli  tlicii  constitiitnl  ('p|)«>r  lionisiana.  Scarcli  was  inadt'  lor 
laiiifials  aloii;^  1  Mew  rv's  cit'ck,  in  .laclvsoii  coniitv  ;  alioiil  lln'  St- 
.Alaiv's,  in  i)aiiilol|ili  roiinl,v;  in  .Monrof  <'oiint,\,  aloii;^  SiUcr 
(  rt'cU  ;  ill  St.  Clair  roiinty,  and  otlicr  parts  ol'  Illinois.  Silvcr 
crcrU  look  its  nainr  iVoiii  tli*>  explorations  inatle  on  its  Itaiiks,  ami 
traililioii,  very  iiiiprolialilv.  stales  that  coiisiilei'aMe  (piantilies  of 
sihcr  were  (IisconckI  liere  and  sent  t(»  I''raiice.  'I'lie  operalions  of 
Jienaiilt  were  at  len;;tli  hroiijilit  to  a  close  I'roin  a  cause  least  ex- 
jH'cled.  I'.y  tile  edict  (»!'  Ilie  kiii;^  the  Western  Coiiipany  liecanic! 
tile  C'onipanv  ol'llie  Indies,  and  the  teirilorv  w  as  relroeeded  to  tlui 
Clown,  'i'lie  ett'orts  ot' the  company  had  totally  tailed,  am!  Uiiiaiilt 
■\va.s  left  to  |»rosecnte  the  hiisiness  of  niiniiiiiji  without  jiieans. 

In  the  iiieantinie  a  tierce  war  had  been  raiiiii;;-  Uetwceii  I'raiK'c  and 
Spain,  ami  their  icspective colonists  in  Ndrlli  America  pres<'nled  a 
coiitinmiiisdispli.y  of  warlike  prcjiaratioiis.  ItieiiNille,  with  his  reg- 
ulars and  provincial  troops,  l(K»  Indians,  aial  a  few  armed  ve.>sels, 
made  a  descent  on  I'eiisacohi  and  laid  it  under  sicfic  hcfore  its 
j;anisoii  could  lie  reiiifoi<-ed.  .M't<'r  an  assault  of")  lioiirs,  and  ii 
delermined  resistance  on  the  part  of  the  hesieti'ed.  the  S|)aiiisli 
coinmandant  siirremlered.  'i'he  approach  of  a  powerful  Spanish 
armament  shortly  afh-rward,  compelled  l;ieiiville  lo  rcliiMpiish  the 
foil  and  retiirii  lo  MoWile.  where  he.  in  turn,  was  lM'sie,i;ed  in  the 
fort  of  I>aii|)hin  Island.  The  squadron  endeavored,  l»y  a  furious 
homhai'diiient.  to  reduce  the  fort,  hut  its  commander.  liiidin;.t  his 
elfoils  uiia\  ailinji,  after  1.'!  <lays  rctire<l.  The  war  coiitinuiuu  to 
liarrass  the  coast  of  the  .liulf,  liieii\ille  the  I'ollowinj:  year,  w  ilh  the 
wliole  asailahle  force  of  the  pro\ince,  a.uaiii  move«l  a;^aiusi  tiic 
tow  II  of  I'ensacola.  After  aclose  investment  hy  sea  and  laud  llic 
tow  II  and  loll  were  carrii'd  h_\  storm,  aial,  hesides  the  miinilionsof 
llie  latter,  l,SO(.t  prisoners  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  victors.  Se\- 
cral  Spanish  vessels  with  rich  carptes,  ij^norant  of  the  occupatiiiii 
of  the  town  hy  the  Ki'ench,  ran  into  i»ort  and  were  also  captured. 
'i'he  oeeiijiation  of  the  town,  as  lieforc.  was  of  slairt  duration,  for 
JJieiix  ille,  ant  ici|»atiu,u'  the  arrival  of  a  Spanisli  force,  hiew  up  the 
fort,  lairned  the  town  ami  retiirm-d  to  .Alohile. 

r>nt  1ii(^  (tperatimis  of  tiie  war  w'<'i'e  not  confined  to  the  lower 
])artof  tlu'  pKivince.  'I'laders  and  liunters  had  discovered  a  route 
across  the  vveslern  plains,  and  dctaclnuents  of  Spanisii  cavalry 
]»iislied  across  tlie  }ireat  American  desert,  and  were  llireatening 
Illinois.  Tiie  Missouri  Indians  were  at  tlie  time  in  alliance  witli 
the  f'reiicii,  and  the  Spaniards  planned  an  expedition  for  the  ex- 
termiuation  of  tliis  trihe.  that  tliey  mi.iiht  afterward  destroy  the 
settlements  of  Illinois  and  replace  tlu'in  vvitli  colonists  from  .Mex- 
ico. Tiu' expedition  for  this  ])urpose  was  titled  out  at  Saiila  !''(», 
and  directed  to  proceed  hy  way  of  the  Osa.ues,  to  secure  their  co- 
o])eration  in  an  attack  on  tiie  3Iissouris.  Consistin;;'  of  soldiers, 
])riests,  families  and  domestic!  animals,  it  moved  like  an  immense 
caravan  across  the  desert,  piepared  hoth  to  overthrow  the  ficnch 
cohuiies  and  to  establish  others  in  their  stead.  l»y  mistake,  their 
guiile.s  led  them  directly  to  the  Missourks  uistead  of  Llic  Oaages, 


MASSACKK   Ol'    I'OI.'T    ItOSAMi;. 


IL'I 


illiil  iis  ciicll  s|M)k(>  tlic  siiiiir  lilli^AMii;;'*'  tllty  lirlifvcil  tll<>llisclvfs  III 
till'  iMcsciuM'  of  tlu'!  liittor  tril«'.  Tlic  wil.v  sii\iiy»"s,  uii  Iciiriiiii;;' 
tlifir  ImisJiicss,  cncoiirii;::)'*!  tlir  iiiisiiiiilrrshiiiiliii;:,  mid  I'niiicsicil 
two  (lays  l(t  iissfiiiltlc  tlit'ir  winiiois  iind  |trc|iiiir  lor  llic  iilliifk. 
Mor*'  lliiiii  ISlI  iiiiiskcts  wi'i'f  |iiil  into  llicii-  Inmls,  hikI  lict'oif  llio 
S|iiiiiiiii'<is  roiiiiil  out  iltrir  iiiistiiUt'  Ilit-  .Missomi.-;  I'l-ll  iijioii  llit'iii 
iiiitl   put   tlifiii   jiiilis<  riiiiiiiiitclv  to  dciitli.     Tlii'   piv-st  iiloiic  wan 

>.|tiii»'(l  to  t«'II  tlic  I'iitc  ot'  liis  iiiifoifiiii!!' iiiitr\iiM"i.     Ill  ;mli('i- 

Jiiltioii  of  siiiiil:!!'  tliU'riillirs,  Itoislii  iillit  \v:is  siMit  lo  Illinois  ill 
ITl'O  l>,\  tlic  NVcsfjTii  Coiiipaiiy,  toJTCJ't  a  I'oit  on  tlir  . Mississippi, 
lor  tlif  piotcctioii  (tf  the  siirroiiiKJinji"  icuions.  'riiiis  ori;;iii;it»'ii 
l''oi't  Cliiirti'fs,  wliicli  pl:i,\<Ml  siicli  iiii  iMi)iorl;int  purt  in  the  siiWsc- 
(pinit  liislorv  ol'  Illinois.  Tli*'  tort iliciil ion  was  litiilt  on  'lie  iMst 
.side  ol'llic  ii\('r,  liJ  iiiilt's  nortliwrst  of  K;isUiiskia.  :ind  \\  il  lliii 
time  tlic  most  iiiipif;^niiltlt'  foilrcss  in  Nortii  Anicrica.  iit'ic  tlui 
>V»'slcrn  ('onii»;in,\  tinidlv  Imilt  their  wiirehonscs,  niid  when,  in 
ITUI  Loiiisiiina  was  di\ide(l  into  distriets.  it  lieciime  the  hend- 
4piarters  of  Hoisiiriaiit,  the  iirsl  local  governor  of  Illinois.  The 
7  distriets  were  New  Orleans,  IJiloxi,  Moiiile,  Alaitania,  N;iteliez, 
Mat*  iiiloehis,  ;ind  Illinois. 

Soon  after  the  ei'eetioii  of  the  fort,  Ciihokia,  I'rairie  dii  Ikoeher, 
and  some  other  vilhiincs,  received  larye  iiccessions  to  their  jiopnla- 
tioiis.  All  till-  settlements  between  the  ri\ers  .Mississippi  and 
Kaskaskia  liecame  ;L;reatly  extended  and  increased  in  niimher.  and 
ill  17-1  the  .lesnits  estaitlislie<l  a  inoiiaster.v  and  college  at  Kas- 
kaskia. I<\)iir yearsafterward  it  i>eeanie  an  incorporatetl  town. and 
liOiiis  X  N'  p  ran  led  the  iidialnlants  a  coinnnins.  or  icistnic  ^ronnds, 
i(»r  tlieii'  stock.  Iniiiii;.:rants  rapidly  settled  on  the  fertile  lands  of 
the  Amerieaii  ISottom,  and  I'ort  Chaities  not  only  lieeame  the 
Iiead<|iiaiiers  of  the  <-oniiiian<lanf  of  I'liper  Louisiana,  itiit  the  cen- 
tre (»f  wealth  and  fashion  in  the  West.* 

In  the  Antnmn  of  17l'(!,  IJicnville  was  succeeded  l)y  M.  I'errier. 
The  retiring;  ,ii(»\«'rnor  had  with  inneli  |»ropriety.  Iteeii  called  the 
Father  of  lionisiana,  haviiii;,  w  itii  the  except  ion  of  two  siiort  inter- 
niissions,  l)een  its  execntixe  ollicer  for  I'll  years.  Not  loiii;-  after 
the  ariival  of  the  new  udxcrnor,  his  attention  was  directed  tt»  the 
Chicasaw  Indians.  His  predecesor  had  ol»serv«'d,  in  previous  years, 
Ihe  insincerity  of  tiieir  i'riendship  for  the  l-'rench,  and  had  iiijicd  the 
directory  of  the  cr)inpany  to  institute  some  moreclVccli\  c  protection 
lor  the  adjacent  settlement.  M.  Perrier  now  reiterated  its  import- 
ance, hut  his  apprehensions  wfi'c  deeine<l  yroniidless,  and  nothing' 
was  done.  The  Indians  were  now  hecoinin.L;' Jealous  at  the  rapid 
i'lK-roachmentsofthe  whites,  whosometimes  i>nnislied  them  haisldy 
for  tilt!  most  trivial  otl'cnse.  I'lider  these  eircninstaiices  the  ('liic- 
asaws,  Natchez,  and  other  trii)es  conceived  the  desi;;ii  of  destroy- 
in;;' the  I'^rcnch,  and  sent  a,i;<'nts  to  the  Illinois  to  induce  them  to 
<'nt  off  the  settiements  iiitheii  midst.  Tiie  aMack  was  t(1eoniinence 
at  dillereiit  i>Iaces  at  the  same  lime.  l)nt  from  some  iiiikiiowu cause 
tin'  Natchez  wei'c  the  Iirsl  to  carry  the  design  into  execution, 
althou.uli  the  Chicasaws  were  the  first  to  ]>ropose  the  eonsiiiracy. 
It  is  said  that  the  niimher  of  days  to  elapse  from  the  new  moon  to 
the  time  of  the  massacre,  was  imlicated  by  a  certain  number  of 
reeds,  biindlesof  which  were  sent  to  the  ditl'ereiit  tril)es.  One  reed 
Avas  to  be  drawn  daily   from  each  bundle,  and  the  attack  was  to 

Mouette'sViil.  ot  the  Miss. 


122 


TIISTOUY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


coiiiiiK'iK'c  when  tlic  last  one  was  drawn.  l}y  dcsijiii,  or  acci<l('iit, 
tli(^  hiiiKllc  sent  to  tlic  Xatclic/,  was  made  siiiallci'  tliau  tli«'  ivst, 
and  liciicc  tlicy  sfnick  tlic  llrst  blow.  Indian  tradition  asscrtccl 
tiiat  tiic  plot  waskt'i»t  a  i)roround  scci'ct  till  tlic  fatal  day  arrived. 
Tills,  acrordini;  to  ^.'atclu'Z  ('oiiii)Utatioii,  was  on  the  2Stli  of  >;o- 
vcmiu'r,  ITl'!*,  at  ti»e  dawn  of  wiiidi  tiic  (ircat  (!iii<'f,  or  Sun,  with  a 
iiiiiiihcr  of  cliost'n  warriors  liavinj;'  concealed  wca|Mtns.  repaired  to 
Fort  liosalic.  At  a  i)reeoncertcd  si;;nal,  the  warriors  drew  their 
AVeapons,  and  at  a  siii;^lc  onset  the  little  ;iarrisoii  slept  the  sleei> 
of  death.  Other  i)arties  were  distriltnted  through  the  eontif;iious 
settlements,  and  when  the  aseendinin' smoke  of  the  hiirnin.i;-  fort 
was  seen,  these  became  the  scenes  of  slaii.iihtcr,  (ill  the  iMitirc^ 
Avhite  nndc  popniation,  niimherinu  TOO,  were  destroyed.  While 
tlie  massacre  was  rauiii^',  tin;  (IreatiSnn  seated  himself  in  the  s])a- 
cioiis  warehouse  of  the  comiiany,  and  with  the  greatest  apparent 
nnconccrii,  smoked  his  |»ipe  as  his  warriors  piled  np  (he  heads  of 
the  fi'arrison  in  the  form  of  a  pyramid  near  l»y.  whose  apex  was 
the  head  of  the  commandant.  When  the  wariiors  inl'ormcd  him 
tliat  the  last  l-'rcnchman  ceased  to  lixc,  he  ordered  the  pillaye  to 
commence.  The  nc,!j;ro  slaves  were  ordered  to  brin;;  in  the  spoils 
for  distribution,  bnt  the  military  stores  were  reserved  for  futnnj 
use.  As  loii^'  as  the  arih'iit  spirit  lasted,  day  and  ni.uht  alike  pre- 
sented a  coiitinned  scene  ofsa\ij;('  triiunphs  and  driiiiken  rexclry. 
Tlie  setlleiiieiils  on  the  Ya/(»o  and  other  jilaces.  met  with  a  similar 
late,  but  tliosi'  within  the  present  limits  of  Illinois,  (»win;.;-  to  the 
loyalty  and  fricndshij*  of  the  ]>rairie  tribes,  remained  unharmed. 
As  soon  as  the  massacre  became  known,  .M.  INrrier  dispatched 
vessels  to  France  for  troops  and  nulitary  supplies,  and  ccauiers 
xverc  sent  to  I'ort  Cli'ii'ties  and  other  posts,  nriiiiij;'  npon  the  sev- 
eial  commandants  the  necessity  of  })reparation  toco-operate  with 
him  against  the  common  enemy.  Aj;ents  were  also  sent  to  tlu^ 
(Tioctaws  and  other  Indians  in  alliance  with  the  French,  for  fur- 
ther assistance.  The  governor  immediately  ,u'ot  ready  to  march  to 
the  scene  of  disastei-  with  the  troops  in  the  south<'in  ]>art  of  the 
proxince;  but  the  ne.yroes,  nnnil>erinji'  some  l',000,  betrayed 
symptoms  of  revolt,  and  he  was  detained  to  watch  the  intended 
insnrre<-tioii.  In  the  meantime,  the  ("lioctaws,  who  had  committed 
no  overt  act  of  hostility,  lia.d  lieeii  \  isited  by  tme  of  tlie  company's 
agents,  and  induced  to  fiiinish  (iOO  warriors.  At  I'earl  river  he 
received  an  accession  of  (100  more,  and  with  this  formidable  body 
of  warriors  he  nio\cd  forward  and  encamped  neai'  the  enemy,  to 
await  the  arrival  of  other  for«'es.  It  was.  however,  .soon  ascer- 
tained that  the  Natchez,  unsuspicious  of  danji^r,  were  sijcndinji: 
their  time  in    idle   carousals,  and  the  (hoctaws  rushed  on  tln-in 


IlKii      tiiiii'      III       iiii«.       i<(i«fiit"^fii>^>(iii«i     (ii\        viiirii(i«>r^      jii>~^[i«Mi      \rii      iiiiiii 

unexpectedly,  and  alter  a  brief  coiillict,  returned  with  t!0  scalps. 
]S'ol  lon;^' afterward  French  tro(»i)s  arrixcd,  com|th'ted  the  victt»ry, 
and  libeia'led  the  women  and  children.  The  larjicr  part  of  the 
tribe,  led  by  their  (li'cat  Snn,  lied  across  tlie  Mississijpi  and  for- 
tified tlH'iiisehcs  on  lUack  river.  Thither  they  were  followed  by 
troops  trom  I'rance  and  the  ]»rini»cial  settlements  of  the  pr(»vince, 
and  in  tw((  snccessfui  battles  wer(M'oini>lete!y  cut  to  pieces.  Tin* 
(ii'cat  Sun  and  400  wariiors  w«'re  captured  and  taken  to  New  Or- 
leans, and  ilience  to  San  Domingo,  and  sold  as  slaves.  Thus  |te)'- 
ished  this  jiowcrfid  tribe,  and  '-vith  them  their  mysterious  worship 
of  the  sun  and  i>Ioody  rit.es  of  sepulture,     i^'u  tribe  was,  perhaps, 


CHARTER  SUR R KNDE RED. 


123 


iiKH'c  <listiiijniiislu'(l  for  ictiiiciiicnt,  iiitolliyvncc,  coura^i!  iuid  con- 
tempt *>{'  (Icatli,  ill  liulitiiiji'  for  tlicu   liju'lits  and  coiiiitry. 

'riicjurcat  ('Xpt'iiditiircs  in  ])ros('<'iitiii;^'  tlif  Natclicz  \vai',tli('  coiise- 
(|ii<'iit  loss  of  trade  with  other  triltes.  iiiid  (lie  fiiiaiieial  einbarrass- 
iiieiits  incident  to  Law's  taihire.  induced  tiie  coiii|tany  to  ask  ibr  a 
sill  reiiderol'tiieir  charter.  'I'iie  kin;;'  readily  .-^ranted  their  petition, 
and  on  the  l(»th  of  April,  17.">L'.  issued  a  proclaniatioii  dechirinj;' 
]joiiisiaiia  free  to  all  his  siilijects.  with  eipial  jn  i\  ileji'es  astoeoin- 
liieree  and  otheiiiiterests.  The  1 4  years  the  company  had  possession 
of  tiie  country,  iiotwitiistaiidiii;;-  the  many  adverse  circniiistanccs, 
ivas  a  peri(»d  (»f  eoirparative  jirosperity.  When  it  assumed  con- 
trol, the  niimhei' of  sla\('s  was  L'd;  now  it  was  L!,()l)().  Then  tlic 
entire  white  ]»oi)iihitioii  was  7(10;  now  .l.tHIO,  ainon^'  which 
■were  many  ]iers<ms  of  worth.  iiitelli.t;('nce  and  eiiter])rise.  TIio 
t'xtravaiiaiit  Iiojies  entertained  respeetin.u'  tli«  jirecioiis  metals,  had 
not  been  realized,  but  the  search  ibr  them  had  attracted  ])o[»ida- 
tion,  which  had  now  made  such  proj^ress  in  aj;rieidtiuv  as  to  ho 
8elf-snstaiiiin.n'.  Illinois,  at  tills  time,  contained  many  tioiuishinj;' 
.'seltleniciits,  more  evcliisively  (h'Vot<'d  to  aiiriciiltiire  than  th(»se  in 
otiiei-  parts  of  the  ]»ro\  iiice.  All  industrial  eiiteri>rises,  iiowever, 
were,  to  a  j;reat  extent,  jtaralyzed  by  tlie  arbitrary  exactions  of 
the  company.  The  agriculturists,  tlie  miners  and  the  fur  traders 
of  Illinois  were  held  in  a  sorl  of  vassala.yc.  which  enabled  tliose  in 
])ower  to  dictate  the  price  at  which  they  should  sell  their  products, 
jiinl  the  arfioiint  they  should  ])ay  them  for  iiiii)orted  inercliandisc. 
The  interest  of  the  company  was  always  at  vaiiance  with  that  of 
the  producer,  and  it  would  have  lieeii  (lifticult  to  devise  a  state  of 
iilfairs  so  injurious  to  both  parties,  and  so  detrimental  to  the  pros- 
perity of  Illinois  and  other  parts  of  Louisiana. 


I'* 


Chapter  Xll. 

1732-50— ILLINOIS  AND  LOTLSLVXA  UNDER  THE  IJOVAL 

eiOVEKNOKS. 


"NA'lu'ii  tlio  C()iii])iiii,v  of  tlu'  liidii's  jiiivc  up  their  cliaitt-r,  the  uov- 
iM'iiiiit'urof  Frmicc  I'csmiicd  tlic  ;i(liiiiiii.striitit»ii  of  iml>lic  affiiiis, 
31.  PcrriiT  ri'iiiaiiit'd  ^.'-ovi'iiioi-jit'iiciiiK  and  M.  (rAita^iicttc  hccaiiic 
local  ^^ovcnior  of  Illinois.  Tiic  coiiiiiion  law  of  I'arisliatl  prcx  ioiisly 
been  adopted  as  ti"  code  of  Louisiana,  hut  had  never  been  foiiiially 
extended  ovei'  iiMuois.  The  ecclesiastical  alfairs  were  inider  the 
superintench'nce  of  the  vicar-ji'eueral  of  New  Orleans,  as  a  part  of 
the  diocese  of  the  bishop  of  (^)uebec.  One  of  the  i)rincipal  oltjects 
of  tlie  go\('rnor  was,  to  establish  his  autliorit\ over  the  diHerent 
Indian  tribes  inlnibitin,^'  thi' country  under  Ins  conmjand.  'I'he 
Chicasaws,  insti;;ated  by  English  eoloiusts.  had  nuule  intercourse 
between  Illinois  ami  New  Odeaiis  so  ]iazar(h)us  that  eoniinerec 
Avas  \iitually  suspeinled.  and  the  setthMs  kept  in  a  constant  state 
of  alarm.  8iuih  wast  he  aninn>sity  and  activity  of  this  tribe,  it  als(» 
sent  secret  envoys  to  the  Illinois,  tor  the  pur})ose  of  (h'bauchinj;  the 
time  honored  ati'eclion  which  had  existed  between  them  and  their 
French  ni'i;ihbors.  and  inducing;  them  todcstroy  tlie  latter.  'l'he>e 
tawny  sons  of  the  [»rairies,  however,  refused  to  desert  their  friends, 
and  sent  an  euvo.\  to  New  Orleans  to  otfer  tiieir  services  to  the 
<i-o\cruor.  Said  this  tU'puty  to  that  functirmary  :  ••'i'his  is  the  pipe 
t)f  peace  or  wai' ;  you  ha\e  but  t()  speak  and  our  braves  will  strike 
the  nations  tinit  are  y(»ur  Iocs,  "*  It  was  now  necessary  to  reduce 
the  Chicasaws,  to  establish  communi<  atiou  between  the  norlliern 
and  s(»uthern  jtortions  of  the  i)i'ovince.  and  tosa\c  ihe  eastern  por- 
tion from  tlie  inlii^iies  of  emissaries,  sent  out  anions  the  Indians  l)y 
the  lin,ulisli  eoloides  on  the  Atlantic.  An  (tllicer  was,  thei'ctbre, 
dispatciu'd  to  Fort  Chartres,  in  I7.'>(»,  directin;^'  D'Artannette  to  ,i;('t 
in  readiness  theErench  forces  under  his  command, and  sinh  Indians 
of  Illinois  as  hecould  induce  to  unite  with  him  in  the  war.  It  was 
arran';'ed  that  D'Aria^uette  should  (U-scend  the  .Mississijipi  to  some 
suitabli-  i»oint  of  debarkation,  and  then  cross  to  the  country  (Ui  the 
head  waters  of  the  Talahatchee,  where  thcnemy's  str(»ny hold  was 
situated. 

Ill  the  meantime  Ijjeiiville,  who  had  aji'ain  been  commissioned 
by  the  kinj;'  as  i^overiutr-^iciu'ral,  with  the  forces  of  southern  Louis- 
iana, was  to  ascend  the  Tombi^bee  to  the  eoutlueiu'e  of  its  two 
principal  tributaries,  and  nnirchinji'  theiu'c  by  laml,  etfeet  a  juiu;- 
lion  with  the  forces  from  the  north.  Ivirly  in  the  spiin:;-.  I>ien\ille 
moved  with  his  tbrces  from  New  Orleans  to  Moltile,  and  thence  to 


♦Uuncriift. 


JL'l 


INDIAN   IIOSTILITIKS. 


tlic  point  (l('.sij;iiiito(l,  wlicrc  a  fort  liad  prcvKnislv  been  cicctrd  to 
sci'Vi' as  a  dcjiot  of  siij»i»li('s.  Here,  l»_v  ottcriiij;  icwartls  tor  scalps 
and  making-  jjioscnts  of  iiu'icliaiidisc,  lie  drew  to^ctluT  tin- larju'o 
force  of  12(HI  ("lioctaws.  After  <lisciid)ai'kin,u'  tin-  artillery  and 
]>laciny'  it  ill  the  foit,  tiie  solitude  of  the  priiiutisc  forests  and 
blooniinn'  prairies  was  broken  1»\  the  tread  of  tiie  forces  niosin;;  in 
the  direction  (»f  the  enemy.*  On  the  L'otli  of  .May,  they  arrived 
within  ;>  miles  of  the  (.'hieasaw  villaj^e,  l»ut  several  (hiys  behind  the 
lime  fixed  for  meetinii'  tlie  northern  forces;  a  delay,  which,  as  thei 
se(piel  will  show,  proved  fatal.  The  villa;;('  was  1!"  ndles  from  the; 
fort,  and  within  a  few  miles  of  I'ontotoe,  Mississippi,  which  still 
]ierpetnates  the  name  of  the  Indian  stron.yhold.  and  became  famons 
as  a  point  in  (irierson's  ^reat  raid  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion. 
]5efore  daylight,  the  next  morninj;',  the  impatient  and  tinj4'o\crn- 
able  ("lioctaws  move(l  aiiainst  the  lo^' citadel  of  the  enemy,  expect- 
iiii;  to  take  its  occupants  by  snr|irise.  On  the  contrary,  they  found 
the  ;;ai'rison  on  the  aleit,  and  the  fort  a  ski]itnll\  constructed 
fortilicatioii,  erected  nnder  the  siijiervisoii  of  I'Jijilish  trath'rs. 
Twi<'e  diirinji'  the  day,  Hienville  attempted  to  carry  tlie  w«)rks  by 
vigorous  attacks,  bnt  was  repidsed  with  a  loss  of  (io  wounded, 
ami  '.i'2  killed;  the  latter  eiubracin^i-  4  ollicers  of  rank.  The  billow- 
ing day,  .sonic  skirmishing  occnrred  between  the  Choetaws  and  the 
oiiemy,  without  any  decisi\t'  resnlts,  when  IJienville,  mortified  at 
liis  defeat,  and  beiie\inghis  own  forces  too  inconsiderable  for  llio 
reduction  ofsneli  formidable  v/orks  without  the  co-oj»eration  oftlic 
northern  forces,  of  which  ln'  ha<l  lieai'd  nothing,  conclinU'd  to  al)an- 
don  the  enterpi'ise.  He  accoi'dingly  dismissed  his  rt'<l  auxiliaries, 
made  a  retrograde  march  to  the  fort  on  the'l'onibigbee,  inglorioiisly 
threw  Ids  eannoii  into  the  river,  and  retnrned  io  2^ew  Orleans, 
covered  with  di'feat  and  slnnne. 

Trior  to  tlie  intlicting  of  this  disgrace  upon  the  French  arms, 
the  gallant  J>"Artaguette, accompanied  by  DeN'iiicennesand  I'ather 
Lcnat,  had  led  his  army  of.jO  Frenchmen  and  more  than  lotit) 
re<l  warriors,  from  the  ])rairies  of  the  noith  to  the  Yalabiisha. 
Jlere,  at  the  api)ointetl  place  of  rendezvous,  he  waited  for  10  days 
the  arrival  of  theeommander-in-chief,  ready  to  co(»perate  with  him 
in  maintaining  thejni'isdiction  and  honor  of  France.  The  failure 
of  the  latter,  however,  to  arrive  in  time,  in'eveiited  the, junction  of 
the  two  armies,  and  thus  defeated  the  campaign.  On  tlie  lidtli  of 
INlay,  his  rash  Indian  confederates,  who  had  tlie  courage  to  suike 
a  blow,  but  lacked  the  calculation  and  ])aticnce  to  wait  the  lU'ojx'r 
time,  compelled  him  t(»  comnienee  offensive  operations.  Having 
skillfidly  arranged  his  forces,  with  great  daring  and  inipetnosity  he 
drove  the  Chicasaws  from  two  fortifications,  and  in  the  assault  on 
the  third  was  disabled  in  the  moment  of  victory.  Dismayed  at  the 
loss  of  their  leader,  the  Indians  fled  precipitately,  «'loseIy  pursued  a 
distance  of  IL*.")  miles  by  the  enemy  in  the  tlnsh  of  unexpected  victory, 
wiiile  l)'Artagu«'tteand  some  (»f  his  brave  comrades  lay  weltt-ringin 
their  gore,  atteiidedby  Lenat,  who,  inindfiil  only  ofthe  assistances  he 
might  ren<ler  the  suffering,  refused  ti>  fly.  \incennes,  too,  whose 
name  is  perpetuated  by  thccity  ofthe  Wabash,  chose  also  to  remain 
ami  share  the  eai)tivity  of  his  h-adcr.  The  wounds  of  the  jirisoners 
"Were  staunclu'd,  and  at  first  they  were  treated  with  great  kindness 
by  their  captors,  who  expected  to  get  a  large  reward  from   I'.ien- 

•Uaiicroft. 


126  1I18T0UV   (»P   IIJJNOIS. 

villc  for  tlicirsiit'cn'tiini.  WIumi,  Iiowcvit, tlicy  la'iinlol'liisdiscom- 
litiirc  and  witlidiiiwii!,  Ilicy  disitaiicd  of  receiving' a  laiisoiii  lor  the 
jdisoiHTs  and  pioposcd  to  iiiak«'  tlicia  victiias  of  a  ,sa\a^c  triiiMipli. 
For  tliis  ]tiiiiM».s('  they  were  honic  to  a  ncijililtoi'inj;'  ticid,  hound  to 
stakes,  andtorturcd  before  slow  and  intei'Muttiny  lii'cs  till  deatli 
mi'icifnlly  released  tlieni  fioni  their  snlferiii^s.  Thus  jK'rished 
the  laithful  Lenat,  tlie  yctun^'  and  intrepid  l)'Arta;;iiette,  and  tho 
lieroie  Vineennes,  whose  names  will  endure  as  Ion;;-  as  the  Illinois 
and  NVahash  shall  tlow  by  the  dwellings  of  eivilized  men. 

The  ("hiekasaws,  elated  by  victory,  sent  a  (U']>utation  to  an- 
nounce tlieii- success  and  the  torments  inllicted  on  their  captives 
to  the  I''nj:iisli  colonists,  with  whom  they  were  now  in  sympathy. 
I5ien\illc,  on  the  other  hand,  chagrined  at  the  result  of  tho 
campaign,  determined  to  retrieve  his  honor  and  the  jilory 
of  France  by  a  second  invasion.  The  apjtrobation  of  the  ."Minister 
haxinji'  l)een  ol>tained,  t(»\vaj'd  the  close  of  the  year  17.">!(  he  <'(»ni- 
menced  ]>ultin;;'  in  operation  his  plans  for  the  icduction  of  the 
tierce  anta,u()nists  who  had  before  so  successfidly  delied  him.  The 
signal  for  ]»reparation  was  ;niven  to  the  commandants  of  tiie  dif 
dei'cnl  jtosts,  which  residlcd  in  efforts  far  transcendinj;'  in  military 
dis]>lay  anythin:;'  befoi'e  seen  in  the  provinces.  A  fort  was  erected 
at  the  mouth  of  tlie  St.  Francis,  which  served  as  a  placi'  of 
rcnde/vons,  and  afterward  of  de]»arture  for  the  j;rand  army 
eastward,  to  the  country  of  the  enemy.  The  force  from  Illinois, 
consisting;'  of  -(»(>  French  and  ;>(>(»  Indians,  was  connnanded  by  i.a 
IJuissoniere,  who  had  succeeded  the  lameided  I)'  Arta<iiiette  as 
commandant  at  Ft.  Charlres.  These,  with  the  foi'ces  from  other 
posts,  amounted  to  iL'bO  lOuropeans  and  ~>W)  Indians  and  nc,i;roes. 
Tlie  whole,  under  the  command  of  r)ienville,  was  soon  moved  to 
the  month  of  With'  river,  where  it  was  delayed  in  the  erection  «if 
a  second  fort,  in  which  To  deposit  their  military  stores,  ami  care 
for  the  sick.  I'.etore  the  fort,  which  boic  the  name  of  Ass\iinp- 
tion,  wa-i  completed,  nndarioiis  fevers  so  fatal  to  iMiropean  consti- 
tutions, had  seri(»usly  disabled  the  army.  Hardly  had  the  early 
frosts  of  winter  abated  the  disease,  when  famine,  a  more  forinida- 
ble  enemy,  threatened  them  with  annihilation.  Sui>itlies  coidd 
only  be  obtained  at  Ft.  Chartres  and  New  Orleans,  and  hence  the 
consummation  of  the  cami)aij;n  was  necessarily  postponed  till  the 
followini;' s]»rin_ii'.  Sprin;;' came,  but  sn<'h  had  been  the  dcbilita- 
tinji'  elfects  of  the  winter  and  the  want  of  wholesome  food,  that 
only  200  men  were  now  tit  for  (bity.  ITudeterred,  however,  l)y  tho 
want  of  numbers,  M.  Celentn,  a  lieutenant  of  La  Ihiisscniiere,  bold- 
ly set  out  1(»  nu'ct  the  Chicasaws,  \vli(»,  supposing  the  whole  l'"rencli 
army  was  behind  him,  sued  for  peace.  Celeron,  takinji' advantaj;o 
of  tlie  mistake,  obtained  from  them  a  declaration  that  they  would 
renounce  the  iMiiilish  ami  resume  i>eaceable  I'clations  with  the 
Fi'eiich.  To  conlirni  their  statements,  a  de|)ntation  «)f  chiefs  ac- 
coini)aiiied  them  to  Ft.  Assnin])tion  and  entered  into  a  treaty  of 
peace  with  IJienville,  wliii^i  was  latilied  with  the  customary  In- 
dian ceremonies  and  festivities.  The  army  now  returned  to  tho 
fort  on  the  St.  Francis,  wlier(>  Ilienville  disbanded  it,  and  "  a^^aiu 
inylorionsly  floated  down  the  river  to  New  Orleans.''*  This  was 
the  end  of  the  second  cami»ai^n  ajiainst  the  Chicasaws,  when'iii 
Bienville  not  only  tailed  to  retrieve  his  tarnished  military   fame, 

tMonetto's  Val.of  the  Missi  '  ' 


MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS. 


127 


T)nt  iiicnrrod  tlic  (lisplciisiirc  (if  Ilis  sovereign.  Two  sinnios  li;i(l 
1»<'('ii  sMciificcd  ill  iiii  iittt'iiii)t  to  iiM-tc  out  to  tin-  Cliicitsjiws  tlie 
fate  tliiit  liiid  Ix'liillcii  tlic  Niitclit'z;  hut  like  tlicir  aiiccstois.  who 
ii(»(>  years  hct'ore  lia<l  Piicouiitcri'd  tlic  steel-clad  eliivalry  of  i)eso- 
to,  they  still  veiiiaiiied  intact.  With  the  close  of  these  disastroiiii 
e.\i>editioiis  teniiiiiiiteil  liic  .miheniatorial  career  of  llicm  ille, 
Avliich,  witli  slight  iiiterriiiitioiis,  liiid  extended  tlir(»iijili  a  periocl 
of  4((  years.  A^^c  had  cooled  down  the  ardor  and  enerj;y  of  his 
manhood's  ]»riine,  ;ind  tlie  honors  Avon  in  ]>r<'vioiis  years  were  now 
obscnred  in  a  clond  of  disapprobation  and  censure. 

Ifetirin;;-  from  oflice,  lie  was  succeeded  by  the  Marquis  dc  \'aii- 
dreiiil,  who  siilisecpieiitly  Itecaiiie  (rovernor  of  Canada.  After  tlic 
ostaldishineiit  of  aiiii<'al»le  relations  with  the  Chicasaws,  the  na- 
tive tribes  f '.rrouiihont  the  valh'y  of  IIm'  31ississippi  siibniitted  to 
the  dominion  of  I'raiice  and  l)ecame  her  iillies.  A  eoinmcrcial  in- 
tercourse with  them  succeeded,  and  ajiriciilti.ire,  now  freed  from 
company  nioiioi»olies,  rapidly  sprang  into  new  life.  Su,i;ar  cane 
was  brouuht  from  San  Dominpi.  and  the  first  attempt  at  its  cnlti- 
Aation  pro\  in,y  successful,  it  has  since  become  the  .meat  staple  of 
the  ]»resent  state  of  Louisiana.  Cotton  nas  introduced  and  siic- 
cessi'ully  cultivated  as  far  north  as  Illinois.  .V  uiu  was  sul>se- 
(jueiitly  invented  by  ]M.  Dubreiiil,  and  tliou<;h  imperfect  com])ared 
with  Whitney's  of  the  present  day,  it  ji'reatly  facilitated  the  ojier- 
ation  of  s<'])aratin.ii" the  fibre  i'rom  the  see<l  and  thus  uave  a  imw 
impetus  to  the  cultivation  of  the  plant.  The  ti,u  tree,  the  oraii^f, 
and  the  h'liion,  be,i;aii  to  bloom  about  the  liouses  of  ^the  colonists 
on  the  Lower  3Iississipi)i  and  sui»]»ly  them  with  d<'licious  fruit, 
while  the  sweet  potato,  e\t«'ndin,u'  oNcr  a  broader  rae,:;! of  latitude, 
contributed  lar^-cly  to  the  sustenance  of  both  the  iioitliern  and 
sout  ;'rii  parts  of  the  jirovince,  l^xcry  arrival  from  I'rance  aui*- 
ineiited  the  jiopulation  of  the  rajiidly  extendinji'  settlements. 
3Iany  Canadians,  retirin.ii'  from  the  rijior  of  their  winters,  sou.^lit 
homes  in  the  comiiarativcly  mild  cliiuatw  of  Illinois  and  the  re^i(»ii 
of  the  Wabash.  LTiider  the  stimulii.s  of  individual  enterprise  the 
commerce  between  the  iKn-thern  and  soiitlu'in  jsirts  of  flu  jiro- 
vince, and  between  New  Orleans  and  foreij;ii  countries,  was  jiicat- 
ly  «'\tended.  Itejiular  carj^'oes  of  pork,  flour,  bacon,  tallow,  hides 
and  leather  were  annually  transported  in  barges  from  Illinois  to 
New  Orleans  and  Moliilc,  and  thence  shipped  to  Liaiice  and  the 
AVest  indies.  In  exchanji-e  wei'c  brou.iiht  back  rice,  indijid,  su.yar 
ami  I'airopean  fabrics.  The  two  exfr<'mes  of  Louisiana  were  mu- 
tually dependent,  and  by  means  of  the  Mississippi  and  its  hun- 
dred tributaries,  naturally  su|ii»li<'<l  <'acli  other's  wants.  Th« 
decade  comineiiciny  with  1740  and  closing  with  17.")(>  was  one  of 
unusual  pros]»erity. 

M<(iint'y.s  and  Customs  of  ihe  French. — Unlike  the  l^nylish  and 
other  Kuroiieaiis,  who  usually  lived  in  spaise  settlements,  the 
French  fixed  their  abode  in  comjiact  villajics.  Tliese  Averc  ii'cn- 
orally  built  on  the  banks  of  some  ]»ure  stream  of  water,  confiuu- 
oiis  to  timber  and  ])raiiie,  the  one  furnishing  them  fuel  and  the 
other  with  jiround  for  fillauc.  The  construction  of  the  dwellinjis 
was  of  a  ]»rimitive  character.  The  frame  work  consisted  of  jiosts 
planted  in  the  earth  three  or  four  feet  deep  and  stronjily  bound 
to^iether  by  horizontal  cross-ties.  The  interstices  thus  foiiued 
weie  tilled  with  luortur,  intermixed  with  straw  or  Sxiauish  moss,  to 


128  IIISTOKY    dl'    ILLINOIS. 


ji'ivc  it  tciiiicitv.  Tlic  siirl'iicc  of  tlio  Willis,  botli  internal  and  ex- 
ternal, were  waslird  witli  white  lime,  wliicli  imparted  to  the  Imild- 
inii's  !in  air  of  cieaniiness  and  domestic  eomforl.  Most  of  tlio 
dweiiin^s  were  snrronnded  by  piazzas,  on  wiiicli  tin' inmates  fonnd 
Ji  pleasant  retreat  to  while  awa.v  in  social  converse  the  snltry  snni- 
mer  <'\cniii.us.  Destitute  of  nnichiner.v  for  cnttin<;'  their  Irei's  into 
boards,  they  split  them  into  slabs,  wliicli  wen-  nsed  for  llooriiij;', 
doors  and  otin^r  pniposes.  wiiileas  a  snbstitnte  for  shin;iles  they 
thatched  tiieir  l»nildin.i;s  witii  straw.  Altlion;^ii  having'  the  jureat- 
est  amplitude  for  wide  streets,  they  ji'enerally  made  them  so  nar- 
row tlnit  tlie  merry  villa.u'crs  livini;  on  o|)i»osite  sides  could  carry 
on  their  s[iii;4iitiy  conversations  eacli  from  his  own  lialcony.  K\('U 
in  detache<l  settlements  the  social  tnrn  of  the  jx'ople  induced 
them  to  .liroii])  their  dwelliii;is  as  closely  tojicther  as  ]tossible. 
Each  settlement  had  its  j)atiiarchal  homestead,  which  jicnerally 
stood  in  a  spacious  enclosure,  and  was  oceupietl  by  the  oldest 
member  of  tlu'  family.  Around  this  siirun;^'  ujt  a  cluster  of  etttta- 
<;t's.  the  residence  of  each  child  and  liraiid  child  as  it  imirried  and 
Itecaiin' the  head  of  a  family.  Not  unfre((nently  the  aji'cd  patri- 
arcii  Ix'came  the  centre  of  a  dozen  jirowing  families  of  his  own 
linea,ue  ami  embracinj;' .'>  oi'  t  j;»'iierations. 

CoiiDUon  Field. — A  duty  imjiosed  ujion  the  commandaid  of  each 
villane  was  to  I'cserve  a  tract  of  land  for  a  comnntn  lieltl,  in  which 
all  the  inhabitants  were  interested.  To  each  villajicr  was  assigned 
a  ])ortioii  of  the  field,  the  size  of  which  was  ]»ro]iortioiie(l  accord- 
ing- to  the  extent  of  his  family.  Lands  thus  ai)portioued  were 
subject  to  the  regulations  of  the  villages,  and  when  the  party  in 
possi'ssion  became  iu',iili^('nt  so  as  t()  endanjicr  the  common  inter- 
est he  f(uieited  his  claim.  The  time  of  j)lowin^-,  sowinj^and  har- 
^(■stinp■,  and  other  a;.;iicultui'al  opeiations.  was  subject  t«)  the 
enactnu'iit  of  the  villa.iie  senate.  Kxcn  the  form  and  arranj;ement 
of  enclosur«'s  surrounding  the  dwellinjis  and  other  buildinjis  were 
the  subject  of  sjx'cial  euactmeuts.  and  were  arranged  witli  a 
Aiew  to  ]»rotcction  against  the  Indians,  should  an  exiji'ency  occur 
making'  it  necessary. 

('iii)imou,s.  —  I.esides  the  common  held,  which  was  desijiiied  for 
tilla,ue,  there  was  a  common  which  was  free  to  all  the  villa;;ers  lor 
the  pasture  of  their  stock  and  the  sujiidy  of  fuel.  A.-a  accessions 
were  made  to  the  families  of  the  community,  I'ither  by  marriaj;c 
or  the  arrival  of  stranjicrs,  portions  of  land  were  taken  from  tho 
connnon  and  added  to  the  comnntn  ticid  for  their  benefit. 

Jnlvrcoiir.sc  irith  the.  Indhins. — Owin.n'  to  their  amiable  disposi- 
tions ami  the  tact  of  injiiatiatinji'  themselves  with  the  tribes  that 
suri'onnded  them,  the  l-'rcm-h  almost  entirely  escaped  the  broils 
whicii  weakened  and  destroyed  other  colonics  less  favored  with 
this  trait  of  character.  Whether  explorin^ii' remote  rivers  or  tra- 
veisiui;'  huidiujL!,'  ^irounds  in  pursuit  of  j;ame;  in  the  social  circle  or 
as  participants  in  the  relij>ious  exercises  of  the  church,  the  red 
jueii  became  their  associates  ami  were  treated  with  the  kimlness 
and  consideration  of  brothers.  Like  the  (Quakers  yiiided  by  tho 
example  of  Penn,  they  kept  up  a  mutual  interelianj>e  of  friendly 
ollices  with  their  red  neif^hbors,  and  such  was  the  community  of 
interests,  the  feeling'  of  (lependence  and  social  eipndity,  that  inter- 
marriayen  fre<iuently  occurred,  thus  more  closely  uniting  thtsm  in 


INTKIJC'OUUSE  WITH   INDIANS. 


129 


tlic  Itonds  of  peace.  Petiii  niu\  his  followers'  for  many  years  lived 
ill  iiiiltrokeii  jtcace  witli  tlieir  Itrctiircii  of  tlie  forest,  hiit  tiiat  es- 
talilislied  in  these  pioneers  of  Illinois  was  never  interriipted  and 
for  more  than  a  imndred  yeais  tiie  coiintiy  eiijuyed  the  heiiiyii  in- 
tiiieiiee  (»f  [»eaee:  and  when  at  leii<itli  it  terminated,  it  was  not  the 
('•nieiliatory  I'renehman,  i>ut  the  hliint  and  sturdy  An;;lo-Sa\on 
vlio  siipphuiled  him  that  was  made  the  vietiiii  of  sa\aj;('  ven- 
geance.* 

The  calm  and  t|niet  tenor  of  their  lives,  remote  from  the  bustle 
and  iiari'assin,n'  cares  of  civili/ation,  imjtarted  a  serenity  to  tiieir 
lives  lai'ciy  witnessed  in  communities  wiiere  the  ac(|iiisitioii  of 
wealth  and  honor  are  siilfered  to  exclude  the  Itetter  feeliiiys  of 
liiiman  nature.  Lands  of  iine(|iialed  fertility,  and  tlie  still  more 
prolilic!  waters  and  the  (;liase  siii)plie(l  almost  unsolicited  the  wants 
of  life  an<l  largely  contrihiited  to  the  liquid  lieaited  gaiety  of  tho 
l)eoi)le,  Witii  ample  Icisiii-e  and  free  from  coiro<liiij;-  cares,  they 
eii,ua,ii('d  in  their  various  amiiseineiits  with  more  than  ordinary 
l)leasiire.  I'lomineiit  ainoiiy  their  diversions  was  the  lij;ht  fantas- 
tic dance  ol"  tin'  yoiin^:  At  this  j^ay  and  iiiiioceiit  diversion  could 
lie  seen  the  village  j)riest  and  tiie  a^ncd  patriarch  and  his  com- 
lianion,  whose  eyes  beamed  with  delight  at  beholdinji'  the  harmless 
mirth  of  tlieii'  cliildicn.  When  jiarties  assemlded  for  this  purpose 
it  wa.s  customary  to  (diooso  the  older  and  more  discreet  ])ersoiis  to 
vSeciiri'  proper  decorum  during'  tiie  entertainment  and  see  that  all 
had  an  (»ppoitiinity  to  ]tarticipate  in  its  ]ileasiire.  iMiMjueiitly, 
on  tlu^se  ocitasions,  fathers  and  mothers  whose  youthful  eiithii- 
i>iasm  time  had  mellowed  down  to  sobei-  enjoyments  aj^aiii  became 
yonn.u'  and  ])articipate(l  in  the  niazy  exoliitions  of  the  dance. 
Even  the  slave,  iml)ii»inji' the  spirit  <tf  the  j^ay  assenil>la<i(',  was 
deliiihted  because  his  mastci-  was  lia]>py,  and  the  latter  in  turn 
was  ph'ased  at  the  enjoyment  of  th"  slave.  Whenever  the  old, 
who  wei'c  authority  in  such  cases,  decided  that  the  eiitei'taiiiment 
had  been  juotractcfl  sulliciently  lon<i,  it  was  brought  to  a  close; 
ami  thus  tlie  excesses  which  so  frequi'iitly  attend  [larties  of  this 
kind  at  the  jiresent  day  were  avoide(l. 

At  the  close  of  each  year  it  was  an  unvarying"  and  time-homned 
eustoiu  among  them  for  the  young  nu'U  to  (lisgiuse  tlieinsel\-es 
in  old  clothes,  visit  the  several  houses  of  the  village,  and  engage  in 
friendly  damn's  with  the  inmates.  This  was  understood  as  an 
imitation  for  the  meml)ers  of  the  family  to  meet  in  a  general  itall, 
to  dance  the  old  year  out  ami  the  new  year  in.  Large  crowds 
assembling  on  these  occasions,  and  takingwith  them  refreshments, 

[•Siiya  Hall  in  his  Sketches  of  the  West:  "We  have  heard  of  an  occiision  on  which 
this  reciprocal  kindness  was  very  strongly  sliown.  Many  years  n^o  a  niunler  having 
been  conimittedin  some  broil,  three  Inilian  yonntrnii>n  were  ffivc^n  up  by  the  Ka.skas- 
kinstotho  civil  anthorit.es  of  the  newly  established  .American  jioveriinient.  The  pop- 
ulation of  Kiiskaskia  WHS  still  entirely  I'rench,  who  leit  niiioli  sympathy  for  their  tiidian 
friends,  and  saw  these  hard  proceedings  of  tbelawwith  jrreut  dissatisfaction.  The  la- 
dies, partitiularly,  took  a  warm  interest  inthefateof  the  younR  aboriKines,  and  deter- 
niineti  if  they  must  die,  they  should  ut  least  be  I'onverted  to  Christianity  in  the  mean- 
while, and  be  liai)tized  in  the  true  church.  Aecord1.n>>ly,  after  due  preparation, 
amintrementswereniiide  for  a  public  baptism  of  the  iieophitesin  the  old  cutnednil  of 
the  village.  Each  of  the  youths  was  adopted  by  a  ludy  who  ^ravehiina  name  and  wiis  to 
stand  trfxl'iKither  in  the  ceremony,  and  the  lady  pntronessei  with  their  respet'tiNc 
Iriends  were  busily  en>rape<l  for  some  time  in  preparini?  decorations  for  the  festivitirs. 
There  wasiiuiteascnsationinthevillatfe.  Never  were  three  yomiK-  men  broiiiilYt.  into 
notoriety  more  sudde-nly  or  more  decidedly.  Tho  ladies  talkeil  of  nothinir  else  and  all 
the  needles  in  the  villajfc  were  employed  in  t'le  preparation  of  tlnery  for  the  occasion, 
I'rcviiMis  to  the  evening'  of  lian^'inp,  the  aboritrinals  srnve  tlie  jailer  the  slip  «nd  es- 
caped, niiled  most  probably  by  tlie  ladles,  who  had  planned  the  whole  nlfair  with  a  view 
tothisend.  The  law  is  not  vindictive  in  new  eommuniticB.  The  danirer  soon  Mew 
over;  the  young  men  again  appeared  in  public  and  evinced  their  gratitude  to  their 
benefactors.] 

9 


HISTORY   OF   UA^^^Ol^ -——Z;^. 

clock  on  tlM-   '•'■   '.  ^\,,,tl.i-tit\.or.»n<'.uU>,t    J  ^j„.  ^,^vtu•s 

lively  ana  "'"■'^'' \ ,   "*"  ru.  nM.n.ious   U'^U;'^      j,^,   ,,,,,,1  -.nul 
^vo.■k  i.nT.au.|;   1-       •  ,_^,,,u,„    -ana   uoeloi 

All  Nv.iv  ^'^''^'''\\'^;\u  ,    u'sisassi.i.aual  !^  ^^^  ;^   ,,t    schools 
eouus.-l..rs  "^/^'^^V     as  tlu'  ovarl.  u.  -  \.     ..itUan  u.hih.'S- 

tlunv  Hun..iat>o,.s  on  tU  ^    .^,^^^.1  ^^^  c-n.-as  an^    n^u    V!,.}  ,„,  u>vc 

AstlHMvsult  \'^   *";     J  ,^„a  attVHiouato.      ', '\.^,,ti,,Hvil»uti' to 
In.sbanas  ana  ^^nc'^    |        ^      ....tt.rs;  .^uhI  "^  '^   *\\  •  ,,,.i.,i  .quity 

lH>r  n.ona  -»'^^^     ;;^, ..  than  slus  ^^^^jX^.r  nvuulU.a  t. 


IH'^'  "'-•^*'  "r''^''x    u    i  uu-  than  slus .-;;-;!  !^t  to.  nvuulU.a  to 

tvatr  at  a  ,^1'")'*^'.'         ,  .,vntU'  and  ""l'*^'V     „      rv  colU'ct^'d  and 
U"t.-t  an.l  i-nt  nve>  >        ;  ;\    ,,„in^.att.v  .w  ^^  ^^  ^^ ,  ,„a  inno.  .nt 

spent  U.e  vemanuU-r  o     In       -^^   V'v<.t.'stant   sn^    a mu  ,^^  ,f 

pastinu's.     lo  Ih     >       ^  ,^,,,,,^,1.  ;  but  the   I        \  '^^^      ^t  of  theU" 

ana.le  for  ^'•■'»r'"^^";.:\\;,,\tabU'  he  ^^naeve     hm  sU  ,,,x 

,„vs  of  lite  the  UH.  e  aa      i  ^^.^,^     ,  ,,  Uu-  Ni    . '         ,i,      ,vc-ve, 

tor.     'H.ey  e..ntenaea    h.     t  .,.^1,,,  ^.um     »  -  ^  ,,,;,ainaev 

t  le  .xi.ivssion  <>  .l''>''  f,  A    t   ^ir  nei^hhovs  »l"  >"^,.!  \\,  ^^.U-  p.onc 

ii,u-.'  fai>ri«.  *'"'■  ','";'  X  ■  r  .luii..;;  «i.i»;i-,  :;'«.„'^   ,i'  ,WA<  ««s 
',f  ,.„.,s..  1.  !"•  .;:>;',:»'  .nd  1;."K  ^'-f ":,  1,         lu.li,  i"  •■"", 


roSITAIKS    AND   ( »C('t'l'ATI()NS. 


I'll 


1)lii('  liiiiulkcrcliicr  ioldcd  ill  tlu>  tonii  of  a  tiii-biin.  In  tliu  saiiio 
iiiiiniici',  Idit  liistt'liillx  Irinmicd  witli  ril»l)oiis,  was  foniKMl  the  laiicy 
liciid  dl'css  wliicli  I  lie  woiiicii  woro  ill  hulls  ;iii<l  oflMT  Irstivc.occa- 
sioiis.  'I'lic  dress  of  tlic  iii;iti'oii,  t  lioii^li  phiiii  :iiid  of  tlic  !iiili(|im 
slioit-waist,  \\;is  fic(|ii('iill.v  \  ;iiit'd  in  its  iiiiiior  dchiils  to  suit  the 
diversities  of  tiistc  I>otli  sexes  woie  iiioeeiisiiis  wiiieii,  on  piddie, 
occiisioMs,  were  viiriousiy  deeoriitcd  witli  shells,  l»eiids,  iind  rilthonx, 
•4i\iii^'  tlieni  ;i  tiisty  Miid  piet  iires(|iie  iippeiiriinee. 

No  niecli:iiiie;il  \oeiition  Jisanienns  of  ciu  iiiiiy' ii  livelihood,  was 
known.  The  priiieipjd  oeen|iati(Hi  Wiis  :i;L;ii(  idtnr*',  whicli,  owiii;; 
to  the  extreme  feitility  of  the  soil,  produced  the  most  niiiuilieent 
hiirxcsts.  Voiiiii;'  men  of  enterprise,  nnxions  to  set*  the  world  and 
to  dislinunish  themselves,  heciime  voyiiji'ci's,  liiiiitcrs,  and  ajicnts 
of  I'm-  eompiinies.  ;iiid  in  diseliiir^iii.i;'  tiieir  dnties.  visited  the  remote 
soiii'eesof  the  Missouri.  .MississipjM.  iind  their  ti'iimtaries.  After 
months  of  idtseiiee,  spent  in  this  iidxcntiironsemplovmeiit  iimonj;thc 
most  distiint  snvii.ye  imtions  of  the  wildei'ness,  thi',v  W(»idd  icturii  to 
their  mitive  villitucs,  hnlen  with  furs  ;ind  peltries.  These  iiitieles 
for  ;i  lon,n'  time  eonsLitnt<'d  tlieoidy  medinin  of  exeliiiii;^(',  and  the 
ineMiis  whereby  they  pro<Mired  ;4'iins,  iimmnnition,  iind  other  impoi'- 
tiinl  re(inisites  of  their  ])rimitivc'  life.  The  re  nnioii  with  their  friends 
\v;is  si^iiiidized  hy  the  diinee.  the  most  iniportiinl  reqidsite  (»f  hospi- 
tality, ^niety  ;ind  h;ipi»iiiess.  The  wlioh'  xillii^c  would  ;iss<'inble  t»u 
these  oeeasi(ms  to  se(;  the  reimwed\  (»y;i;;('rs,  ;ind  hear  them  recount 
the  strniiii'e  sijiiits  nnd  the  inhcidnics  wliicli  they  Imd  eiiconnti'red. 

No  I'cjiular  conrt  wns  held  in  the  country  for  more  tlnin  ;i  hun- 
dred ye;irs,  or  till  its  occnpntion  iiy  the  lOniilish,  evidenciny' that  a 
virtuous  and  honest  community  can  li\e  in  peiice  luid  harmony 
without  the  serious  infi'iiction  of  law.  The  ^i'overnor,  nided  liy  the 
friendly  advice  of  the  e<immiind;ints  sind  priests  of  the  \  ill;i.<4('s, 
either  preventeil  the  existence  of  contio\ cisies,  or  settled  tlieni 
wlien  they  arose,  without  a  resort  to  lllijiatioii.  Althouiih  tlu'se 
ei\  il  fiinctioniiries  were  clothed  witli  absolute  power,  such  was  tlui 
]);itern,'il  miinnerin  which  it  was  exercised,  it  is  said,  t  lull  the  "rod 
of  (h)mination  fell  on  them  so  liuhfly  as  to  hardly  he  felt."  Wlieii, 
in  I7(m,  the  count i\v  ])assed  into  the  possession  of  the  I''nj:lisli, 
many  of  them,  rather  than  submit  to  a  change  in  the.  institutions 
to  which  they  wcic  accustomed  a iid  attached,  ])i-efeired  to  leave 
their  lields  and  homes,  ami  seek  a  new  aliode  on  the  west  side  of 
tlie  Mississi])pi,  still  sui)i>osed  to  be  iimh'i' the  dominion  of  l"'rance. 
T'pon  tin*  I'cception  of  assurances,  however,  from  (Jreat  lUitain, 
that  they  should  be  i)rotecte(l  in  their  projiert.v  and  reli^^ion,  many 
of  them  renifi'ied.  Those  who  liad  removed  to  the  west  side  of 
the  river  enjoyed  but  a  bi'ief  interval  of  ])eace.  Intelligence  was 
]'ecei\('d  that  l''i'ance  had  ceded  all  western  and  southern  Louisiana 
to  Spain,  and  althoujili  Spanish  autiiority  was  not  extended  over 
the  territory  for  a  period  of  lixc  years,  it  was  a  jieiiod  of  uncer- 
tainty and  anxiety.  The  S[»anisli  jn'oxciiiment,  like  that  of  Fran(;e, 
was  mild  and  parental.  Every  imluljicnce  was  extended  to  her 
new  subjects,  and  for  thirty  years  they  continued  to  enjoy  their 
ancient  customs  ami  relijiifui.  Tln^  next  inroads  upon  their  aiiti- 
(pnite.d  habits  Mas  the  ad\ance  of  the  Americans  to  the  Missis- 
sip[>i,  in  the  rej^ion  of  Illinois.  The  unwelcome  news  was  received 
that  all  Louisiana  was  ceded  to  the  United  Slates  and  a  new  sys- 
tem of  jurisiirudenee  was  to  be  extended  over  them.     I'revioiis  to 


i;!2  IIISTOIJV    Ol'    ILLINOIS. 


tliis  cession   llic.\    liiid   to  ii    ^iii'iit   cxlciit    ItccoiiM'  n'i'oiicilt'd  :iii(I 
I  iitl;iflit'<l  to  Sjciiiisli  rule,  Imt  wlu-ii  the  new  it';;iiiH'  was  cxtciMlcd 

over  tlit'iii,  tolnll\  at  a  loss  to  coiiiitifliciKl  tlic  wdrkiiij^s  ol"  n'|tiilt- 
licaiiisiii.  tli(',\  asked  to  l)c  relicNcd  of  tlic  iiitoleialtlc  liiirdcii  ol' 
sell'udNeriiiiiciit. 

'I'liiis,  ill  the  heart  of  tlie  eoiitiiieiit,  more  tiian  a  tlioiisand  miles 
iVom  eilliei'  ocean,  in  a  rej;ioii  stvh'd  It.v  LaSaMe  a  teriitorial  para- 
dise, lloiiiished  t  hese  interestin;;  coininniiities,  in  tlie  eiijouncnt 
of  jteace.  contentment  and  liapiiincss.  It  was,  li(»\vever,  of  a  i»as- 
sivc  character,  wanting;'  in  that  intcnsitv  t)f  enjoyment  wldcli  Hows 
IVoni  fnll.v  developed  jxiwcrs  and  an  enert;<'tic  and  proj^ressive 
jiiodc  of  life,  'riie  facnitics  of  both  mind  and  Itody  laiij;iiish  with- 
out laltoi'.  and  that  may  be  considered  the  normal  condition  of  the 
laccwliicli  liiinjis  into  healthy  play  all  the  diveisitied  spriiijis  (»!' 
action  and  tlioii;;hl  which  mak(>  up  tin'  wonderful  inachineiy  of 
man.  Witlniiit  ellbit  and  nsefid  indiisliy  he  is  the  creature  of 
languid  enjoyments,  and  a  stian^cr  to  the  hij^hly  wron;:lit  sensi- 
bility and  tiie  e\(piisite  delij;lils  resnltiiij;'  from  cultured  n\ental 
and  i)liysical  powers.  I'nrtheiinore,  without  enter|>iisi',  the  vast 
material  toices  which  slnmbei'  in  the  cnist  <»f  the  earth,  and  its 
mantle  of  e.\liiib(>raiit  soil,  cannot  be  made  available.  W'hiU^ 
tliere  was  ])eace  and  contentment  on  the  banks  of  the  Illinois,  the 
AVabash,  and  tin'  I'ppcr  Mississipjd,  it  was  reserved  for  a  dill'crent 
race  to  dev<'loi)  the  vast  coal  fields  and  exhaiislK'ss  soil  of  this 
favored  I'ciiion.  and  cause  their  life  sustainin;;'  products  to  pulsate 
tliidu;;h  the  ureal  coinim'rcial  arteries  of  the  continent.  \\'hilethis 
simple.  \  irliioiis  and  happy  i>('oi>le,  dwelt  in  the  granary  of  Nortli 
j\merica  almost  unconscious  of  its  vast  resources,  there  was  clinji- 
inj;  to  the  inhosi>itable  shores  of  the  .Vtlantic  an  intelli}i«'iit  and 
sinewy  race,  which  was  destined  to  sweep  (»ver  and  occni)y  their 
fruitful  lands  as  the  tloods  of  the  j^reat  rivt'r  oNcrwhelms  and 
iin|»orts  fertility  t(»  its  banks.  Only  a  few  remnants  of  them  have 
('sca|»ed  the  intlowiii;;tide  (»f  .Vmerican  population,  who  still  retain 
to  a  yreat  extent  the  ancient  habits  and  customs  of  their  fathers. 
AVith  their  (h-cline  came  the  downfall  of  their  tawny  allies  of  the 
forest,  and  a  new  direction  Avas  jiiven  to  American  history. 
Fiance,  conid  she  ha\«'  remained  supreme,  with  her  far  reaching 
and  advent iirtms  ^^cniiis,  aided  by  .lesint  enterprise,  would  perhaps 
have  partially  ci\  ilized  the  sava-^cs  and  thus  have  arreste<l  their 
(h'strnction.  I'oi»ulatioiis  would  have  s])runji'  up  in  the  basins  of 
the  (ireat  Lakes,  and  in  the  Valley  of  the  ^Iississippi,  under  the 
impress  of  a  feudal  monarchy,  ami  cotdrolled  by  a  hierarchy  of 
juiests  hostile  to  freedom  of  th(»n};ht.  The  in(>j;res.s  of  civil  and 
relij;ioiis  liberty  would  have  been  temporarily  but  not  permanently 
suspended.  The  ])resent  free  institutions  of  Americawonhl  have 
been  <lelayed  till  the  shittiii;;'  ])liases  of  national  life  furnished  new 
opixu'tunities  for  experiment  and  improvement. 

[Mnny  ciirioiiH  anecdotes  iiiipht be  still  pioki'd  up  i"  relation  to  these  early  sottU'ro, 
espot.ially  in  Illinois  ami  Missouri,  whore  the  Spanish,  Frenirli,  Enjrlisli  and  Ainerieans, 
have  had  iway  in  rapid  sneeession.  At  one  time  the  French  had  possession  of  one  siile 
of  the  Mississippi  riverund  the  Spaniards  the  other  ;  and  a  story  is  told  of  a  Spaniard 
liviiiffon  one  shore,  who,  liavinK:  a  creditor  rcsidinfr  on  th(!  other,  seized  a  child,  the 
dauK'hterof  the  latter,  and  liavinK  borne  her  across  the  river  which  '  irtnedthe  national 
boundary,  held  herahostajre  for  the  payment  of  the  debt.  The  c  '  authorities  de- 
clined interferitiji-.  and  the  military  did  not  think  the  matter  of  8uII:l  *  niportanee  to 
rreate  a  national  war, and  the  Krenchnian  had  to  redeem  the  dautiiu  y  dlscliartriin? 
his  creditor's demimd.  The  lady  who  was  thus  abducted  was  still  li  r  a  few  years 
ago  near  Cabokiu,  the  mother  of  a  initnorous  progeny  of  American  Fr      jh.] 


.TKALOISIKS   AM)   AMMOSITIKK. 


133 


III  flicyciir  1 7."»l>  I,ii  I'.iiissoiiicr,  jrovcriior  of  llliiiois,  wtis  siiccccdwl 
bv  Cli,  valid' .Miiciirty.  Tlic  pciic*-  w  liicli  liad^iivcii  such  iiiicxiiiiiplcd 
]»ros|iciil\  In  l.oiiisiaiiii,  was  somi  t(»  Im- ltri»l<<'ii  1»\  the  (•laii;t(tr  and 
(liscurd  III'  war.  Already,  in  llic  r(»ntro\('i's_\  hctwccn  i'rancc  and 
Knulaiid  in  icjiard  to  llicir  icsiK'cliv*'  posscssioiis,  could  l>c  ln'ai'(l 
tlic  lirst  f lirocs  ol'  tlic  icxolntioii  wlncli  jL^avc  a  new  master  and  new 
inslilntions  not  only  to  Illinois,  Imt  to  tlie  w  hole  continent.  I''i'anc(', 
<'lainied  the  whole  valley  ol'tlie  Mississi|(|»i.  which  her  niissionaiies 
iiml  j)ioiieers  ha<l  explored  and  partially  settled,  and  i']n,!4'laiid  the 
liuhl  to  extend  In-r  possessions  on  the  Atlantic  indetinitely  west 
ward.  Tlic.jeahHisiesi  and  animosities  oftJM'  |»arent  conntries  soon 
crossed  tlic  Atlantic,  and  colonial  inlri;;iU's  were  the  residt, 
Tiaders  i'rom  South  Carolina  and  <ieor^ia  a^^aiii  coiiimcnce<l  iiitro- 
dnciiii;'  larj;('  (|nantities  of  ^oods  amony  the  ("hickasaws  and  other 
trilx-s  of  sonthern  Louisiana,  and  a.uain  <-ndea\(ir<'d  to  alicmite 
them  iVoin  their  treaty  stipulations  with  the  l''reiich,  ^\s  the, 
residl.  dej»redatioii.s  were  renewed  by  tin-  Chicasaws.  and  a  third 
«'\])edition  was  sent  to  their  forest  fastnesses  (Ui  I  he 'rondtiubec,  to 
reduce  them  to  suiunission.  but  like  its  jtrcdecessors.  it  was  snli- 
stantially  a  failure.  Farther  northward  similar  disturbances 
commenc4'd,  iJritish  nnrchants  sent  theii'  ii;;«'nf,s  to  the  Miamis 
;ind  other  western  tribes,  wliose  tratlic  had  be<'n  )»i('\ionsly  mo- 
iiojiolizi'd  by  the  l-'rench.  A  more  fii'icvous  offense  was  the 
Jbrmation  of  a  coinjiaiiy  to  whom  the  kin.i;  of  I'ln.uland  granted  a. 
lai'iic  tract  of  land  on  tiie  Ohio,  and  confencd  on  it  the  ]ui\ile;;'e 
of  D-adin;;-  with  the  western  Indians. 

'J'he  opeiations  of  the  Oiiio  company  soon  drew  the  I'-reiich  and 
l^iiiilish  coloidal  authorities  inti)  a  cold roversy,  and  the  inotlur 
countries  wei'c  i'«'ady  to  back  any  effort  that  either  n;i;;ht  make  for 
the  mainleneiice  and  ex  tension  of  their  respective  possessions.  .Vs 
the  traders,  who  weic  encoiua;:('d  by  the  Ohio  coin])any,  weri^ 
mostly  fioiii  IViiiisylvania  and  New  York,  the  jLyovernor  of  ('ana(hi 
iiHbrmed  the  <'.\ecuti\es  of  these  colonies  that  their  traders  had 
been  nMl1iciii,ir  with  In  lian-»  dwellin.i;  on  i-'rencii  territ(U'y,  and 
unless  tiiey  inijiu'diatcly  desisted  troin  this  illicit  commerce,  he 
\v(»uld  cause  them  to  be  seiy,<'d  and  ])Uinslied.  Notwithstanding;" 
jjiis  menace,  the  ( Miio  company  emploNcd  an  anient  to  surve\  their 
lauds  .sr)iitliwesteily  to  the  J'alls  of  the  Ohio,  and  iiorthwcsteily 
Mome  distance  uj»  the  3Iiami  and  Scioto.  \'ir,irinia.  also  seconding 
the  efforts  of  the  comitany,  obtained  from  the  Indians  the  ))ri\ile^e 
to  form  settlementson  tlu'  smitheast  side  oftlie  Ohio,  bS  miles 
l)elow  the  Junction  of  the  Allc^ihany  and  Mononuahela. 

l%ii>ila]id  and  France  now  saw  that  their  territorial  contest (toiild 
only  lie  settled  ]>y  a  resort  toariiis, and  <'ach  ur.t;('d  its  coloinal  au- 
tlioi-ities  to  iiistitul<'  ]>i-eparatioiis  for  defendin.u'  their  resjtcctive 
boundaries.  In  the  coming;' <'ontest  the  residt  c«»id<l  n(»t  be  doubt- 
J'ui,  for  the  colonists  of  the  former  ]M)wer  niiinbered  l,l).">l,(M)(l,  while 
those  oftlie  latter  wei'c  oidy  .->L',(»(I(I.  I'.esidc  this  ;;reat  disparity 
of  numbei's,  {''laiice  bad  transmitt<'d  to  her jiossessions  institutions 
Mhich  shackled  their  juo/^ress.  The  ICnjilisli  colonists  brou.ulit 
with  them  a<lvan<'ed  ideas  of  <i-o\'erninent  from  their  natixc  land, 
and  left  behind  them  flic  nnmarch  and  the  nobility.  The  I''rencli 
I'lni^iiaiit  came  with  oidy  the  feudal  ideas  of  !he  past,  and  cared 
little  for  the  innovations  of  nioderii  free<lom.  The  tormer  claiminj;: 
the  right  of  religions  liberty,  withdrew  from  tlie  established  chni.-h 


l.'.l 


inS'l'()l!Y  (tl'  III  IM»Is. 


illiil  liiiil  ;i  s<'ir:i|i|Miiiilril  iiii|iistr,V 


t- 


Miii   imii  i\  s<'ii  ;i  |i|MiiMi  I'll  niMii.>ir,>.       i  iir  iiiiu'i    ^\ii.'s   rioM'ii  ii^iiiiiMb 

'Very  ray  of  llH'olnjiical  li^^lit,  iiiiil  <loiiiiii:ili'<l  lis  a  r»»n'ij;ii  itricst- 
ImmxI.  iVtiiii  w litisf  icacliiii^^s  llicii'  was  not  a  siiiulcdissciilfr.  'I'lir 
MM'  wfic  self  icliaiit.  sell' siist;iiiiiii,i:.  ami  incrucli*' ;  <'\  t  ••  picssiii^r 
llicii'  wav  ayaiiisl  tlit- iiTciliii;;-  I'orcsis;  always  atlvaiicin;!;,  Itiit 
iM'Xci'  I't'ticaliliji  'I'll*'  oilier  \\v\v  acfiisloincd  io  lollow  a  Icailrr, 
and  (Irpciid  ii|iiiii  lli«-  |iiii'i'iil  roiiidry  lor  siipplirs,  wli'u'ii  llity 
iiii;^lil  lia\»'  |irniiiic('d  tlii'iiisch  cs.  Tlic  inlial»ilaiits  ol'  lliilisli 
Aiacrica  had  llic  press,  loeal  le;;islatiii'es,  iniiiii*  ipal  (lisci|iliiie.  the 
heiiclit  of  tree  schools,  and  were  acciistoiiied  to  tiiinU  and  ael  lor 
Iheinsehes.  As  the  lesull.  iVoin  t-he  waters  of  I  Ik- soul  hern  uidl'to 
where  ei\ili/,at  ion  is  stased  liy  harriers  oliH-rpeUial  IVosI,  the  eon- 
tineiit  is  their  lierita;:*'. 


superior  ollieer,  and  ael  in  aeeoidaiiee  with  his  inslrnetioiis. 
the  ineanliine.  he  did  not  tliitdi  it  iiieninlieiil  upon  him  lo  oiiey 
the  summons  of  the  l>rilish  ;^o\eriimehl,  aiitl  wonid  deleiid  his 
])osition  with  all  the  skill  aixl  loree  at  his  eommand."  W'ashini; 
ton,  alter  eiieonnteriii;;  inneh  haidship,  reliinied  safely,  ami 
reported  the  icply  of  the  I'reneh  ollieei'.  The  follow  inu  .Mar  ho 
received  orders  from  the  /ioxeriior  of  Viriiinia  to  proceed  with  L'tiO 
men  and  complete  theci-eclioii  of  a  fort  al  Ihe, junction  ofllte  .Monon- 


men  ami  complete  tlieci-eciioii  oi  a  loir  al  1 1  icj  unction  ol  lite  .Motion - 
•iiihela  iind  the  Allejiiiany,  previously  coiiimeiieed  liy  the  Ohio 
company,  'i'lie  attempt  to  execute  tlie((rdcr  was  defeated  l>y  tiie 
I-'reiich  ollieer,  M.  ( 'oiilrcco-iir,  w  ho,  aiil  icipaf  iii;^  Ihe  arrival  of  |  lie 
Virginia  forces,  moved  down  to  the  inoiith  of  ilie  Monniii^ahcla  in 
advance,  with  IS  pieces  of  cannon  and  a  force  of  l.ttOO  I'lench  and 
Indians.  lie  drove  away  the  small  (keta<'hiiient  of  \'iri:inia  milliia 
and  some  ('inployes  ill  the  Ohio  eoinpaiiv,  and  completin,;;'  tin- fort 
they  had  coinineiiced.  they  called  it  hii(^)iiesiie.  in  honor  of  Ihe 
jioveinor  of  New  l''raiiee.  In  Ihe  meantime,  a  small  detacliineiif 
under  .liimiiionville.  was  sent  to  notify  W'ashiii^tofi  In  withdraw 
from  l'"reiieh  territory.     The  American  officer,  Icarniii.u  i»efoiehaii(i 

1 1 II  t  •)  1  vi  ifj  I'li'li   I  a'    I  1 1  II I II II  kl  I  \'  1 1 1 1 »     n  I  -.  I  f  III   •_  I  I'lvl  II  iriilili  .11  f  <    1 1 1  r*  1 1 1    /III    1 1  i  III  1 1\^ 


MIMTAHY  Ol'KKATIONS. 


I.'IS 


oxcc  tlic  }^i:i\<'  of  .iiiiiiiiioin  ill)',  iiiid   liow    iiiiin.v  liopt-s  t-liistcri'd 
siIkmiI  till*  niiill*' oI' iIk- iiilMiil  Louis."* 

I'ort  ('li:ii'li('s  wiis  ill  this  tiiiii-  tlif  tlt'pot  ul'  siipplirs  iimi  iIm* 
lihirc  ol'  I'fiMl'.'/voiis  lui'  llic  iiiiihtl  lurrt-s  of  Illinois  siikI  oilier 
jiosis  of  Loiilsiiiiiii.  Slioi  tly  i'.ilfr  llif  lilViiv  ill  Hit'  I  ittic  Mi'iidows, 
M.  (if  N'illifi's,  :i  iwotlin'  ol'  Jiiiiiiuoia  ili,'.  iiml  ul  tin'  tiinc  iin  ol'tiiTr 
lit  Fori  ( 'liarli'i's,  solicitfd  .M,:ciirl,\,  the  *  tMiiiiniiHliiiit  of  the  tor- 
tros,  to  ;;o  iiiiil  iMcii;^*'  t!.»'  (lentil  ol'liis  ieliiii\e.  Peiiiiissioii  \v;im 
^liiiited.  iiiid  with  ii  I'oree  iiom  the  miiiisoii  iiiid  a  liir^e  iiiiiiiImi' 
4)1  llidiiiiis,  h«'  jiiissed  d(i\\  II  the  !Missis,>i|i|>i  ;iiid  ll|*  tlie  <>liio  to 
J''olt  l)ll(^>lieslie,  of  which  lie  silhse»|lleiill,\  lieeiiiiie  the  eoiiiliiiilider. 
I-'roiM  the  fort  he  proceeded  to  the  <;rollli(l  of  the  recent  Itiillle. 
W'ilsliiiiiiloii.  liiidin.n'  hiiiiself  coiifroiiled  with  ^leiitlv  siipciior 
f4>i<es,  fell  hiick  lo  i'"ort  Necessilx,  ii  iiide  slocUiide  previously 
^'l•eet^.•  nt  the  (Jreal  Aleadows.  Thithei'  llie.v  were  followed  liv  De 
Vi!lie>  w  itii  a  force  of  (»(»(•  l''i'eiicli  iind  a  siiialler  niimheiof  Indians, 
who  toolk  possession  of  iiii  adjaceiil  eiiiiiK'Uce  and  coiniiieiiced 
rn'in<X  from  Itelniid  trees  on  the  men  in  the  fort  heiiealh  iIm-iii. 
.Vniiiiiited  li,v  liie  cool  determination  of  their  coiiimamier.  Ihe  raw 
])ro\  iiicials.  so  iiiietpial  in  niimi)ei's  iind  position  to  tin'ir  assiiil:iiits, 
for  uiiic  hours  mainliiincd  their  position.  At  leii.ulh  llicl'ieiich 
<-ommiiiidcr,  feaiiii;^'  the  exhaiistioii  of  his  iimiiiiinilioii,  proposed 
terms  of  eapiliilatioii,  wliieli  Washin^^ton  in  his  eritieal  situation 
Wiis  coiiipeUed  to  acci'pt.  The  terms  were  iii:i;:lianiiiioiis,  the 
l»esiei;('d  iieiii:.;'  lu'iinitted  t<»  retire  with  tiie  liuiiois  of  wjir  iiiid  iill 
their  munitions,  except  the  artillery,  (pon  the  deleat  of  the  \°ir- 
<;iiiia  forces,  jai^^iiind  and  l-'rance  took  up  the  <;'aiintlet,  and  the 
<'(>iitest  lietwceii  t  he  colonists  lu'canie  fiirtlier  iiiteiisitied.  In  I  7. "),"», 
(ieiieiiil  iJiaddocU  ;irri\»Ml  in  N'ir.^inia  witii  Iwo  reuinieiils  of 
Jirilish  lejiiiliirs.  \\'asliin;,'ton  wiis  made  one  of  his  ai<ls  tie caniiN 
iind  afterwiird  his  forei- was  aii^ineiited  Ity  the  iidditioii  of  l.dllO 
jiid\  incials.  TIkis  slreiintheiied  he  slarte<l  for  l''ort  I  )ii(i>iie«'ne, 
and  at  the  Lillle  .Meadows  recei\cd  ;'lt('|li^(■|lce  of  the  expected 
jirrival  of  ."itK)  tr4»ops  to  strenj;then  the  j:iirrisoii  of  tiie  lurt. 
Lea\in.u'  Col.  I)uiil»;ir  with  SOO  men  to  itriiiu  np  his  stores,  he 
hasleiicil  forwiird  with  the  remainder  to  rciicli  the  fort  in  ad\iiiice 
<il'  the  r<'inforceim'iits.  ("rossinji  the  Moiion^iiliela  he  pushed 
forwiird  with  so  iiinch  rajtidity  thai  he  seldom  look  lime  to  leioii- 
lioilre  tlu'  woods  ;ind  t!in;;led  thickets  throii.uh  which  he  w;is 
]):issin^.  In  llie  mciintimc  the  commiindiiiit  iit  i'ort  l)ii(^)iiesiie, 
apjuised  1»_\  the  l''i«'iicli  and  Indian  scouts  of  Ihe  iipjuoach  of  Ihe 
JJrilish  force,  sent  M.  I>e;iujeu  wilji  a  force  of  L'"i(t  l''rencli  and  (>()0 
Jndiiins  lo  check  tlieii' adxiince.  Sexcii  miles  from  the  foil  they 
<'once;iled  themselves  on  the  luu'deis  of  a  ravine  tlirniiuli  which 
]5i'add()ek  must  pass,  ;ind  iiwaited  his  arri\!il.  As  soon  iis  his 
men  I'litered  the  hollow,  the  concealed  enemy  opened  upon  those, 
in  front.  ;ind  the  rear  forces  jaishcd  rapidly  foiWiird  lo  siipporf 
them.  IJefore  this  could  lie  ell'ccted,  the  ad\iinced  <(>luiiins  fell 
hack  in  a  lieap  on  tiie  artillery,  and  the  ;irmy  became  j^icatly  c(Ui- 
fiised.  At  this  JniH-tur*'  the  \"ir;L;inia  forces.  contr;iry  to  orders, 
took  positions  behind  trees  iind  foiiuht  till  :ill  were  killed  excei>t 
tliiiiy  men.  The  i'ej;ulars.  i-emaiuin,u'  In  a  compiict  body,  wci'e 
terril)ly  cut  to  pieces.     JJraddock  received  ii  moital   wound  and 


•Bancroft. 


VM) 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


iiicr«';isc<l  tlicii- loict's,  iiiid  in  17.-)4   l\nt  DiKiiu'snc  jij;;iiii  bt'caiiie 
the  oltjcctix ('  point  »»l';ni  lliiylisli  iuiiiy.     (mmi.  Koihcs,  witli  a  lorce 


i    i  U 


iiislicd  with  a  small  .yai'rlsoii  till  the  dose  of  tlicwar.  Sncli  was 
tilt'  origin  of  tin-  last  I'iciicli  loit  built  on  the  Oil io,  di vested  of  t lie 
I'oniaiice  w  lii;'ii  fable  lias  thrown  around  its  name.*  In  the  eoiuse 
of  the  sti'Mji,uU'  Tieonderoua,  Crown  Point  and  >i'ia^ani,  fi-U 
before  the  vietori(»iis  aims  of  lMi,i;land.  and  finally  it  teiiiiinated 
in  IT.")!!  liy  the  eaptiire  of  (^)nebee.  ^Vs  the  result  of  the  eonfest  on 
the  I'lains  otWhraiiam,  Illinois  and  its  vast  resources  became  the 
heritage  of  a  different  race.  Anji'lo-Saxoii  enerjiv  and  projiress 
Aveic  now  to  .ualher  from  its  iirolilic  soil  treasures  far  exceeding  in 
value  the  exiiaiislless  mines  of  jj,()ld,  which  liad  haunted  the  inia,u- 
inatioii  of  its  (Jallic  inhabitants,  even  if  their  dreams  had  been 
realized.  In  this  closiii.^  Itattle  the  colossal  ptiwer  of  France  in 
]Soith  America  recei\('d  a  fatal  blow,  l''rom  her  tirst  permanent 
.settlement  on  the  St.  Lawrence  she  held  dominion  over  its  waters 
for  a  ]»eriod  of  lod  years.  The  'reulonic  race,  with  its  [lartiaiity 
for  individual  ri;;hts.  foi'  self-Lioveiniiiciit  and  freedom,  now  ob- 
tained the  dominion  of  a  continent  iVoiii  the  ( inlf  of  ^lexico  to  the 
I'ole,  and  the  lMi;;Iish  ton^ii.m',  wlios*-  utterance  l.-><»  years  before 
was  conliiied  to  two  small  islands  on  the  western  verjic  of  Kiirope, 
was  now  to  become  the  lanmia^c  of  a  continent,  and  ultimately, 
]»erliai).s,  a  uiii\i'rsal  vehicle  for  the  ex])ression  of  human  thought. 

*|N(>TE  — .Ills.  Hall,  in  his  Sttotchcs  of  tlie  West,  siiys  :  "  Tlio  Vrciu'li  Imd  also  ii  fort 
on  the  Oliid,  ut)oiit  :i(i  iiiilis  iilio\e  I  he  .junction  of  thiit  rivor  with  tlic  Mississipiii,  of 
whicli  tlic  Indiuii.K  olilainc<l  iiosscssion  by  n  sinMuliir  ctriitiiMt'in.  A  niiiiilicr  of  tlioni 
ai>|ifiiri'(l  ill  I  lie  I  Illy  1  iinc  (jn  the  oppoj-itc  siilc  of  tlic  river,  each  covitciI  with  ii  1  ■cur- 
skin.  walkiiifT  on  nil  funis,  and  iiintalin^'  tlic  iiiotion.S''!  that  iiniiniil .  Tlic  Krcncli  snp- 
jxiscd  tlicni  to  lie  Hears,  and  ii  imrty  crossed  tlie  .i\(?r  in  piirsiiit  of  them.  Tlio 
reiniiiiidcr ':  the  tr<ioiis  left  llicdr  (|iiartirs  and  resorted  tothcliankof  the  riNcr,  in 
Iroiit  of  ihejiiirrison,  to  observe  the  sport.  In  the  nieaiitiiiie,  a  laiKc  hody  of  warrior.'i, 
who  were  (.'oiiceuled  in  tin-  wcmmIs  I'car  liy,  <'aii)esilcntl.v  up  licliiiid  the  fort,  entered  it 
■vvitlioiit  onposition,  and  very  few  of  the  l''rcnch  i  scapc'd  the  ciiriiaye.  They  uftcriviirtl 
built  another  fort  on  the  same  Kroiiiid,  wliicii  t\\f\  called  Maxxani ,  in  meinory  ol  this 
(lisastroiiseveiit. and  which  retaiiu'il  the  name  of  Kort  Ma.s.-iiie  after  it  passed  into  the 
haiidsof  the  Aniericiin  (loveriinicnt ."  The  liev  .1.  M.  I'eck,  In  his  ••. Annals  of  tiie 
W(^t,"  thinks  '•  the  foitruinu  statiiiiciit  is  a  trnthfnl  one.  aecordi!:  to  all  the  tradi- 
tional evidence  we  can  collect .'"  I)r  Iicuis  Heck's  (;a/eteer  ol  lllii,  's  and  MisMiuri 
contains  the  same  story,  as  also  licynold's  Pioneer  History  of  Illinois  :  iind  in  his  Lite 
nnd  Times, till  liittersiiys  :  "Korl  AJassaere  was  estalilished  liy  the  I'rcnch  aliont  t  he  year 
I'll,  and  was  also  a  niissU.nary  station  It  wiis  only  a  small  fortress  until  the  war  of 
IT.'i.')  hot  ween  the  Kntrlisli  an<l  f'reiich  In  IT.Mith  fort  was  enlarjjed  and  minh'  a  respeu- 
tnlile  fortres  ,  eonsideriim'  the  wilderness  It  was  in.  It  was  at  this  pla  e  where  tlio 
Christian  nrisslonar'cs  instructed  the  Southern  Indians  in  the  nospel  precepts,  mid  it 
was  here  also  that  the  French  soldiers  iiiadc  a  resolute  stand  auainst  the  enemy."  Tlio 
l>liiee  Is  also  referred  to  some  times  as  the  -'old  Cherokee  Fort."  The  Letters  Kditi- 
untes  indicate  it  to  lia\e  liecii  a  mission  and  triulliiM-  jiost  aliont  ITII  In  l.sdd  t  wo  eom- 
pnniesof  (■  S.  troops  were  stiilioiicd  sit  Fort  Ma.Ksac  iinri  a  fciv  liiniilics  resided  in  tho 
vicinity.  In  lK'i."i,  ^-a.NS  He.\  noNIs,  he  vistcd  the  site.  'I'lic  walls  of  the  ruins  wire  i;i."> 
fei't  S(iiiare,  pallisaded  with  earth  lietwccn.and  with  stroiij.^  liast  ions  at  each  iin;jl(.>. 
Tlirce<ir  fouracrc^  were  beaut  ifully  gravelled  with  pelibles  I  rom  the  river,  on  tho 
uorth  of  tho  fort, as  n  parade  ground.    Tho  silo  is  u  beuutif  ul  one.] 


riiAi'TER  xiir.   ■ 
I7r)!>-i7(;;5— TiiH    ("onspiuacy    of    i'onti AC— attack 

UI»()X   DKTh'OIT— DHSTKL'CTION   OF    I'-LJITISII    POSTS 
AND  SETTLE.M  i:XTS. 


T(  liiis  alroiidv  Ik'cii  stilted  tli;it  tlic  downrall  of  ((Jiicltcc  was  tlie 
Dvcitliiow  (if  I'lt'iicli  ]Ki\\('r  ill  North  Aiuciica.  It  was  not, 
liowcvcr,  until  170(1,  wlicii  tlic  t'cchic  and  dislicartciuMl  <;inTison  of 
]M(Mitr('al  (•ai)itiilatc(l  witlioiit  icsistaiicc,  tliat  Canada  and  its 
dr|i<'iidfiici('s  wciv  suiicndfit'd  to  tiif  Hiitisli.  Tlic  o\ crtlirow  of 
Fifiicli  siipnMiiac.v  was  latw  assured,  hut  the  recoil  o(  the  blow 
uliieli  liad  siiiittcii  it  down  was  the  cause  of  another  jireatstriijijile 
nioi'ii  dcsolatiiiji  and  widely  cxtciHh'd  than  the  lirsf,  hut  eialcd 
Mithoul  accoiiii>lisliin;;  any  political  results.  In  the  second  contest 
the  red  man  hecaiiie  the  ]>iinci|>a]  actor  and  exliihited  a  (h'jiree  of 
sagacity  and  eonstancv  of  juirpose  never  before  witnessed  in  the 
liistorvof  his  warfare.  The  lOiiulish,  to  reap  the  fruits  of  their 
victory  at  (i)ucltec.  sent  .Major  Robert  Ifoycrs  to  take  possession  of 
the  oiitjiosts  on  the  frontier.  He  was  a  nalixc  of  New  Ilainii- 
sliirc,  and  his  startliiiu  adxcntures  in  the  recent  colonial  struuiiio 
liad  made  him  the  model  hero  of  New  I'liiuland  liresidcs.  As  he 
coasted  aloiiL;-  tiie  southern  shore  of  Lake  Mrie  in  the  early  ])art  of 
Xoveiiibei',  17(iO,  on  his  way  to  Detroit,  it  suddenly  became  cold 
and  stormy,  and  he  determined  to  put  ashore  and  wail  the  reliiru 
of  [)leasaiit  w>'athcr.  A  camp  was  soon  formed  in  the  adjacent 
forest,  then  clothed  in  the  fading'  hues  of  Autumn,  wiieii  a  iiuiiil)er 
of  chiefs  made  their  ai>pearance  and  announced  themselves  as  an 
embassy  from  I'ontiac.  The  day  did  not  pass  away  Itelbic  tho 
daiin<;' chief  himself  came  to  the  camp  and  demanded  of  IJouers 
liis  business  in  the  counlry.  Tlii'  latter  replied  tiiat  he  was  on  his 
May  to  Detroit  to  make  ]K'ace  with  the  white  men  ami  Indians. 
T'ontiac  listened  with  attention  and  said  lie  would  stand  in  his  pal  ii 
till  moriiin;;,  and  after  iii(|iiii  in^i'  if  they  needed  aiiytliin;^'  which 
his  country  atlbiih'd  withdrew.  This  was  Ko^'ers'  first  iiiterxiew 
with  tjie  "Na]»oleon  ol'  his  I'aee,  whose  ]nreat  coiisjiiracy  forms  the 
suliject  of  this  chapter 

.\ccordiiiiH'  to  tradition,  he  was  of  medium  heijilit.  commandinji,' 
ajipea  ranee,  and  iiossessed  a  muscular  frame  ol'^reat  symmetry  and 
Ai:^'or.  His  eomplexicMi  was  darker  than  usual  with  individuals  of 
liis  race;  his  features  stern,  liold.  and  irrcuular.  and  his  bearing' 
that  of  a  person  accustomed  to  surmount  all  opposition  by  tliii 
force  of  an  imperious  will,  lie  was  ;i(  nerally  clad  in  a  scanty 
cincture  i.;irt  about  his  loins,  with  his  loii;^'  black  hair  tlowiii;;' 
h)osely  behind,   but  on  public  occasions   he  plumed  and  jiaiiited 

137 


138 


III«1^)BY  OF  IIJJNOTS. 


after  tlic  iiiMiuit'i'  of  liis  ti'llu'.  On  the  foUowiiij;  iiioiiiiiiiL;.  in  coiii- 
])iiiiy  witli  liis  cliicfs,  lie  ii.ii;iiii  visited  tlie  ciiiii]*  and  told  Ifoncrs 
lie  WHS  williii;;'  to  lie  at  jteaee  with  tlie  Mn.ulisli  and  suH'er  tiiem  to 
remain  in  his  eonntry  as  lonji'  as  tiiey  treated  him  and  hiseonnlrv- 
men  with  due  (h'I'erenee  and  Justice,  ilitiu'rto  lie  liad  l>een  iiie 
<h'Voted  friend  of  the  I'reneh.  and  tlie  motive  which  now  actuated 
him  was  apparent.  Shrewd,  polilic.  and  ;iml)itious,  he  sa;^aeiousl\ 
eoiiclu(le<l  that  the  ]tower  of  l''ram'e  was  deelinini;',  and  it  mi,uht  lie 
best  to  secure  tlu-  ji'ood  will  of  the  l''n,u]ish.  lie  hoped  by  the  aid 
of  su<']i  ]iowerful  allies  to  extend  his  intluence  o\ci"  the  trili(  s  ot' 
his  own  race,  and  llattered  himself  that  they  also  would  treat  iiim 
with  the  defereiM-e  wliicli  had  previously  been  accorded  hiiu  by  the 
Frencli.  Ho.^crs  had  several  interviews  with  him,  and  was  struck 
witii  the  nati\e  \  i^or  of  his  nuderstaiuliu^'  and  the  wonderf;;! 
jiower  he  exercised  over  those  about  him. 

The  storm  abating;',  J{(».i;ers  and  hisnu'U  resumed  tlu'ir  voyaj^c  up 
tlu'  lake.  A  messenu'ei'  had  been  sent  in  advance  to  notify 
Captain  ISeletre,  the  l'"reuch  Comniandant  at  Detroit,  that  Canada 
had  surrendered,  and  that  an  lOn^lish  force  was  on  its  way  to 
relieve  him.  This  oflieer  v, v  .  jLii'eatly  incensed  at  the  reception  of 
the  news  ;  treated  it  as  an  informal  conunuidcation.  aiul  stiricd  up 
the  Indians  to  resist  the  ad\auce  of  lvoj;crs.  When,  therclbre.  the 
latter  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Detroit,  and  was  about  to  ascend 
it.  1h'  fouiul  four  liuudre<l  Indian  warriors  ready  to  dis|)ute  iiis 
further  pro.i; less.  I'oiiliac  however,  whose  vii;ilaiice  was  ever  on 
the  alert,  interposed  in  behalf  of  his  new  friends,  and  they  were 
])ermitted  to  reach  Detroit  without  fiiither  opjiositioii.  IJojicrs 
immediately  t<iok  ])osses,sioii  of  the  foi't,  and  the  Kreiich  jiarrison 
deliled  out  on  the  plain  and  laid  down  their  arms.  As  the  French 
colors  were  loweied  from  the  Ihi.ustatf.  and  those  of  I'ji^laud 
hoisted  aloft,  the  spectacle  was  j^reeted  liy  the  yells  of  7(t(>  indian 
warriors.  Tiie  Canadian  militia  were  next  disanned.  and  the 
Indians,  unable  to  eom]irelieiid  wiiy  so  many  should  siilimit  to  so 
few.  regarded  with  astonishment  what  they  considered  as  obse- 
(piioiis  conduct  oil  the  ]iart  of  their  recent  allies.  Nothiuii'  is  so 
effe(ii\('  ill  winniii,<;  the  respect  of  sava.ucs  as  ai;  ♦■xhilutioii  of 
]iower,  and  hence  the  Indians  tbinied  the  most  exalted  coiiceiitious 
of  Kujiilish  [irowess,  l)ut  were  j^reatly  snrpi'ised  at  tlu-ir  sparing:  the 
lives  of  the  vaiH|uislied. 

Thus,  on  tlu'  l".»tii  of  >i'o\('mlier.  17(>(>,  Detroit  jiassed  into  the 
hands  of  the  I'ln.tilish.  '{"he  l''reuch  j^airison  was  sent  luisoiiers 
down  the  lake,  while  t  he  Canadian  I'esidents  were  sutfered  to  retain 
their  houses  and  lauds  on  t he  c<indition  of  their  swearing  allegi- 
ance to  till'  ,yo\  I'riiiiieiit.  Olficers  wci'c  sent  to  the  southwest  to 
take  ])ossession  of  l-'orts  .Miami  and  Watannon,*  tiie  first  situated 
on  the  head  waters  of  the  .^blUlllee,  ami  the  latter  on  the  Waliash 
liot  far  from  the  site  of  the  iireseiit  t<iwii  of  Lafayette.  I\o;:frs 
next  started  to  relie\»'  the  torts  on  the  U]»iier  lakes,  but  was  pre- 
A'cuted  by  the  ^atherin<;'  ice  and  storms  of  Lake  Huron.  The 
followinii'  season,  however,  tiie  forts  at  the  head  of  (Ireeii  l>ay  and 
the  nioiith  of  the  St.  .biseiih,  and  those  on  the  .sti'aits  of  St.  .Mary 
and  .Mackinaw,  were  j;arrisoiie<i  by  .small  detachments  of  ICnulish 
troops.     Tlie  tla;;'  of  i' ranee  still  waved  oxer  the  pluins  of  Illinois, 


*Ouiutenou. 


rONTIiVC'S   CONSl'IlIACV. 


ir,o 


■wliicli     \v;is    not    iiicliidcd    in    the    .stipiihitidiis   ciircrcd    iiitd    ;it 
3I()iitrc;iI. 

'I'lir  (•(iiiiilry  liiid  111)1  luii^'  hcfii  in  tlic  possession  of  I'Ji.uliind 
lu'l'orc  ;i  wide  si)r('ad  tcflin;^' of  diss;itisfiicli,»n  pervaded  its  inliiil)- 
itnnts.  Tile  l-'reneli  element  of  t  lie  popul;i(  ion.  liavinin' tlieir  national 
liate  of  llie  Mn.LjiisIi  inlensified  l»v  vears  of  disastrous  warfai'i'.  left 
their  lionies  in  ( ':.nada  and  settled  iii  Illinois,  liei'e  tiiey  coiitin- 
ned  loelierisli  I  lieir  animosity,  and  \viiene\er  a n  opp(at  nnit\  offeicd. 
wereevei-  ready  to  emhraee  any  scheme  liiat  niiirhl  injiu'e  the 
ohjeets  ot'tiieii'ill  will.  In  common  witii  lln'ii'  itret  hi'cn  of  Illinois. 
Iheystill  hopetl  that  Canada  nn,i;lit  lie  restored  to  l-'ranee.  and  no 
elVoit  was  spared  by  either  to  liiinuaiiont  tliismndi  desired  result. 
Canada  was  powerless,  yet  Illinois,  her  iiitiinare  nei.uiilior  and 
syiiipatliizer.  was  still  an  niitrameied  proxiiice  of  l'"raiice.  and  now 
became  the  depot  of  supplies  and  I  he  cent  re  of  l'"rencli  intri, unes  ;  all 
looking  forward  to  the  consummation  of  this  olijeet.  The  Indians, 
Aviiosc  L;(i(id  will  they  had  loiii;-  since  \v<in  iiy  a  conciliatory  iiolicy. 
they  found  ready  iiistrnmeiits  for  tiie  execniion  ot'  their  designs. 
.\ccordiii^ly.  swaiins  of  l'"rt!iii;h  tradei's  and  ('aiiadian  refnyces 
issued  from  the  head-waters  oftlx'  Illinois  and  otliei'  jioiiits  of 
('.i; less,  and  spicadin,:;' oNcr  the  eompiered  tei'ritoiy,  held  councils 
Mitli  the  Indians  in  tlie  ^ecl•et  places  of  the  foi'ests.  At  these 
secluded  meetin.us  they  iir.ut'd  the  excited  savaj;'es  to  take  up  arms 
aiiainst  the  lOnulisli,  who  they  deelari'd  were  endeavoring  to  com  pass 
their  destrnctioii  by  lied;iiii^  them  in  with  forts  and  settleineiiis  on 
one  hand,  and  .Nlirriiii;  up  the  (  herokees  to  attack  them  on  the  olliei'. 
Toiiixc  effect  to  these  fabrications,  they  added  more  j.otent  inceii- 
ti\('s  of  ,uiins,  ammunition  ami  clolhinu.  which  the  ImiuHsIi  liad 
rel'iised  to  .uraiit  them.  These,  loii,u  furnished  by  I'raiice.  had  iiow 
become  a  necessity,  but  l'Jij:land  had  incurred  heavy  exiieiiscs  in 
the  recent  war,  and  it  became  iieeessai'y  for  her  either  to  withhohl 
ordeal  them  out  with  scanty  and  reluctant  hands.  Want.  siilVei-- 
iii.Li,  and  in  some  instances  death,  wastlie  result  \\hi<-li,  without  the 
aid  of  l''i('iicli  machinations,  was  snflicient  to  make  them  disliko 
the  lOn^Iish.  l'"ormeil\.  under  the  mild  sway  of  !■' ranee,  when  the 
chiefs  \isiteil  the  forts  they  were  icceiscd  with  the  .urea  lest  polite- 
ness and  ho.Npilaiily  iiy  the  ofticers.  and  the  pt'tty  annoyances  ot 
their  men  v\ere  disr<'<:arded.  Now.  when  in  tlieir  iiitrnsixc  man- 
ner they  came  about  the  posts,  they  heard  only  words  of  reproach 
and  abrupt  orders  to  depart,  frequently  enforced  liy  blows  from 
rnflian  soldiers.  The  intercourse  of  French  traders  had  always 
lieeii  eoiirteons  and  resp<-ctfnl,  while  those  of  the  lOnulisli  treated 
them  asinferiors.  frecpiently  ontra^cd  their  families,  and  in  \arioiis 
■ways  ;L;a\(' them  an  nnfavdiable  opinion  of  the  nation  which  now- 
laid  claim  to  their  country. 

I'lider  thesecirenmstances  Pontine. ,althon,uh  he  had  wavered  in 
his  alle.i;iaiiee  to  the  I'^reiich  so  far  as  to  permit  h'oj^crs  to  occupy 
the  I'ort  at  I  )etroit,  beyaii  to  feel  his  jiart  iality  for  his  old  friends 
retinninu.  The  Sacs,  ids  native  tribe,*  under  the  immediate  iiillii- 
ence  of  the  Illinois  l-'reiieh,  wen'  amon.i;' tlie  lirst  to  espouse  their 
eanse,  and  it  may  safely  be  assumed  that  if  lie  was  not  insiruiiieii- 


*In  tlio  Hist  Tol.  of  >riiss.,;.'nil  fii'rins,  tli<'  report  of  Mnrsc.  tSL'r?,  on  f  tie  Smo  nii<l  Vnx 
^valsil^^lillst  tlu'  lliiiidis,  iincl  the  lifcof 'rccvim.-ic'ii,  lu'  is  spoken  ol  itwaSiu'.  Sevt  iiil  triheS 
"'ercimihltioiis  to  eliiiin  his  liiioiiBo.  Mis  icsideiiCL'  iiiiiuii)!  tlic  Ottiiwiisiiuiy  Imve  buon 
due  to  Ills  imi'tiiUity  lor  tlielr  reputation  us  wuriiors. 


140  IllSTOJlY   OF  ILLINOIS. 

tal  ill  l»riiij;iii,!i' about  the  losult,  lu'  was  not  loii^i  in  loil<)\vinj>' tlicir 
cxaniplc.  l>v  iiis  own  iiilirrcnt  i)o\vcis  and  assistanco  olitaiiicd 
iVoin  tlic  Ficncii,  lie  iiad  hccoiiu'  tjic  a('iino\vl('d^c<[  licad  of  llie 
Iriht'N  of  Illinois,  and  the  nations  dwelling'  in  tln'r(';;ioii  of  llic  ^^rcat 
lakes  and  tlic  Ijtpcr  .Mississijipi.  Savs  Captain  Morris,  wlio  wab 
istiit  West  l»v  (iciit'i'al  (ia<;»'  to  conciliate  tln^  tribes  of  Illinois: 
"  This  chief  has  a  more  extensive  ])o\ver  than  was  ever  known 
anitiiii;'  the  Indians,  for  every  chief  used  to  coiniiiand  his  own 
tribe,  but  bS  nations  by  French  intriyiie  liaxc  been  broii,i;'ht  to 
unite  and  choose  him  as  tln-ir  conimandei."  Thus  the  llame  kin- 
dled in  Illinois,  and  tindiii^'  material  in  many  other  localities  upon 
the  eve  of  i,niiition,  as  we  shall  see,  spread  farthei'  and  wider,  until 
all    British  America  became  invohcd   in  the  licry  ordeal  of   war. 

/^itiii'>ltiwl    lltkikll    ikV'cjklll'llil'    i*<lll^jti.:ikril>i*it«ifijkii     •ilwl<iiiiti'<ili/kii^'iikii      if 


ano  iiiai  lun.s  i  iii  iiiMi  .^Maj^ara  were  aiso  lo  oc  auackeo.  iiiicm- 
<;-eiice  of  this  discoxcry  was  immediately  transmitted  to  the  com- 
manders of  tliethreateiied  points,  and  the  calamity  averted.  'I'liis 
and  aiiothersimilari)lot  detected  and  snj)pressed  the  iollow in^isuin- 
mcr,  were  only  the  precursors  of  the  cfimin^  stctrm  that  swept  tin; 
whole  country  as  with  the  besom  of  destriicti(ni.  A  plot  was  next 
conceived  in  the  .scheniinji- brain  of  I'oiitiae  to  attack  all  tiie  Vaiix- 
lisli  forts  on  the  same  day,  and  after  Iia\  in^'  massacred  their 
i;nsn:.pcctin,u'  j^arrisoiis,  to  turn  upon  the  defenseless  settlements 
jimi  continue  the  work  of  death  until  the  entire  iCn^lish  poituhi- 
tioii,  as  the  Indians  lomlly  lio|»ed  and  exiiccted,  should  be  drixcii 
into  the  sea.  J'or  comprchensi\cness  of  design  and  succes^fid 
execution,  no  similar  eouspiracy  can  be  Ibnnd  in  the  annals  of 
Indian  warfare. 

roiitiac  was  now  .")()  years  of  aye  and  broui^hl  to  the  contest  a 
jud.unient  matured  by  the  past  experience  of  his  ad\ ciiturons  life. 
JJefore  the  breakiii;;-  out  of  the  i-'reiich  war.  he  had  sa\cd  Detroit, 
Irom  the  overwheliniii^'  attack  of s(»me  discontented  trilxsot'  the 
>;ortli.  I>uriii;i' the  war  he  fou;;ht  \aliantly  for  I'raiicc,  am!  is  said 
to  ha\e  commanded  the  Otiawasat  the  detent  of  Ibinidock  and 
materially  contributed  to  his  overthrow,  For  his  devotion  and 
<'onrai;(',  he  was  ]iresented  with  a  full  l'"i»'nch  uniform  by  IheMar- 
(juis  .Montcalm,  only  a  short  time  before  the  famous  battle  on  the 
I'lainsof  Abraham,  .\ftcr  the  defeat  (•!'  the  l''iciicli  and  the  arrival 
of  Iioiicis,  as  i)reviously  intimated,  he  manil'estcd  a  desire  to  cnlti' 
vate  the  I'lieiKlship  of  the con<|Uerors,  but  was  ^^reatly  disapp(»iiited 
in  the  ad\anta;4t's  lie  expected  to  derixc  from  their  inlluciice.  His 
sa,i;acious  mind  disi-oxcred  in  the  alteied  postiireof  alfaiis  ihejireat 
danj;cr  which  threatened  liis  race.  The  c((iiibbrinm  hitiicrlo 
snbsislin.u'  between  the  I'''reiich  and  lOnjilish,  j^ave  the  Indians  the 
balanc<'  of  powei',  and  both  parties  wei'e  compelled  to  some  extent 
to  respect  their  rij;iits.  I'lider  Fn/^lish  domination  their  import- 
an<e  as  allies  was  none  ami  their  doom  alrea<ly  sealed. unless  they 
could  ri'-cstablish  the  powei'  of  the  l''iencli  ami  use  it  as  a  check  to 
the  encroachments  of  the  10ii;;lisli.  {•'illed  with  this  idea  and  lircd 
by  patriotism  and  ambition,  he  now  sent  embassadors  to  the  nations 


rON'I'lAU'S  CONHl'IllACY. 


41 


ol"  tile  Upper  liikcs,  to  lliosc  on  tlic  UliiKiis,  Mississi|»pi  ;iii(l  Oliio, 
ill  1(1  as  I'lir  son  til  ward  as  the  (i  ill  I' of  .Mexico.  His  cmissarit's,  bcar- 
iiiji'tlic  war  belt  and  liloody  Iiatclu't  as  ciiiblcnis  of  llicir  iiiissioii, 
]»ass('d  IVoiii  tribe  to  tribe,  and  e\ ci'vwlieie  the  dusky  deni/eiis  of 
tlie  forest  eam-rl.v  asseiiiitled  to  bear  tlie  words  of  tlie  ^reat  war 
cliief.  The  i»rincipal  of  tiie  embassy,  iioldin^'  aloft  tlieend)leiiis  of 
■war,  with  violent  ^cstienlations  delivered  the  tiei'y  niessaue  pre- 
viously ]>repared  by  roiitiac  for  this  purpose.  The  atteiidiii,u' eliiefsi 
and  warriors,  iiioxcd  by  these  impassioned  appeals,  pled-^cd  theni- 
selves  to  assist  in  the  war,  and  the  feivor  thus  exitited  rapidly 
sjM'ead  till  tln^  whole  .\l;i(in(]nin  race  was  a,inl<>\v  with  eiithiisiasi". 

The  attack  was  to  Ite  made  in  May,  ITH.!,  only  one  month  after 
tlu'  treaty  of  Paris,  l»y  which  Illinois  and  all  the  \ast  possessions 
of  France,  east  of  the  Mississi]»i>i,  passed  under  the  dominion  of 
(Jreat  ISritain.  This  event  was  one  of  the  three  important  stejis 
by  which  Illinois  i»assed  from  a  I'rench  ]tro\  ince  to  its  present 
])ositioii  as  a.  member  of  the  American  republic,  the  first  bein,;;' 
foreshadowed  in  the  triumph  of  NN'olfe  on  the  IMaiiis  of  Abraham, 
the  second  in  the  eompu'sts  (»f  Clark,  and  the  last  in  the  battle  of 
Y(U'ktowii.  in  accordance  with  the  recpiiremeiits  of  the  cession, 
the  p(»sts  of  southern  Louisiana  were  siii'reiidered  to  Ibitish  uarri- 
8(»ns.  In  Illinois,  owinj^'  to  the  impenetrable  barrier  (»f  hostile 
sava,i;('s,  which  siirround(><l  it.  this  was  im|iossible,  and  the  i-'icnch 
otlicers  were  empowered  i)y  Sir  .lelfrey  Amherst,  the  Uritish  Com- 
iiiaiidcr-iii-chief,  to  retain  their  jtosition  till  this  dilliculty  could  be 
ovei'come.  In  the  exercise  of  this  trust  they  betrayed  the  coiili- 
(leiice  reposed  in  them  by  furiiishiii,u'  the  Indians  with  lar.ue  siip- 
])lies  of  nuns  and  ammunition,  au<l  for  a  lonu  time  concealed  the 
transfer  which  had  been  made,  lest  the  knowledge  of  it  mi;;ht 
cause  the  Indians  to  relax  their  elforts  in  tlu' prosecutiou  of  tlie 
Avar.  Ibit  for  this  neiilect  of  duty,  the  war  w  liicli  followed  inij:lit 
liave  been  either  averted  or  its  virulent  character  j^reatly  modified. 
The  kinjj;",  in  parcelin<i'  out  his  newly  ac(juii'ed  domain  amon;^'  the 
(colonists,  I'etained  the  viilley  of  the  Ohio  and  the  rciiion  adjai-eiit 
as  a  reservation  for  the  Indians.  The  timely  publication  of  his 
order  in  this  resjx'ct  would  have  pi'e\cnted  the  intrusion  of  the 
S(>ttlers  upon  these  lands,  and  thus  have  removed  a  ]>i'iiicipal  cause 
of  irritation  amoiiji'  the  Indians  dwelliii,i;'  aloiii;'  the  ICnulisli 
frontiers.  But  while  the  benevolent  intentions  of  the  kiiiji'  slum- 
bered in  the  breasts  of  unfaithful  stewards,  the  forests  were  alive 
with  prei>aratioiis  for  strife  and  eai'iian'e.  Indian  maidens  were 
eliantini;'  the  war  soul;-;  maiiicians  were  retiring  to  the  uloom  of 
rocky  defiles  anil  caverns  t(»  fast  and  learn  the  will  of  the  (Ireat 
Spirit  in  the  cominj;'  strujiule.  while  in  the  j;iare  proeeedinii  from 
liundrcfls  of  nightly  camp  fires,  chiefs  and  warriors  weri'  enact inji' 
the  savaii'e  pantomime  of  battle. 

The  warlike  sjurit  of  the  Indians  pive  ffr<'at  satisfaction  to  the 
Frencli  inhabitants  of  Illinois,  who  had  so  unwillinjiiy  been  made 
subjects  of  Hritain.  To  impart  a<lditional  life  to  their  prepara- 
tions, they  declared  that  the  Kinjidf  I'^raiice  had  of  late  years  fallen 
asleep,  and  dnriiii;'  his  slumbers  the  I'>ii.i;Iisli  bad  taken  ])ossessiou 
of  Canada,  but  that  now  he  was  awake  ajiain  and  his  armies  were 
advaiicin;;'  up  the  St.  Lawrence  and  Mississippi,  to  drive  out  the 
iiitJiulers  from  the  homes  of  his  red  eliildreu. 


, 


142 


IIISTOllY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


In  ncconliiiKM-  willi  llic  ;irr:iii^'cni(>iit  of  Poiitiiic,  tlu-  (lii'l't'iciit 
]Mtsts  wcrr  to  l»t'  iilliickcd  (Hi  Hie  siiiiir  »l;iy  bv  tlic  iidjiicciit  liiiliaiis. 
Tlir  iiicli  (■(iiispirMlor  liiiiiscir  witli  sonic  of  liis  tiilx-s  Ii\ctl  in  tlic 
vicinity  of  Detroit,  iind -liiiit  point  soon  Itccanic  the  locns  of  tlic 
bloody  strii.n'iiic.  To  iiistitnic  pi'ciiniinary  iii'i'aiiycinciits,  a  place 
of  rendc/.\ mis  was  selected  on  tlic  ii\cr  below  tlic  town,  and  mes- 
sengers sent  to  sniiiinon  tlic  tribes  to  meet  liim  in  coiineil.  In 
oltedieiice  to  the  <'all  stia,i;,ulin,u'  bands  of  Ottawas,  \\'\andots, 
Cliippewas,  and  I'ottiiwatoiiiies,  of  all  aj;es,  sexes  and  conditions, 
for  se\eral  days  were  seen  emeryin.i;  iVoin  the  forests.  S(|iiaws 
aecoiiipanied  by  swarms  of  nake(l  children,  came  to  atteml  to  (he 
doincsiic  anaii.ucmeiits  of  the  caniiis;  yoiitlifiil  j^allants  attcmU'd 
by  maidens.  liedccUed  with  feat  hers  ami  ruddy  with  paint,  were 
]»rcsciit  looking'  love  at  each  other  and  enjoying'  the  social  amiisc- 
mciits  of  saxaj;*'  life.  Uiit  the  most  important  i)ersonai;('s  were 
stalwart  warriors,  who.  while  waitin;^  the  arrixal  of  tardy  dele.i;a- 
nations,  lonii^cd  the  la/.y  hours  away  in  feasting'  and  .uamltliii;.;. 
At  Icii^th.  on  the  I'Ttli  of  Api'il,  tiie  last  st  ra;;;il<'rs  had  arrived, 
when,  variously  costiinied  and  armed  aftci  the  manner  of  theii 
respective  tribes,  they  seated  themselves  in  circles  on  the  jironnd. 
Pontiac  immedialt  l,v  appeared  in  their  midst  and  with  impassioned 
voice  cominenced  his  address.  ( 'oiitrastin.u  the  l']|i.iilish  with  the 
Freiicli,  Ijcdeclared  the  former  had  treated  himself  with  contt  nii»t 
and  his  coiintrymen  with  injustice  and  violence.  Present in<j,  a 
i)riiad  bell  of  wampnni.  he  informed  his  wild  auditors  that  he  had 
I'cceivcd  it  from  the  j;reat  father,  the  Kiiiji' of  I'Mance.  who  had 
lieard  the  voice  of  his  red  children  ;  had  arisen  from  his  sleep  and 
was  .•icndiiiu'  his  jiveat  wai- canoes  up  the  St.  Lawi'cnce  and  the 
.AIississi|)pi  to  wreak  \eii,i;eance  on  his  enemies,  and  that  the  I'rcnch 
and  their  vt'd  brelhreii  would  ai;aiii  li,!.;lit  side  by  side  as  when 
many  moons  since  they  destroyed  the  army  of  their  enemies  on 
the  l)aiiks  of  the  Mononi;aliela.  Ilavinji  awakened  in  his  hearers 
their  native  jiassion  for  war  and  blood,  he  next  appealed  to  their 
sii|ierstitions,  l)y  relatiiiji'  a  lej:t'iid  eomposi'd  by  one  of  their  nia^ji- 
cians,  which  enjoined  upon  them  as  a  (bity  to  drive  the  "dojis  that 
wear  red  <'lothiii,i;  into  the  soa,"  and  made  known  to  them  the  best 
method  of  doiiiL;'  it.  In  conclusion  he  told  them  that  the  work 
must  coiiiiueiice  at  Detroit;  that  he  would  .yain  admittance  to  the 
fort,  and  liavinji'  thus  learned  the  situation  and  strcnjith  of  thii 
j:ariison.  at  another  council  he  would  explain  to  them  the  jilan  of 
attack. 

i'lic  object  of  tli(>  convocatioii  was  now  eoiisunimated,  and  lon.n" 
belor<'  the  inorninj;'  snn  broke  thntiiyh  the  mists  that  hnnjiovcr 
the  river,  t'he  sa\a:ne  multitude  had  disappeared  in  (he  j;loomy  re- 
cesses of  the  forest.  Notliin.<i'  remained  to  tell  of  tlie  ni,i;lit's 
carousals  and  intrij^iies  but  the  smonlderinji-  embers  of  camp  lires 
and  the  slender  frames  of  sevei'al  hundred  Indian  lodges.  Pontine, 
ini|)atient  for  the  execution  of  his  desiyn  as  i»revionsly  annonnced, 
advanced  with  K>  warriors,  and  i)resentin;;'  himself  at  the  pite  of 
the  tort  asked  perniission  to  dance  before  the  ofllcers  of  the, 
{garrison.  Aftci'  some  hesitation  iieiniission  was  ;Li'rante<l.  and  he 
and  .'Id  of  his  men  tiled  iiji  to  the  residence  of  ^lajor  (iladwyn, 
then  ill  coininand  of  the  fort.  The  dance  was  eonimeneed,  and 
while  the  ollieers  and  men  liathered  round  to  witness  the  jierform- 
ance  the  lemaininji- 10  Indians  strolled  about  the  premises  to  make 


rONTIAC'S  CONSPIUACY. 


143 


obsci'Viitioiis.  When  t1n'  tliffcrciit  ]>in'ts  of  tli<'  fnit  liad  bt'cii  cx- 
niiiiiKMl  the  40  i('tir<'(l,  w  itlioiit  ciiiisiiij;-  llic  slitilitcsl  siis|»i(i(»ii  as  (o 
tli<'  (ilijcct  wliicli  iiidiicctl  tlic  visit.  Mcssciiucrs  were  auaiii  sent 
1(1  sMiiiiiioii  tlic  cliicl's  to  iiicci  ill  tlic  village  nl'  llic  I'ottaw  atomics. 
licit'  a  ImiKlrcd  wily  cDiispiratitrs  seated  lliciiis<'i\(s  in  iIk; 
(■(iiiiicil  liall  ol'  tii<-  town  to  iicifcct  in  tiie  dariciicss  oi'  iii;^lit  iIk; 
ItlacU  scljciiic  tjiey  liad  eoiicocted  for  the  dcsiriicl  ion  of  tlie  foit. 
J'^itfiil  llaslies  fioiii  liic  tire  in  llie  centre  of  tlic  room  fell  ii|ion 
I'eatiircs  stolid  and  iniinov  alilc  as  if  cast  in  iron,  despite  tlic  lierce. 
)»assioiis  that  lanUled  in  the  Itrcasts  Itciieath  tiicin.  As  Tontiac  in 
an  excitinu'  haiian.yiic  reiterated  the  wrongs  they  had  siislained  at 
the  hands  of  the  I'lnylish,  and  made  Uiiowii  his  jilaii  of  attack, 
deep  yiittiiral  expressions  of  approval  rose  from  his  statue  like 
audience.  I'lider  pretense  of  holdinu'  a  <'oiincil  he  propo>ed 
to  ohtaiii  admiltance  to  the  fort  for  himself  and  principal  chiefs, 
and  while  in  coiM'erence  with  theotlicers.  with  concealed  weapons 
they  would  put  llieiii  to  death.  Meanwhile  the  Indians  loitering' 
alxnit  the  jtalisade  were  to  rush  on  the  iinsiispcctiiiu^ariison  and 
iidiict  on  tiicm  a  siiniiar  fate. 

Detroit,  now  threatened  witii  destruction,  was  founded  in  1701 
1>y  \/.i  ,Mott  Cadilac,  who  siil>se(pieiitly  heeaine  the  (loxcrnor  (leii- 
eral  of  L(tiiisiaiia  and  the  partner  of  Crozat.  Ifoycrs.  who  visited 
it  at  the  clos«!  of  the  I'^rciich  war,  estiinatc(l  its  jiopiilatioii  and  tiiat 
of  the  adjacent  settleiiicnts  at  2.">(H>  souls.  The  fort  which  siir- 
I'oiinded  the  town  was  a  ]>alisadc  L'."»  feet  Iii.iih.  furnished  with 
bastions  at  the  four  an.u'les  and  lilock  houses  oxer  the  t;ate  ways. 
On  the  same  side  of  the  river,  :uid  a  little  below  the  fort,  was  the 
village  of  the  Pot tawatomies  ;  southeasterly,  on  the  other  side, 
Avas  that  of  the  \\'yan(I.  ts,  while  on  the  same  Itaiik. ."»  mill's  above, 
Avas  tli(^  town  of  the  Oltawas.  The  river,  alxait  half  a  mile  in 
Avidtli  o])posite  the  fort.  Ilowcd  throiiiih  a  landscajic  of  nnrixaled 
beauty.  In  its  pure  walci-s  were  .ulassed  the  outlines  of  the  iiolile 
forests  that  .yrew  on  its  banks.  I'^arllicr  back  wliilt'  Canadian 
cotta^U'es  looked  cosily  out  of  the  dark  jireeii  foliage,  while  in  the 
distaiiee  Indian  wijiwaiiis  sent  up  wreathy  columns  of  smoke  hinh 
in  the  transparent  northern  atmosphere.  I'ontiac.  the  master 
si>irit  ol'  this  syhaii  i)aiadise,  dwelt  on  an  island  at  the  outlet  of 
Lake  St.  Clair,  and  likeSatan  ofohl  revolved  in  his  powerful  mind 
scliemes  foi' marriiiji' its  beauty  and  innocence.  Though  he  was 
friendly  to  the  I-'rciich  they  seemed  to  apprehend  some  comiiij;' 
disaster.  The  ()ctol)er  i»recediiiji'  the  oiitlireak  dark  clouds  leath- 
ered (»vei'  the  town  and  settlement,  and  drops  of  rain  fell  of  ii 
strong  sulphurous  odor,  and  so  black  the  people  are  said  to  have 
collected  and  used  them  for  ink.  Many  of  tlie  simple  Canadians, 
refiisinj;'  to  accept  a  scientilic  e.\i»laiiation  ol'  the  pheiioineiion, 
thoii;^lit  it  \\i\R  the  precursor  of  some  j^reat  calamity. 

.Vlthoii^h  bi'cathiii,!''  out  veil jieanco  and  slaughter  auainsf  the 
English,  the  desi^^ns  of  the  chief  were  to  be  del'eatt'd.  Accordin.ii' 
to  local  tradition,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  (Jth  of  .May,  tlie  day  jire- 
cedin^'  the  intended  assault,  intelligence  of  the  coiis]»iracy  was 
coiiiniunicated  to  (Jladwyn  l»y  a  beautiful  Chippewa  j;irl.  who  had 
formed  for  him  an  attachment  and  wished  to  save  his  life.  Osten- 
sibly she  visited  the  fort  to  deliver  a  jiair  of  ornamental  moccasins 
wliieli  he  had  ri'ipiestt'd  her  to  make.  Al'lerdeltverinu' them,  she  was 
seen,  late  iii  the  afternoon,  lingering  about  the  Ibrt,  with  a  dejected 


Ml 


IIISTOHV   OF    ILLINOIS. 


11 


counti'iiiincc.  (iliuhvyn  liiiiisciriit  Iciijutli  not  iced  liciMltcicd  iiiiiii- 
iicr,  iiiiil  iiskt'd  tlM'  ciiiisc  oT  her  troiihlf.  NNlicii  ;issiiic(l  tliiit  she 
would  not  he  hctriivcd,  she  stiitfd  th:it  on  the t'ollowiii/^d.iv.  I'oiilian 
;iiid  <)(»  chicls,  with  ;;iiiis  coiiccidcd  iiiidfi-  tlicir  lihiiikcls.  woidd  visit 
tiic  loll  to  iiold  ;i  coiiiicil.  siiid  liiMt  Ml'tcr  lie  iiiid  iircsciiti-d  m  |»c:u-e 
belt  in  :i  rc\<'rscd  jtosiiion  iis  ;i  si;;nid  for  iilt;icl\,  tiic  <-iii('l's  were  to 
shoot  down  tlic  olliccis.  iind  their  men  in  tlie  streets  were  to  ninnh'r 
tile  .^iirrison.  (iliidwvn  ininiediiitely  eonininniciited  winit  lie  liiid 
jieard  to  the  garrison,  ;iiid  preitanitions  were  eonmieneeil  io  iixcrt 
tile  ihreateiH'd  ealaniil.v.  I<est  some  wild  iinpnise  siionld  ]»reei|»- 
itate  an  attaeiv  before  inorninu'.  Iialf  the  i^arrison  was  ordered 
under  arms,  the  number  of  sentinels  donliled,  and  the  olHeers 
arraii;;('d  to  spend  the  !ii,ulit  on  the  ramparts.  In  the  immediate 
\ieiiiity  of  tlie  fort  tliere  was  ipiiet,  bat  tln'  winds  tiiat  swept 
across  the  riser  bine  to  the  listening;'  sentinels  the  distant  boom 
of  Indian  drniiis.  and  the  wild  yells  of  saxaj^fs  performing  the  war 
tlaiiee,  The  followiiii;'  morniny,  when  the  mist  had  disappeared 
a  fleet  of  canoes  was  seen  moviiiji'  across  the  river,  tilled 
with  sa\a;;»'s  mostly  in  a  recumbent  position,  lest  if  seen 
their  niimbeis  miylit  excite  suspicions.  Presently  uronjts  of  tall 
warriors  wi'apt  in  blankets  nji  to  their  throats  were  seen  stalkinji' 
acrttss  the  common  toward  tiie  fort.  These  were  all  admitted,  for 
not  only  the  {garrison  but  the  whole  population  of  fiir  traders  were 
ai'iiied,  and  (iladwyn  detied  their  ti'cachery.  It  said  that  as 
i'onliac  eiiteri'd.  he  in\ oliintai'ily  uttered  an  exclamation  of 
surprise  and  <lisappointnient.  Keco\ crinj;'  from  Ids  eonsternati<ui, 
he  stai'ted  in  the  direction  of  the  conncil  house,  followed  by  liis 
chiefs,  who,  not  w  it  hstaiidin^  their  usual  stoicism,  cast  \nieasy 
f;'lance.s  at  the  ranks  of  julitterinj;'  steel  on  each  sidi^  of  their  path- 
way. I'assinji'  into  the  hall  they  found  the  ollicers  fully  armed  and 
waitiiij;'  to  receive  them.  I'oiitiac,  obscrNin;^'  witi.  suspicion  their 
Kwords  and  pistols,  asked  (Iladwyn  w  liy  so  many  of  Ids  yonnji' men 
were  in  the  attitude  of  war.  The  latter,  with  the  dissimulation 
which  his  adversary  was  practicing',  replied  that  he  li:i<l  ordered 
liis  soldiei's  under  arms  for  the  purpose  of  exercise  and  discipline. 
^Vitll  evident  distrust  the  chiefs  at  lenj;lh  sat  down  on  units  pro- 
vided fortheiraccoininodation,  while  I'ontiae  commenced  six'akin;^, 
lioldiny  in  his  hand  the  wampum  which  was  to  be  the  sijiiial  of 
attack.  Though  it  was  thoiijiht  he  would  haidly  attemjit  to  carry 
out  liis  design  under  present  cireunistances.  yet  diirinj;'  the 
delivery  of  his  speech  he  was  subjected  to  the  most  rij;id  scrutiny 
l)y  the  ollicers.  Once,  it  is  said,  he  was  about  to  ;;ive  the  signal, 
when  (iladwyn  by  a  slij;ht  movement  of  the  hand  made  it  known 
to  the  attendinj;'  soldiers,  and  instantly  the  drnni  beat  a  charj;e 
and  the  clash  of  arms  was  heard  in  the  passa^^e  leadinj;'  to  the 
room.  I'ontiae,  confounded  at  tiiese  demonstrations,  and  seeiny; 
the  stern  eye  of  (ihnlwyn  fastened  ui)on  him,  in  <ireat  peritlexity 
took  his  .seat.  Gladwyn,  in  a  brief  reply,  assured  him  that  the 
friendly  jirotection  of  the  ICnyiish  would  beextended  to  his  ])eoplc 
as  lonuas  they  deseivt'd  it,  but  threatened  the  mostcoudijiu  pun- 
ishment for  the  tirst  act  of  a<ijiTession.  The  council  now  l»roke  iq) ; 
the  mates  were  thrown  open,  and  the  Indians  deiiarted.  It  has 
been  a  (piery  why  the  chiefs  were  luit  detained  as  hosta<;es,  but 
the  full  extent  of  their  intrigues  wa.s  unknown.     The  wliole  atiair 


PONTIAC'S  CONSPIUACY. 


145 


Viis  I'cj^iink'd  iis  a  pnroxysiiml  oiilbrciik  wliicli  would  sodii  tciiiii- 
liiitc  it'iin  o|)rii  nipliii')'  could  lie  iiNoidt'd. 

roiiliiic,  foiled  ill  his  iillciii|))  iiuiiiiisl  lliclort,  \v:is  ciirimcd  and 
iiiorlilicd,  lait  iiol  discoiiia^^t'd.  lie  considered  his  escn|M'  iViMii 
the  I'.H'I  as  evidence  that  his  desi;;iis  were  not  t'ldlx  Unow  n,  and 
<»•  tite  rollo\vin<;'  iiioniin^'  lelnnicd  with  thiee  conipanions  and 
en. honored  to  remove  the  .Mis|iicioiis  w  hich  he  iiad  excited,  iniinc- 
diatelv  al'tei'  his  inlei\ie\v  with  (iladw  vn,  ho\ve\er,  he  icpaiied  to 
the  viilajL:'<>  ol'  the  I'ot  lawatoniies  and  coninienced  considiin;^'  'willi 
their  chiet's  in  rej;ard  to  another  attempt  ayainst  the  fort.  .\s  tin? 
I'csidl,  on  the  ! till  of  .Ma  v.  the  coin nion  I m  hind  the  fort  w  as  crowded 
■witli  savaycs,  and  their  chief,  advancinj;'  to  the  j;'ate,  asked  that 
lie  and  his  waniois  nii^iit  lie  admitteil  and  enjoy  with  tin-  yairisoii 
the  frayi'aiice  of  the  friendly  calumet,  (iladwyn  concisely  lint 
iiiicoiirteoiisly  replied,  that  '•he  inijiht  enter,  bnt  his  ralilile  niitsfc 
remain  witiioiit."  'J'hiis  cii'ciiniveiited,  he  hecanie  li\  id  with  liati^ 
and  deliance.  and  .stalked  olf  in  liie  direction  of  his  warriors, 
larjic  nnniheis  of  whom  were  proslrateon  the  ,i;roiind.  and  siid- 
<lenly  I'isinj^'  up,  the  ]tlain,as  if  l>y  nia;4ic,  se  mcd  alixc  w  ilh  yelpiii,i;' 
ereafiires  part  man,  [tart  wolf,  and  ]»art  de\  il,  who  riislie<l  n]»oii 
.some  I'Ji^lish  iiihahitants  ontside  of  the  foit  and  put  Iheiii  todeath. 
I'ontiac,  takiii.u'  no  part  in  the  lirntal  l)iit«'heries  of  his  men,  imme- 
<liately  leaped  into  a  canoe,  an<l  with  a  speed  commensnrate  with 
his  la.ye  and  disap|)ointmeiit,  for-'cd  his  way  up  the  rivei'  to  the 
villajic  of  the  ( )ttawas.  r)Oiindii'.i'  ashore  and  pointing:  across  tlic^ 
Avatei',  with  imperious  xoice  he  ordered  the  entire  population  to 
inov«'  to  the  o]i|»osite  side,  that  the  ii\  er  niij;iit  no  longer  in  lei  pose 
a  liavrier  iM'fween  him  and  his  enemy.  At  ni,uht-fall  he  leaped 
into  the  central  area  of  the  villa,L;'e,  and  hrandisliiii,u'  his  !"inaliawk. 
commenced  the  war  dance.  As  warrior  after  warrior  ,v*. .aji'^^lu'd  in 
irom  the  duy'.s  e'arnajie,  they  fell  into  the  lin;;,  and  circling.;-  round 
and  i'oidkI,  made  tlx'  ni.i:ht  hideous  with  unearthly  yells.  Loiij;- 
however  before  nioiniiin  the  trilie  was  on  the  o])posite  side  of  the 
river  and  jtitched  tlieii-  eaini)  above  the  nioiith  of  the  small  sticaiu 
known  as  J)loo<ly  K'nn.  from  the  tra<;edy  which  was  shortly  after- 
"ivard  enact e<l  on  its  banks,  hi  the  early  twili^lit  of  morning, 
Avith  tei'rilic  ,\ ells,  they  bounded  naked  o\'er  the  tields  and  com- 
menced lirinji'  o)i  tlu'  fort.  Larj;e  nunibei's  secured  a  position 
behind  a  low  hill,  and  soon  its  .summit  becamu  wreathed  with 
jadl's  of  white  smoke  from  their  ra]tidly  discliarjiinji\i;nns.  Others 
j^athered  in  the  reai' of  some  ont-bnildin^s,  but  a  cannon,  char>ied 
Avith  red-hot  mi.s.siles  wa.s  immediately  l>rouj;ht  to  bear  on  the  dry 
material,  which,  bc^comiiip;  wra])t  in  llames.  soon  caused  tin'  eon- 
(!ealed  savajics  to  retr<'iit  with  jirecijiitation.  For  six  Inairs  the 
attack  was  unabated,  but  as  the  <lay  wore  aw  ay  the  lire  slackened, 
and  at  last  only  a  j;nn  could  bo  heard  now  and  then  in  the  directi«)U 
of  the  retiring'  foe. 

After  this  discomfiture,  ]*ontiac  anamenteil  his  forces  and,  on 
the  1-Jth  of -May,  ienewe<l  the  attack.  J)ay  after  day  tin;  (iiihtinu' 
was  continued,  till  the  rattle  of  bullets  oil  the  ])alisade  and  the 
discordant  yells  of  savages  became  familiar  sounds  to  the  jiarrison 
vvithin.  Stealthy  wariiors  wormed  their  way  tliroujih  the  tall 
jira.ss,  and  crouehin;:'  Ixdiind  some  .shelterin<>'  obje('t,  .shot  arrows 
tiljped  Avith  bnridn.u-  tow  npon  the  houses  within  the  fort.  These 
efforts,  liowever,  jiroved  abortive.  Cisterns  were  dug  inside  to 
10 


Md 


JIlHTdl.'V    (tl'    II.I.INOIS. 


(piciK-li  tlif  lliiiiics  ;iii(l  si>rli('siiiitsiilt' wt'iT  iiiailc  I'luiii  I  inn' In  linut 
till  all  III*' iMiJiKM'iit  nirliiirds,  I'ciiiTS  iiiid  liiiililiii;:s,  wt-rc  Irvrlfd 
to  I  lie  ;;l'(iiiiid.  iiimI  lit)  stitfii  was  Irl'l  lo  coiircal  a  liiiUiii;.':  luf. 

Tlif  Indians.  cNpcctiiiji' to  lake  llif  tort  at  a  sin;^!*'  l»l»i\v.  Iiad 
failed  l«>  piovidc  I'oi'  a  itioiiacicd  sicyc.  Tlifir  niinilM  is  daily 
an;^iMcnliii,u  l>\  llic  airi\al  oC  slia;A',uliii,!H'  liands  ol  uariKUs  iVdin 
Illinois  and  other  pails  of  liif  W Cst  and  Sdiitli.  IIk-  qiicsiidn  of 
I'odd  soon  iM'canif  an  inipoitant  considcralion.  To  olilain  it  tlicy 
had  alroad.N  iriilatcd  tlic  Canadian  lainicis  li,\  conindll  iiii;' dcpi'c- 
dai ions  upon  th«'ii'slo*'k.  and  a  dclcjLialion  of  llifir  head  men  called 
on  I'onliac  lo  reinonsiiale  a;^ainsl  these  ontraj^es.  ileadnctled 
the  li  III  h  of  I  lie  alleviations,  expfessed  le^nicr  lor  I  he  injniies  liiey 
had  SI  I. stained,  and  at  once  insliliiled  means  lor  olilaininu  supplies 
witlioiil  their  repetition  in  the  i'iiliir«<.  lie  visited  the  dilt'erent 
Canadian  lainilies,  inakin<;' a  earel'nl  esliniale  ol'  iheir  proxisitnis, 
le\  ied  upon  each  a  propoilioiiale  anion  lit  lor  I  lie  siisleiianee  of  llie, 
asseinlileil  Irilies,  now  iiiiiiiliei  iiii;  nearly  l,(l(»0  warriors  and  more 
than  L'.OdO  wiHiieii  and  children.  'I'lie  le\  ii's  ilms  made  were, 
liroiiuht  into  camp,  and  a  coiiimissaiy  apptiinled  lo  prcM'iit  the 
excessixc  eatiiij;'  and  waste  which  the  .-.a\a^e  always  practic<'s 
when  iinreslricled  in  ids  access  to  food,  i'onliac.  Itein;;'  iinalileto 
make  iinmediale  coiii|>ensatioii,  naxc  promissory  notes,  drawn  on 
hircii  hark  and  signed  wilii  the  lij;iii'e  of  an  otter,  the  totem  ol" 
iiis  faniily.  'l"o  iiis  credil  il  is  said  these  were  all  alterward  iioii- 
oral»l\  paid.  This  ajiproach  to  liie  usages  of  ci\iliy,»d  life  was 
doiiidless  sn;;ji'este(i  l)y  some  of  Iiis  Canadian  allies,  yet  his  ready 
adoption  of  llieiii  indicates  a  sa,ua«'ily  wiiicli  iswitlioiit  a  paralli'l 
in  the  history  of  his  race.  In  the  jirosecntioii  of  the  sieuc  lie  also 
endeavored  to  ohtaiii  from  tiie  Canadians  the  method  of  makinii;' 
approaches  to  a  fort  as  practiced  in  civilized  warfare,  likewise, 
to  aid  his  nndiscipliiied  warriors,  he  sent  eiiihassadors  lo  M.  Neyon, 
the  commandant  of  Fort  Cliarlres,  for  regular  sohiieis.  'I'liis 
ollicer  had  no  sohliers  at  Ids  disposal.  l)iit  ainindanliy  fiiriiisiied 
miiiiitions  in  tlieir  stead.  Says  Sir  \\  iiliam  .lolinsoii,  Superiii- 
jierinteiident  (»f  Indian  all'airs  : 

"It  now  Mppciirs  from  the  very  best  iuitiioritics,  and  ctin  he  proven  l)y  tlu; 
oiitli  of  scvinil  rcsiiccltilili;  ])(rs(>ns,  prisoinrs  anionif  ilic  Indians  of  Illinois, 
and  from  the  account  of  tlic  Indians  llicmsi'lvcs,  lliat  not  oid^- manj'  Fiuncii 
tiailci's,  I)iital.so  llicFrriicli  ottici'i's,  went  amoii^thc  Indians,  as  tlicy  said,  fully 
aiilliorizcd  lo  assure  llieiii  thai  tiu'  French  King-  was  determined  to  support 
tlieiii  to  the  ulinosi,  and  not  oiilj'  invited  them  lo  visit  Illinois,  wlure  Ihey 
^vere  ))lenlit'ully  supplied  wilh  aiumunilion  and  oilier  iieees'-aiies,  hul  also 
sent  .sevi  ral  caiioe  loads  at  dilfereiil  limes  up  the  Illinois  river  lo  the  ^liamis, 
as  Weil  as  up  the  Ohio  to  the  yiiawneesand  Delawares." 

Tims,  wiiile  Detroit  Wiis  tiie  scene  of  tiie  ])rineipai  onll)reaic  of 
the  war,  Iliinois  more  iarf;ely  tiiaii  any  otiier  place  fnrnisiied  tiic 
nieaiis  to  put  it  in  niotioii  and  keep  it  alive.  P.iit  vvliile  other 
localities  were  lilecdinji'  and  sore  from  tiie  veiij;cfiil  thrusts  of  tiie 
strife,  tin'  Illinois  Frenchmen,  caressed  and  pi'otected  l»y  savaj^i' 
admirers,  iinnted  and  lislied  as  usual  in  the  peaceful  forests  and 
.yt'iitle  rivers  of  his  vveslcrn  paradise. 

As  tlie]»erils  were  thickeiiiii;;-  around  Detroit,  tlierecame  vaji'iK^ 
riiiiMns  from  time  to  time  of  seltlenients  destroyed,  forts  attaclied 
and  liarrisoiis  Imteliered.  These  llyinj;' reports  were  soon  followed 
by  delinile  information  tliat,  witli  the  e.\ce]»lion  of  Detroit,  ali  the 
posts  scatlercd  at  wide  intervals  tliruuyhuut  the  vast  forests  west 


PONTIAfJ'S  rONHPIKACY. 


147 


of  l"'orts  I'ilt  iiiid  Mii;^iini,  had  i'iiUen  intotlic  IkiihIsoI'  iliiMiHiny. 
TIh'  lirsl  rcli;ililt' (•\i(l('ii('i' of  this  Uiml  was  ilic  npiMMiiiiK'c  of  ii 
parl.v  of  warriors  in  (lie  itiir  ol'  Detroit.  iMariiij:  aloft  a  iiiiiiiImt  of 
.s('nl|>.s  tak«'ii  from  vi<liins  tlicy  liad  slain  in  llic  capfiiit' of  Fort 
Sandiisli.v.  I''nsi;;n  I'aiilly,  in  roniniaiid  of  {In-  foit  at  tlic  time, 
and  .sMlisi'<|n»'nl  Iv  adopted  1 1\  one  of  t  lie  tiiWcs  near  Di'troit.  w  loti^ 
todladwyn,  j:i\  in;;  an  acconnt  of  tlic  raplnic  ScNcn  Indians 
railed  at  llie  foit,iiMd  hein;;  intimately  ae(|iiainted  with  tlie  ;;airi- 
son,  were  readily  admit  led.  Two  of  the  party  seated  tliemsehcs 
on  each  si<le  of  I'anlly.  and  after  li,i;lit  int;  t  lieii'  )>ipes.  w  it  li  fei;;ned 
indifference  eommeneed  a  eoiiveisation,  dniin;;  wliieli  they  snd- 
deiily  seized  and  disarmed  him.  Simnltaneously  a  diseoi'dant  din  of 
\ells  and  llieelnslnnu'  of  anus  was  lienid  w  itliont.  and  w  hen  I'aMlly 
alleruard  was  tiiUen  fiom  the  room  hy  his  eaptors,  he  beheld  thti 
j»arade  ui-onnd  shewn  wilh  themanuled  itodies  of  his  men.  At 
ni.uht  he  was  eondueted  to  the  lake  in  the  li^ht  of  the  hnrninn'  fort 
and  slart<'d  o\ci  its  still  waters  for  Detroit. 

On  the  flth  of.lnne,  a  nnmlier  of  I'ottawatoinies  with  some  pris- 
oners, who  proved  to  he  I'lnsi^n  Sehlossei,  the  commander  of  l''ort 
St.  .Joseph.*  and  three  of  his  private  soldieis.  Their  captors  had 
come  to  e\chiinu«' them  for  some  of  their  own  men,  who  for  some 
tinu-  had  Iteen  retained  as  prisoners  in  the  fort.  Al'tei'  this  was 
ett'ccted,  the  Kn;^lislimen  relate(l  thestoryof  their  captni-e.  Karly 
in  the  morning'  pi'ecedin^'  the  attack,  the  iieiuhltorho'id  of  tlw  fort 
was  enli\  cned  l»\  the  appearance  of  a  lar;;e  niindier  of  l*(»t  taw  at- 
omics, who  staled  that  tliey  ha<l  come  to  visit  their  i-e)  itionsicsid- 
\]\<X  on  the  river  St-  .loseph.  Hardly  had  the  commandant  time  to 
siisjicct  daniici'  w  hen  he  was  informed  that  the  fort  was  snrioniidcd 
Ity  liMiidreds  of  Indians,  evidently  intendiiiii'  to  make  an  assanlt. 
Schlossei-  hasl<'iied  to  .yet  his  men  under  arms,  hnt  lieforc  this  e«aild 
lie  elfected  an  attack  was  made,  and  in  a  few  ndnntcs  the  fort  was 
jihindered  and  all  its  ;;ai'rison  slain,  except  himself  and  the  |»riso- 
jiers  mentioned. 

Only  three  days  lat<>r  a  Jesuit  priest  arrived  at  Detroit,  1»'in^in;^ 
with  him  a  letter  from  ( 'aptain  l\theiMnyton  detailing'  the  capturci 
of  Ihe  fort  at  .Alackinaw.  of  which  he  was  connnainlei'.  for  several 
successive  days  tlu'  ('hipj>ewas  had  lieeu  assendiliny  on  a  plain 
near  the  fort  and  jtlayiiii;  yamr-s  of  hall.  I'inally,  on  the  1  Hh  of 
.lime,  while  enpiycd  ;it  this  pastime,  the  h:dl  was  intentionally 
thrown  near  the  fort,  and  the  Indians,  rushini;-  up  as  if  to  ^ct  it, 
seized  Captain  I'^thcjin.uton  and  Lieut.  Lesley  slaiidin,i;'  m-ar  the 
pite,aiMl  hurried  them  (»lf  to  the  woods.  At  Ihesame  time,  another 
]»arty  rushed  int(»  tin'  fort,  and  with  hatchets  furnished  I»y  their 
s(piaws,  who  had  previously  entered  with  them,  concealed  uu<lei' 
their  hiaidc<'ts,  sh'W  la  of  the  j^arrison,  while  the  icmainder  and 
all  the  Eiiiilish  fur  traders  were  made  itiisoners. 

The  next  disaster  of  this  kind  was  the  loss  of  lM)rt  A\  atannon. 
A  lett<'r  was  received  from  Lieut.  .lenkins,  thecommandinii'olilicei', 
informiii.u'  Oladwyn  that  on  the  1st  of  -June  he  and  several  of  his 
men  were  seized  by  stratej^y,  and  the  rest  of  the  ptrrison,  bein>j^ 
w  ilhout  a  leader,  snri'cndered.  The  Indians  afterward  apoloi^izcd 
for  their  conduct  by  declarin;;'  the  attack  was  not  the  result  of  their 
own  inclinations  but  due  to  the  pressure  which  had  been  broujiht 


•OrlginuDy  Minmi, 


148 


IIISTOKY  OF  II.LIXOIB 


to  liciii' (III  llii'iii  l),\  .siin'oiiiKliii;;  trilirs.     Tliis  plfii  nmv  liMXr  lirni 

tl'llc.    I'd!'  tllt'N     V.t  I'C   t'lirtlll'l'  K-IIHI\<-(I     ri'ilIM     l']||;:li>ll     illllllfllCt'     ticiii 

most  of  the  ollit'l' tlilifs  Mliil  liciiiM-  iiioir  |i:i<'ili('. 

Fort  Miami,  oil  tli«^  Miiiimcr,  in  t'omiiiiiml  ol'  lOiisi^^ii  IIoIiih'm, 
iuMt'd  iiiiotlifl'  to  tlir  list  ol'  (",i|iliii'('<l  t'oi'ts.  Tlioil^li  tiiis  otlicti 
liml  ili'lt'cicd  iiihI  rii'ciimst'iitt'd  a  |ii'(-\ioiis  altt'iniil  a;^aiiisi  the 
fort,  his  niiiiiiii^  adversaries  al  lt'ii;:;tii  ti'iiim|>iic<l  over  his  vi;>'i- 
hiiicc.  (Ml  tlif-Tthol'  Mux  an  Indian  ;;ii'l,  u  ho  was  lixiii;;  witli 
liim,  told  him  that  a  sijiiaw  lav  sick  in  a  mi^hluirin;:  w  i^uaiii,  ami 
dt'sii'i'd  iiim  to  administer  nit'dical  reiiel'.  i'laeiiij^' t  lie  lit  most  coii' 
lldeiice  in  the  ;^irl,  he  loliowed  her  till  the,N  came  in  si;.:li(  of  ii 
iiiiiiiIh'I'  ol'  lod^^cs,  whni  she  pointed  out  to  him  the  one  eoiitaiiiin<; 
the  iiivalit!  ami  V,  i' iidrew .  Holmes,  iiiisiispieioiis  of  danger,  con- 
tinued on  his  errand  of  meiev  till  as  h«-  mared  the  ui;,;\\am  two 
^iiiis  llasln-d  from  Itehind  it.  and  his  lifeless  l)od,v  felt  jnostrate  on 
tlie.nionml.  i'Aiiltant  \ells  of  sa\a;;es  f(»llo\ved  llii-  report  of  the 
•:1111s,  ami  a  Canadian  soon  came  to  the  fort  and  demanded  its 
surrender,  inforiiiiiiu  the  ;;arriNoii  thai  their  lives  would  he  spared 
if  they  eomplied.  Imt  in  ease  of  refusal  their  i-laims  to  me  rev  would 
he  foii'eitetl.  'I'akeii  hy  surprise,  and  without  a  commander  t(» 
direct  them.  llie_\  threw  open  the  ;;ates  and  {^ave  tlu'insclves  up  as 
l)risoiiers. 

With  the  previous (lisast CIS  fresh  in  the  iiiinds  (»f  Ihehelea^ueied 
•garrison  at  Detroit,  on  the  -'2([  of  .liiiie,  their  attention  was 
atti'aeled  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  rixcr  wlieic  tlie_\  saw  tlu'  sav- 
a;;('s  conducting  Fiisij^n  ("hristie,  the  commandant  of  Tresipie  Isle, 
and  the  prisoners  to  the  camp  of  roiitiac.  Christie  afterward 
fsea]ied  and  related  the  particulars  of  the  sei;;c  and  surrender  of 
his  post,  situated  near  the  pieseiit  town  of  I'lrie  on  the  southern 
shoifof  the  lake  iifter  which  it  was  naineil.  On  the  l.">th  of  .liiiie 
it  was  suiroiiuded  ii\  L'OO  Indians,  and  the  jiarrison  iininedialely 
retired  to  llie  hloekhoiise,  the  most  impre;;ualile  part  *»l'  the  forli- 
licalions.  Tiie  sa\  aj;es,  slu-ltercd  in  a- ravine,  close  i»y,  sent  vuUevs 
of  bullets  at  the  |)ort  holcM  and  hnriiin*:'  halls  of  i>itch  upoutlu) 
roof  ami  a,i;aiiist  the  sides  of  the  hiiildiny.  Kep^'atedly  it  took 
lire,  and  finally  the  barrels  of  water  which  had  bceii  itnividcd  for 
extiii^uishiiif;  the  Hamcs  were  all  exhausted.  There  was  a  well  in 
the  parade  ;;rouiid,  but  it  was  instant  death  to  approach  it,  ami 
they  were  compellf  d  to  diji'  another  in  the  blockhouse.  Meaiiw  hik* 
the  enemy  had  made  a  siibteriiean  passai^c  to  the  house  of  the 
comiiiaudant  and  set  it  on  lire,  ami  the  walls  of  the  blockhoii.'e 
near  by  were  soon  wrapt  in  a  sheet  of  Maine.  The  well  was  u(»w' 
complete  and  the  liro  subdued, but  the  men  were  almost  sulToeated 
by  heat  and  smoke.  Whih^  in  this  condition  they  learned  that 
aiiother  more  effectual  atteini>t  W(mld  soon  he  made  to  burn  tliein, 
and  at  the  insiance  of  the  enemy  they  a^^iced  to  eajiitulate. 
Parties  met  for  this  purpose,  and  after  sti[mlatin.y  that  tli«'  pirri- 
son  should  march  out  ami  retire  unmolested  to  the  nearest  post, 
till'  little  fortress  which  had  been  defended  with  so  much  valor  was 
surrendered.  Notwithstanding'  the  terms  agreed  upon,  a  part  of 
the  men  wfiv  taken  as  prisoners  to  the  cami»of  Pontiac,  ami  i»art 
bedecked  as  warriors  wore  adopted  hy  the  (lifl'erent  tnl)es  ol'  the 
comjiierers. 

The  destiiiction  of  Laboeuf  and  Vi'iianno,  on  the  head  watery 
of  the  Allcyhany,  closes  the  black  calaloyuc  of  captured  post«. 


I'ONTI  Ac's   (ONSIMIIACV. 


Ill) 


On  tlif  I  Sill  III  .liiiM',  a  lar;;!'  iiiiiii,b('r(it'  liitliiiiis  .siii-nMiii)l<'(i  tint 
loniH'r,  tlic  rtiiiv  ;iviiiliil)l<'  (IclViicc  of  wliirli  was  a  lilocU  Immisc. 
V'wv  allows  wt'if  sliowcicd  ii|ioii  it.  ami  liv  laiiliiiulit.  Ilir  ii|ii»('r 
storv  was  wiajil  in  llaiiics.  'I'lic  assailants  ;;allii'ici|  in  IVoiit  and 
('a;;<a'l,v  watrlinl  lor  tin'  inniati-s  to  insliont  ol'  tin'  itiniiin;;'  Iniilil- 
\u}X,  that  IhfV  niii^lit  shoot  tlifiii.  In  tlir  iiirantiair,  liow<'\tM,  tliry 
licwcd  an  o|M>nin;;'  llii'(Mi;L>h  tlii'  rrai*  wall,  and  passiii!;'  out  iiii|i)>i-- 
n'i\  I'd.  It'll  lilt'  savaut's  i-xnltiiii;'  in  tlic;  tlionulil  llial  llit-v  wcrci 
ix'iisjiiii;;  in  tiif  llanit's.  Kiit  I'naii  N'cnaiijuo,  di'siroxfd  altoiii  llic 
same  liiiu',  iiol  a  sin;il('  |»«'i'soii  escaped  or  was  left  ali\t'  to  tell  of 
tlicir  fate.  Not  liaiy  aflei'ward  il  was  leaiiieil  from  Indians  who 
w  iliii'.ssetl  its  ile>li'netioii,  thai  a  |tarlv  tif  wanitns  eiitereil  il  iiniler 
the  prefext  of  friendship,  and  ejosinu'  tlie  ;;ates  liehintl  tiiein, 
hntflieretl  all  the  ;;ariisoii  exeepl  the  piineipal  oilieir.  w  lioiii  they 
ttiitnifd  over  a  slow  lire  several  siieeessixc  iiii;lils  till  life  was  e.\- 
tinel.  iMtrls  I'ili  ami  Nia;,'ai'a  were  also  at  tacked.  l»nt  like  that 
of  Detroit,  their  garrisons  jiroveil  toti  slroiij;  for  the  sava^f  assail- 
ants will)  sought  their  deslriietion. 

l>Mi  the  tlesiinctioii  of  life  and  propert.v  in  the  forts  was  onlv  a 
IVaeliiai  of  the  los>e.s.  The  storm  of  sa\a;.;t'  \i'n.ut'iinee  fell  wilij 
ap)talliii<i'  I'lirv  on  tli«' frtmtiers  of  \'ir,uiiiia.  Marvlaml.  and  r.'iiii- 
N\l\aiiia,  and  for  hnndreds  of  miles  aitiih  ami  south  tlie\  lieeaniei 
:i  eoiiliniioMs  thealre  of  I'ajiiiie.  slan.uhtiTs.  and  iMii'nin;:s.  withont 
a  parallel  in  all  past  and  siieeeedin<;  \ears.  Il.inds  of  infnriateti 
sa\a;^es  sknlkiii;;  in  the  forests,  siidtleiily  honnded  forth  from  their 
Inikin;,'  places  and  surrounded  the  iiiiprolecteil  homes  of  settlers, 
'{"lie  startled  inmates  where  scarcelv  aware  of  iian.i;i'r  liefore  they 
lieeainc  the  victims  of  the  most  ferocions  laileheries.  .Mothers 
uere  conipelled  to  stand  l»y  and  witness  the  brains  of  their  help- 
less iiijioci'iils  ilashed  out  against  the  walls  of  llieir  dwelliiij^s  ; 
«laiiL;liteis  were  carried  awav  into  ca]i(ivity  to  hecoiiie  the  w  i\ cs  of 
Iheir  .sava;.;e  captors,  while  fathers  ami  sons  were  l)ound  to  trees 
ami  roasti'tl  o\er  slow  hurnini;-  lires  to  protract  and  intensify  their 
siitlevinus.  Whole  settlements  in  tlienalley  retreats  of  the  Alle.!;- 
lianies,  where  a  j>rolilir  soil  and  imlnstry  were  rapidly  miiltipl,\  iiij;" 
(he  necessaries  of  life,  were  entirely  de])o]>iilateil.  Fieltls  lipeii- 
h\}X  tor  harvest  weic  laid  waste;  hods  of  domestic  animals,  like 
their  owners,  were  killed:  dwelliiiijs  w o'c  Itiirnt  to  the  liiennd.  and 
vliere  jileiity  and  hai)piiicss  had  once  lived  to,uetiierin  peace,  tlu-ro 
Avas  now  only  desolation  and  death.  Thonsands  of  fnuitives  tied 
JO  the  intei'ior  towns  ami  made  known  the  feaifnl  iraiicdies  they 
Iiad  wilncssed,  and  sncii  had  heeii  the  deeji  dissimulation  of  the. 
sava.iii's,  the  story  of  their  bnlciiciies  jirecedeil  even  the  t'ainte.st 
.sn.sjiicion.s  of  (]an,i;i'i'. 


\v 


('HAI'TKli    XIV. 

WlKdK  OK  IH'/riJOlT— I'ONTIAC  [{ALLIHS  TIIK  WHSTKUN 
TUlJ'.lvS—lllS  8LllM18SJO^'  AND  DEATH. 


DctroK  \v;is  slill  Uiclicjid  (tC  savajjo  niacliiiiatioiisainl  tlit'  home 
(»('  the  aicli  coiisitirator  who,  with  the  complarciKy  of  a  Nero, 
h)ok('(l  round  on  tlic  coiistantly  widciiiiiu-  cii'dc  of  ruin  and  <h'ath. 
The  jiiu'i'ison  of  which  lie  iiad  fh<'  inini('iliat<MMisto(l\  was  coiilinrd, 
as  if  in  a  vice,  lo  the  narrow  confines  of  tiic  fort.  The  atti'nijtl  of 
CyU-r  to  rcinf(»rc(' it.  tcrMiinatt'il  in  the  defeat  and  death  of  some 
(i(t  of  his  men.  Most  of  tiie  niifortnnates  talvcn  alive  were  carried 
t(»  the  campof  I'ontiac.  wiiere  some  weic  t)ierced  wilii  arrows,  some 
had  their  hands  and  leet  cut  otf,  widie  others  were  fast<'ned  to 
trees  and  chihlren  emphncd  to  roast  lliem  alive.  For  several  days 
after  death  had  ende<l  llieii'  sutferiniis,  tlieii'  liodies  were  seen  lloal- 
in.u  down  tiie  rivei-  l»y  the  fort,  still  ghastly  with  the  iantal  atro- 
cities which  had  caused  theirdeath.  No  ('XjH'dient  was  left  untried 
Avhicli  nuiilit  injure  tiie  hesieucd.  lIujL'ji'  hre  raft.s  were  set  alloat 
down  the  river  to  liuru  twosmall  seiiooners  oppo.site  the  fort.  Ou 
one  occasion  a  faint  li,nht  was  descrieil  on  liie  riser  al>o\ c,  wiui-li 
ji'rew  larji'ei' and  hiijiiiter  as  it  descended  the  stream.  I'res<'uily 
it  loomed  up  in  a  violent  contlauration  and,  fortunately  passiii;; 
l»et  ween  tlie  vessels  and  the  fort,  revealed  Willi  tlie  liylit  of  day 
the  tracery  of  conlajie  and  spars  on  oiiesiile,  and  tin-  loiiu'  line  of  pal 
isades  on  the  other.  The  distant  «)Utlinesof  the  forest  and  a  dark 
multilude  ot'  sa\a,ues  were  plainly  \  isihle  on  the  oi»[»ositi'  sidi' of 
the  stream,  the  latter  watehiiiu.  the  etfecls  of  their  artifice  as  the 
cracklin;;'.  ^limmeiin^  mass  floated  down  with  the  current  of  the 
Avaters,  in  which  its  lU't's  wer«'  linally  tiueiiched.  Thou;ih  all  the 
arts  of  sava^'c  warfare  were  eiiiitloyed  to  prevent  the  ri'inforce- 
Jiient  of  the  fort,  it  was  at  leu;;th  accomi»lished,  and  an  assa.iilt 
made  on  thecami»of  I'ontiac.  In  this  lieree  conllict.  which  rose 
to  tliedijiiiity  ol"  a  pitched  iiattle,  the  lMi.:;lish  were  defealetl  with 
a  heavy  loss,  and  coiii|>elled  lo  retiic  to  liie  fort    for  safely, 

Atti'acted  by  thissueeess,  lar;^('  numliers  ol  warriors  th)eked  to 
the  standardof  l*(»ntiac,aud  the  si>irit  of  his  men.  [u-e\  iously  lie^in- 
liiiiii' to  Ha;.;-,  was  re\ivedand  the  siej;e  prosecuted  withuuexam- 
l»led  \  i^or  till  tin-  last  cd'  September.  The  Indian  is  nauirally 
tickle  and  impulsive,  and  perhaps  the  history  of  his  race  docs  not 
furnish  another  instance  of  such  protracted  etl'ort  and  constancy 
as  this.  Thcii'  remarkable  pers<'verance  must,  nodoubl.  beatlrib 
uted  to  their  intense  hat  i«'d  of  the  I"ai,nli>h,  the  hopi'of  assistaiu'e 
from  France,  andthee«>ntrollini;inthu'iiceof  I'outiae.  Theiratumii- 
iiition.  however,  was  now  (xliaiisted.  aial  as  iiitelliiit'iice  had  been 
received  that  .Major  \N'ilkiiis,  with  a  large  force,  was  on  his  way  lo 


.•ri'i 


PONTIAO'S  CONSriTlAfJY. 


1.")1 


Dctioir.  iiiiuiy  ot'tlicin  were  inclined  tosnc  for  ix'iicc.  Tlicy  A'iirod 
tiic  iiiinicdijitc  consciincnccsor  ;in  iittaciv.  iind  proposed  by  inllinji' 
llie  ImiuHsIi  into  secniity.  to  retiie  iiniiioiested  to  liieir  wintei'  linnt- 
in.i;-  m'onnd  and  icnew  olVensive  opcialionsin  I  lie  spring.  A  eliiefol' 
t]ie(  'iH)>pe\vas.  tiierel'ore,  visited  1  lie  fort  and  inl'oniied  (iiadwyn  that 
the  rotlawatoiiiies,  Wyandots  and  liis  own  people  were  soi'iy  for 
what  lliey  had  done,  and  desired  lliei'eafter  loli\e  in  jieaee.  'Pho 
ICn.ulisli  ol'lieer  well  knew  the  ciiiptiness  of  their  ]ii-eteiitions.  hut 
jiranted  their  request  [hat  he  nii.uht  lia\e  an  opport  unity  of  replen- 
ishing' the  fori  with  ]»ro\isions.  'i'lie  Ottawas,  animated  by  tlu^ 
Mnco)M|ii('iiil»le  s|>iiit  of  I'ontiae,  eontiiined  a  disnltory  wailare  till 
thelirst  of  0('(oi)cr.  when  an  niiexpeetcd  blow  wasdcalt  tlieiinpei- 
ioiis  chief,  and  he.  too.  retired  IVoiii  the  contest. 

(leueial  Andierst,  now  aware  that  the  occii]»ation  <»f  the  forts  in 
Illinois  by  l-'reneh  liarrisons  ureatly  seivetl  to  piotraet  and  inteii- 
Nify  the  war,  would  fain  have  reiiioved  tlieni,  i»ut  still  found  it 
impossible  to  itreak  through  the  cordon  of  sa\a,yt'  tril>es  w  hicli  j^iit 
it  ai)oiit.  I'oiitiac  had  derived  tlience  not  only  moi'al  support,  but 
!ar,L;e  supplies  of  jiuns  and  ammiinitioi!,*  and  the  oiil.\  reiiie<l_\  of 
the  Urilisli  ^iciicral  was  to  write  to  M.  Ne,\on  dc  N'iliiers,  instriict- 
in,L!,' him  to  make  known  to  the  Indians  theii"  altered  n-lations  under 
the  treaty  iiy  which  the  einnitiy  had  been  tiansfei'i'cd  to  Mn.uland. 
This  ollicer.  with  e\  iileiit  reliielaiice  and  liad  ^raee,  was  now  coiii- 
}ielled  to  make  known  w  hat  he  had  Ion.;;' concealed,  and  aceoidin.^ly 
wi'ote  to  Toiitiac  that  '"he  could  not  expect  any  assistance  from  the 
French;  that  they  ami  the  ICnulish  werenow  atp<'aceand  reuarded 
each  otiici'  as  brothel's,  and  that  the  Indians  should  abandon  Iheir 
liostilities,  which  could  lea<l  to  no  yood  i-csidt.'"  The  chieftain, 
ourayed  and  moi'tilied  at  lia\  inj:'  his  Ion;;  ciieiislied  lio|)c  of  assist- 
ance dashed  to  the  ^iionnd.  with  a  nunil>er  of  his  counti'ymeii 
iiiniiediately  dei)ait<'d  for  the  c<iuiitry  of  1  he  Maiimee.  int<'iidiii,n' 
t(»  stii'  iii>  its  inlial)itants  and  renew  tliecontesi  the  ensuing  sjniii'i'. 
"With  his  witlidrawa!,  Detroit  lost  its  si^iiilicaiMe  in  the  war, 
and  its  leadci' was  to  retui'ii  no  moi'c  except   as  an   iiiterceder  for 

JKMCe. 

'I'lic  winter  of  ITtl^J-lpassedaway  without  the  occurrence  of  any 
event  of  sjK'cial  intei'est.  The  eiisiiiiii;  siimniertwd  expeditions 
Avere  litted  out  by  the  l-Ji.i;lisli ;  one  iiileiided  To  ojieiate  a;;aiiist 
the  sa\a,i;('s  residin,ii'  on  the  ;;reat  lakes,  and  the  other  foi'  tiie 
'eduction  of  those  living'  in  the  valleyof  the  Ohio.  IJoutpiel  lia\- 
iniii"  charge  of  the  latter,  advanced  from  {-'(U't  Pitt,  and  ciu'ouiiter- 
iii;;'  the  warlike  Shawiiees  and  Delawares  on  liie  banks  of  the 
.Aluskinu'iim,  soon  reduced  tluMii  to  an  iincoiidit  ii»nal])eaee.  Anion,:;' 
tile  d(  iiiands  made  by  this  et'li<'ient  ollicer,  was  the  surrender  of 
all  their  priscmers.  liary'c  numbers  wei'e  i)r(»iij;lit  in  IVoiii  Illinois 
and  the  region  east\var<l.  some  (if  whom  had  been  captured  as  far 
back  i.s  the  French  and  Kn^lisli  war.  and  had  now  almost  foruot- 
ton  tlu'ir  lionie.siuul  friends  (»f  childhood. t 


'iix,y.-i  Sir  Williiiiii  .lohnsoii  •  In  nil  efipccial  miiniicr  tlic  FimmicIi  promote  tin-  inter- 
ests of  Pontine,  whose  iiilliieiuv'  liiis  now  lieeoine  so  eoiisiileiiilile,  lis  Oeiieiiil  CiMirc 
observes  in  it  letter  to  inc.  fliiil  it  exteinis  even  to  the  month  ot  the  Mississi|>pi,  :uiit 
li.is  Iteeii  tlie  prineipiiie.iMse  or  onrniit  ifiunintr  possession  of  Illinois,  wliieh  the  l''ieiieli, 
as  well  as  the  I  ml  in  lis,  are  iiiteresti'il  in  pre\  eiil  iiiy.  " 

+()r  the  seenes  atieiiiliinr  tlit!  reunion  of  liroken  fiiiiiilles  ami  lonj;  siimtereil  Irieiiils, 
a  lew  ineiilenis  lime  been  preseiveil  ami  are  worthy  of  relation  A  yoiiiiy  Viryjiiiiin, 
who  hai\  been  rohb(>(l  of  his  wife  lUiil  eliilil,  enlisteil  in  the  army  oflioiiiinet  lor  the 
linrpdse  of  reeoverinjr  them.  Alter  snllerinK'  'he  most  in  tense  an  \  let  y.  he  at  lenat  h  ilis- 
covered  her  in  a  unnip  of  prisoners,  bearing-  in  her  arms  a  eliild  borii  in  eapti\  ity  ;  but 


162  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Uriidsticct.  wlio  (•(Hiiii)iiiitl('(l  till'  otlicf  force,  wivsti'd  from  tlio 
Siiviijics  the  iiiilitiir.v  liosts,  which  (•uniiiii.Li'  iuul  trcachcrv  hud 
l)hi(j('(l  ill  their  power.  As  u  pint  of  iiis  phm.  whih' iit  Detroit,  he 
sent  ("iiptaiii  Moi'ris,  and  ;•.  nniniter  of  friendly  (Canadians  ami 
Indians,  to  iiKhiee  tlie  savaj^cs  of  lliiiioi.^;  to  make  peaee  with  tiio 
Eii.uiish.  llaviii.u-  elfeeted  airan^ciiients  for  this  puri»()se,  tliey 
aseeii(h'(l  tiie  Maiiiiiee  in  a  canoe,  and  soon  fell  in  with  a  i)arty  of 
some  l'(M)  Indians  wiio  treated  .Morris  with  i;r<'at  violence.  'Hiey 
liad  eoiiie  directly  from  the  camp  of  rontiae,  and  soon  letl  him 
into  the  presence  of  tlie  jjreat  chief,  who  with  a  serctwiinji'  brow 
(haioniiccd  the  JMiulish  as  liai's.  lie  then  displayed  a  letter  ..ritteii 
l»y  some  {•'reiichiiiaii.  t  lii>ii.uh  i»nrportin,u  to  he  from  tin'  Ivin^- of 
France,  which  Morris  declares  contained  the  ureatest  calnmnies 
that  ingenious  malice  could  devise  for  prejndicinii'  the  inindsof  tlici 
Jndians  a^^ainst  the  i^iinlish.  'i'he  party,  after  heiiiu'  stripped  of 
everything'  except  their  ciothiii.u,  arms,  and  canoe,  were  snifered 
to  depart.  IJesiiminu'  the  -(sceiit  of  the  river,  in  se\cn  days  they 
reaclie<l  l''ort  iMiami  and  etfected  a  landin,u'.  This  post  not  having' 
l)eeii  jiarrisoiied  since  its  eai>tiire  the  ]»recediiij;'  year,  the  Cana- 
dians hail  l)nilt  their  honsi's  within  its  palisades,  and  a  f«'W  Indians 
made  it  a  temjioi-ary  abode.  A  Miami  \  ilhi.nc  was  directly  opi)0- 
site  on  the  other  side  of  the  sti'ca  111.  w  Idle  the  meadows  immediately 
around  it  were  dotted  with  lod.^cs  of  the  Kickaiioos,  who  iiad  re- 
cently arii\(Ml.  After  ,uettin,ii:  ashore  they  ])ro<-eeded  throii;^!!  the 
]iiea(lows  toward  the  fort,  hilt  before  reachin.i^' it  they  were  suddenly 
snrroiiiidcd  by  a  mol)  of  infuriated  sava.ncs,  bent  on  piittiii,u'  them 
to  death.  l''ortiiiiately  tiie  chiefs  interposed,  and  before  any  seri- 
ous violence  was  offered  the  sndileii  outburst  of  sava.^c  passion  was 
clieeked.  Threatened  and  insulted,  however.  Morris  was  con- 
ducted to  the  fort  and  there  ordered  to  remain,  while  the  Cana- 
dians Wi'ic  forl»idden  to  shelti'r  him  in  their  houses.  !!<' had  not 
loiiji'  bi'cn  in  this  situation  befoie  two  warriors  entered,  and 
with  uplifted  tomahawks  seize<l  and  condiicted  him  to  the  liver. 
Siipjiosinj;  it  was  their  iiiteiilion  to  drown  him,  he  was  a.ureeably 
disappointed  when  they  drew  him  into  the  water  and  led  him  safe 
to  tiie  oiiposite  shore.  Here  he  was  stri]i]»e(l.  and  with  his  hands 
'tonnd  behind  him.  led  to  the  .Miami  \  illa.nc,  wlu'i'c  instantly  a  vast 
eoneonrse  of  sa\a,u('s  collected  about  him,  the  mai<nity  of  whom 
were  in  favor  o\'  itnttiii,^'  him  to  death.  A  tiimnltuoiis  (h'bate  on 
the  subject  soon  followed,  diirin;;'  which  two  of  his  Camidiaii 
Ibllowers  made  their  a|>pearance  to  induce  the  ehit'fs  to  spare  his 
life.  The  nephew  of  I'oiitiac,  who  jiossessed  the  liold  spirit  of  his 
uncle,  was  also  jtresent   and  pointed  out  to  the  rabble  tiie  impi'o- 

tlie  pleasure  of  tlio  meeting:  was  alloyed  by  the  iilisonce  of  iinotliev  ehilil,  wliieli  liiul 
l)eeii  taken  Ifoiii  the  mother  iiiiil  earrieil  she  knew  not  wither.  An.vions  days  and 
weeks  passed  away,  but  no  tidintisot'  its  fate  were  received.  At  lenj;th  the  niother, 
nlninst  Iren/.ied  with  despair,  diseovered  it  in  llie  arms  of  an  Indian  and  seized  it  witli 
irrepri'ssilile  ti-anspoils  of  .joy. 
i    i  Vouiiir  women,  now   the  wives  of  warriors  and  the    mothers  of  a  monirrel  otVspriiifr, 

were  reluclarit  ly  hrouirht  into  the  presence  of  their  white  relatives  ;  and  <liili|icn 
whose  Ion--''  resi<ien(('  amoiiu'  their  caiitors  had  obliteiated  ■"'  .emembiance  of  foiiner 
associations,  strutrirled  lustily  to  escape.  With  the  returiu  nj-  army  they  were<'arried 
to  the  llast,  where  tl.cy  were  visited  by  hnndieds  whose  relatives  had  been  abducted 
by  the  Indians.  Ai.ioiiy:  the  fortunati- seekers  was  a  mother,  who  dlseoveren  in  tlio 
swan  liy  features  of  one  of  the  resciu'd  captives  thealti'rcd  lincameitts  of  her  da  Uff  liter, 
Th(!  latter  had  almost  forirotten  her  nat  ive  toimiie  ;  and  makiiar  no  rcsp(}nse  to  the 
wordsof  maternal  (iidearnuMit,  the  parent  wept  that  the  child  she  h, id  so  often  >ung 
to  sh^ep  on  her  knee  ha.l  now  foi'notten  her  in  old  aye.  "Thi^  hiunanity  id'  "  )U(|uet 
sutru'ested  an  expedient  :  'Sintrthe  sormsyou  used  to  sinu' to  her  when  a  ehilci.'  riio 
old  lady  obeyed,  and  a  sudden  start,  a  look  of  l)ewildcrment,  anil  a  jiassionate  tiooduf 
tears  restored  tlie  long  lost  daujfhter  to  the  uiotlier's  arms." — I'AUii.MAN.] 


•^  .» 


I'ONIIACS   ('(>.\S1M1{A('Y. 


laa 


piicty  of  piittiii.u'  liiiii  to  <l(';itli,  wlicii  so  many  of  tlicir  kindred 
■were  in  tlic  iiamls  of  the  I'^nj;lisli  at  Detroit,  lie  was  aee(»i(lin,uly 
released,  i»ut  soon  afterward  a.^ain  seized  i»y  a  maddened  eliiefand 
bonnd  to  a  post.  Vonn;;'  I'onliae,  now  nntre  deteiniiiied  tliaii  ever, 
rode  111*  and  sevcrinjit  lie  cords  wilii  iiis  hateiiet.  exeiaimed  :  ••!  '/we. 
tliis  man  liis  life.  Ifanyol'yon  want  lOn.uiisii  meal  .uo  to  Deti-oit, 
or  llie  lal<es,  and  ycai  will  liaxc  plenty  of  it.  What  linsiness  liave 
you  witli  the  lOnulishnnm,  who  has  come  to  speak  with  as.'"* 

Tile  current  of  feel iny' now  Ite^ian  to  elian^e  in  favoi'of  sj>arinj;' 
Ins  life,  and  aflei'  ha\in,u  \iolently  thrust  him  out  of  the  xilla^c, 
tliey  NuU'eicd  him  to  return  to  the  fort.  Ileic  the  Canadians  would 
liave  treated  him  with  kindness,  hut  were  unable  to  do  so  without 
cxposin.!;'  themselves  to  the  tierce  resentments  of  the  sa\aj;('s. 
Despite  the  inauspicious  commeiieemenl  of  the  Journey,  jloiiis 
was  still  desirous  of  coin]tletin,i;'  it.  I»nt  was  notilied  by  the  Kieka- 
]»oos  if  lie  attempted  to  i)ass  them  they  would  eei'tainlx  put  him  to 
death.  Il<'  was  also  informed  that  a  deleiiation  of  sSJiawin-e  war- 
riors was  on  its  way  to  the  post  for  the  same  purpose.  The  sanu' 
l)arty,  with  a  mnnbei'  of  Delawares,  ha<l  \  isited  the  Miands  a  short 
time  befoi'e  the  arri\al  of  the  end»assy,  to  uruc  upon  them  tln^ 
ne<'essity  of  i-enewin.i;'  hostilities,  and  mueii  of  the  bad  ticatnient 
to  which  he  had  Iteen  subjected  was  diu'  to  the  feelin.Li  which  they 
Inul  eiijicndered.  Fiom  the  fort  they  ]>roe( cded  westward,  spread- 
in,ii'  the  contagion  of  their  hostile  feelin;L;s  amon;.;'  tiie  tribes  of 
Illinois,  and  other  Indians,  ix'tween  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi, 
dcclarinji'  that  they  would  li,:ulit  the  I'ln.ulish  as  lon.^- as  the  ^ull 
i'ui'nislie<l  lijiht  for  the  continuance  of  the  conlli<'t.  Thus  it  became 
(ivident  that  the  Shawnees  and  Delawares  had  two  sets  of  endiass- 
adors.  and  while  one  was  sent  to  sue  for  peace  with  i'xtuipH't,  tlui 
otln-r  was  urnin.i;'  tlie  neijihlMtiin;;'  tribes  to  renew  the  atrocities  of 
war.  I'lider  these  cireunistances  the  i'lii'thei'  prosecution  of  tlu; 
journey  was  imiu'acticable.  and  at  tlu' earnest  solicitation  of  his 
Indian  and  Canadian  attendants.  .Moriis  decided  to  return.  Sajt- 
])osini;'  that  llradstreet  was  still  at  Detroit,  he  made  his  way 
thither,  but  found  that  he  had  ^oiieto  Sandusky,  liein.i;- too  nuich 
exhausted  to  follow  him.  he  sent  a  letter  detailing;'  his  hardships 
amon.^  the  Indians,  and  the  unfavoral)!e  issue  of  the  expe- 
dition. 

Ilai'dly  Inul  .Morris  escaped  from  the  daik  forests  of  the  Maiune(" 
bcfoic  I'ontiac  was  ayain  in  motion.  I'lccedim;  his  advance,  a 
wa\e  of  tumultuous  excitement  swept  westward  to  the  Mississippi. 
31.  Neyon,  commandant  of  !'"ort  Cliartres.  in  the  meantiuH'  had 
retired,  and  St.  Anuc  <ri>cllri\e  had  taken  upon  himself  the 
arduous  duties  of  the  vacated  situation.  Mobs  of  Illinois,  and 
end>assies  Ironi  the  Delawares,  Shaw  nees,  and  Mianiis,  dail,\  im- 
IMiitinu'd  him  for  arms  and  ammiuntion.  to  l>e  used  aji'ainst  the. 
lOnji'lisli,  'i'he  lla.i;'  of  I"'rance,  which  they  had  been  tau.uht  to 
revere,  still  cluni;  to  the  stall'  on  the  sumndl  of  the  foil,  aial  llli- 
iKtis  was  now  the  only  sanctuary  which  remained  for  them  to 
defend.  While  thus  actuat<'d  by  feelings  of  patiiotism  there  were 
other  causes  which  .L;ave  intensit\  to  their  zeal.  'I'he  whole  region 
boi'dcriii.1;'  the  .Mississijtpi  was  tilled  with  l"'rencli  traders,  who  re- 
<;arded  the  iMiulish  as  dan^i'ei'ous  rivals  and  were  ready  to  resort 
to  any  expedient  which   mi^lit  be  instrumental  in  their  exi)idsioii 

•Pai'limuii. 


154 


IIISTOUY    OK   ILLINOIS. 


ll 


,!t 


from  tlic  coniitiy.  Tsinj;  «^v('ry  caluimi.v  and  falscliood  that  iiialico 
coillU  siij;;;{st,  to  excite  (>i>i)(»siti(»ii  to  tlie  objects  of  tlieir  Jealousy, 
tliey  now  told  llie  Indians  that  the  l-'ji^Iish  were  endeavoring  to 
stir  iii»  ci\il  lends  anion^'  them,  wherel»y  they  nii;:ht  li^ilil  and 
desti'oy  eacli  other.  They  still  insisted  that  the  lonj;-  delayed 
armies  of  l''ranee  wonld  so(tii  he  in  the  country,  and  to  Uee|iali\e 
this  oil  repeated  lalx'houd  the  traders  apiieared  t'ic<|iiently  in 
J*'rench  uniforms,  represent inu  Ihemselves  as  endiassadoi's  of  tlie 
Kiuy-,  and  sent  for^n'cd  letters  heai'ln^i'  Ihf  loyal  signature  to 
i'ontiac,  ur;;in<^' him  to  pei'sist  in  hisetforts  against  the  common 
enemy. 

As  intimated,  Tontiac.  wiili  1(»0  warriors,  in  the  Autumn  of 
]7<it  crossed  the  Wahasli  to  visit  these  tribes  and  j;ive  direction  to 
their  elVorts.  riisjiaken  amidst  the  ruin  which  threaleucd  his 
race,  witli  tireless  ener;;y  he  entered  the  \  illa.m-s  of  the  .Miamis, 
KickajMKis.  and  I'iaidvishas,  and  breathed  into  them  his  own 
niicon<pieral)le  spirit.  Itcceivin.y  from  them  promises  of  conpera- 
lion.  he  iM'Xt  directed  his  course  tlii(iu,uli  trackless  c.\]>anscs  of 
jtrairie  vei-diire.  to  the  homesof  the  Illinois.  These  Indians,  repeat- 
edly subihwd  l>y  surroiindinji-  nations,  had  lost  theii-  warlike, 
spii'it.  and  were  icprinianded  by  I'ontiac  for  their  want  of  zeal. 
Hastily  collecting;  an  assend)la,ue.  he  told  the  cowering;  multitude: 
that  "he  would  consume  then:  as  the  lire  consunu's  the  dry  ,i;rass 
on  the  prairies  if  they  hesitated  in  olferin;;;'  assistance."  This 
snnimar.N  method  of  dealini;  with  the  tardy  savaj^es  drew  from 
them  unanimous  assent  to  his  \  lews,  and  promises  of  assistance 
Avhich  the  most  warlike  tribes  would  have  been  unable  to  i»erform. 
I-eavinti'  the  Illinois,  he  hastened  to  l''ort  ( 'hart  res.  and  entered 
the  council  hall  with  a  ictinue  of  IIM)  warrioi's.  Assumiuii  the 
jiiaxity  ai'd  dignity  characteristic  of  his  I'aee  on  i  'blie  occasions. 
lie  addr'  ssed  the  commandant,  as  follows: 

"Fiitlicr,  \\r  liiivi'  loiiii' (1(  ."-ii'itl  to  sec  vdu,  ■mil  <'iij(>y  llic  |)l' Msurc  of  takim; 
you  liy  tlic  liiHiil.  Wliilc  wr  iilVcsli  oinscJvc.  willi  the  soot  III  iiir  iiieriisc  nt' tlio 
Vricndly  cahiinrt.  wc  will  recall  tlic  lialilrs  I'dmuIiI  by  our  warriors  auaiiist  llie 
oiiciny' wliicli  still  sciks  our  ovcrllirow.  JJiU  while  we  speak  of  llnir  valor 
ami  victories,  let  us  not  I'orjict  our  I'alleii  lieroes,  and  witli  renewed  resolves  and 
more  constant  endeavors  strive  to  aven<re  their  death  l)y  the  ilownfail  of  our 
LMieniies.  Fathei',  I  love  the  French,  and  have  hil  hither  my  braves  to  nniin- 
taiii  your  authority  and  vindicate  the  insidtcii  honor  of  France.  UiU  you  mu>t 
not  louiier  remain  inactive  and  sull'eryour  red  brothers  to  contend  aloneai;ainst 
the  foe,  who  siH'k  our  comniou  distruetion.  \V<'  ileiuand  of  yo\i  anus  and 
waniois  to  assist  us,  and  when  t he  tvinlish  do^s  are  driv<'n  into  tin-  sea,  wu 
will  ai;ain  In  pciK'c  and  happiness  enjoy  with  you  thesi'  fruitful  forests  and 
l)rairles,  the  inil)li'  herilasze  presented  liy  the  (ireal  Spirit  to  our  ancotors." 

St.  Aiiue'.  boiiii;'  tinal>le  to  lurnish  him  with  men  atnl  munitions, 
olfered  in  their  stead  compliments  :ind  ;^ikh1  will.  Hitt  I'ontiae, 
re;iiirdinji'  his  mission  to(»  imiiortiint  to  be  thus  rejected,  eom- 
l)laincd  bitterly  thiit  he  should  receive  such  poor  encouiaiicmeiit 
from  those  whose  wrongs  he  \vas  endea\  oriiiii'  to  redress.  His 
AVitrriors  pitched  their  lodges  abotit  the  fort,  iind  sttcli  were  the 
iiiiinifestations  of  disiileasiire  thiit  the  commandiint  sipprehened 
ill!  attack,  roiitiac  had  jtreviously  caused  his  wixcs  to  prejiare  a 
belt  of  wainimn  more  than  six  feet  in  leiiiith.  interwoven  with  Iho 
totems  of  the  d  life  rent  tiibcs  ;ind  v  illa<;es  still  associated  wit  it  liini 
in  the  prosecution  of  the  war.  While  iit  the  fort  tiiis  was  tissiyiu'd 
to  a  chosen  band  of  warriors  who  were   instructed   to  descend  the 


POM'IAC'S  CONSPIKACY. 


li>."> 


^lississipjii.  iiinl  cxliiliitiii^'  it  to  (lie  iiuiiiciuiis  nations  li\  in;;' on 
its  Itanks,  cxiioil  tiicni  to  ifjicl  all  attcin|i1>  which  the  l^n^lish 
mi.ulii  make  to  ascmd  llic  ri\ci'.  'liicy  were  iiuliici' rciiuiicd  lo 
fall  on  the  ^oNniior  of  New  Oilcan.-;  and  olitain  the  assistance 
wliicli  St.  Anuc  had  refused.  I'ontiac.  aware  tiiat  the  .Missi>si|(|)i 
on  the  south,  and  the  <  )hio  on  the  east  weic  t  he  channels  In  w  Inch 
Jlliiiois  WHS  most  accessible  to  the  Mn^lish.  wisely  deteniMncd  to 
iiitei])ose  i)an'iers  t(»  their  appfoaeh  l»v  these  <x\v;\\  iii.uhways. 
>«'ot  lolly  after  the  departure  (»f  ids  warriors.  tidin.;;s  were  rec<'i\  ed 
ill  the  fort  which  verilied  the  sa.uacitv  and  coi'rcctiiess  ol  his  anti- 
cipations. 

The  prexions  sprinii-  .Miijor  l.oflus.  with  a  force  of  40(1  men, 
sailed  from  i'eiisacola  to  New  ()rleans.  lor  the  pnrpose  of  ascend- 
iiiji:'  I  lie  Mis>issippi  ami  taUiiii;'  possession  of  l^'ort  ( 'hartres.  I'.einy- 
einliarUed  in  iinwieldx  lioats.  Ids  iJio^ress  was  slow,  and  when 
oidy  a  short  distance  aitoxc  the  town  he  was  miexpeetcdly  assailed 
by  tin-  warriors  of  roiitiae.  'I'hey  were  lired  upon  from  both  sid<'s 
of  the  rixcr,  wiiieh.  swollen  liy  a  freshet,  had  iniiiidatcd  its  banks 
and  formed  swampy  lal»\rinlhs.  from  wliieli  it  was  impossible  to 
dislodji'e  the  foe.  Several  soldiers  were  killed  at  tliellrst  diseharj;«', 
and  the  teirilied  ofiicers  immediately  deciding  a  lartln'r  ad\  anet! 
impossible,  fcil  back  to  New  Orleans.  Here  liiey  Ibiiiid  the  imiri- 
meiil  of  the  l-'reiK'li  greatly  excited  at  their  discomlitiire,  which, 
it  was  alh'-cd.  had  been  caused  by  not  more  than  .'!(>  warriors. 
Loflns.  smartiiiu  iimler  the  ridicnie.  boldly  accnsed  the  p»\eriior 
of  lia\in,i:' been  the  author  of  his  defeat,  thon.uli  there  was  not  tlic 
sli,uhtesi  yroniid  for  such  suspicion.  As  the  result  of  fear,  from 
which  he  liad  not  yet  recoxcicd.  he  likewise  conceived  tlu'  idea 
that  the  Indians  intended  to  attack  him  on  his  ri'tiirn  on  the  river 
below,  and  petitioned  the  ji'ovei'iior.  whom  lie  liad  just  accused  of 
colliisi(»ii  with  the  savages,  to  interpose  and  jirevent  it.  The, 
French  ollicer,  with  a  look  of  <'ontempt.  agreed  to  furnish  liim 
with  an  escort  (»f  ]''rencli  solders,  but  Ltdtus.  rejectiii};  this  hiimil- 
iatiii^'  oiler,  declared  he  only  wanted  an  interpreter  to  eoufer  w  itli 
tlix  Indians  whom  he  slioidd  meet  on  the  way.  One  was  ;L;r;!iited, 
aial  hi' sailed  from  I'eiisacola.  lea\iiiji  the  forts  of  Illinois  still  in 
the  hands  of  the  l''reiich.  but  \  ii'tually  controlled  and  iirotected 
by  the  warriors  of  I'outiac.  After  this  aboiti\e  elVort  to  reach 
]'ort  ('hartres,  Captain  Pitman  sailed  fr(nn  Mobil.'  to  make  a  sec- 
ond attempt.  Ileariiij;'  in  New  Orli'ans  the  commotion  excited 
ainoii<;'  the  sava,<4«'s  by  the  messengers  of  Pontiac.  ho  was  deterred 
I'ldiii  proceediiiji'  ojieiily  without  an  escort.  It  however  occurred 
lo  him  that  he  iiii.uht  reach  his  destination  in  the  .yiiise  of  ii 
l''rencliman.  by  ^oin^'  with  a  company  of  creole  traders,  but  ow  iii^' 
to  the  ureiit  danger  of  detection,  this  also  was  abainhtued. 

In  the  meantime  the  ambassadors  of  I'oiit iae,  'rue  to  the  trust 
reposed  in  them,  had  traxcised  the  immense  forest  solitudes, 
watered  by  the  tortuous  windiiius  of  the  .Mississippi,  reekinj^- 
with  the  deadly  exhalations  of  pois<»iious  marshes.  Visitiiii;'  the 
tribes  scattered  o\er  this  vast  wilderness,  even  to  the  southern  ex- 
tremeof  Louisiana,  w  hither  tlie  fame  of  Pontiac  had  preceded  tlii'iii, 
they  infused  into  them  a  spirit  td'  resistance  to  IJritish  eiicroach- 
iiieiits.  N<'xt  re|tairiii,u  to  New  Orleans  to  demand  military  aid, 
they  found  the  inhabitants  excited  o\<'r  the  transfer  ol'  their 
territiuy  to  the  dominion  (d'  S[»ain.    l>y  a  special  ]»ro\isioii  >iew 


156 


IILSTOUV   Ol'"   UJ.INOIS. 


Oilciiiis  liiid  not  IxTii  iiK'liKlcd  in  llic  ct'ssioii  iiiiidc  to  Kiijiliiiid 
ciisi  (it  I  lie  .Mississi|t|>i,  iiiid  now  tlic.v  liiid  jnst  Icaiiu'd  tliiit  llicir 
]>;ir(  III  <'oiinlrv  liiid  tninsl'criTd  nil  licr  i'('iii:iiniii,n'  possessions  to 
tlif  crown  of  S|>;iiii.  TIic  iiiliiil»it;iiits  cordiiillv  imtrd  (lie  Spiiii- 
iards,  iind  llicir  piitiiolic  ptvcnior.  iiiortilicd  at  the  disi;iacc.  he 
caiiie  the  victim  oi'  a  disease  that  shortly  alterwaid  caused  his 
death.  Uowed  with  disease  and  shame,  lie  received  the  messt'U- 
jicis  of  routine  in  the  council  hall  of  the  town.  IJesidcs  the 
J'"rciicli  otlicials,  a  niimlier  of  lOn^lisii  otiiccrs  were  jireseiit  at  tiu3 
iiilii\  iew.  '{"he  orator  of  the  Indian  deputation  was  a  Shawnee 
Avairior,  wlio,  displavin^'  the  ^reat  belt  of  wani]»iim  and  ]toinliiijj|,' 
to  the  IOn;^lis|i,  said  : 

"  Tlicsi'  iX'tl* tings  liavc  criiwdcd  upon  asmorcuiul  more,  iiiul  wlicii  we  ii>k  \\  liy 
lliiy  do  it,  we  lire  lold  tli:il  yoii,  our  I'M-ciu'li  I'atiicrs,  liuvc  given  tluni  oiii'  hind. 
]jui  we  linow  tjicy  liavc  lied.  Tiicsc  laiids  arc  ncitlicr  yours  nor  liich's,  niid 
no  niMii  sIimII  give  orsi'll  tlicin  williout,  oiir  ('onscnt.  Fal  Ikt.s,  we  IniVf  always 
liccn  your  failhl'nl  cluldren,  and  \vc:  have  come  to  obtain  from  you  arms  to  aid 
us  in  "iliis    war." 

Afti'r  an  iiietl'eetual  attempt  bv  tlieyox criior  to  allay  the  animos- 
ity exiu'cssed  in  tlie  .speech,  and  a  promise  to  furnish  them  with 
supplies  ibr  theii' immediate  wants,  the  council  adjourned  till  the 
next  day,  When,  however,  it  a^aiii  asseinl)led,  the  d_\  iiiu'  j;(»\t'r- 
iior  liad  lireathed  out  liis  life.  .M.  Aubrey,  his  successor,  presided 
in  his  place.  After  one  of  the  Indian  orators,  according  to  the 
solemn  custom  of  his  pi'ople,  had  <'Xpressed  his  r«';^ret  for  the  sud- 
den death  of  tlie  ^^overnoi',  a,  .Miami  chief  arose  and  said  : 

"Siiici'  we  last  sat,  on  tiicsc  seals  we  liave  iieard  strange  words.  We  liaro 
learned  tiial  you,  wiiom  we  have  loved  and  ser\'ed  so  well,  liave  given  liiese 
lands  on  wiiieli  we  dwell  toonrcommon  foe.  AVe  liave  also  ascerlaiiied  that 
tlie  Eiiglisli  liave  forbidden  you  to  send  traders  to  our  villagi-s,  and  that  you, 
whom  we  tlionght  so  great  and  brave,  liave'  obeyed  their  eommands  iik<! 
■women,  leaving  us  to  dii;  and  starve  in  misery.  \\  <■  now  Iril  you  again  that 
these  lands  are  ours,  and  moreover  lliat  we  can  live  without  your  ai.l  and  hunt 
and  li-h  and  light  as  did  our  aneesioi's  before  u>.  All  we  a>k  is  liie  guns,  the 
knives,  and  tin-  haiehets  we  liavi'  worn  out  in  liiihting  your  baltles." 

To  tlie.se  liome  thrusts  of  Indian  invective,  M.  Aubrey  could 
make  l)iU  a  fcelile  reply,  rrcseiits  were  distributed  aiiioii^  them, 
but  pioilnccd  no  effect  on  the  iinli.iiiiaiil  v,  :!iriors,  and  on  the  mor- 
low   tiiey  coiiiiiieiiccd  their  ascent  of  llie  uieat  lixcr. 

The  j;Teat  inllMciice  of  I'ontiac  in  Illinois  convinced  (ieiu'ral 
Cbtji'e,  the  successor  of  (ieiiei'al  Amliei'st,  that  as  Ion;;'  as  the  posts 
uf  Illinois  remained  in  the  hands  of  I'^reiich  ofliceis  and  the  lla.u'of 
]'raiice  was  rcco^iii/;c<l  in  any  part  of  the  ceded  territory,  it  would 
lie  imjiossible  to  eradicate  from  the  minds  of  the  Indians  the  phan- 
tom of  I-'ieiich  assistance.  He  therelbre  determined  to  scud  a 
tbice  westwai'd  ot  siiflicient  iiia.uniliide  to  o\cr<-(>me  all  opposition, 
and  at  once' termiiiale  the  war,  l>\  ]eiiio\iim  the  caii.se.  ^Vftcrthe 
I'epulse  of  Loftiis  the  soiitlierii  route  to  Illinois  was  rejiarded  as 
impracticable,  and  it  was  decided  to  send  tlie  troops  by  way  of  tho 
Ohio.  ( icor^c  ( "roj;han  and  liieiiteiiaiit  I'ra/.er.  accoiii|iaiiied  by  a 
small  escort,  were  sent  in  advance  to  prepare  the  Indians  Ibr  the 
adveiil  of  the  contemplated  expedition,  ("ro.uhan  had  Ibr  years 
lieeii  a  trader  amoii.u'  the  western  tribes,  and  by  the  aid  of  his 
manly  character  had  won  the  respect  of  the  s;ivao«'s,  and  was  well 
litte(i  for  tlie  discharge  of  this  imjiortajit  trust.     The  party  set  out 


•Alluding  to  the  red  coats  of  the  British  soldiers 


I'ONTIACS   CONSriU'ACr, 


167 


for  l'\)rt  I'ittiii  Kcbriiary,  17(!r»,  jmhI  aflci- Ikia  iiij;'  penetrated  siiow- 
1)01111(1  forests  and  inonntnin  deliles  diirinu  the  rigors  of  a  seveio 
winter,  tlu'.v  arrived  sal'elv  at  tlie  fort.  Here  ('ntjiliiin  was  de- 
tained several  wi'eks,  for  the  pnritose  of  iiiivinj;'  a  eonsnltatioii 
uith  llie  SlnnvMees  and  Dehiwai'es,  alont;'  whose  sontliern  liorder 
the  expedition  was  to  pass.  In  the  ineiinlinie,  fearin.i;'  that  tla^ 
delay  attendinj;'  his  nejidtiations  niijiht  lane  a  pre.iudi«'ial  elfeet 
upon  the  triltes  of  Illinois,  he  sent  I'i;izer  iniiiiediatel\  forwind  to 
enter  npon  the  important  dnties  wilii  which  tiiev  had  Iteen  en- 
trnsted.  The  ie\  i»loekade  which  dnrin,u' the  winter  had  oltstineted 
the  na\i.i:ation  (»f  the  Ohio,  now  disappeared,  and  tlie  parly  eni- 
barUin^  in  a  canoe,  deseeinled  with  (he  enrrent  ttf  tiie  river  near 
I, (Kill  miles  wilhonl  enconnteriiii; opposilioii.  Itnt  when  a  landing' 
was  etfected  the  follow<'rs  of  I'oiit iae  were  on  hand,  and  he  met 
with  a  reception  sinnlar  to  that  accorded  to  Morris  the  pre\  ions 
aninmn.  Ilidfeted  and  Ihreatened  witii  dealh.  he  aUandonei!  the 
<d>j<'ct  of  his  \isit,and  tied  in  dis^^iiise  down  the  rixcr  to  seek  a 
reinjic  amftnji  the  I-'rcnch.  The  universal  overthrow  which  liad 
at1ende<l  the  efforts  of  the  Indians  in  all  the  snrronndin;;'  reuions, 
caused  tiiem  to  look  ujion  Illinois  as  sacred  ;;i(tnnd,  and  hence 
their  deternnned  effoi'ts  to  prevent  its  desecialion  by  the  iiilrn- 
sion  of  their  hated  foe. 

The  ICnj^lish.  ha\  inii'  thus  far  failed  to  effe<'t  an  entrance  intotlie 
country  by  force  and  nej;-otialions.  now  determined  to  try  their 
Inind  at  conciliation.  They  had  heaid  of  the  wonderfid  intluence 
exerted  over  the  savayes  in  this  way  by  the  I-' rencli,  and  concluded 
that  their  own  ertorfs  mi,i;ht  be  attended  witli  similar  results.  l''or 
tliis  junpose  they  secni'cd  the  services  of  a  I'^renchman,  and  sent 
him  ni>  the  river  with  a  boat  load  of  y'oods.  which  lu^  was  instructed 
to  distribute  amoiiij,'  the  Indians  as  jtresents  from  the  Kniiiish. 
Intelligence  of  this  nntxcmcnt  traveled  far  more  rapidly  than  the 
supplies,  and  I'ontiac  determined  that  they  should  subserve  his 
own  iiderest  and  in>t  that  of  his  enemies.  He.  therefore. watched 
the  arrival  of  the  boat,  and  no  sooner  had  a  landing;'  been  elfecti-d 
than  his  nuMi  leajx'd  aboard,  and  liavin.u'  tlo^u'ed  the  Frenchman 
and  his  ei'ew,  distribute(l  the  ,u'oods  amon^'  themselves.  As  was 
(Mistonniry,  these  snjiplies  were  soon  s^juaiMlered  with  reckless 
]>rodijiality,  and  the  savaiics  w  hen  pressed  with  want  turned  to  the 
Fjcncli  for  assistance.  Ibit  the  latter  were  now  expectin.L;  I  he 
arrival  of  a  Jbitisli  foi'ce  to  take  possession  of  the  conntry,  and 
fearinji'  that  i)Uiiislinient  nuiiht  overtake  them  foi-  ])ast  olfences, 
('oncliided  it  best  to  withhold  their  assistance.  St.  Anji'e  and  other 
oflicei's,  also  belie\in,ii'  tiiat  their  successors  would  soon  arrive, 
informetl  them  that  henceforth  they  must  lo<»k  for  snitplies  to  the 
Kn;^lisli,  whose  <;-ood  will  it  was  now  their  interest  t(»  cultivate. 

Hunger  itself  is  un>re  jtowci'tnl  than  an  "army  with  banners," 
and  when  tin;  sava,m's  saw  other  disasters  e(jnally  api>allin^  and 
imminent,  the  most  resolute  warriors  bewail  to  hesitate  in  rej>ard  to 
the  further  jtrolonyation  of  the  struii.iile.  Even  Poidiac.  whose 
inasculine  fibre  and  enduring  fortitude  the  ordinary  vicissitmles  of 
war  failed  toatl'ect,  beyan  to  waver  when  he  learneil  that  the  hijihest 
Fi'eiM'h  dignitaries  refused  to  <;rant  him  aid.  The  expi'ctalions 
which  had  so  lonj;-  nerxed  his  arm  were  fast  Aanishin.L;,  ami 
Avitli  a  sorrowful  heart  he  beheld  the  vast  civil  and  iidlitary  com- 
binations he.   had   fonned,  in  a  state  of  hopeless  disintegration. 


1.18 


IIISTOUY   OF   ir.LINOIH. 


Drscilfil  l>y  iiMics  on  (xcrv  liniid,  tlicic  Wiis  no  itliicc  of  i('rii<;(', 
wliitlicr  lie  iiiiylil  llv  I'oi- satct  v.  In  tlic  soiitli  :iiiil  west  wcrr  licrcc 
liiliis,  tlic  licrcditiirv  ciioiiiifs  ol'  liis  pcuitlr ;  rioiiillic  ciist  ('iiiiic 
ill!  <)\ri'\vlirliiiiiii;'  I'oc  to  «<ii;:;'iiir  liiiii,  wliilc  tlic  lioi'tli,  tilt-  lioilic  (if 
liis  rliildrcii  iiiitl  III*-  scenes  oi'  liis  ,\(>iii lil'iil  iietixilies  iiiid  iispi- 
JMtioiis,  Wiis  iiiidei  llie  uiiiis  of  :iii  iiii|ire;^liiil>le  fortress.  At 
pi-eseiit,  iiiialtle  l(»  extrieale  liiniself  fi-oiii  llie  lalivriiitli  ol'  iiii|tciid- 
iii;^  daii;H(  rs,  lie  was  (•(nii|ielled  lo  siibiuil  and  wail  a  fiitiiic  da,v  of 
V<'li,y'eaiice. 

( 'i'o;;liaii,  lia\  iiiu'  eoiiiiileled  Iiis  eoid'ereiiee  willi  llie  Indians  at 
l-'orl  I 'ill,  Willi  liis  own  men  and  a  n  inn  iter  of  I  >ela  ware  and  Sliaw- 
iiee  wairiors,  oil  the  l.'itliof  .Ma.\,  1 7ii.">,  stiii'ted  down  the  Oliio. 
NN'itli  little  detention,  lie  landed  on  IIh'  Illinois  shore,  a  short  dis- 
tance lu'low  the  iiiontli  of  the  Nv'altash.*  Soon  after  diseiiiliark- 
iii,U',  he  was  iiiie.\|)ectedl,v  iiieeled  l»y  a  shower  of  liiillets  proceed- 
iii.n'  from  tani^led  thickets  on  the  hanks  of  ihe  river,  wherchy  ."»  of 
liis  iiieii  were  killed  and  most  of  the  remainder  wounded.  Iiiiine- 
diately  follow  iii.i;  the  explosion  of  mnskeliy.  SO  yelpinu  Kickapoos 
ru.Nlied  from  llieir  co\ crts.  and  disai  iiiiii;^  the  Mn^ilish,  took  posses- 
sion of  all  their  pei'scmal  etVects.  When  thus  rendered  powerless, 
the  as.ailants  lie^aii  lo  apologize  for  I  he  dastardly  attack.  They 
declai'ed  to  ('r(i;;liaii  thai  the  I'reiich  had  lold  I  hem  I  hat  his  escort 
consisted  of  Cherokees,  their  moi'tid  enemies,  and  that  under  this 
false  impression,  they  hail  made  the  as.sanll.  'I'his  pi'ctext  was, 
liowever.  aiiolher  iiislance  of  the  (hceitlion  for  whicli  that  trihe 
was  (list iiijiiiished.  Though  endea\diin^'  lo  excuse  their  conduct 
on  the  plea  of  i.uiioraiice,  it  was  afterward  ascertained  that  they 
liad  do.u';,;cd  Cro^han  foi' several  days,  and  knew  well  the  charac- 
ter of  his  escort.  Willi  less  jzovernini'iit  over  tlieiusel\-es  than 
children,  and  lilled  with  the  inslincl  of  (le\  ils.  their  real  olijcct  was 
to  wreak  \cii,ueaiiceon  the  i']n.ulish  and  j^iatilX  a  rabid  <lesiie  U.v 
lilood. 

('ai'cfully  .yiiarded  as  a  i»risoiier,  Cronhan  was  condiicled  up  the 
"NValtash  lo  Vincenues,  where,  fortunately,  he  met  with  a  iiiimher 
of  his  former  friends,  who  not  only  ell'ectcd  his  release  Imt  sharjily 
I'einiiiianded  his  cajitors  foi'  their  niiiusl  ilialile  conduct.  I''roiii 
X'inceiiiies  he  was  escorted  farther  up  Ihe  river  to  l''ort  Wataiioii 
and  entertained  with  much  aiti>areiil  cordiality  by  Indians  with 
whom  he  had  been  pi'cx  ionsly  ac(piainted.  Here  he  spent  sexcral 
da\s  ill  i('ceiviii.u'  and  shaking  hands  with  deputations  of  chiefs 
and  warriors  from  the  siirroninliii;^'  rejiiion,  all  of  w  liom  were  appar- 
futly  anxious  to  be  on  friendly  terms  with  the  Eiif^lish,  and 
expressed  a  desire  for  llie  return  of  iteace.  In  contrast  with  tliesi^ 
eviileiiccs  of  jiood  will,  a  Frenchman  arrived  with  a  messa^ic  fr(nn 
a  chief  liviii.u'  in  Illinois,  iir,^in,u  the  Indians  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
fort  to  1)11 1  tlie  i'ln^lish  ambassador  to  death.  l)es|)ite  tliis  mur- 
derous retpiest,  he  was  assured  by  liis  savaj>('  friends  that  they 
Avoiild  iiol  only  protect  his  jierson,  but  assist  in  takiii.u'  possession 
of  the  country  where  tlic^  hostile  chief  resided.     Unexpectedly  ii 


'"Ontho  fitl)  of  .Imn'  tlicy  iinivcd  atHio  tnoiitli  of  the  W'uliasli.  Hero  tlioy  fomida 
broiistwiirk.  supposed  to  imve  liecii  erected  by  Indians.  Six  miles  fiirtlier,  tliey 
enc'aiiipe<l  atii  place  called  the  •  old  Sliinvneo  yillajre,  '  upon  or  near  the  present  site 
of  Shawnet'town,  whicli  penn'tuates  its  name.  At  tliis  jilace  they  remained  tidays  for 
the  purpose  of  opcninw  a  friendly  intiMcouse  and  trade  with  the  Waliash  tribes  ;  and 
while  licri!,  (\)1.  Crosrha'ii  sent  nicssentfers  with  dispatches  for  Lord  (Lieut.  ?)  Kru/t^r 
who  hiidjrone  from  Fort  Pit  I  as  eomnnuidant  at  I'ort  Cliartres,  and  also  toM.  St.  Aii^re, 
the  former  Frcucli  couimauilaut."—MoNNE'    B,  l,34lj. 


r«)N'riA< 's  cJoNsi'iKAin'. 


159 


iii('ss(Mi;;fi' ii('\(  ciiiiic  IVom  St.  Aii;^*'.  rciiiK-stiiiL;' liiiii  to  visit  Foit 
<'ii:irli'<'s  :iii<l  iMJjiisI  iil'l'iiiis  |)rt'|i;iriilni'v  lo  iiis  w  iiiiiiniw:)!  Iroiii 
till'  roit.  As  iliis  WHS  ill  iicconliiiicc  with  liis  inlciitioiis,  liciiniiic- 
(liiilciv  set  (Hit,  Itiit  ii:itl  not  iHoct'cdcd  |';ir  l»clorc  lir  \viis  tiit't  l»y 
roiiliiir  iiiitl  II  iiiiiiicniiis  I'i'liiiiii'  of  wiiriiors.  'I'jic  rliicC  liiid  coinu 
to  ofli'i' terms  of  |)*>:i('<-,  MiHJ  ( 'I'ouiiiiii  rctiinif<l  witii  him  to  I  lie  I'oi't 
tor  coiisiiltiitioii.  'I'Ik;  cliit'l's  iiiiil  Wiiniors  ol'  tli<'  siindiiiKliii^' 
ii:ilioiis  :ilso  met  in  coiiiiciK  iiiiil  I'oiitiiic.  in  tli<'  itn'scnci' ol'  iIm; 
mull itinlc,  iiitiodiiccd  tlic  pipe  ol' |M';irc  iiiid  cxpicsscd  Ids  coiiciir- 
I'l'iicc  ill  liic  ri'iciitllv  sciitimciits  wliicli  liiid  Ikmmi  iiitci'cliMii.ucd  ;it 
tlic  I'orl  Ix'toic  Ids  iiri'iviil.  Ilcdocliiicd  tlmt  tlic  Kicncli  iiiid  misled 
liiiii  witli  the  sliitciiu'iit  tliiit  the  I'liii^lisli  iHoposcd  l(»stirii|>  the 
< 'iK'lokces  ;i;;ililist  his  liiet  hicii  of  I  lliliois.  iilid  thus  reduce  IJit'iii 
t(t  servitude.  The  lMi.!4lisli,  he  ii;;reed,  miylit  tiiUe  possession  of 
Fort  ChMi'tres  and  the  otiier  militaiv  posts,  hut  sii.uaeionsly  iiiti- 
mated  tiial  the  I'^t'ciich  had  iie\er  piiicliased  the  lands  ol'ilie 
IlliiKiis.  ami  as  they  lived  on  them  by  siin'eiaiiee  only,  their  suc- 
cessors \v(»iild  haxcno  ieyal  ri^lit  to  tiieir  possession.  'Mieamieahlei 
t'eelin,us  manii'ested  l>y  the  Illinois  ehiel's  who  were  present, 
olixiated  the  iie<'essity  of  his  proceediii.u'  fnrlher  westward,  and  lu^ 
next  directed  his  attention  to  the  tribes  of  the  noi'lli cast. 

Accompanied  l»y  Ponliac  he  crossed  to  Fort  .Miami,  and  deseeiid- 
iiii;-  tlie  .Maiimee,  lield  conferences  with  the  dilfereiil  tril»esd\\('lliiiji' 
ill  liic  immense  forests  which  shelter  the  haiiUs  of  the  stream. 
I'assinj;' tiienee  lip  the  Detroit,  lie  arrived  at  the  fort  on  tiu^  ITlli 
of  Aii.nnst,  where  he  found  a  vast  concourse  of  nei^lihoriiiL;' tribes. 
'J'lie  fear  of  iMiiiishiiiciit,  and  the  loii.u  privations  tliev  had  suifered 
from  the  suspension  of  the  fiir  trade,  Jiad  l)aiiished  every  thoiiuht 
of  hostility,  and  all  wei'e  anxious  for  peace  and  its  attendant  bless- 
iiiji's.  After  numerous  interviews  with  ditlereiit  tribes  in  the  old 
town  hall,  where  I'ontiac  tirst  essayed  the  execution  of  his 
treachery,  Croj^han  called  a  tinal  nieetiii,u'  on  tlu'  L'Tth  of  Au<;iist. 
Imiiatin/i"  tln^  forest  elocpieiico  with  which  he  iiad  loiiy  been 
familiar,  he  thus  addressed  the  convocation  : 

"  ('liildi'cii,  wi'  MIT  very  ylad  to  sec  so  iiiiiny  of  yoii  present  !it  your  iiiicieiit 
council  lire,  wliicli  liMs  l)een  iiegleeted  for  sonii;  time  pMsl.  Since  tlu'U  liiuli 
winds  liiive  l)lovvn  and  rinsed  liciivv  clouds  over  your  couiilry.  I  now,  l)y  tliis 
bell,  rekindle  your  iinci<Mit  tires,  and  llu'ow  dry  "wood  >i|ion  it,  that  tiie  lilaze 
luay  ascend  to  heaven,  solliat  all  nalioiis  may  see  it  and  know  that  you  live  iu 
jieiice  with  your  fathers,  the  Knt;lisii.  iJy  this  helt  1  disperse  all  tiie  black 
clouds  from  over  your  heads,  that  the  sun  uiav  shiiu;  clear  on  your  women 
and  cliildreii,  and  that  tliosi'  unhorn  may  enjoy  the  lilessin^s  of  this  jieneral 
jieaee,  now  so  hai>))ily  settled  between  your  fatliers,  the  JOnglish,  and  you  and 
all  your  younger  brethren  toward  tln^  sunsetling." 

Poiitia(^  reiilied: 

"Father,  we  have  all  smoked  together  out  of  this  peace  pipe,  and  as  ijio 
Great  Spirit  has  brouuhl  us  toi;:ether  for  nood,  I  declare  to  all  the  luiliinis  that 
1  have  made  peace  with  the  lMi!j;lish.  In  the  presence;  of  ail  the  tribes  now 
assiinbled,!  lake  the  Iving  of  Enuiaiid  for  my  fatlier,  ami  dedicate  this  pipe  to 
Jiis  Use,  tliat  theucefortli  we  may  visit  him  and  smoki'  together  in  peace.' 

The  object  of  C'roj;liaii's  visit  wa.s  now  eoiisuminated,  liut  before 
he  dejiarted  he  exacted  from  I'ontiac  a  promise  that  tin'  followino; 
siiriii,n'  he  vvoiihl  rei)air  to  Osvvcji'o  and  enter  into  a  treaty  with  Sir 
AVilliam  Joliiison,  in  behalf  of  the  western  nations  as.soeiiited  with 
]dm  in  the  war. 

"Jn  tiie  meantime  a  iiiiiidred  lli^ihlamU'rs  of  the  tUd  rej;imeiit, 
those  veterans  whose  battle  erv  had  echoed  over  the   bloodiest 


ino 


mSTOKV  OI-'  [M,lNOls. 


lit  Ills  (iT  AiiMTir:).  Iiiid  Iri'l  i'ml  Tin  iiiitN'r  cuiiniiiiiMl  ol' (':i|itiiiii 
►Slirliiiy.  iiiitl  (Icscfiitliii;^  tln'()liio  iiinlt'tcncd  l».\  (lie  rijictr  (tf  llui 
sciisoii,  ill  rived  iit  ( 'li;irtit's  jiisl  iis  liic  snows  ofcMily  wiiid-r  l)<';;iiii 
1(»  uliitcii  tilt'  li;iUct|  lorcsis.  'I'Ih-  IIii.u  oI'  l'"rilicr  (icsrclKlt'd  tniiii 
tlif  riiiiipMil,  iiiid  w  itii  tlic  slt'i'ii  (•(iiiitcsirs  of  \viii-  St.  Aiijit-  \  icidcd 
ii|i  his  |Misi,  (lie  citiiilcl  of  iijiiiois,  |o  its  iww  iiiiistcrs.  In  tlnit 
il(-|  WMs  ('oiisiiiiiiiiiitcd  llir  doiihic  li'iiilii|ili  dl'  Hl'itisli  |M>\vt>i'  ill 
AiiM'ricK.  I')ii;;liiiid  liiid  ('iiisiicd  Ikt  lH-rc(liliir\  tui-;  I'liiiicf  in  Imt 
i'iill  had  ict't  to  in'*'tricviild<>  i-iiiii  th<-  snxii;;)-  trilx-s  to  whom  lirr 
]ioli<',v  :i!id  s<'lf-iiit('i'»'st  li:id  lent  :i  tniiisifiit  sii|»|toit."*  The  doomed 
liMlioiis  were  next  to  sesil  lln'ir  siiltmissioii  to  tiie  power  wliieh  IkmI 
wi'oii.i;lil  tiieir  ruin,  iiiid  IJritisli  swiiv  would  he  coinidete. 

Ikeiiiinded  ol'  his  |iroiiiise  ti»  Cloi^hiin  l>,V  the  le:il'\  <|i"i|)eiy  of 
snmmei'.  I'(»ntiiie  icpiiired  to(  )s\ve;i(»,  and  for  the  last  time  appealed 
lieforetlie  represeiitat  i\  es  of  l'!iij;li,sh  SDVeieiiilitv.  Ill  the  midst 
of  a  lar^e  eoiieoiiise.  whieli  the  impoitaiiee  of  the  occasion  had 
jliaw  II  tonctiier,  he  arose  and  said  :  "l-'atiier.  w<'  tiiank  the  (Ireat 
S|)irit  will)  liasyiNeii  lis  this  day  of  hriuht  skies  and  j;enial  warmtli 
to  consider  t lie  uriMl  aiVairs  now  hefore  us.  in  his  |)reseiice,  and 
in  heliaif  of  all  the  nations  toward  the  snnsettiii;u',  of  which  1  am 
the  master,  I  now  take  ,voii  hy  the  hand.  I  call  upon  him  to  wit- 
ness, that  1  have  spoken  from  my  heiul.  and  in  the  name  of  tla^ 
Iriltes  wiiicli  I  represent.  I  promise  to  keejt  this  coxfiiant  as  lon;^' 
as  1  liv«'."  Ilaviii;:'  now  fidlilled  liis  promise,  lie  retired  tVoin  the 
scene  of  his  liiimiliatioii  with  a  sad  heart,  r.efore  his  tierce  .ulaiu'n 
tlie\aii  which  liides  the  present  from  the  fiitiire  was  withdrawn, 
and  he  saw  his  people,  (h'cei\('d  Ity  iiilriidiii.u'  st!aii,i:t'rs,  drixcii 
from  the  iionie  of  their  ancestors  and  lleeiiii^  westward  to  perish 
on  the  desert  with  liiiiijicr. 

After  tlie  Irealy  lie  returned  to  the  west,  iiiid  for  three  years 
buried  his  disappointment  in  the  seclusion  of  its  dark  forests, 
])ro\i<lin,u' as  a  common  hunter  for  his  family.  In  the  earlier  part 
of  the  year  17(t!l.  some  sliiilil  distiirliaiice  occurred  hetween  tli(^ 
Iiidiansof  Illinois  and  some  i'reiich  traders  liviii!^'  in  and  around 
St.  Louis.  Simiiltaiieoiisly  i'ontiae  appeared  in  thee\<'ited  rej^ion, 
but  whether  lie  was  connected  with  the  disturbance  is  not  known. 
The  l']iij;lisli  e\  idently  re.uarded  him  with  distrust,  and  determiiied 
to  lake  his  lil'e  to  prevent  a  rei»etilioii  of  the  bloody  drama  he  had 
formerly  (iiiacted.  Soon  after  his  arri\al  he  went  to  St.  Louis  and 
called  on  his  old  friend  St.  An,i;'e,  then  in  <-oiiimaiid  of  the  Spanish 
jianisoii.  l^'or  this  piirjiose  he  arrayed  himself  in  the  iiiiilbrm 
Mhieli  had  been  ])resented  him  by  Montcalm, and  wliicli  he  had  the 
ji(»od  taste  never  to  wear  excejit  on  important  occasions.  St.  Anuc 
and  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the  place .uaxc  him  a  cor<lial  wel- 
come, and  exerted  themsehcs  to  render  his  visit  a/^reeable.  Ihi 
had  been  there  but  a  few  days  when  he  heard  that  tlieri'  wasji 
social  j^atherinn'  of  tlu!  Indians  at  Cahokia,  on  the  ojiposite  side 
of  the  rivei',  and  informed  his  friend  that  he  would  cross  oxer  and 
see  what  they  were  doiny'.  St.  Anj^c,  awart^  of  the  danj^cr  ho 
Avould  enconntei",  einh'avored  to  disnade  him  from  his  ])urpose,  but 
the  chief  boastiii";'  that  Ik*  Avas  not  afraid  of  the  I'viifilish,  departed. 
At  <'aliokia  lie  tbniid  the  Indians  eiijia;4('d  in  a  drunken  carousal, 
and  soon  beeomiii.i;'  intoxicated  himself,  started  to  the  neijihboriiiiy 
Avoods,  and  shortly  afterward  was  heard   sinjiin<;-  nui_yie  sonj^s,  in 

♦Parkman. 


HHi 


PONTIAC'M  CONSPIRACY. 


101 


the    in.v.stic,    iiillllt'iicc   of    wliicli    lie    icp(»sc(l    the    ;;rciit(',st    roiill- 

licIK'L'. 

'I'lii'iu  \v;is  ;iii  I'iii^^lisli  tnHlci'  ill  tli«'  \  illume  lit  llif  tiliif,  wlio.  in 
coiiiiiMiii  willi  the  I'csl  of  liis  coiiiil  rvincii,  I'c^iinlril  liiiii  willi  iIih 
jiiciilfsi  distrust,  iiiKl  wiiilc  tiic  (i|initiiiiitv  \\;is  lii\(>i;il»l<'  dcl.-r- 
IllilMMl  tttcflrct  liis  lU'stnirtioii.  He  :i|>pi'Oiii-lM'(l  ;i  \  ii^^iilMiiid  liidiilll 
of  t  lir  Kiislviiskiii  Iriitc,  ;iiid   Itiilicd  him  witli  ii  biiircl  ol'  wliislxcN  to 

<'\ci-nt«'  ids  iniirdt  roils  iiitciit,     Tlic  :iss;issiii  ;i]»|»ro;icli('d  tlic  w Is, 

and  ill  II  liivoiiiliic  iiioiiicnt  glided  up  Ix-liiiid  tlit-  <-lii*-t'iiiid  inirird 
liis  liiiiiiiliiiw  ii  ill  Ills  iirniii.  Tlnis  itiisclv  tiTiiiiiuitcd  tlic  ciiirrci 
of  tlic  WMi'i'ior,  wliosc  i^rciit  iiiitiii'Ml  fiidowiiiciits  iinidi'  liiiii  llin 
<irc;iti'st  lifi'oof  Ids  iii('f,iiiid  witli  liiiiMiidcd  tlicir  liisl  ^^rciit  stiii^.ul(! 
to  resist  the  iiironds  of  civili/cd  iiicii.  'I'lic  liody  \\iis  soon  found, 
and  tin' villaiic  lifCiiiiH'  a  iiiindcnioiiiiiin  of  liowliii;^'  savaiics.  liis 
friends,  worse  lliaii  iiriitalizi'd  In  tlieir  lier.v  potiilions,  seized  tlieir 
aims  to  wreak  \('iij;eaneeoii  liie  perpetiator  of  the  murder,  hut  tlie, 
Illinois,  inte)-)iosin^'  in  behalf  of  tlieir  (■oiiiitr.vinaii,  droxe  llieiii 
from  tlie  town.  I'^oiled  in  their  attempt  t(»oI»faiii  reiiihiitioii,  they 
lied  to  the  nei;^lilioi'iiijL;'  nations,  and  iiiai<in,u  known  tiie  momeiilous 
intellijionee,  a  war  of  ('.xtermination  was  declared  a;;aiiist  tlio 
aheltors  of  this  crime.  Swarms  of  Sacs,  Foxes,  rottawatomies, 
and  other  northern  trilies  who  had  Iteeii  tired  by  the  eloipieiice  of 
tlie  martyri'd  chief,  descended  to  the  plains  of  Illinois,  and  wholn 
villages  weic  e.\tiri»ated  to  appease  his  shade.*  St.  ^\n;:t'  juo- 
cui'ed  tlu^  body  of  his  /^iiest,  and  inindfiil  of  his  former  fiiendship 
l)uried  it  with  the  honors  of  war  near  the  fort  iimler  his  commaiid 
at  St.  Louis.  IJis  ]>roud  mausoleum  is  the  j^reat  city  which  ha.s 
siiicc^  risen  above  liis  unknown  ^rave,  and  his  lend  re(|iiieni  the  <liu 
of  industry  and  the  traini*  of  thousands  descended  from  the  race, 
lie  liate<l  with  such  I'einorseless  rancor.  The  forest  solitudes 
throuiiili  Avhicli  he  loved  to  wander  have  been  swejit  away,  his 
warriors  are  no  more,  and  tlie  rusty  relics  of  tlieir  former  existence 
<'an  only  be  found  in  tli<^  cabinet  of  the  anti(piary,  while  the  ;^reat 
ri\'ei-  which  tloated  only  their  frail  canoes  is  now  beat  into  foam  by 
the  powerful  enginery  of  the  passing  steaudioat, 

*Tt  was  nt  this  time  that  the  trnH-cily  before  (IcsprllK-d  ou  tlic  Uock  of  St.  Louis  was 
onucli'd,  which  hassinou  been  lojown  as  "Starved  Uoek." 


11 


dlAPTEIl  XV. 

17(M-7S  — ILLINOIS     AS    A    iUNIMSlI     V\H)MS('l]  — r„rli<il 

K.rixliis  of  the  Fniicli — 'I'licir  PisliLc  o/'  iUnjllsli  I.air,  and 
l{('Ht(ti((tii>H  tif  Ihiif  (hen  hi/  llic  (tiirhcv  Hill —  Land  (i rants  by 
Jhitisli  CoiiiiikiikIiihIx — Ciirioux  linlidu  Ihnls — i'lmdUvn  of  the 
tS(  lilt  UK  ulx  ill  ITiKi,  1)1/  Cii/iliiiii  rHiiiiiii — liiHilii's  and  M<illiUc« 
J'^.iindilioii.s  In  llic  »S7.  Josv/th  in   1777-7S. 


It  WHS  (111  till'  lOlliol'  Ochtlit'i',  17(»."),  tiiiil  tlic  ensign  uT  P'riinco 
was  replaced  on  the  lainiiarls  ol' Fort  Ciiaiires  l>_v  tlie  lla;^ of  (ireat 
JWilaiii.  At  (lie  time  tlie  colonies  of  the  Atlantic  seaboard  wero 
assriiililed  in  iireliniinarv  eon;iress  at  New  York,  dreaniiii;;  ol'  liit- 
t'rt,\  and  independence  for  the  continent,  while  the  ;;i»'at  \alley 
east  of  the  .^iississip|»i,  with  its  Itroad  ri\ers  rnshinj;'  from  tiie 
inountainsand  yallierin;;  in  the  plain,  its  vast  piairies  unsnrpassed 
lor  their  wcaltli  of  soil,  its  lioimdless  primeval  forests  with  their 
deep  s(»litinles,  into  which  were  presently  to  he  snmnioned  Iho 
ea^cr  millions  of  many  ton;;ne.s  to  Iniild  their  hapi)y  homes,  passi-d 
iinallv  from  the  dominion  of  France  nnder  the  yoke  of  (lieat 
IJrilain.*  I'.esides  Wein^  (•oiislriui i\ cly  a  jiarl  of  I'lorida  for  o\cr 
100  years,  dnrinj;'  which  tinw  no  Si»aniar«l  set  foot  npon  hi'r  soil 
or  rested  his  eve  npon  lier  Itcanflid  plains,  Illinois,  for  iiearlv  !l() 
years,  had  been  in  the  actnal  occnpation  of  the  French,  their  jmny 
.settlements  slnndieiin;;'  (piietly  in  colonial  di'iiendi  nee  on  the  far- 
off  waters  of  the  KasUasUia,  Illinois  and  Waliash.  Lut  the  An;;lo- 
Saxoii  had  gained  at  last  a  peiinanent  foot  holil  on  the  i)aiiks  of 
the  ureal  rixci',  and  a  new  life,  insliiiet  with  ener;;y  and  }>ro};ress, 
Avas  altoiil  to  be  infnsed  into  theconntry. 

M.  2seyon  dc  N'illiers,  loiij;'  the  commandant  of  Fort  C'hartres, 
kept  from  the  P'rcncii,  and  i»articiilarl\  the  Indians,  so  loii^i' as  he, 
could,  a  kiiowledjic  of  the  cession  of  ihe  country  to  (Ireat  Itriiaiii 
l>y  the  treaty  of  I'ai'is,  and  linally,  w  hen  it  lia»l  {gained  imblicity 
and  when  the  power  and  intlneiice  of  the  j^reat  Indian  conspirator 
Avas  broken,  lather  than  dwell  under  the  detested  llaj;'  of  tliecoii- 
(pieror,  he  abandoned  Illinois  in  the  siiinmer  of  17(il,  followed  by 
many  of  the  inhabitants,  to  ]S'ew'  Orleans.  The  command  of  the 
fort  and  country  tlien  devolved  upon  'S\.  St.  An^ic  de  IJellerive,  ii 
veleran  Canadian  ollicerof  rareta<"t  and  laijic  <'.\perience,  who,  40 
years  prior,  had  escorted  Charlevoix  tliroiij;li  the  Wesr,  the  .lesuit 
traxelermentioninj^liim  with  commendation.     11  is  position  recpiired 


•Bancroft 


162 


llllITISII   OCCITATION. 


1(13 


skill  Mini  iiildit'SM  to  siivr  liis  fcclih-  colniiv  I'loiii  a  rciifWtil  war 
witli  llif  I'liirlisli,  aiMJ  I'liHii  a  ;;i'litiiil  laassanr  iiv  llir  iiicfiix-d 
lionirs  ol'  ,sa\a;;<-.s  iiiidri'  I'oiiliai-  siiriiMiiMliii<^  liiiii.  I>,\  llir  linriic, 
^'ovi-niiiifiit  Ih'  lia<l  Itct'ii  aiUisi'dor  the  rcssioii  toilic  liiilisli,  aiitl 
ordi-i't'd  Id  siii'i'i'iidi-r  tlif  cuiiiiIin  ii|miii  tlair  aiiixal  to  claim  it. 
I'v  i'c|M'att'd  t'liihassics  IVoiii  I'oiiliar  and  iVoin  xaiioiis  wailikt' 
ti'ilif.H  toward  tilt'  cast,  li«'  was  ini|iortiiiicd  lor  assistaix-c  a;;aiiist 
tlic  IOii;;iisIi,  and  iiiiccasiii^l.v  torniciilcd  li,v  the  Illinois  dcaniinl- 
in.;;  arms  and  ammunition,  lint  in  \arioMsdc\lcroMs  wavs,  lie  |iiit 
oil'  from  time  t lie  iiii|»ortiiiiale  >a\a,L;es  w  itli  fair  speeches  and  oi-ca- 
siiiiial  present  s.  w  Idle  he  anxiously  awaited  the  com  in;;  of  the  I  Jiitish 
garrison  to  lake  |iossessioii  and  rcliev  e  iiiiii  of  ids  dilciiiiia.*  Alter 
the  evaeiialioii  of  i'orl  ( 'hail  res,  lie  also  retired  rrmn  the  country, 
c<aidilctili;^  his  leelilc  };arrisoii  ol'  L'l  soldiers  t(»  I  he  inlaiit  setlle- 
iiieiit  of  .St.  iiOiiis,  wiieie.  in  the  ahseiice  of  any  Spanish  iiilc  as 
yet.  lie  continued  toexcrcisc  the  fiiiictioiis  of  his  ollice  with  .^reaf, 
salisfaetion  lo  the  people  iiiilil  No\ ciiilier,  1770.  w  hen  his  am  lioiily 
was  superceded  liy  I'iernas,  coiiiiiiaiidaiit  under  the  Spanish  ;;o\-- 
cniiiieiit.  I>y  a  secret  ireaty,  ralilied  No\einiter  .'!,  17<iLl,  tlie  kiii;^ 
of  l-'raiicc  iiad  <'eded  to  I  lie  kin;;  of  Spain  all  the  territory  west  of  tli(>. 
.■\lississippi  to  its  I'cinolcst  trilmtaries.  incliidinu  New  ( )rleaiis  ;  l»iir, 
the  ci\il  Jiirisdictioii  of  Sjiaiii  was  not  enforced  in  Ipper  Louis- 
iana until  I7lil).f  i'rior  to  liis  departure,  with  a  fatherly  care  and 
ltelie\<)lent  intent,  , St.  Ali.i;('  ilisl  il  iited  for  those  he  left  lieliilid  ill 
Illinois  sdiiie  wise  and  saliitory  rcuiilalioiis  re;;ardiii.i;-  titles  to 
their  laiids.| 

'I'lie  exodus  of  the  old  Canadian  I'rench  was  laruejiist  pri(U' and 
durin.ythe  Uiilish  occiiiiatioii.  riiwillinu' to  dwell  under  the  tla,i;' 
«>!'  their  hereditary  enemy,  iiiany.  ineliidiii;;'  some  of  the  wcaltli- 
iesl  families,  removed  witli  their  sknesand  other  pers<mal  ell'ects, 
mostly  to  rpper  liOiiisiiina.Jiist  across  the  Mississipjii,  and  settled 
in  the  small  hamlet  of  St.  (leiicviexc.  ( )tliers  jnined  and  aided 
Laclede  in  foiiiidin;;' the  preseiil  ,L;ieat  city  of  St.  Louis,  the  site  of 
Mhii'li  had  then  hut  Just  been  selected  as  a  <lepot  lor  the  fur  com- 
jiaiiy  of  Louisiana.  'I'Ih'  numlifr  of  inhahitants  of  foreign  linea.nc, 
residing'  in  the  Illinois  set  I  leiiieiits  were  estimated  as  follows: 
AN'hitc  men  ahletohear  arms,  7(l():  white  women,  ."((Kt :  their  cliil- 
ilreii,  .s.""»0;  iie.uroes  of  lioth  sexes.  tMIt);  total,  L'.!)">(>.  I'.y  the  lieyira, 
one-third  of  the  wliites  and  a  ;;i('atei-  pro])orlion  of  the  lilacks 
reiiio\cd.  lea\  in,;;' judhalily  less  than  L',(I(HI  souls  at  the  coiiimeiice- 
ineiit  of  the  llritish  occiipatii  i,ilurin.i:'  which  the  inlliix  did  not 
more  than  keep  ]>a<'e  with  th  .  Itliix.  I'ew  iMi^lish  or  Americans 
even  visited  tlie  country  under  the  Uiilish  rule, and  less  settlciL 
Scarcely  an  .\ii,yIo-Saxoii  (oilier  than  tin-  Lrilish  troojis.  traders, 
oIliciM's  and  favored  land  spci-ulators)  was  seen  theic  diirinj^ 
tliis  time,  and  until  the  compiest  of  Clark  in  177S. 

Captain  Sterling;',  of  the  ll'd  Itoyal  lli,i;lilaiiders,  lti(tu;L;ht  out 
Avitli  him,  and  in  takin;;'  jais.session  of  iMU't  Cliartres.  piildislied 
till' follow  in;;'  i)roclamatiou  : 

"  IJy  Mis  TCxccllcncy,  TIkhdiis  G;i,ffi',  ]\[;ijiir-Gciicr:il  of  the  ICiiii;',-  arinirs, 
Colonel  of  till'  '2'li\  rciiimciit,  Gciici'mI  coiniuiindiii;:  in  cliiff  all  the  t'orcrs  of  His 
^lajcsty  in  Noilli  Auu  ricn,  ilc,  tic: 


*.Soolii8  lettor  to  Governor  T)'Al)bn(lic,  Sept.  9th. 
+Mont'ttc's  Vnllo.v  of  the  Mississippi. 
tPeck's  Annuls  of  the  West. 


104 


IIISTOllV  OF  irjJNOIS. 


"Wlnrc'is,  liy  I  he  )i('!i('cf()ii('l  11(1  I'll  Ml  I '.'iris,  nil  I  iir  Hull  111'  Filini;n'\ ,  17(i:i,  llir 
mil  111  ry  nf  Ilir  Iliiimis  IimsIhtii  fnlnl  In  Ili'^  HritMiiiiic  ^lajist  y,  ;ui(l  tlir  liiUiii!: 
])i>--sis>i(iii  of  I  III' Miiil  country  III'  llir  Iliiimis  by  I  riinps  nf  His  Miiji'Sty,  tli(Mn:ii 
ticliiyiil,  Ikis  liccii  ili'li'i'miiii'd  upini,  wi'  liii\c  roiiiul  il  trnod  In  inaUi'  kiidwu  to 
till'  iiilialiilaiils — • 

"'{"iinl  IFis  M.'ijrsl  V  i;r;uits  lo  llir  inliabitaiits  of  llic  Tlliiuiis  tlir  lilii'rty  of  t lie 
C'allii'lic  rcli.Lrioii,  MS  il  lias  iilri'Mily  lircii  unuitcd  to  liis  siilijccts  in  CiuhkIii  ;  Ik; 
lias  conscciiiciilly  irivcn  Ilic  most  precise  and  clt'ecfive  orders,  to  tlic  end  that 
liis  new  Koniaii  Catliolic  siilijects  of  the  Illinois  iiiay  exercise  the  worship  of 
their  relisrion  according  to  the  rigli's  of  the  Uoiiian  {.!inirch,  in  the  same  manner 
as  ill  Canada  ; 

"  That  Hit;  .Majesty,  inonovcr,  agrees  that  the  French  inlialiitanls,  or  others, 
•who  have  hecii  siilijecis  of  the  .Slost  {'hrisiiaii  Kiiiir,  may  retire  in  full  safely 
(111(1  freedom,  wlieicverthey  please,  even  to  New  Orleans,  or  any  oilier  pari  of 
Louisiana,  alliKumh  il  should  liapjieii  that  the  Spaniards  take  jiossession  of  it 
in  the  naiiii  of  His  Calholic  Majesly ;  and  they  may  selltlieir  C'state,  jirovided 
it  belo  suhji'cNor  ili>  .Maie>ty,  a:id  Iranspoil  their  elfects,  as  well  as  [lersoiis, 
•wilhoiii  resii-aini  upon  their  emigration,  under  any  pretense  whatever,  except 
ill  coiisc(|iieiice  of  delits  or  of  criiniiial  ])rocess; 

''Thai  those  who  choose  to  retain  their  lands  and  become  siihjects  of  His 
!Ma.jesly,  shall  enjoy  the  same  riulils  and  privikues,  the  same  security  for  their 
lieiMiiis  and  ell'eets  and  liheity  of  trade,  as  the  okl  sliliji els  of  the  Kinii'; 

"Tliat  ihey  are  ci'liimMlideii,  liy  these  jiresents,  to  lake  the  oath  of  lidelity 
and  iiliedience  In  His  .Majesly,  in  presence  ot  Sieiir  SleiTnii;',  Captain  of  Iho 
llii;lilaiid  reiiiineiit,  the  hearer  hereof,  and  furnished  with  our  full  powers  for 

this  iiurpnse  ; 

'■  Tnat  we  recomnnnd  forcibly  to  the  inhabitants,  to  conduct  tlicmselvesliko 
gonii  and  failhful  subjects,  avoidin,u'  by  a  ■wise  aiiil  iinuleiit  demeanor  all  causu 
of  cnliiplaint  ai;aiiist  them  ; 

"TliMt  they  aci  in  concerl  with  His  ^lajesty's  ofKcers,  so  that  his  trooiis  may 
take  peacciible  possession  of  all  the  pnsis,  and"  oriler  be  kept  in  the  couniry  ;  by 
this  means  aliHie  they  will  spare  His  .Majesty  the  necessity  of  recurring  to  lnrc:c 
of  arms,  and  will  timl  theinselves  saved  from  the  scourge  of  a  blooely  war,  anil 
of  all  the  evils  which  tin;  march  of  an  ariiiv  into  their  country  would  dra\7 
after  if." 

"  \Ve  direct  that  these  presents  be  read,  publislied,  and  posted  up  lu  the 
Usual  places. 

"  Hone  and  given  at  Headquarters,  New  York.  Signed  willi  our  hand,  sealed 
wilh  our  seal  at  arms,  and  countersigned  by  our  t'ccrctary,  this  iJOth  of  JJe- 
cember,  lT(i4. 

"Thomas  Gage,  [L.  S.] 
"  Jiu  IIU  E.,-rf//en,y: 

"  G.  Matuuin." 

With  siicli  fair  iiiid  liberal  coiicc.s.sioti.s,  so  wollcalciilatod  to  jjaiu 
tlu'  favor  and  alVcctioii  of  the  French,  iiiid  istay  their  <'ini}iration, 
('ii])t;iin  Sterliiiji  bejiaii  the  goveriiiiieiit  of  this  isolated  colony. 
IJiit  it  was  destine''  to  be  of  short  dnration.  lie  died  some  three 
months  after  his  arrival,  leaviiifi'  tlie  otiiec  of  conunandant  vacant. 
T'lider  these  cireiinistitnces  their  ibiiner  beloved  conunandant,  JM. 
St.  Anjio,  returned  to  Fort  tJhiirUes  and  di.seharjied  the  duties  of 
the  ottice  until  a  successor  U>  Oiiptidn  Sterlinji'  sliould  be  sent  out. 
]\IaJor  Fr;i  :cr  Avas  next  sent  out  from  Fort  IMtt.  lie  exercised  a 
bri(f  but  arbitrary  power  over  the  settlements,  when  he  Mas  re- 
lieved by  il  Colonel  Keed,  who  lU'oved  for  the  colonists  a  bad 
cxchanji'e.  For  IS  months  he  enac^ted  the  petty  tyrant  by  a  series 
of  military  opjiressions  over  theses  ferbh'  settlements,  which  were, 
by  reason  of  theii' isolation,  entirely  without  redress.  Me  was,  how- 
ever, at  liist  renK)ved  and  succeeded  by  Li(Mitenant  Colonel  Wil- 
kins,  who  arrived  Sejttember  a,  17G.S.  lie  brou};ht  orders  for  the 
establishment  of  ii  court  of  justice  in  Illinois  for  the  iidministra- 
tion  of  the  laws  and  the  adjustment  and  trial  of  all  controversies 


nUITlSH  OCCUPATION. 


i(;5 


existiiifj"  lu'twccii  t lie  people  relatiiijn"  to  debts  or  property,  eiHiev 
rciil  or  ])ersoiiiil. 

On  tlir  I'lst  of  Noveiiiliei'.  17»iS.  Col.  Wilkins  issued  liis  i)roelii- 
iiiatioii  lor  :i  civil  adiiiiiiistriitioii  of  tlie  laws  of  tlie  eoiiiitr.v.  l''or 
this  jairpose  lie  ap])oiiite(l  seven  iiiaiiist rates  oi-  jiKl.u'es,  Irom 
aiiion.i;'  lla'  ])eoi»le,  as  a  civil  trii»Miial.  to  liold  iiioiitidv  terms  ot 
coiii'f.  The  names  ot'  Ihe.ve  first  exponents  of  the  ])rinci])les  of  th(i 
common  law  of  J'ai,:;lan(l  iij)ou  the  soil  of  Illinois,  we  ai'c  unable  to 
transmit.  A  term  of  this  court  was  held,  eommeuciuf;-  DecendxT 
(I,  ITfJS,  ;it  I''ort  ('lia)ti'<'s.  which  was  the  liist  common  law  juris- 
diction eser  exercised  witiiin  tlie  present  limits  of  Illinois.  Al- 
tlionyh  v/e  <'all  this  a  common  law  court,  it  was  in  ])oint  of  fact  a 
\<'i\  nondesc)i|>r  affair,  ll  was  a  conrt  of  lii'st  and  last  resort — no 
appeal  lay  fiom  it.  It  was  the  hij^hest,  as  well  as  lowest — the 
tiidy  court  in  tli<'  couutry.  it  pi-oved  anv  thiny  but  ]»opnlar,  and 
it  is  Just  ])ossi)iIe  that  the  honorable  judjics,  tlu'iuselves  taken 
fi'om  amonj;'  lh<'  jH'ople,  may  not  have  been  the  most  enlii;litened 
<'Xponents  of  the  law.  'i'li<'  people  were  under  th"'  laws  of  IOn;;Iand, 
Itnt  the  trial  by  jiu-y — that  ^^reat  Indwark  of  the  subject's  ri^ht, 
coe\al  with  the  coitimon  law  ami  i'eit<'i'ated  in  the  Uritish  C'oiisti- 
luti<»n  —  ilie  l'"n'nch  mind  was  unable  to  ap]>reciate.  i>articu- 
laily  in  ci\il  Dials.  'l'lie.\  thon.i;iil  it  very  inconsistent  that  the 
J'aiirlish  should  I'cfer  ince  (jnestions  relatniju^  to  the  lights  of 
])rojierty  to  a  ti'ibunal  consisting'  of  tailors,  slioemakei's  or  other 
artisans  jind  tradesjM'ople,  foi'  deternriiiation,  rather  than  the 
judiii's  leariu'd  in  the  law.  U'jiile  thus  nndei'  tlie  lOn^lish  admin- 
istiation  <*i\il  juiis)n'iid<'nce  was  soiiulit  to  be  broiiuiit  nearer  to 
the  jieoplc,  \\hei"e  it  should  be,  it  failed,  Iteeause.  owiny  to  the 
teachings  and  j>e]lia])s  neiiiiisof  the  l-'jcnch  mind,  it  <'ould  not  be 
niarle  of  the  jicople.  Foi'  near  Hit  years  had  these  settlements  been 
ruu'd  by  the  dicta  ami  decisions  of  tlie<»cratic  and  military  tribu- 
nals, absolute  in  both  civil  and  criminal  cases,  biit.  as  may  well  be 
ima.u'ined,  in  a  post  so  I'emote.  where  there  was  neithci'  wealth, 
culture  nor  fashion,  all  inc<'Utives  tooi>j)ress  the  colony  reniain 'd 
ilormant,  and  the  extraoidinary  powers  (d"  the  jtiiests  an<l  oni- 
niandants  were  exei'cised  in  a  |>atriai'<'hal  si>iril  which  yained  the 
]o\e  and  implicit  conlidi'iice  of  the  ])eo))le.  JJelievin^'  that  their 
I'ulers  were  ever  ri^lit.  t hey  ;nave  tlu-mselves  no  tr(»uble  or  j)ains 
to  review  their  acts.  Indeed,  many  y4'ais  later,  when  Illinois  had 
passed  under  tin'  Jurisdiction  of  the  I'liited  States,  the  ]>eri)lexed 
inliabitiinis,  uiniltle  to  comprehend  tli<-  to  them  complicate''  ma- 
chinery of  repnltlicanisin,  beiii,fed  to  be  delivered  from  the  ..,  .'<  r- 
abl(>  bnrdeii  of  self  .yovei'iiment  and  a,i;ain  subjected  to  the  will  of 
a  militiiry  commandant. 

in  1771  the  I'ai.ylisii  I's'.iliament  restoicd  to  the  pco]»le  their 
ancient  lav.s  in  civil  caseti,  without  the  trial  by  jiir,\  ;  guaranteed 
the  free  ext'icise  of  tlu'ir  I'eliiiioii,  and  relialtilitated  the  IJomau 
Catholic  clei-;^y  with  the  pri\  ilexes  stii>nlate<l  in  the  arti<'les  <d' 
eapilidation  of  3iontr<'al  in  17<i(t.  'J'lie  act  was  known  as  tlie 
''(jMiebec  bill,''  which  extende<l  tlu'  boundiiri<'s  of  tiie  province,  of 
((liiebec  to  iln-  Mississij>pi.  in<'ludin,uall  the  i''rencli  inhabitants  at 
J)etroil.  IMackii.aw.  on  the  Wabash,  and  in  the  Illinois  country. 
Its  object  was  to  lirndy  attach  these  I'enmte  l''rencii  coloides,  sis 
well  as  all  Canada,  to  the  I'ai^ilish  uoveriiment.  and  to  thwart  the 
risiny  (»]tposition  of  tiie  colonies  on  tiu'  Atlantic  !*eaboa,rd  to  its 


'i:l: 


im 


IIISTOI'tY  OF  Il.IJX(Hg 


policy.  'I'lic  hitlfi'  stKiiiiily  <lisiii»i)i'(tl)at»'(l  il,  vir\viii.i;'  it  as  but 
aiiotln-i'  stiokc  ol'  iiiiiiisirrial  |Mtlic_\  to  sfciirc  liic  aid  of  liic  I'^rciidi 
toward  llicir  siil>ia,i;,ilioii.  Tiit'  colonists  were  t  iicii  oju'idv  ana,\  cd 
a,uainst  the  arbitiaiy  acts  oltlit'  iioiiie  jiovcrimiciit.  At  a  coii\cii- 
tioii  lii'ld  at  Faiiiioiitli.  .Mass..  Si'ptciidx'i'  L*l',  ITTt,  il  was  icsoixcd 
tliat  ''As  the  vciv  cxtiaoi'iliiiaiy  and  alaiuiiii.u  act  foi- cstalijisldii^" 
tlic  Ifoiiiaii  ("atlatlic  rt'ii.uioii  and  l'"rciicli  laws  in  Canada  may 
introduce  tlic  I'lcncii  or  Indians  into  our  IVonlicv  towns,  wc  rtconi- 
incnd  tliat  c\civ  town  and  individual  in  tliis  c(»iinli'\  siioidd  Im- 
]iro\  idcd  witli  a  proper  stock  ol' iailiiar\  stores."  (•!<•.  Tlie  I'l-endi 
<"olonists,  apprised  of  the  l)itt('r  opjxssii  ion  of  the  l-ai.Lilish  colonists 
to  the  (i>Hel»ec  bill,  and  lielievin;^'  that  IMiritanisni  was  incliiud  to 
d.]irive  them  of  the  reiii^ioiis  privileges  uranted  l»v  it.  were  Itonnd 
the  closer  to  the  support  of  the  ,uo\(rnmcnt  during  llie  tiist  \cwrs 
of  the  revohitionarv  war.  It  is  asserted  that  the  l'"reneh  supplied 
Indian  war  ]»arties  with  arms  and  ammunition  to  commit  depre- 
dations upon  the  \.'estern  fi'ontiers  of  the  lai^lisli  setllemenls.* 

After  the  actpiisilion  of  New  Fiance  liy  (ireat  !!ritain,  the  kin.u, 
l»y  his  proclamation  of  October  7th,  ITfi.'i,  forbade  his  subjects 
'Muakin,u'  an\  pur<-hases  or  settleuu'nts  whatever,  «tr  taking' pos- 
session of  au\  of  the  lands  beyoml  the  sources  of  any  of  the  liveis 
Avhieh  fall  into  the  Atlantic  ocean  iVom  the  west  or  northwest."' 
The  policy  was  to  reser\('  this  vast  and  fertile  rej:ion  as  a  luintin*'" 
ground  for  the  Indians,  and  by  means  of  the  lakes  {»la<'e  witliiu 
]5ritisli  ♦■ontrol  their  enornntus  lurand  jteltry  trade;  toconJinetlie 
English  colonies  to  the  s<'a.l>oar<l  within  the  reach  of  Hrilish  shi}>- 
]»iu^',  which  woidd  be  more  promotive  of  trade  and  connneree, 
V  liiie  the  j;rantin,y  of  lari^c  bodiesof  land  in  the  lemote  interioi',  it. 
Avas  appreheiuled,  woidd  tend  to  separate  and  render  independent 
the  i»eople,  who  would  want  to  set  up  for  themselves.! 

Notwithslandin.u'  this  |M>licy  (»f  the  iiome  govern  men  i.  the  nmst 
noticeable  fcatniv  of  ( "olouel  W'illvins'  ailministratioii  was  the  w(Ui- 
(U-rful  liberality  with  whicii  he  parceled  out  the  licii  domain  o\cr 
M'hich  he  ruled  in  lai'jictr  cts  to  his  favorites  in  Illinois.  I'hiiadel- 
])hia  and  elsewhere,  without  (fther  consideration  than  the 
re(|inrinj;' of  them  t(»  re-c(Uivey  to  him  an  interest.  Indei'  the 
]U'oclanniti(in  of  the  kiuji,  dated  October  7,  17(>.>,  t  he  taking' or  juir- 
chasiiiiiof  lauds  fr(un  the  hulians  in  any  of  the  American  colonies 
"was  strictly  forbidden,  without  special  leave  or  license  beiui;  liisfc 
obtained.  In  \iew  of  this  prohibition.  Colonel  Wilkinsaud  s(uni; 
others  of  the  c  a  inlanders  tlurinu  the  Ibitish  occupation  of  Illinois, 
J'roni  I7(!.")  lo  177.">,  seem  to  ha\('  considered  the  i»ro|»erfy  of  llu? 
J'rench  absentees  as  actually  forfeited,  and  j:ranted  il  away.  Hut 
this  transaetitm  ne\er  re<'eivcd  the  saucli^m  ol'  tliekinu;  ly  no 
oflicial  a(;t  was  this  properly  in  any  manner  annexed  to  the  Jii'it- 
isli  crown.*  Tiiie,  under  the  laws  of  I'ai^laml.  an  alien  eou'd  n(tt 
liold  h'.iid,  yet  to  divest  his  title,  and  cause  it  to  Iweoiiie  escnealed, 
a  process  in  the  nature  of  an  impusition  was  necessary.  Did  not 
the  same  rule  apply  in  the  case  of  a  con(|iU'red  country  before  the 
tbrfeiture  of  the  lands  of  an  absentee  became  complete  .' 

Colonel  W'ilkins'  grants  amounted  to  many  th(»usauds  of  acres. 
O.U!  l)e(!aine  afterwurdts  somewhat  notorious.     Thks  was  made  to 


'Dillon's  Ind.  ',KI, 

tSee  letter  ol'  the  Uoyal  Governor  of  Georfiia  to  the  British  Lords  of  Trade,  ITtJB. 


BllITISlI   OCCUPATION. 


k; 


Joliii  r>ii\  iildii,  Sjiiiiiicl  AVIiiiiloii  ;iii(l  (Icdi-.m-  Moi'.uMii,  iii('icli;iiit.s 
of  I'liiladcliihia — wlio,  "tra(liii.i;  in  lliis  coiiiitrv,  liavc  uicallv  coii- 
triltiitcd  t<»  his  iiiajcst.v'.s  service" — •' tor  raii!i;<'  oTeatlie  ami  lor 
tiliiii;^'  tiTiW"/'  '^iii'l  to  t'oiitaiii  J.'J/.ISi;  aeres,  Imt  tlie  metea  and 
bounds  diseioseW  it  to  cover  sonu'  .">((.(MIO  acres.*  It  was  a  nia;;- 
]iiliceiil  domain,  Ivinj^'  between  lln'  \  iilaufs  of  I\askasl<ia  and 
J'rairie  dii  liNiciier,  in  the  pi'esent  county  ol'  Itandoiph.  The  con- 
Acvance  opens  and  closes  with  I  lie  thin  risings  of  I  lie  |ieri(nl  :  -slohn 
Wilkins,  I';s(i..  lieutenant  colonel  of  his  niajesiy's  IMli,  oi'  royal 
re,i:imenl  of  Ireland,  ,u'overnor  and  commandant  thioiiuhonl  the 
Jllinois  (•((untry,  sends  jii'eetinji,"  etc.,  etc..  wlieicnnto  he  "set  his 
Iniinl  and  seal-at-arms  at  I'ort  (,'liartres.  this  iL'lli  day  of  Ai»i'il,  in 
the  ninth  \ear  of  the  ici.^n  of  (Mir  so\'er<'i.i:n.  bord  <  ieor^e  the  Third, 
kin.n' of  (ireat  Jb'itain,  J''rance  and  lieland,"  etc.  etc.,  !7<i!>.  \ 
<'omlitio]i  is  annexed  that  •'■Tlie  lorc.iioiny-  i)e  \oi(l  if  disai>|)ro\('d 
of  by  his  Miajesty  or  the  <'ommander-in chief." 

On  tlieL!.")th  of  .Inne  following,  at  Kort  ( 'hart res,  (ieor,ii'e  ."\Iori;aii 
and  .1.  b'amsey  execnted  an  instrnment  of  writini;',  recitiii!.;-  a 
nnnd»er  of  grants  besides  tlie  fore,u(>injv.  together  with  the  nanu's 
of  t  he  ^raidces.  wherein  in  considei'at  ion  of  ( "olonel -lohii  \\  ilkins, 
''the  better  to  |)r(Unote  the  said  servic*',  has  a,uiced  tobe  interoted 
one  sixth  part  therein,"'  they  ••en.tia.u'c  that  each  of  the  beloic  men- 
tioned j)ersons  shall  assign  oxer  to  the  whole,  and  to  Colonel 
"Wilkins.  live-sixth  parts  theicof."  etc.  I'or  tlie  better  cairyiii,^' 
out  of  their  ])]aiis,  the  Jb'itish  ollicei's.  and  their  grantees  p.rhaps, 
C'oinniitted  a  wanton  oiitrayc  on  the  records  of  the  ancient  l'"reiicli 
jji'aiits  at  Ivask'.!ski;i.  destroyinj;'  to  a  ,^reat  extent  their  reuidar 
chain  of  title  and  comcyaiices.t 

l!y  act  of  conj;ress  of  ITSS,  the  (b»veriior  of  the  Northwestern 
tei'i'itory  was  jiiitlitu'ized  to  conlirm  tlin  jiossessions  and  titles  of 
the  ]''rencli  and  ranadian  inhabitants  and  other  settlers  on  the 
jniblii;  lamls,  who,  on  or  betbre  '  7SS,  had  professed  tin'iiiseh cs 
<.'iti/(?iis  of  tlie  I'liited  Slates,  oi'  any  one  of  them,  (bixcrnor  St. 
Clair  conliiined  many  of  these  ,mants  in  a  xcry  loose  nianner, 
.soinetiines  by  the  bundle.  l!nt  this  Uritish  _i;raiit  of  .">(>,tMt(l  acres, 
uhicli  had  been  assiyiied  to  .lohii  Mdpir.  uas  i»ateiited  by  the 
(Mivcrno)'  to  I'ldj^ar  and  liis  (the  (bivernoi's)  son.  ,lolin  Miiri'ay  St. 
Claii',  to  whom  ICd^ar.  jirevioiis  to  the  coiilirmation.  had  convey»'d  :i 
moiety  by  deed.  ^Iiich  fault  was  Ibnnd  with  this  and  many  other 
transactions,  and  .some  ,;;'ra\»"  charges  were  made  by  .Michael  ,ioiu;.s 
sind  K.  JJackns,  TJ.  S.  land  eoinmis.'jioners  for  the  district  of  Kas- 
kaskia,  as  to  the  nianner  of  obtainiii;;'  confirmation  of  innnmerable 
old  land  .lirants.  IJiit  the  title  to  the  cl;iiiii  in  ipicstion  was  after- 
ward contirmed  by  tlu^  V.  8.  (Joveiiimeiit  to  Ivliiar  and  St.  (.'lair, 
notwithstandini::  the  advers(^  report  of  the  commissioners.  Miliar 
was  for  iiiany  yeai's  the  larii'cst  land  holder  and  richest  man  in 
Illinois.  He  had  deseited  the  Uritish  naval  .service,  and  in  I7S4 
came  to  IvaskasUa  with  a  stock  of  ,yoods. 

At  an  Indian  conncil  held  at  Kaskaskia.  in  177.'5,  an  as.soeiatiou 
of  I'aiiilish  traders  and  merchants,  stylin.i;'  tin  nisehcs  '"Illinois 
liaiid  Company,'"  obtained,  .Inly  .">tli,  from  ten  chiefs  and  head  nu-ii 
of  the  Kaskaskias,  Caliokias,  and  Peorias,  by  a  curiously  sij;i!ed 
deed,  two  ininiense  tracts  of  land,  the  tir.st 


♦Aiiiericim  Stiite  rapers,  vol.  11,  rublio  Liiiiils. 
+Ain.  Htnte  piipers. 


108 


lUSTOUV  OF  ILLINOIS. 


■I ' 


II 'I 


'"   ! 


h\\ 


"  nri;iiiniiii;' at  Ihcmouili  of  ilic  IIui'dii  creek,  ("illcil  liy  tlie  French  tlie  river 
of  M:iiv,  lieinii' alidUt  ii  l<a_i;iie  below  llic  iiioiil  li  of  I  lie  Kaska^kia  river  ;  llieiico 
a  uoriiiward  ol'  ( asl  course,  in  a  direct  line  to  tlie  Hilly  Plains,  eiulit  leai;'iies  or 
lllel'eMliolll-^,  lie  tlie  same  more  or  less;  thence  the  same  colu'se,  ill  a  direct  line 
to  the  Crahlree  I'lains,  seventeen  lean  lies,  or  t  lierealioiits,  lie  the  ipme  more  or 
le.-s;  theni:e  the  same  course,  in  a  direct  line  to  ;i  reiiiarkahk'  place  known  hy 
the  name  of  the  IJii;  liilllalo  Hoofs,  seventeen  h'aniles,  or  lliereahoiils,  he  Ihu 
Slime  more  or  h'ss;  thence  the  same  course,  ill  a  direct  line  to  the  Sail  Lick 
creek,  about  seven  leagues,  be  the  same  more  or  less;  thence  crossinii'  the  said 
crc<k,  about  one  league  below  liio  ancient  Shawneeslowii,  in  an  easterly 
or  a  to  the  north  of  east  course,  in  a  direct  line  to  llie  river  Ohio,  about  four 
le.iii'iies,  be  the  same  more  or  hss ;  thence  down  the  Ohio,  by  the  several 
courses  thereof,  until  it  empties  itself  into  the  ]Slississi[)pi,  about  tliiriyli\c 
leiiuiies,  be  the  same  more  or  less;  and  then  up  the  .Mississippi,  by  the  sever:il 
courses  thereof,  to  the  [ilace  of  begiiiiiini;',  thirty-lhrec  leagues,  or  theri'abouts, 
be  I  he  same  more  or  less." 

'i'liis,  it  will   1k'   iM'icci\t'(l   I)y  Iracinn'  tlic  line,  iiicltuli'd  tea  or 
twelve  of  the  iiio.st  .sotillicily  coiiiitics  in  the  tState. 
Tlie  otlit'i'  tract  was  boiiiulcd  as  follows: 

'■  Iieginniiiii'  at  a  place  or  point  in  a  direct  Hue  opposite  to  the  mouth  of  the 
;Miss(Uiri  river;  theiict'  up  the  ilississipi)i,  by  the  several  courses  thereof,  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  river,  about  si.\  leagues,  hi'  the  .sauie  uiore  or  less; 
iind  then  up  the  Illinois  river,  l)y  the  several  courses  thereof,  to  Chieagoii  or 
Garlick  creek,  about  ninety  leagues  or  thereabouts,  be  the  .same  more  or  hss; 
llieii  marly  a  northerly  course,  in  a  direct  line,  to  a  certain  place  remarkable, 
being  the  grouiul  on  which  an  engagement  or  battle  was  fought,  about  forty 
or  lii'ly  years  ago,  between  tiii'  Pewariaanil  liinard  luiliaiiS,  about  00  leagues, 
be  the  same  more  or  less;  thence  by  the  same  course,  in  u  direct  line,  to  two 
remarkable  hills,  close  together,  in  theuiiddle  of  a  large  prairie  or  plain,  about 
forty  leagues,  be  the  same  miU'e  or  less;  thence  il  norlh-easl  course,  in  a  ilireet 
line,  to  a  remarkal)ie  spring,  known  by  the  liulians  by  the  name  of  Foggy 
Spring,  about  fourteen  leagues,  be  the  same  more  or  hss;  thence  in  the  same 
course,  in  a  direct  line,  to  a  great  mountain  to  the  northward  of  While  liuHalo 
Plain,  about  (ifleeii  le<igiies,  be  tliif  same  more  or  less;  thence  iiearh'  a  soulli- 
Avesl  course,  in  a  direct  line,  to  the  place  of  begiiiuing,  about  forty  leagues,  bo 
the  sauu:  more  or  less." 

Tlio  considi'iatioii  recited  in  the  deed  of  couve.' nice  was:  2."»0 
Itliiiikets,  L'tiO  .stroiides,  .'{."»0  shirts,  irtd  i»airs  of  :  troiid  and  half 
lliick  stockings,  lad  slroiid  !»reechclolhs,  ,"»(l()  llts.  of  gunpowder, 
4,0(KI  lbs.  of  lead,  I  "loss  of  knives.  ;i(»  lbs.  of  vermilion,  L'.ddU 
<;nn Hints,  IJdd  lbs.  of  brass  kettles,  '200  lbs.  of  tobacco,  o  do/,  ^ilt 
lookin;^-j;las.ses,  1  j>toss  j;itn  worms,  2  j>i'oss  awls,  1  <>'ross  lire 
steels,  1(i  doz.  (»f  iiarteriii^',  ld,dddlbs.  of  tloiir,  ."tdd  bits,  of  Indian 
corn,  12  hor.ses,  lli  horned  cattle,  I'd  bits.  (»f  salt,  I'd  jitnis,  aiid  5 
shillin;:;s  in  money.  This  deed  was  ihily  sij;iied  by  the  liuliau 
chiefs  and  attested  by  the  names  often  [ter.sons,  and  was  recorded 
in  the  oflice  of  a  notary  imblie  at  KaskasUia,  Se[ilember  I'd,  1773. 
The  traiisiiction  was  effeoted  for  the  Illinois  Land  ("omimiiy  by  a, 
member  immed  William  Murray,  then  a  trader  in  the  Illinois 
country.  There  beloiijicd  to  it  two  tnembers  in  London,  ten  in 
IMiilailelphia,  tw(»  in  Liineaster,  tliree  in  various  counties  of  i'enn- 
sylvania,  one  in  I'ittsbiii;.;,  and  (ieorjic  (!asil('r  and  .lames  L'liinsey, 
inerchaids  of  the  Illinois  conidry.  The  names  indicate  the  members 
to  have  been  mostl,\  .Jews. 

In  177."»,  lionis  Niviat,;'.  inerchaid  of  the  Illinois  eonnlry,  aetinji- 
as  the  a^cnt  of  an  association  deiuiminided  the  Wabash  Liiml 
Conii>any,*  obtained  by  a  iU'vil  dated  October  I8th,  from  eleven 
I'iannkeshaw  chiefs,  immen.se  trticts  of  land  lyin<>tm  botli  sides  of 

*Wo  reuuKuii^u  lu  this  eoinpauy  sume  ol  the  wtme  uaniuB  u.s  iu  the  IlUnoia  Cuaipuuy. 


mUTISII   OCOri'ATKW. 


109 


tlic  ()iiiil)ii('li  liver,  one  (•oiiinu'iiciii;;-  :tt  Cat  river  ~)'J  leajiiies  above 
A'iiK'eiiiies,  to  i'oiiit  Coiijiee,  witii  10  lea,mie.s  in  widtii  on  tlie  east 
side  and  .'!()  leaj^iies  (ilO  miles)  on  the  west  side — liliuisis.  Another 
traet,  also  on  liotli  sides  of  tin-  ri\<'r,  l)e_i;innin;.;  at  tiie  nioiitii  of 
AVhite  ri\cr,  to  the  Oiiio,  od  iea;^nes,  iind  exlendinj;  K»  lea^^nes  into 
Indiana  and  .'10  into  Illinois.  'I'lie  iiiinilier  of  acres  contained  in 
these  grants  was  ahont  .'>7,l!>7,<iOO.  The  consideration  was  nuicli 
the  same  as  recite(l  in  the  other  pnrehases.  The  deed  was  re;;is- 
teicd,  as  the  other,  at  KasUaskia. 

'I'lie  title  thus  acquired  to  enoi'mons  bodies  of  fertile  lands,  was 
contrarv  to  the  Kin<;"s  proclamation,  and  at  best  iniiierl'eet.  iWiL 
it  was  the  revolt  of  the  colonies  and  the  establishment  of  llieir 
independence  that  frnstrated  the  schemes  of  tliese  powerfnl  com- 
panies. Tlieii-  grants  miiiht  otherwise  have  been  iteifected  b\  the 
Kinn'.  In  17S0  (April  I'Htli),  the  two  land  compaines  elfected  a 
eonsolidatitm  nnder  the  style  of  "Tlie  I'nitt'd  Illinois  and  \\'abii>h 
Land  Conii)anies."  Tlironnh  their  aj^eiits  they  now  ai»i>liod  to 
conuress  reiteate<lly  for  a  recoi;nition  and  conlirmatioii  of  their 
Indian  grants,  in  ;»art  at  least,  their  efforts  rnnnin^'  throii^^h  a 
l»eriod  of  .'{((years— 17.S7,  17!>1,  171>7,  1S(H  and  bSKI;  bnt  that  iiody 
Mas  lirm,  and  ail  their  api)lications  were  rejei^ted. 

AVe  here  juive  some  valuable  extracts  from  an  old  Kn<;lisli  report 
of  lOS  ]>aj^'es,  entitled,  '•The  present  state  of  the  lOnropean  Setlle- 
menls  <»n  the  Mississipi)i,"  by  Captain  Phillip  I'itman,  published 
at  London  in  1770.  Captain  I*itnian  was  en.uineer  in  the  Hritish 
army  and  was  seid  ont  to  make  a  survey  of  the  foi'ts  and  icport 
the  condition  of  the  \illa,n'es  and  impi'ovements  in  these  newly 
actiuired  territoiies  of  the  Jiritish  crown.  This  work  is  a  docu- 
ment of  I'are  vabie,  (illini;'  n]),  as  it  does  in  a  nicasuic,  a  hiatns 
in  Illinois  history  for  which  there  are  no  <»tlier  anthentic  sonrces 
of  inlbrmation.  lie  visited  illinois  in  17()(i.  Of  Kaskaskia,  he, 
gives  the  tbUowinj;'  description  : 

'' Tlie  vill:ij;r  of  Noire  Dainc  dc  Casrasqiiias  is  by  f;ir  tliu  most  considirnlile 
st'tllciuciit  ill  llic  country  of  ilic  Illinois,  as  well  from  its  number  of  iiilialii- 
tauts  MS  from  its  a(lvaiiiM!4-(-ous  sitUMtion.  ***** 

"  Moiis.  I'asjcl  was  the  first  who  introduci'd  water  mills  in  this  fotintry.  and 
lie  constnicted  a  Very  line  one  on  the  ri\'er  Caseasquias,  whieli  was  lioili  for 
jiriiidiiii;- corn  and  sawiiii?  lioanls.  It  lies  about  one  mile  from  the  village. 
The  mill  proved  fata)  to  him,  beinu;  liilled  as  Iw.  was  workiiifr  it,  with  two 
negroes,  by  a  party  nf  the  ("heroUees,  in  the  year  1704. 

"The  priiieijial  liuiMings  are  the  church  and  Jisiiits' House, -wliieh  has  ii 
small  cliajiel  adjoining  it ;  these,  as  well  as  some  other  houses  in  the  village, 
are  linilt  of  .stone,  and,  eonsidering  this  pari  of  I  lit!  world,  make  a  very  goocl 
ai)|)earaiice.  T\\i:  Jesuits'  plantation  consisted  of  '2-ii)  arpents  (an  arpenl  is 
b5H)0  of  an  acre)  of  cnltiv.'ted  laml,  a  very  good  stock  of  cattle,  and  atirewery; 
\\  hieh  was  sold  by  tlieFre  eli  eommandant,  after  the  country  was  cedeil  to  the 
English,  for  the  crown,  in  eonseciuence  of  the  suppression  of  the  oriler. 

"  .Mons.  Heauvais  wasllif  [nireliasir,  who  is  the  richest  of  the  English  sub- 
jects in  this  eountry  ;  he  keeps  80  slaves;  he  I'liniishes  S(),()(K)  weight  of  Hour  to 
the  Iving'.s  magazine,  which  was  only  part  of  the  harvest  he  reaped  in  oiieycar. 
Sixty-live  families  reside  in  this  village,  beside  mendiants,  other  casual  jieople, 
and  slaves.  The  fort,  which  was  burnt  down  in  October,  17(10,  stood  on  the 
summit  of  it  high  rock  opposite  the  village  and  on  the  opposite  side. of  the 
river.  It  wasaii  oblong  (piadraiigle,  of  which  the  extreme  polygon  measured 
S'.H)  by  251  feet.  Ii  wa-  built  of  vir  thick  .-(piare  timber,  and  dove-iailed  at 
the  angles.  An  olHeer  and  twenty  soldiers  are  quartered  in  the  village.  The 
ollieer  governs  the  i iilialiit;nits,  iindei'  tin.'  dirietion  of  the  ConmuuKlaiit  Ut 
Fori  Clmrlres.     Here  are  albo  two  companies  of  mililia." 


170  IIISTOUY   OF   ILLINOIS. 

rraiiie  (111  liocluT — "  La  Prairie  des  lioclics" — is  desmlu'd  a.s 
beiiijL^' 

"Aldiiit  17|14|inilrs  finiii  (';is(iis(|iiiiis.  Il  is  11  sinnll  villiiirc.  coitsistiii!;' (if 
2'2  ilwclliiin'  liiiiiscs,  III!  ufwliicli  ;irc  iiiluiliitcil  hy  ms  in;in_v  I'aiiiilics.  llirr  is  ii 
lill'h-  cliai)!'],  Inrmci'iy  ii  ciiiipcl  iil'  cnsc  to  liu,'  ciuircli  ;il  Fori  Ciiarli'cs.  TIk' 
iiiliMliit.iiits  iirc  viiy  iii(liisirii)Us,  aiul  raise  u^iicat  dtal  nf  roni  and  cvciy  i<iii(l 
of  siociv.  Tiu'  viiiai,'!'  is  twi)  mills  from  Fort  C.'iiarlrcs.  ['I'iiis  was  Little 
r(//i((/c,  wliicli  was  a  mile  or  more  lu'iinr  lliaii  tlio  Fort.]  It,  talics  its  name 
fi-oiii  its  situation,  Ixiiiiv  t)iiill  uiulrr  a  rock  tiiat,  runs  parallel  willi  :lie  river 
jMi^sisssippi  at  a  leaiiiie  dislauce,  for  40  miles  up.  Here  isii  company  of  militia, 
tlie  I'ajilain  of  wiiieli  reiiidates  tiie  police  of  the  viUaiie. 

"Saiiil  l'liilli])e  is  a --niall  village  aliout  live  miles  from  Fort  Cliarlres,  on  ilie 
road  to  Kaixjuias.  There  are  aliout  sixteen  liousesaiul  a  small  cluircli  staudimj;; 
all  of  liic  inliahitants,  cxcc])t  tiie  C'aptaiu  of  tlic  militia,  deserted  it  in  ITCi."),  and 
went  to  the  French  side,  (Missouri.)  The  C'aptain  of  the  militia  has  about 
twenty  slaves,  a  good  slock  of  cattle,  and  a  water-mill  for  corn  ami  jilauks. 
This  village  stands  on  ii  very  tine  nuadow,  about  one  mile  from  the  3lis- 
sissippi." 

"Tiu'  village  of  Saint  Famille  de  Kiioquias  (Cahokiu)  is  generally  reckoiieil 
fil'leeu  leagues  from  Fiu't  Clnirtres  and  si.\  leagues  below  the  mouth  of  the 
^li^souri.  It  stands  mar  the  side  of  the  Mississippi,  and  is  marked  from 
the  river  by  u'l  island  (Duncan's)  two  leaLMies  long.  The  village  is  ojiposite 
the  center  ol  this  island;  it  is  long  and  straggling,  being  tliree-f<'Urtli.s  of  a  mile 
Irom  one  end  to  the  other.  It  contains  forty -live  dwelling  houses,  and  a  church 
lU'ar  its  center.  The  situation  is  not  well  chosen,  as  in  the  Hoods  it  is  generally 
overtlowed  two  or  three  feet  dee]).  This  was  the  first  scttlem  nt  on  the  Mis- 
sis.sipni.  Tiie  land  was  piirchasiil  of  the  savages  by  a  few  Canadians,  some  of 
■whom  married  women  of  the  Kao(|uias  nation,  and  oiliers  bioughl  wives  Ironj 
Canada,  and  then  icsided  there,  leaving  their  ch:  Iren  to  succeed  them.  The 
inhabitants  ol  this  ])lace  depend  more  n\\  hunting  and  their  Indian  trade  than 
on  agriculture,  as  they  seaicely  raise  corn  enougli  for  their  own  consumiition  ; 
they  hiive  a  gi'eat  plenty  of  i)'Uiltry  and  gond  stocks  of  hornod  cattle. 

'•The  mission  of  St.  Suljiice  had  a  very  liiK;  plantation  here,  and  an  excellent 
house  buili  on  it.  They  sold  this  estate,  and  a  verj'  gf)od  mill  lor  corn  and 
]ilaidvS,  to  a  Frenclunan  who  chose  to  remain  under  tlie  F.nglisli  government. 
They  also  disposed  of  thirty  negroes  and  a  good  stock  of  cattle  to  I'ilferent 
people  in  the  country,  and  returned  to  Fr.mee  in  ITtU.  What  is  called  the 
iort,  is  a  small  house  standing  in  the  center  of  the  village.  It  dillers  nothing 
fi'om  the  other  houses,  excei)t  in  being  one  of  the  poorest.  It  was  formerly 
inclosed  with  high  palisades,  but  these  were  torn  down  and  burnt.  Indeed  a 
ft)rt  at  this  )da((,'  could  be  of  l>ut  little  use." 

JkCjiiii'diiiy  the  soil,  pnKlii('t.s  and  couimerce,  of  the  colony,  I'itt- 
iiiiiii  .siiys: 

"  The  soil  of  this  country,  in  general,  is  very  rich  and  luxuriant ;  it  jiroduces 
all  kinds  of  European  grain.s,  hops,  hemp,  tlax,  cotton  and  tobacco,  anil 
European  fruits  come  to  great  perfection.  The  inhabitants  make  wine  of  the 
wild  granes,  whi'h  is  very  inebriating,  and  is,  in  color  and  taste,  very  like  the 
red  W!U'  of  Provence. 

In  the  late  wars.  New  Orleans  and  the  lower  jiarts  of  Louisiana  were  sup- 
plied with  Hour,  beet,  wines,  lianis  and  other  |)rovisions,  from  this  country.  At 
imseiit  its  conunerce  is  mostly  conlincd  to  the  jieltrj'  and  furs,  which  are  got 
in  trallie  from  the  Indians;  for  wliicli  are  received  in  ict urn  such  European 
conmiodities  as  are  necessary  to  carry  on  thiit  commerce  and  the  support  of  its 
inhabitants."  "  . 

Of  till'  Indians,  ho  say.s: 

"The  principal  Intlian  nations  in  this  country  are,  the  Cascasiiuias,  Kaho- 
quias,  Mitchiganiias,  and  I'eoyas;  these  four  trilies  are  generally  called  the 
Illinois  Indians.  Exeejit  in  the  hunting  se.isons,  they  resiile  near  the  English 
seltlemen's  in  this  co\intry.  They  are  a  poor,  debauched,  and  detc.-table 
])e(tple.  They  count  al)i»ut  ',\')i)  warriors.  Tlie  Paiuiuichas.  Mascoutins,  Mi- 
amies,  Kickapous,  and  Pyutonoiis,  though  iu)t  very  numerous,  are  a  braveand 
warlike  people." 

Of  old  Fort  Chartre.s,  the  stronj^cst  fortress  in  liie  Mississippi 
valley,  Avhich  was  re-biult  by  the   French    liovernnient  in  1750, 


F 


marisii  occrPAiioN. 


171 


duriitj;  tlic  French  :iii(l  l'iii,<iiisli  war  in  Aiiicrica,  Ciiptiiin    ritmiiii 
finiiislics  the  lullowiii;;'  <lcs('rii)ti(>ii: 

"  Fort  Cliartrcs,  wlicii  it  bcloiitrccl  to  Friiiicc,  was  tlic  sent  of  tlic  uiivcriiiuoiit 
of  the  IlliiioiH.  Till'  li(ii(l(iuiiricis  of  tlu;  Kiijilisli  comiiiiindiim' oili<'<  r  is  now 
111  re,  \\  lin,  ill  tact,  i-i  tii(!  iirbitrary  jrovcnior  of  the  comitry.  Tiic  tort  is  mi 
irrciriiliir  (|U;ulriiii!fl(' ;  llic  sides  of  tlic  cxlfiior  polyiion  iii'i' -I'.tD  l'<ct.  Jl  is 
built  c)f  stone,  ami  pliisiercil  over,  iiml  is  only  vlesi<j;ne(l  as  adetViisi'  ai'-ainst,  tlic 
Indians.  Tlie  walls  are  two  feet,  two  inches  tliiek,  and  are  jiierecd  with  loop- 
holes at  reirniar  dislaiiees,  and  with  two  port- holes  for  caiiiion  in  the  fieies  and 
two  in  Ihe  Hanks  of  each  bastion,  'riic  diteli  has  never  lieeii  Hnislied.  The 
C'lilraiice  to  the  fort  is  throimh  a  very  handsome  rustic  uate.  ^V'illiin  the  wall.s 
is  a  biiiKpiette  raised  three  feet,  for  the  men  to  stand  on  when  tiiey  tire  tlirouijli 
tlii^  loop  holes.  'I'lie  bnildiitits  within  the  fu't  are,  a  commandant's  and  a  coin- 
niissaiy's  house,  the  ma,i;:i/,ine  of  stores,  corjis  de  t^arde,  and  two  barracks  ; 
these  ()ccui)y  the  sipiare.  Within  the  iiorii-es  of  the  bastion  an;  a  jiowder  maij;- 
azine,  a  bake  house,  and  a  jirisoii,  in  ilie  tloor  ot' which  are  four  dnn^:'eons,  anil 
in  the  upper,  two  rooms,  a  ml  an  out -house  beloimim;  to  the  commandant.  'I'ho 
commamiant's  luMise  is  tliirty-1  wo  yards  loii<f  and  ten  broad,  and  contains  ;i 
kitchen,  ii  dinintf-rooin,  a  beil-ehamber,  one  small  room,  five  closets  for  serv- 
ants, and  ;i  cellar.  The  commissary's  house  (now  oecu;iied  by  otHeers)  is  liuilt 
on  the  same  Hue  as  this,  and  its  iiroporlion  and  the  distrilmtion  of  its  ajjart- 
liients  ar(!  the  same.  Opposite  these  are  the  st(U'ediouse  and  the  i>iiard-lh)use ; 
they  are  each  thirty  yards  lon^-  and  ei.ii'ht  broad.  'I'he  former  consis'a  of  two 
lariic  store-rooms,  (under  which  is  a  la  'ije  vaulted  cellar,)  a  lai'iic  room,  a  bed- 
cdiamber,  and  a  closet  for  the  store-keeiier  ;  tlu;  latter  of  a  soldiers' antl  ollicers' 
guard-room,  a  <'hai)el,  a  be(lcliamb(U',  a  closet  for  the  chaplain,  and  an  artillery 
sl(.i'e-ro()m.  The  lines  of  barracks  liave  never  been  finishid  ;  they  at  ])res(,'nt 
consist  of  two  rooms  each  for  ollicers,  and  three  for  soldiers;  they  are  each 
twenty  feet  sipiar<',  and  have  betwi.xt  a  small  passai^e.  Tliere  are  line  spa'jiou.s 
1(  ft?;  over  each  building  which  reach  from  end  to  eiul ;  these  are  made  use  of  to 
lodire  rcirimenlal  stores,  w(ukiiiir  and  entrenching;'  tools.  iV'c.  It  is  irenerally 
Ix'lieveil  thai  t  his  is  the  most  con  venieiit  and  liest  lunlt  fort  in  North  Ainerioa. 
*  *  *  In  the  year  1704,  thrrc  Were  about  forty  families  in  the  villaue  near 
the  fort,  and  a  parish  church,  seived  by  a  Franciscan  friar,  dedicated  to  .St. 
Aiim;  In  the  foUowiu.ir  year,  when  the  Fni,disli  took  possession  of  the  coun- 
try, they  abandoned  their  houses,  except  three  or  four  fimilies,  .and  settled  in 
the  villaLres  (  n  the  west  sitle  of  the  ^Slississipjii,  choosiuii  to  continue  under  tlio 
French  trovernment.'' 

Ill  ITol),  wlii'ii  tlu'  tort  wii.s  ri'htiilt,  tlie  intcrxcniiiy  (lisiiiiice 
to  tlic  bank  of  tlic  Mississippi  was  .some  !KH>  yards.  A  .sand  bar 
was  t'oriiiiiin'  op|)ositc.  to  which  the  ri\cr  was  fordablc.  At  tin; 
time  of  Captain  Pitman's  visit,  the  current  had  cut  the  bank  away 
to  Mithin  SO  yards  of  the  lort,  the  sand  bar  had  become  an  island 
coxered  with  a  thick  yrowtli  of  cott(»iiwoo(is,  and  the  iiiterveiiiii,i;' 
(diaiiiiei  was  K»  feel  deep.  The  i; real  rrcsht  t  of  1771*.  which  iiiiiii- 
<lated  the  Americaii  ISotioin.  produced  siicl,  havoc  upon  the  bank 
that  the  west  walls  and  '2  bastions  were  i)i'ecii)itated  into  the  ra,'4- 
Uij;  ciiireiit  cd'  th.'  iniu'hty  river.  The  Ui'ilish  j^iirrison  abandoned 
it  ami  and  took  ii|>  tiieir  (piarti'i's  at  i"'ort  (ia.i;(',  on  the  bliilt  of  liio 
Ka^ka.skia,  opposite  the  ancient  villajic  of  that  name,  to  which  th« 
seat  ol  .i^ovcriiment  was  removed.  Since  then  the  ^reat  citaiU'l  of 
!New  I'^rance  has  been  a  ruin.  Those  of  its  walls  winch  escajted 
•lestriictioii  by  Ihe  Hood,  were  in  urcat  part  iiatiled  away  by 
the  iiei«ihl>oriii,n'  villaji'ers  for  btiiiditij;'  pnrpo.ses.  In  ISijO  the 
ruins  were  visited  by  Dr.  Lewis  ('^>e(dc  and  .Mr.  Hanson  of 
Illinois,  who  made  an  acciirat<'  drawing' of  the  plan  for  the  Illinois 
and  .Missouri  (lazetter.  Many  of  the  rooms,  cellars,  parts  of  the. 
Avails,  showing  the  opening'  for  tlielarj;*'  jiate,  jiort-holcs,  v\:c.,  were 
still  found  in  a  tolerable  siatt' of  preseivatioii.  The  exterior  lino 
of  the  walls   measured  U47    feet.     By   l.S,>0,  a  (len.se   forest   siir- 


172 


IIISTOUY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


l-<)iiii(lt>(l  iiiid  (•((vcicd  tlio  niiii.s,  iiinl  trcos,  ."J  IV'ct   in  (liaiuch'r,  liiid 
grownup  williiii  llic  ciiiiiililiiii;'  \\;ills.* 

I''<)rl  (iii.uc,  wliicii  ('(iiitiiiiu'd  to  he  tlif  li*':i(l<|ii:ii'U'rs  of  tlic  iirit- 
isli  wliilc  tlicy  occupied  tlic  couiitiT,  was,  in  siiaiH',  an  ohloii;^  pai- 
allcloniaiii,  L!.S(»  h\  LTd  feet,  laiilt  of  lar;;t' ,s(|iiaird  tiiidtcrs.  In  1772 
tlic  liiitisli  ;^airison  consisted  of  oiM,\  l!(>  soldiers  and  an  ol'liccr. 
li»  tlic  villa};('  of  KaskasUia  were  organized  U  small  companies  of 
Avell  disciplined  I'reiicli  militia.  When  (leoiinc  Ito.u'crs  ( "larU.  in 
]77S,  elfected  the  Itlooilless  coin|iiest  of  Illinois,  not  a  iliitish  sol. 
diei'wason  ;iarrisoii  duty  in  the  c<»iinti',\.  M.  |{ocliei)lave,a  l""i('iicli- 
maii,  was  in  command  asthc  iSiilish  ;;-ovenior.  lie  occupied  l''ort 
(iai^t'c,  and  ill  KaskasUia  the  {''rciicli  militia  was  kept  in^ood  order. 
A\'e  lind  no  cliroiiicle  of  how  loii;;'  Colonel  Wilkins  remained  ill 
('omiiiand,  or  w  hen  the  last  remnant  of  the  ISrilish  ;;'ai'rison  took  iii> 
its  !iiUM>f  departure.  It  isiii,i;hl,v  prohalilc  that  these  withdrawal.s 
■were  made  with  the  break  in;;  (»iit  of  the  war  <»!'  the  rcNoiulioii. 

The  illinois  I'' rench  were  remote  from  the  main  theatre  of  liio 
l'e\()liiti()nary  war;  and  while  they  had  periiaps  little  sympathy 
■with  the  ohject  for  which  the  colonies  s|riij;;iled,  their  hatred  of 
their  liei'e<litary  foe  was  active.  In  1777, 'I'homas  llrady,  whom 
they  commonly  called  ••  Monsieur  Tom,  "  a  conra^^coiis  and  eiiter- 
l)i'isiii<i  reiinsyh  anian  who  had  wamh-red  out  to  Cahokia,  organized 
tiiere  and  at  i'rairie  dii  I'onI  a  hand  of  l(i  volnntecrs,  and  in  Octo- 
1),'r.  proceeding'  to  the  P.ritish  post  on  the  St.dosepli  in  .Michigan, 
uiirpi'ised  and  at  tacked  t  he  fort  in  the  ni;;'lit  time,  defeat  iii^  the 
jiarrison  of  I'l  men.  A  ne;^ro  slave  who  had  escaped  from  the 
I'-reiich  in  Illinois,  was  killed  in  liis  lli^ht.  A  lar^c  quantity  of 
j^'oo;!s  for  the  I  iidiaii  trade,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  victors,  w  hicli 
iloiibtiess  had  been  one  inicntive  to  tli"  expedition.  With  these, 
their  homeward  Joiwiiey  was  retai'ded,  and  the  IJritisli  traders, 
liaviii;;'  rallied  the  soldiers  and  stirred  up  the  Indians,  with  a  lar^e 
force  made  pnrsiiil  and  fell  upon  the  canij.  of  the  marainlers  on 
the  (,'aliimet  in  the  iii.nht  time,  killing' 1',  wounding' 1'  more  (who 
"wereafterwanl  dis])atclied  with  the  tomahawk)  and  made  prisoiiens 
of  the  rest.  IWady.  in  beinj;'  sent  lOast,  etVected  his  escaped,  and 
later  reriiriied  to  Cahokia,  wiieie  he  married  the  celebrated  widow 
Let^oiiijit. 

The  following  year,  while  Colonel  Clark  was  condiictinLi  his 
<'\pedition  a;:aiiist  Kaskaskia.  I'anlettC'  Meillet,  the  foiimler 
of  I'coiia,  which  was  then  called  Larillc  n  Meillel,  who  was 
ii  remarkable  cliaraeter  for  braveiy,  brutality  and  enterprise, 
Imniiii".;'  to  aveiiji'e  the  disaster  of  Ibady's  party,  in  which  were 
many  ot  his  relatives,  assembled  aitoiit  .">(MI  warriors,  I'cd,  white 
and  mixed,  and  marclu'd  thence  to  St.  -losepli.  On  the  way, 
through  the  broad  i)raries  on  foot  under  the  lays  of  the  summer's 
sun,  AI.  Aiiilin,  one  of  his  men,  cxhaiiftcd  with  fati;.;iie,  j^ave  out. 
CeieritN  and  secrecy  bciiiji' t'sscnliai  to  success,  and  iiiiwillinL;  to  be 
enriimlicred  with  the  sick,  the  soldier  fell  a  sacrilice  to  the  t(tma- 
liawk.  Slink  in  ids  brain  l»,^the  brutal  commander.  Arriving;-  at 
the  post,  the  fort  was  siirronnded,  and,  alivr  an  obstinate  eiiuajie- 
nieiit,  rliejuarrison  surrendered  and  was  permit  tetl  toretireto<  "ana da. 
The  pi-isoners  of  IJrady's  party  were  released,  and  the  stores  of 
iiicrcliandise,  said  to  have  ainonnted  to  !:5.")(>,0(H),  were  bronj^ht  away 
to  Peoriai.t 


*lluyuours  I'loueer  History. 


+yce  Peek's  Aiimils  of  the  West. 


('iiArii:K  XVI. 


177S— (J()X(KTEST  ()!• 


illinois.  15v  (;k()k(if.  iiochijs 
claim;. 


i 


While  tlic  ('(tloiiists  of  tlu'cjist  wcic  iiiaiiitaliiiiijiii  licico  stnijxulo 
^vitll  tlic  iiniiics  ul'  ICii>4liiii(l.  tlicii-  wcstcin  IVonticrs  wcu'  i';i\;il;c(1 
l),v  iiicrcJlcss  Imtclicrics  ul'  liidiiiii  wiul'iirc.  Tiic  Jealousy  of  ilie. 
SiivajH*'  had  been  aroused  to  action  by  tlu'  rapid  extension  of 
Ann-rican  settlements  westward  and  the  iniprojx'i'  iiillneiiee  exerted 
by  a  nninl>er  of  military  posts  ;.;ariisone(l  by  llritish  troops  iit 
diiferent  jKirts  of  the  west.  To  prevent  indiscriminate  slan;;liters 
arisin,u'  from  these  eanses  Illinois  became  the  theatre  of  some  «if  tho 
most  <lai'in;;<'\ploits  connected  with  American  history.  The  hero 
of  these  achievements  by  which  this  beantifid  lainl  was  snatched 
as  a  ii'em  from  the  Ibitish  crowii,  was  (ii'orj^e  Hosiers  Clark.  lie 
was  boiii  in  Albenmrle  county,  Viijiinia,  Xovendter  11>.  IT.")!.*,  and 
like  his  yreat  eotemixti'ary  of  the  iJevoliition  in  his  youth  studied 
and  i)raeticed  the  art  ol  siirveyin;;'  lainl.  The  manly  exercise  con- 
iie<;ted  with  the  original  surveys  of  the  (MHintry  seemed  to  create  a 
l)artiality  for  the  adventurous  exposure  of  military  life.  Little  is 
known  in  rej^ard  to  Clark's  early  history.  It  is  said  he  became  a 
protielent  in  j^eoyraphy  ami  devoted  <'onsiderable  time  to  the  study 
ofiiiathematics,  lad  owinj;'  to  the  iin])erfeet  condition  of  the  schools 
and  the  exeitinj;' times  of  hisycaith,  the  presumi»tioii  is  that  his 
education  was  eontiiu'd  to  the  useful  rather  than  ornamental 
branches  of  learninj;'.  Shortly  aftei'  attaining' his  majority  he  en- 
listed as  a  staff  ollicer  in  (iovernor  Duumore's  war  and  with  many 
other  dariuji'  spirits  of  the  times  was  prest  nt  in  the  eampaijiu  of 
177 1  on  tlu^  river  Scioto.  For  meretorions  conduct  he  wasolfered  ii 
commission  in  the  royal  service  which,  o\viu;j  to  the  unfriendly  feel- 
in;^'  then  existinji'  between  tin;  colonists  and  tlie  mother  eounti-y  and 
unsatisfaetctry  teiinination  of  the  war,  he  declined.  Dumuoro 
became  ai»prehensive  that  the  colonists  would  rebel,  and  it  wa.s 
belicned  by  \Vashinj;ton  and  others  that  he  was  instructed  to  so 
treat  with  the  Indians  that  he  could  use  them  as  allies  in  ease  of 
revolt. 

A  spirit  for  adventure  beinj;  awakencul  in  the  mind  of  youn<j 
Clark  by  the  war  in  177;")  he  visited  the  wilds  of  Kentucky.  Hero 
he  ibund  the  jtioneers  in  a  state  of  excitement  as  to  whether  the 
conidry  on  the  south  side  of  the  Kentucky  river  was  a  part  of  the 
territory  of  Kentucky  or  Virginia.  At  the  .suggestion  of  Clark  a 
meeting  was  called  for  considering  the  subject  and  devising 
the  best  means  of  remedying  the  perplexed  state  of  affairs.  The 
meeting  wa»s  dvdy  held  ami  a  paper  ju'epared  setting  forth  their 
grievances,  and  Clark  and  Gabriel  Jones  were  appointed  to  hiN  it 

173  ' 


174  IIISTOIIY   OF   ILLINOIS. 

Im'Iuic  tilt'  Ic^ishitiii'c  ol'  Vii-;;iiii;i.  Tlic  ciivovs  sliii'lcd  on  their 
JoiiiiifV,  Mini  ;irifi-  siilil'ciiiin  I  lie  must  (list  rcssiii^'  li;iiilslii|is  iii  ri\  cd 
:it  tlic  cniiiit  vol'  I'xiI'D'tniii't  w  iit'ic  IIii'V  liciil'tl  lliiil  t  lie  lc.i;'isl:i  I II  I'c 
li:iii  jii.st  ikIJdiii  iH'il.  At  the  r<'ri'|il  imi  ol'tliis  ik'Ws  (iiiiiriri  .luiics 
rt-liirii('(|  III  the  'lit'iiit'iit  on  llii'  llolslriii  i  i\  ci' iiiid  ('hirk  pio- 
(■(■imUmI  on  liis  \Vi  o  I  liiiiov  IT  I'oiiiit  V,  where  lie  loiinii  (iovcrnor 
lleiii\  Ivinji' sick  iit  his  |tii\  ale  irsideiiee.  Chilli  iiimle  known  to 
liiiii  the  o!»jeel  ol'  his  \i<it,  whieii  tiie  executive  conliaily  ii|i 
pi'oxed,  iiiid  to  riirlher  lii.s  \  lews  ;::i\e  liiiii  :i  lettei'  to  the  coiincil 
I'oi'  I'lii'ther  considerntion.  At  tiie  liill  tciiii  ol'  tiic  l^e;^isl!iliii'e  id' 
ITTli.  Chill;  and  .loiies  presented  tiieir  Kentucky  petition  lotliat 
l>od\.  and  de>|iite  tile  elTorts  of  lieiideisoii  and  oilier  Noilli  Caro- 
lina land  speculators,  the  dispiiled  territ(ir\  was  erected  into  the 
coiiiiiy  of  Kentucky,  w  liieli  eniitraced  the  limits  of  the  pi'.si  nt 
Stale  of  the  same  name.  In  addition  to  this  political  rcc<i;;iiitioii, 
the  pareiil  State  j;a\('  ."itMl  lbs.  of  powder  for  the  defense  of  the 
iso!at«'d  sittieinenl,  u  '/\i'\  which  now  seems  small,  hut  then  looked 
lar;::(',  for  the  li'emeiidoiis  stni;L;j:le  of  the  revolution  demamled  all 
the  eneiiLiies  of  tilt  donor  to  prolect  her  own  people  and  liresides 
i'l'om  th«' i'a\a.u«'s  of  the  enemy. 

Clark's  yreat  services  for  iveiitncky  and  the  n'ood  will  inspired 
Ity  his  manly  apitearance  and  j^t'eiiial  manners  induced  the  pioneers 
to  place  him  a!  the  head  of  their  irre.^iilar  militia. and  he  soon 
iii>!iliit,(l  such  elfective  means  of  defense  that  in  all  the  lierce 
eoiitlicls  with  the  sava.ii'es.  which  ,i;a\('  Kentucky  the  name  of 
*•!  Woody  ( Iron  lid,"  his  \  alor  was  more  l  han  eipial  to  1  he  emer.i;cncy, 
Inl  imalcly  acquainted  with  the  pro.yri'.'s  of  colon  i/.at  ion  west  of 
tlie  Alleiihanies,  he  was  the  lirst  to  fully  coiii]trehen(l  the  advaii- 
ta.!i»'s  which  would  arise  from  the  extension  of  American  coiupiesl 
to  the  Itaidis  of  the  .Mississii>pi.  While  associatetl  with  the  mili- 
tary operations  in  Kentucky,  his  sagacity  eiialiled  him  to  trace  the 
Jiidian  ra\aj;fs  to  the  instijiutions  of  liritish  emissaries  at  Jvas- 
kaskia,  Vineenues.  Detroit  and  other  places  in  their  possessii'>n. 
These  remote  jyosts  furnished  the  Indians  with  clothinj;'  and  mili- 
tary stoi'cs.  and  Clark  Itelieviuy  that  their  capture  was  the  only 
l)ossil)le  way  toaltate  the  evils  caused  hy  their  sava/n'e  allies,  sent 
twos]iies  hy  the  name  of  Moore  and  Dunn,  to  learn  the  nature  of 
their  defences.  They  liavinj;' made  observations  returned  and  re- 
]torted  that  their  militia  was  well  oi',i;anized  and  active:  that  tho 
]uedatory  excursions  of  the  Indians  were  eiicoiira.ucd  by  the  British 
authorities  ami  that  not  wit  listandinjiTlritish  agents  had  eiideaviu'cd 
by  misrei»resentatioii  to  i»rejudice  the  minds  of  the  I"'rencli  inhab- 
itants aiiainst  the  colonists  nianyof  them  were  evidently  in  favor 
of  their  cause  and  interests.  Clark,  fnniisiied  with  this  inforuia- 
tiou,  a.yain  started  to  Virj^inia  to  make  kuow  ii  to  the  ^o\  eruineiit 
])•  ;  idans  respect iu<i'  the  subju;nati(»n  of  these  Ibitish  outi)osts. 
^^■hile  on  the  road  thither,  fortunately  for  the  euterprise  which  lie 
liad  in  view,  the  battle  of  Saratoj;a  was  foii^^lit,  and  resulting'  in 
victoiy  to  the  Americans,  prejiaicd  the  ])ublic  mind  for  u  more 
sjtii'ited  ]■•■  )secutioii  of  t!)e  war.  On  reachiu.ii'  the  capital,  Clark's 
impressive  j'epi'eseiitatioiis  ca]»tivated  the  mindof  (lovernor  lleury 
^vith  tlie  idea,  of  subdiiinji'  these  Ihitisli  strongholds  in  the  centre 
of  their  savaye  confederates.  The  enterprise,  however,  was  re- 
pirdcil  rs  extremely  hazardous,  and  so  ;nreat  was  secrecy  indis- 
peiiisiible  to  .siit'c<'ss  that  it  was  i">t  deemed  prudent  to  entrust  tho 


lUJlTISII    (K'Cl   I'AI'Kt.N. 


17.". 


(iiicctidii  ot'it  h>  llii'l(';4:islatiir<'.  liciii;;'  iiitcrrnyatt'd  liy  .IclVi  rsoii  us 
to  wliiil  1h'  Wdiilil  <!(»  ill  ciiM'  of  (Id'cMt,  lie  icpIicU-'crdss  tlic  .Missiis- 
sipiii  iiiiil  seek  lilt'  proliTliitiior  llic  SpMiiiiirds."  'I'lic  pliiii  wiisso 
tliiiroiiuiilN  lli.^'(^^tl'll  lli:il  I  lie  iipprnliiii  ion  of  I  he  ciiiiiK-il  w  iis  it'inlily 
»iltl;iiiU'(l.;iiHl  l<t  scciiit'  iihii,  ( Icoi';:;!'  \\',\  I  lie,  I'liiiiiiiis.lcll'cisoii  iiikI 
(Icoryc  Mil  sun  plctl^^cd  lliciiisfht's.  il'tlit'tnli'iprisc  Wiis  siicccssriil, 
t(i  use  tlicii-  iiilliit'iicc  to  scciiir  a  ImiiiiiIv  of  .'lod  acres  nf  land  lor 
(•\  ci  V  one  I'lina^i'd  in  f  lie  scrv  ice.  (luvcriioi'  I  Iciiiy  .ua\  <' liiiii  ILMK) 
jiiMiiids  ill  dt'pi'ccialcil  ciiii't'iicy,  and  an  oi'dci'  on  llic  roiniiiandatit 
of  l-'t.  Pitt  ini' aniiiiiiiiilion  hoats,  and  otiici- iifccssary  tMpiipincnts. 
lie  also  fiiinislicd  iiist iiiclioiis.  one  .  <'t  aiitlioii/.iiit:  liiiii  to  t'lilisl  7 
cunipaiiit's  of  T)!)  nit'ii  cacli  foi'tlii-  dt'ffiisc  of  KciiIik-Un  ,  and  llio 
otiici'  was  drawn  as  follows: 

^' I.iiiil.  C'oldiifl  (/mrjie  Ii(ii/cn>  (Inr/c : 

"Yi'U  tire  to  pri)( il  willi  nil  (•(iiivci:iciit  s])cc(l  to  riisc  7  cnmpiiHiisof  soldiers, 

to  coiisi*!  of  50  men  each,  olHci'rcd  in  tlie  usiml  iiiinnier,  :inil  ;irmeil  iiiosl  |>rii|)- 
erly  fnr  ilie  enliTprise ;  1111(1  witli  lliis  lorcM-  iitliiek  llie  IJiilish  force  til  Kiiskns- 
ki:i.  Il  is  cuiije<'tiirril  tlml-  llicre  Mi'c  iiiaiiy  piecesof  ciiimoii,aii(l  inililaiy  sIoiih 
to  a  coiisiilerahle  aniiiiiit  at  llial  place,  tiie  lakiiiu;  and  preservai  ion  nl'  whicli 
wonM  1)1'  a  valnahli'  actpii-ition  to  ilic  state.  If  yon  are  so  foriiinale,  iIki',  fnic, 
as  to  succeed  in  yoin-  expedition,  you  will  tal\e  every  ])ossilile  measure  to 
secure  the  ai'lillery  and  stores,  and  whiite\'er  may  advaiiiauc  the  slate.  For  I  lie 
transportation  of  the  troops,  provi>ioiis,  etc.,  down  the  ( )liio,  you  are  lo  appl}' 
to  the  conunandini;  ollicer  at  Fort,  Pitt  lor  Ixiats,  and  duriim  the  whole  lians- 
.aclicni  you  are  to  take  espe(;ial  carelokee])  the  true  destination  of  yonr  fnrce 
Secret  ;  its  success  depends  Upon  this.  Orders  are,  therel'ore,  niven  to  ('aptaiii 
Smith  to  secure  1  he  I  wo  men  from  Kaskaskia.  U  is  earnestly  desired  that 
you  show  humanity  to  .such  Miilish  sulijects  and  other  ])ersons  as  fall  into  ymir 
JianiN.  Ifihe  white  inhalHtaiits  of  ih. it  post  and  neiiilil)iirliood  will  i;ive  llii- 
doiihtcd  evidence  of  their  allachmcnl  to  this  slate,  Inr  it  is  ceriain  lliey 
live  within  its  limits,  by  lakiiii;'  the  test  prescribed  by  law,  and  by  every  oilier 
way  and  uu'ans  in  their  power,  let  them  be  Ireatetl  as  fellow-citi/.eiis,  and  their 
persons  and  pro[)eriy  be  duly  respected.  Assistance  and  pruteciioii  auainst  ail 
enemies,  whatever,  shall  be  all'orded  Ihem,  and  the  (•omiuonweallh  of  Virginia 
is  pledged  to  accomidish  it.  Hut  if  these  i)eoi)h.'  will  not  accede  to  these  rea.soii- 
able  demands,  they  mitsl  feel  the  consecpieiices  of  war,  under  that,  dirnli.r.i  of 
hum, inity  that  has  hitlierlo  distinguished  Americans,  and  wliieli  il  is  expected 
you  will  ever  cmisider  as  the  rule  of  your  (.•onduct,and  from  which  j'oii  are  in  uo 
insiance  to  de[iart.  'I'hu  corps  y(ni  are  to  couimand  arc  to  receive  the  pay  and 
allowanci;  of  uiililia,  and  to  act  under  tin'  laws  and  regukitions  of  this  state 
now  in  force  as  to  militia.  The  inhabitants  of  this  i)ost  will  be  informed  by  \  on 
that  in  cas(-  they  accede  to  the  olfeis  of  l)ecoming'  citizens  of  this  couunou- 
Wealth,  a  proper  garrison  will  be  maintained  among  them,  anil  every  alleiitioii 
bestowed  to  render  tiieir  couuuerce  beiieticial ;  the  fairest  pros[)e('ls  being  oi)eiied 
to  the  dominions  of  France  and  Si)aiu.  ll  is  in  contem|)lation  to  estalilisli  a 
post  ni'ar  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio.  Cannon  will  be  wanted  to  fortity  it.  I'arl 
of  those  at  Kaska.'^kia  will  be  easily  brought  Ihillier,  or  otherwise  secured  as 
circumstances  make  necessary.  You  are  to  aijjily  to  tjeiieral  Hand,  at  Pitts- 
burg, for  powder  and  lead  necessary  for  tnis  expedition.  If  he  launol  supply 
it,  tile  person  who  has  that  which  C'a|)tain  Sims  brought  from  iS'ew  Orleans 
can.  Lead  was  sent  to  llam[)shire,  by  my  orders,  ami  that  may  be  tlelivered  to 
vou.     NVisliing  you  success,  1  am  vour  humble  sirvaiit, 

P.  IIknky.  " 

These  in.striictioiis  breatlie  u  <^eiiei'osity  and  hiiinanity  in  stiik- 
in;4  contrast  with  the  .spirit  of  the  J>ritisli  ji-overninciit,  wiiosc 
jiiiiiioiis  were  sntt'eriiij;'  otir  soldiers  to  perish  l»y  tiioiisands  in 
jtrison-siiips  lor  the  wjiiit  of  tood  and  otlciin,ii'  boitnties  to  cncoiir- 
aji'e  tiie  merciless  savag«'s  to  murder  and  scalp  our  lieli»less  women 
ami  children.  It  wtis  tho'iyht  best  to  raise  tlie  reipiisiie  number 
of  troops  west  of  the  iVllegUaiiies,  as  the  colonies  needed  all  the 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 

■-IM 

1.4 

niM 

1''^'''^ 

I.I 

IIM 

1.25 

1= 

1.6 

v: 


^ 


/a 


7 


>^ 


J 


m 


V 


170 


lIlS.l'<>liY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


a\;iil:il)l('  forces  of  the  cast  lor  tlic  Atliiiit ic  dcl'ciiccs.  To  enlist 
men  -Major  William  l>.  Sniitli  went  to  tiie  scttlenicnt  of  tlic  llol- 
stciii,iin(l  for  tlie  same  |>ari>ose  ("a]»tains  liconaid  ilclm  and  .I<)sej)li 
IJowman  visited  otlier  localities.  Clark  |»idpose(l  lo  j^ct  assist- 
unce  at  I'iltslinrii',  Itnl  on  account  of  Jealonsy  arisin;;'  from  the 
rival  claims  of  I'ennsylvania  and  Virj^inia  to  tiie  dominion  of  the 
Kentncky  settlements,  he  was  nnsMcecssful,  and  the  latter  coh»ny 
lurnislied  the  troops.  His  real  destination  Iteini;' nnUnown,  many 
thonyht  it  wonld  l»c  better  to  remove  the  Keutiickians  than  to 
attempt  their  defenci'  while  their  own  citadels  and  tli(^  whole 
c<(untry  roniid  I  hem  was  threatened  by  tlie  sava;;(^  confe(h'ratcs  of 
England.  (Jlaik  in  the  meantime  beinn'  informed  that  Major 
.Snnlli  had  raised  t  <-ompanies,  and  that  ( 'ajitains  I  b'lm  and  l!ow- 
man  wouhl  j(  in  him  with  two  others  at  lirownsviHc,  on  the 
3b)non,yahela,  made  no  further  attempts  to  secnrc  enlistments  at 
J''ort  Pitt.  Alajor  Smith's  men  were  to  p»  by  way  of  ( 'iimberhin<l 
Gi^p  to  KenlncUy,  and  Clark,  with  tiie  other  troops,  amonnlinji  to 
3{M  men  and  a  niunber  of  juivate  adventurers,  commenced  tiie 
descent  of  tlie  Oliio.  At  the  moiitii  of  the  ^rcat  Ivaiiawa  lie  was 
besoiijiht  l>y  Ca|)tain  Ail)iiekle,  commandinii'  tlie  fort  at  tlie  junc- 
tion of  the  two  rivers,  for  assistance  in  captiiriiii;'  a  Itand  of  Indians 
Aviio  iiad  attacked  him  tiie  precedinji'  day.  Thinkiini,  iiowcver,  his 
(>\\  II  enterprise  was  of  greater  moment,  and  wishin.ii'  to  strictly 
coinpiy  with  his  instructions,  lie  c(»ntiniied  on  ids  course.  lie 
landed  at  tiie  moutli  of  tlie  Kentucky,  with  the  intention  of  ereet- 
iiiii  a  fortification  at  tiiat  point.  i>nt  alter  mature  consideration 
altamioiied  it  for  a  more  faNorabJc  position  farther  westward,  at 
llie  fails  of  the  Oiiio.  \\liile  iiere,  ieai'iiin;i'  that  of  the  4  com[)a- 
iiies  promised  l)v  Major  Smitii,  Captain  Dillard's  alone  had  arrived 
in  Kentucky,  lie  wrote  to  Captain  Uowinan,  inforiniiii;'  him  of  Ids 
intention  to  cstal)iisli  a  fort  at  tiie  falls,  and  liavinj;'  in  view  aii 
eiiteriirise  of  tlie  <j,reatest  importance  to  the  country,  re<iuested  liim 
to  repair  thither  w  itii  Major  Smith's  men,  and  as  many  more  as 
coiild  !)('  sparc<l  from  tlie  frontier  stations.  At  tiiis  jilace  lie  for- 
tilicd  Corn  Island,  oi)itosite  IjOuis\iile,  not  only  as  a  base  of 
operations,  but  as  a  means  of  protectinji'  boatmen,  who,  in  pass- 
ing; tiie  rapids,  wei'c  fre(iuently  attacked  and  iiiundei'ed  l)y  tlie 
Indians.  When  joinecl  l>y  Captain  IJownian's  jiarty  from  Ken- 
tucky, it  was  discovered  that  the  w  ithdiawai  of  his  forces  from  the 
country  left  it  to  a  jireat  extent  without  i>i(>tection,  and  therefore 
only  a  poi'tiou  of  them  were  enjiaji'cd,  witli  the  nnderstandluji'  that 
mIicii  tiie  I'cniainder  of  Ma.jcu'  Smitirs  men  arri\e<l  the (»tiiers  sliould 
return  for  tiie  defence  of  Kentucky.  Claris  now  announced  to  ids 
assembled  forces  the  real  destination  of  the  exiu'dition,  and  with 
tiie  e\c(j)tioii  of  Cajttain  Dillard's  company,  tlic  project  met  the 
entiinsiastic  a])[)rol)ation  of  the  men.  Lest  desertions  mi j;iit  occur 
in  tli<^  disatfected  comi>any,  the  l)()ats  were  secured  and  sentinels 
stationed  at  dilferent  points  where  the  Ohio  was  sui>[»ose(l  to  bo 
i"ordal»i(s  JSotwitiistandinj;'  these  jirecautions,  oiur  of  Cai»taiu 
Dillard's  lieutenants  and  tiie  most  of  tiie  men,  iiassino'  the  senti- 
nels unperceived,  waded  to  the  o])])osite  siioic  and  disappeared  in 
the  woods.  A  mounted  party  tiie  next  day  was  sent  in  pursuit  of 
the  fuj;itives,  with  orders  to  kill  all  who  refused  to  return,  and 
altiiougii  overtaken  20  miles  from  tiie  river,  sucii  was  their  vi,uil- 
ance  that  only  8  Avere  caught  and  brouyht  back.     *'  The  disaj)- 


BRITLSir   OOCT'l'ATION. 


177 


])oiiilinoiit  caused  by  tlio  loss  of  flic,  iiicii,"  says  Clail"  in  liis 
jciiiiial,  "was  cruel,  and  in  its  c()nse([nences  alarniinj;."  Tiio 
reniainilci"  of  Hie  desei'lei's,  dispersed  in  t lie  woods  to  elude  ]iiir- 
snil.  sntfei'ed  tiie  most  intense  i>ri\  atioiis,  and  wlien  linaily  tliey 
reaclie<l  I  larrodsltnr.y',  tlie  l>rave  Keiitnckians  were  so  exas]>erated 
at  the  Itaseness  of  tlieir  coinhu't  tliat  for  a  lony  time  they  refnsc^d 
to  admit  them  into  tin'ii'  stations.  The  forces  were  now  altoiit  to 
separate,  and  in  a  day  of  rejoicin,!;'  and  mutnai  encouragement  the 
li«'rocs  of  liie  IvasUasida  e.\pe<Iition  took  U'a\c  of  their  IViends  who 
were  to  return  for  tlu'  defense  of  Kentucky.  Aftci'  the  depaiture 
of  th','  latter.  (  Mai'k's  litlh'  army,  uinh'!'  the  command  of  ( 'aptains 
IJownian,  Helm,  llai'rod  and  .Mont.i;(>mery,  only  nnndiercd  l."»;j 
lueii.  I*]verythin;n'  bcinj;' in  readiness,  on  the  -4tli  of  fliine,  1778, 
Avhile  the  sun  was  in  a  total  eclijtse,  he  left  the  |)osition  whicii  he 
had  I'ortitied  and  fell  down  the  liver.  This  ]»licnomenon  tixcs  the 
time  of  ("lark's  embarkation,  and  l)y  the  same  means  other  im]>or- 
tant  events  of  history,  the  dates  of  which  were  wholly  unknown, 
Inivc  been  detcniiincd  with  |>erfect  pi'ccision.  Science  in  modern 
times  has  so  far  divested  occurrences  of  this  kind  of  the  ferroi's 
which  they  excite*!  in  ancient  armies,  that  amon;Li'  the  men  of  the 
expedition  but  little  importance  was  attac^lied  to  the  e(;lipse,  as  a 
liarbinticr  (or  ,h<i<m1  or  evil. 

All  unnecessary  l>a;;'.iiaji'e  was  lelt  behind  that  they  mij^Iit  not  be 
cneundu'red  in  the  dillicnlt  marcli  which  they  jtroposed  to  nndce 
aci'oss  the  couidry,  in  order  to  reach  uui»ercei\('d  the  ])ost  which 
they  desiyiM'd  to  capture.  Clark  was  anxious  to  make  an  assaulc 
U]»nu  the  ]>ost  of  \'incennes,  but  the  fireater  extent  of  the  French 
settleuMMits  in  Illinois,  the  ])ros])e(tt  of  securinii'  them  as  allies  if 
they  wci'e  concpieicd,  and  the  facility  of  retreat  to  the  Spanish 
possessions  beyond  the  .Mississippi,  in  case  of  deleat,  inclined  him 
to  the  orij^iind  ]»lan  of  the  campai,i>u.  While  descendin,ii'  the  liver 
a  letter  was  fortinuitely  received  from  ("(tlonel  ("ampbell,  of  lM)rt 
Pitt,  statin.1;'  that  an  alliance  had  been  entered  into  between  I-'rance 
and  the  Tnited  States,  and  that  l^e  ai'niy  and  navy  of  the  former 
were  c()nnn<>"  to  our  ii.ssistance.  This  infonnation  was  calculated 
to  make  a  favorable  impression  u])on  the  French  and  Indians  of 
Illinois,  and  (herefore  of  the  .greatest  imjuntaiK-e  to  the  successfid 
ternunatioii  of  the  expedition.  Landing  on  an  island  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Tennessee,  th(>  j;inird  sto])])ed  a  man  by  the  name  of  .lohn 
Duifaud  a  numbei-  of  othei- Amei'ican  hunters,  from  whom  they 
also  had  the  ,si"c»')d  fortune  to  obtain  valualtle  infornnititui  resi)e(!t- 
ing  the  <;arrison  at  Kaskaskia.  Dutf  and  his  [larty  had  recently 
been  at  that  i)la(U',  and  he  iidormed  Clark  that  a  Fi'cnch  ('anadian 
by  the  nanu'  of  l{(»chel)lave  was  in  command;  that  he  ke])t  th(^ 
ndlitia  well  drilled;  sentinels  stationed  on  the  .Mississipj)!,  and 
had  ordered  the  hunters  and  Indians  in  their  excursions  thronj-h 
the  country  to  watch  for  the  rebels,  or  "  Lonjjf  Kiuves,"  as  they 
desij^nated  the  Virgiidans.  They  also  stated  the  fort  was  ke]>t  in 
order  as  a  place  of  retreat  in  ease  they  were  attack<>d  ;  that  its  de- 
fence was  attended  to  more  for  the  jtnrjjose  of  niilitaiy  disciplinii 
than  from  any  iipj>reliensions  of  innnediate  danger,  and  that  if 
any  assault  was  anticipated,  its  great  strength  would  enable  the 
garrison  to  nndie  a  formidable  resistance.  The  declaration  of 
]\loor<^  and  Dunn  respecting  the  fearl'ul  api)rehensi()ns  with  which 
the  iidiabitants  regarded  the  Virginians  was  likewise  corrobora- 


te 


178  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

te<l.  Iliiviiii;'  ()l)liiiii('(l  llic  liiiiilcis  ior  <;iii(l('s.  (!Iiuk  duppcd 
<l(»\vii  tlic  si  ifiiiii,  ;iih1  liiiMiiiii;'  iiciir  P'ort  Massiic.  (•(iiiccalcMl  tli(> 
Itoals  ill  a  small  creek  ciiipt viii,i;'  iii(<»  liicrlNcr.  'I'lic  (listaiice  IVom 
this  point  to  Kaskaskia  is  IL'O  iiiilcs,  and  at  that  tiiiic  tlic  iiilcr- 
Vciiiii^iCoiiiiti'v  was  (lilliciilt  to  ti'avei'sc,  in  roiisccpiciicc  ol' sticaiiis, 
swamps  ami  other  ohsliiicl  ions.  'I'lie  expedition  started  across 
tliis  tract  in  the,  direction  of  Kaskaskia,  l>otli  leader  and  men 
sharinj;-  the  vicissitinles  incideiil  to  Iraxel  in  the  wilds  of  an  iin- 
(Mlltixated  re.iiioii.  Success  depended  entirely  upon  siM-recv,  and 
to  send  out  hunting'  parties  in  piii-siiit  of  j^aiiie.  upon  wliicli  tiiey 
mostly  depended  for  subsistence,  it  was  feared  nii^lit  he  the 
means  of  discovery. 

On  the  third  day,  -lohii  Sauii<h'rs,  tlie  piincipal  ;;uide,  hecomin^' 
bewildered  and  beinj;'  unable  to  point  out  the  course,  suspicion  was 
immediately  excited  in  rejianlto  his  fidelity,  and  a  cry  arose  aiiion<>: 
the  men  to  ])ut  him  to  death.  lie,  however,  accoin|»anied  by  a 
yuard,  was  i»ermitted  to  jio  to  the  adjoininji'  i)rairie  for  fiirllier 
search,  and  was  (old  unless  he  directed  them  into  the  hunters' 
])atli  leadinji' to  Kaskaskia,  a  road  in  conse(iuence  of  havinyso  fre- 
((iieiitly  tra\ele(l  he  could  not  easily  forjiet,  he  slutuld  certainly  be 
liunji'.  Aft<'r  speiidiii,ij  some  time  in  examinin.u  the  features  of  the 
country,  he  exclaimed:  '•  1  know  that  j)()iiit  of  timbei',  "and  point- 
iuf>'  out  the  dire(!tiou  of  Kaskaskia  estaidished  his  innocence.  In 
the  afternoon  oi'theUh  of -Inly,  177S,  the  in\adinji'  ])arty.  with 
their  jiarments  worn  and  soiled,  and  beards  of  three  weeks' 
growth,  approached  the  village  where  their  long  and  wearisome 
journey  terminated,  and  c()iic<'aled  themselves  among  the  hills  east 
of  the  Kaskaskia  I'iver.  Clark  sent  out  i)arties  to  reconnoitre,  and 
at  night-fall,  a  detachment  took  jxtssession  of  a  house  ^^  of  a  mile 
al>ove  the  town,  and  on  the  west  side  of  therivei'.  From  the  family 
living  in  it,  he  learned  that  there  were  a  great  many  men  in  t<twn, 
that  but  few  of  them  were  Indians,  and  that  the  militia  liacl 
recently  been  under  arms,  but  no  danger  being  discovere<l 
they  were  dismissed.  Boats  having  been  procured  for  trans])ort- 
ing  the  troops,  the  forces  were  di\ided  int(»  'A  jiarties;  L'  of  which 
crossing  to  the  west  side  of  the  liver,  were  to  [troceed  to  different 
parts  of  the  town,  while  the  other,  under  Colonel  Clark,  was  to 
capture  the  fort,  on  tlu^  east  side.  If  Clark  should  be  successful 
in  securing  the  fort,  at  a  given  signal  theoth  'r  detachments,  with 
a  shout,  were  to  take  ]tosse.ssion  of  the  town  and  send  heralds 
who  could  speak  the  Fiench  language,  to  warn  (he  inhabitants 
that  they  would  be  shot  (h>\vu  if  they  appean^d  in  the  street. 

Kaskaskia,  at  that  time,  contained  about  lioOliouses,  and  the 
British  ollicer,  who  had  charge  of  the  place  after  the  I'cvolt  of  (he 
Atlantic  colonies,  endeavored  to  creati^  in  the  minds  of  the  unsus- 
))ec(ing  French  the  most  dreadful  ai)]»reliensions  respecting  the 
ferocity  and  brutality  of  the  "  Long  Knives;  "  (elling  them  that 
they  not  oidy  plundered  property  but  indiscriminately  murih'red 
men,  women  and  children  when  they  fell  into  their  hands.  The 
object  of  these  falsehoods  was  to  stimulate  (he  ])eo]»le  of  these 
remote  outposts  to  make  a  (h'termined  resistance  in  case  they  w«'re 
attacked,  and  to  induce  them  to  supply  the  Indians  with  guns, 
ainmunition  and  scali>ing  knives  to  aid  tlu'ia  in  theii' dcjiredations 
upon  the  Americans.  Clark  now  wisely  concluded  if  he  could  sur- 
prise them  fear  would  cause  them  to  submit  without  resistauce, 


BIUTISH  OCCUPATION. 


i!> 


1 


iuid  tlic.v  \v<»iil(l  iilt<i\v;ii'<l  hccoiiie  fViciiUly  IVoin  jiiiititiidc  if  trcjilcd 
witli  i(iM'X|i('ct»'(l  (IciiH'iic.v.  The  plmi  ol"  attiick  was  8iic('('s.sl'iilly 
cxrciitcd.  Claik  \viili(»iit  it'sislaiicc  entered  llic  lort  tliroii^li  a 
jiostciii  ;;atc  on  tlir  side  next  to  llic  I'ivcr,  and  the  otlici's,  j>as.sii|o' 
into  the  villayc  at  itolli  cxtrcniitics  with  tiic  most  liidcous  ontcrics, 
alamicd  tiic  nnsnspcclinu  inliahitants.  wiio  coninifnccd  scrcaniinj;' 
'•tin'  Loiiu'  Iviiivcs, "  "llic  Loni;'  I\  nixes."  In  ahonl  two  lioiir.s 
al'tcp  llic  snipiisc,  the  townsmen,  panic  stricken,  dcliNcrcd  np  tlicir 
arms,  and  tlioniili  (lie  \  ietorv  was  complete  il  liad  been  obtained 
williont  slieddiiii;-  a  drop  ol'  blood,  'i'iie  \  ictors,  in  obedience 
orders,  rendered  iln^  remainder  ol'  llie  ni^lit  a  ]iandemoninni  of 
tumult.  This  art i lice  as  it  ])rc vented  opposition  and  tliectfiision  of 
blood,  was  the  most  innocent  means  thai  couiil  have  been  icsorled  to 
to  ill  Older  t»)  be  successful.  .M.  l{ociieliia\  c.  t  lie  iWil  ishcomiiiadant, 
was  not  aware  llial  he  was  a  piisoiiertill  anofticerof  tli(Mletaclimeut 
which  had  entered  the  fort,  peiietra led  to  his  bedroom  and  tai)ped 
him  ou  tile,  shoulder.  'I'lie  public  ]»apers  wer<',  cither  concealed  or 
<lestroye(l.  it  was  su]tposeil  that  the  ^o\  ci-iioi's  ladv,  i>resuinin,i> 
upon  tlu'  <leference  which  would  be  extended  to  her  se.x  and  rank, 
<'oncealcd  tliem  in  lier  trunk,  and  such  was  the  cliivaliy  of  tliese 
ancient  Virginians  that,  allhoii.uli  the  papers  were  supposed  to  1)0 
^■aluable,  they  siil'fereil  her  trunk  to  be  remo\cd  without  examina- 
tion. 

]m  seekinj;'  for  information  (bii'inj;'  tin'  iii.uht,  they  learned  tliat  a 
<'oiisiderable  body  of  Indians  was  cncaiiijied  near  Cahokia,  .")() 
miles  higher  up  the  Mississippi,  and  (hat  M.  (.'erre,  the  principal 
merchant  of  Ivaskaskia  and  an  inveterate  liater  (»f  the  American 
cause,  was  at  St.  liouison  iiis  way  to  (t)ueliec.  Tliis  iufoniiatiou 
resi)ectiny'  tiie  intensity  of  his  hatred  was,  perhaps,  a  misrepre- 
sentation. None  ol'  the  French  iiilial)itanls  of  Illinois  were 
jjTcatly  iittaclied  to  the  Hritisli  i^ovennnent,  and  it  is  probable  that 
liis  unfriendly  feelinj;'  was  (uily  the  prejudice  he,  in  coiiimon  with 
the  I'csl  of  his  countrymen,  entertained  a.^ainst  tiie  N'ir.yiiiians. 
Ilis  family  and  a  lar;^e  assortment  of  merchandise  were  Iheii  iu 
Kaskaskia,  and  Clark  fhoii.u'ht  that  if  these  pledges  were  in  his 
l)ossession  he  could  render  the  inllueuce  (»f  this  opulent  merchant 
available  in  case  an  emerjicncy  should  occui'  in  which  he  mijiiit 
iiei'd  it.  A  .yiiai'd  was  accordingly  placed  about  his  house  and 
seals  put  on  his  pro])erty,  and  also  on  all  the  merchandise  bidong- 
lUjX  to  other  citizens  of  the  place. 

On  the  oih  day  Clark  witiidrew  his  forces  from  the  town  to  posi- 
tions around  if,  and  to  augment  the  yloomy  forebodinjis  which  had 
alreatly  unnerved  the  inhabitants,  he  sternly  foi'bade  all  interc(»urso 
between  them  and  his  own  men.     i\fter  tiie  removal  of  the  troops 


disre.^ard  for  the  ])rinciiiles  of  liberty.  >i'o  one  excelled  Clark  in 
the  res|»e(rt  which  he  entertained  for  the  ri;;hts  of  others,  and  he 
keenly  felt  himself  the  hardsliijts  which  the  necessities  (»f  his  situ- 
ation compelled  him  to  inllict  upon  those  in  his  ]»owei'.  The  tei'ror 
hitherto  iutcnseuow  reached  its  climax,  and  when  ho|)e  had  nearly 


ISO  IIISTOK'V  OF  It.LINOlS. 


viiiiislicd  Cliirk,  wlio  of  jill  (•(MiiiiiiiiKlcrs  liad  the  clciircst  iiisi<;lit 
into  liimiiiii  iiiitmc,  ^TuntcMl  ;iii  nmliciicc  to  llic  pru-st  iiiid  five  or 
six  elderly  men  of  tlu'  villiijuc  Tlie  sliock  wliieli  tlie.v  received 
1'roni  llie  eiipture  of  tlieir  lownjty  an  enemy  wliieii  they  rt-piided 
willi  so  miieli  lion(»r,  could  only  he  e(|naled  hy  their  surinise  when 
admitted  to  the  presence  of  their eaj)tois.  Tlieii'  clothes  were  torn 
anil  soiled  hy  tin' ronjU'h  n.saye  to  which  they  had  heen  ('X|)osed,  and, 
as  Cliirk  says,  they  looked  more  IVi^htfid  than  savaj;'es.  Their 
appeaiam-e,  nneontii  in  the  extrenu',  doubtless  to  the  sensibility 
ami  relinemeiit  of  the  aiuMcnt  French,  seemed  worse  than  the 
reality.  After  admission  the  depntatatiim  remained  scHnetinni 
iinable  to  speak  and  when  at  leant  h  their  business  was  demanded 
they  could  not  detcrmim"  who  should  lu'  aihlressed  us  comman(U'r 
so  effectually  had  the  hardships  of  the  expedition  obliterated  the 
distinction  between  the  chiettain  and  his  men.  Colonel  (lark 
bcin^  l»oiided  out,  the  priest  in  the  most  submissive  tcuit^  and 
posture,  said  that  "the  people  expccte(l  to  be  separated,  perhaps 
lu'ver  to  meet  ayain  and  they  reipu'sted  the  pri\ile,i;('  of  mei'tiu^' 
in  the  church  to  take  leave  of  each  other  and  commend  their 
future  lives  to  the  jtrotcction  of  a  merciful  (iod."  Clark,  aware 
they  snspectedliim  of  hostility  to  their  rclij>  ion,  carelessly  remarked 
that  "the  Anu'ricaus  did  not  interfere  \.ithlhe  beliefs  of  others 
hut  let  everyone  worship  (lod  accordiu;^'  to  his  convictions  of 
<luty,"that  they  nu^ht  assend)le  in  the  churcli  "baton  no  account 
must  a  siuu'le  person  venture  «»utsideof  the  villa;;(>."  Some  farther 
conversation  was  attem])ted,  but  tiiat  the  alarm  mij;ht  not  abate  it 
Avas  roujihly  repelled,  Clark  aliruptly  iid'onuin^'  them  that  he  had 
not  tinu'  foi'  further  intercouise.  Tlu'Cidii'e  population  immediately 
convened  in  the  chni'ch,  and  the  houses  bein,n' deserted  orders  were 
<;i\'eii  that  they  .should  not  unch/r  any  pretext  be  enterv'd  by  the 
soldiers,  ami  that  all  ])rivate  ])ro]ierty  should  be  hoiu)rably 
res]»ected.  After  remaininji'  in  church  a  lonj;' time  the  priest  v  ul  a 
fev;  others  ayain  called  upon  Colonel  Clark,  and  expressed  their 
thaidis  for  the  j^rcat  favor  which  he  had  ^fanted  tiiein  and  also  n 
desire  that  he  would  inform  them  what  disposition  he  proposed  to 
make  of  tlie  ])eoiile.  They  stated  that,  owin^-  to  the  r«'moteuess  of 
their  situation  they  did  not  fully  compreheiul  the  nature  of  the 
coldest  between  lOufi'laml  and  her  colonies;  that  tlieir  (conduct  had 
been  inllueiiced  by  Uritish  commanders  wlnun  they  were  constrained 
to  olu'y,  ami  that  some  (»f  their  citizens  had  expressed  themselves 
in  favor  of  the  Americans,  whenever  the  restraint  to  which  they 
were  subject  would  jwiinit.  They  .tdded,  their  present  condition 
Avas  the  result  of  w:.:  and  they  were  willinj-'  to  submit  to  the  loss 
of  i»roperty,  but  In  nm'd  that  tliey  lui.u'ht  not  be  separated  from 
their  families,  and  tliat  some  food  and  clothiii};'  miyht  be  retained 
for  tlieir  future  snpi)ort. 

Clark  liavin,i;'  now  sunicieutly  wi'oiiyht  upon  their  fear,  resolved 
to  try  the  etfect  of  lenity.  "NN'hat  I"  said  he,  abrni)tly  addressiuj;' 
them,  "do  you  mistake  ns  for  sava}>es?  Do  you  think  Americans 
A\ill  strip  women  and  children  and  take  the  bread  out  of  their 
niouths'.'"  "My  countrymen,"  said  the  j;allant  colonel,  "disdain  to 
make  war  upon  helpless  innocence.  It  was  to  jirotect  our  own 
Avivesaud  children  that  we  i»eiietrated  the  wil(U'rness  and  subju- 
gated this  stroiiiihold  of  Uritish  and  Indian  barbarity,  and  not  the 
desx»icablo  object  ofplinnler.     We  do  not  war  against  rrenchmeu 


innTisii  ()(;cupATiON. 


181 


I 


Tlic  Kiiij;'  of  Fiiiiicc,  .v(»ur  foniHT  ruler,  istlic  ally  of  the  (ioloiiips; 
liis  tlcctsjiiHl  anus  arc  lij;iif  iiij^diir  l>al  lli'.s,aii(l  the  war  iiiiist  shortly 
triiiiiiiatc.  I']iiil»iac('  wliicii  cxcr  side  you  (Icciii  Iicst.  and  ciijoy 
your  rcliuioii,  lor  Aiiicricaii  law  rcspcrts  the  liclicxcrs  ol'  cNcry 
vvi'v<\  and  pi-olccts  Ihciii  in  their  rights.  And  M<tw.  to  cunvinct'  yuii 
nl"  ni.\  sinci-rity.  ;;o  a)id  inCoi'ui  the  inhaltitantsthat  tiit-y  can  dismiss 
liicir  fears  concci'nint;  tiicir  projM'rty,  and  families  tliat  tluy  can 
<'ondiie,t  themselves  as  usual,  and  that  their  iViends  who  are  in 
eonlincnieut  shall  immediately  be  released."  The  re\  idsion  of 
J'celiML;'  wliicli  followed  this  speech  can  better  be  imauiiicd  than 
desci'ibcd.  Tlic  \  illa^e  seniors  en<lea\(tred  to  a|»olo;;ize  for  tho 
suspicion  they  had  «Mdci'tained,  upon  the  sup|)osition  that  the 
]iroj)erty  of  a  captured  town  bclonjis  to  llie  ciUKiiU'rers,  but  Clai'lc 
j^cnll^  dispensiii;^  with  all  c\|ilanal  ions  desired  ilicm  immediately 
i'clii>vc  the  anxiety  of  tlieij-  IViends  and  sti'ictly  com]>ly  with  tho 
terms  of  n  ]»roclamation  which  he  was  about  to  issue.  Tho 
j;ood  news  so<in  spread  Ihrouulioid  the  villauc;  the  hell  raiij; 
a  merry  jH-al  and  the  peo]»le  almost  frantic  with  Joy  assembled  in 
the  cliui**!!  to  lhanl<  (iod  for  their  haj>py  deliveiance.  ('lark's 
anticijiations  Mere  fully  \('rifu'd,  the  iniiabitants  were  allowed  all 
the  liberty  they  could  desire  and  all  cheerlully  submitted  to  him  as 
the  commandant  of  the  villa;;e. 

.\n  expedition  was  now  planned  aj;ainst  Cahokia,  and  seveial 
intiuential  Kaskaskians  voluntarily  olfercd  toacc(mi[)auy  it.  They 
jissured  Clark  that  the  Cahokians  were  their  kindred  and  tVieiids, 
iiml  that  when  the  situation  of  Kaskaskia  was  expl, lined  to  them 
they  would  be  willinj^'  to  change  tlu'ir  political  relations.  Their 
offei'  was  acce))ted.  and  Major  llowman  and  his  company  wero 
.selected  as  one  jiarty  for  tlic  new  comjiu'sl.  and  ihe  other  tho 
French  ndlitia  commanded  by  their  Ibrmer  ollicers,  the  eutiro 
»leta<'hment  bein.u'  but  little  infeii'))-  in  numbers  to  that  which 
invaded  the  country.  Mounted  on  ii.vsel>a<-k'  the  exjiedilion 
reached  Cahokia  before  the  surreufler  of  Kaskaskia  was  known  to 
the  inhabitants.  On  b(in,in' licrceivcd.the  cry  of  "the  Lonj;'  Knives, 
tlie  iy<ui!i'  Knives,"  as  at  Kaskaskia,  created  the  most  intense  eon- 
.stei'ijation  amoni;-  the  timid  ptatioii  of  the  little  community.  As 
Noon,  ]jowe\('r,  as  the  new  l-'rench  allies  could  notify  them  of  tho 
<'han;;e  of  ^■overnnieiit,  thisforn)idable  appellation  of  the  Virjiinians 
vas  elian^'ed  to  huzzas  for  freedom  ami  the  .Vmericatis.  Major 
r>itwman  took  possif)n  of  the  fort  without  oitposition:  the  Indian 
force  in  the  \icinity  Avas  disi»ersed,  ami  the  iniiabitants  a  few  days 
alterward  took  tlie<»ath  of  allegiance. 

The  suc<Mss  which  had  hit'ierto  attended  the  efforts  of  (^lark 
jjreatly  eNceeded  the  Uicans  employed,  but  such  were  the  eompli- 
<'ations  of  his  ]»ositi»tn  that  he  was  compelled  to  use  the  ••reatest 
ad<lress  in  order  to  maintain  it.  lie  cnltix  itc'd  the  nn>st  intinmto 
relations  with  the  Spaiush  on  ilu-  west  bank  of  the  ^Mississippi, 
and  instructed  his  men  (o  creat(>  the  ii!:;!ressi<ui  that  the  liea<l- 
(piarleis  of  his  army  was  at  the  l''alls  of  the  Ohio  :  that  reinfoi-ce- 
inents  were  daily  expected  t<»  arrive,  and  that  wlu-n  they  canui 
militai'.N  o)>eralions  would  be  resuuu'd  upon  a  more  extended  scale. 
This  ai-tilice  enabh'd  him  to  counteriset  the  extensive  iidlnenee  of 
his  adversaiies,  and  ultimately  triumph  over  their  siijierior 
strei)_i;tli. 


182 


IIISTOUY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


';  \ 


In  tlio  iiH'iintiiiio  ^^.  Ocnc  wliosf  iiilliu'iicc  (MaiU  liiid  cmlt'iiv- 
orcd  to  olitiiiii  Ity  scciiiiii;:'  liis  prt»iit'i(y  iiiid  i'iiiiiil\,  lu'Ciiiim 
iiiixioiis  to  rctiini  to  i\:isU:isUi;i.  l-'«>:iriii;;'  to  pliict-  liiiiisrll'  in  tlio 
liiinds  of  tlic  Ann  riciiii  ollicci'  williont  some  protection,  lie  pro- 
ciii'fd  Icttci's  of  iccoiiiiiiciidiilioii  lioiii  the  Spiinisli  ,l;(»\  cnioi'  ol  St- 
liOins,  iiiid  llic  I'oiiiniiiiidniil  of  St.  (ii'iic\  icx  c.  wilii  ;i  \\v\\  lo  ol». 
tidiiiiij;'  :i  passport.  Clark.  Iiowcvff,  icfiiscd  iiis  application,  and 
inliinatcd  tliat  it  need  not  Ite  repealed,  as  lie  iin<Ier.>tood  lliat  M. 
Cei  re  was  a  man  offense,  and  if  lu'  liad  uol  lieen  unill  v  of  eiic<ini'- 
a;;iii,ii'  Indian  l»ai'l>arities.  lie  need  not  appieliend  any  dandier. 
These  sentiments  liavinn'  been  commiiniealed  to  M.  ('eiic,  lie  Im- 
mediately lepairetlto  KaskasUia.  and  called  upon  Colonel  Claik, 

\\   liii    I  1 1  I'l  ki'ii  I  i  >i  I     liiiii     tli-tf       Ikit    \v;v:     i<li  •  I  l-t  I J  >i  I     l\   i  t  1 1     I  f  Id '  I  t  I  1 1  f  I-    Mm     I  1 1  j  I  i  •  i  1 1  o 


who  informed  him  I 


to  JvasuasKni.  and  called  upon  <  oionel  t  lark, 
tiiio  iiiiipi  iiii'ii  iii;ii  liiat  he  was  cliar,v,<'d  with  iiieilin^  tiie  Indians 
to  pluiKh'rand  murder  I  he  Americans,  and  (hat  humanity  reipiired 
that  such  violators  of  lionoralile  warfare  slioidd  be  puidshed 
aceordiiii;'  to  the  enoiinity  of  their  erinn's.  The  mercliani,  in  reply 
to  this  ae<-iisalion.  said  In- ehallenucil  any  man  to  |>rove  Ihal  lit? 
had  encouraj^t'd  the  depredations  of  the  Indians,  and  that  tin  the 
contrary,  he  conid  jn'odnce  many  witnesses  wiio  Inul  heard  him 
repeatedl_\  condemn  sneh  criu-llics  in  decidt'd  lerms.  Ilefnrlher 
remarked  that  he  never  interfered  in  matters  of  state,  ('\cci>t  when 
liis  business  demanded  it;  that  he  was  not  well  actpuunted  wilU 
the  nature  of  the  contest  in  which  the  colonists  were  eii^ap'd,  ami 
that  these  chaij;es  were  perhaps  prefeii-ed  by  some  of  his  deitlors, 
who  sonj;ht  by  this  nnaiis  a  release  from  IIhmi'  obli;^alioiis.  Ueinj;' 
Avillin<i'  to  snbnut  to  an  exannnation  in  I  lie  presence  of  his  aceus- 
cis,  Clark  re<|iiested  him  to  retire  to  another  ro<iin.  while  he  sum- 
nxtned  them  to  appeal'.  In  a  short  time  they  came  in.  followed  by 
Ji  lavfi'o  part  of  the  inlial>itants,  but  when  M.  Cerre  was  (n'oiiiiht 
into  their  nu<lst  they  were  confounded.  Clark  lold  them  that  he 
was  nnwillin,i;'  to  condemn  any  one  w  itlmnt  a  tiial  ;  that  ;\l..  Ceiie 
Avas  now  in  theii-  |)reseiice,  and  if  iliey  found  him  ;:nilty  ol'  the 
alle<i('d  crinu'  he  should  be  summarily  punished.     .\t    liie  ci-nclu 


iiiiejifti  iiiiiM-    in-  ,>iiiiiiMi    lie    .>ii  iiiiiiiii  M,>    [miii>iievi.        .\i     iiii'  v  >   lii  ni- 

sion  of  these  remarks,  the  witnesses  commenced  wliisi»erin^  wilU 
each  other  and  retiring,  till  only  I  oul  of  7  was  left,  lie  Itein,!.; 
called  on  for  his  proof,  replied  thai  lie  hail  none,  and  M.  Cerr*>  was 
thus  honorably  a<'(piitled.  His  liicids  and  neijiihbors  conj^ratu- 
lated   him    upon   the  hap])y    terminalion   of  the  trial,  and  Clark 

i  n  r.  ki'i  I  ii.i  1    liiiii    llt-it     '  1 1 1  1 1<  ii  1 1 1  1 1    it     \\''>>.:   i  liis^i  i»i  I  lit .    liit    wlii.iiiil     I  ti ..  >i  11 1 1  i*    >iti 


cspiiii.'  eu. 

(Hark  lU'ver  resorted  to  artitice  or  jtunislinient  except  when  he 
could  make  it  conducive  to  the  public  ji'ood.  lu  \\n)  cases  narra- 
ted he  ke]>t  up  the  a]>pearance  ol'  ri^(M'  with  the  view  to  rnhancinj;- 
4I..1  I',..'.,....  ..'i,i..i.  ...ji,,.    .....1    ii...  ....,,..,....;... ;t V   ,.!'  I.;.'  ..>.  i.  /i;.......; 


....       ..V       .V.      I'.        ...........  .|'< .    .^...         ..........  ............,,,.,.,  i,„ 

the  favors  which  policy  and  I  in;  ma.unanindty  of  his  own  disposi- 
tion inclined  him  to  .yrant.  So  adroit  had  been  his  mana^eimnt 
that  li(!  subdued  without  bloodshed  all  the  I'rench  setlleiiu'nts 
Avithin  the  i)reseut  boiuidaries  of  Illinois.  The  captures,  as  we 
shall  have  occasion  to  show,  wci'e  fraii,iiht  with  j:reat  c(mse(pieiu-e.s 
to  the  nation,  ami  does  it  s[»eak  less  honorably  foi'  him  who,  with 


THnnsii  orouPATioN. 


183 


groiit  skill,  liiid  iiccoinplislicd  tlicin  with  lew  instfiid  ol"  tlioiisiiiKls, 
or  lu'ciiiisc  lie  iiail  coiKiucrt'd  witlioiit  tlic  Hlicddinji'  of  hlood  iiistciid 
ol"  iii;ii;iii;i"  tlic  pliiiiis  cd"  Illinois  n'ory  witli  (lie  1>I(mm1  ol"  I  iic  ('iiciiiy 
and  lliiit  (>r  Ills  IVicnds  ?  The  css^'iicc  (»r  true  licroisin  is  tln-siiiiM', 
wliiitcvt'i'  niii.v  he  tiic  scale  of  action,  and  altlioMnIi  nnndxTs  are 
the  standard  l)y  which  military  honors  arc  usindly  awarded,  they 
are  in  reality  only  one  of  the  extrinsic  circiinistaiices.  So 
ini|M»rtant  weic  Clark's  achievements  considered,  that  on  tlicL'.'ld 
of  Ndvend)er,  177S,  ho  and  his  brave  ollicers  and  men  were  voted 
the  thanks  of  the  \'ir;;inia  ll(»nse  of  Delegates  for  tlieii- extraoi'di- 
iiary  r<'soliition  and  perseverance  in  so  lia/.ardous  an  eiiterpiise, 
and  the  importaid  services  tlicrel>y  rendered  the  country.  In  lids 
cxtiaordinary  c(»n(iuest  tlic  Americans  were  doidttless  assisted  l)y 
the  affection  which  the  i'^rench  inliahitants  still  retained  foi'  tlieir 
ancient  Fatherlantl,  now  allied  with  tlie  colonies. 


ciiAPTKK  xvir. 

CLAI;K  Or,TAINS  POSSKSSION  of  VIXCKNNKS— TI{KA- 
TIKS  WITH  TIIK  INDIANS— VINCKNXES  FALLS  INTO 
TIIK  HANDS  OF  THE  KNGLISII,  AND  IS  KE-CAPTUKED 
J'.V   CLAKK. 


f'liuk  iMnv  tmiicd  liis  Mttciitioii  to  tlic  P>iitisli  jtost  of  St.  Viii- 
criils  (N'iiicciiiics),  llic  siiltjiiiiiitioii  of  w  liicli  Wdiilci  Hot  only  cxlcinl 
llif  (ioiiiiiiion  oi"  liis  iinii\  ('  Stiiic.  Uiit  IVoiii  its  contijiiiitv  icudri'  liis 
«)\\ii  |)ositioii  iiinl  .uoNfiiiiiiciil  iiioic  scenic,  lie,  t  lu'i('loic..M'iit  lor 
31.  (iiliiiiilt,  wlio,  Itciii;;  tlic  ( 'alliolic  priest  holli  of  Niiiccimcs  ;iii(l 
KiisUiiskiii,  coultl  jiivc  liiiii  iuiv  iiiloiMi;itioii  lie  dcsiicd.  He 
iiitonncd  (.'link  i'".it  (ioxcnmr  Altltol  liad  latelv  jioiic  on  Itnsincss 
to  Detroit,  and  thai  a  niililar.v  expedition  against  tlie  iiiaee  was 
\viioll,v  nnneeessar.v.  Desirous  ol'  iiavin^'  his  paiishioneis  Tree 
IVoni  the  violence  ol"  war.  iieolTcred  to  induce  the  |)co|iie  to  transfer 
llieii  alh'jiianee  to  tiie  Americans  wiliioiit  tiie  assistance  til'  troops. 
This  proposition  was  readily  accepted,  and  DeLal'oiit  and  a  spy 
Avcre  selected  to  accompany  iiiin.  'I'lie  eiuhassy  set  off  for  N'inci'ii- 
iies,  and  after  a  fall  exidaiiation  iietw«'eii  tlic  y»ri«'st  and  his  Hock, 
the  iiihal)itants  concluded  to  sever  their  relations  with  the  lUitish 
ji(t\ crninent  and  take  theoatiiof  alleniaiicc  to  the  commonwealtli 
of  N'ii'i^inia.  A  temporary  p»v«'ruor  was  apiioinled,  and  the  Amer- 
ican \\:\ix  immediately  displayed  over  the  fort,  to  the  j^reat  snr- 
l»rise  of  the  Indians.  The  savajics  weic  told  that  their  old  father, 
the  kin.:; of  I'rance,  had  come  to  life  and  was  an;.;ry  with  them 
because  tlu-y  foiij;lit  for  the  Enj;lisli,  and  that  if  they  did  hot  wish 
the-  l.md  to  be  bloody  with  war  they  must  make  peace  witli  tho 
Americans.  M.  (libaiilt  and  party  returned  about  the  1st  of 
Aujiust,  with  the  Joyful  intelligence  that  everythinji  was  i)eace- 
ably  adjusted  at  Yincennes  in  favor  of  the  Americans.  This  news 
Avas  both  a  source  of  astonishment  and  {^ratilicatiou,  as  sueli  a 
result  was  hardly  to  be  exi>ected. 

The  .'5  iiKtnths  for  wiiieh  Clark's  men  had  enlisted  Avas  now  ter- 
minated, and  his  instructions  beiii<>' indelinite,  he  was  at  first  at  a 
h»ss  how  to  ]>roceed.  If  the  country  v  as  abandoned  at  this  Jiuuv 
tiire,  the  immense  advantages  already  gained  Wduld  be  sacriticed, 
and,  therefore, actin!j,u|)ontliediscretioii  which  necessity  demamU'd, 
he  re-enlisted  as  many  of  his  own  men  as  were  willin;;'  to  continue 
in  the  service,  and  commissioned  l-'rench  olhcers  to  raise  a  com- 
pany of  the  inhabitants.  He  established  a  <;arrisoii  at  Kaskaskia, 
under  the  eommand  of  Cai»tain  AVilliams,  another  at  Caljkia 
umh'r  Captain  IJowman,  and  seh'cted  Cai)taiii  Sims,  who  liad 
accom]»anied  thii  expedition  as  a  volunteer,  to  take  charge  of  the 
iiieu  wliu  wislied  to  return.     The  latter  oliicer  Avas  also  intrusted 

184 


AMKUKJAN   OCCUPATION. 


185 


with  orders  from  Cliii'k  for  tlio  rcjiioviil  of  tlic  slatioii  from  Corn 
J  slant  I,  at  tlir  l'':ills  of  the  Ohio,  to  the  main  la  ml,  and  a  slockadi) 
fort  was  crt'ctcd  whcrt'  Loiiisx  illc,  the  mt'tiopolis  of  KciitncUv, 
lias  since  been  hiiilt.  Captain  .iolin  .Mont;;(iiM('ry,  in  elwujL^e  of 
J{o(hehla\e  and  the  hearer  of  dispatches,  was  sent  to  Kichmond, 
wliicli  had  become  tiie  oipilalof  Vir:;inia.  it  had  itccii  the  inlcii- 
tion  to  restore  l(»  the  Mrilisli  <'(tninii',,der  his  sla\('s,  w  hich  iiad 
been  seized  as  pnhlic  piopcrty,  an<l  he  and  some  of  his  frien<l.s 
vcic  in\  iteil  to  dine  with  Clark  and  iiis  otiieers,  when  the  restitu- 
tion was  to  talie  place.  M.  Ii'ocheliiave,  howexci',  called  them  a 
set  of  r«'l»els  and  exhibited  sncii  bitteiiiess  of  feelini;',  that  it  was 
necessary  to  send  him  to  the  ^naid  house  and  liiially  a  piisoner 
to  Virjiinia.  'i'lie  ;;cneroiis  idea  of  retui'nin;;'  the  sla\es  to  their 
former  owner  haxinj;'  Itern  friistati-d  i)y  I  liis  pro\  ocal  ion,  they  were- 
,sid)se(iiieidly  sold  for  ."iOO  pounds,  which  was  di\ided  anion;;  the 
troops  as  prize  money. 

'I'lie  j;()\('riiiiieiit  of  \'ir,uiiiia  in  the  meaiiliiiie  was  int'oiiiicd  of 
the  rcdiictioii  of  I  he  counlry  and  ( 'lark  <lcsiriii^  that  'i  civil  yoviiii- 
ment  iiii^ht  be  instituted,  an  act  was  jtassed  in  October,  177S, 
or."aiiiy,ii'^' the  county  of  Illinois  which  included  all  the  territory 
of  die  commoinvealth  west  of  the  Ohio  ri\ ci'.  This  immense  rej;ion, 
exci't'dinj;  in  siiperticial  extent  the  whole  of  (ireat  IWilaiii  aiul  Ire- 
hind,  was  at  that  time  tlielarji'cst  county  in  theworld,aud  contained 
the  best  section  of  laiiiiin.u'  lands  on  the  continent.  A  bill  was 
also  passed  to  raise  ."iOb  men  foi'  openui;;<'(»miminication  with  New- 
Orleans,  for  the  beiielit  of  the  isolated  settlements,  and  Col.  .lohu 
Todd  was  appointed  the  |»riucipal  olliceriii  the  ji'overiiiiient  (d"  the. 
new  count\ ,  and  Jiistit-e  was  for  the  lirst  time  admiuisteicd  under 
the  authority  of  \'ir,uiiiia. 

About  the  middle  of  Au,nust,  (.'lark  ap]»oiiited  Ca]»t.  Helm  com- 
inamlant  of  N'inceiines  an(l  Indian  a.uciit  for  the  departnieni  of  the 
AN'abash.  Jlis  lireat  piiideiice  and  intimate  knowledge  of  Indian 
character  eminently  (pialilie(l  him  for  the  duties  (d'  tiiis  important 
trust.  It  was  also  the  intention  of  Col.  t'lark  to  place  a  stroiiji' 
detachment  under  his  command  as  soon  as  reinforcements  should 
arri\('  from  N'ii'uiiiia. 

At  that  time  theic  li\('d  in  the  \  icinity  of  \'inceniies  a  chief  of 
the  riankashaw  Indians,  who  jiossessed  ^reat  intlnence  o\  ei-  his 
l)eo]»'..  lie  was  comiilimeiited  by  his  countrymen  with  the  appel- 
lation of  theCrand  Door  of  the  NNaiiasli,  in  imilati<ui  of  the  title 
of  I'ontiae,  wlio  was  styled  the  (Irand  Door  of  St.  -losejih.  Clark 
had  exchanged  messages  with  him  tlirou,yli  Cibault.  the  catholic 
priest,  and  hi'  iiisti'uctcd  Ilcliii  to  secure  his  iiitliien<"e,  as  iiotliiii<i,' 
could  be  done  within  the  Iiidiaiicoiifedt'racy  of  the  Wiiliash  without 
his  ap]»r(d»ation.  The  American  aii'cnt  ariivin^i'  safe  at  Vinceiines, 
and  beiiiy  recei\-ed  with  acclamation  by  the  inhabitants,  he  imme- 
diately invited  the  (ii'aiid  Door  to  a  coiilcreiice.  The  ]U'oiid  and 
pompous  chief  was  pleased  with  the  coiutesies of  Caj)!.  Helm,  who, 
in  a  friendly  talk,  communicated  to  him  an  invitation  from  Clark 
to  unite  with  the  "Loui;  Kni\i's"aiid  his  <»ld  master,  tlu'  Kin<;'of 
France.  In  reply  to  this  iii\  itation,  he  said  that  he  was  ylad  to  see 
a  chief  (d"  the  "Lou;;' Knives"'  in  town,  but  with  the  caution  ]K'culiar 
to  Indian  character,  declined  ,yivin,u'  a  deliniti^  answer,  until  he 
could  confer  with  the  i»riiicipal  men  of  his  tribe.     In  all  tli.ir  inter- 


course, the  Grand  Door  observed  the   ceremonies  of  the   most 


]S0 


IIIHTOIJY    Ol'    ILLINOIS. 


eonrll.v  dijiiiity,  iiiid  the  Aiik  ri»;iii,  to  ojM'ralc  on  liis  vanity, 
«'xliil»itf»l  tlu'  siiiiir  |ioiii|iusity,  till  .ilU'i'  .scnj'DiI  thiys  tlic  jnti'rvit'W 
was  ('(iiH'l  IK  It'll.  l'°iiiall,\,  ( 'a|il.  Ii«'liii  was  iii\  iti-d  toath-iiil  a  (■(iiiiicil 
of  cliii'l's,  ill  wliicli  lliciiiaiMl  Door  inruiiiicd  liiiii,  in  a  strain  ot 
liiiliaii  «'loi(iiciir«'.  that  ••tiic  sUy  iiail  iiccn  \('r,\«laiU  in  the  wui' 
litlwri'ii  liic  *l,un;;  Kni\t>s'an(l  l'!ii^lisli,  lint  iiuw  tli*' iNmkIs  wcih) 
Innslh'tl  a\\a,\  lie  cdald  sec  I  lie  MiOii;;  Knives'  were  in  the  rij;lit, 
and  it'  the  I'ai^lisli  coniiiificd  lliciii,  llic,\  niiulil  also  tii'iit  tin- 
Inilians  in  tla'sanif  \va  \ ."  lie  llicii  Jiiiiiix'd  iip.  sli'iirk  his  hiinds 
a;:aiiist  ills  l>i'rast,and  said,  "li<-  had  always  Imcii  a  iiiuii  and  a 
wai'iidi'.  and     now    he    was    a    ■iiOiiu'    Kiiilr''  and    wonid   tell    the 

red  I |>l<'  to  h'oody  th*'  la  ml  no  loii;:<'i'  I'oi  ihr  lai.ulisli."'     lie  and 

liis  led  iMfthriM  llu'ii  took  ('apt.  Ilt-lin  h.\  the  hand,  and  diiriii;^ 
the  rcinaiiKh'r  ()!'  his  lil'r,  he  rcinaiiii'd  the  siaiiiich  Iricnd  of  the 
AiiK'iicans.  I)\iii;L;'  twoyrars  aftci  wanl  at  liis  rc(|in'st  lit-  was 
hiiricd  with  the  honors  of  war,  near  the   l''ort  of  ('alioUia. 

Many  *-hicl's  south  of  Lake  .Mit-hi^^an  followed  the  f\aiiiplc  of 
the  (iraiid  Door,  and  tlir  llritish  iiilltifiicc,  which  had  caiisrd  ;;i'(>at 
lliiscliiff  to  Ihc  frolitii'l'  sfttlciiiclits,  d;iil\  declined.  .Milch  of  the 
Nilecess  altemlili.u  these  iie^iol  iiil  ions  was  due  In  llie  inlliieiiee  of 
the  Ficiich.  for  the  Indians,  relyiii;^'  iiii|>lieitly  iipoii  their  state- 
ments, became  ureally  alarmed  at  the  ;;ro\\  inn  power  of  the  Ameri- 
(•aiis.  Clark's  method  of  v'tfeclinj:  treaties  with  them  was  attended 
with  reinarkaltle  success,  lie  had  sindied  the  i''n'nch  and  Spaiiisli 
inclhods  of  intercourse,  and  thoiiuht  their  plan  of  iir<4iii^'  them  to 
make  treaties  was  founded  upon  a  mistaken  estimate  of  their 
('haracler.  He  was  of  opinion  that  .siu-li  oxcrtiires  were  construed 
1»\  IIm'  savages  as  e\  ideiice  of  either  .e.'r  or  weakness,  and  tlier«'- 
lore  stndioiisly  avoideil  niakinu  the  lir.vl  advances,  i'niiketlio 
]'aiulis|i.  w  ho  eiidea\(tr<'d  to  win  their  uood  will  hy  freely  uraiit  inn' 
them  |»resents,  he  either  heslowed  tii<'iii  rehiclantly.  or  foii;;lit 
tliem  until  they  were  compt'lled  to  seek  reliij^e  in  treatios  as  ii 
means  of  self  preser\alion.  The  ceremonies  at  leiidinj;  his  conn- 
<'ils  with  these  scais  of  the  forest,  as  1  hey  illustrated  I  heir  charac- 
ter, are  W01II1  record iiifi'.  The  tirst  convocation  of  this  kind  in 
Avhich  <  oloiiel  Clark  was  present,  met  at  Cahokia  alioiit  the  1st  of 
Heptemher.  The  various  parlies  trad  assemhied,  and  as  the  Indians 
Averethe  solicitors,  one  of  llie<*hiefs  approached  I  he  lahle  where. 
Colonel  Clark  was  sittinji,  heaiin.u' three  belts,  one  of  which  was 
emblematical  of  ])eace,  another  contained  the  sacred  pijie,  and  a 
third  the  lire  to  lit;!it  it.  After  the  pipe  was  lighted,  it  was  (irst 
jtresrnted  to  the  hea\ciis,  then  to  the  earth,  next  foiniiiii;-  a  circle, 
it  was  ottered  to  all  the  spirits,  invokinji'  them  to  witness  their 
])roceediii,us,  and  tinally  to  Colonel  Clark  and  the  other  members 
of  the  coiin«  !!,  .\l  the  conclusion  ot'  these  foiinalit  ies,  a  chief  arose 
and  s])oke  in  favor  of  peace,  after  which  he  threw  down  the  bloody 
licit  and  tlaji,  which  had  been  <iiveii  t(»  him  by  the  l'aij;lisli,  and 
.stamped  on  them,  as  evidtMice  of  their  rejection.  Clark  coldly  I'c- 
])lied  that  he  would  consider  w  hat  he  had  heard  and  ;^i\('  them  an 
answci' on  the  following  day.  lie  however  intimated  that  their 
existence  as  a  nation  depended  on  the  determination  of  the  coun- 
cil, and  as  jteace  was  not  coiiclnded.  he  cantioiied  the  .'hit  I  not  to 
let  any  of  his  coiintrymeii  shake  hands  with  the  white  peojile, 
Siiyiii;^  it  woidd  be  time  to  jiive  the  hand  when  the  heart  also 
could  be  .;iseii  with  it.     AVheii  he  had  ceased  speakinj;,  one  of  tlio 


AMKIJICAN  OCCri'Al'KiX. 


IS7 


rliirl's  fcinill'knl  Ili:il  micIi  snitiiiiciils  wcit  like  iiini  wliiiliiiil  liiif, 
OIK'  liiMi'l  mill  uiio  ilii!  imi  spciiU  with  ii  loikcd  t<ii|M|ir.  'I'liit 
roiiiicil  IIm'Ii  iKljoiiriM-il  till  tii*-  iifxl  ihiv.  ;iii<l  wlicii.  :it  tlir  :i|i|)uiiil- 
4>il   I  inn-  till-  liidiiiiis  i'rii.ss<>iiil)l(>(l,  Chii'k  tints  iHldirssrd  tlii'in: 

"  Mkn  and  Wahhioks  :  i'ay  ntli'iitioii  to  my  wonlM.  \<h\  int'oriiicd 
iin' vcstcrdiiv  (lull  yiMi  li(>|ii>d  tlii' ( Jrciit  S|iiril  liiid  lipoiitrlit  us  liiuftlJH'r 
for  jiixid.  I  liiivc  liicsiinif  lii>|i»',  iiiid  trust  nirli  ptirlywill  siricily  nijiicri' 
to  N»  iiiitcvt'r  is  auri'fd  u|iuu,  wiifllicr  it  l>r  pi-arc  nr  war.  I  am  a  man 
a  '  H'ai'i'ior,  nut  a  couiirilur.  I  I'arry  war  in  my  ri^dil  luind,  |Mar<'  in 
my  ii'I'l.  I  am  scut  l>y  tlu'ui'ral  I'uunril  <il'  tin-  Ijou^^  KuIm's  and  llicii' 
frii'Uils,  tu  lal<i'  |i(issi-^si(iu  of  all  tlic  towns  orcupird  liy  llir  Muidisli  in 
this  roiiulry,  ami  to  watrli  the  led  |n'o|(lt';  to  iiloody  (lie  paths  of  lliosr 
wliii  attempt  to  slop  the  roursi' of  till- rivci's,  aud  to  I'leai' thr  roads  for 
thosi' who  di'sirc  to  lir  in  prarc  I  am  lU'di'i'i'd  to  call  upou  lli('(lrcat 
J''i re  for  warriors  enough  to  darken  the  laud,  Ihat  the  red  pcoph- may 
hear  no  sound  l>ul  of  Idrds  wliich  live  on  lilood.  I  know  lliere  is  a  mist 
lielore  your  eyes.  I  will  dispel  the  clouds  that  you  may  clearly  see  tlic 
causes  of  tlu'  war  Ipclwceii  the  liOiu;-  Knives  and  the  iMiVli^h  ;  then  you 
may  judi;e  wliich  partv  is  in  llie  riuhl,  and  if  you  are  wai'riors,  as  you 
profess,  prove  it  liy  adherinj;  faithfully  lo  the  party  whiidi  you  sliall'lic- 
lieve  to  he  I'lilillcil  to  your  friendship." 

After  ('liiik  liml  cxpliiiiictl  in  iNdail  the  r;iiise  and  ellect  id  tlio 
war  i'\istiii,y  itewei'ii  tlie  IOii;;lisli  iiliii  tlie  ruloiiies,  lie  tiiiiscoii- 
ciililed  : 

"The  whole  land  was  dark  ;  the  old  men  hidd  down  their  hciids 
shame,  hecause  they  could  not  see  ;lu'  sun  ;  and  thus  there  was  mourn  • 
in^^  for  many  ycai's  over  liie  land.  At  last  the  ( Ireat  Spirit  look  pily  on 
us.  and  kindled  a  ^'real  council  lire  at  IMiil.'ulelplii.'i,  planted  a  post,'  put 
a  tomahawk  liy  it  and  went  aw;iy.  The  sun  immedialely  broke  out,  the 
sky  was  Mue  a^^ain,  and  the  old  men  In  Id  up  their  lieads  and  asscmlileil 
at  llie  lire.  'I'hey  tool;  up  the  halcliel,  sharpened  it,  and  ininiedialely 
put  it  in  the  hands  of  our  you n^  men,  orderin^f  them  lo  sliike  the  lOiii?- 
lisli  as  lonji;  as  they  could  liiid  one  on  this  side  of  the  (ireat  W'aler.  'I'ho 
yoiiiiK  nu'ii  immedi.ately  struck  the  w;ir  post  and  lilood  w;is  shed.  In 
this  way  tin-  warhei^aii,  and  the  i^nniisli  were  driven  from  one  place  lo 
another,  until  they  ^ot  weak,  and  tlieii  hired  the  red  peojde  to  li^;lit  for 
them.  The  (ireat  Spii'it  j^ot  ans^ry  at  tliis,  and  caused  _\()iirold  father, 
the  J'"rench  Kinj;',  and  oilier  jj^i'cat  nations  to  Join  llie  Lon^'  Knives,  and 
lijihl  witli  tlu'iii  aj;ainst  all  liieir enemies.  So  the  l^n^lish  have  In-come 
like  deer  in  the  woods,  and  you  can  see  that  it  was  the  ( treat  Spii'it  that 
ti'oul)led  your  waters,  hecause  you  have  foi'iiht  for  the  people  with  whom 
In-  was  displeased,  ^'ou  can  now  judjj  ■  nlio  is  in  the  rij^ht.  I  have 
already  told  y,)U  who  1  am.  Here  is  a  hlooti^-  helt,  and  a  jd'ace  licit  ; 
taki'  which  you  please  ;  hehave  like  men,  and  do  not  let  your  hein^  sur- 
rounded hy  Loiifj:  Knives  cause  you  to  take  up  one  hi'll  with  your  hands 
while  your  hearts  take  up  llie  otlier.  I  f  you  lal^e  the  hlooily  path,  you 
can  yo  in  safety  and  Join  your  frii'iids,  the  Knirjish.  W'l'  will  theii'try 
like  warriors  who  can  stain  our  clotlies  tlie  longest  with  hlood.  If,  on 
the  otiicr  liaiid,  you  taki'  the  path  of  jieace,  and  are  received  as  lirollu'i's 
by  the  liOiiu;  Knives,  and  then  listen  to  had  hirds  thai  are  llyinj;  throuj^h 
the  land, you  cannol  lont^-er  he  considi'red  men,  hut  creaturi's  with  two 
toiif^ues,  wliich  ought  to  lie  destroyed.  As  •  am  convinced  tliat  you 
never  liearil  the  tru'th  before,  I  do  not  wish  you  to  answer  me  bi'fore  you 
have  taken  time  for  consideration.  We  will  therefore  jiart  tliiseveniiif^, 
and  when  the  (ireat  Spirit  sliall  bring  us  together  again,  let  u.sspuak  and 
think  as  men  with  but  one  heart  ami  one  tongue.  " 

Oil  the  Ibilowiii};'  day,  tlie  council  lire  vas  kindled  with  more 
than  ordinary  ceremony,  and  one  of  the  chiefs  came  forward  and 
said  : 

"We  have  listened  with  great  attention  to  wliat  the  chief  of  the  liong 
Knives  told  us,  and  are  thankful  that  tlu-  (ireat  Spirit  has  opened  our 
ears  aud  hearts  to  receive  the  truth.     We  believe  you  tell  us   the  truth, 


188 


HISTORY   OV   ILLINOIS. 


for  you  do  not  speak  like  other  jieojile,  iintl  that  our  oltl  men  are  rij;lit, 
who  always  saUl  the  English  sjjake  with  doulile  tongues.  We  will 
take  the  lii'lt  of  |)(...'.'e,  antl  east  down  the  hloodly  belt  of  war;  our  war- 
riors shall  be  ealled  home  ;  the  tomahawk  shall  be  thrown  into  the 
river,  where  it  ean  never  be  found  ;  and  we  will  carefully  smooth  ^'u'  road 
for  your  itrothers  whenever  thiy  wish  to  come  and  see  you.  Our  friends 
Hhail  lu'j'r  of  the  good  talk  you  have  given  us,  and  we  hope  you  will  send 
(  liefs  anu)iig  our  countrymen,  tliat  they  may  see  we  are  men,  and 
adhere  to  all  we  huv  •  [)romised  at  this  lire  •,  hieh  the  (Jreat  Spirit  has 
kindled  fo"  the  good  of  all  who  att< 'id." 

Tlie  pip,'  was  aji'iiin  lijiiitcd,  tin'  s]):iits  were  called  on  to  witiics.s 
tlu'  ti'ansaction.s,  and  tlu'coimc     concliul'd  by  sliaUiM;^  liands. 

In  lliis  manner  alliances  we;-  loriiicd  with  other  tiihcs.  and  in 
a  slioit  lime  ("laik's  ])ower  was  so  w<''l  cstahlislicd  that  a  siiiiilo 
soldier  could  be  sent  in  sat'ety  ••<  I'.u-  north  as  the  head  waters  ot' 
tlu'  sti'cains  nnptyin^'  into  tlu  Likes.  In  the  vicinity  oi"  tiie  lakes 
the  IJrivisli  retained  their  inlliiencc.  somu'  of  the  tiil>es  bein<;' 
divided  between  them  and  the  Americans.  This  sudden  ami 
extensive  chanjiC  of  sentinn'iit  amon^'  the  Indians,  was  due  to  the 
.stern  and  comniandiny'  intluence  of  (\tlom'l  Clark,  siipi>orted  l»y 
the  alliance  of  the  i-'rcnch  with  the  colonies,  ami  the  re;;ard  which 
the  Indian.,  still  retaineil  for  their  tii'st(Jr»at  Father.  It  lecprired 
jiicat  skill  on  the  pait  of  Clark,  while  in  command  of  such  diuiin- 
ulive  forces,  to  keep  alive  thi^  imi»ression  which  had  orij;inally 
beeii  nnide  respecting;'  the  arrival  of  forces  frt)m  the  Falls  of  the 
Ohio.  To  create  a  favorable  impi'essi(»n,  the  fe(  s  connected  with 
the  adaiinistration  of  Justice  were  abated.  The  nniintenain-e  of 
I'ricmlly  intercoui'se  will  tin'  Sjianish  authorities,  and  the  per- 
ini>sioii  of  trade  ainoii.u  the  inhaiiitaiits  on  l)oth  sides  nl'  the  Mis- 
ifeissippi,  was  also  in'iMliictive  of  jiood  will. 

in  his  neji'otiation  with  the  Indians,  an  iiirideiil  occurred  al-oiit 
this  time  whiidi,  from  its  rmnaiitic  ctiaraclei',  is  worthy  of  imMition. 
A  lar.^'e  n-ward  was  otlerecl  the  Meadow  or  .Mascoiitin  Indians, 
who  ac(;(»inpaiiied  the  otli<*r  tribes  to  the  council,  to  assassinate 
the  American  c(»mmaii(ler.  l'\)i'  this  purpose  they  pitt'hed  their 
eaiiip  on  the  same  side  (d'  ('aliokia  creei;  occupied  by  Clark,  dis- 
tant 100  yards  from  the  fort  and  the  Aiiiericaii  iiea(l(|iiarlers.  It 
was  arranj;ed  that  a  i»art  of  their  niimbcu'  should  (uo.ss  the  (icek, 
whicji  could  easily  Ix^  waded,  tire  in  the  (lir<'ction  (d'  the.  liidiiiii 
encaiiipinent,  ami  then  tlee  to  the  (]iiarters  of  Clark,  where,  under 
the  pretense  of  f«  ar,  they  were  to  oi>taiii  admission  ami  put 
the  liiirrisoii  to  deal 'i.  The  atteiujtt  was  made  about  1  o'clock  in 
tJie  moiiiiiij;'.  The  tlyinj;'  party  lia\iii,i;  discharjicd  their  j^iins  iu 
.such  a  manner  as  to  cast  suspicion  upon  tlie  Indians  on  the  oppo- 
.site  side  ol  the  creek,  started  directly  to  the  Aineiican  enciim|iiiient 
for  protection.  Clark  was  still  awake  with  the  innltiplied  cares 
t»f  !iis  situation,  and  the  guards  beinu-  stronger  than  had  been 
anticipated,  presented  their  pieces  and  cduipeiled  the  fugitives  to 
lisilt.  The  town  and  garriM)U  wore  immediately  under  arms:  the 
IMascoutins,  whom  the  guard  had  recognized  by  moouliglH,  were, 
sent  for,  ami  being  interrogated  respet-ling  their  conduct,  declared 
that  tlu'y  hud  been  liird  ipoii  by  enemies  on  the  ojiposite  side  of 
the  creek,  and  that  they  had  tied  to  the  Americans  fcu'  refuge.  The 
French,  however,  iiiiderstandiiig  them  bett(-i  than  their  compier- 
ors.  <'alled  for  a  light,  and  on  e.xaniination  discoveicd  that  their 
leggings  and  moccasins  were  wet  and  muddy,  which  was  evidence 


AMERICAN  OCCUPATION. 


189 


tliiit  tlicy  liiul  crossed  tlie  creek  itnd  tliat  tlie  Indians  they  visited 
were  friends  instead  of  enenues.  'I'lu'  intended  assassiiis  were 
dismayed  at  tliis  discovery,  and  (Mark,  to  convince  tlie  Indians  of 
tile  conlidence  wliicli  he  reposed  in  tlu'  French,  hanch'd  over  the 
(Milprils  to  them  to  he  (h-alt  witli  as  they  thon^ht  jn'opcr.  liiti- 
nialions  were,  liowever.  made  to  tlieni  privately,  that  theyou;;ht 
to  lie  conlined,  and  they  were  accordinj^ly  nmnacled  and  sent  to 
the  ;iiiard  Immisc.  In  this  condition  they  were  daily  l)ron;;lit  into 
the  council,  where  he  whom  they  had  endeavored  to  kill.  s\as 
fornun^trieiidly  relations  with  their  red  brethren  of  other  tribes. 
AVhen  all  the  other  bnsiness  of  the  conncil  was  transacted,  Clark 
ordered  the  ii'ons  to  be  struck  olf,  and  said:  ".lnsti<'i'  re([Mir«'s 
that  yon  die  lor  yoni-  treacherous  attempt  n|)on  m\  life  durint;  the 
sacred  delibei'ations  of  a  council,  1  had  determined  to  iutUi  death 
np(»n  you  for  your  base  dcsiiius,  and  you  nuist  be  sensible  that  \<tu 
liave  Justly  I'ort'cited  your  li\('s;  but  on  consideriuji'  the  nu'anness 
of  watching'  u  bear  and  catching'  him  aslec)*,  I  iia\ c  concluded  I  hat 
you  are  not  warriors,  but  old  women,  aiul  too  nu-an  to  lie  killed 
by  the  Lonji'  Kni\es,  Since,  liowcver,  you  must  be  punished  for 
wearin_n'  the  ajiparel  of  men,  it  shall  be  taken  away  from  yoi;,and 
you  shall  be  fuiiiished  with  i)leuty  of  i>ro,visions  for  your  Jomncy 
home,  and  wlnle  here  you  shall  be  tr«'ate<l  in  every  icspcei  ;is 
scjuaws."  At  <he  conclusion  of  these  cnttin.y'  remarks,  Clark  tui  n((l 
to  c<»nverse  with  others.  The  offending'  Indians,  expectinji-  au^icr 
and  j)unishment,  instead  of  contcmiit  and  disgrace,  Wi-ru  excecd- 
injily  agitated.  After  connsclinj;' with  eachttther,  one  of  the  chiefs 
came  forward,  and  laying  a  i>iiie  and  i>elt  of  peace  on  the  table, 
made  s(»nie  explanatoiy  reimirks.  The  interpreter  stood  ready  to 
transhite  these  wevds  of  friendship,  but  Clark  refused  to  hear 
them,  and  raisin<;' his  sxt'ord  and  shatterinji' the  pipe,  declared  that 
the  Lonji'  Knives  never  treated  with  women.  Some  of  the  other 
tribes  with  whom  alliances  had  been  formed,  now  iiderposinj;  for 
thedisconditted  Indians,  besou.yht  Clark  to  ]>ity  their  fannlics  and 
IXVAUt  them  pardon.  To  this  en  +  rcaty  he  coldly  replied,  that  "tiie 
Loni"'  Knives  Jiever  imule  war  uj»on  thes<'  hulians;  they  arc  of  ii 
kiu(l  which  Ave  shoot  like  wolves  when  we  meet  them  in  the  woods, 
lest  they  kill  th(^  deer."  This  rebuke  wr<»n.iiht  more  and  more  upon 
the  li'uilty  ])arties,  and,  after  ai;ain  takinj;'  counsel,  two  of  the 
;soun^'  nu'U  canu'  forward,  covered  their  heads  with  blankets, 
and  sat  down  at  the  feet  of  the  inexcuable  Clark.  Two  dnefsalso 
arose,  and  staiulinj;'  by  the  si«h'  of  the  victims  who  tlius  olfcred 
their  lives  as  an  atonement  for  the  crinu'  of  their  tribe,  aj^ain  pre- 
sented the  pi[)e  of  peace,  sayin.i>',  we  ho]»e  this  sacritice  will  a}»pease 
the  anfi'er  of  the  Lonn'  Knife.  The  American  comnmnder,  iu)t 
replyiujn'  inuiu'diately,  as, if  still  uiisatished,  the  most  ])roi'onn(l 
silemu^  reigned  in  the  assembly,  and  notliin;^'  was  heard  but 
the  deep  broathinjn'  of  the  multitude,  all  turinnji- their  eyes  upon 
Clark,  as  if  to  icad  in  the  «'xpression  of  his  countenance  tho 
fate  of  the  devoted  Indians.  The  snd<len  iiii]»ulse  caused  by  the 
heroism  of  this  romantic  incidiMit,  ahnost  overcame  the  powerful 
nerve  of  Clark,  who,  from  the  tirst,  had  intended  to  jirant  these 
Indians  ])eace,  but  Avith  a  reluctance,  as  he  says,  that  should 
enhance  its  value.  At  length,  to  relieve  the  yreat  suspense  of  the 
assembly,  he  adAanced  toward  the  yonni'' im'u  and  (U'derin^  them 
to  uncover  their  h(!ads  and  stand  U[),  said :  "1  am  rejoiced  to  liiul  meu 


190 


IIISroUY  OF   ILLINOIS. 


aiMdii;;'  iill  iKitiuiis:  llifsr  two  .vouiiji'  \v;nri(»is  wlio  Iiavc  (lilricd 
llicir  li\('.s  !i  s;icii)i('(',  iirc  ill  Iciist  proof  tor  llicir  own  coiiiitrviiicii. 
Sncli  iiifii  oiilv  arc  worthy  to  be  cliicls,  and  witli  sn<'li  I  like  to 
tical."  He  llicii  took  tlifui  by  tlic  liand,  and  in  lioiior  of  tlicir 
inai'Maniinity  and  courap'.  introchiccd  tiicni  tollic  Aniciican  ollircrs 
anil  oilier  uicinbcrs  of  llic  asscniblv,  after  wliieli  all  sainted  llieiii 
as  tlic  eliiefsof  tiieir  tiibe,  "'I'lie  lioiiian  Cnrlins  leaped  into  tiui 
(!nlf  to  save  liis  conntrvnien.  and  Leonidas  died  in  oltedi<'nee  to 
tlie  lawsof  (iri'cee  ;  lait  in  neither  of  lliese  instances  was  displayed 
yicater  heroism  liiaii  that  exhiltited  by  these  nnsoplustieated 
children  of  nature."'  They  were  ever  after  held  in  liij^h  esteem 
anion.i;'  the  bra\('sof  Ihcii-owii  tribe,  and  the  lame  of  the  white 
negotiator  was  coi'i('spondin_!^ly  extended.  A  coniicil  \vas  iminedi- 
at<'ly  con\ cned  for  the  benelit  of  the  Meadow  Indians;  an  alliance 
Avas formed  with  thcii' chiefs,  and  neither  pail\  CNcr  afterward  had 
occasion    to   rciiret  the  reconciliation  thus  elfected. 

Althoii.uh  it  was  Claik'.s  };ciu'ral  aim  not  to  ask  favoi's  of  the 
Indians,  yet  some  of  their  chiefs  '.vere  so  intelligent  and  ])owcrful 
lie  (XM-asionaily  invite(l  them  to  visit  him  and  ex|)lan  the  nature  of 
tlitM'ontcst  bet  ween  tile  ICii,i;lisli  and  the  colonists.  ,\  noted  instance 
of  lliis  kind  was  his  iiitercoiir.^e  with  lUack  l)ird.  a  very  disiiii- 
Hiiisiied  chief  whose  lands  bordered  on  Lake  .Michigan,  and  who 
had  obtained  such  a  reputntion  amonjn'  his  jieoplethat  a  deijarture 
ironi  the  usual  policy  was  deemed  ad\isal)le.  lUack  I'.ird  was  in 
St.  Louis  when  the  country  was  tirst  iii\ade(l,  but  liavin;;'  little 
conlideiu'e  in  Spanish  protection,  lie  wrote  a  letter  to  ("lark  ajtolo- 
<;i/iii,ii-  for  liis  absence,  and  returned  t(»  his  trilie.  A  siHM-ial  nies- 
sen.^cr  was  sent  reijustin;.;  him  to  come  to  Kaskaskia,  and  coniidy- 
ini;  witii  the  invitation,  he  called  upon  ( 'olouel  ( 'lark  with  only  S 
attendants.  (Ireat  preparations  were  immediately  made  foi-  hold- 
ing;- a  council,  but  the  sagacious  chief,  disliking-  tlie  usual  forniali- 
tiesof  Indian  neuotiation.  iiiforme<l  Clark  that  he  came  on  business 
of  importance,  and  desired  that  no  time  iniyiit  be  wasted  in  useless 
eeremoiues.  ile  stated  that  he  wished  t(»conveise  with  him,  and 
j)rotfered  without  ostentation  to  sit  with  him  at  the  sametalde,  A 
room  was  accordiii;L;iy  furnished  and  i>otli,  provided  with  interi)rct- 
ers,  took  their  seats  at  the  same  stand  and  coininenced  tlie  confer- 
ence. r>lack  IJird  said  he  had  lony-  wished  to  have  an  interview 
with  a  chief  of  our  nation  ;  he  had  soui;ht  information  from  piis- 
oiu'rs  but  could  not  conlidc  in  tiieir  statements,  for  they  seemed 
afraid  to  speak  the  truth,  lie  admitted  that  he  had  fou;nlit  ajiainst 
us,  altliouj;h  doiilits  of  itsjiistice  occasionally  crossed  his  mind; 
some  mystery  hun,i''  over  the  matter  which  he  desired  to  have 
removed;  he  was  anxious  to  hear  both  sides  of  the  ipiestion,  but 
liithertt)  li(^  had  only  been  able  to  hear  but  one.  Clark  undertook 
to  imjiart  the  desired  inlbrmat ion,  but  ow in;;- to  the  ilifliculty  of 
renderinji'  himself  intellijicut,  several  hours  were  sjieiit  in  answeiing 
liis  (piestions.  At  the  conclusion,  lUaek  l>ird,  ainonji'other  thinjis, 
fsaid  that  he  was  ;^Iad  that  their  old  friends,  the  I-'iench,  liaduniie<l 
their  arms  with  ours,  and  that  the  Indians  ouylit  to  do  the  same. 
Jle  atlirnied  that  his  sentiments  were  llxed  in  onr  favor ;  that  he 
would  never  a.u'ain  listen  to  the  otters  of  tlie  I'hiiilish,  who  must 
certainly  be  afraid  because  they  liire  with  iiiercliandise  the  Ind- 
ians toclo  tlieii'  liyhtinji'.  He  closed  by  say  in, n'  that  lie  would  call 
in  his  youiiy  men,  and  thus  put  an  end  to  the  war,  a.s  soon  as  he 


AMKKICAN  OOCUPA'I'ION. 


191 


could  yet  iiii  opiiordniity  of  cxpliiiiiiiifi-  to  tliciii  the  iijitiiic  of  tlie 
<'oiit)'st.  Tills  (U'tcni'liiMlloii  of  tlicclilff  wiisvcry  iimcciihlc  to 
('liiilv.  who  liif<inih'(i  liliii  lliiit  lie  would  write  to  tlic  j^oNciimiciit  of 
Viijiiiiiii  ;iiid  liiixc  tlu'iii  i'('jiist«'i('d  Jiiiioiiu'  tlic  friends  of  tiif  white 
])('o|>l('.  A  few  <la,vs  iiftcrwiird.  tliisiiilclii^ciit  IikIImii,  sii]>|)lied 
Willi  presents  and  iiccoinpaiiicd.  at  his  re(|iiest,  l»\  an  aiicnl  of 
Ciaik,  set  olV  for  his  iiatixc  forests.  His  eoiidiict  afterward  ext'iii- 
jililied  the  honesty  ol'  his  jirofessions,  for  he  thei'eafter  reinaiiied 
the  faithful   friend  of  the  Anierieans. 

Clark  in  his  intt'reoiirse  with  the  Indians,  nevei'  blamed  them 
i'or  a('ee|)tin.i;' the  presents  of  the  I'ai.ulish.  as  the  iieeessities  ot' 
their  eondition  and  the  inability  of  tiie  Anu'iieans  to  supply  their 
wants,  reiidei'ed  it  unaMiidable.  ( "oninierce  lud  to  some  extent 
already  iiitrodin-ed  aiiioiii;-  tiieiii  superior  apjilianees  of  civilization. 
The  rille  and  its  aininnnition  had  loiii;'  since  superceded  the  bow 
!ind  arrow,  and  blankets,  cookini;'  utensils,  cutlery,  and  oth  'r  ir  • 
pleiiieiits  niamifactiired  in  an  athance  state  of  arts,  \\»re  .!s 
necessaiy  to  the  sa\a,iie  as  the  civilized  man.  W'liih  ,  however, 
lie  foreboic  to  leproach  them  foi'  receivinj;'  jiresents  from  tho 
English,  he  eudeav(»red  to  iinju'ess  uiion  theii'  minds  the  de^iiada- 
lion  of  lii:litiii^  for  hire.  The  ''Lon.n'  I\iii\'es,"  he  said,  ''rejiarded 
the  scalps  taken  while  ti^htiiij:' in  self-defence  as  the  .yreatesl  of 
tro|)hies.  but  those  obtained  in  mercenary  warfare,  are  thrown  to 
the  doj^s  or  used  as  toys  for  the  amnsemeiil  of  tiieir  children."' 

Anothei'  chief  by  the  name  of  Kaiics,  about  this  time,  sent  a 
letter  to  ("laik.  lie  was  also  known  by  the  api»ellation  of  I'A'^ 
(iate.  a  title  which  he  received  from  liavini;'  shot  a  Uritish  soldier, 
standing;' at  the  fort  when  I'ontiac.  with  whom  he  was  then  associ- 
ated, iiesieyed  Detroit.  Se\cral  maraiidiiiL;  parties  a.:^aiiisl  our 
iVontier  settlements,  had  been  successfully  commanded  by  this 
warrior,  who  hivpjx'ned  to  fall  in  with  a  party  of  I'iankeshaws 
S'oin.n'  to  Kaskaskia  to  make  the  Americans  a  \isit.  (1  a  udily  decked 
in  the  full  costume  of  war.  and  with  the  bloody  belt,  which  tiie 
British  had  uiNcii  him,  suspended  aliout  his  neck,  he  daily  came  to 
the  council  and  occiiiiied  oneoftlie  most  pi'omiiient  seats.  Asa 
silent  spectator  he  thus  attended  till  all  the  pultlic  Itiisiness  was 
transacted,  the  American  oflicer  then  accosted  him  with  anapoloiiy 
lor  not  luniuu' ]»aid  his  respects  durinji' the  deliberations  of  the 
assenilily.  Altiioiijih  w<'are  eiieaiies,  said  he,  it  is  customary  with 
the  white  jx'ople  to  treat  celebrated  warriors  with  resjiect,  in  jiro- 
]>ortlon  to  the  exploits  which  they  Uum'  performed  a.i;aiiist 
each  otlier  in  war.  lieinj;'  ii  distiniiuished  warrioi',  Clark  invited 
him  to  dinner.  Surprised  at  this  civility  he  at  lirst  endea\dred  to 
decline  the  imitation.  The  American  otlicer,  howcNcr,  when  he 
attempted  to  offer  an  ex(!use,  ro])eated  with  j;reater  warmth  his 
solicitations,  till  the  feelin.ys  of  tlie  chief  wer(>  wrouiiht  up  to  the. 
lii.iiiiest  pitch  of  excitement.  K'oiised  in  this  manner  he  advanced 
to  the  center  of  the  room,  threw  down  the  war  belt,  toi'e  off  tho 
clothes  and  tlaj-',  which  had  been  t;iven  him  by  his  friends,  tlie- 
En.ii'Iish.  J)esi)()iled  of  these  i»i'eseiits,  he  struck  himself  violently 
on  the  breast,  an<l  said  that  he  had  been  a  warrior  from  his  youth, 
ami  delij^hted  in  battles;  that  he  had  foujiht  three  times  a.iiainst  the 
Ani(>ricans  and  was  i>reparin^  another  war  party,  when  he  heard 
of  Colonel  Clark's  arrival ;  that  he  had  determined  to  visit  tho 
Auiericaiis,  who  he  now  thought  were  right,  and  that  he  washeuee- 


102 


HISTOllY  OF  ILLINOIS 


foitli  ii  ''Loll};' Knit*'"  and  would  war  no  loiiiicr  i'or  the  l'iii;;Ii,sli.  flo 
tlicii  ('oiiclitdcd  l)y  sliakiiin' liaiids  willi  Clark  and  his  oriiccrs  and 
saliilin;;  tliciii  as  hrollicrs.  The  comical  part  of  liic  alVair  waslliat 
the  new  brotlicr  was  now  naked,  and  since  he  ninsl  he  clollicd,  a 
iinc  laced  snit  was  jn'ovided  and  lie  appeared  at  the  enleitainnient 
ana.Ncd  in  all  the  trapjiiniis  of  niilitarv  costume.  Al'ter  ihe  i'e|iast 
^\■as  over,  in  a  i)i'i\  ate  intei\  lew,  he  disclosed  to  Clark  the  situation 
of  hetroit,  and  otl'ercd  to  ol»tain  a  scal[)or  prisoner  tVom  its  jiarri 
soil.  Clark  not  wisliin<;' to  encoura;.i(' the  hai'baritiesoC  the  Indians, 
declined  the  i'oiiiiei',  hut  assured  the  warrior  (»t"  Ids  willingness  to 
accept  the  latter,  pro\  ided  he  treated  the  captixc  kindlv  when  he 
got  iiim  ill  his  ))ower.  This  i»olicy  of  ai)pealinj;  to  the  hetti-r  I'eel- 
iu'fis  (»f  iiuir.auity  was  little  appicciated  l»y  the  saxa.ces,  and  in 
.soiiu'  instances  caused  them  to  unite  with  tlu'less  scrupulous 
I'UeiiiN  who  siiH'ered  them  to  plundt-r  and  murder  without  stint. 
l>r<»\ided  Hi'itish  a;^j;randi/emeut  was  the  I'esult.  When  the  chief 
de[»arte(l  Claik  j;ave  him  a  captain's  commissiiui  and  a  meilal  as 
i'\  ideiice  of  the  new  relations  and  I'esponsihilities  which  he  had 
assumed. 

While  the  American  connnander  was  thus  neuotiatiuji'  with  the 
Indians,  Hamilton,  the  IJritish  .iiovernoi'of  1  )etroil  heard  of  Clark's 
in\  asion,  and  was  incensed  that  the  country  w  liich  he  had  in  charyo 
(jliould  be.  wrested  fromhiml>ya  few  raj^'^cd  militia  from  Virj;iiiia. 
}\v  theret'oi'e  hurriedly  collecte<l  a  force  consistiufiof ."»()  rejiidais,."')(> 
J'"i'eiich  Canadians  and  K><>  Indians,  and  niarchiuji'  l)y  way  of  the 
AVahash  appeared  before  the  f(»rt  at  Viucenues  on  the  loth  of 
December,  177S.  The  inhabitants  made  no  elVort  to  defend  tho 
tdwii,  aiKJ  when  Hamilton's  forces  arrived  ('apt.  Helm  and  a  man 
by  the  name  of  Henry  were  the  (Uily  Ameiicaus  in  the  fort.  Tho 
latter  (•har;;iii<>' a  cannon,  placed  it  in  the  open  jiateway,  and  tlio 
t'a]»tiii'i  standing;  by  it  with  a  lighted  nmtch  cried  out  as  llannlton 
came  in  hailiu,u' distance,  "halt."  The  Ibitish  officer,  uot  knowing 
the  strength  of  the  garrison  stoj>ped  and  deiiKiiid'  d  the  sui'rendev 
of  the  fort.  Ib'lm  exclaimed  "no  man  shall  enter  here  till  I  know 
the  terms."  Hamilton  responded,  "you  shall  have  the  honors  of 
Avar."  The  entire  gai'rison.  consisting  of  oiiecdVu-er  and  one  ])rivate, 
then  ca])itnlat<'d,  and  rv'ceiviiig  the  custoniai'y  courtesies  for  their 
l)ra\<' defense,  marched  out  with  the  Iioikus  of  war.  ('apt.  Helm 
"was  retained  a  ])i'isoner.  the  l-'rench  inhabitants  were  disarmed, 
and  a  large  ])ortion  of  Hamilton's  troojis  were  detached  against  the 
.settk'ments  on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi. 

These  movements  transjjired  at  Vincennes,  0  W'ceks  before  the 
intelligence  reached  Kaskaskia.  thus  verifying  the  serious  appre- 
hensions which  Clark,  in  the  meantime,  had  entertained  for  the 
safety  of  the  place.  In  consequence  of  these  forebodings,  he  en- 
gaged Colonel  Vigo  to  go  and  reconnoitre  the  situation  of  tho 
post.  No  choice  could  liave  been  nuire  foitiinate.  jVlthough  Vigo 
"was  an  Italian  by  birth,  no  one  excelled  him  in  devotion  to  tho 
cause  of  fi'ccdom  and  sympathy  for  an  opju'cssed  ])eople  strug- 
gling for  their  rights.  Ass  i.-iated  as  a  mercliant  with  the  Spanish 
govei'iior  of  St.  Louis,  he  amassed  a  large  fortune,  which,  "with  tho 
greatest  generosity,  he  expended  during  the  revolution  for  tho 
benefit  of  his  adopted  country.  Having  for  a  long  time  resided  in 
Indiaim,  and  died  there,  the  State,  in  honor  of  his  nn'mory,  called 
a  county  after  his  name,  and  Congress  ultimately  refunded  a  larj^e 


AMERICAN  OrClH'ATION. 


193 


pnrf  r/t  tho  money  wliicli  lie  Imd  cxpt'iKlcti,  Alter  eoiileiTiiij''  with 
('liirk.  lie  stiirfeii  on  liis  mission,  luid  wiien  williin  ll\c  miles  of  liis 
destination,  li"  Wiis  (Mptnred  h.v  Mie  IndiiUis  and  taken  Itet'oie 
Governor  Ilnniilton.  He  was  re<;arded  as  an  American  spy,  but 
Ix'inu'  a  Spanish  snltjeet.  and  vei'y  popniar  willi  tlie  inlialtitants  of 
the  town,  the  Uritisii  oriieer  did  not  dare  to  proceed  against  him 
uccordinjj'  to  his  suspicions.  'I'liecitizens  tliicalened  to  stoj*  hig 
sni)|)lies  if  u'' was  not  sutVered  to  dejKirt.  lianiiiton  relin-tantly 
]>ioposcd  to  let  him  yo  if,  duiin;^'  tin'  war,  he  would  not  do  any 
act  injurious  t(»  I>ritisli  interests.  Colonel  Vi.u'o  peremptorily 
refused  to  become  a  jiarty  to  such  a  c(unpact.  Aj^icein^,  liowcvfi", 
not  to  (h>  anything'  jtrejudicial  in  Ids  homeward  Journey,  he  was 
jM'i'mitte<l  to  return  in  a  boat,  down  the  \Val>ash  and  uji  t'le  Mis- 
sissijipi,  to  St.  Louis.  He  remained  neutral  Just  lon-4'  enonj^h  to 
ccunply  witli  liis  stipulations,  for,  on  his  arrival  home,  lie  imme- 
diately chanu'cd  his  clothes,  and  set  oil"  for  Kaskaskia  to  commu- 
nicate the  infoi'iiiati(»ii  which  he  had  obtained  to  < 'oloiiel  Clark. 
After  del ailiiiii'  the  cajiitnlation  of  Vineeiiiies  and  the  disposition 
of  the  British  force,  he  made  known  Hamilton's  intentions  of  le- 
f'oiKjiieriiijL;-  Illinois,  and  his  meditated  attack  upon  Ivaskaskia,  on 
tlu'  I'e-assembliii;;-  of  his  forces  in  the  sprin.i;',  a^i  the  surest  way  of 
i.'tlectin<i'  this  (tbject.  When  this  place  was  reduced,  with  lii.s 
fon-es  augmented  by  the  addition  of  7(M(  warriors  from  Slaekinaw, 
the  Cherokees  and  Chickasaws,  and  other  tribes,  In- proposed  to 
penetrate  as  far  as  Fort  IMtt,  and  subjugate  in  his  niarcli  all  the 
interveniiiy-  settlements.  Ho  elated  was  the  IJritisli  eoiiiniandei' 
with  his  liojies  of  coiKjiiest.  lie  intended,  in  a  shoit  time,  to  bo 
master  of  all  the  ten-itoiy  of  Vir};iiiia  between  the  AlleL;lianies 
and  the  Mississi]>pi. 

Clark,  in  view  of  the  ei'itieal  condition  of  the  country,  and  tin*, 
extreme  peril  of  Lis  own  situation,  wrote  to  (lovermtr  Henry,  of 
Vii'u'inia,  acquainting'  him  of  Hamilton's  desi;^iis,  and  askin;^'  him 
lor  troojts.  Parties  of  hostile  Indians,  sent  out  by  the  Jtritisli 
j>:over!ior,  be^an  to  appeal',  and  as  assistance  could  iiotlie  obtained 
from  the  State  in  time,  with  the  iiromiitness  whi\'h  the  emerycney 
demanded,  he  irsolved  to  help  liimsell'.  Anticipatinj;'  his  rival,  he 
conimeiK'ed  pre])arati<)ns  with  his  ow  u  limited  nu'ans  to  carry  the 
war  into  the  enemy's  conntry,  for,  as  he  says,  "  I  knew  if  I  did 
not  lake  liim,  he  would  tak«'  me."  Colonel  Vi,i:()  had  informed 
him  that,  t)winj>'  to  the  dispersion  trf  the  I'ritish  Ibrci's,  the 
pirrison  at  Viiicennos  was  reduced  to  S(l  men,  three  i)ieces  of 
eannon  and  some  swivels,  and  that  if  the  town  was  attacked  be- 
fore the  troi>j)s  were  recalled,  it  mij^ht,  without  diniciilty,  bo 
re(,'ai)tured.  Without  a  momeiit's  delay,  a  yalley  was  lifted  u]), 
nioiintinjji:  two  4-pounders  and  4  swivels,  and  placed  in  charjio 
of  ( 'a])t.  John  Kojicrs,  and  a  comjiany  of  4(i  men,  with  orders  after 
reaching;'  tln^  Wabash  to  force  their  Avay  up  the  stream  to  the 
mouth  of  White  Hiver,  and  remain  there  for  further  instructions, 
('laik  next  ordered  Captain  Mowman  to  ovacMiate  the  fm't  atCalio- 
kia  for  the  ]Mirposo  of  oriianizin;;'  an  expedition  to  proceed  across 
by  land,  and  oo-ojiei-ate  with  tli(^   force  under   Captain    J\N),ii(rs. 


oompanies,   conimanch'd   l)y  Captains    McCarty   and   Charleville, 
which,  witli  the  Anierieans,  amounted  to  170  men.     On  the  7th  of 
I'ebruarv,  1779,  ju.st  8  days  after  the  reception  of  the  news  from 
13 


194 


IIISTOra'    Ol'    ILLINOIS. 


i. ' 


Viiu'ciincs,  this  forloiii  liopc.  coiiiiiKMiccd  its  iniM'cii  in  it  iioilliciist- 
prly  (lircctioii,  oNcr  llic  iiiiiiiiKiiitcd  tints  <»!'  the  coiiiitry,  in  m  wet, 
bill  iurliiiiiilcly,  not  cold  scasoii.  T«»  rt'licvc  tiif  Iniidsliips  ol'  liio 
jniiiiicy.  wiiicli  was  |m'I'Ii;i]»s  (lie  iiuist  drcarv  one  ]ici  roniicd  diiiiiiiL;- 
the  rcvolntiiMi,  liiintin.u',  jiiinn'  feasts,  and  Indian  war  dances  were 
institntcd  lor  tlit- aiimscincnt  <»f  tlic  im-n.  Altci'  incrcdiliie  liard- 
slii[(s,  (»n  llic  I.'ltli  tiu'V  fcaciwd  ;!m'  forks  of  tlic  Lilllc  Waltasii, 
tlic  low  l)(»ttoin  lands  of  wliicli  were  covcrrd  with  walcr.  At  tiiis 
J>art  of  the  stream  the  opposite  haiiks  Avere  .">  miles  apart 
and  the  water  so  deep  when  ("lark  arrixcd  as  in  many  plac's 
to  l)e  waded  with  the  yrealest  dillieiilty.  Mere,  dreiieiied  in 
the  rains  wiiieh  tell  aiiiiosl  daily,  they  nnina^j^ed  to  eonstniet  a, 
canoe,  and  ferry  over  their  baji,i;a,iie  to  the  opposite  shore.  Ililh- 
erlo  they  had  hoiiie  their  labors  with  threat  fortitude,  but  now 
many  became  disconra,i;cd  by  the  coiilimied  obstacles  which  i>eset 
the  way.  While  wadinj;' ihe'Wabash,  and  in  some  instances  to 
the  shonldeisin  mnd  and  water,  an  incident  occnrred  which,  by 
its  merriment,  ji'reatly  I'elievcd  the  (lespondiii,u'  spirits  of  the  men, 
Thei'c  was  in  the  service  an  Irish  drnminci',  who  was  of  small  stat- 
nre,  but  jK)ssessed  rare  talent  in  siiininj;-  comic  son.us.  On  comin;; 
to  a  depression  beyond  his  depth,  he  i>iit  his  drnin  into  tlu;  water, 
ant!  iiioiinliii;.;  on  the  head,  re(pu'sted  on<'  o^'  the  tallest  men  to 
pilot  him  across  the  stream,  while  lie  enlivened  the  cumininy  by 
liis  wit  and  mnsic. 

On  the  morniii,n' of  the  18(h,  11  (hiys  after  h'a\'in^v  Kaskaskia, 
they  heard  the  signal  j;iins  of  the  fort,  and  dininu'  the  evening;'  of 
the  same  day,  arrived  at  the  (Jreat  Wabash,!*  miles  below  Viii- 
cennes.  The  j^alley  had  not  arrixcd  with  the  snpi)lies,  and  the 
men  beinji'  e.xhansted,  destitnte  ami  ahnost  in  a  -tar\in^'  con- 
tion,  it  rcipiired  all  of  Clark's  address  toket'p  thcMii  om  yivin;^' nj) 
in  despair.  The  I'iver  was  out  of  its  banks,  all  liie  low  lands 
were  sultmer.u'ed,  ami  before  means  of  ti'ansportation  could  be  i)ro- 
eured  they  nii^ht  be  discovered  by  the  llritish  and  the  entire  i)arty 
captured.  On  the  L'dtli,  a  boat  from  \'incennes  was  hailed  ami 
bj'oii<;ht  to  land,  from  the  crew  of  which  was  received  the  cheer- 
ing intclli.u'ciice  of  the  friendly  dis])osition  ol'  the  l''rench  inliabit- 
iints,  and  that  no  suspicion  of  Clark's  movements  was  entertained 
by  the  JUitish  pirrison.  The  last  (hiy  of  the  niaicli,  the  nu)st 
formidable  diilictdties  were  encountered.  Says  Colonel  Clark,  in 
his  journal: 

"  The  nearest  land  to  us,  in  tlie  direction  of  Vlucennea,  was  a  spot 
called  tlie  'Siiinar  Camp,'  on  the  opixtsite  side  of  aslou^^li.  I  sounded  the 
water,  and  lindin^'  it  di'e))  as  my  iieclv,  returned  with  tlie  desijiu  ol' hav- 
ing-the  men  transportt'd  on  l)oard  the  canoes  to  the  eanij),  though  1  knew 
it  would  spend  llu-  whole  day  and  the  ensuinj;'  uif^lit,  as  tlie  vessels  would 
pass  slow  iy  ti)rouj;li  the  bushes.  The  loss  of  so  luuch  time  to  men 
hail-starved,  was  a  matter  of  serious  eonserpieuce,  and  I  would  now 
liave  given  a  great  deal  for  a  day's  provisions  or  one  of  our  horses. 
Wiien  I  returned,  all  ran  to  hear  the  rejiort.  I  unfortunately  sjioke  in  u 
serious  manner  to  one  of  tlie  oltieers;  tlie  whole  were  alarmed  without 
knowing  what  I  said.  I  viewed  tlieir  confusion  for  a  '  iiiiite,  and  whis- 
pered lor  tliose  near  me  to  do  as  I  did.  I  immediately  put  some  water 
in  n)y  hand,  poured  powder  on  it,  blacdveued  my  face,  gave  tiie  war- 
wlKx'pand  marched  into  the  water.  Tlie  party  innnediately  followed, 
one a'.ler another,  witliout  utteringa  word  of  eomi)laint.  lordered  tliose  ■ 
•near  mo  to  sing  a  favorite  song,  which  soon  passed  through  the  line  and 
uil  vveut  choeriully.     I  now  intended  to  Imve  tliejn  transported  across 


AMI'.KIf'AN  OCCri'ATION. 


i!>:. 


L 


tlio  (U'l'iK  st  piirt  of  tlio  water,  Itiit  when  ahout  waist-docp,  one  of  the 
men  inrormod  nic  tliat  lie  tlioiijrlit  lie  liad  (li-;c()vcr('(l  a  iiatli.  \Vc  tol- 
lowcd  it,  and  tiiidiiiu:  Hiat  it  kt'pt  on  iiittlM-r  ^M-oiind,  witiiout  rurllicrdif- 
fKiiity  arrived  at  tli'.  ('ainp,  wliere  tlieie  was  dry  jri'ound  on  wiiieii  to 
piteli  oiir  lod^ics.  Tlie  l''renelnn<'n  that  wo  liad  talvcn  on  tlie  river, 
appeared  to  l>e  uneasy  at  onr  situation,  andhe^f^'cd  tii.at  they  ndfilit  1)0 
permitted,  duriui;'  llie  ni.uiit,  to  visit  tiie  town  in  2  canoes  and  hriutr, 
from  tln'ir  own  houses,  provisions.  'I'hey  said  tiiat  some  of  our  n\en 
could  <j:o  witii  tiiem  as  a  surety  for  llu'ir  conduct,  and  that  it  wouUl  lie 
impossilde  to  leave  that  pla<'e  till  the  waters,  whi(di  were  too  deep 
for  murehinii:,  sid)sided.  Some  of  the  ollicers  lielieved  that  this  mijiht 
be  doiu',  hut  I  woidd  not  sutler  it.  \  could  never  well  account  for  my 
ohstiuacy  on  this  occasion,  or  u;ive  satisfactory  ri'asons  (o  myself  or  any- 
hody  else  why  I  deniccl  a  proposition  apparently  so  ejisy  to  execute,  and 
<)!'  so  much  advautiif;'e  ;  hut  something  seiMued  to  tell  me  it  should  not  he 
<lone. 

'"On  th<>  f(dlo\viuy;  morning,  the  linest  we  had  exjierienccd,  I  har- 
anj^ued  the  men.  What  I  said  I  am  not  now  ahle  to  ret»all;  iiut  it  nusy 
he  easily  imae-ined  hy  a  person  who  posses-^es  the  regard  which  I,  at  that 
time,  entertained  for  them,  I  <'onchided  hy  iul'orminfr  them,  that  pass- 
im;' the  sheet  of  water,  which  was  then  in  full  view  and  rcachinji'  the 
opposite  woimIs,  woulil  put  an  end  to  their  hardships ;  that  in  a  few  hours 
they  would  have  a  si,i;ht  of  their  loni:-wislu'd  for  ohject,  and  imnu'di- 
ately  stepped  into  the  water  without  waitiuu' for  a  ri'ply.  Hel'ore  a  third 
<)f  the  men  had  entered,  I  halted  and  called  to  Nhijor  Itowman,  and 
ordered  liim  to  fall  into  the  ri'ar  with  I'o  nwn  and  j)ut  to  death  any  man 
who  refused  to  march  with  us,  as  we  did  not  wish  to  have  any  such 
amony  us.  The  whole  f;:ave  a  cry  of  appi'ohation,  and  on  we  went. 
This  was  the  most  tryiufi  of  all  the  ditth-ulties  we  e.\|)ei'ienced.  I  jicu- 
erally  kept  l")  of  the  stron<;est  men  next  myself,  and  jud<;ed  from  my 
own  feelings,  what  must  he  that  of  the  others,  (iettinj;  ni-ar  the  nnddle 
of  the  inundated  plain,  I  found  myself  sensilily  failin;;,  and  as  tlu'ii'  were 
no  trees  foi- the  uuMi  to  support  themselves,  1  teared  that  many  of  the 
weak  would  lie  drowned.  I  ordered  the  canoe  to  ply  hack  ami  forth,  and 
Avith  all  (iili<;-ence  to  ](ick  u])  the  men  ;  and  to  encoura.uc  the  party,  sent 
some  of  liie  St ron,<;;est  forward  with  orders  that,  when  they  h;idadvanci'd 
a  certain  distance,  to  pass  the  word  ha(d<  that  the  water  w.as  f^eltini? 
sjiallow.  and  when  near  the  woods,  to  cry  out  land.  This  strataifem 
had  the  desired  ellect.  'I'he  men,  encoiir.a'ied  hy  it,  exerted  themselves 
almost  heyond  their  ahilities;  the  weak  holding'  on  tlie  st;(>n<i;er.  On 
ri'achinfj:  the  woods  where  the  men  ex]ieeted  land,  the  watei'  was  up  to 
their  shoulder.-^;  hut  gaiiuntj  the  timher  was  tin-  j^jreatest  conseipience, 
for  tlie  weakly  huiif^  to  trees  and  tloate(l  on  the  drift  till  they  w<'re 
taken  oM'liy  the  canoes.  'I'he  stroufj;  and  tall  i^ot  ashore  and  huiit  tires; 
but  many  of  tlu'  fet'hle,  uualjle  to  support  tlu'uiselvi's  on  reachinj^  land, 
woidd  fall  with  their  bodies  half  in  the  water.  The  latter  were  so 
benumiied  with  cold,  we  soon  fomid  that  lircs  wouhl  not  restoi-e  them, 
and  the  stroiifi;  were  comi)elkd  to  exercise  tlu'm  with  jireat  severity  to 
revive  their  circulation. 

"  l'"oi'tunafeiy,  a  canoe  in  char<re  of  soirie  s((uaws  was  t;'oin<r  to  town, 
which  our  men  ca])tured,  and  wliich  contaiui'd  half  a  (juarter  of  huHiilo 
lueat,  some  corn,  tallow  and  kettles.  Ihoth  was  made  of  this  valuable 
prize  and  served  out  to  the  most  weakly  with  ,i!;reat  care.  iSlost  of  the 
nu'W  yol  a  small  portitin,  but  many  of  them  j;ave  part  of  theirs  to  the 
more  famished.  Jocosely  .sayinji  somethin,i>'  clieerinjr  to  theii- comrades. 
Tills  little  refreshment  ga"v<'  reiK>wed  life  to  llu'  company.  Wt- next 
crossed  a  deep  but  narrow  lak-  ,  in  the  <'anocs,  and  marehiii}:;  some  ilis- 
tance,  came  to  a  copse  of  tinibi"  called  Warrior's  Island.  We  were  now 
(Usiaiit  only  two  miles  from  town,  which,  without  a  .single  tree  to  ob- 
struct tlie  view,  could  he  seen  from  the  position  we  occupied. 

"The  lower  portions  of  the  land  between  us  and  the  b)wn  were  cov- 
ered with  water,  which  served  at  this  season  as  u  resort  for  ducks  and 
otliei'  water  fowl.  We  had  observed  si'veral  men  out  on  liorseliack  shoot- 
ing them,  half  a  mile  distant,  and  sent  out  as  many  of  our  active  young 
Frenchmen  to  decoy  and  take  one  of  tiiem  j)risoiier,  in  such  a  manner 
as  uot  to  alarm  the  others.     Beiug  successful,  in  addition  to  the  informu- 


ion 


IIISTOWV  0|-  ILLINOIS. 


■  ;!i! 


M. 


lilii 


tlon  wliicli  liiul  l)i>oiK)l)taiiHHl  from  thosc>  tfikon  on  the  river,  tlie  captive 
rcpurtt'd  tliiil  ilic  British  li;iii  tliaf  cvfiiiu'r  coniplt'trd  tin-  wall  of  tlin 
fori,  and  tlial  tlierc  were  a  u<'od  many  Indians  in  town.  Our  siliiatioii 
was  trnly  crilical.  \o  |)ossiliilily  of  iTircat  in  rase  of  dflV-at,  and  in  full 
vii'W  of  tla'  town,  wlucli,  ai  tliis  time,  liad  tiiMi  men  in  it— tri>ops, 
inlialiitants  and  Indians.  Tin'  rrcw  of  tlic  naili'y,  tlionj^h  not  -Mi  men, 
would  now  liavf  hcen  a  rc-inforccmcnt  ol'  immensi'  nia^niliidc  to  our 
little  army,  luit  we  could  not  think  of  waitiiiLf  for  them.  Hiidi  had  for- 
p;otten  his  sutreriny,  and  was  r»'ady  for  the  fray,  saying  what  he  had 
HU tiered  was  nothinj^  hut  what  a  man  should  hear  for  the  jfood  of  lii!4 
country.  The  idea  of  hein^  made  a  prisoner  was  foreij^n  to  every  man, 
as  each  I'Xpecled  nothin;?  Iiul  torture  if  tlii-y  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Indians.  Our  fate  was  to  he  determined  in  a  few  hours,  and  iu)thin^hut 
th"  most  dariiii^  conduct  would  insure  success.  I  knew  that  a  numher 
of  tlu'  inhahitants  wished  us  well ;  tluit  many  weie  lukewarm  to  the  in- 
terests of  either  party.  I  also  learned  that  tlu-  (irand  Door  had  lait  u 
few  days  helbre  openly  declared,  in  council  with  the  British,  that  he 
was  a  l)rothi'r  and  friend  of  tlu'  Lon;;  Knives.  'I'hese  were  favorable 
circumstances,  and  as  there  was  little  prohahility  of  our  remaining-  until 
daik  undiscovered,  I  detei'miiu'd  to  commence  operations  immediately, 
and  wrote  the  following;  placai'd  to  the  people  of  ilu'  town.  '  To  tin;  in- 
hal)itants  of  Vinceunes  :  (u-ntlenu'n,  l>einK  now  within  two  miles  of 
your  vlllajie  with  my  army,  determined  to  take  your  fort  tiiis  niKlit,  and 
not  heinjj;  \\iliinn'  to  sui'prise  you,  I  take  this  opportunity  to  recpu'st 
.such  of  you  as  are  trui'  citizens,  and  williu;^  to  enjoy  the  liberty  which  I 
brintr  .vou,  to  lemain  still  in  your  housi's,  and  thosi.',  if  any  there  be,  who 
are  friends  of  tlie  kin^,  let  them  instantly  repair  to  the  fort  and  join  the 
hair-laiyer  general ',  and  light  like  men.  And  if  any  of  the  latter  do 
not  go  to  the  fort,  and  shall  be  discovereil  afterward,  they  may  depend 
Upon  severe  punishment.  On  the  contrary,  those  who  are  true  friemirt 
to  liberty,  may  dcpi-nd  upon  being  well  treated,  and  1  once  more  reijuest 
tlu'm  to  keep  out  of  the  streets,  for  every  one  1  tiiid  in  arin.s  on  my  arri- 
val shall  be  treated  as  an  enemy.'  " 

This  fontible  k'ttcf,  which  shows  ('lavk''s  iiisi^iit  into  Iniuiaii 
iiatmv  Ity  iiisiiirinj:'  coiilideiicc  hi  tlu'  riieiully,  and  lillin^tiieadveisc 
l)aity  witli  dismay,  was  half  the  hatth'  tliat  lullowed.  On  the 
receipt  of  the  h-ttef,  the  peoi>U' (d'  the  town  supposed  liie  invadevs 
liad  com*'  IVoin  Kentucky  as  no  one  iinajiined  it  possible  that  aii 
expedition  could  come  IVom  Illinois,  in  eonsecpience  of  the  iVeshe.ts 
whicli  prevailed  at  that  season  of  I  he  year.  ToiU-epeen  tins  iini»u's- 
sion,  letters  pnrportinj;  t^)  eoine  i'roni  well  kiH)wn  j;eidlenien  in 
Kentucky,  were  written  and  sent  to  the  inhabitants,  and  so  well 
establisiie(l  was  the  cotivielion,  that  the  piesence  of  Clark  could 
not  be  credited  till  his  person  was  pointed  »uit  by  one  who  kiu'W 
liiin.  The  soldiers,  as  on  juevions  occasions,  were  directed  to 
greatly  exa.u'iii'rate  the  stren;j,tli  of  the  Ainoricaii  forces. 

About  sunset  on  the  I'od,  they  sallied  tbrth  to  attack  the  ibrt- 
When  in  full  \  lew  of  it,  they  were  divided  itito  platoons,  each  dis. 
l)layiiij;'  a  iliU'ei'ent  tiaj;',  and  by  niarchinji'  an<l  c«)nnterinarcliin<;' 
ainon^  soiiu'  iimnmls  between  them  ami  tins  town,  their  apparent 
luimbers  ^ I'ca I ly  exceeded  their  real  slreii^ith.  Xearinj;' the  villaj^e 
and  encainiiin<4  (»n  the  adjacent  heights,  some  coiniimtioii  was  per- 
ceptible in  the  streets,  but  no  hostile  demonstration  occurred  at 
the  fort,  and  it  was  afterward  aseertaine<l  that  even  the  friends  of 
the  Ibitish  were  afraid  to  give  m)tii'e  (d'  Clark's  preseiu-e.  The 
iitimtst  impiitience  i)revailing  in  the  Ainericati  encampinent,  to 
know  tlie  caiis(!  of  the  silence,  Lieut.  Ijailey,  with  14  ineti  was 
sent  to  nuike  an  attack  niMtii  the  gairison.     I'he  lire  of  the  party 


Tljus  named  from  liuving  hired  tlie  Iiidlaasto  murder  the  American  prisoners,  by 

paying' so  luucli  \nir  soiilp. 


AMERICAN  OCCUPATION. 


197 


'.\as  attiiltiittMl  to  soiii*'  (liiiiikcii  liiiliiiiis,  who  liad  saliitc<l  tlii'  I'urt 
ill  that  inaiiiicr  on  picvioiis  ocrasions,  and  it  was  not  till  al'tt'i*  oiic. 
of  tiic  iicsrijm'd  was  siiot  lliioiiyli  a  port  iioic  liial  tiir  irai  <'ha racier 
oi'tiu'  assailants  was  ascertained,  and  the  en<;a.uenient  c(»ninien<-ed 
in  earnest.  Ilenrv  and  Captain  ilelni  weic  still  retained  as 
l»risoners  in  tin'  loit,  'I'hron^ih  the  wile  of  the  former,  wiio  lived 
in  N'incennes,  and  was  pei'niilled  to  \  isit  her  iinshand  dailv,  ('lark 
olttained  niinnle  information  respecting' the  uarrison.  Ivcarnin;;'  in 
tins  way  wliere  ('apt.  Helm  iod;ied — knowing;'  his  fondness  for 
a)))ile  lodd\,  and  heliex  ini;'  hewonhl  lia\csonieon  the  hearth  as 
iisnal,  in-  snifeied  oin*  of  liis  men  to  lire  on  his  tpiarlcrs,  with  <i 
view,  iis  In-  said,  to  knock  the  moi-tar  into  tin*  captain's  I'avoriK) 
beverau'e.  At  llie  linn' he  was  i)!a.\  in;^cards  with  llamillon,  and 
when  tin-  hnlletscomnn-nced  rattlin;^' altont  tlu'chimnev,  liejnmped 
up  and  swore  (hat  it  was  Clark,  that  he  wonid  l:d%e  all  of  them 
prisoners,  and  that  the  d — d  rascal  had  inined  his  toildy.  While, 
llMiscon\ersinii.  Helm  ol»se)-\ed  sonu'  (»f  the  soldieis  lookin;;  out  of 
tin-  port  holesand  cautioned  them  not  to  do  so  a;;nin  as  the  Amer- 
icanb  would  C4')lainl\  sho(»t  out  their  eyes.  Jt  so  happened  that, 
one  of  tin' men  afterwai-d  atteni|»tinj;' to  look  out  was  shot  in  the 
eye,  winch  Ca|)t.  Helm  ohserx  iny cxclainu'd,  "there.  1  told  son  set." 
'J'hesc  inc'dents,  chaiacteristic  of  the  men  and  the  times,  donhtless 
liad  iheii-elfeci  njton  the  ^'arri.son. 

'J'lie  ammunition  of  the  Americans,  who  had  expected  supplier 
I'lom  (he  i;alley.  hcin;:'  now  nearly  <'\hausted.  some  of  the  iniial»i- 
tants  fiiiuished  tliem  with  powder  and  hall,  which  had  itecn  iiuiied 
to  keep  it  from  falling'  into  the  hands  of  the  Hritish.  Had  the 
Americans  also  ne4'ded  assistance,  the  (irand  l>ooi'.  with  wlnnn  ii 
tiealN  had  ))rc\iously  been  concluded,  ap]i<':!i-ed  with  100  warriors 
and  offere<l  his  sejvices  to  Clark,  who,  tliou,i;h  declining'  his  aid  in 
the  held,  re«piest<'d  his  j»res<'iice  ami  intiuenci'  in  coinn-il. 

'J'he  Americans  had  ad\anced  behind  a  hank  to  within  ■>0  yards 
of  tint  fort,  whose  ^uns  in  conseipiem-*'  of  tln-ir  elevation,  were 
UM'less,  iind  no  soonij"  was  a  jioit  hole  dark<'ned  than  a  dozen 
I'ith's  discharircd  their  contents  into  the  appei'ture,  and  the  Miitisli 
soldiers  could  no  longer  he  kej»t  at  their  posts.  Clark  ])ei'ceivinj^ 
theii' difficult i<'s.  in  tli«' couise  ot  the  morniji.1;- demanded  the  siu-- 
rendei' of  the  fort,  which  Hamilton  refused,  statinii  that  he  would 
not  beaw<'d  into  anythiiii,'  unbeiionunj;  a  IWitish  otliccr.  The  nu'U 
vcre  uru'ent  to  take  the  fort  by  storm,  but  Clai'k  l<nowin<;'  that  ho 
<'ould  <i«'t  i>ossession  of  it  withoid  the  e.\i)en<lituie  of  life  I'esult- 
in<j:  from  an  a.ssault,  wisely  o|»|>osed  their  desires.  In  the  evening 
of  the  san)e  day  Hamilton,  apiu'chensiv c  that  he  woidd  be  com- 
pelh'd  to  sui'rendc)'  at  disciction.  sent  a  thii;'  to  the  bcsei^crs 
ilesirin.1;'  a  truce  of  three <lays.  'I'hisClark  refuse<l, although durini; 
the  armistice  the  j^alley  nd^dit  ari-ive  with  its  nu'ii  and  munitions, 
which  would  ;^reatly  facilitat<'  his  opei'ations  for  the  I'cduction  of 
the  fort.  He  ])roposed  in  letuin  the  un<'onditional  sui"r«MHlerof  th»^. 
ganison,  and  informed  the  IJritish  c(nnnKinder  if  he  w  ished  to  ha\e 
an  interview  for  that  jturpose,  he  ini^iht  iin-et  him  at  the  church.  In 
compliance  with  this  otfer,  < iov.  Hannlton,  in  company  with  Ca|)t. 
Helm  ami  .Maj(n' Hay.  wa.iledon  Col.  Clark  at  the  appointe<l  place. 
At  the  <'«>nfei'ence  which  ensued,  the  American  comnnnuh'r  reject- 
inu' all  the  oxoitiu'es  of  his  antaji'onist.  resolutely  adhered  to  his 
liist  i)ropositi(»n.  and  when  (apt.  Helm  alti'm[>ted  to  moderate  his 


198 


IIISI'ol.'V  dl'  ILLINOIS. 


(tfiiiaiHls.  hf  int'oniicd  liiiii  llial  a  |)i'isuiii-r  had  iiu  li^lil  Id  iiitt-i fnc. 
Ilaiiiillnii  ili('i'('ii|Hiii  i'('|ili*'ii.  tliat  lit-  \\a.>  tVr*'  IVuiii  tliat  iiioiiit'iit, 
l)iit  <'lark  iiiiiiioxcil,  wiiiilil  iiol  a<'(-f|it  liis  rclcasr  ii|m)Ii  llifst>  tcriiis, 
telling  liiiii  lie  iiiiisi  I't'tiiiii  atitl  altiiic  Ins  t'al*-.  and  tlir  Kiitisii 
ollicci's  tiial  llic  lii'iii;;  unidd  iccoiiiiiiciicc  in  I't  iiiiliiltcs.  'I'lii' ;;('ii- 
tlfincii  wciv  JilxMil  l<)  retire  lo  llieif  res|)eelive  <|iiarlers,  wlieii 
JIaiiiillDii  called  ('lailv  aside,  and  |iiiliiel\  asl^ed  liis  |-easiins  lor 
rejei-tin.u  llie  lilieral  teiins  uliieh  liad  lieen  ol't'ered.  '{'lie  laller 
bterniv  replied,  "I  am  aware  llie  |irinei|ial  Indian  partisinis  irtmi 
Jleli'dil  are  in  the  lurl,  and  I  oids  \\a\\\  an  ImiinraWIe  u|i)Hirl nnily 
of  |>nllin^  sneli  instiL^alurs  nt'  Indian  Itarliaril  i<-s  lo  dealli.  'I'ln^ 
cries  of  widows  ainl  oi|»lnins  made  l>.v  tin'ir  iudeln'ries,  iciiniro 
sneli  liloodat  niv  hands.  I  consider  this  elaini  npon  me  lor  pnnisli- 
nient  next  to  divine,  and  I  would  rather  l(»se  .'id  na'n  tiian  not 
'(>.\eeute  a  \('n;i;('ance  demanded  l>v  so  miwh  ininxent  Idooil.  11' 
(i«»v.  Ilamiltini  is  w  illin^' tt>  risk  his  j^arrison  lor  sneh  ndscieants, 
lie  is  at  perfect  liluMtv  todoso."  .Major  Hay,  whit  heard  this  slale- 
ineiil  in(piired,  "rray.  sir,  w  ho  do  \oii  mean  l>v  "Indian  parsisans,'"^ 
(Mar!  prompllv  replied.  "I  ciuisider  Major  lla.\  oneof  ihe  [>rincipal 
ones."  The  latter,  as  if  .unilt.v  of  the  <'har;;c,  immediiUely  tnined 
deadly  |)ale,  tr«MnliIed  and  conld  hardl.\  stand,  (ios.  Ilandlloii 
hliished  tor  this  e\hil>il  ion  of  cowardice  in  presence  <t\'  the  .^merr 
can  oflieer,  and  ('apt.  Helm  conld  hardi\  reiraiu  IVoni  e\pres.sin<;,° 
contempt.  Clark's  led  in, us  now  relented,  and  secnMly  lesoh  in.^  t«» 
deal  mori' lenientlx  with  the  British  oflicers,  hefore  sep'.iralin,:;  ho 
told  tl.em  hewi.nld  reconsider  the  matter  ami  let  them  know  th« 
ri'snlt.  .\fter  retirin;.;.  a  comicil  ot'  wai-  was  held  and  ndlder  terms 
heinjL:' suhndtted  to  (iov.  Hamilton,  he  accepted  thent,  and  on  tho 
L'llh  of  l'"elirimry.  I77M,  the  uariison  snrrendi'red.* 

The  follow  in.n  (la\  Clark  took  po^ses^io|l  of  the  fori,  hoi.Ntcd  the 
Anu'rican  lla^i',  ami  lire»l  I.">  unns  to  eelehrale  the  reco\ery  (»f  this 
important  slronj:hold.  SeNcnty  prisoners  were  captured,  and  ;i 
eonsideralile  qnani  ity  of  military  stores  hecann'  the  properl\  of 
the  \ictors.  Most  of  lln'  prisoners  were  perndlled  lo  retniii  lo 
Detroit  on  jiarol  of  honor,  hnl  I iamilton  and  a  few  others  wtMo 
sent  lo  N'ir^inia,  where  the  council  niihred  them  into  conlin"Uient 
as  a  pnnishment  for  their  idti'a  harltariisni,  in  ufferin-  rewards 
lor  the  scalps  of  those  who  were  eai>tiii'ed  l>y  Ihe  Indians,  (ien. 
Phillips  proteslinji  against  this  rij;id  ireafnienl,  .lefferson  referred 
the  matter  to  Washington,  who  considerin^i  it  a  violation  of  the 
ajireemenl  made  at  the  snirender  ol  the  lort.  tliey  wcj-e  released. 

Diirin;;  the  sie^^c of  the  foil,  a  i>aity  of  Indian  warriors,  hriiij;in<; 
with  them  two  white  ])(Tsons,  w  Inim  they  had  captured  in  a  raicl 
on  the  frontier  of  Kentucky,  ariised  and  camped  in  lln-  vicinity 
of  the  villaji'e.  l,nnoiant  of  Clark's  presence,  he  sent  against  them 
a  forces  which  scton  routed  th(>m.  with  a  loss  of  nine  wairiors.  The 
I'cmaiiider  preci|titately  tied,  well  pleased  toeseape  with  theirllves 
from  an  enemy  whose  piowcss  on  pre\  ions  occasions  tlu-y  had 
learned  t(t  f"ai'.  A  few  days  afterward,  Capl.  Helm  and  (iO 
men  weic  detached  lo  proceed  up  the  W'ahash  and  intercept  val- 
uable military  stoi'es  then  on  the  way  from  l)etr(»it  to  Vincennes. 
The  expiulilion  was  successfid,  secininj;'  the  conxoyin^'  party  and 
l>ro]»erty  to  the  ann)nnt  of  8'»<>,(HI(>.  On  the  return  of  tin;  dctac^b- 
ment  laden  with  their  s})oils,  the  ^alh'y  hove    in  si«>Iit,   and  was 

'Uutler'a  Kentucky. 


AMKUrCAN  oocrpATiox. 


109 


Itrcpiiriiiy-  for  ill!  attark  on  tin-  litth^  rivrr  H«M't,  wlicii  tin' «'ii.sij;ii 
ol'  rn'r<loiii  was  discovcrcil  waviiiiH'  omt  the  fori.  The  crew, 
altlioii!;li  rejoicing;'  in  tlir  li'inni|)li  of  llitir  litrtliri-n  ulio  liad  prr- 
ccdt'tl  tlu'tii  1».\  land,  ir;;icltcd  ('\cc('din;:l,\  tin'  ciicnnistanci'S 
wliicli  iiad  d('ni«-d  iIh'Mi  tlic  piivilt-;^*' of  |>arti(!ipatin<;' in  the  i'*mIim-- 
tion  of  tlic  foi't. 

After  takinji'  N'inccnncs  nndrr  ohslaclcs  \vlii<'li.  liv  any  oliifr 
coMiniandcr  <'\crpl  Clark,  would  lia\f  hctMi  defined  insnrnioiiiit- 
aliie,  this  hrilliant  aein<'\ enientw as  <inlv  considered  llie  sicppin;;' 
Htone  toothe>rand  rielier  eoinpiests,  Delroil  was  niidonlitedly 
willdn  llie  I'caeli  of  the  enterprisin;^'  \'ir;.iinian.  "  l''ortnne  lias 
tliiis  l\\  ice  plaeed  I  Ills  point  in  my  power,"  lie  writes  |o  ( lov .  I  leniy. 
''Had  I  heeii  aide  to  raise  r»(»(l  nieii  when  I  lirsl  arrived  in  tini 
conn  try,  or  ■"•00  when  at  V'ineeiines,  I  should  have  alteiii|ited  its 
Hiilijiii^ation."  Inlelli^eiiee  was  hroiii^ht  to  him  thai  i  he  tia  i'is(ni 
at  that  lime  eoiilaiiied  hiit  SI)  men,  many  of  wlnmi  were  iiiNalids, 
and  thai  llie  inhaititanls  ol'  llie  tow  n  were  so  partial  to  the  Amer- 
icans as  to  lejoicc  excel  dinjily  when  they  heard  of  iiamiltoii'.s 
ra|>liire.  In  \  iew  of  lliest>  facts,  ( 'lark  delermiiied  to  make  an 
allack  upon  the  |»l;ice,  when  reeeisiiiji'  dis|ialclies  from  the.utiv- 
crnor  of  N'ii^^inia  pronnsin^  a  battalion  (d'  men,  he  deemed  it  most 
])riident  to  jKtstpone  ojieratioiis  till  the  iciiifoicemeiits  should 
snii\  ('. 

licavinj;'  Capt.  Helm  in  connnand  at  Vineennes,  Claik  embarked 
on  boar<l  the  lialley  and  lelnriied  to  Kaskaskia,  where  he  foiiiid 
liimself  more  enibai'rassed  by  the  depreciated  currency  which  had 
been  adxaiieed  to  him  by  the  iiovernmeiit  of  \'ir<^iiiia.  llmii  pre- 
viously by  the  iJrilish  and  Indians.  While  adjusting  these  dilH- 
enllii's,  (In;  war  with  Knj^Iaiid  and  the  colonies  terminated  in  Ihe. 
independence  of  the  l;itt<'r.  and  willi  il  Ibllowed  a  suspension  of 
Hie  hostilities  wliicli  had  so  ionudcN  aslated  the  western  iVonlier. 
Clark's  .services  beiiiji  no  loiitici'  needed,  at  the  instance  of  (!en, 
Harrison  lie  was  relieved  of  his  commainl,  reccixiiiL;  llie  most 
lieart.N  eiicominnis  of  Virj^inia's  noblest  statesmen  for  the  \  aliialde 
services  lie  had  r<'ndered  Hie  country. 

The  advanta;;es  resulting'  from  the  capture  of  tin'  military  sta- 
tions of  Illinois  c;i  11  not  be  over  estimated.  Hamilloii,  as  iiit  iinated, 
Inul  made  arrangements  to  enlist  all  the  southern  and  western 
Indians  for  his  contemplated  campaign  the  eiisiiiu;:^'  sprint:,  and 
had  he;  not  been  intercepled.  the  eiitiic  eonidry  between  the  Aile- 
j;liani<'s  and  tlie  ]\Iississippi  nii,i;lit  liaxe  lieen  oxerriiii.  and  thus 
]ia\eclian^e<l  tlie  w  lade  <Mrr<'nt  of  American  histoiy.  defl'eison 
said,  in  il  letter  to  CMark,  ••  Min-li  solicitude  will  be  felt  for  the 
result  ofy<air  expedition  to  Hie  ^Vab;lsIl  ;  if  siiceessfnl  it  will  have 
an  imjiortant  bearin.t;  in  delermiiiiiii;  our  iiorth-westci  ii  bniiiidary." 
Accoi(linj;ly,  as  predicted  by  this  jireat  statesman,  in  the  prelim- 
inary iiej^otiations  lur  jieace  and  boundary  »d'  17SL'  between  tlie 
eohaiies  and  the  three  .yreat  ri\al  jioweis  of  i'lin'ope,  the  coii(|Uest 
of  Clark  had  a  controlliiii;' influence  in  their  deliberations.  Spain 
claimed  theeiitire  re,i;i(m  between  tlie<  )liioaiid  3Iississippi  rivers. on 
the  pietense,  tliat  in  tlie  winter  of  17S1.  sixty-five  Sjiauiards  and 
an  eipial  number  of  Indians  captiir<'d  St.  .Joseph,  a  small  Mn^lish 
fort  near  the  soni'ce  of  the  Jllinois,  and  titok  jiossessioii  of  the  adja- 
cent country  iu  the  name  of  tln'ir  sovcreijiii.  J)r.  Franklin,  one  of 
the  negotiators,  referring  to  the  claim  of  this  power,  said  it  was 


200  HIHTOUY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


tlu' ih'si;-!!  (il  111*' Spiiiiisli  court  l(»  rcMlrici  the  I  nih-d  Stiih-s  to 
tilt'  AII<-;^liiiiii«-H.  iiiitl  lif  li(i|i)-<l  lliiit  ('(iii;^r<'ss  would  insist  on  tlio 
Mississippi  iis  IIm'  wcnIciii  lioiiiniiir.x .  It  Wiis,  liowcvcr,  I'uiiihI 
iiiipossiItU-  to  <'onin'<l  the  Spiinisii  possj-ssions  on  llic  l-mv«'i'  .Mis- 
sissippi with  til*'  (lispntrd  tciritorv,  lor  Chirk  inid  hiiilt  I'oit 
tlfll't'i'soii,  hi'low  tli*>nionlli  <d'  tin-  Ohio,  iiiid  \  ir;:iniii  innl  iicliial 
possession  Ixtwccn  llic  t  w  o  ii\frs.  l-'ran*-c,  at  the  lic;it,\  of  I'aiis, 
in  I7*)>'(,  had  lianslrncd  ail  this  \ast  rf;:ion  to  Mn^land,  and  ronhl 
inaU(^  IM>  claim.  She,  intwcvcr,  (d»jcclcd  to  tiic  lijiht  of  the  i\Mier- 
ieans,  hopin;^  Itv  this  stroke  of  policy  in  fa  \  or  of  her  jealous  ri\  a  Is, 
to  ;;aiii  some  other  poiid  in  the  controversy  where  she  was  umu'O 
directly  interestj'd. 

Nor  had  i:n;;lan(<  the  p)'esnin])tion  to  c<intend.  that  it  tlid  not 
beioM;:  to  the  colonies,  which  had  eslaitlished  Ihemsehes  as  tho 
I'nited  Stales.  'I'he  patent  of  \ii;.;inia  covered  most  of  the  dis- 
]Mited  territory  ;  the  army  of  (lark  had  sidMlncd  and  permanently 
occnpied  it.  Snlisetpient ly  il  had  heen  organized  as  a  connt\  of 
the  Stale,  and  conse<|nent ly  the  l-ai^lish  en\o\  conid  not  claim  il, 
wilhaiy  more  ]n'opricl,\  than  other  partsof  the  commonwealth 
after  the  battle  of  Vorktown.  lie  was  too  accurate  a  jurist  to 
allow  Id''  elaiai  of  vSpain,  or  to  listen  to  the  oltjectitais  of  l-'iance  ; 
bnt  what  wtadd  Inncheen  his  deei>ion  lookiii;;  to  Urilish  aj^^j^ran- 
disement,  hati  it  not  iieeii  for  the  ci\il  and  ndlitary  ride  previously 
eslaitlished  by  the  .\meiicans;' 

In  eslimaliiijn  I  he  <lel)t  of  ;^ratitiid<'  we  owe  to  Clark  and  his 
sturdy  N'irjiinia  v«'teraiis,  let  iis  consider  whether  the  jiieat  country 
of  liOiiisiaiia,  sniiseipieiitly  purchased  b\  .lell'eisoii  fiiaii  the  l'"irst 
Coiisnl,  ciMild  have  lieeii  obtained  Imt  Ibr  the  service  wliicli  they 
I'ciidered.  Nay,  but  Ibr  their  valor,  the  maj;iiiliceiit  national 
domain  now  sti'itchin;^  away  to  the  I'acitic,  and  iirtanisiii};'  to 
absorb  the  whole  continent,  ini^ht  have  been  broken  at  the  inoiin- 
tain's  siimmit  or  tiie  rixcr's  shore;  and  the  Kepiiblie,  now  exertin;;- 
coiitrollin^i  inlliieiice  anionj;  the  ;.''.eal  natioiialilics  of  the  world, 
would  conse(piently  have  remained  an  inecmsiderable  power. 

After  his  cainpai;;ns  in  Illinois,  Clark  enjiaj^cd  in  a  number  of 
expeditions  against  the  Indians;  ibii^ht  under  l>aron  Stenb"n  in 
the  ICast  against  the  traitor  Arnold,  ami  tinally  enlisted  as  a  bri}f- 
adier-jicneral  in  the  armies  of  Fiance  to  operate  ajiainst  the 
Spanish  possessions  on  the  lower  .Mississippi,  llelbre  anything 
Avas  effected,  (lenet.  the  Kreiicii  minister  ai'd  leadei'  of  tin-  eiiter- 
])rise,  was  recalled,  Clark's  commission  was  annulled,  and  he 
retired  to  private  life.  Dnriiifi'  the  latter  years  of  his  life  ho 
became  an  invali«l,  siiflerinji  intensely  from  rhenniatic  atlections 
caused  by  exi»osure  in  his  previous  campaifiiis.  \\  ith  advanciiifj; 
a{>e  the  disease  assumed  the  tbrni  of  paralysis,  and  terminateil 
fatally,  his  death  and  burial  oceurriiif;  in  ISIS,  at  Locust  (^Jiove, 
near  Louisville. 

The  rippling'  waters  of  the  beautiful  Ohio  still  niurmiira  re»|iiiem 
over  the  {.jrave  which  contains  his  dust,  and  his  tireless  eiicrjjy 
Still  lives  in  the  «'nteri)rise  of  the  millions  who  dwell  in  the  land 
lie  loved  and  defended.  Jn  other  respects  the  innovations  of  lime 
have  ruthlessly  I'tlected  a  clianye. 

Only  the  relies  of  the  race  which  contended  witli  him  for  the 
cmjiire  of  tlie  wilderness,  can  be  Ibiind  in  the  cabinet  of  the 
antiquaiyj  forests,  solitary  and  unproductive,  have  passed  away, 


M 


AMKIMi'AN    OCrrPATION. 


L'Ol 


iiiitl  ii  new  crciitioii  of  tViiitt'iil  fit-Ms  iiiitl  ciilliviifcd  liiiiilHni|ics  luis 
tiikcii  tiK'ii' place  ;  tiic  uiitniiiifd  ciici'^tics  iiiiil  stiitiotuiry  coiiilition 
<»r  sa\ii;'«'  lilt'  liiivc  hccii  Mi|K'ifc(|((l  It.v  a  fix  ili/atinii  wliosc  uiiwnid 
iiiarrli  is  liraid  in  tli<>  IiiiiikiII  ol'  lisiii;:  citirs,  tii*-  <liii  of  i':iilroii(l 
trains,  or  tlic  panting' straniltoiii  hisliin;;  into  loiim  tlicwatcry  high- 
ways wliich  hear  it  on  tin-  »■!  rands  ot' coninM'rcr. 


I 


ciiAi'TKu  xviir. 

177S-17S7— 1M>1N()IS   INDHK  VIlJdlXIA. 

The  French  Take  the  Oath  of  Alltyiaiicr — Jliiiiols  County — American 
Iiintti(/r<nit.s — La  J>aliiie\s  Expedition — The  ('cNsion  of  the  Conn- 
tri/,  and  Drhii/s  Inc'ilntf  Thereto — .Vo  Ueijnlnr  Conrts  of  Law 
— Cariom  Land  fSpeeidation. 


A  COUNTY  OF  VmOTNIA. 


203 


i 


fcst  ;i  lii^^li  rcji'iird  t()\var(l  llis  ( ■iitliolic  ^riijcsty,  mikI  tcndfr  tlio 
IViciHlsliip  mikI  s('r\  ices  of  liis  jm'O])!)^  to  llic  Spaiiisli  coiiiiiiiiiKlaiit 
ill  St.  liOiiis.  A  larjic  «liscrcti()ii  was  niNcii  liiiii  in  liis  adininistra- 
tioii  (>r  cix  il  atlaiis,  ard  inontidy  rcpoits  wci-c  asked, 

III    tlic  spiiiiu'  (»r    1770,  Colonel    Todd   visited  Kaskaskia.  and 
Iteuaii  at  once  to   oruaiii/<'  a    teinpoiary  ,!^d\('riiiiieiit    lor  tlie  uolo- 
iiies.     On  the  lotii  of  .Iiiiie,  lie  issued  the  rollowin;;'  proelainatioii : 
'•  Illinois  [r,(///,/.v]  la-iril  ; 

"  Whereas,  from  tlie  fertihty  nnd  hiMutifnl  situntion  of  the  huids  l>()r- 
(leiiiin-  ujx)!!  tlie  Mississippi,  Ohio,  I lliiiois and  W'aliasii  rivers,  the  talviiifjj 
lip  of  the  usual  (piaiitity  of  land  heretofore  allowed  for  a  stttlenieiit  liy 
the  "i'overniiieiit  of  \'irfiliiia,  would  injure  i)otli  the  stren;;th  and  eoiii- 
nier<H' of  tliis  country:  I  do,  iierefoi'i',  issue  this  proclamation,  sti-ictly 
eiijoinini;  all  persons,  whatsoever,  from  iiiakiiifj;  any  new  settlements 
upon  the  tlat  lands  of  said  rivers,  or  within  one  league  of  said  lands, 
unless  in  manner  and  form  of  settlements  heretofore  made  hy  l-'reneii 
inhaliitants,  until  further  orders  herein  ^■iv<'n.  And.  in  orili>r  that  all 
the  claims  to  1  ids,  in  said  county,  may  he  fully  known,  and  some 
methoil  provide  .1  for  pcrpctuatintif,  hy  n-eord,  the  .just  claims,  every 
iiihaliitaut  is  re(|ulred,as  soon  as  conveniently  may  he,  to  lay  before  the 
jterson,  in  each  district  appointed  for  that  purpost',  a  memorandum  of 
ills  or  her  land,  with  cdpii's  of  all  theii' vouchers ;  ami  wliere  vouchers 
liave  lieeii  nivcn.^or  aiH'  lost,  such  de|iositi(Mis  or  certilicatt's  as  will  tend 
to  support  their  claims: — 'I'lie  memorandum  to  mention  the  (piantity 
of  land,  to  whom  oriji;inall.v  ^rranted,  and  whi'ii,  di'ducitif;  the  title 
thioiiiih  various  oceuiiaiits  to  the  present  possessor.  The  nunilier  of 
adventurers  wiio  will  .-horlly  nveri'un  this  country,  renders  the  ahove 
method  necessary,  as  w<  II  as  to  ascertain  the  vacant  lands,  as  to  ^''uard 
against  tresspasses  which  will  prohaltly  he  committed  on  lands  not  on 
reciiiil.  (iiveii  under  my  hand  and  seal,  at  J\^askaskia,  theloth  of  June, 
iu  the  ord  year  of  the  coiiinionwealth,  177!). 

"JohnToihj,  Ju.  " 

IMaiiy  of  ilie  I'^reiich  iiiliabitaids  at  Kaskaskia.  ("aliokia  and 
\'ini-i'iiiies,  readily  took  the  oath  (d'  aUe.uianee  to  N'iruiiiia.  Not 
only  these,  but  iininy  of  the  <dii(d"  men  of  the  Indian  tiilie.s 
e.\press<'d  sentiments  of  friendship  for  the  liiited  States  jiovern- 
iiieiit. 

iVt  the  jx'iiod  of  wliicdi  we  write,  with  tlio  cxeeiitioii  of  the 
French  aloiii;'  the  ,"\Iississip]»i.  and  a  few  families  s<'attefed  alon<>; 
the  Illinois  and  W'aliasli  ri\  "is,  all  within  the  present  honmlai'ies 
«'f  Illinois  was  tlit^  abode  of  the  nomadie.  sava.u'e.  Diii'iii^'  the 
y<'ars  I770-S(>,  the  westward  eiiii^^ratioii  fi'oiii  the  Atlantic  States, 
look  a  \ cry  eoiisidenible  start.  Aiiioiin'  the  eireiiiiistanees  wliieli 
}.;iive  it  impetus,  were  the  brilliant  aeliie\ cmeiits  of  <  ol.  ( 'lark  at 
Kaskaskia  and  N'ineeiines,  which  were  the  occasion  of  pnblisliing 
abroad  the  h'ltile  plains  id"  Illinois;  the  triiiiniili  td'  the  IJritisli  anus 
in  the  south,  and  a  threatened  adxaiico  upon  \'ir.i;inia  ;  and  tlio 
liberal  iiianner  cd'  the  lattei'  State,  in  iii\it iiiy'  fiunilies  to  take  pos- 
.sessioii  of  the  ]»ublie  lands  claimed  by  her  in  the  western  eoiintry. 
Three  hundred  family  boats  arrived  at  the  l-'alls  of  Ohio  in  the 
s|triiiu' of  17S(>.  mostly  destined  for  Keiitindiy.*  Anioii^i'  the  ini- 
Jiii.urants  to  Illinois,  we  inde  the  names  <d"  .lames  .Mooi'e.Shadraeli 
Bond,  .lames  (iarrison,  Robert  Kidd  and  Larkeii  liiitlierford.  tliu 
two  latter  liaviiiy  been  with  Clark.  They  weic  from  Viruiiiia  and 
jAlarylaiid.  \N'itli  their  families,  they,  without  molestation  in  those 
jteriloiis  times,  crossed  the  Alle;^liaiiies,  descended  the  Ohio, 
stemmed  the  Mississippi,  and  landed  safely  at  Kaskaskia.     .lames 

♦liutler's  Kuiitucky. 


204 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


j\I<torr.  tlic  IcadtT,  iiiid  n  portion  of  liis  l»iiit.\,  htcatcd  on  tlic  liills 
near  IJcllcroiilaiiic,  wliilc  I>oim1  and  llic  icsl  sctllcd  in  tlic  Ameri- 
can liottoin  (iVoni  wiiicli  circumstance  that  name  is  derived),  near 
Harrisons  ille,  afterwards  known  as  iIm-  hlockiionse  IVtrf.  .lames 
ri,i:,ii<>l,  .loiiii  Doyle.  IJoherl  Wiiiteliead  and  a  Mr.  Ilowcn,  soldiers 
in  Clark's  expedition,  also  shortly  alter  settled  in  Illinois.  Doylo 
had  a  family  and  tanuiit  sclio(»l.  lie  was.  peiliaps,  the  lirst  teacher 
1o  make  that    )>iofessioii  his   bnsiiiess  in   Illinois.     He  also  spoke 

I'rencli  and  Indian,  ami  in  the  hitter  Janjiiiajic  was  Irecpiently  em- 
Li..!. ..i      .10     iiif  ..I'l.i'.ili.i-         \'..f     iiiifil      1  T  v.     11.10     tl.io    IWtli.   K.ii'..l     .A' 


])loyed    as   interpreter.     Not    nntil    ITS.")    was   this  litth'  hand  of 
American  |»ioneers  r<'inforccd.     Th 


American  |»ioneers  r<'inlorcc(l.     J  lien   came  .losepli  Oule.  .loscpii 

AVarley  and  .James  ^Vndrews,  all   from  \'iijiiiiia  and   each  with  m 

lar^-e   family.     In   the    following  year  the  American    settlements 

Avere  a^^aiii   aiigiiienled    l)y  the  arrival  of  -lames  Lemeii,  (ieorj;o 

Atclierson,  and  I)a\id  W'addell  with  their  i'ainilies,  besides  several 

others.* 

While  the  country  was  iiiidev  the  Virginia  regime  (hui   without 

the  sanction  of  her  anthorities),  La  ISaliiie.  a    nati\c  of  l''rance.  in 

the  fall  of  17S(>  dn  ring  the  re\  oliitioiiary  war,  made  another  attempt 

to  lead  an  ex]»edition  from  Kaskaskia  against  the  IJritisli.     It  <;()U- 

sislcd   of  ,')()   men,  and    was  ostensibly  formed  to  i-aptiire  the  i)ost 

of  Detroit.     At    ^'inceniies   it.  was  reinforced  by  a   lew  men.     Thy 

j>arty   moved   up  the   Wabash,  and  at   the   head   of  the  Maiimee 

ntlack(>d  and  destroyed  a  iWitish  trading  post  calletl  Kekionga,  on 

the  site  of  the   i>resent    l''ort    Wayne.     After  securing  the   Itooty, 

the   party  retired  to  the  banks  of  the  small   river  Aboite,  where. 

they   encamped.     Her*'   a   ])arty  of  Indians  attacked  tlu'iii  in  the 
I.;,. 1.1    n...   I.....I..I.  .....1    ..    !'..„    ..)'  i.io    r..ii.,M-,.i.,..  it-,.....   i.;ii..,i    ti...  ... 


ju«-|    01    I  lie   iiiiiiiiii  1)1    iiiiii   uiMiiei    III   ixi'i 

^.....  >..,,.  ,..,  .M.MMlicst  Indian  battle  e\cr  fought  in  Kentucky. 
Cols.  Todd,  'I'rig,  Harlan,  and  a  son  of  Daniel  ISooiic,  all  fell.  It 
was  a  sad  day  ;  the  Kentnckians  lost  (iT  men,  more  than  a  third  of 
their  force,  mostly  killed.  Col.  Todd  had  Just  retnrned  I'roiu 
Virginia  on  business  pertaining  to  the  Illinois  county.  His  gov- 
erniiient  in  Jllinois  was  po))iilar. 

The  successor  of  Col.  Todd  was  a  Frenchman,  named  Timothy 
dcMontbriin.  of  whose  administration,  how  long  it  lasted,  or  who 
was  his  successor,  little  or  nothing  is  known.  Montbrmrs  name 
appears  to  land  grants  and  other  docnmeiits  among  the  archives 
lit  Kaskaskia. 

TIh'  CcsNion  of  Illiuois. —  As  we  have  seen,  all  of  the  Xortli- 
Avestern  territory,  by  private  compiest.  passed  under  the  dominion 
of  \'irgiiiia  at  a  time  w  hen  all  the  States  were  engaged  in  a  commoii 
Avar,  defending  against  the  power  of  the  mother  country  to  reduce 
tlieiii  to  subjection  ;  and  whatever  was  the  right  of  a  State  to 
organize,  an  individual  war  enteri>rise,  and  turn  its   success   to 

*S('i-  .Animlsof  the  WcfJt. 
+Kfyiiolil's  Pioneer  History. 


A  COUNTY   OV   VIIJOINIA.  205 

])ii\alt'  advaiitaov,  l).v  oxti'iidiiifi' licr  jiirisdicfion  over  a  vast  and 
IVi'tiK'  r('<;ioii  lor  licr  srparah'  bcnclit  and  a;;,iiran(li/('iiu'nt,  tlu^ 
coiiyn'ss  of  tlic  States,  |>r(iliid)Iy  lor  tlic  sake  of  liarniony,  ac(|iii- 
t-sccd  ill  tlic  \aliditv  ol'tiiis.  Jiiit  \'ii'.uiiiia  and  a  niinilierof  ollnr 
States  asserted  still  anotlier  claim  to  these  western  lands,  and 
dniinj;'  tlie  revolutionary  war  tliese  eoiitiietiii.u'  claims  became  <|iiile 
a  liiiKlrance  to  tli(^  i)idm])t  adoption  of  tlie  articles  of  confetlera- 
tioii.  Many  of  tlie  original  colonies  Iiad  tlieir  lioiindaries  exactly 
deliiied  in  tlieir  royal  cliarters.  but  N'iryinia.  Coiiiiccticiit,  Massa- 
clmsetts,  and  tlie  Carolinas,  (;l}iiiiied  to  extend  westward  to  the 
farther  ocean,  or  to  the  .Mississi]>i>i ;  since,  under  the  treaty  of 
Paris,  17(!.>„  that  ri\cr  had  iM'come  tlie  established  western 
boundary  of  (ireat  Ibitain.  New  V«»rl<,  too.  under  (.'itaiii  alleycd 
concessions  to  her  Jurisdiction  made  by  tlie  Iro(|iiois,or  six  nations, 
the  comiiierers  of  many  A],uoii(|iiin  tribes  inciiidin.u'  the  Illinois, 
claimed  almost  the  wiiole  of  the  western  country  from  iieyond  thci 
]akes  on  the  north  to  the  Ciimberland  mountains  on  the  south, 
and  west  to  tlie  j^reat  river. 

Ijarj^c  ideas  as  to  the  pecuniary  value  of  the  wosterii  lauds 
obtained  at  the  time,  from  which  \  ast  re\  ciiues  were  anticipated. 
Tlu'  prosjiective  well  tilled  coffers  of  the  States,  as  well  as  tlui 
broad  expansion  of  their  dominions,  <'\cited  the  envy  of  tlieir  land- 
less sisters.  The  latter  held,  therefore,  that  as  these  lamls,  as  well 
as  their  own  independence,  had  to  lie  wrested  from  the  1  bit itiU 
crown  by  Joint  etlbrt,  they  on^iit  to  become  joint  property.  Still, 
the  claimant  States  in  ciniiiress  had  succeeded  in  ,^('ttiii,u'  a  clause 
inserted  into  the  ]>roposed  articles  of  confederation,  that  no  State 
should  be  deprixcd  of  an.\  t<'rritory  for  the  Joint  beiietit  of  all. 
]>ut  Maryland,  a  non-claimant  State,  refused  her  assent  to  the  aiti- 
cles  with  that  provision.  The  adoption  of  the  articles,  which  would 
make  of  the  colonies  a  union,  was  very  much  desired.  N*'W  Wn-k 
now,  \vli<)s(^  claim  was  the  most  baseless,  o]UMU'd  the  way  by  allow- 
iiiji'  lierdelej.iates  in  conjii'ess.  at  discretion,  to  cede  to  tlu' union  all 
her  interest  west  of  a  line  drawn  throu,i;h  the  western  extremity  of 
Lake  Ontario,  ('oiiji'ress  ui'ji'ed  this  example  ii]ion  the  other 
claimant  states,  <iuaraiiteeiii<i-  that  tlie  ceded  lands  should  be  dis- 
])osed  of  for  the  common  Itenelit  of  all ;  ami  as  the  territories  becamo 
]»o|iuIaled  they  should  be  divided  into  States  and  admitted  into 
the  Union  on  an  e(pial  Ibotin.i;'  with  the  oriiiiual  States. 

Connecticut  next  proposed  a  cession  of  her  indelinite  diUMvestern 
oxteiision,  letainiiiji',  howcNcr,  a  tract  of  some  ;!,()(l(»,(t(l(>  acres  iit 
Northwestern  Ohio,  known  since  as  the  Western  licserve.  'J'liis 
she  also  reliinpiished  in  the  year  ISOO.  The  Yiifjiiiia  a.s.sembly, 
liojiiiiin'  to  reanimate  the  lla,i;j;in<i'  cji-ise  of  the  South  by  a  more 
thoroiijih  union,  just  jirior  to  its  ad.iournmeiit,  December  .'51,  '  7S0, 
on  the  approach  of  Arnold,  who  -icked  ami  burned  Ivichii'oiid 
within  a  few  days  after,  ceded  to  the  riiited  States  all  her  clai'u 
to  the  territory  north-west  of  the  ii\'er  Ohio,  re(piirinji'  from  co.i- 
{•ress,  however,  a  jiuarantee  of  her  rijulit  to  the  remainder  south 
of  the  Ohio  and  east  of  the  Mississipjii.  The  New  York  delegates 
soon  after  e.\ercis«'(l  the  discretion  confided  to  them  by  their  State, 
and  executed  a  deed  of  cession,  reserviiiju'  the  riiiht  of  retraction 
unless  the  same  ;;uaraiitees  were  extended  to  New  York  as  to  any 
other  cediufi'  States,  On  the  same  day  the  dele;;ates  of  ^Marylaml, 
being  thereunto  emi>owered  by  act  of  the  State,  signed  the  articles 


200 


HISTORY  OF  IIJ-TNOIS. 


«)i'  (-(iiil('<lci'iiti<)ii.  wiiicli  coiiiplctcd    tlic   liitilitiitioii,  and  a  nation 
uay  lanni'lM'fl. 

This  was  early  in  tlic  sjiiMji' ol"  I7S1;  \'irj;inia,  liowcvci'.  did  not 
cxcciHc  lirr  deed  ol'  ccssioM  till  .Marcli  I,  IT."^!.  in  llic  nn-antiiiic 
]M-a('i'  had  hi-cii  )nadc  with  (iicat  llrilain,  hv  which  nearly  all  this 
coiiiiirv  i)asse(l  to  the  ounership  of  the  Nation,  in  eoninion,  and 
N'iruinia  modi  lied  iiei-  act  of  cession  hv  omit  tin, :;■  lier  denianti  to  llu^ 
tei  ritory  soiilh-easl  of  liie  ( >hi().  The  deed  of  cession  was  executed 
l»y  her  deiej^ales  ill  Coiijiress,  Thomas  .lefVei'son,  Samuel  Hardy, 
Ailiiiir  Lee  and  .lames  .Monroe.  It  sti|iiilaled  that  t he  teiiitory 
.shoiihl  lie  cut  into  States  not  less  than  1(10  nor  more  than  ITiOmiles 
s(|nare:  to  lie  repnhlican  in  form,  and  to  lie  admitted  into  the 
union  with  ••the  same  ri;;'its  of  soNcreiuiity.  freedom  and  inde- 
peiideiice  as  (lie  other  Slat.'s  ;"  that  indemnity  for  the  e.\]>e  uses  of 
Jieicxiieditions  incurred  i  i  siihdiiin.L;  the  liritish  posts  in  the  west 
be  allowed  her;  that  land,  not  exeeedin;^'  l.">(».()0(t  acres,  promised 
hy  her.  siioiihl  l»e  allowed  to  (leoryi'  Koyers  Clark,  liis  oflicei's  and 
soldiers;  that  t  he  proceeds  of  t  he  sales  of  the  lands  ceded  shall 
he  considered  a  common  fund  for  all  the  States, ju'esent  and  future; 
and  thai  ••the  I'rencli  andCanadian  inhabitants,  and  other  settlers 
of  the  KaskasUi;^s,  i'ost  \'inceiines.  ;iiid  the  neii;liboriii,L;'  villaji'cs, 
who  have  professed  theiiisehes  citizens  of  \'iri:iiiia.  shall  have 
their  possessions  and  litles  contlrmed  to  them,  and  be  [irotcted  in 
the  enjoyment  of  their  rights  and  liberties." 

Iiiimedialely  al'lcr  the  execution  of  the  deed  of  cession  by  ^'ir- 
jiiiiia,  ( 'on^ress  proposed  by  ordinance.  (.Vinil  L'.!.  1  7S4.)  t(t  eslnblisli 
a  form  of  "iovernment  for  the  entire  western  I'cjiioii,  from  the  (in II' to 
tlie  !,akes,  thoii^h  it  was  not  yet  wholly  ac(|nire<l.  The  plan  proposed 
to  <li\ide  the  whole  into  17  States;  a  tier  of  S  was  to  border  on  the 
^Mississippi,  w  hosi'  eastern  boundary  was  to  be  a  north  and  south 
line  tliroii<ili  the  {'alls  of  the  Ohio,  and  each  to  contain  two  par- 
allels of  latitude,  except  the  northernmost,  which  was  to  exleiid 
from  the  •l.'ith  iiarallel  to  the  northern  limits  of  the  rnitecl  Stales; 
to  the  east  of  these  a  correspon<linji'  tier  of  S  more  was  to  be  laid 
off,  whose  eastern  boundary  was  to  be  a  north  and  south  line  ruii- 
iiin.i;- tlirou.uh  the  mouth  of  the  Creat  Kanawha:  the  reiiiaininjj: 
tract,  to  the  east  of  this  and  north  of  the  Ohio.  \\as  to  constilnte 
tlie  17th  State.  In  these  territories,  the  settlers,  either  on  their 
]>etition  or  by  act  of  Coninress,  wei'e  to  iceeive  authority  to  create} 
a  temporary  form  of  jLioxcinment  ;  but  when  L'O.OdO  free  inhabi- 
tants had  settled  within  any  of  them,  they  wci'c  authori/.ed  to  call 
a  coincntion.  Ibrm  a  constitntion.  and  establish  foi'  themselves  a 
permanent  .government,  subject  to  the  follow  iiiy- I'cipiireiiients :  to 
remain  forexcra  part  of  the  eonfedeiacy  of  the  '.iiitcd  States;  to 
be  subject  to  the  articles  of  confederation  and  the  acts  and  ordi- 
iianees  of  ("oi,;iress  like  the  oli.uiinil  States;  not  to  interfere  with 
the  <iisposal  of  the  soil  by  ("onj^ress;  to  be  liable  to  their  jtroportioii 
of  the  federal  debt,  ])reseiit  and  ]»rospective;  not  to  tax  the  lands 
of  the  Tnited  States;  their  respective  ,<i<»\('rnments  to  be  repub- 
lican; not  to  tax  lands  bclon^^in.u'  to  non  residents  higher  than 
those  of  residents;  and  wlu'n  any  one  ,i;dt  of  free  inhaliilants  as 
many  as  the  least  iinnieroiis  of  the  oriuinal  Thirteen  States,  to  bo 
admitted  into  the  I'nion  on  an  e(pial  footing;'  w  it h  them.  Theeoni- 
uiittee,  of  Mhich   IMr.  .Jefferson  was  chairman,  reported  also  this 


A  COUNTY  OF  VIRGINIA. 


207 


roiii;iik:il»l<'  i)rovisi()n,  tlic  iidoplidii  of  wliicli,  jiimI  iiiiiiltfraltle 
adIiciciKM'  to,  would  doiiltllcss  Inivc  iircvciitcd  tlic  liitc  I'c- 
Itcllioii:  ••TliMt  iil'tcr  (lit'.v  car  LSOO,  of  tin-  (Miristiaii  era,  tlicrc, 
sliall  be  iicitlicr  slavery  nor  iiivoliiiilary  scrv  ifiidc  in  aiiv  ol'  the 
said  States,  ollieiwise  tliaii  in  imiiislinient  of  ciinies,  wliereof  llie 
]>ai'tv  sliall  have  been  daly  convicted."  lint  this]»i'oviso  faiU'd  on 
account  of  not  vcceiviiij;-  a  inajoiity  of  tlic  States.  The  four  Nf-w 
lCn;iland  States,  with  New  York  and  IN-nnsyhania,  voted  Ibi  it; 
New  .hrsey,  Delaware  and  (leor^ia,  were  iinicpresented ;  North 
Carolina  was  divided;  Maiylancl,  South  Carolina  and  ^'ir;;inia, 
(Mr.  .lelferson  beiuy  oveiltorne  by  his  collea^iues.)  \oted  against 
it.  The  autisla\ery  clause  was  stricken  out  and  the  resolutions 
became  an  ordinance. 

While  such  was  the  law  for  these  territories,  it  never  received 
a])i)licatioii  to  any  of  them  ;  no  or^ani/at i(Ui  was  ever  elfeeted 
under  it.  Noi' had  Massachusetts  in  the  nieaidime  relin(|uished 
herdiiim  in  the  territories.  In  17S.">.  Hufus  Kinj;' reiu'wed  tlie  anti- 
slaveiy  ])io\iso  in  con^iress,  as  a  condition  u])on  which  she  would 
nudie  a  cession  of  iici'  claim.  TiuM|uestion  was  referred  to  a  coin- 
inittee  of  ei;^ht  States,  where  it  slept  the  sleep  that  knows  no 
Making;-.  Massai-husetts,  however.in  acccudance  with  the  V'irjiinia 
scheme  of  dixidin;^'  the  western  territoi-y  into  small  Slates,  ceded 
hei-claim.  April  !'.>,  ITS.");  nud  with  the  consent  of  Con^res)^  to 
acccjit  the  cession  of  Connecticut,  w  ith  the  res<'rvation  of  ;).(I()(),(MI() 
aeres.  Sei)tend)er  l.'ltli,  ITSd,  the  title  of  the  confederated  States  to 
the  laials  north  west  of  the  ri\('r  Ohio  Itecaine  complete.  In  the, 
ineantinu',  by  act  of  con,uress,  surveys  and  explorations  were 
goinji' on  in  the  territories  which  j;larinj;ly  e\]»ose(l  the  total  disic- 
j^ard  of  natural  boundaries,  iiiid  the  in<'onvenience  ]'csidtin,u'  from 
cuttin,i;'up  the  western  count ly  into  fourteen  small  States.  N'ir.uiuia 
and  .Massachusetts  were  uow  called  upon  to  modify  the  conditi(»ns 
of  theii' deeds,  so  as  to  allow  that  ]»(irtiou  of  the  territory  north- 
west of  the  Ohio  to  Ix'  divided  up  into  three  or  tive  States,  at  the 
o))tion  of  Con.yi'css,  which  was  accordiui;ly  (haie.  and  the  follow in,i;' 
year  CN>njiress  j>asscd  the  ordinance  of  17.S7. 

This  was  a  slow  transition  peiiod,  which  was  doubly  eX])erienced 
in  tlie  settlements  of  Illinois  which  were  the  faitlier(st  icmoved 
from  the  seat  of  power,  be  it  Virj;inia  or  the  I'nitcd  States. 
During  all  this  time,  and  Ibi'  three  years  after  the  adoption  of 
the  ordiiKince  of  17S7.  and  until  the  organization  of  the  county 
of  St.  Clair,  by  (io\eriior  St.  Clair,  in  17'.M>,  there  was  a  very 
imitei'fect  administration  of  the  law,  which  consisted  of  a  mixtni'e 
of  the  civil  or  the  French,  the  I"]nj4lish,  as  resnltiu;^'  from  the  pro- 
innljintions  of  the  arbitrai'y  acts  of  (he  Ui'itish  c(Munuindants  at 
Fori  Chartres.  and  such  as  had  been  instituted  by  the  X'ir^iiua 
authorities.  There  were  no  rcjiiilar  courts  of  law  in  existence  in 
the  conntry,an(l  no  civil  {iovernment  worth  meidioniui;'.  The  peo- 
])h>  were  a  law  unto  themselves;  theii'  morals  were  simple  and 
j)nre,  ami  the  grosser  vices  wei'c  kej)t  dormant.  Crimes  aj;ainst 
the  peace  of  society  were  rai'c,  niisdefneainu's  infrequent,  and 
fraud  and  dishonest  dealinjis  sehlom  practiced.  ])nrin;<-  part  of 
this  tinu',  too,  the  Indians  were  hostile,  conimiltiui;-  many  brutal 
murders,  which  en<;a,u(Ml  the  settlers  in  constant  warfare  and 
mutual  protection  ajj;ainst  the  savages  ;  a  .state  of  afl'airs  not  con- 


I 


208 


IIISTOUY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


<liici\t'  to  tlic  civil  ii(liiiiiiisti;ili(>ii  (»!"  tlic  biw  wlicrc  even  tiic  most 
pcitccr  «M»(1»' cxisls.  The  foliowiiij^ ciii'loiis  iiiiid  spcciilatioii,  <tii  llio 
l>iiit  (»f  a  territorial  court  ilistitut('(l  by  Colonel  Todd,  as  it  relates 
ill  jiart  to  Illinois,  may  not  be  amiss  to  traiiseiii»e,  as  it  illustrates 
also  the  lallibility  of  men  in  olliee,  and  the  necessity  of  tlie  peo- 
ple to  ever  hold  a  watchful  <'ye  over  their  ollicial  servants. 

In  .liiiie,  177!(,  Colonel  Todd  established  a  court  of  civil  and 
criminal  Juiisdiction  at  Post  Vinceiines,  comiiosed  of  several  maj^- 
istrates.  Colonel  . I,  .M.  P.  Le^iias,  liavinj;  been  appointed  coiii- 
niaiidant  of  the  post,  acted  as  president  of  the  «'oiirt,  and  exercised 
a  controlliiifi  intlueiice  over  its  i»i'oceedin<;s.  Adoptiiij;'  in  soiiu; 
measure  the  usa.ucs  and  eiistems  of  the  early  l''rencli  command- 
aiits,  the  court  bc^ian  t(»  ^raiit  or  concede  tracts  ol'  land  to  tlio 
French  and  American  inhabitants,  and  todillereiit  civil  and  mili- 
tary ollicersof  the  country.  Indeed,  the  court  assumed  the  power 
of  .uiantiiiii  lands  to  every  applicant,  mostly  in  tracts  vary  in  j^-  from 
thesi/e  of  a  house  lot  to  UK»  acres,  though  some  were  several 
lea>:iies  s(piare.  I'>efore  17s;?,  about  L'(;,(M)0  acres  of  land  were  thus 
jiianted  to  dilfi-i'eiit  individuals;  and  from  17T.'5  to  17S7,  when  in 
the  latter  year  the  practice  was  stopjx'd  by  (leiieral  llarmar,  the 
jiiants  amounted  to  l'll,(l(M>  acres,  makinji'  a  total,  first  and  last, 
of  4S,(M»0  acres.  The  commandant  and  uia^iistrates,  after  haviii<>' 
exercised  this  power  for  s<iiiie  time,  were  easily  led  to  believe  that 
they  had  the  ri^lit  to  disjiose  of  all  that  lar;^-e  tract  of  land  which, 
in  1742,  bad  been  granted  by  the  I'iankesliiiw  Indians,  for  the  use 
of  the  French  inhabitants  at  Post  Vinceniies.  Once  c<Mivinced  of 
their  supreme  dominion  over  this  entire  tract,  the  court  was  not 
lony  in  arrivinj;'  at  the  conclusion  that  they  mij;ht  make  <irants  to 
themselves  with  as  iiincli  projiriety  as  to  others  ;  and  if  tliey  could 
do  this  with  small  tracts,  they  mi;nlit  with  tlu'  whole;  hopiiii;-, 
doiilttless,tliat,  as  the  country  passed  under  the  jidvernment  of  tho 
I'nited  States,  the  grants  would  receive  coiitirmatioii.  Accord- 
iniiiy,  all  that  tract  of  country  extendin;^-  on  the  Wabash  72  miles 
from  Pointe  Ija  Coupee  to  the  mouth  of  NVhite  river,  w<'stM  ard  into 
Illinois  12b  miles  and  east  from  the  Wabash  !)0  miles  (excludin<]f 
lauds  already  <'onceded),  "  to  which  the  Indian  title  Avas  Kupi)o.sed 
to  be  extinguished,  was  divided  between  the  members  of  tlie 
citiiit,  and  orders  to  that  etfect,  entered  on  their  Journal ;  each 
niember  [as  a  matter  of  delicacyj  abseiitiii;;  himself  from  the 
court  on  the  day  that  the  order  was  made  in  his  favor,  so  as  to  jjivo 
it  the  ai)i><'ai'ance  of  beiu};'  the  [disinterestedj  act  of  liis  fellows 
only."* 

This  sliameful  transaction  beiiij;'  totally  illegal,  as  no  a^cnt  or 
trustee  (!an  make  sale  to  himself,  failinji  to  prove  a  source  of  profit 
to  the  j^rantees  in  oi»en  market,  was  in  a  measure  abandoned. 
Still,  as  the  ^rant  was  in  due  form,  under  the  j^reat  seal  and 
autlunity  of  Virjiiiiia,  land  speculators,  spyin;;-  out  the  matter, 
quietly  ])urcliased  freely  of  the  lauds  thus  fiianted,  wliicli  couhl 
be  readily  done  for  a  sony,  and  then  <lis]tersed  themseh cs  over  all 
the  Cnited  States,  and  for  many  years  after,  duped  ji'reat  numbers 
of  iiiuorant  and  cr<'dulons  peojile,  many  of  whom  did  not  lind  out 
the  swindle  until  movinji'  out  to  their  lands  so  purchased,  they  <li.s- 
covered  their  titles  to  be  a  myth.      These  swindling  jiraetices 


•Letter  of  Governor  Harrison. 


A  COUNTY  OF  TTRaiNTA. 


200 


iievor  wholly  coas.Ml  n„til  Vumnuov  irairisoi.    i,,  isn^    .f  v;. 


•Annals  of  tho  West. 


14 


ClIAl'TEl}    XIX. 
17,s7—lS(t()— ILLINOIS  CNDEK  Til  H  (lOVKIfNMKXT  OFTIIE 

X()i;tii-wksti:i:n  TKianToifv. 

OnUimnce  of  17S7 — Ortianizntion  of  St.  Clair  i'oiiitty — Ji(tr  of  J  lli- 

iioIn  ill   171)0 — IiiijKiniishal    CoiKliHon   of  the   Frcuch — Iiiilian 

Jlo,s(ililii's.i    i78;{  to    17U."» — h'diidiiljtli     Vomdtj — Ainrrictoi    himii- 

(irHtioit — SiclnicsN — Tvrritoridf  A.ssciithh/   at    Ciiiciiniali — Xotahle 

Woiiini  of  the  Olden  Tunc —  Witchcraft  in  Iltin<ds. 


Tlic  cclcbiiitcd  <)i'<liiiaii<M»  ol"  17S7  wiis  jtasscd  In  (lie  coiijiicss 
of  tlic  coiil'dlcnilcd  States  on  the  l-ltli  of  .Iiilv  of  tiiat  ycai'.  V>y 
it,  tlic  whole  of  tlu'coiiiili'v  iioiili-wcst  of  llic  ri\  ei' Oliio  was  coii- 
stitiitcd  one  district,  for  tlic  purposes  of  teinp(»rai\  <^()\»'iiiiii(id. 
It  pi'o\  ided  for  tiie  descent  of  property  in  equal  shares,  sulisiiiii- 
tiaily  as  niider  our  ])ieseiit  laws,  (a  Just  pro\isiou,  n«)t  tlu'ii 
jicneraliy  reeonnized  in  tlio  States,)  "saving',  however,  to  the 
French  and  Canadian  iidiabitants  ami  otlier  settlers  of  Kaskaskia, 
St.  N'incents,  :ind  other  nei;ild)orin,i;'  \illa;;('s,  who  iuive  heret«)fon; 
])rol'cssed  themselves  citizens  of  \'ir<;inia,  their  laws  and  customs 
in)W'  in  force  anu)n,ii' them,  relativi'  to  the  descent  and  conv<'yancc 
of  i)ropei'ty."  A  .governor  was  provided  lor,  whose  term  of  ollice 
■was  three  years,  who  was  to  reside  in  the  district  and  own  a  freehold 
of  1,(100  acres  of  land;  u  secretary,  whose  commission  was  to  run 
four  years,  subject  to  revocation:  he  was  to  reside  in  the  distri<;t 
and  own  ."((to  iieres  of  land.  A  court  was  provided  for.  to  ct»nsist 
of  three  Jim1,u('s,  two  of  them  to  constitute  a  court  ;  they  were  to 
exercise  common  law  Jurisdiction,  to  reside  in  the  district,  own 
oOO  acres  of  land,  their  commissions  to  last  durinji'  jiood  belnnior. 
They,  Jointly  with  the  ^'oNcinor,  were  to  a(loi)t  such  laws  of  tlie 
original  Slates  as  were  suitable  to  the  conditions  of  the  country, 
to  remain  in  foi'ce  until  the  orjiani/ation  o\'  the  ji'eiieial  assembly, 
Avhicli  mij;ht  alter  or  re-adopt  them;  conjiress,  also,  mijiht  dis- 
approve tiu'ni.  The  ^■overnor  was  constituted  comniander-inchief 
vl'  the  ndlitia,  with  power  to  a|)point  all  oflicers  below  the  jirado 
of;;'eneral  officers.  Until  the  organization  of  the  jieneral  assend>ly, 
the  uovernor  was  to  appoiid  all  the  civil  officers  in  each  county. 
lie  was  to  establish  counties  from  tinu'  to  time,  to  whose  linuts 
lej^al  jn-ocess  was  to  run.  AVitli  r),0(lO  free  nude  inhabitaidsof  full 
a^-e,  the  teiritory  was  entitled  to  a  ueimral  assembly,  the  time  and 
l)lace  of  election  to  be  fixed  by  the  p)vernor;  each  ."iOO  were 
eiditled  to  one  rei)resentative,  till  the  number  reached  L'.->,  after 
Avhich  the  h'^^islatun^  was  to  i'e};uhit<'  the  number  and  i»roi)ortion. 
The  qtnditications  of  a  njend)er   were,  either  a  residence,  in  the 

210 


NORTHWESTERN  TERRITORY. 


211 


ti'iTitory  tlirco  yi'iirs,  or  citizciisliip  in  a  State  I'oi'  tlircc  .vcara  and 
pit'scnt  rcsidrncM'  in  flu^  tcnitoiy,  ami  a  Ice  siMi|il(»  ri^iit  t(»  2(M> 
acres  (if  land  witliiii  llic  sann",  <|nalili<-at  inn  ot'an  ricctoi' :  t'lccliold 
of  ."•(>  acres  and  citi/,enslii|»  in  one  oC  the  States,  or  ii  lil<e  IVeelMtld 
and  t\v(t  years  residence  in  tlie  ilistiict.  I'epresentalives  were 
elected  lor  tlie  term  of  two  yeai's.  The  assend>ly  was  to  consist 
of  llie  ^dvcrnor,  coniicil  and  honscol"  representatives.  Tliecftancil 
was  to  consist  of  li\t' niendiers,  three  to  constitnte  a  (|noriini  ; 
tinn'  of  service,  liv<'  years.  Conjiress  was  to  select  the  conncil 
I'roni  ten  men — residents  of  the  territory,  each  liavini;- a  IVeehold 
of  .")()(»  acres  — nominate<|  by  the  lionse  ol'  represenlatix cs.  IJills, 
to  ItoeonK'  laws,  mnst  i)assl)oth  houses  ity  a  majority  and  receive 
the  siiiiiatnre  of  tlie  uovernor,  who  possessed  an  altsolnt<'  veto  Ity 
simply  wilhholdin;.;-  his  apprnxal.  The  two  houses,  liy  joint  hallot, 
weic  to  elect  !i  delegate  to  couj^ress,  who  was  allowed  to  (leliate, 
but  not  t<»  vote.  An  oath  of  ollice  of  oliice  was  t(»  be  taken  by  all 
the  otlicers. 

l''or  exlcndinu'  tlie  fundanmntal  principles  of  ci\il  and  relijiions 
lil»erty,  and  to  tix  the  basis  of  .government  of  future  States  to  bo 
formed  out  of  said  territory,  it  was  fiiithei'  provided,  in  six  unal- 
terable ailicles  of  jierpetind  conii»aet  ix'twcen  the  ])eoi)le  of  tho 
ori^^inal  states  and  the  peo])le  of  the  terriloi'y  : 

J.  No  person,  in  peaceable  denu'anor,  was  to  be  molested  on 
ncconnt  of  his  mode  of  worship  oi'  religious  sentiments. 

II.  'i'lie  inhal»itants  were  ji'uaranteed  llie  bt  netits  of  the  writs 
of  habeas  corpus  ami  trial  by  jury  ;  a  ju'oportionate  representatiou 
in  the  l<',i;islatui'e  and  judicial  proceedinj;s  according;'  to  the  course 
of  the  common  law.  "All  persons  shall  be  bailable,  unless  for 
<'a])ital  otfenses,  where  the  itroof  shall  be  e\  ideiit  or  the  ])i'esumptioil 
j>'r"at.  All  lines  shall  be  moderate;  and  no  cruel  or  luiusind  i)un- 
isnmeids  shall  be  inllicted.  Xo  nnin shall  bedepiived  of  his  libeity 
or  his  ])i'operty,  but  by  the  judunient  of  his  peers,  yr  the  law  of 
the  land;  an»l  should  the  judtlic  e\i;;('iicies  nud<e  it  necessary,  for 
tin'  common  ])reservation.  to  take  any  ihtsou's  property,  or  to 
demand  his  ])arti<'ular  s»'rvices.  full  comi)ensati(tn  shall  be  nnnlo 
foi'  the  same."'  2s'o  law  onj^ht  ever  to  be  nnide  or  have  force  in 
said  t<'iritory,  tliut  shall,  in  any  nnumer,  iideifere  with  or  affect 
juivate  contracts  or  enj;a,nements  made  ill  j;'ood  faith  and  without 
fiaud. 

in.  Ifeli.uion,  morality  and  knowled;^-e  liein;;'  necessary  to  i;dod 
jl'ovornmeut  and  the  ha[)i>iness  of  mankind,  sclicMtls  and  the  means 
of  education  shall  foicver  be  enconrajicd.  (iood  faith,  justice  and 
humanity  toward  the  Indians,  was  to  be  observed:  their  lands  and 
])roperty  not  to  be  taken  without  consent,  a  id  peace  and  friend- 
ship to  be  cultivated. 

J\'.  The  territory,  and  States  to  he  foiined  therein,  were  to 
remain  forever  a  ])art  of  the  I'nitcd  States,  subject  to  her  laws; 
the  inhabitants  to  pay  a  just  ]»ro])ortion  of  tlie  [tublic  debt,  c(Ui- 
tracted  or  to  be  coidracted ;  not  to  tax  the  lands  of  the  riiited 
States,  nor  those  of  iion-iesidents  hij;her  than  those  of  residents; 
the  lujvijiable  waters  of  the  lakes  to  remain  forever  fre(^  to  all 
citizens  of  the  Tnited  States. 

V.  The  territoiy  Avas  not  to  bo  divi<led  into  less  than  three  States, 
and,  at  its  option,  con.i;ress  mi.!;ht  "form  one  or  two  (more)  States 
in   that  part  which  lies  north  of  an  east  and   west  line  drawn 


212  HISTORY  OP  n-LIN0I8. 


tlii'oiiuli  llic  soiitlicrl.v  Iti'iid  (»r  cxtri'iiic  of  Lake  Micliiy:!!!."  Willi 
(i(»,(»(l(»  free  inliiiliitiiiits,  siicli  Stiitcs  woiv  to  be  iidiiiilttMl  into  llio 
liiiiiHi  on  iiii  r(|iiiil  I'ootiiij:  will)  tlit-  ori^iiiiil  St:it*'s. 

\'l.  " 'I'licit' sliiill  be  iitillici'  sl;i\«'r.v  iioi'  iiivoliiiihiiy  servitude 
in  the  siiitl  tt-nitorv.  otlii'iwisc  tliiiii  in  tli«>  |innislinicnt  of  ciinics, 
•wlM'irol' llic  jiiiity  sliiill  IniAo  Ix-cn  duly  convicted;"  this  section 
]>i'o\  idin;;' idso  lur  tlic  rcciiiniatioM  oi"  l'M;^ili\cs  iVoiii  labor. 

Siicli  wassulislantiail.v  tlic  In  nda  mental  law  of  this  vast  territory, 
Avln<*li  has  cvei-  had  a  eontroliiiij;  inllnence  upon  the  destiny  o\'  tho 
States  carxed  unt  of  it,  and  saved  sonn-  of  them  fr(tm  the  perma- 
nent bli;;lit  of  slavery.  While  the  convent i(Hi  at  I'hiladelphia 
Avas  occupied  \\itli  frandiij;  the  constitntion  of  tln'  I'nited  Stales, 
('on;;i'ess,  sittinu  in  New  Voik,  disposed  of  this  snlijcct,  which  was 
IVan^lit  with  an  importance  second  only  t(»  the  constitntion  itself. 
The  anti-sla\<'ry  clause,  it  will  be  obser\<'d,  was  substantially  the 
same  as  that  reported  l»y  .lefferson  in  ITSt,  for  the  orj^ani/ation  of 
all  the  western  t(  viitory,  but  which  was  then  icjected.  'l"he  ordi- 
nance was  i'e|M)rled  from  comnnttee  by  ^Ii-.  1  >ane,of  Massachusetts, 
and  unanimously  adopted  by  the  ei;;ht  States  then  only  repre- 
st-nted  in  eoiijiress.  On  October  ."»,  17S7,  Major  (ieiu'ral  Arthur 
St.  Clair  was,  by  conjii'css,  elected  governor  of  tlu'  Noithwesteru 
teiritory.  St.  Clair  was  born  in  Scotland  and  enii;:iraled  to 
America  in  17.V).  He  served  in  the  French  and  l>ritisli  wai', 
mider  (lenend  Andu'rst.at  the  takinn' of  Louisbinji',  in  IT.'iS,  and 
at  the  storming  of  (j)uebec,  under  Wolfe,  in  1 7 "»'.».  After  the  jieace 
of  17(i.'5,  he  settled  in  western  I'ennsylvania.  In  Ihewarof  the 
licvolution  he  was  first  commissioned  a  colonel,  raised  a  rejiinunt 
of  7.")(>  men  and  was  afterward  i»i'omoted  to  the  rank  of  major 
jicnerak  In  17SS  he  was  tried  by  court-mai'tial  for  evacuatin^i' 
Ticondei'oj^a  and  .Mt.  Independence,  but  was  honcuably  acquitted.' 
lie  remained  in  tlie  .service  until  the  close  of  the  war.  In  17S(>  ho 
■was  elected  .to  conjiiess,  an<l  was  clios<'n  ])residcnt  of  that  body. 
Owin^i  to  his  htsscsin  the  war  of  the  revolution,  his  fiiends  pressed 
liim  for  the  jioveinoiship  of  the  Noithwestein  Territoiy,  that  ho 
niiiiht  retricNc  his  fortune.  Ibit  he  -had  neither  taste  nor  ^icnia.s 
for  speculalion  in  lands,  nor  did  he  think  it  consistent  with  tho 
ollic.'.'"* 

The  instructions  from  coufiress  were,  in  effect,  to  pi'onM)te  ])eaco 
and  InirnMiny  Itetween  the  Indians  and  the  I'liitcd  States,  to  defeat 
all  eombiiiiitions  or  confedeiations  between  them,  an<l  conciliato 
p)od  feelin,u  between  them  and  the  white  settlers;  to  )e<;nlato 
trade  with  them  ;  to  asceita'u  as  far  as  possible  the  several  tribes, 
their  head  men  and  number  of  warriors,  and  by  <'very  means 
attach  them  to  the  government  of  the  I'nited  States;  and  to  nej;- 
h'ct  no  op]K)rtuuity  to  extinguish  the  Indian  titles  to  lands  west- 
ward as  tai'  as  tin-  ]Mississii>pi,  and  north  to  the  41st  decree  of 
north  latitude. 

In  the  summer  of  17SS,  the  jiovernor  ami  Judjics  (Sanniol  Iloldeii 
Tarsons,  dames  ^Mitchell  Varnum,  and  -lolin  Cleves  Synnues),  m(^t 
at  Marietta,  the  seat  of  jj'ovennaent,  and  adopted  and  promulgated 
a  code  of  laws  for  the  wlude  territory.  The  governor  innnediately 
established  some  counties,  except  in  Illinois,  appointed  the  civil 
oHicers  tVn-  them,  and  thus,  .Inly  loth,  the.  nuicliinery  of  the  terri- 
torial ^ovennnent  nnder  the  U.  S.  was  put  into  operation.     These 

"ills  letter  tlTW'.  U.  Giles,  of  Viigluia. 


NORTH WKSTKRN  TKKKITOItY. 


213 


Nt«'p.s  l)y  tli(',iiHlj;r<'.s  iiiid  fiovciiioi'  wcii'coiiimoiily  (Iciiniuiiiiitcd  tin', 
lirst  ui'iKlc  dl'  Icnitoiiiil  .L;(»\ciiiiii»'iit  iiinlcr  llic  ordiiiiiiict'. 

As  ciiiiliictfrislic  ol'  llic  jifiinil,  we  iioli'  lli;it  llic  piiliisliiiifiil  lor 
criiiics.  owiiii;  tollic  wiiiil  (•!'  iiiisoiis,  were  jit'in-iiilly  of  ii  siiiii 
unify  cliiii'iM'Irr:  I)c;illi  loi' iiiiinlcr,  trc'iisoii.  ;iim1  iirsnii.  (iC  los.s 
(»!'  lift'  ciisikhI  llicicrioiii) ;  w  lii|>|»iii;;'  witli  .'»!»  laslics.  iiml  line,  lor 
liirrciiy,  l)iir;;l;iiy  iiiid  rolilx-iy  ;  lor  iM-rJiiry,  \vlii|>|>iiiju',  fine,  or 
stJiiidiiii,'  in  IJM'  itilloiy;  for  lorycry,  line,  (lisfrnncliismicnt  nnd 
.stiiiiilin;^^  in  the  |iillory:  dninkcniifss.  line,  I'oi'  non  |i:iyni<'nl  of 
uliirli  to  stiind  in  tiic  stocks  ;  for  non  puynirnt  of  lints  ^^i-ntMidly, 
tin'  slicrilf  wns  rnipowcrrd  to  Itind  ont  tin- convict  for  ;i  term  not 
<'Xcc<'<lin;;'  7  y<'iirs;  ohsiu'iic  <'on\cisiition  and  |»rofanc  swearing; 
wci'c  adiMonislicd  against,  and  tint-atcni'd  witli  tlic  loss  of  the  ixi>\- 
ciiMuenrs  conlideiice;  morality  and  ]>i('ly  were  enjo\ned,  and  tlie 
»Salil)atli  prononnt-ed  sacred. 

I'lider  date  of  Oetolier  (itli,  I  "Sit.  president  \Vasliin;;t(tn  wroto 
to  ( iov  ejiior  »St.  Clair;  Von  will  also  proceed,  as  s<  ton  as  yon  can, 
svitJi  safety,  to  execntc  flie  orders  of  the  late  con};ri'ss  rcspectinj;- 
the  inliahitants  at  Post  Vinceniu's  and  at  the  I'CaskasUias,  and  the 
other  \  illa:;es  on  I  he  .Mississippi,  It  is  a  circnmstance  of  some  im- 
poi'lance,  that  the  said  inhaMtaids  should,  as  soon  as  possible, 
})ossess  the  lands  which  lhe_\  are  entitled  to,  hy  some  known  and 
iixcd  juinciple.  A«'coi'din,u!y  in  l''el»rnary,  (Jov.  St.  Clair  and  the 
Sccj'etai'y,  \\  inthi-op  Sarueiit.  ari'ived  at  Kaskaskia.  The  conntry 
uilliin  the  IxMindarics  of  onr  jnesent  Slate  «'.\len(lin,i;  northward  to 
the  nioMtli  of  the  Little  Mackinaw  ci'cck  on  tla^  Illinois  was  or;;an- 
i/ed  into  a  ironnty,  which  was  named  after  His  Ivxccllency,  St. 
Claii',  and  may  he  called  the  mother  of  conniies  in  Illinois.  It 
vas<li\id('d  into  thie«' jinlicial  distiicts,  a  conit  of  <'ommon  pleas 
<'stablis]ied,  .'>  jnd.i;-es  appointed,  namely  :  .lohn  l'M;;ar,  of  Kas- 
kaskia  ;  John  iiaittislc  liailwan,  of  I'rairie  dn  ii'ocher,  and  John 
J).  Moulin,  of  Cahokia,  each  to  hold  tin'  courts  for  and  in  the  dis- 
trict of  his  jesidence.  The  terms  were  li.\e<l  to  be  held  e\eiy  three 
inr)nths.  hence  the  name  of  (piarter  sessions,  by  which  th<'  courts 
uei'e  .li-cnerally  known.  >Villiam  St.  ('lair,  bi'other  of  the  itoxernor, 
vas  apjtoiuted  clerk  and  rccor«U'i'  of  deeds,  and  William  Hiiiys, 
.slu'iiif.  Cahokia  became  the  county  scat.  While  the  clerk  couhl 
issue  process  foi'  the  count\.  and  the  slu'i'ilf  serve  the  same,  suit 
liad  to  be  bi'ouji;lil  and  «'ntitled  of  tlu' (listri«'t  where  the  defendant 
resided,  and  the  writs  to  Iwar  tost  of  th('Jud;;cs  of  the  respective 
ilistricts,  dated  at  tlie  res]iectiv<'  villaiics  an<l  run  with  the  respec- 
tive distri<;ls.  (Jiand  Juries  wcic  to  be  (pmileily  ((I'.uani/ed  in  each 
district.  The  liyht  of  appeal  was  rendered  jtraciically  nu.yat(»iy, 
and  in  no  case  was  it  icsortcd  to.  The  sessions  of  the  I',  t^. 
jiul;i<'s  for  the  tcriitory  wei<'  held  in  banc  at  either  Cincinnati  <»r 
CliiIli<'olhe,  a  distan<-c  so  yreat  from  Illinois,  by  the  then  facilities 
of  tra\<'l,  as  to  render  aj»jteal  impracticable.  Of  the  Jutl^cs,  John 
de  Moulin,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  ])ossessinfi'  a  ^iood  education 
suul  fair  knowlediie  of  the  ci\  il  law,  was  a  lar^'c,  line  looking  nnin, 
a  ba<'lielo)'.  lie  was  also  colonel  of  the  nnlitia,  and  showed  well 
on  ]»aiade  days.  He  was  very  poi)uIai'.  Jean  Ilabtiste  Ilarbeau, 
was  of  the  oriiLiinal  Canadian  Fi'ench  stock,  lonj;' settled  in  Illinois; 
cncr.iictic,  fair  business  talent,  aiul  extensive  expei'ience,  John 
E<l.uar  was  an  I-aiiilislnnaii,  Justices  of  tlie  peace  wei'c  also  aj)- 
jKiintctl  throughout  the  county.     Their  jurisdiction  wa«linut«d  to 


214  UISTOItV  OF  ILLINOIS 


•*'_'(»  ill  v'ivil  cMscs;  in  criiniii;!!,  tlirv  pMsscsscd  niil,\  cMiiiiiiiiii;; 
ptiwcr  ;  Jiiiits  Ix'Torc  tlit-iii  were  iiol  coiiiili'iiiiiircd.  A|i|tf:il  l.i.\  lo 
till'  coiiiiiioii  |il(>iiM  coiirts.*  Tliiis  uiis  laiiiii'licil  I  lit*  llrst  coiiiity 
(•r  liliiinis  iipdii  its  ciin'cr  itl'  nscfiilinss.  with  nil  its  pulitical  iiia- 
t'liiiH'r.v  «liil\  <»i;:iiiiii/cil  iiiMltr  the  laws  uf  liic  riiilcii  Slalt-s.  I)i»wii 
to  tills  |H>i'in*l,  ii  iiiixtiiiT  III' ili(>  old  I<'i'('ii<  li,  I'liij^lisli  and  \'ir;;iniu 
laws  liad  inaiiilaiiinl  a  sort  ol*  o1)soli>ti' ('xiNtmcc  and  o|)t>ratioti. 

It  iiiav  not  lie  niiiiit<'i'fstin<:'  to  it'lal*- that  tin-  Itarol'  Illinois,  in 
I  Till',  was  illnniiiiatt'd  1»\  liiil  a  siiij;I('  nifinUcr,  who  was.  liowc\cr, 
a  host  hinisi'il'.  This  was  .lohii  l)iri>  .lours,  a  \\'<-l('liiiiaii,  Itorii 
IToO.  Il«'  was  an  accomplisln'd  liii^iiisl,  possessed  of  a  classifal 
•'dncation.  ami  ;i  lhoi()n,nli  UiKtwlcd^ic  ol'  the  law.  lit"  was  tlif 
carlii-st  prat-litioiitT  of  law  in  Illinois  and  wtMild  have  hron  <-oii- 
spifiioiis  at  any  Itar.  His  praclicf  i-Mcndcd  fniin  KaskasUia  to 
\'inrciin»'s  and  Clarksx  illc,  (Loiiisv  illc,  K,\.)  Contrary  to  tlio 
haitits  of  front  icr  lifr,  he  wasiicNoi'  itllc.  Asa  >|i<aU(  r,  his  raiiacit\ 
lor  invective  iindcr  exi'ileincnt  was  cxtiaoi'dinary.  Ivi'inox  in;;  to 
VincfiiiM'.^.  he  hccaiin'  a  inrinlMTof  the  Iciiitoiial  l(';;islatnit',  and 
in  isnT  rrmicit'd  impoitant  sci\  ices  in  rcvisinjithc  statute  laws  for 
the  tei'i'itory  of  Indiana. f  In  I7SII,  news  found  ciineney  in  llu> 
Wi'stcrn  eonntiy  that  eonj;ress,  wliose  ineetin;;s  wer«'  in  jiieat  part 
secret,  had  l»y  treaty  a;.;reed  with  Spain  to  a  temporary  reiinipiisli 
meiif  of  the  ri.ulil  to  the  free  na\i;iatioii  of  the  Mississijipi.  'I'ln- 
western  people,  who  received  these  reports  ;iieatl\  ma^inilied.  were 
bitterly  iiiceiise<l  thereat.  At  N'incenncs  a  lto<ly  of  men  were  en- 
listed without  anthorily.  known  as  the  Wahasli  re!L;iinent,  to  he 
snitsisted  Ity  impressmeiil  oi'  otherwise,  of  w  Iioin  ( ieor;:e  li*o;;-er,s 
Clark  look  eoinmand,  and  hy  his  orders  the  Spanish  traders  tln-re 
anil  in  the  Illinois,  were  plundered  and  despoiled  of  their  ^ioods 
and  mei'chandise  in  retaliation  of  similar  alle;^ed  offences  hy  the 
Spaniards  at  Natchez.  In  thes«' oiitra;;('s  .John  iiice -hmes  took  ii 
leadin;;'  jiart.  lie  beeaine  the  commissary  ^it-neral  of  the 
inarainlers,  to  the  support  of  whom  Illinois  iiierchants  contrilintcd. 
Such  t^dods  as  were  iiiisniti'd  to  the  use  of  I  he  .uairisoii  were  sold 
by  .lones.  These  acts  tended  to  einliroil  iis  with  Spain.  ,lon«s 
later  removed  to  iSlissomi,  liecame  a  member  of  the  constitutional 
convention,  and  was  a  candidate  for  I'.  S.  Senator  in  opposition  t«» 
]Mr.  lleiiton.  He  held  the  olliee  of  Jud;;e  of  the  Siipreine  Court  of 
JMissonri  until  liis  death,  in  lSi,'4. 

The  second  lawyer  of  Illinois,  prior  to  ISOd.  was  Isaac  l)ar- 
iiielle.  To  a  strt/ii;;'  native  intellect,  classical  education  and  a 
tolerable  knowledge  ot'  tin'  law,  he  added  an  en^^a^in;;'  iiiannei', 
free  benevolent  disi»osition,  anda  rather  lar;4e,  portly  and  attractive 
l)ersoii.  He  was  an  a^irecable  speaker,  conspicions  at  tlu'  Itar.and 
]M»|Milar  with  the  ])eo|)le.  He  was  said  to  lia\i'  bet'ii  educated  for 
the  ministry  and  had  occupied  the  iudi)it.     Ibit  his  ;;reat  foite  lay 

♦Urowii,  History  of  Ilia.  p.  :.'T3,  (with  ii  confused  idea  lis  to  bounUary),  to  show  the 
Iticonvpiilont  size  of  St.  Cliilr  (^oiinty,  relates  the  fiillowinir  : 

S\iit  haviiiM:  been  hroiiMht  before  a  .liistiee  ot  Caliokia  to  reeover  the  vultic  of  a  cow, 
anil  .jiiilKnieiit  laoiiiH'  lieen  rendereil  for  J^lli,  the  ease  was  aiiiiealed  'I'he  adverse 
iiarty  ancl  witnesses  ri'sided  at  I'rairie  du  Clik'ii,  WiseoiiHln,  distance  41K1  miles  The 
Slierilf,  who  wiis  also  an  Indian  tradei,  liavinw  received  a  summons  for  the  |>«rty  and 
subpienas  for  the  witnesses,  (Itted  out  a  boat  witlia  suitable  stock  n(  jroods  for  the 
Indian  trade  and  proceeded  thilher  with  his  papers  Ilavinp- served  the  summons  and 
gubpteiiaed  the  witnesses,  which  incliKled  the  (jreater  ])art  of  the  inhabilantsof  I'rairio 
du  Chten,  he  naid(!  his  return  eliartrint!  niilcajre  aial  s  rvieo  for  each,  as  lie  had  a  li^ht 
to,  his  costs  and  the  <M)st  of  the  suit  altonether,  it  is  slated,  exceeding'  $IKK).  Whether 
the  costs  were  ever  paid  or  not,  chroniclers  have  lulled  to  transmit. 

+See  Kuyuold's  Pioneer  Hist,  ol  Ills. 


NOKTIIWKSTKRN  THKKITOUY. 


LM.T 


ill  tlif  cKiirt  of  \'«'iiiis,  wIhtc  1h*  pnicticcd  witln'oiisiiiiimiitc  art  iiiitl 
Nvitli  nunc  ,slii(li(»iis  Mssiiidilv  lliiiii  his  lMM»k.s  rcccivcil.  lie  iicxci' 
liiairii'il  iiiKl  \»'t  iippaifiilly  was  iicvrr  without  a  wile.  'I'liis  coiiisc 
of  lift'  lu,)ii;ilit  its  iiM'vitai»h'  coiisciiiit'iiccs.  Wiiilc  .\oitth  aii<l 
vijiiir  liistrd  ail  was  wt-JI,  l»iit  w  itii  a(l\  aiiriiifi  a;^t', '"'  was  coin- 
]tclli'<l  to  ai)aiidoii  liis  |ii'of*-ssioii,  and  linall.N  (lii'd  in  wf.vtciii 
Kentucky,  at  the  aye  of  (JO,  a  )»oor  and  nc^^icctcd   sciiool  tcarlicr.* 

As  to  iiic  prattifc  of  tliosc  tinics.  iw  ;^t»\  t'lnor  IN  yiiolds  rcjatt's 
sc<'iii<;  tlic  K'cokIs  ol  a  lU'ocoMlin;;  ill  court  at  I'lairic  dii  liociici', 
«j;iiiiist  a  III';;;!*)  for  (lie  •Miiuidcr"  of  a  ho;u'.  Tlic  case  was  inali- 
cioiis  iiiisciiicf,  for  wantonly  (h'stroyin;;' a  useful  atiinial,  which  it 
was  souulit  to  In  iiijLi'  hefore  1  he  com  f  ;  hut  in  t  he  altseiicc  of  a  pios- 
ei'iitiiiy  attorney,  olliceis  disallowed  at  that  time,  the  ;;raiuljiiry, 
tropin;:;  about  in  the  law  hooks,  met  with  a  prccetleiit  of  an  indict- 
iiient  for  niiirdei'  and  applictl  it  to  the  case  in  hand.  !'(  ihaps 
jiistice  was  iiicted  out  as  fully  iinderthis  indictiiieiit  as  if  drawn 
with  llie  nicest  preeisi<iii  as  to  the  nature  of  tlieolleiiee,  and  pro.s- 
edited  hy  the  ablest  attorney  in  the  coiintiy. 

In  the  deed  of  cession  fioiii  Virginia,  it  was  sti)»idaled  that  (he 
French  and  Canadian  iiihai)itants,  and  other  scttleis,  who  had 
jtrofessed  alle;;iance  t(»  N'iryinia,  should  Iia\<'  their  titles  cdii- 
lirmed  to  them.  l>y  a  law  of  congress  of  I7SS,  the  ^o\eiiiorof 
tlie  territory  was  authorized  to  <'oiitiriii  the  possessions  aiul  lilies 
of  the  l"'rench  to  their  lands  (und  those  people  in  their  ri;ih|s,) 
wlio,  on  or  l)el'ore  the  year  17.S.i,  had  professed  themselves  citi/eiis 
of  the  United  Stat«'s,  or  any  of  them,  lliit  iiotliiiij;'  had  lie«'n 
<lone  ill  this  direclion  up  to  llu'  airi\al  of  (io\cinor  St.  Chur  at 
Kaskaskia,  It  was  to  this  that  \Vasliiiij;loii  had  called  the  j^ovia'- 
lloi"'.s  attention,  in  liis  letter  of  October  (I,  17S!».  In  .March,  I7!K>, 
to  <*arry  these  instructions  intoelfeet,  the  j;(»veriior  issiu'd  his  proc- 
lamation to  the  inhahitanis,  ilirectiu^' tlieni  to  exhibit  their  titles 
and  claims  to  the  lands  wlii<'Ii  they  held,  in  order  to  be  coiilirmcd 
in  their  i)ossessioiis.  Numbers  of  these  instruments  were  exhib- 
ited, and  for  thos<'  found  to  be  aiitlientic,  ordcis  of  siirNcy  wci'e 
issued,  the  expense  whereof  was  to  be  paid  by  the  owners.  Such 
l)ayment  was  anylhiii;i  but  satisfactory  to  the  peojili',  as  w  ill  be 
seen  by  the  siil»ioined  ipiotalion  from  the  noxeriior's  report  to  the 
(secretary  of  state,  in  ]7!H>;  and  from  it  ma\  further  be  jL^leaiied 
the  de]»lorabl(^  condition  of  the  I'reiicli,  at  the  time  of  the  ;;()ver- 
iioi's  visit  in  llii.s  oft-painted  JmIcii  of  the  I-'ar  \\'est  as  if  over- 
flow iii^'  with  abundance : 

"Orders  of  survey  were  issued  for  all  the  claims  at  Kaskaskia, 
that  ai>peare<l  to  be  founded  aj;reeal»ly  to  the  resolutions  of  con- 
jiress  ;  aii<l  surveys  were  made  of  the  .ureater  ]iart  of  them.  A 
part  (»f  tlu'se  siiiveys,  however,  have  only  been  leturned,  because 
the  i>«'opI<',  objected  t<»  paying-  the  surveyor,  and  it  is  too  true  that 
tlicy  are  ill  able  to  pay.  The  Illinois  e<Miiitry,  as  well  as  that  upon 
the  Wabash,  has  been  involved  in  ^n'at  distress  evei'  since  it  fell 
under  the  American  dominion.  With  .yrcat  cheerfiibiess,  the  peo- 
l>le  furnished  the  troops  under  Colonel  Clark,  and  the  Illinois 
rejiimeiit,  with  everythinji'  they  eoidd  .spare,  and  often  w  ith  much 
more  than  they  ctaild  sjiare  m  ith  any  coiixeiiieiice  to  thcmsehes. 
Most  of  these  certilicates  tor  these  sup]>lies  are  .still  in  theirhands, 

♦Reynold's  Pioneer  Hist. 


il6  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


iiiili(|iii(liit('(l  imd  uii)»iii(l;  iiixl  in  many  iiistuiiccs,  wIkto  applicii- 
tidii  lias  bcoii  made  lor  ]>a,vnH'iit  to  tlic  State  ol"  Viijiiiiia,  under 
Avliose  atilliorit.v  the  eertilifates  N.cre  ;^ranted,  it  lias  been  ret"us(Hl. 
The  Ilhnois  reninieut  heinji  disbancU'd,  a  set  of  men,  pretendin;;' 
tlie  aiitliority  of  MrK'i'ii'?  endiodied  themselves,  and  a  scene  of 
general  dei)re(lati<ni  ensued.  To  this,  sue(;eeded  three  successive 
and  extraordinary  inundations  from  the  IMississippi,  Avliich  either 
swept  away  their  crops,  or  prevented  their  bein^'  planted.  The  loss 
of  the  greater  j>art  of  tiieir  trade  with  the  Indians,  which  was  a 
great  resource,  canu;  upon  them  at  this  Juncture,  as  >vell  as  the 
liostile  incursions  of  some  of  *he  tribes  which  had  ever  been  in 
friend.^lii]*  with  tiiem  ;  and  to  thes«'  was  added  the  loss  of  their 
Avhole  last  crop  of  corn  by  an  untimely  frost.  Extreme  misery 
could  not  fail  to  be  the  consequence  of  such  accumulated  nnsfor- 
tunes." 

The  imp(»verishe(l  condition  of  the  French  settlenu'nts  is  fur- 
thei'  ])ortrayed,  and  doid»tless  truly,  in  a  menunial  adch'essed  to 
(iovernoi'  St.  Clair,  Avhile  in  Illinois,  which  iH'ars  the  date  ".)une!>, 
]7!»(l,"  ami  is  signed  by  "P.  Cibault,  I'riesI,"  and  ST  others, 
(iibault  was  the  sanu'  t'cclesiastic  wlio,  in  17SS, conducted  the  suc- 
cessful end)assy  of  Colonel  Clark  to  Yiucennes,  severing  the 
allegiance  of  that  jiost  from  the  British  : 

"The  memorial  huniMy  showeth,  that  by  an  act  of  congress  of  June 
2(),  17S.S,  it  was  (ieclarod  ilial  the  laiidn  lieretotbre  possessed  by  the  .said 
inliabitauts,  should  lie  surveyed  at  their  expense;  and  that  this  clause 
appears  to  them  neltlier  necessary  nor  adapted  to  (juiet  the  minds  of  the 
l>eo|ile.  It  does  not  appear  necessary,  because  from  the  establishment 
of  the  colony  to  this  day,  they  liave  enjoyed  their  i)roperty  and  jwsses- 
.sions  without  dispute'  jr  law  suits  on  the  subject  of  their  limits;  that 
thesurveys  of  them  were  made  at  the  time  the  concessions  wereobtained 
from  their  ancient  kings,  lords  and  commandants  ;  and  that  each  of 
tlu'in  knew  what  belonfj^ed  to  him  without  attemiiling  an  encroachment 
on  bis  neighbor,  or  fearingthat  his  neighborwould  encroach  ou  him.  It 
does  not  appear  adapted  to  i)aeiry  them  ;  because,  instead  of  assuring  to 
them  the  peaeealile  iiossessions  of  their  ancient  inheritances,  as  tliey 
have  enjoyed  it  till  now,  that  clause  obliges  them  to  bearexjieuses  wlileh, 
in  tlieir  present  situation,  they  aie  absolutely  incapable  of  paying,  and 
for  the  '"allure  of  which  they  must  bedepriveil  of  their  lands. 

"  Y(  ar  Excellency  is  an  eye-witness  of  the  jioverty  to  which  the 
inhabitants  are  retluceil,  and  of  the  total  want  of  provisions  to  subsist 
on.  Not  knowing  where  toliuil  a  morsel  of  bread  to  nourish  their  fam- 
ilies, by  what  means  can  they  supj)ort  the  exjjenses  of  a  survey  wbicli 
has  not  been  sought  for  on  their  jiarts,  and  for  which,  it  is  conceived  by 
them,  there  is  no  necessity?  Loaded  with  misery,  and  groaning  under 
the  weight  of  misfortunes,  accumulated  since  the  Virginia  trooj)s  entered 
the  country,  the  unha])py  inhabitants  throw  themselves  under  the  pro- 
tection of  Your  Excellency,  and  take  the  liberty  to  solicit  you  to  lay 
ilielr  dei)]orabIe  situation  before  congress  ;  and  as  it  may  be  interesting 
for  the  United  States  to  know  exactly  the  extent  and  limits  of  their 
ancient  possesssion,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  lands  which  are  yet  at  the 
disposal  of  cougress,  it  appears  to  them,  in  their  luimble  opinion,  that 
the  expenses  of  the  survey  ought  more  prt)perly  to  be  borne  for  whom 
alone  it  is  useful,  than  by  them  who  ilo  not  feel  the  necessity  of  it.  Be- 
.side,  this  is  no  object  for  the  United  States  ;  but  it  is  great,  too  great,  for 
a  few  uiihai)i)y  beings,  who.  Your  Excellency  sees  yourself,  are  scarcely 
able  to  supi)ort  their  pitiful  existence.  " 

The  French  settlements  steadily  declined  and  nudtedaway  in  pop- 
tdatiou  from  the  time  thecimntry  passed  uiuler  Anglo-Saxon  rule, 
17(i."»,  until  their  exodus,  many  years  later,  became  almost  complete. 
After  their  lirst  liegira,  eonmieiicing  with  the  English  occupation, 


NOUTinVESTKUN   TKHRITORY. 


217 


downtolSOO,  tlioiiiuiii^iration  (tf  tlic  liittoi-raocsciiicolycouiitciluil- 
ancedtliocmijiraliou  (»f  the  tunncr.  Iinlccdjtlu'i'cwasii  tiiiicduiiii}^ 
tilt'  Indian  tioiihlcs,  tliat  tlic  balance  Tell  inncli  Itcliind  ;  but  after 
the  treaty  of  (ii'eenville,  in  17i>."),  iniini;;i'ali(>n  wasyicatlyiacreased. 
lu  1800,  the  population  was  little,  if  any,  gre.iter  than  in  17(>5. 
In  ('ai)a('ity  for  eonipiest  or  colonization,  for  enei<iy  of  character, 
tlirilt,  in,ii'enious  ami  labor-savinji'  inventions,  tlie  An^ilo  Saxon 
race  surpasses  all  others.  It  was  that  race  which  established  the 
British  constitution;  which  jH-rinanently  cohmized  the  shores  of 
America  and  j;;ive,  to  it  ninidcii>al  liberty,  the  .i;('m  of  republicanism, 
and  which  furnished  our  unrivaled  feder;  tive  system,  which  nniy 
yet  be  the  means  of  jxditically  entVanchisinj;-  the  world.  To  have 
Ids  secluded  abode  and  remote  (puetude  stirred  up  by  su(!h  a  lace, 
"with  whom  he  felt  himself  incapable  to  enter  the  race  of  life,  the 
Frenchman  of  these  wilds  lost  his  <'ontentment,  and  he  aban- 
doned his  ancient  villaj;'esin  Illinois,  to  the  new  life,  instinct  with 
the  ])royress  opening  all  arouiul  them,  after  an  occupation  of 
over  a  century. 

INDIAN  nOSTILITIKS — 1783  TO  17!),'). 


After  tlift  tide  of  Euiopean  immiiiration  had  forced  back  the  red 
men  of  America  from  tlie  Atlantic  sloi»es,  they  found  their  best 
hunting  grounds  in  the  nuiginficient  forests  and  grassy  ]»lains 
beyond  the  Alleghanies,  north  of  the  Ohio  and  east  of  the  Missis- 
sippi. When,  alter  tlu'  war  of  the  Kev  lution,  this  empire  region, 
wrested  IVom  the  grasp  of  the  I>ritish  crown,  was  thrown  o|ten  to 
settlement  and  the  ))ioneers  of  the  pale  faces  begiiu  to  jioui'  over 
the  mountains  and  into  tin-  valley  with  a  steadily  augmenting 
■stream,  the  red  men  deteiiiiine(4  not  to  give  back  farther,  'i'liey 
resolved  to  wage  a  war  of  extermination  for  the  retention  of  this 
vast  and  rich  domain.  Here  had  gathered  the  most  warlike  tribes 
of  the  AlgoiKpdn  nations,  who  have  given  to  known  Indian  history 
the  ablest  chieftains  and  greatest  warriors,  I'ontiac,  Little  Turtle, 
Tccumseli,  and  his  brother  the  one-eyed  Prophet,  IJlack  Hawk,  and 
Keokidc. 

During  the  wai'of  the  llevoliui(»n  all  the  most  belligerent  tribes 
residing  within  this  region,  and  the  lisheries  along  the  great  lakes 
of  tin?  north,  had  a<lliere(l  to  the  side  of  (-Ireat  lUitain.  Hut  by 
the  treaty  of  pea<'e,  ns."},  the  territory  was  transferred  to  the  U. 
S.  without  any  stipulations  by  iCngland  in  favor  of  her' savag(^ 
allies.  The  lirilish,  during  their  twenty  years  rule,  had  not  extin- 
guisht'd  the  Indian  title  to  any  part  of  the  country.  The  French, 
(luring  their  long  occupation,  liad  made  n(»  considerable  purchases 
of  lands  from  the  western  Imlians ;  and  by  the  treaty  of  I'aris, 
17<j.'},  the  English  succeech'd  only  to  the  small  grants  (»f  the  French 
about  the  various  forts,  Detroit,  Kaskaskia,  Viucennes,  etc.  True, 
in  1701,  at  iMUt  Stanwix,  the  lro(piois  had  ceded  to  (Jreat  I>rilaiii 
theii-  shadowy  claim  over  a  part  of  the  northwestern  territory,  iw- 
qiured  by  their  wars  with  the  llurons  and  Illinois,  and  in  17(iStho 
six  nations  had  conceded  to  her  their  rights  to  the  lamls  south  of 
the  ( )liio,  but  the  compiered  tribes  residing  ujiou  t  hem  and  making 
them  their  hunting  grounds, abandoned  them  but  teiiii»orarily,  and 
I'eturned  and  did  not  respect  the  transfers.  An  Indian  compiest, 
unless  followed  by  permanent  ooeupation,  was  sehh^m  more  than  a 


218 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


mere  raid,  and  could  not  be  sai.l  to  draw  title  after  it.  Tlieie- 
fore,  by  tlie  treaty  of  peace  of  ITS,),  tin'  II.  k^.  received  uotliiiijj;' 
from  JMi}iiaiid  beyond  the  old  siiiall  Freiieli  juiaiits,  and  the  title  of 
the  six  nations  i),v  con'.inest.  such  as  it  was,  to  tlie  western  teiritory. 
ln(lee<l,tlu'j;'eneral  };-o\  ernnient  in  tlu'  IVtli  article  of  the  ordinance 
of  17.S7,  seems  to  aeknowledj^o  that  it  had  yet  to  secure  the  title 
to  the  lands  iVoni  tiie  Indians. 

Tlie  .general  >;(»vernnient,  on  account  (»f  the  adhereiu'e  of  the 
Indians  to  the  side  of  the  British  durinji'  the  war,  if  not  deducinj;' 
actual  title,  was  incline<l  to  re,uar(l  the  lands  of  the  hostile  tribes 
as  <-on(juercd  and  forfeited.  I>nt  widle  it  attenipted  to  obtain 
treaties  of  cession  from  the  several  nations,  it  also  immediately 
threw  open  the  country  to  settlers,  made  sales  to  citizi'us,  and  in 
the  exei'cise  of  supreme  dondnion,  assigned  reservati(Mis  to  some 
of  the  natives,  dictalin.y  terms  and  pi'cscribin.u-  boundaries.  This 
at  once  produced  a  deep  feelinji'  of  discontent  amonji'  the  Indians, 
and  led  directly  to  the  formation  ot' an  extensive  confederation 
amoiij;'  a  j^reat  number  of  the  northern  tribes. 

In  October,  ITNt,  the  j;()vernment  Indian  comndssioncrs  made  a 
sec(»nd  treaty  at  Foit  Stanwix  with  a  portion  only  of  th  Ir(Mpu)is, 
Avhich,  on  account  of  its  not  beinji'  made  at  a  ^■enei,,,  coujiress  of 
all  the  northern  tribes,  was  refused  to  he  acknowledged  by  their 
leadinji'  chiefs,  ihant,  IJed  .Jacket,  and  others.  Thi'  followinj; 
year,  at  Fort  ."Mcintosh,  the  ;;t»\erument  a;^aiu  treated  with  a  por- 
tion of  the  tribes — the  Wyantlot,  Delaware,  Chippewa,  and 
Ottawa  nations — only  partly  rei)reseuted  ;  and  in  .lanuary,  ITSO, 
at  the  mouth  of  the  (ireat  .Miami  (l-'ort  Kinney,)  with  the  Shaw- 
auese,  the  Wabash  tribes  refusing;  to  attend. 

We  have  seen  that  amonj;-  the  instructions  issued  to  (i(»v.  St. 
Clair,  he  was  to  carefully  exannne  into  the  real  temper  of  the 
Indians,  and  to  use  his  best  elforts  to  extin>iiiish  their  titles  to 
lands,  westward  as  far  as  the  Mississii»|>i,  and  north  to  tlie  lakes. 
In  the  fall  of  17SS,  lu'  invited  the  mtrtia-rn  tiibcs  to  «'onlirm  the 
Lite  treati<'s  of  Fort  Stanwix  and  Fort  Mcintosh,  cedinj;  lands; 
but  the  Indians,  in  i^cneral  couikmI  assend>led,  refused  to  do  so  ami 
informed  the  (iovernor  "that  no  bargain  oi' sale  of  any  jiart  of 
these  Indian  lands  would  be  considei'cd  as  valid  or  bindiuii."  The 
(_lov(  1  por,  nevertheless,  persisted  in  coUectin;^'  a  few  chiefs  of  two 
or  three  nations,  at  FoTt  llarniar,  (mouth  of  the  31uskinj;iim).  and 
from  them  obtained  acts  of  contirmation  to  the  treaties  oi  l^'oits 
Stanwix  and  Mcintosh,  cedin;^  an  immense  country, in  which  they 
Avere  interested  only  as  a  branch  of  the  confederacy,  and  unauthor- 
ized to  wuikv  any  j^rant  or  cession  whatever.*  The  nations,  who 
thus  participated  in  th«'  acts  of  conlirnuilion,  w«'ie  liie  Wyandots, 
Delawares,  Ottawas,  Chippewas,  I'otawattonues,  ami  Sacs;  but 
the  confederation  of  the  north  claimed  that  it  was  doiu'  without 
authority,  with  the  youny men  of  the  nation,  allejicd  to  have  been 
iutinudated  and  o\erreached.t  Ibit  aside  IVom  the  fact  that  the 
g(»verninent  had  treatetl  with  separate  tribi's,  the  j;rants  obtained 
from  the  lro(pu>is  and  their  kindred,  the  Wyandots,  and  the  Dela- 
waresandShawanese,  were  open  toscarcely  -niy  obJ('ctioiis.|  Those 
most  vehenu'ut  in  denouiiciuu'  the  validity  of  the  concessions  were 

'I'lvK^-^cdinKf  of  luilliin  Council  lT9a— Sec  Aiuerit'iui  Hliitc  papers,  V.  357—7. 

■Hdcp.i. 

t8ti)ii(;,  11.^81. 


NOllTIIWESTEllN   TKRUITOllY. 


;i9 


tli(^  Miaiiiis,  (Mii])j)(nvii.s,  Piaiikiisliaws,  K<'1  Uivcr  Iiidiaus,  Wens 
((^)uias  Oiiiatciioiis,)  and  Kaskaskias,  the  latter  luiir  iiiakiiij;'  their 
resi(h'iiee  in  jiicat  i)arl  in  Illinois. 

'I'he  conlederaev  of  Indians  at  ail  times  sticniiouslv  insisted  that 
llie  Ohio  ii\('r  shoidd  constitute  a  peipetuai  honndaiy  between 
the  red  and  white  men;  and  to  maintain  this  line  the  lorMieroi'.uan- 
i/.ed  a  war  a.i;ainst  tlie  latter,  the  aldest  and  most  stupendous 
known  to  their  annals,  in  the  (iin-Uiny  of  which  the  "government 
uas  actively  enj;aj;('d  for  six  years,  and  whicli  was  linally  accom- 
l»lished  only  by  the  prowess  of  ".Mad  Anthony"'  Wayne.  In  their 
det<'rnnnation,  e\  idem-e  is  (pnte  abundant  tliat  the  Indians  were 
ins]»ired  and  sii])porred  by  the  ad\ice  and  encourapMnent  of 
J^ritish  ajicnts  ami  ofticials,  supplemented  by  the  avarice  of  IJritish 
ti'aders.  It  was  to  their  interest  to  Innc  this  s|ilendid  country 
remain  the  abode  of  the  sava,i;t's,  with  whom  to  e.\chan,i;i'  their 
;.;('W-<;aws  for  valuable  ixdts  and  furs;  a  lucrative  trade  which  would 
cease  with  th<'  advaiu-es  of  Anu'rican  civilization.  The  r>ritish 
continued  to  hold  the  northwestern  ])osts  trom  which  tosui))»ly  the 
Indians;  and  tiie  home  caltinet  entertained  hopes  that  circum- 
stanc'cs  nM;;ht  yet  compel  the  I'.  S.  to  reco.unize  tln^  Ohio  as  its 
nor;hw«'slcrn  boundary.*  Much  of  the  dissatisfaction  of  the 
Indians  was  clearly  traced  to  the  inlluence  and  intri;;ues  tnider  tlie 
siiperintendc'.'ce  of  Col.  M(d\ee,  the  IJritish  a.ycnt  at  Detroit  and 
the  K'apids  of  the  JMaumee.t  The  Indian  discontent  was  openly 
encoiiia^A'ed,  and  their  hostility  fanned  into  a  lla;ne  t>f  war ;  the 
Mari'ior  bands  obtained  their  outlit  of  arms  and  ammunition  from 
the  Ibitish  tra<lers:  to  trade  with  the  Indians  while  at  war  with 
the  U.  S.  they  maintained  as  but  fair  and  just. 

As  the  main  operations  of  this  war  occurred  within  the  liuuts 
of  the  ]»reseid  States  of  Ohio  and  Indiana,  we  shall  not  treat  of 
them  in  detail,  notwithslandinj^'  Illinois  was  united  with  them 
under  a  common  "i'overnment.  Indian  depi'edati(»ns  upon  the  settle- 
ments ami  murders  of  the  whites  became  frecpUMit,  inspirini;  t«'rror 
on  every  hand.  In  the  fall  of  17'.M>,  (ien.  Ilarnmr  conducted  ii 
laru'c,  but  fruitless,  expedition  of  liiOO  men,  nu)stly  K«'ntucky  and 
J'ennsylvania  nnlitia,  poorly  arnu-d  and  without  discii»line,  from 
J-'oit  NVashinii'tini,  (Cincinindi)  af^ainst  the  Miand  villa,i;('s  on  the 
Maunu'e  and  head  waters  of  the  Wabash.  Caution  had  foolishly 
been  taken  so  mttify  the  Ibitish  at  Detroit,  that  the  troojts 
colIect'Ml  were  to  be  used  a,uainst  the  Indians  alone.f  The  villajics 
were  found  deserted.  They  were  destroyed,  t(»;;cther  with  LMI.UUO 
bushels  of  corn.  Two  detaclnnents  of  from  .">(HI  to  1(H)  men  «'ach, 
the  tirst  umler  Col.  Ti'otter  and  the  next  under  Col.  Hardin,  rival 
Kentnckians,  en.i;a,yed  the  Indians,  butowin;;'  to  wretched  nnuiaj;e- 
ment  and  worse  discii)line,  both  nn-t  with  defeat  and  very  heavy 
losses.ll  The  defeated  army  inar<'lied  back  to  Fort  Washin;iton, 
and  the  Imlians  were  only  eneourayed  in  their  dastardly  work  of 
nnirder  upon  the  settlements. 

In  the  si)rin<;'  of  17!M,  con;nress  authorized  l>ri<i\  Gen,  Charles 
Scott,  and  others  of  Kentucky,  to  conduct  an  inde|>eiMlent  <'Xi»e- 
dilion  ayainst  the  Wabash  Indians.     It  consisted  of  about  1,(MK) 

♦See  niii-nctfs  Letters,  p.  100. 

lAiii    State!  I'Mpers  — \\  ayii(.''s  nispiitehcu. 

iUnd 

II  Am  State  Papers,  Aslieton'a  Statciuent.  imil  Cists'  Cln.  Miscellany 


220  HISTORY   OF   ILLINOIS. 

iiiouiilcd  voliiiitt'crs,  wlio  Id't  tlic  Oliio,  Muy  I'.'Jd.  Early  on  tlio 
iiioruiiiy  ol' June  l.st  tlu-y  loiiclii'd  the  Wabash  at  thcohl  \Vc;i 
towns,  a  lew  miles  above  the  present  Terre  llaule.  Tln^  villa j;c.s 
Avere  discovert'd  by  the  ascendiii.^'  smoke  from  the  lodges.  The  army 
was  formed  in  onler  of  battle  and  moved  briskly  foiward;  the  in- 
habitants beiny  in  blisslid  ij^noranee  of  the  stealthy  ajiproaeh  of 
the  foe.  (ien  iSeott  rep(»rts  that  the  town  was  situated  on  the  low 
groimd  bordei'in.u  the  Wabash  below  the  i»Iain  across  whieli  they 
marched.  "On  turuin;;' lln^  point  of  woods,  one  house  presented 
in  my  front.  Capt.  l*ri(;e  was  ordered  to  assault  that  with  10  men. 
lie  executed  the  eonnuand  with  j;rea(  gallantry,  and  killed  two 
warriors."  This  remarkably  ''j;allant"  exploit  (lonbtless  was  the 
means  of  savin;^' many  human  lives,  otherwise  totally  surprised  ou 
this  early  June  morniny.     Gen.  Scott  continues  : 

"  When  I  ganied  the  summit  of  the  eminence  which  overlooks  the 
viliuyos  on  tlio  banks  of  tlie  Wabash,  1  discovorcd  the  enemy  in  f^reat 
eonfusiou,  emiL'avoring  to  make  tiieir  escape  over  the  river  in  canoes.  I 
instantly  ordered  Lieutenant  Colonel  commanding  Wilkinson  to  rush 
forward  with  tiie  first  l)attalion.  Tlie  order  was  executed  with  iirompti- 
tuile,  and  this  detachment  gained  the  l)ank  of  the  river  just  as  the  rear 
of  tlie  enemy  liad  eml)arketl ;  and,  regardless  of  a  Itrisk  tire  kept  up  from 
a  Kickapoo  town  on  the  opposite  bank,  they,  in  a  few  nnnutes,  by  a  well 
(hrected  lire  from  tlie  rilles,  destroyed  all  the  savages  with  which  five 
canoes  were  crowded."* 

I  low  this  attack  dillered  from  a  rej^ular  murderous  liulian  raid, 
is  lel't  to  the  diseox'ei'y  of  thereader ;  as  also,how  many  (d'  theenemy 
were  women  and  children.  "Many  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  villa ;;o 
(Ouialenon)  were  French  an<l  lived  in  a  state  of  ci\  ilization.  15y 
the  books,  letters,  and  other  documents  fouml  tiu're.  it  is  e\  ideiit 
that  the  [dace  was  in  close  connection  with  and  deix-udent  on 
Detroit.  A  large  (juantity  of  corn,  a  variety  of  household  goods, 
peltry,  an<l  other  articles,  were  biu'ued  with  this  village,  which 
consisted  of  about  70  houses,  many  of  them  well  tiiusheil."t  Col. 
John  llardiu,  "burning  to  retrieve  his  fanu',"  was  sent  with  a  <lo- 
tachuient  to  a  village  six  miles  down  the  river,  where  he  kille<l  six 
warriors  and  took  tifty-two  prisoners.  In  the  meantinu'  another 
force  uiuler  Col.  Wilkinson  had  crossed  the  swollen  ri\erat  ii 
secluded  places  two  ndles  above  and  i>roceede<l  on  the  oi»posite 
bank  to  dislodge  the  ndVactory  ivickapoos.  On  the  following  day 
Col.  W.  was  again  detached  with  a  Ibrce  of.')(iO,ou  fool,  to  destroy 
the  town  of  Kethtipenunk  (Tii>pecam)e)  which  was  done,  mxloiibt 
"gallantly."  (leu.  St.  Clair  in  a  letter  to  Washington  dated  Sei»t. 
11,  17'.>.S,  says  the  Iventuekians  were  "in  the  habii  of  retaliating, 
l)erhaps,  with(»nt  attending  pi'ecisely  to  the  nations  fr(»m  which 
the  injuries  are  received." 

In  August,  Col.  Wilkins(»n,  with  an  imlep<'ndent  counnand.  sur- 
})rised  the  natives  on  Kel  river.  "The  men."  says  Wilkiiisiui, 
"Ibrcing  their  way  over  every  obstacle,  plunged  through  the  river 
witli  vast  iidrepidity.  The  enemy  was  niialde  to  nudvc  the  smallest 
resistance.  Six  warriors,  and  (in  tin-  hurry  and  confusion  of  the 
charge)  two  scpmws  and  a  <'hiid  weni  killed,  .'M  prisoners  (sipiaws 
and  children)  wei'c  taken,  and  an  unfortunate  captive  I'cleased, 
Avith  the  loss  of  two  im-n  killed  undone  wounded."     Four  thousand 

♦Am.  Stiito  Papers,  V.  131. 
tScott's  Ueport. 


NoirnnvEsTEiJN  teuihtory.  221 


acivs  of  corn  wcro  de.sti'oycd,  and  tlio  cabin.s  biiiiicd.*  lie;  was 
voted  tlic  tlianks  of  coii<;t('.s.s. 

On  tlu'  caily  iiioriiiiij;'  of  Xovcinbcr  4,  171)1.  occniTod  tliat  most 
disiisti'oiis  dcft-at  of  (Icii.  St.  Clair,  in  western  Oiiio,  on  a  small 
Inaneli  of  tlie  Wabash;  l»y  !*  o'clock  a.  ni.  liis  Iteafen  and  c(»nliised 
army,  what  little  was  left  ol'  it,  was  in  a  com|»lete  and  precipitatii 
ront  toward  Vint  .b'Ifersoii,  distance  2!>  miles.  From  the  fnst 
onset,  the  troops  were  thi'own  into  disoriler  and  confusion  \>\  ihe. 
ninrderons  lire  of  the  savaji'es,  and  panic  reii^ned  supreme. t  Thii 
loss  was  <S1)0  out  of  a  ibi'(;e  of  1  tOO  enuajicd  in  battle.  '-Six  hundred 
.><kidls,"  writes  (Jeorji'e  .Mill  IVom  (ieneral  NVayne's  iiriny  wiiich 
camped  on  the  battlefield  three  years  later,  ''were  gathered  uj* 
and  buried  ;  when  we  went  to  lay  down  in  our  tents  at  nij;ht,  we 
bad  to  scrape  the  bones  to^cthei'  and  carry  them  out,  to  make  our 
beds."|  The  Indians  cn.ua.ucd  were  estimated  at  KtlO.  latth^ 
TiMtle,  Mechecnna(pia,  cliief  of  the  IMianiis,  was  .u  command. 
The  battle  held  was  afterwards  known  as  P'oi  t  IJecovery. 

The  jicneral  ^■overnment  made  repeated  eflbits,  both  before  .'ind 
durinji'  thewai',  to  arran.i;('  a  peace  upon  a  lair  (Mpiivalent  for  the 
lands  of  the  aborigines.  Ibit  the  red  men  tlushed  with  victories, 
and  inflnenc«'d  by  the  artful  whis])ers  of  the  IJritlsh  ennssarie.s, 
closed  theirears  to  evei'ya])i';'al  lor  peace,  and  rejected  pioposition 
after  ]»roposilion ;  nothin;^  but  the  boundary  line  of  the  ( )hio  would 
be  entertained  as  a  basis  for  i»eace.  At  the  toot  of  tin*  iMaumee 
Rapids,  Au;;ust  l.'i,  I7!>.'},  1(1  of  the  confe<lerate(l  nations  beinj;" 
rei»resent<'d  in  council,  replied  to  the  American  peace  commis- 
sioners: 

"Brothers:  We  shalf  he  persuaded  that  you  mean  to  do  us  justice,  if 
you  a>j;ree  that  tiie  Ohio  shall  remain  the  boundary  line  between  us.  *  * 
^loney  to  us  is  of  no  value  ;  and  to  most  of  us  unknown  ;  and,  as  no  con- 
sideration whatever  can  induce  us  to  sell  tlie  lands  on  which  we  jjjet 
sustenance  for  our  women  and  children,  we  lioe  we  may  l)e  allowed  to 
point  out  u  motie  l)y  wliicli  your  settlers  nia^  be  easily  removed,  and 
peace  therel)y  ol)tained. 

'VHrotliers:  We  know  that  these  settlers  are  poor,  or  they  would  never 
have  venture«l  to  live  in  a  country  which  lias  been  in  continual  tr()id)le 
ever  since  they  crossed  tlie  Ohio.  Divide,  therefore,  this  large  sum  of 
money,  which  you  liuve  ottered  to  us,  amoiifi;  tliese  people.  Oive  to  each, 
also,  a  proportion  of  what  you  say  you  would  give  to  us,  anniuilly,  over 
and  al)Ove  this  very  large  sum  of  money  ;  and  as  we  are  persuailed,  they 
■would  most  readily  accept  of  it  in  lieu  of  tlie  land  you  sold  them.  If  you 
add,  also,  tlie  great  sums  you  must  expend  in  raising  and  paying  armies, 
with  a  view  to  force  us  to'yield  you  our  country,  you  will  certainly  have 
more  than  sullicient  for  the  purpose  of  rei)ayingtliese  settlers  for  all  their 
lalior  and  their  imi)rovements.  *  *  We  want  peace,  liestore  to  us  our 
country,  and  we  shall  be  enemies  no  longer." 

It  i.s  a  cnricnis  I'act,  illnstratinji'  our  dealings  Avitli  tlie  Indiiins, 
that  a  treaty  of  peace  and  fiiendshii)  was  entered  into  at  \'in- 
ceniies,  yeplend)er  27,  17it2,  by  JJrij;-.  (Jen.  Kidns  I'ntnani,  accom- 
panied by  fJohn  lieckvelder  and  ol  Indians  of  the  Wabash  and 
Illinois  tribes,  the  Ith  article  of  which  contai)ied  tlie  following 
lan<iua<;e: 

"Art.  4.  The  TT^nited  States  solemidy  jiuaranty  t(»  tlie  AVabash 
and  Illinois  nations  or  tribes  of  Indians,  all  the  lands  to  which 
they  have  a  just  claim;  and  no  part  shall  ever  b«!  taken  from  them 

♦Wilkinson's  Ui-port. 

+A111.  Stiitt!  J'lipia'S, 

$Am.  Pioneer— Wuync'8  Statement. 


,L 


222  HISTOKY  OF  TIJJNOIS. 

l»iit  1>.v  ii  liiir  |tiii<'Ii:is(',  iiiid  t<»  llicir  siitisfiiction.  Tlmt  tlic  hmdH 
(»ii_i;iiiiillv  lM'l(>ii;;cti  to  tlir  IikIImiis;  it  is  tliciis,  ;iii«l  llicirs  only. 
Tliiil  tlicy  liiivc  i)  liji'Iit  to  sell,  aiid  ii  rijiiit  to  rcl'iisc  to  sell.  And 
tlint  tlic  I'nitcd  Stiitcs  will  jn'otccl  tlicni  in  tiicir  siiid  ri^^iits." 

NN'iicn  tlic  trciity.  wiiicli  coiitiiint'd  7  articles,  was  laid  hclorc  tlui 
Tnilcd  States  Senate,  the  llli  article  was  oltjcctionahlc,  and  al'lci' 
niiicli  (It  liiieiation,  it  was,  .Ian.  !>,  17!>4,  rejected  by  a,  vote,  oflil  to 
4,_Senate  -lour.  1.  IL'.S  to  14(>. 

Tlie  Illinois  settlements  were  i'oi'tnnately  beyond  tlie  main 
tlieatre  of  this  sa\  aji'c  war;  still,  owiii;:'  to  the  j^cneral  hostility 
of  nearly  all  tlie  ti'il>es,their  deprcihit  ions  were  each  yt'ar  extended 
to  (hem.  :ind  a  comparatively  , urea t  nnnd>er  of  harbavons  mnrders 
AVO'c  committed  l)y  the  KicUapoos.  These  we  will  ^ive  condeiisi'd 
from  the  "Annals  of  the  West,"  jiajivs  7(10  to  10'): 

Til  17K.S,  t\  siniilc  niunler,  that  of  Janios  Flannory,  was  first  comniittcd 
while  on  a  Juuitinj,?  excursion,  liiit  it  was  not  accounted  an  act  of  war. 
Jn  17S()  iIk-  Indians  attacked  the  Amerfcan  settlements,  killed  .lanios 
Andrews,  his  wife  and  daujjhtcr,  James  White  and  Samuel  ^Icl'lure, 
and  two  K'rls,  daujj;hters  of  Andrews  were  taken  prisoners.  One  of  these 
(lied  wnii  the  Indians,  and  the  other  was  ransomed  by  French  traders. 
She  is  now  (IS-KI)  alive,  the  mother  of  a  larj^e  fanuly,  and  resides  in  St. 
Clair  county.  Tlie  Indians  nad  previously  threatened  the  settlement, 
and  the  people  had  built  and  entered  a  blockhouse  ;  but  this  family  was 
(jut  and  defenceless. 

17S7.  i']arly  in  this  year,  five  familii's  near  IJellcfountaine,  united  and 
built  a  blockhouse,  surrounded  it  with  palisades,  in  wbicb  these  i'ainilies 
resided.  While  laboring  in  the  corn  field  they  were  obligod  to  carry 
their  rilles,  and  often  at  night  had  to  licep  guard.  Under  these  embar- 
rassments, and  in  daily  alarm,  they  cultivated  their  corn-fields. 

17SS.  This  yeartbe  war assunu'd a  more  threatening aspec^t.  l<]arly  in 
the  spring,  AVilliam  J5iggs  was  taken  prisoner.  While  himself,  .John 
Vallis,  and  .b)sepli  and  Benjamin  Ogle,  were  passing  from  the  station  on 
the  hills  to  the  blockhouse  fort  in  the  liottom,  (hey  were  attacked  by  the 
Indians.  Higgs  and  Vallis  were  a  few  rods  in  advance  of  the  party. 
Vallis  was  killed  and  Higgs  taken  jirisoner.  The  others  escaped  unhurt. 
P)iggs  was  taken  through  the  prairies  to  the  Kickapoo  towns  on  the 
Wabjish,  from  whence  lie  was  linally  liberated  by  means  of  the  Freiicli 
traders.  The  Indians  treated  him  well,  ofiered  him  the  daughter  of  a 
brave  for  a  wife,  and  proposed  to  adopt  him  into  their  tribe.  He  after- 
wards became  a  resident  of  St.  Clair  county,  was  a  member  of  the  terri- 
torial legislature,  judge  of  the  county  court,  and  wrote  and  published  u 
narrative  of  bis  captivity  among  the  Indians. 

On  the  Itlth  day  of  December,  in  the  same  year,  James  Garrison  and 
lieiijainin  Ogle,  while  hauling  hay  from  the  liottom,  were  attacked  by 
twoJudians;  Ogle  was  shot  in  the  shoulder,  where  the  liall  remained"; 
Garrison  sjirang  from  the  load  and  escaped  into  the  woods.  The  liorses 
taking  fright,  carried  Ogle  safe  to  the  settlement.  Jn  stacking  the  same 
hay,  Samuel  Garrison  and  Mr.  Kiddick  were  killed  and  scalped. 

17S1).  This  was  a  jieriod  of  considerable  ndschief.  Three  boys  were 
attacked  liy  six  Indians,  a  few  yards  from  the  blockhouse,  one  of  which, 
David  Waddel,  was  struck  with  a  tomahawk  in  three  places,  scalped, 
and  yet  recovered  ;  the  others  escaped  unhurt.  A  short  time  previous, 
James  Turner,  a  young  man,  was  killed  on  tlie  American  hottom.  Two 
men  were  afterwards  killed  and  scaljied  while  on  their  way  to  St.  IaiuIs. 
In  another  instant,  two  men  were  attacked  on  a  load  of  hay,  one  was 
killed  outright,  the  other  was  scalped,  but  recovered.  The  .same  year 
John  l<'errel  was  killed,  and  John  Demphsey  was  scalped  and  nuule  his 
escafie.  The  Indians  frequently  stole  llie  horses  and  cattle  of  the 
settlers. 

17!t(».  The  embarrassments  of  these  frontier  people  greatly  increased, 
and  they  lived  in  continual  alarm.  In  the  winter,  a  party  of  Osage  In- 
dians, wilt)  had  not  molesteil  hitherto,  came  across  the  Mkssissippi,  stole  a 
number  of  horses  and  utterniited  f'>  recross  the  river.     Tlie  AiiierioauH 


NORXnWESTEUN  TERRITORY.  223 

followed  and  ttred  upon  tliem.  Jamca  Worley,  an  old  sottlcr,  havin}; 
got  in  advance  of  his  party,  wius  sliot,  ac'aI[H'd,  anil  his  head  cut  oil"  and 
left  on  the  sand-har. 

The  same  year,  James  Hmith.a  Raptistpreaeher  from  Kentucky,  wliile 
on  a  visit  to  tliese  frontiers,  was  taken  ])risoner  by  tlu>  Kickapoos.  On 
the  lOth  of  May.  in  company  with  Mrs.  Huff  and  a  Frenchman,  lie  was 
l)roceedinir  from  the  l)!ockhotiHe  to  as(>ttlement  then  known  hy  the  name 
of  liiltle  Villaire.  The  Kickapoos  fired  upon  them  from  an  aminiscade 
near  Mclleroiintaine,  killed  the  Frenchman's  horse,  sprang  upon  the 
woman  and  hcrchild,  whon»  they  despatched  with  a  tomahawk,  and  took 
Smith  i)risoner.  His  horse  lieiiif'sjiot,  he  attempted  to  lice  on  foot ;  and 
havinji;  some  valuahle  pajx'rs  in  his  saddle  l)afi;s,  he  threw  them  into  a 
thicket,  where  they  were  found  next  day  t>y  his  friend.  Haviiif; retreated 
a  few  yards  down'  the  hill,  he  fell  oii'his  knees  in  jjfayer  for  the  poor 
woman  they  w<'re  hutcheriiif;,  and  who  had  been  seriously  impressed, 
for  some  days,  about  relitiion.  The  Frenchman  escapi'd  on  foot  in  tlie 
thickets.  The  Indians  soon  had  possession  of  Smith,  loaded  him  with 
packs  of  plunder  which  they  had  collected,  and  took  up  their  line  of 
march  thr(iui,di  the  i)rairies.  '  Smith  was  a  larjic,  heavy  man,  and  soon 
became  tired  under  his  heavy  load,  and  with  the  hot  sun.  Several  con- 
sultations were  held  by  the  Indians,  how  to  disi)ose  of  their  prisoner. 
Some  were  for  desijatchinfj;  him  outright,  bein<^  fearfid  tlu'  wliites  would 
follow  them  from  the  settlement,  and  freipicntly  pointinj;  their  fj;uns  at 
his  breast.  Knowing  well  the  Indian  character,  he  would  bare  Ins 
breast  as  if  in  detianc(>,  and  point  ui)wards  to  signify  the  (ireat  Spirit 
was  his  protector.  Seeing  him  in  the  attitude  of  prayer,  and  hearing 
liim  singing  hymns  on  his  march,  which  he  did  tf)  relieve  his  own  niiini 
of  di'spoiidency,  they  came  to  the  conclusion  that  he  was  a  "great  medi- 
cine," holding  daily  intercourse  with  the  (iood  Spirit,  and  must  not  be 
]iut  to  death.  After  this,  they  took  oif  his  burdens  and  treated  him 
kindly.  'J'lu'y  took  him  to  the  KickajKX)  towns  on  the  Wabash,  whi're, 
in  a  few  months,  he  obtained  his  deliverance,  the  inhabitants  of  New 
Design  jiaying  ?17(»  for  bis  ran.«oni. 

17iH.  In  the  spring  of  this  year,  the  Indians  again  commenced  their 
depredations  l»y  stealing  horses.  In  May,  John  Dempsey  was  attacked, 
but  made  his  escape.  A  party  of  eight  men  followed".  The  Indians 
were  just  double  their  number.  '  A  severe  running  light  was  kept  uj>  for 
several  hours,  and  conducted  with  great  ])rudence  and  bravery  on  the 
part  of  the  whites.  F]ach  party  kept  the  trees  for  shelter,  the  Indians 
retreating, and  the  Americans  pursuing,  from  tree  to  tree  until  night  put 
an  end  to  the  conflict.  Five  Indians  were  killed  without  the  loss  of  a 
man  or  a  dro})  of  blood  on  the  other  side.  This  party  consisted  of  Cajit. 
Hull,  who  commanded,  Joseith  Ogle,  sen.,  IJeiijamin  Ogle,  James  N, 
Semen,  sen.,  J.  llyaii,  Wm.  IJryson,  John  Porter,  and  I).  Draper. 

17i)l'.  This  was  a  i)eri()d  of  comparative  ((uietness.  No  Indian  fight- 
ing ;  and  the  only  depredations  committed,  were  in  stealing  a  few 
horses. 

17!).'i.  This  was  a  period  of  contention  and  alarm.  The  little  settle- 
ments were  strengthened  this  year  by  the  addition  of  a  band  of  emigrants 
from  Kentucky  ;  among  which  was  the  family  of  Whiteside.  In  Feb- 
ruary, an  Indian  in  ambuscade  wounded  Joel  Whiteside,  and  was 
followed  by  John  Moore,  Andrew  Kiniu-y,  Thos.  'i'odd,  and  others, 
killed  and  scalped.  Soon  after,  a  party  of  Kickapoos,  suj>[)osed  to  have 
been  headed  by  the  celebrati'd  war  chief.  Old  Pecan,  made  a  i)redatary 
excursion  into  the  American  bottom,  near  the  present  residence  of  S.  W. 
Miles,  in  Monroe  county,  and  stole  !»  hor.ses  from  the  citizens.  A  nunil)er 
of  citizens  rallied  and  commenced  pursuit ;  but  many  having  started 
without  prejiaration  for  long  absence,  ami  being  iipprehensive  that  an 
exi)edition  into  the  Indian  country  would  be  attended  with  much 
danger,  all  returned  but  8  men.  This  little  band  consisted  of  Samuel 
Judy,  John  Whiteside,  Wm.  L.  Whiteside,  Uel  Whiteside,  William 
Harrington,  John  Dempsey  and  John  Porter,  with  Wni.  Whiteside,  a 
man  of  great  prudence  and  uniiuestionable  bravery  iii  Iniliau  warfare, 
whom  they  chose  commander. 

They  passed  on  the  trail  near  the  present  site  of  Belleville,  towards  (he 
Indian  camps  ou  Shoal  Creek,  where  they  found  3  of  the  stolen  horses, 


224  HISTORY  OP  ILTJNOIS. 

■which  tlioy  seciiri'd,  The  narty  tlioii,  small  as  it  was,  divided  into  two 
part.s  of  four  men  eacli,  ami  approaclied  tlie  liidinn  camps  from  opposite 
sides.  Tlie  siirmd  for  attaclv  was  the  dischar^re  of  tlie  captain's  fiuii. 
One  Indian,  a  son  of  Old  Pecan,  was  killed,  anollier  mortally,  and  otiiers 
slijrlitly  wounded,  as  llie  Indians  tied,  leaving  tln'ir  jjuns.  Such  a  disjilay 
of  courage  l)y  tiie  wliites,  and  ln'ing  attaclicd  on  two  sides  at  once,  inado 
them  iielieve  there  was  a  lar^jje  force,  and  the  old  chief  ai)proached  and 
bejrired  for(|Uarter.  Hut  when  hediscovored  his  foes  to  lie  an  insif^nificant 
iinmlier,  and  liisown  i)arty  numerous,  hecalledaloud  to  his  liraves  to  ret  urn 
and  retrieve  their  lionor.  His  own  t^nn  liesurrendered  to  tlie  whites,  hut 
now  lie  seized  tlie  ^un  of  the  cajitain,  and  exerted  all  Ids  force  to  wrest 
it  from  him.  Captain  Wliiteside  was  a  ;iowerful  man,  and  a  stranger  to 
fear,  luit  he  compelled  the  Indian  to  retl  e,  deeminji  it  dishonoral)Ie  to 
dt'stroy  an  unarmed  man,  who  had  previously  surrendered.  This  in- 
trejiid  hand  was  now  in  tlie  heart  of  the  Iiulian  country,  where  hundreds 
of  warriors  could  he  raised  in  a  few  hour's  time.  In  this  critical  situa- 
tion, ("apt.  Whiteside,  not  less  distint;;uished  for  prudence  tlian  hravery, 
did  not  loiif?  hesitate.  Witli  the  horses  they  had  recovered,  they  imme- 
diately started  for  home  without  the  loss  of  time  in  liuntinf;  the 
remainder.  They  traveled  iii^dit  and  day,  without  eating  or  sleeping?, 
till  they  reached  in  safety  Whiteside's  station,  in  Monroe  county.  ()u 
the  same  night,  Old  I'ecan,  with  7(1  warriors,  arrived  in  the  vicinity 
of  t'aliokia.  From  that  time  the  very  name  of  Whiteside  struck  terror 
among  the  Kickapoos.  Hazardous  aud  daring  as  tliis  expedition  was,  it 
met  with  great  disai>prohation  from  many  of  the  settlers.  Some  alleged 
that  Old  Pecan  was  decidedly  friendly  to'tlie  whites;  that  another  party 
had  stolen  the  horses;  that  the  attack  upon  his  camp  was  clamlestine 
and  wanton  ;  and  that  it  was  the  cause  of  much  subseciuent  mischief. 
Tliese  nice  points  of  casuistry  are  dillicult  to  he  settled  at  this  jieriod.  It 
Jias  long  been  Iviiown,  that  one  portion  of  a  nation  or  tribe  will  be  on 
the  war  iiath,  while  another  party  will  pretend  to  lie  peaceable.  Hence 
it  has  been  found  necessary  to  hold  the  tribe  responsible  for  the  conduct 
of  its  party. 

1T!»4.  The  Indians,  in  revenge  of  the  attack  just  narrated,  shot  Thos. 
Whiteside,  a  young  man,  near  the  'station  ;'  tomahawked  a  son  of  Wm. 
Whiteside,  so  that  he  dietl,  all  in  revenge  for  the  death  of  Old  I'ecan's 
son.  In  February  of  the  same  year,  the  Indians  killed  Mr.  Hull',  one 
of  the  early  settlers,  while  on  liis  way  to  Kaskaskia. 

17!»5.  Two  men  at  one  time,  and  some  French  negroes  at  another 
time  were  killed  on  the  American  bottom,  and  some  prisoners  taken. 
The  same  year  the  family  of  Mr.  McMahon  was  killed  and  himself  and 
daughters  taken  prisoners.  This  man  lived  in  the  outskirts  of  the  settle- 
ment. Four  Indians  attacked  his  house  in  day-light,  killed  his  wife 
and  four  children  before  his  eyes,  laiil  their  bodies  in  a  row  on  the  floor 
of  the  cabin,  took  him  and  his  daughters,  and  marched  for  their  towns. 
On  the  second  night,  ^Ir.  jVIc^Malion,  tindiiig  the  Indians  asleep,  put  on 
their  moccasins  and  made  his  escai»e.  He  arrived  in  the  settlement  just 
after  his  neighbors  had  buried  his  family.  They  hail  inclosed  tiieir 
bodies  in  rude  cotlins,  and  covered  them  with  earth  as  he  came  in  sight. 
He  looked  at  the  newly  formeil  hillock,  and  raising  his  eyes  to  Heaven 
in  i>ious  resignation,  said,  "tiiey  were  lovely  and  pleasant  in  their  lives, 
and  in  their  death  are  not  divided." 

His  daughter,  now  Mrs.  Catskill,  of  Ridge  Prairie,  was  afterwards 
ransomed  by  the  charitable  contributions  of  the  people.  Not  far  fnmi 
this  period,  the  Whitesides  and  others  to  the  numljerof  14  persons,  made 
an  attack  upon  an  encampment  of  Indians  of  superior  force,  at  the  foot 
of  tlie  bluff's  west  of  Belleville.  Only  one  Indian  ever  returned  to  his 
nation  to  tell  the  story  of  their  defeat.  The  graves  of  the  rest  were  to  be 
seen,  a  few  years  since,  in  the  border  of  the  thicket,  near  the  battle 
ground.  In  this  skirmish  Capt.  Wm.  Whiteside  was  wounded,  as 
thought,  mortally,  liaving  received  a  shot  in  the  side.  As  he  fell,  he 
exhorted  his  sons  to  tight  valiantly,  not  yield  an  inch  of  ground,  nor 
let  the  Indians  touch  his  body.  Uel  Whiteside,  who  was  shot  in  the 
arm,  and  disabled  from  using  tlie  rifle,  examined  the  wound,  and  found 
the  ball  had  glanced  along  the  ribs  and  lodged  against  tlie  spine.  With 
that  presence  of  mind  whicli  is  sometimes  characteristic  of  our  backwoods 


NORTH WKSTKUN  THIIUITOUY. 


225 


hunters,  lie  whipped  out  his  knife,  gashed  the  sltin,  extracted  the  Itall, 
and  lioldJM^;  it  up,  exiiltin^ly  ex<rliiiined,  "Father,  you  are  not  dead!" 
Tlie  olil  man  instantly  jumped  uji  on  Ins  feet,  and  renewed  tlie  (i},dil,  ex- 
elaiminj,',  "Come  on,  iMiys,  I  can  li^lit  (liem  yet!"  Sucli  instanees  of 
tlesperatt'  inti'epiility  and  martial  ener;;y  of  cliaraeter,  distin^!;uislied  tlie 
yien  wiio  defended  the  fion tiers  of  Illinois  in  tliosedaysof  peril. 

AI'tiT  the,  (lel'eiit  of  S|.  Chiir,  (he  ('onduet  of  the  Wiir  in  (ho 
northwest  was  |»hiee(l  in  the  inin<ls  of  (Icn.  Antiion.v  Wnyne.  Ills 
c'ain])iiif;ii  durinj;'  tlio  sumnnu-  of  17'.>4,  which  cidniiniited  in  tho 
victory  of  (lie  L'Otli  of  Aii;;iiston  (Im'  Miuimee,  proved  a  complete 
suc(;('ss.  The  confederated  (i'il»es,  defeated  and  disin'artened,  now 
retired  to  wait  the  loiij;'  i)romi,se(l  snpjxirt  of  the  Eii;;lish.  iirunt, 
ftf  tin'  Iroipiois,  said  :  "A  foit  had  been  i»iiilt  in  their  country  (by 
tlie  lOn^iisliJ  under  pretense,  (d'  ^'ivini;-  rtd'ii^c  in  case  of  necessity, 
but  when  tliat  tinn^  came,  the  };iites  were  siiut  af;ain,st  tlieni  a.s 
enemies."'*  For  sev«'ral  years  didicnlties  had  existed  between 
(Ireat  Uritain  and  the  United  States,  wliicli  llritisii  Indian  a.ucnt.s 
and  tra(h'i's  Inid  se(hn)usiy  taught  to  red  luen  must  speedily  e\en- 
tuate  in  war,  when  they  would  becouM!  their  open  and  powerful 
ally.  But  on  the  l!>th  of  November,  17!)4,  after  piotracted  neiio- 
tiations,  -lay,  at  Lomlon,  c,(nududed  a,  ti'ealy  of  amity,  connnerce, 
and  navigation  between  (he  United  States  and  Cireat  lU'itain,  in 
Avhieh  the  Kinj;' i»led<;'ed  a  firm  peace  and  ajiiced  to  witlnlraw,  by 
the  1st  of  dune,  IT'.Mt,  all  his  troops  and  j^arrisons  from  the  posts 
within  the  Ixaindary  lines  of  the  United  States,  as  (ixed  l»y  the 
treaty  of  1783.  This  took  away  from  tin-  Indians  the  last  iiojie  of 
British  aid,  so  lonj;'  promised  them,  ami  tlie  vast  confederation  of 
sava<;e  tribes,  bending'  to  their  inevitable  fate,  hastened  to  the 
head(puirters  ot  (ien.  \Vayne  dui'inji'  the  w  iider,  and  signed  ])relim- 
imiry  .iitides  of  peace,  which  resulted  in  the  treaty  of  (ireen\  ille, 
and  wliieii,  ;>fter  a  i»rotracted  council  with  all  the  sachems,  chiefs, 
and  principal  men  of  tiie  confederacy,  lastinji'  tVom  .luiie  to  Anynst 
3d,  iil)."),  wa.s  timilly  sij^ned.  A  vast  body  of  lan<l  in  0]n(»  and 
Indiana,  lar j:e  enou<;h  fin-  a  jnood  sized  State,  was  eeded  by  (ho 
eonfederate  tribes,  besides  1(>  tracts  (5  miles  s(|uare  at  various 
pi;i!'ts  in  tln^  northwest,  annnij^'  which  we  note. as  beinj;-  in  Illinois, 
"on*'  ])iece  of  laml,  (>  miles  s(pmre,  at  the  mouth  of  (,"lii('a;.i'o  liver, 
emptying  into  the  south-west  end  of  Lake  .Michigan,  where  a  fort 
tbrnu'rly  stood ;"  one  i)iece  12  miles  s(|uai'e,  at  or  near  the  mouth 


of  the  Illinois  river,  ami  "one  ]>iece  (!  miles  scpiare,  at  the  (dd 
I'eoi-ias  fort  ami  village,  nt-ar  the  south  end  of  the  Illinois  lake,  on 
said  IIIiin)is  river."  The  Indians  also  allowed  free  passaj^c  throu<ih 
their  country,  in  Illinois  from  the  mouth  of  the  Chicajio  river  and 
over  the  jiorta^e  to  the  Illinois  and  down  to  the  31ississipi)i,  and 
down  the  Wabash.  Under  the  treaty,  of  what  may  be  considercul 
Illinois  tribes,  the  Pottawattomies  were  to  receive  an  annnal 
stii»end  of  $1000  in  yoods  (beinj^'  as  much  as  any  tribes  received,) 
and  the  Kickapoos,  Piankeshaws,  and  Kaskaskias,  $500  each.t 

And  now,  as  the  news  of  this  important  treaty  spead  abroad, 
the  retarded  tide  of  emisration  bej^an  to  How  with  a  steadily  aui;- 
mentinj;'  stream  into  these  territories  ;  ap])rehension  of  danjier 
from  the  Indians  was  banished,  and  friendly  intenionrse  snccceded 
former  enmity ;  forts,  stations,  and  stockades  were  abandoiuMl  to 
decay;  the  hardy  pioneer  pnshed  ever  forward  and  extended  the 

*Am.  state  Papers.  V. 
tScott's  Brunt,  Il.aOO. 

15 


IIISTOIIY  OF   IIXINOIS. 


IVuiiticr;  iiiid  iiicn  ol'  ciipital  aiid  ciilei-prisc,  scciiiiiiy-  titlos  to  ex- 
tensive! Itinlics  of  Icitile  liiii»i>.  ()f;i;iiii/e<l  enloiiics  I'ur  tlieii' <tc(  iipii- 
tiuii.;iii(l  tliiis  the.  wilderness  under  the  tread  of  eivili/iition  was 
made  to  hlnssoni  as  the  rose. 

I>,v  an  act  of  coii;;ress,  171*1,  100  acres  of  land  were  ;iraidod  to 
all  heads  of  families  wiio  made  impi'oxcmeuls  in  Illinois  prior  to 
]7SS,  except  \illa;;('  ini|»rovcments.  These  i'i<iliis  \\«'re  c(»mmonly 
desi-iiiated  as  "head-ri;,dils."  A  list  of  names  of  heads  of  lamilies, 
whoseltied  in  Illinois  previous  In  Ihe  vear  1  7SS,  enlillinj;  them  to 
these  donations,  wiiicli  iiiclii<led  also  nonresidents  wiio  should 
return  in  five  year's  time  to  occupy  their  claims,  shows  ii  total 
iiumlter  of  L'H  claimants.  SO  of  whom  were  .Vnu'ricans.  i'.y  allow- 
in;;  ihe  usind  nundter  of  o  soids  to  the  I'iunily.  we  iia\e  a  poimki- 
lion  in  that  year  of  IL'IIO.  This  excluded  negroes.  Itefore  1701, 
undt  r  the  militia  law  of  the  ;;(»vcrnor  and  Jinl;;t's,  tli»'  muster  mil 
;ii\('s  about  .100  nu'U  capable  (tf  hearin;^'  arms,  of  which  uundier 
(io  only  wci'c  Americans.* 

In  1707  a  colony  of  iL'ti  persons — the  larjicst  which  had  yet 
arrived — were  most  fatally  stricken  with  disease.  They  were  from 
Yir;;inia,  had  descended  the  Ohio  in  the  sprin;;',  and  landed  at  l'"t. 
JMassac,  fiom  which  they  made  their  way  across  the  land  to  the 
Kew  Desi^iii.  This  place,  in  tin;  present  county  of  .Monroe,  was 
established  in  17SL'.  It  was  located  on  an  elevated  and  beauliful 
](laleau  of  .uround,  barren  of  timber,  which  cominaiiiled  a  view  of 
l»olli  the  KasUaskia  and  .Mississippi  rixcr.s.  The  sea.son  was  ex- 
cecdiuLily  wet,  liie  weather  extremely  warm,  and  the  roads  heavy 
and  mmhiy.  The  colonists  toiled  throu;.;li  the  woods  and  swamps 
of  Southern  Illinois  foi' l!(i  days,  distance  about  i;C»  nules.  'i'hey 
■were  worn  down,  sick,  and  almost  fanushed.  ^Vrriv«'d  at  their 
destination,  they  found  anion;;"  the  old  settlers  Ion;;  harrassed  by 
Jndian  warfare,  from  wliicli  they  bail  not  recovered,  but  poor  ac- 
commodations. There  was  no  l;*ck  ol'  hospitality  in  fcelin;^.  iiut 
that  did  not  enlar;;e  the  cabins,  wbich  usinilly  contained  but  one 
room,  into  many  of  which  .'i  and  4  fannlics  wei'c  now  crowded  with 
their  sick  and  all.  Food  was  insullicient.  salt  was  very  scarce, 
ami  nu'dical  aid  was  almost  out  of  the  ((uestion.  A  putrid  ami 
maliunant  fever  broke  out  amoiij;'  the  ncwt^omer.s,  attended  by  such 
iatalily  as  to  sweei>  half  of  them  into  the  ;;irave  by  the  approach 
of  winter.  No  such  fatal  disease  c\-er  appeared  before  or  since  in 
the  couidry.t  The  old  inhabitaids  wi're  n(»t  att'ectcd.  The  intelli- 
gence of  tins  unwonted  mortality  produced  abroad  the  wron;;fid 
impression  that  Illinois  was  a  sickly  conidry,  which  tende(l  no 
little  to  retard  imnn.<;ration.  It  is  now  well  eslal)lished  that  lllinoi.s 
is  far  healthier  than  many  of  her  western  sisters. 

Anion;;' the  lirst  Amei'icans  who  formed  .settlements  remote  from 
the  French,  a  ;;reat  want  was  nnlls.  The  latter  had  had  their 
wind  mills  and  water  nulls  since  a  very  early  date;  but  with  their 
]H';;ira  the  wiml  nulls  fell  into  decay,  ami  for  the  others  the  water 
frcipiently  failed,  and  the  Americans  wow  comi»elled  to  have 
recourse  to  other  means.  The  simplest  modes  of  trituration  was 
by  means  of  the  pater  and  the  mortar.  The  lirst  consisted  in  the 
brisk  ridtbin;;-  of  an  ear  of  corn  over  a  piece  of  tin  closely  jtierced 
with  orifices.     The  mortar  was  extemporized  by  excavatin;;'  with 


'IJcynolrVs  I'ionoer  Hist. 
tWt'Steni  Annuls. 


NOlfTinVKKTFJlN  TKKUITOBY. 


227 


liic  llir  1)1111  ol'ii  <;(»(k1  sized  .short  lo;;,  (([i-cikUmI,  sulliciciiLly  ih'vp 
to  lidld  ii  peck  oi'  more  of  corn.  Over  tin's  was  elected  a  sweei) 
1(1  lilt,  i>y  coiiiiler  tiiielioii,  a  piston  with  a  linn,  blunt  encl, 
wliieh  seived  to  |)onn<l  the  corn  inloineal.  To  these  primitive  and 
laiiorions  jn'ocesses,  succeeded,  in  the  order  of  their  simplicity  iind 
in  due  lime,  hand  nulls,  hand  mills,  hor>e  mills,  and  last  waler 
mills.t 

I'rom  ITSS  to  17!i.">,  (lov.  Si.  Clair  and  the  .Indies  of  the  north- 
western tiM-rilory,  in  their  lejiislativtf  cajtaclty,  adopted  (It  stat- 
\iles,  .'is  at  Cinciiumti  ill  the  last  named  year.  In  Ajnil,  I7!>S,  11 
more  were  adi>pted.*  I<\»iii-lit'llis  (»!"  these  laws  were  im|M»rted 
from  I'eiuislvania,  and  a  few  from  Massnehusetts  and  N'iijiinia, 
This  Liiive  to  the  c(Minti'y  a  complete  system  of  statute  law,  which 
Wiis  i)ei-liaps  hut  little  inferior  to  that  of  any  of  the  States  ;it  that 
eiirly  period.  Aiinm;;  them  was  the  cominon  law  of  IOnj;laiid  and 
stiitiites  of  I'arliaiiient  in  iiid  thei'cof.of  a  ,i;"eneral  nature  iind  not  local 
tothat  Kin;;dom,down  to  thetth  yciirof  the  I'ci^^nof -liimes  I;  which 
isthe  law  in  Illinois  to  this  day,  e\c<'pt  as  varied  hy  statute.  I''r(mi 
it  we  derive  all  those  fundamental  principles  of  the  Hritish  Coiistl- 
tntion  which  secure  t<»  the  citizen  personal  liherty  and  protection 
to  life  and  in-ojierty — the  habeas  corpus,  ti'ial  by  Jiii'y,  »S;c.  This 
Mas  imported  from  Virginia;  but  the  I>ill  of  ri;;hts  is  also  in  the 
oi'diiiance  of  17.S7.  In  175).")  the  (lovernor  also  divided  St.  Clair 
county  in  Illinois  by  rnnnin;!  a  Iin(>  thi'ounii  theXew  DesiM-ii  settle- 
ment in  the  present  Moiu'oe  county,  due  east  to  the  Waitash — all 
that  country  lyin^' south  of  it  beiiijL;' established  into  the  county  of 
Jiandolph,  named  in  honor  of  Mdniund  Jtaiidol])h,  of  \'ir^iniii. 

Iiefore  the  close  of  the  year  I7!MI,  the  while  popiilalion  of  Ohio 
alone  was  ascertained  to  exceed  ."i.OOU.  IJy  the  (U'dinance  of  17S7, 
the  country  was  entitled  to  the  I'd  ;4riide  of  territorial  .lioNcrnnient 
so  soon  as  it  should  contain  ."»,(>(>(>  white  inhiibitants.  There  being 
lU)  lon,i;('r  any  <h)ubt  rejLiardinji' this,  (;()\-.  St.  Clair,  October  !'!>, 
171IS,  issued  his  pjoclamation  directiiii;'  the  (jiialilied  voters  to 
hold  elections  for  territorial  re])resentatives  on  tlie  'M  .Monday  of 
December.  17l)S.  From  Illinois,  Shadiach  IJond,  subsequently  the 
lirst  governor  of  this  State,  was  elected.  The  rei)reseiitativcs 
elect  were  conv<'ned  -lanuary  L'L'd,  17!Mt,  at  Cincinnati.  In  accord- 
ance with  the  |)rovision  of  the  ordinance  of  17S7,  they  nominated  10 
nu'U  to  the  President  of  the  V.  S.  (Adams)  to  select  ."»  from,  who 
were  to  constitute  the  legislative  council.  These  wei'e  contirmed 
by  the  Senate  of  the  U.  S.,  3larch  21',  171)Jt.  The  assembly,  after 
making  the  nominations  for  the  council,  immediately  adjourned  to 
September  Utth  following,  at  which  time  both  houses  met,  though 
they  did  not  perfect  their  organization  till  the  LMth.  This  was  the 
first  time  that  the  people  of  this  country,  through  their  i-epiesenta- 
tivfs,  enacted  their  own  laws  for  their  own  local  government.  The 
Legislature  confirmed  many  ol" the  laws  enacted  by  the  governor 
and  Judges,  and  ])asse(l  4S  new  ones,  the  governor  vetoing  11. 
They  were  prorogued  December  19,  17i>!).t 


+  IiPvnolirs  IMonoer  History. 

♦Dillotr?  tiKi,  I.    ("hiiso's  Statute  1T90,  1795. 

tSee  Dliiona's  Ind,,  Vol.  11. 


L'L'8  IIISTOUV   Ol'   ILJ<IN(»IS. 


NOTAIJLK  WOMKN  OK  TIIK  OF.DKN  TIMK. 

Mi:s.  LrCompt. — Aiiuiii;^  tlic  hidics  cil'  Illinois  at  the  rlosc  of  tlio 
liist  jiihI  tilt'  iM'^iiiiiiii;;  of  tlic  itrrsciii  «'»iitiirv,  picsinlin;;  micIi 
iiiiii'kcd  clini'iiclciistirs  iis  to  lt':i\t>  tlicii'  iinpi'css  ii|miii  tlic  pciiod 
of  tlifir  t'xislciicc,  \vc  caiiiiol  in  jnslict'  loiiicar  to  nicniion  a  few. 
Tin-  tir.st  which  we  notice  was  the  well  known  Airs.  LcCoinpt. 
Slic  was  hoin  in  IT.'il,  of  P'rcncli  parents,  on  the  eastern  shore  of 
Lake  .Miclii;^an,  at  the  old  station  on  tlw  St.  •loseph.  This  was  tlu* 
eonntr.N of  the  wailike  I'ottawatoniie  trilioof  Italians.  'rhronj;liout 
her  lonj;  life  Mrs.  IjcConipt  had  ever  tin'-  westein  sava;;('  for  a 
liei;ihl>oi',  She  earl.v  l>ecanie  pidtieient  in  the  dialect  of  the 
Indians  and  ;4ained  a  deep  insi;;lil  into  their  character.  She  was 
married  at  >IacUinaw,  settled  with  her  hnsltand,  wlatse  name  was 
St.  Aiif^e, or  I'elate,  at  Chicafio,  but  snltse(piently  rennived  to  Oil- 
hokia,  and,  liei'  hnsltand  d.vin;;',  she  here  married  Mr.  LeCompt,  a 
Canadian.  l''roni  thi.-  niarria;;!' spinn^  (tne  of  the  lar;L;est  P'rcncli 
t^unilies  in  Illinois,  i^ater  in  life,  after  the  deatii  of  Le('omi)t,  shu 
married  a;L:ain,  this  time  that  Thomas  Ilrady  wlat  condncted  an  nn- 
foi'tnnate  marandiii;;'  expeililioii  a;;'ainst  the  l'\)rt  St.  .loseph  iit 
177S.  Of  (his  anion  no  issiM'  resnlted.  This  extraordinary  woman 
was  possi'ssed  of  an  iron  constitntion,  a  stronj; mind  and  danntless 
conraj^e.  Her  person  was  attractive  and  her  manner  winniii;^'. 
She  traveled  mncli,  took  many  lonj;  trips,  and  underwent  ninch 
exposure  to  the  inclemencies  of  the  weather,  yet  she  was  seldom 
sick.  She  liv(  hardy  and  frii;;al  lif(^  I5y  her  knowledi-'e  of  the 
Indian  lan.yua;;c,  ..nd  a  tliorou.i;h  a|ipri'ciation  of  his  <'haracter,  she 
a<ipiire<l  a  wonderfid  intluence  over  the  tril)es,with  which  she  was 
l)r(Mi;;ht  into  contact.  And  this  was  turned  to  a  blessed  account 
for  the  benetit  of  the  settlement  vvhe'n^  she  lived.  I'^rom  the  cou- 
(jnest  of  Clark,  the  I'^i'cnch,  as  we  hav(^  seen,  sided  with  the 
Americans,  while  the  Indians  adhered  to  the  IJiitish.  I'rom  that 
time  down  to  the  peace  of  (Irecnville,  in  17!t."J,  the  old  kindly 
feeling  between  the  French  and  Indians  was  more  or  less  inter- 
rupted, and  many  a  meditated  attack  upon  Cahokia  did  ^Irs. 
LeCompt  frustrate  by  her  ra  "u-ity  and  friendly  counsel  with 

the  sava^^es.     It  issaid,  tlu'  .as  the  infatuated  friendship  of 

the  savaj^es   for  her,   t'  would   invariably  advise  her  in 

advance  of  their  med'  ..tck  upon  the  village.     It  was  i\[Htn 

such  occasions  that  t  ane  within  her  would  bec(»me  manifest. 

In  the  dead  hour  of  ni^..rshe  would  jio  forth  from  the  villaj^'e  to 
meet  the  wariior  hosts,  often  camped  near  the  foot  of  Ihe  (^)uentiii 
mound,  at  the  foot  of  tlu^  bluffs,  or  wherever  they  mij;lit  be;  ill 
their  viitinity,  dismiss  her  attendants,  and  .solitary  and  alone  pro- 
ceed on  foot  andd  the  savaj^c  horde.  Such  devotion  to  her  people 
and  such  courainc  in  a  woman,  Joined  by  her  ready  wit,  would 
awaken  a  (rhord  of  sympathy  in  the  warrior's  breast.  At  times  she 
Avould  remain  anion;;  them  tor  days,  pleadinj;' for  the  delivery  of 
her  villaji,e,  counselin";  iieaee,  and  a]ti»easin^'  the  an^cr  of  the 
savages.  Her  elVorts  were  not  intermitted  until  she  was  well  con- 
vinced that  the  storm  was  allayed  and  bloodshed  averted.  At 
such  tinu's  tin'  younj^  nnMi  of  the  villa  <>t'  were  nu)stly  away  on  the 
chase,  or  as  boatnu'ii  down  the  river,  while  the  remaininj;'  inhabi- 
tants, terror  stricken,  would  arm  themselves  for  such  defence  as 


NOIMIIWKSTKKN   TKRlMTOllY. 


229 


i 


Mit'.v  \V(>ro  OttpabU' of.  Wlial  would  l>t^  tlicirjoy  tost'c^  tliiu  I'xtriior- 
iliiiiip.v  woman  j'scortiiiyii  swarlli.v  IkiikI  of  warriors  to  tlic  village, 
<'liaii;;i'i|  IVdiii  I'im's  to  tVifiids!  (Tin-  liiiliaiis,  u|miii  siX'li  occasion, 
would  paint  tlii>Miscl\cs  ithuk  to  niaiiil'cst  tlicir  sorrow  i'oi'  tlicii 
inlcrnal  niuiilcrons  intent  upon  llicii  IVicnds.)  Alter  a  tlioioujiili 
I'castiny;  of  the  sava;;-es,  sometimes  lor  days,  their  reconciliation 
wonhl  usually  hist  some  time.  Mrs,  Le(Jompt,  as  she  was  still 
called  ari«'r  llrady's  death,  Used  to  the  extreme  af^c  ol'  1()!»  years'. 
{She  died  in  ISl.'},  at Caliokia.  lOxdov.  We.vnolds,  from  whoso 
)>ioneer  history  wii  arc-  in  i;rcat  part  indel)te(l  for  the  above 
account,  sa.vs  he  knew  her  well  I'oi-  ;!()  years. 

Mrs.  Jolni  IJli/di: — This  accomplished  witman,  the  ceider  of 
fashion  for  remote.  Illinois  in  the  olden  t inn',  ])resided  for  nniny 
years  with  (Mjiial  yrace  and  dignity  over  her  hnshand's  splemlid 
mansion  at  KasUaskia,  the  abode  ot  hospitality  and  resoit  of  tho 
I'liK'  for  Ueai'  a  half  century.  It  wasin  tin'sp/cions  and  elej;iintly 
Inrnished  parlors  of  this  honst-  that  La  Ka,  .-tte,  on  his  visit  tu 
lllin(»is  in  ISlIo,  was  snmptinHisly  entertained,  by  a  banipu't  and 
ball.  Mrs.  Ivlnar's  name  nu'rils  lunh  rank  on  tin-  scroll  of  re\(»ln- 
tioinii'v  heroines.  My  birth,  edncation,  and  s.\  mpath.v,  she  was 
American,  but  her  husband,  .lohn  Edj;ar,  was  an  ollicer  in  tho 
iSrilish  navv,  ii^rhlini;'  against  the  colonies  in  theii' stru;ij;le  for 
lii»ert,v  and  independence.  Wy  her  talent,  shrewdness,  anil  above 
all,  her  patiiotic  devotion  to  herconntry,  she  won  over  n(»t  only 
the  heart  of  her  husband  to  the  Anu'rican  canse,  bnt  was  the  pro- 
jecloi'  of  many  plans  l»y  wliich  sohliers  in  the  Ibitish  army  were 
indnced  to  tpiit  and  Join  the  raidcs  of  the  patiiots.  She  had,  ni>ou 
one  occasion,  arranged  a  plan  of  escape  for  three  soldieisand  was 
to  fiirnislf  them  i^nns,  Anniican  uniforms,  etc.,  and  all  m-edfnl  in- 
formation to  enaltlc  them  to  I'cacli  the  patiiot  camp.  When  they 
<'ann'  she  was  absent  iVoni  home,  bnt  her  husband,  a  conjidantv  of 
all  her  operations,  notwithstanding;'  liis  jutsitiuu  in  the  «'nemy\s 
navy,  supplieil  them  with  theontlit  prcpari'd  for  them  by  her. 
Ibit  the  deserters  wer(^  apprehended,  letnrned  to  the  IJritish  cainj), 
and  compelled  to  divulj;e  the  names  of  their  abettoi-s.  This  impli- 
cated Kdj;aran<l  he  tied;  remaining'  a  while  in  the  American  army 
he  deemed  it  safer  for  his  life  to  seek  ;;reat«'r  seclusion  and  came 
to  Kaskaskia.  Ills  property  was  confiscated ;  but  the  rare  saj^acity 
of  his  patriotic  ami  de\(>ted  wife,  who  I'cmaincd  back,  enabled  her 
to  save  from  the  wreck  some  SlL'.OOO,  with  which  she  joined  her 
liusband  two  years  afterwards  in  his  western  home.*  'I'heir  union 
Mas  childless;  but  they  were  for  nuiny  years  the  most  wealthy 
i'andly  in  Illinois.  Kdyar  was  a  larye,  portly  man.  A  county  of 
the  State  ju'ipctuates  his  name. 

Mrs.  Uobcrt  Morrison. — This  talented  lady  was  a  rare  acquisition 
to  the  society  of  Kaskaskia.  Iicai'cd  and  <'ducatcd  in  the  monu- 
inental  city,  slu'.  in  ISOo,  accompanied  her  brother,  (-ol.  Donaldson, 
to  St.  lionis,  in  the  far  off  wilds  of  the  west,  whither  he  was  sent 
as  a,  commissioner  to  investi;;ate  tlu^  land  titles.  Ibit  the  west 
iM'cauM'  her  p<'rmanent  honu'.  She  was  married  the  followin.ii' year 
to  liobeit  ^loiiison,  of  Kaskaskia,  which  jtlace  became  her  re.''- 
dence  Ihencofojth.  Well  educated,  spriiilitly  and  encrj^-etic,  her 
miinl  was  {iifted  with  ori;;inality  and  romance.     "Her  deliyht  was 

•Bco  ttist.  Skotofi  of  Hiiiidolph  &  Co.  aud  Itcynold's  Pioneer  Hist, 
tlteynold's  I'loUuer  Hist,  of  IlJb. 


L 


230 


HISTOIJV  OF  TLMNOIS 


in  tliP  rosy  WMs  of  ]M)ftiy."t  Ilcr  lu'ii  \v;ts  scldoiii  idle.  Slic  (•diii- 
])(is('(l  willi  !i  ready  laeility  and  her  wriliiiji's  pos.sessed  a  lii;;li 
de,i;re(' ol"  merit.  1  Icr  coiinihiitioiis  to  tlie  seieiilitie  |tnl»iicali(iii.s 
of  \V.  W'alsli,  of  LMiiladclpiiia.  and  otiicr  periodicais  of  llic  time, 
Itotli  verse  and  prose,  wcie  miieli  admiicd.  Nor  did  the  poMtical 
(liK'stions  of  the  (hiy  escape  lier  ready  i»eii.  Tlie  discussion  of 
liiese  topics  in  our  newspapers  were  ea,i;i'rly  read  liy  liie  jxiliticiaiLS 
of  Illinois.  A  feat  of  nuicii  in,yenuity  was  h(  r  wori<  of  reMioddlin.^' 
and  co'iveriinn'  into  M'rse  the  i'salms  of  David.  The  volume  was 
presented  to  tlie  i'idladelpiiia  I'reshytery  and  met  with  iiiuh  coin- 
niendation  for  many  of  its  excellencies,  though  it  was  not  adopted. 
Later  in  life, she  j^avea  thorouj;h  inve^'i^alion  to  the  doctrines  of 
r<'li;;ions  .seets,  and  after  much  retli  )n  muted  with  the  ("alholic 
church.  Possessed  of  j^reat  forci'  of  character,  and  zealous  and 
ardent  in  whatever  she  esp(»use<l,  her  e.\am|ile  and  iirecepis  con- 
tributed <;Teii11y  toward  proselytin;;' niend)ers  to  that  faith.  .She 
beciune  the  mother  of  an  interesting'  faMuly.  Sonu' of  her  sous 
June  lieen  (pute  consj)icious  in  the  allairs  of  this  State.  Mrs, 
IVlorrison    lived  t()   an  advanced  aue,  and    died   at    IJellevilh'    in 

VOUDOt:iSM  Oli  "WlTC'IIC'UAl'T  IX  ILLINOIS. 


It  is  reeoi<ledt  that  at  least  two  human  lives  haxc  fallen  a  sacri- 
fice to  the  nuserable  sni)erstition  of  witchcratt  in  Illinois  in  early 
times.  An  African  sla\c  l)y  the  name  of  JNIoreau  wiis,  about  the 
year  J7!)0,  hunj^-  on  a  tree  a  little  ways  southeast  of  Cahokia, 
charjicd  with  and  convicted  oi'  this  in'a^inary  crinu'.  He  li.ul  ac- 
liuowled^cd,  it  is  said,  that  by  Ins  ])ower  of  devilish  ineaniatiou 
"he  had  poisoned  his  nnister,  l>ur  that  his  unstress  had  proved  too 
jMiwcrfid  tor  his  ju'cromancy,"' and  this  it  seems  was  I'ldly  believed, 
stud  he  was  e\ecute(l.  The  case  was  murder;  but  there  was  at  this 
period  a  very  imitertect  administratii>n  of  the  laws  in  Illinois,  la 
the  same  villajic,  i^^norantly  inspii'ed  by  a  belief  in  the  existence 
of  this  dread  jiowfr  of  diabolism,  another  ne,uro"s  life  was  ottered 
\\[)  to  the  JMoloeh  of  superstition,  ity  bein^  shot  <iowii  in  the  [»ubiic 
streetis.  An  old  ne;;r<'ssof  that  \icinily,  named .lani'tte,  comm<inly 
rei>uted  to  pitsses.^  the  supernatural  jiowcrof  destroyin,^'  life  and 
l)i()[»erty  by  the  i»otency  of  her  incantations.  insjMred  si;ch  terror 
l)y  lier  appearance  that  adults  as  well  as  children  would  llee  at 
her  apinoach.  It  was  a  \cry  common  feeliii;.;  amonji  tin-  i'reneh 
to  dread  to  incur  in  any  way  the  disj)leasur«'  of  certain  old  colored 
l)e(>!.'le,  undei'  the  vaj^ne  belief  and  fear  that  they  possessed  a 
clandestine  power  by  which  to  invoke  the  aid  of  the  e\il  one  to 
"Work  mischief  or  injury  to]»erson  or  pro])erty.  Nor  was  this  belief 
solely  eoiitined  to  the  iM-eiich,  or  this  power  ascrilted  only  to  the 
colored  peojile.  An  old  woman  ii\in,L;'  on  Silver  ('leek  was  almost 
generally  accredited  with  the  i)ower  (»f  wiiehcialt.  which,  it  was 
believed,  she  exercised  in  takin.u'  milk  from  her  neij;hbor's  c(»ws  at 
jileasure,  witlnait  llie  aid  ol  any  physical  a;;ency.  The  African's 
belief  in  felislies,  and  the  jiower  of  their  divination,  is  well  known. 
]\Iany  superstitions  blacks  in  this  country  have  clainu'd  the  descent 
to  them  of  fetish  jtower;  the  infatuation  lejiai'dinj;'  Miudouism, 
formerly  so  wide  spn-ad,  is  not  yet  extinct  amon^  many  ii^norant 

Jlicynold's  IMoncur  Hist.  ' 


NOETinVESTKRN  TERTUTOBY. 


231 


blacks  of  Louisiiuiii,  lis  we  read  occasionally  from  Now  Orleans 
lta])ei-s.  IvCiiauU.  aji'ent  of  the  "("()iiii)any  of  tlic  West.'' hoiiylit 
in  ITl'O,  al  Wan  J )oiniii.ii(»,  oOO  slaves  wliicli  li<  brought  to  Illinois, 
]Maiiy  of  wlioin  were  direct  from  Africa,  and  thus  was  i]n]iorte(l. 
the  claim  totliis  occult  jiower,  which,  ])erlia]>s,  had  no  dilli<'nlty  in 
iindin^'  lod.yement  in  the  minds  of  the  superstitions  freuch  of 
Illinois.  Mankind  have  ever  be«'n  prone  to  superstitious  b<'liefs; 
there  are  very  many  ])ersons  now  who  are  daily  fioverned  in  the 
mullii)!ied  alfairs  of  life  by  some  siyii,  omen,  or  au^^ciT. 

Nor  were  the  red  children  of  the  forest  in  American  free  from 
superstition.  The  brother  of  the  Shawanee  w.urior,  'reciinibeli, 
mimed  Lawlelueskaw,  the  loud  voiced,  better  known  as  the  (Uie 
eyed  I'lojjhet,  who  connnanded  the  Imliansal  the  battle  ol  Tippe- 
caiuie,  seekinji'  to  reform  his  pett])le,  eaiiu'stly  declaimed  a,i;ainst 
the  vice  of  witchcralt,  as  well  as  drunkenness,  iutermari-yin;,  with 
white  nuMi,  etc.  In  oltedience  to  tin'  conunands  of  the  maniteau, 
the  (Ireat  Spirit,  he  fulminated  the  i>enalfy  of  de.dh  a.^^ainst  those 
who  practiced  the  bhick  art  of  witchcraft  and  mayic.  Ilisxehe- 
ment  Inuranjiues  evoked  amonj^'  his  folhtwers  a  i)aroxysm  of 
suixrstitious  iidatuation.  An  old  Delaware  chief,  named  Tate- 
bock(»she,  wasaccused  of  witchcraft,  tried, condemned,  tomaliawked 
and  consumed  on  a  pyre.  This  was  enacted  on  thi^  i)resent  site  of 
Yoi'ktown,  J)elaware  county,  Indiaim.*  The  chief's  wife,  ins 
nepiiew,  I>illy  I'atterson,  and  an  a.iicd  Indian  named  floshu.a,  were 
next  accused  of  witchcraft  and  the  two  latter  conxicted.  sentenced 
and  burned  to  the  stake;  l»ut  a  brother  of  the  chief's  wife  boldly 
stepix'd  forward,  seized  his  sister  aiul  led  her  Irom  the  council 
house,  without  op|)osition  from  those  ]U'esent,and  immediately  re- 
turned, and  in  aloud  tone  haran<;ued  the  saxaj^es,  exclaim  injj;': 
'Olaniteau,  the  evil  spirit  has  com<'  in  our  midst  and  we  are 
murderin;.>'  oiu'  another."  This, to,ii('ther  with  the  eariu'st  letterof 
(Jo\'.  llarj'ison,  sent  l>y  s]»ecial  iiiessen,ii'ei'  in  the  siirin.^  of  lS()(i, 
exhorlin;^'  the  Indians  to  spurn  the  pretended  ]»rophet,  clieeked  the 
hcnrid  delusion.     8ee  Drake's  Tecnmseh,  SS. 


*Ui'  liiKlulfio  ollcnclcil  liy  liis  inlliicnco  in  liiiii^riiijf  aliniit  tlio  trciity  of  Aiiir.  isdl,  by 
wliicli  tliL'  ('liiul's  mid  lusid  iriiMi  (if  tliu  Kt'liiwiiiTs  cciU'd  to  tlic  L'.  S.  tliat  largo  tract  of 
lauil  iu  southern  nidiuiia,  siiicu  known  as  tliu  '•pocket." 


Chapter  XX. 

1800-1809— ILIJNOIS  AS  PAKT  OF  THE  INDIANA  TEKRI- 

TOIIY. 

Its  On/dnizatioii — Ktfiit(iiiis!i;ii(f  Iii«li(in  Titles  to  Lauth — Uov.  liar- 
rm)ii\s  Fdciliti/  in  TItiN — Laud  A^>r(»/«//(>/(,v  and  Frauds  in 
^^Ijiipron-nivnt-riuhts'^  and  '•'•llead-ritihts''' — Mtdinij  of  the  Leyida- 
at  ViuvcnncH  in  1805 — IStututes  of  iSOl. 


My  act  of  ('oiijircss,  iii)]H(»v('(l  iNIay  7,  ISOO,  the  larjio  iuid 
unwieldy  (enitory  ol'  llie  ><'((i tliwest  was  dixided  ;  all  tiiat  i)art  <»t' 
it  l\iii,i;'  wesiwiii'd  of  a  line  heniniiin;;'  on  the  Ohio  river  oi>positc 
the  month  of  the  Kentucky,  ninniiij;'  thence  north  via  I'ort  Ke*'ov- 
(n-y  to  the  IJritish  possessions,  was  constituted  a  separate  territory 
and  called  Indiana.  It  enchised  the  present  States  ol  Illinois, 
Wiscousiu,  .Michi;;an,  and  Indiana  excei)t  a  litth'  strip  on  tlui 
eastern  side  between  the  nM)iitli  of  the  Kentucky  and  (ireat  Miami. 
QMie  white  population  of  the  country  was  estimated  at  l,87.">,  and 
lu'^ro  slaves  l,'!,"),  while  the  aj;j;i'ejiate  nnnd)er  of  Indians  within 
the  extreme.  limits  of  the  territory  was  fairly  reckoned  at  100.(»00. 
The  seat  of  (iovernnu'nt  was  tixed  at  Viuceiines,  and  the  oi'dinanee 
of  17S7  was  api»lied  to  the  teriitory  in  amoditied  form  :  that  clause 
rt(piirin;;  r»,(((IO  free  white  nuile  iidiahitants  of  the  a^e  of  -I  years 
and  upwar<ls,  before  a  j;eneral  assend)ly  could  be  orjuaiuzed,  was 
eha u.ued  to  the  wish  of  u  simple  niaj(»rity  of  tlii'  freeholders.  The 
law  was  to  pt  into  effect  on  the -1th  of  July  following'. 

A  chief  reason  foi'  makinj^-  this  division  was  the  lai'j;e  extejit  of 
th<^  northwestern  territory,  w Iiich  rendered  the  ordiiniiy  operations 
of  ;4(tveinnu'nt  uncerlain  and  the  prompt  and  eflicient  administra- 
tion ofjustice  almost  imi)ossible.  In  the  three  western  counties — 
ir.w.'i-    sif    /<]..;..  .....I   i>,...,i..i..i.    fix.  i..4^f,...  f..-,.  ;..  in:..,.:.,    fi. ......  1....1 


jiiiiiiii^    lilies   iiiiu    i;i  iiiii  III,;:;   liinus    mi   i:eiiiuii  pei.MMi."^  nu    iiiiiiiiii^y 

services,  and  the  laying  out  thereof,  remained  unexiMited,  causinj^' 
{;reat  discontent;*  and  the  unpopularity  of  (iovcrnor  St.  (,'lair  was 
constantly  on  thi'  increase.  Ills  unfortunate  cumpaiun  aj;ainst  the 
JMamnee  towns,  whi«h  had  j^reatly  shaken  tlu'  conlidence  of  the 
people,  had  bid  rendeicd  his  conduct  of  civil  atfaiis  more  arbitra- 
ry and  deliant.  Ii«'  vetoeil  nearly  e\ery  act  of  the  le;;islalnre 
establishiu};'  new  counties,  to  the  great  inconvenience  of  the  people 


•Sec  report  of  Committee  In  CongrcBS— Am.  State  Pap.  XX,  'M6. 


232 


INDIANA  TEUUITOHY. 


L';J3 


ill  tiicir  tr;iiis;i('ti(tiis  witli  clcrfis  nnd  recorders,  iuid  to  the  vexiitioii 
ul"  suitoi's  iit  iiiw. 

The  territoiiiil  h'j^islMtinv  sitting  at  ('iiiciiiiiiiti,  electecl,  on  th(> 
3d  (»!'  Ocloltcr,  I7*.>!l,  W'illiiiMi  Henry  lliirrison,  tiien  secretary  of 
the  territory,  a  (ieh'gate  to  con,i;ress,  over  Arliiur  St.  (Mair,  Jim.,  l»y 
51  vote  ol"  11  to  10.  Tile  contest  elicited  wide  and  nmisiiai  interest, 
and  was  not  uiiatteiided  liy  iiiucii  acriinony  and  ill  blood,  'i'iio 
St.  Clairs  were  federalists,  and  parly  feelinj;'  ran  extremely  liijih 
ill  tliose  days.  Ilairisoii  was  lar;;ely  instriiineiital  in  ('oii;;ress  in 
ohtaining  tile  )»assai;e  of  tile  act  of  division.  I'p  to  tliistiiiie  tlie 
smallest  tract  of  jmhlic  lands  which  could  Ik;  entered  was  KM) 
acres,  excejit  I'ractioiial  jiieccs  cut  by  im|iortaiit  streams.  This 
uas  a  ji'icat  hindiaiice  to  settlement,  and  to  the  poor  our  land  sys- 
tem Avas  a  curse  rather  than  -a  blessing.  Harrison,  fully 
appreciating  this  grievance,  urged  through  Congress  a  law 
anlhorizing  the  sale  of  the  public  lands  in  tracts  of.'iL'O  acres,  with 
a  cash  i»ayment  ol  only  one-fourth  and  the  bulance  in  one,  two  and 
three  years.  The  passage  of  this  law  was  regarded  in  the  west  as 
H  public  .service  of  the  great«'st  importance,  rendering  Harrison  ex- 
tremely popular.  He  was.  M;iy  l-'l.  iSdO,  :ippoiiil<-d  vlovernor  for 
the  Indiana  territory,  .lohii  (iibson  (he  to  whom  in  1771,  Logun, 
tlie  great  Indian  chief  had  delivered  his  celebrated  speech),  was 
ai>pointed  secretary;  and  \Villiam  Clark,  -lohii  (Irillin  and  Henry 
Vauderbiirgh,  teiritoriiil  judges.  In  the  aiiseiice  (»f  the  governor, 
secretary  (iibson  jiioceecled  in  .July  to  jiiit  the  machinery  of  terri- 
torial government  in  motion  by  ap|ioiiiting  the  necessary  local 
oHicers  i'or  the  administration  of  the  laws,  vVc.  In  .lamiary.  ISOI, 
(ioxernor  Harrison,  having  ariixcd  at  his  post  of  duty,  immecliute- 
ly  coincned  tlieJiKlges  with  himself  at  the  seat  of  government,  for 
the  ado|»tioii  of  "such  laws  as  Ihe  exigency  of  tlu',  times"  reipiiicd, 
and  to  the  discharge  of  such  other  duly  for  the  government  of  the 
territory  as  congress  had  by  law  imposed  upon  tliem.  They 
remained  in  si'ssioii  two  weeks,  passing  several  res(»|iitions  ]»rovi- 
diiig  ])aymeiit  for  various  services,  iiiul  a<lo]»ted  a  numlier  of  laws, 
tine  ]iro\  iding  for  the  estalilisiimeiit  of  courts  of  (piiiiter  sessions 
of  the  ]»eace  in  the  counties  of  St.  Clair,  Ifandolph  mid  Knox.  A 
term  of  the  general  court  for  the  territory  at  large,  was  «'omiiieiiced 
h\  the.  three  Judges  on  the  od  of  .Alaivli,  iSdl.  Tiiiis  the  tirst 
grade  of  territorial  goxeriimeiit  was  put  in  fidl  winking  order. 

The  jinrchase  of  Loiiisana  from  l-'iance  having  been  consumma- 
ted ill  i.SO.'),  that  vast  domain  lying  west  of  the  .Mississijipi,  was  by 
act  of  ('ongress,  March  LM!,  iSdl,  annexed  to  the  Indiana  teiiiloiy. 
tiov.  Harrison  and  tiie  judges,  in  October,  IS(»I,  adopted  the 
necessary  laws  for  the  goveriinieiit  of  the  district  of  liOusiaiui. 
The  union  was.  however,  of  short  duration;  March  ."?,  1S(>,"»,  Loui;-- 
iana  was  detachcil  and  erected  into  a  se]»arate  territory.  Shortly 
alter  this  Aaron  Ihirr  entered  upon  his  treasonable  eflort  to  wrest 
from  the  Ciiited  Slates  this  largi-  domain  ami  to  found  his  soiith- 
Avestern  empire.  To  organize  an  expedition  for  his  enterprise,  he 
visited,  among  other  jihices  in  the  west,  N'incenues  ;ind  Kankaskia, 
and  induced  a  fi  w  men  of  the  territory  to  enroll  their  names  on  the, 
list  of  his  followers;  but  the  scheme  came  sjieedily  to  naught — his 
nieii  abandoned  it,  andlie  was  arrested  in  Mississipjii  in  the  spring 
oflS()7.  Alter  the  purchase  of  liouisiaua.  it  became  desirable  to 
learn  something  respecting  the  vjist  region  lying  between  the  Mis- 


234 


niSTOKY  OF  ILLI>'OIS, 


.sissi)»i>i  and  tlic-  I'acitic.  Coiii^Tcss  llicrctoic  iiutliori/.t'd  ail 
ovoi'laiid  cxitloriii.y'  cxpt'ditioii.  !<»  the  <'()iiiiiiaiid  of  wliicli  llic, 
J'rcsidciit  appointi'd  Captains  Mcniwcatlu'r  Lcwi.s  and  William 
Dark,  the  latter  a  Itrotlicr  of  (icn.  (lcor,uc  KopTs  Clark.  Tlui 
]»ai1y,  consistin;^'  of  .">4  men,  ciicaniix'd  dniin^'  tlic  winter  of 
lS(K»--4  in  tlie  American  l)oitoiii,  near  the  niontli  of  Wood  lixci', 
below  A'ton — then  the  nltama  thnluof  the  white  setth-meiits  in  Illi- 
nois— and  started  thence  npon  tlieir  toilsome  and  i»erilous  jonrney, 
May  1  Ith,  reachinj;- the  racilic  NoNcndier  17,  ISd,").  The  exjiloicrs 
retnrned  in  safely  to  St.  l^onis  about  a  year  tlie  reai'ter.  'i'he. 
])eninsnla  of  .Alicliij^an  was  also,  l>y  act  of  Confi'ress,  flanuary  11, 
bso,"),  detached  from  Indiana  and  ere(;ted  into  a  separate  territory, 
the  act  to  take  effect  Jane  ;!(>,  bSd,!, 

The  nndn  toi»ics  of  interest  dnrin;^'  the  !>  years  that  Illinois  con- 
stituted a  i)art  of  the  Indiana  teiritory,  were:  the  ac(|uisition  of 
land  titles  from  the  resident  Indian  trilies,  land  speculations,  and 
the  adjustment  of  laud  titles;  ne;^ro  shncry;  or^ani/.aiion  of  the 
leriitorial  le.uislature,  extension  of  tlu'  ri^ht  of  sulfrap' and  the; 
detaclnnent  of  Illinois  fr«un  the  Indiana  ti'rritory.*  Captain  Wil- 
liam Jlenry  Harrison,  besides  liis  a|)iiointMU'Ut  as  jiovenior,  was 
also  constituted  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  and  ncsIimI 
■with  plenary  powers  to  uejiotiate  treat ii's  between  the  United 
States  and  the  several  tril)esof  Indians  residin.u'  within  his  oflicial 
jinisdiction,  for  the  cession  of  lands.  As  the  rai)idly  advancing 
.settlements  of  the  \vliites  ]ienetrated  i'artlier  daily,  and  crowded 
ii]ion  the  domain  of  the  I'cd  nnin,  it  becanu'  desirable  on  the  ]iart 
of  the  ji'encral  .iioxcrument  to  eular,u('  the  area  of  its  landed  ac(|ui- 
sitions  beyond  the  sti])idations  of  the  treaty  of  Cireenville,  by^ 
Avhich  17,71*4,18!)  acres  of  laud  were  obtained.  IJy  an  active  exer- 
cise of  these  ])owers.  in  which  his  Ivxcelleucy  disco\ered  ii 
remarkable  ai>titiide,  no  less  than  ten  treaties  were  concluded  with 
various  tribes  by  the  close  of  the  year  bSO,"),  extinjiuisliiu,i;' the  In- 
dian titles  to  about  ."JO,!*!!!!,!)!!!)  acres  juore  of  land.  AVe  cite  in 
brief  the  ti'ealies  of  that  i>eriod,  )»y  which  lauds  lyinj;'  either  wholly 
or  in  part  within  Illinois,  weic  relintpushed  : 

Tn((ti/  of  Fort  \V(ii/ii<;  concluded  rlune  7,  bSO,'{,  with  certain 
chiefs  and  head  nu'U  of  the  Delawares,  Shawam^se.  I'ottawatouiies, 
Eel  IJixcr,  Wea,  Kickapoo,  Tiaukeshaw,  and  Kaskaskia  tribes — 
ratilied  at  N'iiH'eniH's  Au.uiist  7,  1SU;>,  by  three  of  the  tribes  and 
the  Wyandots,  by  which  there  were  ceded  to  the  I'nited  States, 
1,((.'54,<H>0  acres  of  land,  L5.'j(i,i-8  of  which  were  situated  within 
Illinois. 

Treaty  of  Mitnitiics,  concluded  August  lo,  18(».'?,  with  certain 
cliiets  and  wariiors  of  the  Kaskaskias,  in  consideration  of  the  pro- 
tect in,u' care  of  the  j;o\('rniiu'nt.  of  >*-"»8(>  in  <'asli.  of  an  increase  of 
their  annuity  under  the  treaty  of  (irceuxille  to  $b'<'<>,  of  ?<.'J(>() 
toward  buildinj^  a  church,  nnd  an  annual  paynn-nt  for  s('\-en  years 
of  •*H>(l  to  a  Catiiolic  jniest  stationed  amon.u'  them,  the  tribe  of 
Kiiskaskias,  r«'duc(-d  to  a  few  hundred  indi\  i(luals,  but  still  repre- 
senting the  once  jiowerful  coid'ederacy  of  the  Illinois,  ce(le<l  to  the 
I'nited  States,  except  a  small  reser\ ation,  all  that  tiact  included 
within  a  line  be^inninj;'  below  the  month  ol'  the  Illinois,  desccnd- 
inji'  the  .Mississippi  to  its  jinuMiou  with  the  Ohio,  ascending'  the 
lattei'  to  the    \N  abash,  and  from  a  jtoint  u])  the  ^\  abash  west    to 

"i'he  subject  of  slavery  is  deferred  to  Gov.  Cole's  adtuinUtratloD, 


INDIANA   TKUIJITOIIV. 


tlic  Mississi)t|>i,  ('iiil)i'iiciiiii' tlic  ^rcjitor  i)iirt  of  soiitlicni  lIliiMtis, 
.sonic  M,()0S.l(i7  iirrcs,  n  !ii;i^iiiliciciit  .yiMiit. 

Trcdfi/ of'  iSt.  /v*»(.v,  ('oiiclndcd  Novciiilicr  .'id,  1S0[,  by  wliicli  llic, 
cliicl's  iiiid  liciid  iiicii  of  tilt' iiiiilcd  Sat' and  l''o\  naliiins  ccdfil  tt) 
tlic  rnitctl  States,  a  yit-al  ti'at't  on  l)t)tli  sides  of  llie  .Alississippi, 
e\teMdin:4' on  tlie  east  l)aid<  IVoni  tlie  nioiitli  tif  tlie  Illinois  tti  lln^ 
li"ad  t)l'  thai  liver  and  tlieiit'e  to  tlie  \\'iseonsin,  antl  including':  on 
tlic  west  eonsideialile  ptntions  of  Iowa  and  .Missouri,  from  I  lie 
nioiitli  of  tlie  (iascoiiaiie  noil  liward.  (In  ISIO  tjie  ^Dverniiieiit, 
,i;raiited  liaek  to  the  iiniled  tribes  alioiit  r),(H»(l,()l»()  acres  in  Iowa). 
Out  of  this  treaty,  as  wc  shall  see,  siihsetjuently  grew  the  IJIack 
]lawk  war. 

Tnvl;i  of  Viiironies,  eonclntleil  Deconiber  ."JOtli,  ISO,"),  by  which 
the  chiefs  ami  warriors  of  the  I'iankeshaw  triiie  ceded  to  the  I'liitetl 
States  their  claim  to  a  tract  of  country  in  Illinois,  bortlering  on 
tile  Wabash  river  ojiposite  N'iiicenncs.  extending  north  antl  south 
for  a  consitlerable  distance,  and  comprising  -.(iWi.iL' t  acres. 

1'hiis  by  successive  treaties  all  the  soul  hern  third  of  Illinois  antl 
a  broatl  belt  of  hintl  between  the  Illinois  ami  Mississijjpi  rivers, 
bordering  on  both  streams  ami  running  northward  to  the  Wiscon- 
sin, was  divesleil  t»l'  the  Imliaii  title  as  early  as  1S(»."»;  but  wliihi 
iniicli  of  the  country  was  thus  lawfully  tlirt»wii  t)pen  tt>  the  ail va nee 
of  the  eiitei'prising  itioneer.  the  chiltlreii  of  the  forest  still  lingered 
aroiintl  their  ancient  hunting  grounds,  reluctant  to  aliamlon  tin; 
scenes  of  their  youth  anil  the  gra\fs  of  their  ancestors,  notwith- 
standing tlie  solemn  cession  of  their  native  lami  to  the  jiowerfitl 
goveriiiiieiit  of  the  ]tal(?  faces,  the  receipt  of  i>ayineiit,  ami  their 
]»r()mises  to  retire.  Nor  ilid  they  abstain  from  occasional  maraud- 
ing excursions  into  the  frontier  settlements  of  the  whites.  Tlu! 
I'emoteness  of  Illinois  from  the  Atlantic  sea-boarti,  its  ilestitutiou 
of  many  of  the  comforts  of  ci\  ilizetl  society,  ami  exposure  to  the 
precarious  amity  of  the  savages,  to  a  great  extent  tletei'red  emi- 
granls  t'rom  coming  hitlier.  They  Ibuiid,  aside  from  the  (|ualily  of 
the  soil,  e(|ual  o]»portuiiities  in  Kentucky,  Ohio,  anil  southern 
Imliana,  with  greater  security  i'roiii  danger  and  more  comt'iiience 
of  access  in  their  slow  ami  toilsome  iiiotle  of  travel.  Meiice,  at  this 
time  the  settlements  on  the  Waliash,  the  Illinois,  ami  the  I'lipor 
]\Iississippi,  increased  slt>wly.  comparetl  with  the  regions  above 
iiieiitioned. 

N'irginia,  by  her  tleed  of  cession,  liatl  stipiilatetl  that '"the  I'^reiich 
ami  ('anatliaii  inhabitants,  antl  all  other  .settlers  of  thi!  Kaskas- 
kias,  St.  \'iiiceiits,  ami  the  iieighboriiig  villages,  who  juiifessetl 
themseht'S  citizens  of  N'irginia,  shall  have  their  possessions  ami 
titles  conlirmed  to  them,  antl  be  ]»rotecteil  in  the  enjoyments  of 
their  I'iglits  ami  liberties."'  '^flie  congress  of  the  oltl  coiifetleration, 
by  resolutions  of  .June  L'Otii  antl  August  l!!),  ITSS,  ortlained  that 
steps  be  iniiiiediately  taken  for  contirming  in  their  possessions  antl 
titles  to  lantis  the  i'^rench  ami  Camitlian  inhabitants,  and  other 
settlers,  who,  on  or  befort^  JTS.'i,  had  jirofesseil  themselves  citizens 
of  the  I'liitt'd  States,  or  of  any  State;  and  that  a  domiMoii  shoiihl 
be  given  each  of  the  families  then  lixiiigat  either  of  the  \  illage.s 
of  Kaskaskia,  Prairie  du  Uocher,  C'ahokia,  Fort  Cluirtres,  or  St. 
IMiillips.  Out  of  this  grew  the  old  "heatl-righ^elaims,  of  which 
it  seems  there  were  only  a  total  of  I'll  in  all  the  counti'y.  We 
lia\t'  seen  that  in  IT'JO  the  French,  iu  i:lii:ir  impoverishod  condition, 


i 


230 


UISTOKY   OF  1LI.1M(J1S. 


olijcctod  strciiiKMisly  to  i)ii,viii,i''  llic  ('xjh'IIsc  of  surveys.  Confess 
l>;iss('(l  ;i  liiw  Mil  fell  .'!,  1  T'.tl,  |tro\  itliii;;'  fill'tlicl',  tliiit  \\  lici'»!  liiinls  liixl 
ix'cii  iictuiilly  iiii|»i'o\»'(l  :iM(l  «'iilti\  jitcd,  midcrii  siipixtscd  <;raiit  of 
tlic  siiiiu'by  iiiiy  <-oiiiiii:iii(tiiiit  or  coiut  claiiiiiii*;  iuitliority  to  make 
.sucli  uraiit,  tlic  (io\»'iiior  of  the  territory  was  eiiipowei'ed  and 
eliar.u'ed  witli  tiie  duty  toeoidiiiii  to  llie  persons  eiilitle<l  thereto, 
iis  above,  tlieir  Iieirs  or  assigns,  tiie  land  sniijiosed  to  Inisc  been 
firanted  to  ilieiu,or  such  sliare  of  it  asini^^lit  be  adjud.nc(l  u])oii  I  lie, 
jtroof  to  be  reasonable,  not  exceedinii'  l(M>  acres  to  any  one  person 
liowexer.  'I'lie  benefits  of  this  act  were  extended  to  persons  eiiti- 
tle(l  undei'  it,  bnt  who  had  removed  out  of  the  eountry,  pro\  ided 
they  or  their  heirs  shonid  return  and  oeeni>y  their  lands  v,  ithin  ~) 
yi'ars.  l>y  the  (itli  section  of  the  same  act,  in  the  same  manner,  n 
<;i'anl  of  land  not  exceedini;'  KM!  acres  was  pro\ided  to  each  person 
>vho  had  not  already  obtained  a  donation  as  abo\ c  from  the  I'niled 
States,  and  who,  on  the  lirst  day  (tf  An;;nst,  17!»(»,  had  been  en- 
rolled in  the  militia  and  <lone  militia  duty. 

(lo\  crnor  St  Clair  had  made  many  conlirmations  of  these  grants, 
but  still  ii  Jarji'e  number  of  claims  I'enniined  unadjusted.  'J'lie 
abeyance  of  these  conlirmal ions  was  a  ;^reat  hindrance  to  the  set- 
tlement of  that  poilion  of  the  country  where  they  weic  located. 
2so  one  eared  to  inxcst  a  fair  ])rice  in  lands,  the  title  whereof  was 
not  established  by  snrv<'y  and  record.  There  was  naturally  much 
anxiety  on  the  ]>art  of  claimants,  and  those  who  desired  to  see  llio 
i'otintry  till  uj*  and  prosper,  to  hiivc  these  obstacles  cleared  away. 
As  a  renu'dy,  a  law  was  passed  by  eon.i;ress,  March  I.'),  bS()4,estal)- 
lisliinu'  land  oflices  at  Kasl<askia,  \'incennes  and  l)etr(tit,  tbi' the 
saleof  the  public  lands,  and  const  it  ut  in^'  the  I'ci^isters  and  receivers 
a  board  of  commissioners,  upon  winch  was  de\(il\cd,  for  the 
respective  districts  at  each  place,  the  former  jiowcrs  and  duties  of 
the  ^•o\('rnor  to  examine  the  \alidily  of  land  claims,  decide  thereon 
acconliu!;  to  justice  and  e(piily.  and  not  conlirm,  but  I'cport  tlieir 
decisions  to  eon<;ress.  The  land  otiice  at  Ivaskaskia  was  author- 
ized to  sell  such  of  the  lan<ls  included  in  the  cession  of  the  Kas- 
kaskia  tribf  of  Indians,  iiy  treaty  of  Au.yust  l.'>,  1S0;>,  as  wcie  not 
claimed  by  any  other  tribes. 

Michael  tlones  and  IC.  l>ackus  were  ajtpointcd  register  and  ri^ 
ceivei".  respect ixcly.  of  the  land  oflice  at  Kaskaskia.  These 
j;entlemen,  in  entcrinji'  upon  their  duties  as  commissioners,  soon 
learned  that  it  wouM  be  necessary  to  ]»roeeed  with  j^reat  circum- 
spection, as  many  of  the  land  claims  present«'d  (iisco\ered 
('vidences  of  fraud,  and  hence  their  labor  of  in\esti,uation  becamo 
immense,  and  they  made  but  slow  pioyress.  'I'hey  nuule  an  elal)o- 
rate  rei)ort  in  ISIO,  which  may  be  seen  in  Vol.  11,  American  State 
I'ajK'rs — IMiblie  Jjands,  to  which  we  are  indebted  for  our  facts  in 
great  ]»art.     See  jkiuc  1(L'. 

l''roni  a  very  eaily  time  these  land  claims  of  ancient  j:i'ants.  both 
French  and  l']ii,nlisli — of (lonations  to  heads  of  families,  '-head 
ri<;hts."  of  im])rovement  I'iiihts,  and  ndlitia  rights,  became  a  rare 
iield  for  the  operation  of  s]te<'idators.  The  l''reneh  claims,  owinj>' 
to  the  |M)\('ity  of  this  ]»eople,  were  in  j^real  ])art  un  ■onlirmcd, 
and  tliis  cireumstauce,  with  others,  ('(Hitributed  to  lbrc<'  many  of 
them  into  market.  We  have  seen,  also,  with  what  facility  the 
IJritish  connnaudant,  Wilkins,  made  extensive  ,i;rants  to  nunuTous 
la\()rites   in    various   portions  of  the  eountry,  and   these  lieing 


INDIANA  TEUKITORY. 


a]>i);n'('iitly  in  coiitriivoiition  <)f'tli<>  Kiiiji's  procliuiiiitioii  of  Octolicr 
Ttli,  17(»;>,  were  pmcliiiscd  I'oi'  ;i  tritlc;  ;iml  ;i.s*1or  tlic  iiiililiii  rimlits 
of  KM)  ;h'1v  ti'iicts,  wliiU'  \iili(l,  liicy  sold  freely  iit  .">(>  cents  per 
sicre,  in  liiyli  pri(;e(l  and  trillin.^  inercliandise,  p'ronrtlic  passii,i:{' 
oftlic  law  of  17i)l  to  till'  time  tiiat  tlie  cominissioiiers  tool;  np  the 
inv('sti;;ali(»n  of  these  elainis,  speculation  in  tlieni  was  rife,and  very 
lew  of  lliein  renniined  in  tiie  iiaiids  of  oiij^inal  elainiants.  'I'lie 
yiced  of  specnhitorscansed  nnnicroiiH  claims  to  pass  cnrrent  with- 
out close  scrutiny  as  to  the  ])roofs  npctn  which  they  rested,  a 
circumstance  which  at  the  same  lime  tended  all  the  moretostimu- 
hite  the  pro<1uction  oi'  tiaiiduleut  claims.  The  numlier  of 
fraiiiliilent  claims  was  comparatively  yreat,  hut  by  purchase  and 
assignment  they,  more  than  the  j^cnniiie.  became  concentrated  in 
the  hands  of  a  few  sju'culatoi's.  The  ofli<-ial  report  of  the  commis- 
sioners for  the  district  of  Kaskaskia,  made  in  ISIO  to  the  secretary 
of  tho  treasury,  siiows  that  they  rejected  S!l(>  land  claims  as  either 
il]e;^al  or  fraudulent,  ."•TO  beiiij;'  supported  by  perjury,  and  a 
considerable  innnber  foi'jicd.  The  report  furtliei'  shows  that  the 
assignees  were  privy  to  both  these  atteiupted  frauds;  the  jteijured 
dei)ositions  a])pt>ared  in  the  liandwiitinj;' of  claimant  sjx'culators 
not  unfretpuMitly  without  a  word  ciianii'ed  by  the  sworn  sij.',ners. 
There  ai'c  11  names  yi\'en,  both  lOii^^lish  and  l-'reiu-h.  who  made  it 
a  rej;idur  business  to  furnish  sworn  certilicates,  professinji'  an  in- 
tiiimte  knowledji'e,  in  every  case,  of  the  settlers  who  had  made 
certain  inii)rovemeids,  and  when  and  where  they  were  located, 
upon  which  claims  were  pr.'Jicated.  In  some  cases  these  names 
were  assnined  and  thede]»ojient  woidd  never  a]>itear;in  sonu'  tlu'y 
Avere  real  and  well  known  ;  while  still  in  (»thers.  ]mrpoi'tin.i;to  coiiui 
from  a  distance,  well  km.^vn  names  would  be  for.^ed.  In  one  case; 
several  hundred  dei)ositioiis  i)oured  in  npon  the  commissioners 
from  St.  Chai'les,  Missouri,  in  the  names  of  gentlemen  formerly 
well  known  in  Kaskaskia.  The  conuuissioners,  having;  their 
suspicions  aroused  that  they  were  forgeries,  sumnnmed  them  to 
appear  before  them,  which  they  I'cadily  did,  thonj;h  they  <'onld  not 
Inive  been  comjx'lled  to,  and  with  tears  in  their  eyes  declared  on 
oath  that  they  li\cd  in  r])per  Lonisiana,  that  they  had  never  been 
in  St.  C'hailes  in  their  liv<'s,  and  that  the  dei)ositions  were  (les)>i(!- 
able  for,neries,  A  J-'remdnnan,  clerk  of  the  Parish  of  l*rairi<'  dii 
liocher,  "without  juoperty  and  foud  of  liipior,"  after  ha\inj;'  ^iven 
some  liOO  dei)ositions  in  favor  of  three  ceitain  land  <'laimaid  spec- 
nlators,  whose  names  would  be  fannliarly  recoi>ni/ed  today,  "was 
induced  eithe)'  by  com])eusation,  fear,  or  the  im])ossibility  of 
obtaining  absolution  on  any  other  terms,  to  declare  on  oath  that 
the  said  despositions  were  false,  and  that  in  fi'ivinji'  them  in.  he 
had  a  regard  to  something  beyond  the  truth.'"* 

It  is  not  pleasant  for  an  Illinoisan  to  read  in  the  pul)li(^  ai'chives 
of  onr  conntry,  noted  after  the  hoiu)red  names  of  tin'  tirst  pronu- 
iient  settlers  of  onr  State,  whose  descendents  have  becon)e 
consi)icnous  in  its  subse<pn'nt  history,  by  sworn  and  intelligent 
otlicials  the  damaging  words  of  "pei;jury,"  "deed  forged,"  "fraud 
and  peijnry,"  time  and  again,  in  snopctrt  of  land  claims;  but  such 

[iVOTE.— Tlic  forfred  nnil  perjured  depositiors  wore  mostly  adduced  to  support  claiuis 

Eresi'iited  by  Kolicrt  Morrison,  John  Kdfrtir,   I{>,bcrt  Reynolds,  Win.  Morrison,  Itielmrd 
ord,  Wm.  KoUey,  and  others.    Am.  Stale  Papers,  vol.  ii,  lOl— Pub.  Lauds,  3,  ib.   115— 


^ 


23S 


IIISTOK'Y  OF  ILLINOIS. 


is  tlip  fact.  Well  iiiiiilit  :i  ('olcinporiiiy,  voiiiiy'  at  tlu'  time,  snl>s(i- 
(|ii»'iitly  rxi'laiiii,  tii.il  ••[lai  lies  wci'c  hraiidfil  willi  pcijiir.v  and 
t(ir;^('ry  to  an  alariiiiii;^  t'\tciil."'t  liiil  when  lie  I'liitlicr  says  that 
'*thr  best  citi/cns  in  the  conntiy  wci'o  sti^inati/.cU  with  tlic  above 
criini's,  witlioiil  cause."  the  facts  appear  a^^ainsl  him.  Mncli 
rancor  and  jtaftisan  leclin.u  was  en^cnderefl  a.uainst  the  coinniis- 
sioncis  by  ihe  inlhiential  claimant  specnhitois,  wiio  were  llnis 
tliwarte<l  to  a  ;L;reat  extent  in  tln-ir  rascally  si-ln'mcs.  'I'he  com- 
missioners close  tlieir  report  with  these  words: 

"We  close  this  melancholy  picture  of  hinnan  depravity,  by  rcn- 
dorin;^'  onrdevont  acknow  led;^-ements  that, in  the  awt'nl  alternative 
in  which  we  have  been  ]iIaced,ol'  either  admit lin,y  perjincd  testi- 
mony in  snpporl  (d'  the  claims  bet'oi'e  ns,  or  lia\iny  it  tnrned 
against  onr  chara<'ters  and  li\cs,  it  has.  as  yel,  pleased  Disine 
I'roN  idence  which  rnles  onci'  the  at'lairsol'  men,  to  i»reserveiis  both 
from  le^al  mnrder  and  private  assassination." 

'i'he  clainianls,  parti<MiIarly  those  who  held  by  assiuiinicnl,  had 
met  with  lillle  troid»le  in  ha\  in.m  heir  claims  confirmed  and  pat  eiits 
issned  to  them  by  (iov.  St.  C'iair,  w  hilc  Illinois  \vas])art  of  the  norlh- 
westcrn  territory.  On  the  occasion  of  his  visit  to  Illinois,  in  I7!((>, 
while  the  impoverished  l^'icnch  were  nnable  to  bear  the  exjiciise 
of  the  j;dvernmcnt  surveys,  the  rich  and  inlhiential  specnlators 
readily  met  this  dillicnlty  and  oI»tained  their  patents.  It  seems 
that  many  of  tin'  ji()vern(»r's  c(»nlirmations  wi-re  made  by  tlie 
bnndle.  As  bnt  a  single  instance,  ont  of  many,  we  will  cite  his 
contirmation,  in  one  balk,  of  1)0  donation  rights  to  heads  of  fam- 
ilies, of  4(10  acres  each,  anionntinf;'  to  .'{(»,(KH)  a<'res  of  land,  in  tlie 
liands  of  .John  Ivluar  as  assij;iiee.  AN'e  have  already  noted  Ins 
contirmation  of  an  i'>n;^lish  urant  described  as  conlainini;' 
l'),0((0,  acres  but  which  really  contained  ;i(»,(l(l(»,  a  nnjiety  of  wliicli 
liad  l)een  incviously  conx'eyed  to  his  son.  AVhile  this  was  Ihe 
laruesi,  there  were  many  otheis  in  which  liis  son  shared,  that 
I'cadily  recei\cd  his  contirmation.  1^  v  id  en  t  fraud  and  imposili(»ii 
wei'c  also  i>racticc<l  u|)oii  (btvernor  Harrison  in  )»rocnrin,u'  his  cou- 
firination  to  land  claims. 

As  the  reixu't  of  the  commissioners  raised  manifest  doubts  le- 
s[)cctiii^'  the  \alidity  or  pro[»riety  of  a  luimberof  conlirnmtions  by 
the  governors,  and  as  there  was  much  dissatisfaction  on  the  part 
of  the  claimants,  congress.  Felt.  I'O.  1SI2,  jtassed  an  a<'t  for  the 
re\  ision  of  these  land  claims  in  the  district  of  Kaskaskia.  The 
coinmissioiH'rs  under  this  law  were  Michael  .lones,  John  Caldwell, 
and  Tliomas  Sloo.  Their  investi.yations  ri'sulted  in  uncart hin<;- 
more  facts  and  conlirmin.y'  many  i)r<'vious  ones,  (hnna^in;;' to  the 
p)od  name  of  jicntlcmen  hi^h  in  ollicial  life.  IJejiardiiiy  the 
En;^lish  j^rant  of  .id.lHK)  acres,  which  (Jovcrnor  St.  Clair  conlirmed 
to  his  son.  .lohn  Murray  ami  .lolni  l^d.^ar.  they  declared  that  the 
]»atcnt  was  issued  after  the  .u'overnor's  powcis  had  erased  to  exist 
and  the  Indiana  Territory  was  stricken  otf,  which  rendered  it  a 
nullity,  and  that  the  claim  was  ioundi'd  mither  in  law  nor  ecjnity, 
and  ouiL^ht  not  to  be  coidirined.  It  was.  howcNcr,  coidirmcd  by 
coni;ress.  (iovernor  St.  Clair  was  empowered  to  make  absolute 
eonlirnmtions  and  issue  patents  f<»r  the  lamls;but  the  laud  coni- 
missioiu'i's  under  the  act  of  ISO-l  were  not  vested  with  the  power 
of  conliiniati(tn — they  were  only  an  exanuninj;'  lioard   for  tlie  iu- 


tHeynold'8  Pioneer  History. 


INDIANA  TEIIUITOUT. 


'2?,[) 


vosti;;iition   ol'  tlic  rij;lits   of  cliiiinimts  to   iuicioiit   ^iiiinls,  IiciKl, 
iiii|)i'()\i-iiiciit  iiiitl  iiiiliiiii  ri<:lits. 

A  \(»t(',  taken  ScidciiilxT  1 1,  iSdl,  sliowcM  a  iiiajoiity  of  l."»S 
fi'cclioldci's  (»f  the  Icniloiy  ill  faxor  of  the  second  ^iiade  of  leii'i- 
loiial  j;(»veriiMieiit,  and  in  obedience  to  tlie  will  of  tiie  people,  (io\  - 
ei'nor  llanison  ordered  an  election  for  .•epreseiitaiives  lo  tiici 
territoiial  ;L;»'iieral  assendil.v,  for  .lannary  ■'>,  ISO."»,  widcli  was  lo 
meet  at  N'incennes,  I^'ehriiary  7tli  followiiij^'.  and  nominate  ten  men 
for  tlie  ie,uislati\c  council.  'I'lie  iiieinhers  elect  from  Illinois  wei'c 
Sliadracli  liond  and  William  I'.i.uiis,  of  .Si,  ( 'lair,  ami  ( ieor^c  f'islier, 
of  Ikandolpli.  'I'iie  names  presented  from  Illinois  for  conncilors, 
were  Jean  I'raiicis  I'errcy  and  .lolin  Hay.  of  St.  Clair,  and  rieric 
JMeiiard,  of  l»aiidolpli.  {'resident  .lefferson  waived  his  ri,<4lit  of 
seleciioii  in  faxorof  (ioverinn'  Ilaiiisoii,  askiiiu' only  that  he  reject 
"land  Johl)ers,  dislioiiest  men,  and  those  who,  thoii^h  holiesl, 
mi.u Id  suffer  themselves  to  be  warped  by  party  prejudice."'  I'errey 
ami  .Mellaril  were  selecte(l  for  Illinois.  On  the  7th  of  .Iniie  I'oliow- 
iiiii',  the  .uo\  eiiior  issued  his  proclaiiiat  ion  coii\ciiiii,L;'  the  Icj^iislaliiie 
for  tlie  L'ilth  of  .Inly,  lS(»r».  This  was  the  secomi  time  that  the 
jieople  of  this  coiintry,  thron^h  their  I'cpreseiitalix  es.  <'.\ercised 
the  law  maUiii,u'  power  for  their  own  local  ;;(iveiniiient. 

In  his  message,  delivered  the  followin;^  day,  the  j;'overnor  re- 
commended the  jiassa^c  of  laws  lo  i»r«'Veiit  the  saleof  intoxicating' 
li(|ii()rs  to  the  Indians,  sayin<4' :  "  Y'oiihave  seen  onr  towns  crowded 
Avith  (ij^'iiikeii  sa\ii,!;'es;  oiir  streets  llowinj^'  with  blood  ;  their  arms 
and  clot hin.n' bartered  for  the  liijiior  that  destroys  them  ;  ami  their 
miserable  women  and  chiidreii  eiidnrin.i;'  all  the  extroniitics  of  cold 
and  hnii.iici';  whole  \illa.ii('s  Innc  been  swept  awiiy.  A  miserable, 
remnant  is  all  that  remains  to  mark  the  situation  of  many  warlik(i 
tribes.'"'  lie  recomincmk'd,  also,  ii  renH)deliii<;'  of  tlie  inferior 
courts,  so  as  to  iiisnie  a  more  ellicient  administration  of  Jnstice; 
an  im]»roved  militia  system;  more  eflicieiit  [mnishmeiit  for  horse 
stealiiij;';  and  ways  and  means  for  raising;' a  revenue,  sayiiiji'.  that 
this  latter  would  be  their  most  diflicnlt  and  delicate  duty;  that  while 
few  were  the  ol»jccts  of  taxation  in  a  new  country,  it  must  still  i)e  a 
burthen,  and  the  commencement  of  onr  linaiicial  operations  must 
lie  cxjiectpd  to  be  attendiMl  by  some  trilling',  thoiijih  lu;  trusted, 
temiiorary  enibarrassineiits.  The  le.iiislatiire,  by  Joint  ballot, 
elected  IJenJaniin  J'arke.  of  Indiana,  territorial  delcLiate  to  coii- 
ji'ress.  The  Icvyinj;'  of  taxes,  as  was  aiilici[»ated,  created  consid- 
able  dissatisfaction  amon;;'  s<mic  of  the  ])eople.  The  ]»oll  tax  was 
]»articiilarly  obnoxious  to  the  I-^rendi  residents.  Their  imli.miatioii 
found  \'eiit  at  a  ])nblic  meeting;',  held  at  \'inceiiiies.  Sunday.  Aii- 
fiust  n>,  1807,  where  it  was  "  resolved"'  that  they  would  "withdraw 
their  conddeiMM'and  supjiort  forever  from  those  men  whoadxocated, 
or  in  any  niaiiiier  ]»romoted,  the  second  jiiade  ol'  jiovi-rnment."* 

The  lejiislature  ]'e-eiiacted  many  of  the  i^'eneral  laws  selected  and 
adojited  by  the  ji'overnors  and  Jtiducs  of  both  the  Northwestern 
and  Indiana  territoiities,  under  the  first  jiiadeof  their  res])ective, 
p>veriimeiits.  I'l'ox  isioii  was  made  for  a  collection  and  tlioronj:h 
revision  of  thelaws,  by  a  commission.  Accordiiijily,  a  volume  was, 
two  years  later,  produced,  bearinj;'  the  following;-  title:  "  Laws  of 
the  Indiana  Territory,  com])risiiij;'  those  acts  formerly  in  force,  and 
as  revised  by  ]\lessrs.  ,Iohn   Kice  Jones  and  John  Johnson,  and 

^Dillon's  Indiana. 


1 


240  UISTOIIY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

jjiisscd  (al'tci'  iiiiicii(liii»'iits)  1)\  llic  Ic^iisliiliirc ;  and  llic  ()ii;iiiia'. 
aiis  jdissctl  ill  llic  lirsl  session  ol'  the  second  ^I'Mcnd  asst'inl»l,\  of 
tln' said  It'iriloiy — hcj^an  and  held  at  tin- lioron;;ii  of  V'incrnncs, 
on  tlic  Hitli  day  of  An^iist,  A.  1>.  ISOT.'"  Messrs,  Stont  aial 
Snioot,  '•  |>iintcrs  foi'  t  lie  tcnitory,"  were  liic  pnhlislifis  ;  llic  paper, 
on  wliieli  it  was  printed,  was  l)rouj;lit  on  iiorseliaek  iVoni  (ieor^e- 
town,  Kentucky. 

Tliis  collection  of  old  statnfcs  relates  juincipally  "to  the  orj;an- 
izalion  of  superior  and  inferior  <'oiirts  of  Justice,  tlu'  appoint- 
ment and  dniies  of  territorial  and  connty  oilicers,  ])rison  and 
]>risoii  Itonnds,  real  estate,  interest  and  money,  marria;,;('s, 
di\(»i'ces,  licenses,  fei'ries,  ;:rist mills,  elections,  militia,  roads  and 
lii;ili\vays,  esira,\s,  t respassin;;',  animals,  inclosiire  and  enltivaliou 
of  common  lields,  I'elief  of  poor,  taverns,  improvinji'  tiie  breed  of 
Imrses,  taxes  and  revennes.  ne;4r(pes  and  midattoes  nnder  inden- 
tnres  as  servants,  fees  of  oilicers,  sale  of  inloxieat inji'  li(piors, 
r«'li«'f  of  persons  imprisoned  for  debt,  killin;;'  wolves,  i»roliil>itin^' 
the  sale  of  arms  and  ammunition  to  Indians  and  other  persons, 
the  standard  of  wei;ilits  and  measnres,  vaj^rants,  ant horizin,^  aliens 
to  ]iui('hase  and  hold  real  estate  in  the  teri'iloi'y,"*  etc.  The  pen- 
alties ]»rovi(le(l  for  (-rimes  and  misdemeanors,  were,  death  for 
treason,  murder,  arson  and  horse-stealing-;  nuinslanjihter,  jmnisli- 
aitle  as  ])roviiled  at  common  law;  burglary  and  robbeiT,  each  by 
whipi)in,n',  line  and,  in  some  cases  inij»risonment  not  exceediii;;'  iO 
years;  riotous  conduct,  by  line  and  impiisonment ;  larceny,  by 
tine  or  whipping',  and  in  certain  cases,  bound  out  to  labor  not 
exceedinf''  7  years;  for;;('ry,  by  tine,  disfranchisement  and  stand- 
in,ii' in  thi'  pillory;  assault  and  battery,  as  a  crinu',  by  line  not 
cxceediuf;'  .*n><>;  hoj^-stealiny',  byline  and  Avhippin*:';  "^iunblinj,;', 
jtrofaue  swciirinj;' and  Sal»balh-l>reakinj;',  each  by  tine;  bi^^amy,  by 
line,  whipping;'  and  dislVanciiisement.  The  disobedience  of  ser- 
vants and  children,  a  Justice  of  the  ])eace  was  entitled  to  ])unish 
by  imprisoiMuent  in  the  Jail  until  tho  culprit  was  '•  humbled,"  and 
if  the  olfense  was  accomi>anied  by  assault,  lu-  mi<;ht  be  wliipiied, 
not  exi'cediu"  10  striiies. 


•Dlllon'slndiunn 


'Dillon  8 indiunn. 

Till'  laws,  reltitiiig  to  ludontureU  slaves,  are  treated  under  Governor  Cole's  aduiinis- 
triitiou. 


ClIAPTEU  XXT. 

1  S( »!)_]  ILLINOIS  T  !•:  I !  I M '!'( )  I  { V. 

Opjuisitiou  to  Dirisi.oti — .Irs.st;  It.  Thinuax — (Inr.  Ktlirardx — Xathdiiii'l 
I'djw — Tn'ritoritil  Federal  Judi/cs — The  (Invevuor  aroids  ihe  meshes 
of  the  Sepnratioiiisfs  toid  AiiliSe2)(ir<(fio)ii.slf< — Condition  (iiid  Vop- 
nUition  of  the  Territon/. 


V>\  Met  oF  conj^it'ss,  ;\]»)>rov(Ml  l-'cltinurv  .">,  lSO!t,  mII  flint  i)art 
ol"  I  lie  liMliiiiiii  'i'cnitoiy  l\iii,i;'  '"west  dI'  the  \V;ilt;isIi  lixrr,  iiiid  ii 
<lircct  line  dniwii  tVoiu  the  s!ii<l  \V;il>iisli  river iiiid  I'ost  N'iiiccinics, 
due  iioi'tli  to  the  tcrritoii;!!  line  hctwccii  tlic  I'liitrd  Stiift's  ;iii<l 
('iiiiiidii,''  slioidd,  iil'icr  tlir  lirsf  of  .Marcli  follow  iii;L;,  coiislitiitc  a 
s«'))iir!)t(',  tcnitor.v,  iind  1)«' eidlt'd  Illinois.  'I'liis,  it  will  Ix' perceived, 
included  tlie  i)resciit  Stiite  of  Wisconsin.  Tlie  ]»opnlation  of  tlio 
jiew  I V  organized  territory  was  estimated  at  al»oMt  !>,("'•',  lea  via  <;• 
in  Indiana  ahont  doable  that  nnnii)er. 

Tliere  are  many  tliinj;s  wliicli  iisnally  iid1nenc(^  any  American 
community  in  the  desire  to  be  indejtendent.  Tlie  main  reasons 
advanced  by  Illinois  in  favor  of  a  sej)iiration  fiom  Indiana  were, 
the  "wide  extent  of  wilderness  conntry"  which  inler\('ned  bet  wceu 
the  civili/ed  sijttlements  of  the  conntry  on  the  .Mississippi,  abont 
the  only  ones  in  Illinois,  ami  the  seat  ol'  ^'overnment  on  the 
AVabiish,  renderin^i'  the  oidiimry  jirotectioii  (»f  ;;(>vernnieiit  to  life 
and  projjcrty  almost  iiniiatory;  the  in<'0]iveiiience.  expense  and 
•lanuers  of  lonji' jonrneys  whose  routes  led  tliroM,iih  sections  wholly 
iidial)ited  by  savajics,  which  litijiants  in  the  snperior  coni'ts  of  tin; 
terriloiT  were  eom])elled  to  iiicnr  t'oi- themselv«'s  and  witnesses; 
and  tht^  almost  total  obstrnctioii  to  an  ellicient  adnunistratioii  of 
the  laws  in  connties  so  distant  from  the  sent  of  .government  as 
those  of  Jllinois.  Xotwithstandin.i;'  the  I'cmoteiiess  and  isohiticai 
of  this  conntry  IVom  the  ceiitei-s  of  ])oi>idation  in  the  (nited^ 
States  at  tlnit  early  day,  the  tide  of  emiiiiation  i)ressed  westward 
with  a  yradmd  bnt  ever  increasinj;'  tlow.  In  ISO.I  .Miehi,L;an  was 
erected  into  a  se)>arate  territory,  an(i  by  tliistime  Illinois  contained 
SI  white  ])opnlation  tally  as  j;ieat  as  that  of  the  wjiole  tei-ritory  of 
Indiana  when  detache(l  tVom  Ohio  five  years  befoie.  The  (jnestion 
of  separation  in  Illinois  j^rew  ai)ace  from  this  time  on;  it  was  re- 
peatedly pressed  npon  the  attention  of  con^iress  by  lejiislative 
inenH)iials  in  ISOtJ,  ISO"  ami  ISOS,  nntil  that  body  linally  disposed 
of  thesnbject  as  above  stated,  lint  while  the  people  of  Vincennes 
and  neijihb(»rin,n'  villa<;es  east  of  the  Wabash  (tpposed  the  sepaia- 
tion  fi'om  interested  motives,  for  a  divisi(ai  wonid  before  many 
years  elapsed  take  from  tliein  the  seat  of  }:(>\erinnent  and  remove 
it  to  SI  more  central  locality,  and  would  sdso  increase  the  rsiles  of 
]0  241 


242 


IIISTOKV  Ol'    ILLINOIS. 


t'lixiitioti,  wliiit  iiiiiy  !i|i|H':ir  tlillinili  ol'  soliitinii  wii.s  tiic  tact  that 
ill  Illinois  tlx'if  \\:isaii\  lliiii;;  lint  iiiiiiiiiiiiit v  in  t'a\t)r  of  tli\  isi(»ii  aixl 
iii(li'|M'ii<lcii*-t-.  A  \iiilciii  ami  >t'|iaralii)ii  |iail,\  spniii;^  ii|>  lirrt*, 
wiiicli,  tliiHij;li  ;;r('atl\  (»\  I'llMiiiif  li\  ininiln'fs,  Itv  ils  arti\ity 
nrdiist'd  a  (in-p  ami  aii;:r,\  Iccliii^  wliicli  iiltiiiialcl.N  rcsiillcil  in 
MiiimIsIii'iI.  r>,\  III*-  iiiacliiiiatioiis  o['  tlit'  ii|i|Misrrs  to  ;i  division 
'•(Mif  (iT  till'  waiiih'sl  tViniils  ami  alijcsl  ailxocah's  of  tiii'  iii«'a>iii** 
was  assassiiiati'il  at  KasUaskia  in  (M»iisc<|iiciH'f."*  'I  lie  «|iHNiiuii 
of  sc|iai'ati(iii  tiii'iicd  ii|m)|i  iIic  al)ilil,\  of  llit>  llliiinis  iiiciiiIm'Is  ut' 
till'  lit  ^isliitiirc,  in  sessional  N'iiicciim's  in  ( )ctiiliiM-  lso,s,  lu  <'lrcl. 
a  il<lt';;atf  |o  cniijirfss  in  place  of  I'leiijainin  I'arke,  resi^iietl.  \\li(» 
kIkiiiIiI  lie  laNoralile  to  lli*>  iti\  isioii.  'i'lie  lllinoisans  t'oiiml  a  suit- 
alile  eaiidiilale  in  an  Indiana  ineiidiei-ot'  the  House,  who  was  also 
Speaker,  l>\  the  name  ol"  Jesse  11.  'I'lionms,  who,  I'oi'  the  sake  of 
{;(iin;;'  to  congress,  was  ready  to  viohile  the  sentiments  of  liiseoii- 
stitiieiits  upon  this  (picstioii.  Ihil  the  Illinois  meinlteis,  w  itli  a 
due  appreciation  ol'  (he  promises  of  politiei;ins,  cNcn  at  that  eaily 
da\,  reiiiiiicd  of  this  yfiitlemaii.  liefoie  lliey  would  \tite  for  liiiii, 
1o  snpport  his  pled;;t'.s  l)y  his  lioiul,  conditioned  that  he  woiihl 
pioeiiie  fidiii  eonj;i('ss  a  division,  whei'enpoii  he  was  trininphanlly 
cleeled  liy  a  liaic  majority  with  the  aid  of  his  own  vote.!  lie  was 
hnii;;' in  elV!;;\  at  N'incennes  liy  Ine  anti-sepaiationisis;  Itnt  he  ilis- 
cliai',ucd  his  pled;;*'s  and  his  bond,  i»y  prociiiin^  the  division  iVoiii 
congress;  and, as  it  wasdtailttlessdesiiahle  to  eliaii).;e  his  residence, 
he  came  lioine  with  a  coinmissioii  for  a  federal  Jiid^^cship  of  the 
liew  teriitorv  in  his  pocket  and  rcimncd  tt»  Illinois. 

i>y  the  act  of  separation,  the  people  of  Illinois  were  also  entitled 
to  all  and  singular  tlic  ri;.'lils,  pri\  ilexes  and  ad\anla!^es  jiiaiited 
and  secured  to  the  peojile  under  Ihe  ordinance  of  17S7,  which  was 
ap|ilied  to  Ihe  territory — fair  words  cnoiij;h,  Init  the  oidinanci'  coii- 
t'erred  little  political  power;  the  iirevionsdiit  its  wire  imposed  upon 
the  new  oflicers,  and  the  rresideiit  was  eiiipoW(r«'d  to  make 
appointments  dnrinji'  the  n'cess  of  conj;ress;  |in>\ision  was  inado 
liMliie  or<;aiii/.ation  of  the  second  ^rade  of  territorial  ^idvcriiincnt, 
whenever  tin-  <;(>veriior  should  at  any  time  he  satistied  that  a  ma- 
jority of  the  iVeeholders  of  the  territory  desired  the  same, 
not  w  ithstandiii;;'  there  were  less  than  ."i.tKIO  inhaliitanls,  lixinj;  tho 
iiuinher  of  representativ«'s,  in  such  case,  at  not  less  than  seven  nor 
more  than  nine,  to  be  apportioned  aiiion,u  the  counties  hy  the  ;;ov- 
criior;  the  lej;islalivi'  coniicil  and  dele;;ates  to;-oii,nress  wt'ie  made 
clectivi'  by  tlie  jieople;  the  old  otheers  wcic  eoniinned  in  the  exer- 
cise of  their  duties  in  Indiana,  but  prohiliiled  in  Illinois;  pro\  isioii 
wasmaile  for  thetinal  disposition  of  all  Miits  from  Illinois  jiemlinji' 
in  the  court  at  Vinceiines,  for  the  collection  of  taxes  levied  and 
due;  and  the  seat  of  ^iovernmcnt  was  lixed  at  Kaskaskia,  until 
otherwise  ordered  bv  the  Ie"islature. 


•See  odilrcssi  of  citizens  to  Gov.  Edwiirds,  at  Kn»kiiskin,  June,  1801), 
+.>oe  t'ord's  Illinois,  p.  30. 

iXoiT.  — .\  ciKidiis  state  of  afTairs  olitiiiiii'd  witli  rciraicl  to  Iiulinna  after  the  separa- 
tion ot  Illinois.  On  the  ritith  ol' Octoher,  l.sdS,  the  ^-overnor  had  (iissoUcil  the  lijrisla- 
t nil' :  li.v  act  ol  idM^iiess,  Fetuiiarj' ;f.  ISIIH,  Illinois  was  (li^taehed,  taking:  with  ll  live 
liicintiei  s,  whieh  would  have  dIssoUcd  the  louislatiire  had  it  not  aliiMcly  l)i'cn  d'ssoUi'd; 
later  in  the  same  month,  on  the  r.'Tth,  eoiifrress  passed  a  law  extendiiif:' the  riulil  ot 
siitlraue  and  preserililnjj  the  number  ot  representatives  foi'  the  territory,  and  turllier, 
directed  the  lefiislature  to  apportion  the  representatives  ;  but  there  was  no  leiiislature 
in  oxist(Miee  to  make  the  ai)portionment.  Indiana  was  in  political  chaos— somethiuK 
was  re<|uired  of  a  body  that  she  did  not  i)ossess,  and  which  it  was  impossible  lor  her  to 
lefrally  cieate.  Knt  (Jovernor  Harrison  cut  the  frordean  knot,  and,  le;rall.v  or  otherwise, 
uppo'.tioued  the  territory,  issued  writs  of  election  for  a  new  legislature,  "aud  in  October 


ILI.l.NnlH   TF.UKITdllY. 


I'la 


Niiiiiiii  I'Mwiirds.  !it  flic  tiiiif  cliicf' i'lsticr  of  the  ('0111  tot'  A])iM'iil.s 
iti  Ktiitiick  V.  iMM'iiiiH'  <io\rriinr  (if  the  ucwly  or;^iiiiizcil  Inriiiiiy 
<il'  llliiiuis.  .luliii  I'lKvIc,  of  the  siiiiM'  Sliitt',-iiMirst  rcrrivrd  llio 
iiIi|M>iiitiiH-lit  (<''  <io\<'i'iioi',  Itiil  (li'clith-d  (Ik*  oilier  iiiitl  iin-t-plctl 
tiiiil  of  .issoi'intt'  Jtisiicc  of  III*-  sniiif  coiirl  wlicrcof  Mdwimls  was 
( 'liicT  .liisiici'.  I'lilwiirtis  was  (Irsiiniis  of  lilliii;;  tlic  \  acaiicv ,  ami  at. 
the  ncoMitai'iHlatioii  of  li('iii\\  ( 'lay,  rcrcix cd  the  aiipoialnii'iil  IVoiii 
iM'csjilciit  Madison,  Ills  foiiiiiiissioii  ii'-aritiiL;'  date  April  L'l,  |S(l!). 

Ill  Ills  IctliT  lo  tlh'  prrsidt'iil.  Ilciny  Clay  spoke  of  ,linl;^e  Md- 
wai'ds  as  follnus:  •• 'i'lie  lioimialile  appoiiiliiieiils  \\lii<'|i  this 
;>eiitleiiiaii  has  held  (lirst  asajiid^c  of  our  Superior  ('oiiit,  and 
f  liei)  promoted  to  his  present  station).  e\  iiiee  how  highly  he  is  <'sti- 
nialed  aim>  lu'iis."  And  in  a  let  I  erol°  I  lie  same  dale  to  t  he  I  Inn.  U'lilit. 
Sniilli.  he  ;aid:  "Mis  political  principles  aeeord  with  those  of  tlii^ 
licpultliean  party.  llis;;ood  nnderstandiii;;',  weij;lil  of  eharaeter 
and  eoiieilialory  inaiiiiers,  ;i;ive  him  very  fair  pretentions  to  tlio 
oflice  alluded  lo.  *  »  #  |  |ia\ c  no  doiiht  thai  t he  whole  repre- 
sentation from  the  State,  when  consulted,  would  concur  in  ascrih- 
iii;;'  to  him  e\<'r>  ipialiticalion  for  theolhee  in  (piestioii." 

Niiiiaii  I'M  wards  was  horn  ill  MoiilLtomery  eoiinly.  Md.,  in  I77."i, 
and  at  1  he  time  of  his  a|ipoiiii  meiit  as  ;;o\  eriior  was  a  I  tout  .11  years 
old.  lie  olitaiiieil  his  eai'ly  ediieat ion  in  company  with  and  partly 
nnder  the  tail  ion  of  William  Wirt,  his  senior  l>y  t  W(»  ,\eais.  and  life, 
loiii;  friend.  Aft<'r  a  collegiate  I'oiirse  at  Carlyle,  I'a..  he  coiii- 
ineiiced  the  study  of  law.  hiit  l»el'ore.  linishiini'  it  was  sent  to 
Kentucky  to  select  lauds  foi' his  brothers  and  sisters  and  open  a 
farm,  lie  located  in  Nelson  eoiinty,  and  heiii.u'  fnriiished  with 
ample  means  in  a  new  coiintiy  where  the  eharacler  of  society  was 
as  M't  iiuforiiied,  and  snrroiinded  liy  ('oinpaiiions  whose  pleasures 
and  pursuits  were  in  sensual  indul^emres.  he  fell  into  indisereticuis 
and  excesses  for  t  w (I  or  three  years.*  l»ul  in  the  then  standard  (d' 
society,  this  did  not  jUfxcnt  Ids  election  to  the  Keiitnek,\  l.e^isla- 
fiire.  Sul)se(|ueutly  he  broke  away  from  his  diss<diite  companious 
and  liabits,  remoxcd  lo  Ifiisseh  ille.  and  devoted  himself  to  labori- 
ous simly.  He  soon  attained  eminence  in  his  profession.  IJelbrit 
lie  was  .'{U  years  old  he  had  tilled  in  snceession  the  ol'liees  of  pre- 
sidiii.u'  .i'ldue  ot  the  ;4-eiieral  court,  circuit  Jud^c,  Itli  Jud.^c  of  the 
e(mrt  of  a|)peals,  and  chief  Justice  of  the  State,  w  loch  last  he  held 
when  his  as.-ociate  justice,  Ihiyle.  received  the  appointineiil  of 
teriit(U'ial  j^oveinor  lor  I liinois.  The  two.  to  suit  tiieir  res[)eetiv(i 
iiK'linatioiis,  exchanjicd  oflices,  Kdwards,  throuj:h  the  patroiiajic 
of  Mr.  <  'lay.  becomiim  iiovernor.  and  lloyle  chief  just  ice.  (lo\  criior 
Mil  wards  was  a  larj;e,  line  lookiii;;'  man.  w  it  ii  a  disi  in.i;iiislied  aii'and 
courtly  mauiiei's,  who  w  ielded  a  ready  pen  and  was  tliient  (d'speecli. 

The  territorial  Judges  appoiiiti'd.  besides  Thomas,  were  .\le\. 
andei' Stuart  and  William  Spiii:;.;'.  The  former  was  a  \'ir-iiiiaii,  a^ 
luau    of  tine  ediu'ation  and  polished  maiiueis,  who,t  however,  re- 


I'ollovvinsr  convt'iK'd  it  for  liii^Jincss.  Hut  t lint  liody,  cntcrtiiiiiitiir  (IniiMs  wticthur  it  was 
really  ii  Icjrisliituic  or  not,  iMcpiiroil  n  stato  "lit  to  conyrcss,  pet  It  i'liiin^^  that  powor  to 
consiitiu'  it  a  Icfral  hoily,  iiiul  adjoiiriicd  ii'.-ii""'i"'ily  to  await  ac(  ion  upon  tin- case. 
S.icli  art"  souKMif  tlic  iiiconvi'uit'ticcs  of  unviMiUMcnt  wlicrr  oiiuiiial  sovcri'lMiiry  docs 
not  rcsidcMii  tl!  people,  but  is  derived  Iroi.i  a  power  superior  lo  tliem— an  api)arent 
anomoly  i"  tlu  theory  of  American  jrovuriunpnt.— .See  l.)iilon'8  Ind.] 

*(iov.  10dw,.nrs  Life,  by  liis  son. 

■i-.lud};e  Itreese.  in  tlie address  of  layiiifr  tlio  corner  stone  of  tlic  now  Stiitc  House  by 
•liidH-e  eatoii,  says:  '"AikI  williall  a  sood  liver,  of  whom  it  is  said  he  esteemed  tli'o 
turkey  tlie  most  inconvenient  of  the  poultry  tribe,  as  it  was  too  large  for  one  and  not 
large  enough  for  two." 


241 


HISTOKY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


llliUlicd  (III 
t<»  Missoii 
iiiid  ill!  li 


I  iiic  IhmicIi  ill  Illinois  hilt  ii  slioit  time,  hciii";' clniii^t'd 
ri.  His  siifccssor  was  Stiiiilcy  (iriswold,  a  jiood  lawyer 
iiiiii  an  iioiicst  mail,  who,  as  (lov.  Ivc.vnold.s  says  in  liis  IMoiiccr 
History,  '"paid  liis  debts  and  simy'  David's  l*saliiis."  He  wasafter- 
■wai'ds  traiisl'crrefl  to  .Mielii;;aii,  and  Tlioiiias  Towies  hecaine  his 
siicet'ssor.  W'illiiiii  Si»iiji<i  was  itoni  and  reared  in  Maryland,  where 
lii.s  oroilier  atta.iied  to  the  hi^li  olliceof  jiovcriior.  His  edncatiou 
Avas  classical  and  lie  was  deeply  rea<l  in  the  law.  He  was  a  man 
of  siiijiidar  pniity  of  lieart  an<l  simplicity  of  manner — hicliing 
totally  in  all  the  arts  of  the  politician.* 

Nathaniel  I'ope.  a  relative  of  the  .l;(>\ crnor,  was  appointed  secre- 
tary of  the  territory.  He  was  horn  in  K<'nliicUy,  at  the  Fallsof  the 
Ohio,  in  ITSf,  His  ed  neat  ion  was  collej;iate,  ht'inn'oiic  (»f  tin- early 
•iiadiiates  of  Transyl'.  ania  Tniversity,  at  Lexiiiutoii.  His  natural 
i'lidownieiits  of  head  and  heart,  wcie  vci'y  snperior.  To  a  tine 
analytii-al  mind,  he  added  a  genial  and  heiievoleiit  dis[iosilion, 
andjiTcat  dignity  of  characti'r.  He  selected  the  law  for  a  j)r()fes- 
sioii.  and  soon  iiiastere<l  its  intricacies.  At  tlie  aji'e  of  1*1,  heemi- 
jiiated  tt»  St.  (ienevicNc,  then  I'ltper  hoiiisiana,  where  he  learned 
tosjteak  KrenclMpiite  Uiiently.     Fiv«' years  later,  he  was  apitointed 


ciMiiii  ics  oi  t^i.  V  laii  aiMi  iiaiMioipii  \\  i-iv  iciii«iatcu  ii.>s  iiic  i  w  o  coun- 
ties t>f  the  Illinois  tenitory.  On  the  ;Jd  ()f  jMay,  he  sii»poiii(ed  and 
eommissioiicd  Klias  Hector  altoiiiey-jicneral.  John  llay  sheritif, 
ImiocIi  .\loore  coroner,  and   17  Justices  of  the  peace. 

On  the  Ilth  of  .Iiinefollowiiiii,  (lovernor  Edwards  assniiied  the 
dnties  of  his  otlice.  He  had  taUeii  the  oath  of  ollice  in  Keiitncky, 
Itefore  his  departure.  I'poii  his  arrival  at  Kaskaslda.  his  llxccl- 
lency  was  tendered  a  tlatterinji'  piihlic  address  by  the  citizens,  in 
Avliich  he  was  asked  to  espouse  the  side  of  the  '■  virtuous  inajorily"' 
l>y  whose  patriotic^  exertions  the  territory  had  been  divided 
and  his  Kxcelleiicy  attained  his  lii.i;li  station,  and  to  whom  oii^lit 
to  be  distribiitt'd  the  otllices  in  his  jiift,  lather  than  to  those  wh(» 
jie\ cr  ceased  to  oppose  the  measure  and  heap caluinni(>s  andindiy- 
nities  upon  its  friends.  The  j:o\criior,  iinwillin;^'  to  become  a  part- 
isaiioii  either  side, made  a  felicitous  but  iion-commiltal  ifply.  He 
re-appointed  .loliii  Hay  cleik  of  St.  Clair  county,  and,  as  a  curious 
instance  of  oflicial  self-succession  to  othce  in  tliis  country,  we  will 
]iieiili(ni  that  he  held  that  [tiihlic  trust  from  thence  on,  until  his 
decease,  in  l.S4,"».  In  place  of  l{eeti»r,  I)eiijaiiiin  11.  Doyle  had 
1)een  appointed  attoriiey-.ii'cncral,  and  he  resi^iiiiny, -John  . I.  Crit- 
tenden, of  KeiiliicUy,  was  appointed  ;  hut  the  latter,  after  holding; 
the  otlice  a  few  months,  also  resigned,  wlieii  his  brother,  Thomas 
L.,  succeeded  him. 

On  the  Kith  of  .luiie,  ISO!),  the  governor.  Joined  by  Judges  Stuart 
and  S)trigg  (Tlnniias  being  still  absent  in  Washington),  constitut- 

♦licytiD.ds,  ill  Ills  I'ioiicci-  History,  siiys  tluit  Spria^r  iiccoiniiiiiiiccl  fiovcrnnr  Kdwards  in 
liis  ciinipnimi  nsriiiiist  llic  Iiiiliiins  (111  ecdi'la  LiiUc,  111  I  SI:.',  iiiiciicuiiilicicil  liv  friiii  orollicr 
Wen  poll  iiiiliciitiii«'  liilliLicrciicy .  "Ills  piu-ilii-  ami  sirkly  appfaraiu-i',  toj:il  lirr  with  liis 
perlcct  plillosopliic  indilVorciH'e  asto  wiir  or  peace.  Hie  or  cleatli  iiiinle  liliii  tlie  mbjout 
ol'  imioli  discussion  aiuoiiKtliu  troops,     lie  was  tlio  only  savaui  in  i  lie  army.  " 


ILLINOIS   TKUllITORY.  L'45 


m  inn'  ;i  l(',ni.sl!itiv('  body  in  tlic  first  .uradc  of  Icrrifoiiiil  .ii<»v('niiiioiit, 

*  iiiitlci'  llic  ."itli  sfctioii  ol'  tlic  ordinance  of  17S7.  met  iiiid  I't'-ciuictccl 

,  sncli  of  tlic  laws  of  flic   Indiana  territory,  with  \vlii('li  tlio  people, 

I  wlio  foi'  nine  years  liail  formed  a  pai't  tiiereof.  were  familial',  and 

I  as  were  snitable  and  ap[)lieal»le  to  Illinois,  and  not   local  or  speeial 

'  to  Indiana.     Many  of  tlicsc  laws  were  those  which,  withont  ehan,i;e, 

I  of  phraseology,  had  either  1  teen  originally  imported  or  enacted  by 

i  the  anthorilies  of  the  old  Xorthwcstern   territory, 

I  Thus  was  ])id  into  opeiation  the  inachinery  of  civil  g-ovoniment 

I  in  the  Territory  of  lUii.ois;  bnt  (lovcrnor  lOdwai'ds,  owin.ii'  to  the 

I  local  political  dissension^,  ^rowini;  out  of  the  tpu'stion  of  territor- 

5  ial  division,  which  had  dc;;enerated  into  jiei'sonal  animosities,  met 

\  with    no  inconsideral)le  dillicnlties  in  avoidin*;'  the  meshes  of  these 

factions,  striii;.iilin.L,'  tiercely  for  respective  ascemlancy.  lie  re- 
solved not  to  l>e  can^hr  in  the  t<»ils  of  either  ]»aity,  and  for  the 
intei-csts  and  |»r()s|»ei'ity  (»f  the  conntry,  sonj^iit  to  i,i;iiore  the  entire 
4)Mestion  that  it  mi.irht  )»ass  into  oblivion.  At  that  day.  the  militia 
system,  which  had  )-eceived  the  earnest  I'eccmimendation  of  (Jover- 
Dor  Ilai'risoii,  and  which  was  also  a-  necessity  of  liic  times,  was  in 
full  and  ett'ective  o])eration.  Witklhe  dissolntion  of  the  Indianii 
territ(ny.  it  became  the  dnty  of  (lovcrnor  iMlwards  to  re-oryani/.e 
the  militia  for  the  new  teiritory  (tf  Illinois.  The  scparatioiiist.s 
urj,'ed  his  l'L\cellency  to  appoint  none  to  oflice  in  the  militia  who 
liad  ever  o|tposed  the  division  of  the  t<'rritory;  but  this  wonld 
have  committed  him  <-ontrary  to  his  jnd.uiiH'nt.  The  anti  se]»arii- 
rionists  pressed  iiim  tore-appoint  all  the  old  olliccrs;  bnt  as  a  lU'W 
commission  wonld  have  \'oided  all  oti'enses  I'or  which  any  ollicer 
miijiit  ha\»'  been  tried  and  jinnished  by  dismissal,  he  refused  to 
accede  to  that  also.  To  steer  clear  of  both  Hcylla  and  Charibdis, 
lie  rcfcrreti  the  (picstioiito  the  peo|de.  by  direcli:iL!,-  the  militia 
I'ompanics  to  elect  the  company  otiicers,  and  the  latter  to  clir)o,se 
the  Held  otiicers.  With  these  orders,  his  lv\c«'llency  i('tire(l  from 
the  tield  o)'  contention  to  Kentncky,  to  wind  np  some  nntinishcd 
<-onrt  bnsiness,  and  upon  his  return,  late  in  the  fall,  he  issued  an 
address  tothe  pi'ople.  cxplanatoiw  of  his  (iourse,  and  commissioned 
the  militia  otiicers  returned  to  him  as  el«'<'red. 

The  population  of  the  teiritory,  at  the  time  of  its  orLiani/.atiou, 
was  estimated  at  '.l(>(>(»;  tiie  census  of  ISIO  retunu'd  it  at  a  total  of 
iLM'Si'— 1I,:)(H  whites,  ](if<,  slaves,  Oi;;  of  all  otheis,  e\c<'pt  Indians 
— Ix-iiii;:  an  increase  ofsoaie  1()(»  per  <-t  .it  during'  the  ]>i'eccdinj4' 
tU'cade.  The  frontiers  had  been  steadily  advanced  b\  the  adven- 
turous pioneers.  To  the  north,  the  settlements  had  extended 
to  the  Wood  river  <'ounlry,  in  the  present  ."Madison  county;  east- 
ward, on  Silver  erect  aiui  u|>lhe  Kaskaskia  river;  south  and  east, 
from  Ivaskaskia,  s(niie  l."»  miles  out  on  the  l"'ort  Massac  load;  the 
l>irds  had  located  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio;  at  old  Alassac  and 
the  Ohio  salines,  there  had  been  nuclei  of  setllemeiits  for 
.some  lime;  Sliawne<'town,*  the  nearest  p.iint  on  tin- Ohio  to  the 
•salt  wells,  JL}  miles   west,  had  eoutained    .,  ..  \v  stra;;gliii^  houses 

"ShinriKM'diwii.  whicli  'Icrivcs  Its  immo  I'pom  a  diKsntisHod  bnnd  of  that  trllieof  Iiid- 
liiiis  lociitcd  llii'ic  Iriiin  HS'i  i<ihIm>iiI  1T»1(i,  \v:is  l:iii|  out  liy  t  lie  iliiccliori  of  tile  I'nitrd 
Stiitcs  fj-o^iMiiicnt,  ill  If*!:!-!  I,  ,md  for  m  (imiitci-  of  ii  cciitiiry  mm*  the  prliiciniil  town  in 
the  Slate  Tlu'  -ili-.  iliosrii  wit  li  ii-IVrciico  to  its  coiif  i«-iiity"to  tlic  I  TiitcdSt.iti'Ssaliiius, 
was  an  iiiiloitiiiiiiti'  one,  liiinsj  siili.jrct  to  i-c  oca  toil  imiiulat  ions.  In  fslli,  a  Hood  I'osc  to 
rl  f  ridsrc  )ioli'soii  the  fools  of  many  of  tlu?  loy  houses,  andswepi  40of  them  away,  lie- 
Fiilc:)  oth'  r  daiiiaye  to  stock,  Icncin^r,  etc,  I'etitions  to  change  the  location  tu  the 
uioiithul'  the  Saiinc  creek,  S  miles  below,  were  disregarded. 


240 


HISTORY   OF   ILI.l^sOIS. 


since  ISO.");  iilon--  tlic  west  side  of  tlic  Wiiltasli.  oppoMtc  \  m- 
(•(Miiics,  wciv  sciittcrcd  a  few  lamilit's,  one  Mc<':i\vl»'y  liaMii-  im'Ii- 
ctiated  inland  to  the  ('r<»ssiii.u  (if  tiic  latllf  Waliasli  i)y  the  \  in- 
(M'lincs  road,  1»mI  llic  latlt'i'  wciv  mostly  ahaiidonod  dufinji'  tlic  war 
of  ISlL'.  Indeed,  tlic  new  selllenients  were  veiy  sparse  and  all 
feeble,  and  from  ISlO,  nntil  the  close  of  tlie  war,  4  years  later, 
immiuration  was  almost  at  a  stand.  Ninetentlis  of  tlie  terrUory 
\vas  a  liowlinu  wilderness,  over  whicli  red  savajics  lu'ld  domni- 
ionand  roamed  at  will,  outnnmlterin-'  the  whites  at  least  three  t(» 
one. 


ClIAl'TKli   XX 11. 

INDIAN  TKOUI5LES  IX  ITJ.IXOIS  PKECEDIXd  TllK  WAK 

OF   LSIU 

The  Countrj/ )))if  in  a  Stdtc  of  Defence  hi/  the  Orddiiization  of  Iihikj. 
ing  Companieii  and  the  BmhUmj  <f  Hloekhomo  and  Sti>e1;<ide 
Forts — dorenior  M'lirdfds  Sends  an  Enrol/ to  (romo^s  Vilhu/e — 
Battle  of  Tippeeanoe — Indian  Council  at  Vahohia. 


T1h>  l>ritis]i.  after  tlic  war  u'.'  IiidcixMidt'iicc,  rcliiuniislicd  witli 
fji'cal  I't'liKiaiicc.  as  we  have  seen,  tlicii-  liold  upon  tlir  iioitliwcst- 
<'rii  t('rrit<»i'y.  Tlic  ('('iil'cdciatcd  tril)t's  of  (lie  noilliwcst  (inly 
rcascd  tlicir  wjiifan'  vlicii  llicv  Joiiml  tlit'ir  last  iio|M' <»!'  iJritisli 
jiid  cut  «>(1' l)y  .Tax's  tifaty  at  Loiidcm.  Xoxcinlx'i',  17!M;ltiit  this 
ti'caty  did  not  covci' all  tiic  oiitraj;('oiis  j)ifl<'iisioiis  of  (iicat  Ilrit- 
aiii.  ill  her  (l('si)('.rat('\var  with  Fran(!(',  later,  she  Ixddly  hoai'dcd 
Ain^'iicaji  vessels  on  llie  In^li  seas,  searelMn.i'  t'oi'  Kiiuiisli-lioi'u 
seanK'ii,  iin]»i'essin;;'  tlieni  into  iiei- niaiiiie  service  upon  tiie  .i.',ronnd 
of  '' once,  an  ICn^lislinian.  alwa\s  ;iii  l'>n.i;lislinian."  and  denying- 
exj»atriation  and  Anu'iicaii  <'iti/ens]iip  liy  natnrali/ation.  Noi'  did 
slie  scrutinize  veiy  closely  as  totlie  nationaiily  of  tlie  seamen 
iuiitressed,  as  in  tlie  case  of  tlie  riicsaiieaUe.  i>oarded  oil'  tlie 
i'oast  ())'■  N'ii'^inia,  wliei'e.  of  four  of  tlie  crew  taken  as  desciters, 
tliree  weje  of  American  hirtli.  in  tlie  retaliatoi\\  ineasui'es 
lietween  i'-rance  and  Fn,iilaiid,  to  ])i'e\('nt  trade  and  coiiinH-i'ce 
with  either  jiowi'r,  our  vessels,  as  neutrals,  hecaine  t  lie  prey  of  hotli 
liostile  nations.  The  atl'air  of  tli<'  Chesapeake  inteiisitied  the  feel- 
ing already  deep;  .letferson  ordered  all  IJritish  shipsufwar  out 
<»i  the  waters  ot"  the  I'liited  Slates,  and  con.ui'ess  laid  an  emharu'i* 
on  American  v<'ssels,  ioi'liiddiiii;' the'ii  to  lea\e  port,  to  the  yicat 
injury  of  American  commerce. 

In  the  West,  llritish  emissaries  were,  busy  arousing;'  (he  north- 
western  sava^icsto  war  against  the  I'liited  Slates.  llaiiison's 
Zealand  activity  in  divesiin,u' the  Indian  titles  to  western  lands. 
was  no  iiiconsideralile  I'lrovocative.  In  Seiiteiiilier,  ISU't,  he  had 
l>eld  a  treaty  at  l''ort  Wayne  with  the  Delawares,  I'otawatloniies, 
JMiamis,  Jvickapoos,  Weas  and  lOel  Ifixer  Indians,  who.  in  consid- 
eralion  of  >(l!,.'>r>(»  as  annuities,  and  .*S,lM)(>  of  jireseiils  in  hand, 
ceded  to  the  I'liited  States  a  laru'c  ti'act  of  countiy.  coi!ip]i.-iiii>- 
near  three  million  acres  of  land  in  Indiana,  cxteiidiiiu  up  the  \\\\- 
basli  above  i'erre  Haute,  and  interioily  to  incliidi.'  tlie  middle 
waters  of  White  river.and  treiichinji- upon  the  home  and  hniilin^' 
ground  of  tin;   great  Shawnee  warrior,  'recnmseli,  wliosi-   nation 

247 


248 


HISTOIIY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Mas  not  a  party  to  the  ticatv,  and  who  tlcnouuft'd  it  as  unjust  iiud 
ilU-al. 

At  a  foiuicil,  in\itt'(l  1»_\  (iovcnior  Ilanison  and  iicld  at  \'in- 
ccnncs.  Auyiist  IL',  ISIO,  'rccuniscli,  I'ollowcd  hy  Kl((  wairiois, 
jnaintaincd  lliat  all  the  north wt-slrrn  trilu's  wi-ri'  one  nation,  hold- 
ing their  lands  in  coinnion,  and  thai  without  the  consent  of  all 
the  trilies  concerned,  no  ti'cat  v  id'  ])iirctiase  and  cession  was  valid; 
thai  his  inir|iose  was  to  wiest  [jower  I'roni  thc^  village  chiels 
and  put  it  in  the  iiands  of  the;  war  chiels.  Nor  did  he  deny  having 
tiireatened  to  kill  the  cliiels  who  had  treacherously  sij;ne<l  the 
treaty.  An  an,i;ry  discnssicni  arose  beiwten  Ilanison  ami  'lecuin- 
seh,  the  latter  boldly  avowin;;'  his  jiurpt  nc  to  hold  the  lands  con- 
\eyed  by  the  treaty,  and  resist  the  'Jirther  iiilrusittn  ol  the 
whites,  ile  nnide  an  impassioned  and  bitter  reiiital  of  the  wronj;.s 
and  a;;^ressions  of  the  whiles  u|ton  the  Indians,  declaring  they 
had  been  driven  l>aek  from  the  sea  coast  now  to  be  pushed  into 
liie  lakes.  Harrison  ridiculed  his  itretensions  and  tin-  wronjis  of 
his  people,  whereupon  'reciimseh  spran.u'  lo  his  feet,  and  excilediy 
charjiX'd  his  Kxcellency  with  clieatiii,i;  and  imposiiii;  niton  the  Ind- 
iaii.^.  His  red  warri(»rs,  inllame<l  by  his  \chement  manner,  sim- 
ultaneously siezt'd  their  l<»iiiahawks  and  blandished  their  war 
cluii.-,  as  if  ready  for  the  work  of  massacre.  A  moment  of  silent 
but  awful  suspense  to  the  whites,  who  were  unarmed,  Ibllowed. 
ZS'o  further  demonstration  was  however  made,  and  Tecumseh, 
simrned  by  Harrison,  retired,  deternuned  to  adhere  to  the  okl 
boundaiy. 

The  ill-feelin,n',  steadily  on  the  increase,  between  the  I'liited 
States  and  (ireat  Hritain,  was  early  apprehended  by  the  savages 
through  the  machinationsof  I'.ritish  agents  and  trmlcrson  the  north- 
western frontier.  Nicholas  darroll,  of  ("ahoki;t,  ha\ing  just 
returiu'd  from  a  Iriii  to  I'rairie  {\\\  Chien,  made  atlidavit,  .hiiu'  L'S, 
1S(I1»,  that  Ibitish  agents  and  traders  at  thai  post,  and  on  the  fron- 
tiers of  Canada,  were  im-iting  the  Indians  to  hostility,  and  lilting 
them  out  with  guns  and  auunnnition  foi' demonstrations  against 
the  western  settlers.*  Tint  savages  were  greatly  (Mnboldeiied  by 
these  friemlly  otVers  to  commit  depredations  niion  the  American 
.seltlemeiits.  In  -Inly,  ISIO,  a  band  of  I'otawattomies,  from  Illinois, 
made  a  raid  i![ion  a  settlement  in  Missouri,  (»|»|iosite  the  intMith  of 
the  (lascouade,  stealing  horses  and  other  in'oi»erty.  The  owners, 
Avith  their  fiiends  to  the  nund»er  of  six,  made  i»ursuit.  The  Ind- 
ians, who  were  discovered  al  the  distance  of  a  few  miles,  to  battle 
'heir  pursiu'rs,  changed  their  course,  'i'he  w  Idles,  after  a  fatiguing 
nar<-h,  went  into  camp, and  neglect  iiig  to  post  a  guard,  fell  soundly 
asleei*.  In  the  night,  the  Indians,  with  demoniac  yells,  [loiniced 
upon  the  sleepers  and  tomahawked  all  but  twe.  The  survivors 
siteedily  spread  tiie  dreadful  tidings,  which  crealeil  gi'cat  excite- 
ment at  the  tinu'.  The  jtroof  from  various  circumstam-es  being 
clear  that  the  murderers  weie  I'otawattomies,  the  governor  of 
3n*soiiri  nnule  a  i'e(piisiti(Ui  ui»on  the  governor  of  lllimtis  foi-  Ihem. 
])uring  the  same  year,  hostile  demonstrations  were  nnule  by  the 
Sacand  l''o\  nations,  from  Illinois,  against  ImhI  Madison,  situate 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  above  the  DesMoincs  Kapids. 
Hostilities  also  existed  between  the  lowas  and  Usages,  both  resid- 


*AniiiiN  of  till'  West,— Apiioiidix.    'Phis  whs,   liowcvcr,  (lonicd  liy  u  coiniiiimiontion 
I'rum  Mfssrs.  llloulily  uuU  I'oittor.tho  purtiL's  ImiilicutoJ,  of  I'mirio  Uu  Cliiuu. 


ILLINOIS   TK1JUIT()I:Y. 


2i9 


ill'''  west  ot  the  Mississi]»i>i.  In  ISll,  tlio  Iiidijiiis  ('((iimiiftcd 
iiiMii.v  iiiiinlcrs  ii|i()ii  tlic  wliitfs  ill  Illinois.  Xoiir  tlio  iorksol' Siioal 
ciccU,  on  tlic  11(1  of  .lime,  tilt'  rmiiily  of  ^[^.  Cox  liciiij;-  iiiisciit, 
e.\c('|it  ii  voiiiiin-  iiiiin  iiiiil  wdiiiiiii.  ;i  piiit.v  of  S!i\ii,iics  killed  llic 
loniicr,  iiKiiijiliii.n'  liis  \hu\\  iiorrihly,  stole  tlic  horses.  ;in«l  e;ii  ried 
oil'  the  jiiil  ii  prisoner.  The  Coxes  iiiid  nei.;:hl»ois,  to  the  niiiiilicr 
of  ei.uht  or  t<'ii.  niiide  |>iirsiiit,  iiiid  some  ."iO  miles  north  of  the  pres- 
ent S|)riii<iliel(l,  oM'itook  the  liidiiins,  reciiptiired  their  property, 
and  diiriii,i;'  the  ramhliiii;'  li.i;lit,  the  yirl,  alter  l)eiii,u'  wounded  by  ii 
lomahawk  in  the  hip,  made  her  esea|»e  and  Joined  her  friends.  In 
the  same  iiiohth,  at  the  lower  part  of  the  jtresent  city  of  Alton, 
uhere  a  .Mr.  Price  and  another  naiiK'd  |-^llis,  were  plowinu'  corn, 
ji  party  of  Indians  were  observed  approachiiiji' tlie  sjirinj;  in  the 
vicinity,  where  there  was  a  cabin.  The  whites  iiiiliilchcd  their 
liorscsaiid  seized  their  jiiins;  but  the  Indians  declared  theinsclves 
friendly,  and  one  of  them,  a  tall,  stout  fellow,  laid  down  his  linn 
and  jiiive  Price  his  hand,  but  in  so  doiiiu.  hcM  him  i'asf  while  the 
others  tomahawked  him  totlealh.  At  this,  hiscompaiiioii  bounded 
on  his  horse  and  made  j^ood  his  escape,  with  a  wounded  tlii;;li.* 
IJnt  we  will  not  further  detail  these  horrid  Indian  butcheries. 
The  jieople  saw  their  immineiice,  and  bej^an  to  make  preparations 
lor  defence.  l''orts  and  stockades  bej;an  to  be  built,  and  in  .liily 
of  the  same  y«'ar,  a  company  of  "  raii.u('rs,"  or  mounted  lilleiiien, 
was  raised  and  organized  in  the  (ioshen  settemeiit  of  Illinois. 

Congress,  in  ISJI,  passed  an  act  lor  the  oi'^anization  of  10  coin- 
jiaiiics  of  mounted  raiiiiicrs,  to  ]U'olect  the  frontiers  of  the  \\'est. 
These  compaiiics  constituted  the  ITlli  I'liited  .States  regiment, 
and  Colonel  William  Iiiissel,  an  old  Indian  liiihter  of  Kentucky, 
uas  assij^ned  to  its  command.  The  companies  wci'e  ^^cncrally 
in.  ile  II])  of  frontier  citi/eiis,  who  had  the  additional  stimiilns  iu 
tlieir  duties  of  immediately  defciidiu!.;'  their  homes,  kindred  ami 
nei,ulibors.  lOach  rauj^er  had  to  furnish  his  own  horse.  |»rovisions 
and  e(]ui])meiits  all  complete,  ami  the  recompense  from  the  ^oxcrii- 
lueiit  was  oiu'  dollar  jx-r  day.  They  a | (pointed  their  ow  n  company 
otiicers,  and  were  enlist<'(l  for  one  year,  four  companies  wcie 
allotted  to  the  defence  of  Illinois,  whose  respectixc  captains  were, 
yamiu'l  and  William  I>.  Wliitesid<'s,  .lames  15.  Mooic.  and  .lacob 
Short.  Independent  caxalry  ci>mi»aiiies  were  also  orj;auized  for 
the  protection  of  the  reiiiole  settlements  in  the  lower  Wabash 
country,  of  which  Willis  1  lar.^ijn c,  \\'illiam  .McIIeiiry,  Natliauitd 
J(turn<'y,  Captain  Craij;',  at  Shawneetow  n.  and  \\'illiain  IJoon,  on 
the  llii;  .MuddN .  were,  respectively.  <'oinimiiiders,  ready  on  short 
notice  of  Indian  outraii'cs.  to  make  puisiiit  of  the  depredatoi's. 
These  i'au,i;in,ii'  companies  pci'lbiiiicd  most  etiicieiit  service  iu  the 
])rotectioii  of  the  settlements  iu  Illinois  ajiainst  the  sava!j;'e  foe. 
The  raniiciN  and  inonnled  militia,  in  times  of  supposed  peril,  con- 
.slantly  scoured  the  country  a  considerable  distance  iu  ad\aiice  of 
the  frontier  st'ttlcrs  ;  and  yet  the  sa\a.u<'s  would  often  prowl 
thronjih  the  settlements,  commit  ontraues.  and  elude  succetssful 
])iirsuit. 

(Ileal  numbers  (»f  block  house  fortsfor  stations  for  the  security 
of  families,  were  built,  extciiilinj;-  from  the  Illinois  river  to  tlu^ 
Kaskaskia.  tlieiKn^lo  the  I'iiit«'»l  Stated  salines,  near  the  pres«'iiti 
town  of  lM|uality,  up  the  Ohio  and  Wabasli,  and  nearly  to  all  set- 

"•iteyuold's  IMoiioer  History. 


2.")() 


IIIS'J'OUY    OV   ILLINOIS. 


tlciiiciits  ill  Illinois.  S<»iiM>  (if  tlicsc  forts  were  sitiiiitctl  as  follows: 
One  oil  llic  incsciit  site  of  tlic  town  of  ('iiil,\lc;  one  a  small  <lis- 
taiH'c  above  tlic  picsciit  town  (»f  ^\vistoii.  known  as  .loiinicy's 
fori;  \\\()  oil  tli«' cast  side  (»f  Slioal  neck.  Uiiow  ii  as  Hill's  ami 
.Jones'  forts;  one  a  few  miles  soiitlit'asf  of  tlie  present  town  of 
liehanon.  on  tiie  west  side  of  Lookinji'iniass  prairie,  known  as 
C'liamlieis'  fort  ;  on  the  Kaskaskia  river  were  Middleton's  ami 
Goiiifi's  forts:  one  on  Doza  creek,  a  l\'\v  miles  from  its  nioiitli, 
known  as  Nat.  IlilTs;  two  in  the  .lonrdan  seltlemeiit,  eastern 
])arl  of  i'ranklin  eoiiiilv.  on  the  road  to  the  salt  works;  one  at 
the  nioiith  of  the  Illinois  river,  and  later.  -lohii  ("amplM'll,  a  United 
Nlales  otiieer,  erected  a  small  hlock-hoiise  on  the  west  hank  of  the 
Illinois  (Prairie  Marcot),  1!)  miles  alioxc  its  month.  More  preten- 
tions militai'.v  stations  were  established  on  the  Mississip))i,  oppo- 
site the  month  of  the  Missouri,  to  ^iiard  the  riv<'r;  and  on  Sihcr 
ci'eck,  near  Tiov.  lliit  the  main  militarv  dejiot  was  established 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  noil liwcst  of  the  i>resent  town  of  lOdwards- 
villc,  called  Cam])  Kiissell.  in  honor  of  the  colonel  commaiiding' 
the  10  ran<;in,u'  companies. 

The  simplest  form  of  lil(H'k-hoiise  forts  consisted  of  a  sin,ule 
lioiise  built  of  lo^s,  compacliv  laid  n|>  a  story  and  a  half  or  two 
stories  liijili,  with  tin?  coiners  closely  trimmed,  to  ju'event  scaliii<i'. 
The  walls  of  lliclowerstory  were  provided  with  portholes  ;  lliedoor 
was  made  of  thick  |»iinchcoiis.  and  was  .stidii^ly  barred  on  tlu^ 
inside.  The  upper  story  projected  over  the  lower  three  or  fonr 
feet,  with  ixiit  holes  tliroii,i;li  the  lloor  of  the  |»i(>jectinj;'  part, 
which  commaiiiled  the  walls  and  spa<"e  below  against  any  Indian 
attempts  to  force  an  entrance.  They  atl'or<l«'d  entire  security 
ajiaiiist  the  rude  arts  of  savajic  war.  but  were  only  sin^^Us 
family  forts.  A  stockade  fort  consisted  of  four  lilock  houses, 
as  desci'ibed  alioxe.  or  lar.uci'.  placed  one  at  each  corner  of  ;i 
S(piarc  jiiece  of  ground,  of  dimeiisions  ample  eiioii.uli  to  accoiiimo- 
dat«'  the  number  of  ])eople  .seekinj;  shelter  tlieicin.  The  interven- 
ing'space  was  lilled  lip  with  timliersor  lo^s,  lirmly  set  on  end  in 
till' jiionnd,  and  cNtendiii.u  upwards  IL' or  l."»  fe«'t.  This  was  tlu; 
stockade  into  whose  sides  jiort  lioh's  wcic  cut,  liij;h  enonjih  to  be, 
above  the  head,  and  to  which  platlbiins  were  raised,  from  which 
to  tire  upon  tin-  enemy.  There  were  also  port  holes  in  the  projecr- 
\u<i  walls  of  the  corner  block-houses,  which  thus  coiir.aanded  the 
whole  of  the  stockade  walls  on  the  outside.  Within  the  stockade, 
cabins  were  built  for  the  families  to  live  in.  \\'ells  were  dii>i  for 
water,  or.  possibly,  the  site  was  selected  oxer  a  sjainu'.  There 
wei'e  usually  two  lieaxy  entrance  yates  in  the  stockade  walls, 
securely  barred  on  the  inside,  and  larjic  eiionjih  to  admit  teams. 
In  times  of  extra  ]>eiil.  Iioises.  and  sometimes  other  \aliiable  do- 
niesl  ic  animals,  were  taken  into  t  he  stockade  o\  er  iii_i;hl  for  saicty. 
If  the  foi't  was  not  built  out  on  the  prairie,  the  woods  was  invaria- 
bly cleared  back  some  distance,  so  as  to  alford  no  place  of  con- 
cealment to  the  stealthy  enemy.  It  was  often  hazardous  to  lirst 
open  the  ji'atesof  a  nioriiiii.u.  Milkiiiji;  parties,  upon  their  errands, 
were  not  unfrctpiently  att.tckcd  liytiie  skulking'  red  I'oe.  At 
times,  seiitiiK'ls  were  often  ]»osted  diiriii}^  the  iii;^lit,  as  in  the  case 
of  re^ulai'  piri'isons. 

'i'he  most  notable,  as  also  the  larj;est,  stroiijicst,  and  best 
ai)i»ointed  in  every  respect  of  the  stockatle  forts,  was  Fort  IJussell, 


IJ.LLNOIS   TEKIMTCjUY. 


li.U 


('si;i1ilisli('(l  1»\  (iovcriior  T'Mwiirds  citilv  ill  ISIL*.  ;il»nii(  lA  miles 
iioi  lliwcst  (if  llic  |iicsc!il  l"](i\\iir<ls\  illc,  lliciioii  III*' (■xlmiic  iiortli- 
cni  liMtiiticr.  'I'in' ciiiiiioii  of  liUiiis  XIV,  wliicli  had  ihtiic  scrvico 
I'or  iiiiiiiy  vfiii's  ill  tlic  aiiriciit  \'\)\{  Ciiartrcs,  wd'c  iciiioxcd  tliiliici' 
and  placed  ill  iinsition.  wiicrc,  if  llicv  served  no  oilier  |»iir|M>se, 
tiieir  llmiider  tones  rexcrlieiatetl  over  the  inoad  e\|>aiiseot'  wilder- 
ness |tiaiiie.  and  upon  days  of  festivity,  dress  jtarade.  and  other 
displavs, added eelat  to  the  occasions.  'I'his  stockade  was  made  tlie- 
niaiii  depot  for  niililai'v  stoi'es.  and  liecame  also  tiie  ^^cneral  rt'ii- 
de/.\(>iis  tor  the  militia  \  itliinteers.  ran,u('rs  and  regulars,  as  well  as 
the  urea t  jxiiiit  il'dpinii  for  tlie  orjiaiii/at ion  of  expeditions  into 
the  country  of  sa\a.ues  on  tiie  I'eoria  lake.  Tiie  onl\  Tiiited  Slates 
reunlars.  however,  whi<'h  camped  at  tins  fort  diirin;^  the  war,  was 
ii  small  comiiany,  under  the  command  of  Captain  !»amsey,  early 
in  the  spring'  of  ISlL'. 

W  hen  (loxernor  1m  I  wards,  duriiii;  tlie  ]»eriIoiis  times  of  ISIl*,  with 
Indian  hostilities  threateiiin;^'  on  e\cry  hand,  assumed  c«)nimaiid 
of  the  Illinois  forces,  it  was  here  that  he  estaltiished  his  head- 
<]narters.  Ilei'e  was  ii'athered  alioiit  him  the  beauty  and  chivalry 
<if  those  days.  Within  the  protectiiiji  walls  of  tliis  stockade, 
defended  without  and  within  l»y  Itiave.  stout  hearts,  were  att  racied 
and  found  shelter,  miicli  of  the  talent,  fashion  and  wealth  of  tln^ 
country  :  and  here,  his  Kxcellcncy.  not  d<'\ old  of  a  natural  love  for 
display  and  parade,  presided  with  a  conitiy  urace  and  stately  di,u- 
iiity  well  itelittinii  his  line  peisonal  appearance  and  his  many 
aci'omplishments. 

\v,\v\\  in  the  year  ISII,  niimpi'ons  were  the  complaints  of  horses 
beini;'  stolen,  honses  |)liindered,  and  alle,ucd  murders  committed 
by  the  sa\  a;;es.  (ioveriior  Clark,  of  .Missouri,  after  the  mnrderof 
the  foiii'  citizens  near  the  month  of  the  (lasconade,  in  An.mist,  ISIO, 
made  a  reipiisition  iiiioii  (loxcrnor  lOdwards  for  the  authors  of 
the  crime.  (lo\crnor  h'.dw  aids  also  wanted  tlie  tribes  on  the  Illi- 
nois to  siirreiidei'  the  murderers  of  the  Cox  iioy  and  Price,  before 
noticed,  and  todeliNcr  np  the  property  stolen  iiy  the  Indians  for 
two  years  past.  To  etVect  these  oiijects,  he  cominissioi.ed  ('aplaill 
Samuel  Leverin.ij;.  an  intelliii'ent  and  discreet  otlicer,  who  was  tit- 
led ont  with  a  boat  l»y  (lovernor  Clark,  duly  ))rovisioiied,  manned 
and  <'<piipped.  Levi'iin,!;'  was  accomj)anied  by  Captain  Herbert 
Henry  .Swcarinj^'eii,  a  rotawattoinie  named  \\isli-iia,  and  eijiiit 
oarsmen,  who  sij^ned  articles  to  act  as  boatmen  and  soldiei's,  each 
ariiie<l  witii  a  1:1111.  They  started  from  Cahokia  for  I'eoria.  .Inly 
U.-).  ISII.  Ilefore  leaving'  the  Mississippi,  they  met  (ajdaili 
AN'hitesides  with  his  raniicrs  from  the  block  house,  near  the  month 
of  the  Illinois,  who  intbrmed  them  of  liiiiii:  on  a  party  of  Sa<'S 
ascending' the  Illinois,  but  that  their ''siimmoiis"  w  as  disregarded. 
At  I'lairie  Marcot,  they  tbiiiid  Lt.  Campbell  and  his  foi-ce  of  17 
men.  On  the  '.U\  of  .\imnst  they  arrived  at  I'eoria,  and  met 
jMr.  I'^ovsythe.  tlie  yox  ('rnmeiit  Indian  a;^eiit,  who,  by  his  Ion;;-  res- 
hleiiee  ainoiiu'  the  Indian^,  was  thoronyhly  \crsed  in  their  toii.mie. 
The  ]»riiici|)al  cliief  of  the  j'otaw  atlomies  there  was  Masseno, 
better  known  as  (loiiio.  To  him  .Mr.  I'Ntrsythe  Innl  pie\  ioiisly 
delivered  a  letter  from  (lo\ernor  Clark,  demaiidiii,L;'  a  snireiider 
ol'  the  (lasconade  ninrderers.  ( !oiiio  was  thonuht  t(»  be  not  iinla- 
A'orable  t<»  the  surrender,  but  claimed  to  not  Innc  power  to  enforce 
bis  sole  will  ayaiiist  so  many,     lleic  Captain    Leveriny  U'arned, 


I 


IIISTOUV   OF   iLLliN'Ol.S. 


from  :i  l-'i-ciicliiiiiiii,  iiiiiinMl  JacciiU'S  Mcttic,  tlic  wlicrciilMtuts  of  tlio 
iiiiiidcicrs  on  Sliojil  ciccU,  who  wcic  I'oliiWiittoinics.  A  Ficiicli- 
iiiiiii,  iiiiin('<i  Foiiniifr,  was  sent  foiwiird  to  :i|i|)i'i.s*>  (ioiiio  of  tiic 
iinixal  ol' ('iii»liiin  IiC\('riii;n'  willi  a  Icllcr  lor  liiin  from  (iovcriior 
Kdwards;  but  an  Indian  liad  proccdcd  liini,  and  r('|)ortcd  that 
Lcscrin;^'  was  a»'com|ianicd  In  a  force  of  oOmcn,  and  (lomo  was 
unwiiiin,^'  to  meet  iiim  witluMit  an  armed  escort  of  II  waniors. 
On  the  morniiij;'  of  llieoth,  however,  the  chief  laised  tin-  Ameri- 
can tla^',  and  in  answer  to  a  messaue,  called  and  received  tlu) 
<io\eriior"s  letter  from  tiic  hands  of  l-e\erin^'.  He  immediately 
sent  ont  his  vonn.!;'  men  to  call  to,i;('flier  in  council  all  his  chiefs, 
who  were  mostl\  absent  on  <listant  Jonrue.vs.  (iomo  professed 
his  readiness  to  do  justice  to  the  Americans,  so  far  as  his  |»ower 
extended.  Lcveriu;;  ,iia\e  (iomo  tobacco  to  be  sent  as  a  present 
Avitli  a  uiessau'c  to  tliechiefs,  and  r<'tircd.  'i'he  murderers  of  Price 
Avere  IouimI  to  be  live  br<»thers.  l*olsa wines. 

In  the  meantime,  ("apt.  Leveling  an<l  Mr.  foninier  made  a  visit 
to  the  Indian  towns  some  LM»  miles  up  the  Illinois  rivei'.  (b)mo's 
town  was  still  some  I  miles  farther  on  and  bacU  of  the  river 
bottom,  where  they  arrived  late  one  ni,i;lil.  They  were  hospitably 
enti'ilained  in  tin- wigwam  ol'  t  he  chief,  which  was  built  of  bark 
and  alforded  lodyinji  room  lor  .'>(>  »U'  iiKue  persons.  It  was  L'.'i  l>y 
oO  feel  on  the  ili.^ide:  slee|)iu,i;  iuiuks.  (i  by  7.  and  ."»  feet  hijiii  weie, 
arranged  aionnd  the  lod^c.  upon  which  the  Indians  slept  or 
IcMiiiiicd,  with  their  heads  poiutinj;'  toward  the  centre  of  the  room 
and  their  feet  toward  the  walls.  ('a|>taiii  Loeiiiij;  and  his 
companions  were  honored  with  one  u«'\t  to  that  of  the  chief  ami 
his  family.  .Mtliouuh  it  was  late  when  the  visitors  arrived,  a. 
dish  of  new  coin  was  set  befoie  them  by  the  chief's  stiuavv,  and 
A\  hile  they  were  j>arlakin<i'  of  it,  the  chief  suntkecl  his  pip<'.  as 
also  the  men,  who  jicnerally  quitted  I  heir  sIe(|iin,L;'  places  and 
.squatted  around  the  lod.uc  tires  in  the  centre,  "in  all  the  solemnity 
of  ju'ofbund  smokiufi,''  as  a  umrk  of  eticputte  due  to  straii<;i'rs.* 

In  his  fi'C(|uent  informal  communications  with  the  Indians, 
Captain  Lev  ciiu.u  learned  niiu-h  of  their  iii'ernal  jiolity  and  their 
feelings  lowai'd  the  .VuMiicans,  whom  they  rciiurded  as  their  (Mum- 
mies, notw  ithstandiuj;-  their  professions  of  peace  and  friendship 
for  them.  'J'lieir  adroitness  in  diiilomacv  is  well  disclosed  iuthe 
rcjdies  of  the  chiefs  to  Captam  Lcveriii;:';  their  nnist  customaiy 
evasions  to  deliver  u]»  any  of  their  !>iav  es,  char^^cd  with  crime, 
bein.ii,  that  tlu'y  had  depailcd  with  such  aiul  such  chiefs  on  an 
expedition;  that  they  had  iiociuitrol  over  them;  that  it  wi:siH»t 
their  business,  and  (lid  not  concern  them,  etc.  The  aud>it ion  of 
the  youii^'  biaves  to  )»e  able  to  exclaim,  during'  their  or;^ies.  "1  am 
a  man:  who  can  gainsay  it  .'  I  have  killed  an  Osa^c  !  Ihavekilled 
a  while!"  stimulated  them  to  t he  cfuumission  of  oulra,i;«'s;  while 
their  frequent  immunity  from  punisliiiu>nt,  led  them  to  infer  inac- 
tivity, if  not  feai',  on  the  i»art  of  the  whites.  (i(inu>was  anxious 
the  chiefs  should  atteml  at  the  (h'livery  <»f  the  governor's  address, 
and  hear  tor  themselves,  so  that  they  <'ould  not  afterwai'ds  charjie 
liim  with  feai' or  treachery,  and  denounce  him  as --su^ar  mouth.'' 
In  a  conversation,  (icuno  s]»oke  of  seeinj;'  \\'ashin,!L;t(Ui  at  I'liihi- 
(h'lpiiia.  in  I7!l-'!.  and  his  elder  bi  other  remembered  the  time  when 
the  IJritish  put  the  Indians  in  the  front  of  battle. 

•J).  W.  KUwurds"  Lilu  ot  his  I'uthur.  ~ 


. 


ILLINOIS   TKKUITOHY. 


2.-13 


A  miiiihcr  nl' cliicrs  iind  \v;ininis  Iiii\  iiiy  iinivcd,  in  olu'diciicr  lo 
(ioiiio's  siiiiMiioiis,  tlicy  iii(liil;;«'(l  tlicii' coiiti'iiipt  in  a  littlf  iict  of 
olVt'iisivoncss  l»y  displayinj;-  the  Anicriciin  llii^i  union  <lo\vn.  rap- 
tain  Leveling,  iiicliniii;!;'  t(»  alliilmtt'  tiiis  lo  tln-ii'  ifinorancc, 
atl(;inpt('(l  to  cNjilain  its  nicaninj;,  to  wliicii  tlit-v  rrplicd  llnit 
llicv  knew  it.  ISiit  (»ii  the  inoinin;;'  Ibllowiny.  tlic  tlay  was  dis- 
])ia,vi-d  anion  up.  Tin-  Indians  in  conncil  ditt'cicd  as  to  tin'  policv 
t!>  !)('  adopted,  rc^ardin;;  tilt'  dtinand  ol'tlic  Ainciicans  rorliic 
snn'cndci' of  ilu'  nini'dcicrs  and  the  stolen  piopeitv.  'I'lie  olfend- 
ers  were  greatly  scattered,  rceeix  ini;  tiie  protection  of  eiuefs  iinn- 
dreds  of  nnles  away,  (ionn)  favored  the  sending'  of  an  Indian 
connnission  for  tlieni,  Itnt  foresaw  tiiat  it  would  lie  said  to  liini 
tinil  lie  l)elon;;cd  on  llie  Illinois,  and  that  lie  liett«'r  attend  to 
liis  ow  II  ti  ihe  ;  and  lie  disliked  the  coyardly  appeai'aiice  of  hav- 
ing'made  the  alleiii|il  and  failed.  ( )t  hers  opposed  the  sniiciider 
of  anythinj;'  hnt  the  stolen  properly.  Meanwhile,  the  I'.rilish 
inspired  the  |»olicy  of  sendin;;'  Little  Chief,  who  was  a  "talkalixci 
fellow,"  to  uive,  the  .Vinerieans  any  aiiioiint  of  assurance  t<» 
answer  present  purposes,  with  which  these,  like  many  previous 
outrages,  soon  lobe  covered  hy  jiassinj;  events,  would  likewise 
<lirectly  lilovv  over.  Little  Chief,  in  a  i>reliniinary  eonvcrsatioii 
with  Cai»tain  iieveriiiL;',  indicated  liis  displeasure  l»y  sayinji'  tlisit 
he  hoped  the  lettei'  of  the  jnovernor  would  he  fully  told  ilieni 
as  it  was  written,  at  which  insinuation  .Air.  l'"orsythe.  tlie 
interpreter,  became  not  a  little  incensed. 

On  the  moiniiifi' of  the  Kith  of  Au;;iist.  ISl  1.  Captain  Levcrinj'' 
l)ein.n'  informed  that  the  Indians  were  ready  to  proceed  to  the 
council  cliiimher,  promptly  rei>aire(l  thither,  ac<'oiiipanie(l  by  his 
leading' men  and  Ihe  inhahitants  of  Peoria  whom  he  had  invited. 
Aflei'  a  preliniiiiary  "talk"  on  the  part  of  Captain  Ii«'V('riiij;.  and 
sniokinji' tlu' pipe,  the  addi'css  of  (iovernor  Kdwards,  dated  Kas- 
kaskia,  July  21st,  was  slowly  dclivc'red  to  them  and  carefully 
inlerpi'eted.  It  was  addressed  "(o  the  chi«'fs  and  vvarii(»rs  of 
the  tribes  of  I'otawatlomies.  residin;^'  on  the  Illinois  liver  and 
its  waters,  in  the  territory  of  Illinois."  The  u-overnor  explained 
to  them  how  faitlifidly  tlie  president  had  carried  out  all  treaty 
obligations  with  the  Indians,  and  that  it  was  his  jiicat  desire  to 
Jiavc  his  I'cd  and  white  children  live  in  peace  and  friendship  ;  that 
the  tomalniwk  and  scaljiin^  knife  had  been  ibr  a  lon^'  time  buried, 
but  that  a  storm  seemed  now  to  be  ^atheriuj^ ;  that  the  whiles 
were  beiiii^'  ]iliinderc(l  and  niui'der«'d  :  citiiiji'  a  number  of  acts  of 
hostility  and};ivin<i  the  uaiiies  of  Indians  who  iiad  cominilted 
tliem  ;  that  the  relatives  and  friends  of  these  victims  cried  aloud  to 
the  (ireat  Spirit,  their  hearts  allame  with  revenjic  and  who  could 
onlv  be  TO])i'esse(!.  frcan  instant  war  by  showinj^'  them  that  these 
acts  of  barbaiity  were  uotappi'oved  by  Ihe  nations  of  the  authors 
of  them,  whom  lie.  demanded  lobe  surrendered  tbrtriah  Allusion 
was  also  made  to  the  Hrilisli  emissaries  amonji'  l!;<'ni,  who  llat- 
tered,  deceived  and  instij;ated  them  to  the  commis.-.ioii  of  these 
horrible  acts  ;  concludinf--  with  a  full  t'xplanation  of  the  ]iovver  and 
resources  of  the  American  nation. 

After  the  readinj>df  the  address  the  council  dispersed,  and  on 
the  tbllowinj;'  day  (iomo  made  the  subjoined  rei»ly.  which  was 
interjireted  and  written  down  on  the  spot,  and  is  not  only  very 
interesting'  to  peruse  but  shows  this  chief  to  have  been  the  pus- 


5! 


254  IIISTOUV   OF    lIJ.INOIri. 

Hess(»iM)r  ii  lii;;li  (»r<ln'  of  intellect.  After  iiivilin^'  iilfeiitioii  to 
liis  wolds,  iiiid  «'\|>ifssiii^'  j;Iii(lliesfs  lot'  (lie  opiiurt  iiiiilx ,  ( loiiio 
.v|Htl\('  ;is  follows : 

"  ^■(Hl  set'  till- color  of  our  skill.  'I'lie  Orcat  Spirit,  wlicii  lie  niailc 
and  dis|:0>('d  dl'  man,  placed  tlic  rcd-.-lviiis  in  this  land,  and  lliosc  w  ho 
vorc  hals,  on  the  other  side  of  llic  lii>i  walt'rs.  When  the  ( ileal  Spirit 
])la<-e(i  Us  on  lids  j^ronnd,  we  Uiuw  nothing  Iml  what  was  tin- 
ni.-hed  to  us  hy  nature.  We  made  n>e  of  our  stone  a.\es,  stone  knives 
and  cailhcn  vi>-els,  and  clothed  oursehes  Iroio  the  skins  of  the  lieasts 
<»l  the  lorest.  \'et,\\e  Wire  conteiiti  d  I  When  thel'ifiich  liist  made 
lai;;e  canoes,  they  crossed  the  Mide  waters  to  this  country,  and  on  tirsl 
sd'in;;  the  red  people,  they  were  rejoiced.  'I'liey  lold  lis  that  we  must 
consider  onrselv(s  as  the  children  of  the  J-'reiich,  and  they  would  he 
our  father  ;  I  lie  country  was  a  jiood  ont-,  and  they  would  cliaiigf  goodH 
lor  skins. 

"formerly,  we  all  lived  in  one  lar^t'  villa)j;e.  lu  that  villa^re  (here  was 
only  one  chief,  and  all  tliinns  went  on  well  ;  hot  since  our  intercourse 
with  the  whites,  llu-re  are  almosl  as  many  chiefs  as  we  have  youiij? 
men. 

'•  At  the  the  time  of  the  takint;  of  Canada,  when  the  liritisli  and  the 
J""rencli  were  ti},ditin<,Mor  the  same  country,  the  Indians  were  >olicilc<l 
to  take  pari  in  that  war— since  which  time  tliere  have  liei'ii  aniouK  ns  ii 
mini  her  ot'  I'oolish  youn;;  men.  'flu'  whites  ou^hl  to  hav"  staid  on  iho 
otlur  side  of  the  waters,  and  not  liavi'  trouldeil  us  on  this  >idi'.  If  we 
are  lool>,  the  wliitis  are  the  caii.-c  of  it.  from  the  commencement  of 
their  wars,  they  used  many  piMsiiasioiis  with  the  liniiaiis  ;  tlu-y  made 
them  pre>ent>  ol  merchandise  in  order  to  {^ii  them  to  join  and  assi>t  in 
their  iiattUs-  >ince  which  time  there  have  always  hi-eii  tools  ainonj;  us, 
and  the  whites  are  lilanu'ahle  for  it. 

•'  'I'lie  British  asked  the  Indians  to  assist  them  in  their  wars  with  the 
Aiiicricans,  tellinj;  them  that  if  we  allowt'd  the  Anieiicans  to  remain 
npoii  our  lands,  they  would  in  time  taki'  the  whole  country,  and  we  would 
then  have  no  jilace  to  jio  to.  Someof  the  Indians  did  join  the  British,  Iml 
all  did  not;  some  ol  tins  nation,  in  ]Kirti(ular,  did  not  join  them. 
The  JJritish  persisted  in  iirjiinji  ujion  ns  that  if  we  diii  not  assist  them  in 
(Irixinji  the  Anu'iieans  from  our  lands,  (Uir  wi\es  and  (ddldreii  would 
lie  miscralile  for  IIk'  reinaindi'r  of  our  tlays.  In  the  course  of  that  war, 
the  American  jicneral,  Clark,  came  to  Kaskaskia,  and  sint  tor  the 
chiefs  on  this  river  to  meet  him  there.  Weattended,  and  he  desiri'd  us 
to  remain  still  and  (|iiiet  in  our  own  villaj;es,  .-ayin^  that  the  Americans 
wi'ii'  alile  of  tlani>el\(s  to  li.ulit  tlu'  British.  \  ou  ,\iiieiieans  ncnerally 
speak  sen.-^ihly  and  jtlainly.  ^Vt  the  irt'aly  of  (irieiiville,  (oneral  Wayne 
sp<d\e  to  us  ill  the  same  sen  si  Ide  and  clear  manner.  1  have  lisliMied  with 
atti  iition  to  \oii  lioth.  At  the  treaty  (d'  ( JieeiiN  ille,  (ieiiert  1  \\  ayne  told 
ns  tliat  the  tomahawk  must  bi'  hiirud,  and  evi'ii  thrown  into  tile  great 
lake;  and  should  any  white  man  murder  an  Indian,  he  should  he 
delivered  up  to  the  Indians;  and  we  on  our  part,  should  deliver  up 
the  red  nu'ii  who  murdered  a  white  jiersou  to  the  Americans.  [Mis- 
take]. 

"A  I'otawattomie  Imiian,  by  the  name  of  Turkey  Foot,  killed  an 
American,  for  which  he  was  demanded  of  us  ;  and  although  he  was  a 
gieat  warrior,  we  kilU'd  him  ouis^elves  in  satislaetion  Ibr  his  ninrdcrs. 
f»onu'  of  the  Kickajiods  killed  ai!  ^Vnuricau.  'I'hey  were  demanded, 
were  given  un,  and  were  tied  uii  with  ropes  around  their  lU'cks  for 
the  niunltis.  This  was  not  what  the  chief,  who  inaile  the  demand, 
luomised,  as  they  were  put  to  death  in  another  manner.  Our  I'ustom  is 
to  tie  u]>  a  dog  that  way  when  we  make  a  saerillee.  IS'ow,  listen  to  nie 
well  i'l  what  1  havi'  to  say  to  you. 

"Some  time  ago,  one  ot  our  young  nieii  was  drunk  at  St.  IjouIs,  and 
was  killed  by  an  American.  At  another  time,  some  jierson  stole  a  liorse 
near  Cahokia.  Tlu'  citi/eiis  of  tlii'  village  lolloweU  the  trail,  met  an 
innocent  Kiekapoo,  on  his  way  to  l^askaskia,  ami  killed  him.  Bast 
fall,  on  the  otherside,  and  not  tar  IVom  J-'ort  Wayne,  a  Wyandot  Bidiau 
set  lire  to  the  prairie;  a  settler  came  out  ami  asked  liiui  how  he  came 
to  set  lire.     The  Indian  answered    hat  he  was  out  huutiug.    The  set- 


ILLINOIS  TERRITORY. 


255 


tliT  htnick  lilt'  liiili:iM  iiinV't'oiitiiiiit'd  to  lictit  liiiii  till  llicy  wci'c  |i:irlt'il, 
will- 11  iiiiotlicr  M'ttliT  shot  tilt'  liiiliiiii.  'I"  I  lis  siiiiinn'r,  ;i  ( 'liippcwii  liid- 
iiiii.iit  Detroit,  wiis  looking  lit  a  k>"i,  wlicii  it  Wfiit  olTacriiiciituliy  iiiiil 
shot  .111  Aini'ricaii.  'I'll*'  Cliipiicwii  was  (li'iiiaiiiltil,  diiivi  rt'tl  up  and 
cxfciitt'd.  Istliistiic  way  (Ji'iicral  Wayne  exliiliits  Ids  ciiarity  to  llic 
ri'd-siiiiis?  NN'iicMi'vi'r  uii  iiistaucc  of  tiiis  kind  liappciis,  it  is  usual  lor 
tiic  rt'd-kins  to  n't;ard  it  as  an  accident.  You  Anieiicans  think  that  all 
the  niischiel's  that  are  coniniitled  arc  known  to  llie  eliiei's,  and  iniineili- 
atcly  call  on  tliciii  I'or  the  surrender  of  the  oHendei's.  W'e  liiiow  iiotli- 
inir  of  tlicni  ;  our  liusiiiess  is  to  hunt,  in  order  to  feed  our  woineii  and 
children.  It  is  ueiicrally  siii)posed  Unit  wc  red-skins  arc  always  in  tlu' 
wroii^f.  If  we  kill  a  hoj;:,  we  arc  called  fools  or  had  men  ;  the  same,  or 
worse,  is  s.aid  of  us  if  wc  kill  .in  horned  animal;  yet  yon  do  not  tak(^ 
into  consideration  that,  while  the  whites  are  liniitinj;' iiloiifj;  our  risirs, 
killinj^oiir  deer  ami  hears,  wc  do  not  speak  ill  of  them.  When  the 
l''rench  caine  to  Niau.'ira,  Detroit,  Mackinaw  and  Chicago,  they  liiiilt  no 
forls  or  Ltarrisons,  nor  ilid  the  I-hiulish,  who  came  after  Ihcm  ;  hut  when 
the  Americans  came,  all  was  cliaiiKe<l.  They  hiiild  forts,  and  j:arri-.onH 
and  hlockades  wherever  tlii'y  j^o.  l"'roni  these  facts,  we  infer  that  they 
intend  to  make  war  upon  us.  Whenever  the  I'nitcd  States  make  the 
Indians  iireseiits,  they  afterwards  say  that  we  must  ^ive  them  su<'h  ii 
tract  of  land  ;  and  after  a  k<"»<1  "niny  presents,  they  ask  for  u  larger 
piece.  'JMiis  is  the  way  we  have  heeii  served.  This  is  the  wtiy  of  extend- 
ing to  us  charity.  l''ormerly,  when  tlu'  l"'icnch  were  lu'iv,  they  made 
us  lar<i:e  presents  ;  so  have  the  Mnjrlish  ;  hut  the  Americans,  in  ni\inj; 
their  presents,  hiivc  asked  a  piece  of  land  in  return.  Such  has  heeii  the 
treatment  of  the  Americans. 

"  Ff  the  whites  had  kept  on  the  otlu-r  sidi'  of  the  waters,  these  acci- 
dents wdiilil  not  have  happened  ;  we  could  not  have  crossed  the  wide 
waters  to  have  killed  thei..  there;  hut  they  came  here  and  turned  the 
I  iidians  into  confusion.  If  an  1  ndiaii  j^oes  into  their  villaii-c,  like  a  dou'  he 
is  hunted  anil  threatened  with  death.  The  ideas  of  the  rotawaltomics, 
Ottawas  and  ( "hippewasarc,  that  we  wish  to  iivt'  peaceahic  with  all  man- 
kind, and  attend  to  our  liuntinii'  and  other  pursuits,  that  wc  may  he 
ahle  t(»  provide  for  the  wants  of  our  women  and  childrt'ii.  Ihit  there 
remains  a  liirkinudissatisfaction  in  the  hreasts  and  minds  of  some  of 
our  youiii;' men.  This  has  occasioned  the  late  mischiefs  which,  at  the 
time,  were  unknown  to  the  chiefs  and  warriors  of  the  iialioii.  I  am  sur- 
prised at  such  threateniniis  to  the  chiefs  and  warriors  lojd  people i,  who 
are  inclined  entirely  for  peace.  The  desires  ot' the  chiefs  and  warriors 
ari'  to  iilanl  corn  and  ]nirsuetlie  deer.  Do  you  think  it  jiossihli'  for  us  to 
ileliver  the  murderers  here  to-day?  Think  you,  my  friends,  what  would 
he  till'  consequeiice  of  a  war  hi'iwecn  the  Ainericaiis  and  Didians.  In 
times  i)assi'd,  when  some  of  us  wen  eii^a^cd  in  it,  many  women  were 
k'ft  in  a  distressful  condition.  Should  war  now  take  place,  the  distress 
■would  he,  ill  coni]iarisoii,  much  iiiori' jiciieral.  This  is  all  1  have  to  say, 
on  the  part  of  myself  and  warriors  of  my  village.  1  thank  you  for  your 
patient  attention  to  my  words."* 

('ii]»tiiiii  I.cvcritii;' replied  t»)  tliem.  ,t:iviii<>'  a  resume  of  tlic  liis- 
tory  of  the  wjiiie  setth'rs  on  tiiis  coiitiiieiit,  niid  tiicii'  conliict  \\ilii 
tlie  red  iiicii.  1  le  (iciiicd  llnit  tlic  I'oit.s  iit  Cliica;;*).  I'ort  Wiiyiie, 
or  llir  one  opposite  tilt' liKititii  of  tlie  Missouri,  wt-re  t'stahlislicd  to 
liireateii  oi  maUe  war  on  the  Indians,  hut  that  tliey  were  hiiih  to 
allord  protection  to  llifii'.tri<'iids ;  that  the  .Viiiciicans.  unlike  the. 
JJritisli.  had  iiex  i'i'taii.ulit  nor  employed  the  red  men  to  join  in  war.s 
and  otitra;;('s  upon  the  whites;  lliaf  cncii  in  the  icvolittionary 
strit,i:'.!.;Ie  they  had  ad\ised  tlie  Indians  to  lie  on  tli«'ii'  skins  at 
lioiiit',  I'aise  coni  and  kill  deer,  hut  not  to  eiiua.ue  on  eitiieir  side ; 
lie  .showed  tlieni  tlieir  mistake  rcpiidiiiji'  the  tnaly  of  (ireetn  ilie, 
that  all  inurd»'rei's,oii  citliei'  side, should  l>e(h'!i\ cied  up  totlic  oppo- 
isitc  ]tarty  ;  tJiat  the  jitiverniiieiit   at  Wasliiiiuion  would  not    lia\ti 


•Seo  Edwurtls'  Life  of  Edwurils, 


2M 


IIISTOUY  ol'  1 1, LINE'S. 


pciinittctl  Wiiyiic  to  do  lliis,  but  tlmt  nil  ofVciidns  iiji'iiiiist  our 
jiiws  iiiii>i  III-  nicil  iiiitlt'i'  lilt'  Iiiws  li\  ii  jiii'v  ol'  iJ  iiH'ii,  iiiitl  iliiiti 
Jii.^lirf  noiihl  Im-  iiit'tt'il  oiil  to  liKliiiiis  tiic  siiiiif  iis  tlit'  wiiilt's. 

At  tlif  coiirliisioii.  liitllf  Cliifl' said  :  ''I  i'c<|iirst  voii  now  lo  lalu^ 
tlif  iiiiincs  of  llii>  cliifrsiiiid  wiiiiiois.  tliat  .\o"  '"•>>  '"'lii'^v  to  voiir 
fallici'  ill  KasKasUia.  Iiow  ivad\  we  have  hccii  to  allnid  liis  wnids." 
(ioiiio.  tlic  da\  rollowiii;;.  iipoii  tlic  liiial  adjoiiriiiiiciil  ol'  llic  cniiii- 
cil.  said  :  "W'c  lia\«' listcnrd  witli  patient  altciitioii,  and  I  liopf 
tliat  tlif  yrcal  Master  ol'  Ia;;lil  was  iiotieiii^i  it.  Wlu-n  tlie  Mas- 
lerol'  lii^^lit  made  man,  lie  (iidowed  tliox-wiio  wear  lials  with 
«'\('iv  ;;irt.  all  and  know  led  ;;e.  Tlie  red  sUins.  as  _\oii  see.  Ii\c  in 
lo(lL;es  and  on  tlie  wilds  ofnalnre."  Tliis  seiitimeiil  evinced  a 
liijuli  a|i|ireeialioli  of  llie  lelalixe  stains  of  tlie  two  races. 

'I'wd  iiorses  only  were  delivered  np.  Little  ( 'liief  promising;  to 
retiiin  two  \\u>\v  to  Captain  lleald,  at  <'liica;:o,  and  (ionio  prom- 
ised to  try  and  letiirn  all.  as  soon  as  tliey  could  I»e  I'onnd.  TIh^ 
iiiiiidei'ers  of  tlie  Coles  parly  in  Missouri,  were  revealed  to  lie  in  ii 
\illa;i;e  altoiit  L'O  miles  west  of  tlic  I'ropliet's  tow  ii — 'i'ipi»ecanoe; 
that  by  invitinji'  them  to  I'oit  Wayne  with  others  Ihcy  miulil  lliere 
be  seized  ill  t  he  fall.  Unlit  is  said  that  sonic  of  thciii  were,  in 
]M>i!it  of  fact,  with  tlieiii  then.  So  ended  l<c\erinj:*s  mission.  My 
the  exposure  incurred  on  the  Illinois.tliis  clear  headeil  soldier  con- 
ti'acte<l  ilise.ise  and  died  soon  after  his  return  to  l\askaskia. 

A  mission,  in  cliaruc  of  doseph  Troiicr.  a  sagacious  l^'rcnch 
Creole  of  Caliokia,  was  also  sent  to  the  Isickapoos.  who  inlialiitcd 
the  country  aloii;;  Snuai' Creek  in  the  norlhcrn  part  of  the  picsent 
county  of  I,ouaii.  i'lie  nsnal  "talks,"  or  speeches,  willi  many  fair 
](n>iiiises  from  this  rat  her  shrewd  but  treacherons  and  implacable', 
iiaiitMi.  were  had.  w  hid i  were  also  w  rilt«'n  dow  n  as  interprct«'d. 

r>nt  tliron^hoiit  the  west  |ji,iilisli  emissaries  kept  np  the  dastardly 
work  of  ••setting  the  red  men  like  do^s  upon  the  whites,*'  in  the 
eiici'jiftic  lan;i;iia;L;(' ol'Tcciimsch  to  llarrisdii.  'i'hat  jiicat  warrior, 
the  fit  snccessor  of  I'ontiac,  iiaviii;;'  conceived  the  plan  of  brin;;- 
inji'  the  sonthern  tribes,  tin-  Creeks,  Clioclaws.  and  Chicasaws, 
into  a  Ica^ne  with  I  he  tiibcs  of  the  north,  to  make  war  aj^aiiist  tho 
I'niteil  Slates  till  their  lands  were  restored  to  them,  started  thither 
on  liis  errand  in  the  sjiriiiiidf  bSll.  The  pniposes  of  this  chief- 
tain ami  his  biotlici',  the  one-eyed  IM(»plK't.  beiiin well  nnderslood 
by  (iov.  Harrison,  he  determined,  diiriii;^  the  former's  altseiice,  to 
strike  and  disjicrse  the  hostile  forces  collected  under  the  latter  at 
Tippecanoe.  lie  started  IVoni  \'incennes  in  the  fall  of  bSll  and 
arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  the  IMophct's  town  on  the  (ttli  of  Nov., 
with  an  ett'ectivf  I'oice  of  something  over  TOO  men,  ileic  he  was 
jiH't  by  ambassadors  from  the  Pr<»i)liet,and  a  susj»ension  of  liostili- 
ties  was  arran^icd  until  an  interview  on  the  followinji'  day  conhl  be, 
had.  'I'lic  j^'ov criioi'.  desiriii;^  a  j^dod  jiicce  of  j;ioniid  to  cami> 
ujion.  allowed  the  treacherons  foe  to  i)oiiit  it  ont;  Itnt  the  site  was 
not  selected  williont  examination  and  appro\al  by  his  (illicers. 
rjion  this  si»ot.  before  the  dawn  of  the  followiiiii  nKMiiinji.  tho 
stealthy  foe, with  a  snperior  foi'cc, attempted  to  re  enact  the  defeat 
of  St.  Clair  21  yeais  before.  I'nder  cover  of  darkness  he  crept 
upon  the  American  cani]*.  and  bej;an  a  mnrdeiiais  attack  with 
savap'  fniy  uncommon  «'\eii  to  him,  and  maintained  it  with  j;reat 
obstinacy;  but  the  snrjirise  was  not  coiaiilete,  and  he  Avas  nlti- 
niately  repulsed  and  put  to  flight,  "witl,  a  loss  equaling  that  of  tho 


ILLINOIS  TKKKITOUY. 


•  X 


Ameplcniis.  TIh'  Iosm  of  tlic  liiltor  was,  in  kill«'<l,  .'{7;  iiiorlnlly 
woiiikIciI,  L'."»;  wuiiiiilcd,  llUJ.     TIm'  loss  in  ((IUcci'h  \Vii.>  piirliiMiliii  ly 

)ll'il\,V.       or    till'     I  IlilHtisilllS     who    t'fll     lll'IC     \\<'  IllilV     lllt'MiK'l    IsiliK*. 

^VIlil»^  for  sonic  \(';ii's  ilic  ^^oxcinincnt  iiycnl  «»!'  I  lie  ()  io  snlini's, 
will),  li:i\  ill;;  I'fci'iv  <■(!  tlir  a|)|Miiiil  iiiciil  of  nipliiiii  of  :i  iniliti:i  coin- 
])iiii\  fidiii  (io\.  lOtiwiirds,  in  ISIO,  joined  the  i'\|M'ditioii  of  (lov. 
Harrison.  Ilisdriitii  w:isnin<;ii  i-c^^icltcd,  and  the  Tt'i'iitoiiiil  \a>i^- 
isl:ilni'(',  in  ISI."),  [o  |irr|M>ln:ili-  his  nifinorv,  iiiiiiicd  tin-  count v  of 
W'liilc  in  honor  of  liiin.  1 1  cic,  loo,  fell  t':c  ;:ificd  iiiid  Itiillianf 
,V(Minpi'  .Major  .Foe  l>a\icss,  whose  (h'cds  o  valor  have  also  itccn 
coniMicinoralcd  in  Illinois  liy  naniiiiiL;'  a  <-oiinty  aflcr  liiiii.  'I'lio 
int<lli.L;clife  of  Ihc  Italtle  of  'ri|i|»ei'aiioc  was  pcciiliailv  alaiiiiiii;;' 
to  the  settlcineiits  of  Illinois,  so  coiilixnoiis  to  these  imrdes  of 
.sava;;'cs,  and  additional  ineasiircs  were  concocted  as  speedily  as 
<;irciiiiistances  pennitted,  to  nie-.-r  tin*  "xij^jeiicy  of  the  limes. 

Dniiii;;  the  winter  of  isjl  -  li',  the  lirliaiis  oiitherppcr  Missis- 
sippi Were  xcrv  hostile  and  coi  iniilled  many  iniirdcrs.  In  aiitici- 
]>atioii  of  an  early  war  witli  tiu'  United  Slates,  the  l>iilisli  anient  at 
i'rairie  dii  ('hieii.  Col.  Dixon,  it  was  reported  Jty  Indian  traders, 
liad  eii,:4a;;cd  all  the  warriors  of  that  rcLiioii  to  descend  the  Missis- 
sippi and  ex  terminate  the  sett  lenient  s  on  both  sides  of  the  river;* 
Init  upon  the  l)real;iii;u'  out  of  actual  hostilities  in  dune  of  that 
year  there  was  more  piessiii;;'  need  for  sa\a;;e  recruits  in  Canada, 
which  donl)tl<>ss  saved  liie  elfiisioii  of  iiiiicli  liiood  in  the  denser 
.settlements  of  Illinois;  still  many  murders  were  committed.  The 
Jjonhiitnut  (}azitti\  .March  iMsl,  ISIl!,  reports  *.)  mnrdeis  in  the  dia- 
trict  of  St.  Ciiarles;  1  at  l''ort  .Madison;  '1  at  tlie  lead  mines  in 
Jllinois,  and  a  jtarty  of  men  who  left  ilie  i'orl  in  I'dniiary  for  tho 
mines,  not  liavin;;"  Iteeii  lieai'd  Uo\\\,  were  siippo.sed  to  have  fallen 
info  the  hands  of  the  savau'cs.  'i'wo  hniidred  Winiieh  i^oes  from 
Illinois  made  a  |»liiiideriii.u  raid  upon  a  '-factory  store"  of  the. 
United  States,  siMialcd  (MI  tiie  west  hank  ot  the  .Mississii»pi.  tlui 
])resent  site  of  i>ellev  iie.  laeiiteiiants  ilamilloii  and  N'ascpies,  with 
a  small  force  of  I'e.nniars,  made  a  ;;allant  defence  and  repulsed  tiie. 
sava.yes. 

A  few  niarandin;;'  jiarties  pem-trated  far  down  into  Illinois. 
Andi'cvv  ."Moore  and  his  son.  on  their  way  hcnne  from  the  doiirdan 
ltl(»cklions(',  nnule  cami*  near  the  ini<ldle  fork  of  the  I'd;;  Minldy, 
not  far  from  the  ci'ossin;;-  of  the  old  Massac  road.  Here  they  wen; 
attacked  by  the  savages,  and  after  a  bloody  eiiconntei'  both 
lather  and  son  were  killed  and  tlieir  horses  stolen.  Moore's 
I'rairie  in  the  present  county  of  .lell'erson.  perpetuates  their  names. 
At  Tom  floni'dan's  fort,  on  the  road  to  IC(pialit,v,  three  ineii  veii- 
tnred  out  after  dark  to  ;;atliei'  [irewood,  when  they  were  tired 
on  by  Indians  concealed  in  the  l)riisli,  killing'  iJarbara,  vvoiind- 
in;;-  daiiu's  Jonrdan.  bnl  niissiii;;'  Walker.  A  iiiarandiii,i;'  band  of 
AVinnel)a;;os  attackecl  Lee's  settlement  at  Ilardscrabble,  ab(.iit  t 
miles  from  Foit  Dearbon,  near  the  ])re.sent  junction  of  the  canal 
■with  the  Chicago  river,  and  killed  a  .Mr.  White  and  a  Canadian  in 
his  employ.     Two  other  men  escaped. 

At  IlilTs  Foi't,  later  in  the  same  year,  a  band  of  warriors  a[)- 
peared.  They  I'einoved  the  mnd  from  between  ;iie  lo,i;s  of  a 
chimney  of  one  of  the  blockhonses,  inserted  a  ^iiiii.aiid  shot  a  man 
sitting  in.side  by  the  lire.     A  soldier  by  the  name  of  Lindley,  iu 

•Reynolds'  Own  Times. 

17 


2r.8 


lIISr()K\    or  ILLINOIS. 


ciiiiviii.L;'  I'lM'd  out  to  liis  horses,  left  the  slockiidc  ;^iitt'  open,  lor 
whit'ii  (lie  siviiliviiiu'  I'dc  iiiaWc  an  iiisiaiil  nisli,  liiit  t  lie  occiiitaiits 
i|iiickly  slaiiiiiK'tl  liic  uatc  sliiit.  Icaxiiiii  llic  soldier  outside  witli 
the  sa\  a,u«'s,  llesiiehered  iiiiiiself  fioiii  t iieir  iiiissih's  aiiioii,;;'  \\\o, 
catlU',  w  liich  direell\  staiiipeiliii;;.  lie  uiaiia.ucd  l>_v  feats  of  yreat 
(h'Merilv  to  tide  ou  and  iiiMh'r  an  ox.  tiins  escapini^  the  sa\a,u('s 
and  sa\  in,ii'  liis  life.  The  Indians  were  meanwhile  en,iia,^('d  in  ;i 
n.uht  at  the  fort  oxer  the  pickets,  and  were  I'epulsed  with  loss,  as 
indicated  hv  the  trails  ot'  lilood.  thev,  as  usual,  caiTvinj;-  away  the 
wounded  or  dead.* 

In  ;\Iaich,  ISlL'.  (lo\crnof  I'ldwaids  scut  ('apt.  I'Mward  ilehcit 
uitii  another  tricndiv  in<'ssa,u('lo  I  he  Indians  residinumi  the  Illinois, 
in\  ilini;  them  to  .1  conucihand  recpiotin^  traders  of  exciv  descrip- 
tion to  withdraw  till  the  1  ndian  atfaiis  iiecame  more  set  t  led.  and  if 
Ihe  latter  did  not  instantlv  comply  they  neeil  e\|)ect  no  further 
indulncnce. 

On  the  Kith  of  April.  ISlU,  His  Ivxcellency  met  in  protracted 
council  at  Caliokia,  with  Ihe  chiel's  and  warriors  of  the  following' 
imtions:  Of  the  I'ottawatomies — (lomo,  Pepper.  \\'hitc  Hair, 
little  Sauk.  (Ireal  Speaker,  Yellow  Son,  Snake.  Maukia.  Hull, 
Jenian.  Xeckkeenesskeesheck,  l,i;nance.  Potliw  atomic  Prophet, 
I'amousa.  i^hkeclu'c.  Toad,  Alan wcss.  Pipt  I'ird.  Cut  Pranch.  Tlui 
South  Wind,  and  the  Plack  i'.ir<l:  of  the  Kickapoos — Little  Deer, 
P)lue  l\vcs  (rcpreseiitati\  (■  of  i'amawattau).  Sun  l''isli,  Plind  of  an 
]•:>(■.  oiter,  .Makkak,  Yellow  Lijts.  I )o,<;-  IJinl,au(l  IJlack  Seed.  Of 
the  Oltawas — Mittitasse  1  representat  i\o  of  the  P>hu'kl>ii'd),  Kees- 
ka-<»n.  and  .Malshwashew  ii.  Of  the  (.'hippewas— the  \\'iiilo 
J)o-.+ 

The  (lovcriior  (h'liveicd  in  person  a  forcihle  address  to  them, 
lie  spoke  of  the  ardent  desiic  of  the  .li'eneial  jio\crnment  to  imuu- 
tain  peace  an*l  inirmony  with  all  the  Iinlian  nations;  defended  the 
I'nited  States  a.uainst  the  chai'ii'e  of  rapacity  for  their  lands; 
Avarncd  them  a.nainst  the  arts  and  deeepticus  of  the  vShawaneo 
I'rophet  and  other  'd>ad  hirds."'  or  evil  counselors,  whom  tliii 
J5ritish  hatl  sent  anionji'  them;  poitrayed  the  power  and  resources 
of  the  Anu'iican  nation,  which  desired  not  war  but  peace;  insisted 
that  the  MUirderers,  w  liom  they  had  haihored  all  the  tini(\  notwith- 
standing their  denial  to  Le\('rinji,  must  he  snrren<lered  ;  that  he 
nndersto<|il  well  their  unfriei.dlydisposition  and  tiie  efforts  ii<^  ('(»in- 
l)inalions  aitempted  to  he  formed  ainon;i;'  the  tribes;  warned  them 
that  their  depreilatioMs  could  not  be  lai<l  to  the  \\'inneba;;'os,  who 
\vei<' at  open  Iiostility:  that  he  wasprepaicd  with  eiierj^etic  inei's- 
nres  t(t  protect  the  whites  and  i)nnish  the  Indians,  «S:e. 

The  leading  chiel's  of  the  ditt'erent  tribes  represen*'d  all  deferred 
to  (iomo  as  the  one  who  was  toans\.ei'  the  (i()\ crnor's  spee(tli, 
Avhich  he  did  on  the  following;  day  :  lie  pi'ofessed  that  the  words 
of  the  (iovenior  had  sunk  deep  into  his  heart;  that  lie  s[KtUe  the 
sentiments  of  all  the  ehii'fs  accordin.u  to  theii'  instruction.  He 
declared  the  (Ireat  Spiiit  to  l)e  an;;i-y  with  the  r«'d  men  for  sellinj^" 
theii'  lands,  which  he  had  j^iveii  them  io  live  upon,  and  denied  the 
]>ow('r  of  n  (dnef  to  sell  lands;  they  wanted  to  live  in  jieace  :  if 
tln're  was  a  chief  amoiij;'  them  of  iidlnence  enouj;h  to  delivcu'  up  a 


*U(\vn<iIils'  Own  Tiinos. 
+J'.d\vui'i]!j' Lil'oof  his  Father. 


llAASi  )IS   TKUKITOUY, 


2r,\) 


iiiiiidcrci'  lie  would  like  ti»  sec  liim:  if  lie  ;ittt'iii])tc(]  (o  scciiio  llh^ 
iiiurdci'crs  witlioiit  tlic  coiisciit  ol' all  tin-  cliicl's  lie  would  he  killed, 
and  tliat  tlic  ^Missouri  iiiiii'dcrcis  were  Kicka])()()s;  he  doiiicdbciiij^ 
Idiiisc'ta  -I'cat  cldcf,  and  said  lie  coidd  not  control  liis  yonn^'  nu'ii 
wli(t  were  so  scattcrc*!  that  it  wonld  Ix'  iin|)ossil)l('  to  hrin,^'  tlicni 
tou'ctlicr:  tlicy  had  in>  laws  anmnj;'  llicni  like  the  whites  to  ])Mnisli 
ot'lrndcrs;  denied  listeniiiiu'  to  evil  birds  or  interl'erinu'  hetweiMi  the, 
iSiitish  and  Americans.  They  wonld  not  Join  the  British,  lor  in 
the  last  war  they  had  left  them  in  the  Inrch  and  .vonld  do  so  ayain. 
When  lie  wanted  a  hlanke!  he  Itonuht  it.  The  liiitish  had  in\it<Ml 
them  to  aid  them,  but  they  had  sc  nt  them  word  to  (iji'ht  their  own 
battles,  that  they  wanted  to  live  in  peace.  lie  complained  that 
the  Americans  did  not  live  np  to  Iheii'  promises  in  sn|)plyin^'  their 
wants,  and  that  they  had  been  lii'ed  upon  by  whites  in  eoniinjjf 
(low  n  to  the  council.  l*i-o]nised  yood  bclia\  ior.  which  they  hoped 
llie(!ood  Spirit  w  »uld  help  them  to  perform,  and  professed  j^reat 
humility.* 

'I'he  Indians  had  brought  their  women  and  childi'eu  alonj>'  to 
show  his  l''i\cellen<'y.  as  (iomo  naively  said,  liow  raiijued  and  needy 
they  were.  'I'liis,  to,i;('ther  v>itli  their  fair  piomises  of  .n'ood  be- 
liavior  and  peaceable  intentions,  had  the  desiicd  effect.  '1  hey 
cauH^  away  loaded  with  substantial  presents.  An  eaily  wi'iter 
says:  ''Tin' wild  men  e.\<'rcised  tin-  nntst  diplomacy,  and  made  the, 
i^ovei'nor  believe  the  Indians  w<'re  for  peace,  and  that  the  whiles 
need  dread  nothin.i;'  from  them.  They  ]U'omise(l  enoufih  to  obtain 
))resents,  and  went  olf  lau,uhin,<>'  at  the  credulity  of  (he  whites. "t 
Some  of  them  w<'re  in  August  follow  inj;'  concerned  in  the  horrible 
massacre  at  ('hica,i;(). 

The  savages  ol' th<'  northw(\st,  however,  were  tliorott,i;hly  stirred 
np  and  did  n(tt  desire  peace;  in  this  the  reports  of  travelers, 
traders,  and  sjjies  all  coiicnrred:  the  red  wami)um  was  constantly, 
])assin,i;'  between  (he  dillei'ent  tribes  in  all  i)arts  of  the  country, 
from  tlie,  Sioux  of  tin;  St.  I'eters  to  tlu^  tribes  at  the  head  of  the 
AN'abash,  and  a  ji'eueral  condtination  was  fast  ripenin;:;'.  The 
Uritish  a.u'cnts  at  Prairie  du  Chieii,  Fort  Maiden,  and  othei'  points, 
in  anticii>atioii  of  a  war  with  thelTnited  States,  soufjht  to  eidist 
the  favor  of  the  savages  by  the  <listi'ilndion  of  lar,i;'e  supi>lies  of 
ji'oods,  arms  and  annnunititui  to  them.  The  l"ji_<;lish  coidiniu'd  their 
in.-.idts  to  our  Hag'  upon  the  hifjli  seas,  and  (heir  fi'overiunent  refus- 
ing' to  I'elincpiish  its  offensive  conr  ',  all  liojie  of  a  ])eacefnl  issiu> 
was  abandoned,  and  congress,  ou  the  llUh  of  .luiu',  1SI2,  tbruudly 
declared  war  against  (jicat  IJiitain.  In  Illinois  tlu^  (hi'eatened 
Indian  troubles  had  already  caused  a  uiore  thoiough  organization 
of  the  nnlitia  along'  (he,  frontiers,  (Vo:u  the  mouth  of  t!ie  Illinois 
dctV.'u  (he  Mississippi  to  (he  Ohio,  thence  np  that  stream  an<l  (ho 
Wabash  abovc^  N'iueenues.  Addidonal  forts  were  also  btult,  one 
towards  the,  mouth  of  the  Little  Wabash,  and  at  the  nu)uth  of  La 


lAIotte  Cre«.'k. 


♦Edwards'  I-ifc  of  Edwards. 
tKt'ytiolds'  Own  Times. 


it 
ill 


ClIAI'TKIl    XX  III. 

TIIK   MASSACKE   AT    CII ICACO— KAl^.V    niSTORV    OF 

Til  10  IM.ACK. 


The  yrontcst,  !is  well  tlic  iiutsf  rcvoltiii^j^j  massar  "  of  wliitos 
tli;it  t'vci' ncciirifd  in  Illinois,  was  iM'ipcti'atrd  1>\  llic  Potuwat- 
toniic  trilin  of  Indians,  on  tiic  8it«;  ol'  the  present  eity  of  Clii- 
cau*). 

{•'roin  early  Indian  tradition,  it  lias  been  ^i'atliered  tli;it  tluf 
niontii  of  tlie  Cliicaji'o  river  \v;is;i  l;i\drite  resort  of  tlx'  Illinois 
tril)es  in  very  renH)te  times.  IJesides  its  lisliin};'  facilities,  it  was 
the  oidydeep  inlet  from  the  lake  on  its  southwesterly  bend.  The 
]»ortaj:t'  betwcMi  the  Chicago  and  the  Inadwaters  of  the  Illinois, 
otfere<l  bnt  a  narrow  interrnption  to  ean(»e  travel  from  tlu^  <(reat 
lakes  on  the  north  to  the  (inlf  of  Mexico.  It  is  said,  that  tlie 
Tamaroas  ;.iave  nanui  to  the  river,  derived  from  ('heca(iiia,  the 
title  of  a  lonu  snccessioii  <if  ji'overninj;' eh'efs.  which,  iiy  an  easy 
tiansition,  atti'.ched  to  the  place.  It  was  said  also  to  mean  tlnm- 
<lei'.  the  \oice  of  Maniton,  and  ''skunk."  an  a|)itellation  but  too 
suu^i'cstive  duiinj;'  a  few  years  precedinj^'  the  deejienin.ii'  of  the 
(taiial.by  which  its  euri'ciit  was  reversed  with  the  |>nre  watei's  of 
the  lake.  Knt  its  uiost  eoinmouly  accepted  definition  is  "wild 
onion.''  from  that  rather  o(b»rous  vej^'ctaltle  <;Towinj:'  abundantly 
on  its   biinks  in  early  times.* 

A  small  I''rench  tradinj;'  post  was  established  there  in  the  peiiod 
of  the  I'rench  explorations.  I"'or  the  better  jtossession  of  their 
western  empire,  the  French  built  forts  at  various  points,  from 
Canada,  via  I'eoiia,  to  New  Orleans,  inclndiiif;'  one  at  Ohicayo. 
On  tlu'  earliest  kn(»wn  map  of  this  re;;ion,  dated  (Quebec,  KWS,  ii 
eorreet  outlines  of  the  lake  is  <>iven,  and  tlii^  river  accurately  loca- 
ted, with  'I'^u't  Chicaj^'o"' marked  at  its  mouth.  Subscfpu'Utly,  the 
Americans  found  no  vesti^^c  of  the  eaily  French  setth'rs  there. 
By  the  treaty  of  (lieenville,  to  whicli  the  Fotawattoinies  from  this 
reiiicai,  with  many  <»thers.  were  piirties,  "oiu'  ])iece(»f  land  (»  miles 
s(|uare,  at  the  month  oC  the  Cliekajo  river,  emptyin;^'  int((  tin? 
.souili-west  end  of  Lake  Michigan,  irlicrr  a  fort  Jhrmtrhf  nfixxl,''^ 
Avas  I'eliiKpn'shed.  'i'he  tide  of  emi;4iation  settinji'  into  Indiami 
and  Michijian  aifer  the  treaty  of  (Ireenville,  17i>r»,  conceid rated 
the  Indians  in  j;reiiter  uumbers  about  this  ])oint,  and  larj;cly  iii- 
ereiise<l  the  Indian  trade,  foi-  which  a  nund)er  of  traders  were  her<5 
h>ciite(l ;  >Iohn  Kin/,i(^  beinj^' one  whose;  deseendants  are,  residents 
of  (Miica;^o  down  to  the  i>resent  time.  The  jicneral  ,u(»verniiient, 
in    ISO  I,  laiiit,   (Ui    the  south    side   of  the   river,  l''ort    Dearborn, 

*  Clilcugo  and  ila  great  uoulltigrutiou. 

I'GO 


ILLINOIS   TKlMnrORY.  L'Cl 

iiiiiiHMl  iiftorii  jiciicriil  of  ihv  army,  and  ^arriHoiiod  if  witli  50  men 
and  ;>  pieces  (»l'  iii1ill<'ry.  'I'lie  fort  consisted  of  L'  block  lionses, 
with  11  ]»;irii(le  ground  ;iiid  siillyporl,  or  snl)ti'rriine;in  i)iiss;i;4('  to 
tlie  ri\<'i',  liie  w iidle  snnoiinded  l»y  ;i  sto<-U;ide.  Willi  tiiis  ]>]v,- 
cMiiiiiis  idolectioii,  tlie  iiiiiiilH'r  of  tinders  increiised  and  a  few  set- 

tlio'.;   ci"i  t  lii>r<>il    ;iriiiriiil    tlii>   ixxt 


of  lliis  i»liice  ('iilleii    llai'dscnibbh'. 

On  tlicTlii  of  An^iisl,  iiirixcd  tlie  ordei-  of  (ioveriior  Hull, 
«"tiiiiii;inder  in  chief  of  the  iioi'thwest,  by  the  li;in<i  of  ji  trusty 
«']iii'f  of  llit^  I'otnwiittoiiiies,  called  Winiieitie;^,  (ir  ('iitlish,  "to 
eviiciinle  the  post  if  jtr;ictic;ible.  iind  in  that  event,  to  distribntCi 
the  |»niperty  belon^inu'  to  the  ['nited  States,  in  the  fort  and  in 
the  factory  oia^ciiey.  to  the  Indians  in  tin-  neiuhboi'Iiood."  '|'ii(» 
<lispatclies  fmt her  announced,  that  the  I'.rilish  had  laUeii  Mack- 
inaw, and  tinit  (leneraj  llnll,  with  his  army,  was  proceed i n u' fi(wn 
Fort  Wayne  to  Dctiuil. 


Fort  Wayne  to  Dctiuil. 

The  .i;ariis(iii,  at  the  lime,  consisted  of  "."i  nieii,  few  of  wli(tin 
were  effeciixe  soldiers.  The  ollicers  were.  Captain  lieald,  the, 
4'oiiiiiiandcr,  laeiiteiiant  Helm  and  iCiisii^'ii  Ifonaii  (both  very  \  ■niii;^ 
men),  and  Doctor  Noorliccs,  the  si!rj;('oii.  ,lolin  Kiiizie  was  tli(< 
piincij)al  tiad<'r.  lie  and  the  lirst  two  named  oflicei-s  lia<l  families 
tlieic.  So  also  some  of  the  soldiers  and  other  traders.  Coiisider- 
alile  coolness  <'.\isted  between  I'jisiuii  Itoiiaii,  a  brave  and  gallant 
Noldicr,  init   overbearing:  in  his  disposition,  and  <'iiptaiii    Ileald. 

Winneme;;',  the   bear<'r  of  t  li(^   dispatches,  well   apjiriscd    of  the, 

hostile  <lisj)osilion  of  the  treacherous   savages,  advised   stronuly 

against    the   evacuation,  which    was  dis<'retionary.     'flic  fort    was 

well  siip]iiie<l  with  ammiinitioii  and  provisions  I'oi' six  months,  and 
;■.    ii...    •..,..,..•;•....   ..,11/.... .1.    ii.i..'ii<    /./.■.,,.       II,.    o., I.I  «..    I..,..,,,    ii.,. 


2(52 


TIISTOIJV    (»F    ILLINOIS, 


t'licc  to  orders,  disrcjuiirt'd  tliis  also,  notwitlistiiiidiii;;'  tlic  discretion 
allowed  iiiiii.  Oil  tlie  roll()\viii.y' iiioriiiiij'',  uitlunit  coiisiilLilioii  with 
liie  siihordiiiale  ollieers — witii  wiioiii  lie  was  estraii;;t'd -lie  |>iih- 
lislied  on  parade  t  lie  order  lor  e\  aeiialiiin'  tliejiosl.  'I'lie  ollieers 
whose  eoimeil  iiad  lieeii  lliiis  ij;iiored  in  so  iiiiporlaiil  an  eiiH'r.Lj'eiK^v, 
reiiioiislrated  a^aiiisl  this  sie|».  and  i>oinle<l  out  the  iniiuolt.ihility 
ol'llieir  party  reaehiii.i^'  l""ort  Wavne  without  iiiolesiatioii  ;  liow 
the\  would  lie  relai'ded  ill  their  marches  1>\  the  women  and  cliil- 
dreii.  and  invalid  and  siipcraiiiiated  soMicrs;  how  the  lew  rriciidly 
cliiels.  who  had  from  ino|i\csor  prixate  re,uard  lor  the  family  of 
JMr.  Kiiizie,  oppo.sed  .siicces^rnllN  an  attack  upon  the  fort  the  ])re- 
eedin,u  autumn,  were  now,  when  the  country  was  at  war  with 
Cireat  Ilritaiii.  powerless  to  ivstraiii  their  tribes.  They  advised 
I'eiiiaiiiiiii;'  and  forlifyini;'  Ihemselves  till  succor  came  ;  at  any  rate, 
it  was  lietler  to  fall  intothe  hands  of  the  ilritish,  as  i)ris(Uiers, 
than  a  sacrilice  to  the  Itriital  fert)city  of  the  savages.  Captain 
Jleald,  however,  dreadin<i' et'iisure,  sIochI  upon  liis  idea  of  oitedi- 
dice  to  orders,  ami  expressed  conlidence  in  the  friendly  proless- 
ions  of  the  imlians.  With  this,  the  ol'licers,  wlio  regarded  Ilii' 
ju'oject  as  little  short  of  madness,  heid  themselves  aloof  from  their 
eommaiidei',  and  dissatisfaction  and  iiisuWordiiiation  spread  aiuonu, 
the  soldiers.  The  Indians,  too,  became  daily  more  unruly.  They 
entered  the  fort  in  deliance  of  the  seiiiinels.  and  made  their  way 
"without  «'ereiiiony  into  the  (luarteis  of  the  ollieers.  On  one  occa- 
sion, an  Indian  tired  a  rille  in  the  parlor  of  the  commandin<;dfli- 
cer.  This  was  by  some  construed  as  a  sij^nal  to  iheyiUiiiji  braves 
tor  an  attack.  'J"he  (»ld  chiefs  were  passing'  to  and  fro  amoiij;'  the 
assembled  j^roiips  with  much  a;^italiiui,  while  the  stpiaws  w<'re 
rnshinii'  hither  and  hither,  as  if  looking;'  for  a  fearful  st-ene.  Still 
C"a|)taiii  lleaid  cliiii.u'  to  his  conxiciioii  of  havinji'  created  a  fcelin.u,' 
so  amicable  ainoiii;  them,  as  would  ensure  the  safe  passage  of  the 
jiaity  to  F<n1  Wayne,  in  the  meantime,  a  rinmer  iiad  arrived 
villi  a  inessa;4<'  from  Tecumsch,  who  hatl  joined  the  liritish  with 
a  laij;*'  Ibrce,  com cyiii.u'  the  news  to  the  Indians  ol  the  captiirt'of 
Fort  .Mackinaw  in  duly,  the  defeat  (d'  .Major  Van  Ilorne  at  llrow  ns- 
town,  and  tlie  inulorioiis  retreat  of  (leiieral  Hull  from  Canada, 
saying-  further,  that  he  had  no  dtmbt  but  that  Hull  would,  in  a 
short  time,  be  compelled  to  surrender;  and  iir,u('d  them  to  arm 
immediately. 

The,  Indians  from  the  neigliborin.i;'  villa,u'es  havin.y  at  Ien<;th 
collected,  a  council  was  held  on  the  llilh  of  Aui^nst.  Of  the  olli- 
eers (d'  the  jiarrisoii,  though  rcfiiiestcd.  none  attended  bi'sjde  the 
coniniander;  tiie  others,  in  antieiiiati<tn  <d'  intended  mischief, 
opened  the  poll  holes  (d' the  blockhouses  and  with  loade<l  cannons 
commanded  the  coiiii'-il.  This  action,  it  was  supposed,  prevented 
Ji  iiiassacre  at  the  time.  ('apt.  Ileald  promised  tiie  Indians  to  dis- 
tribute amoiiii-  them  all  t!ie  jidods  in  the  I'liited  Slates  factory,  and 
the  ammunition  and  provisions  in  the  tort,  desirinji' an  escort  of 
the  I'ottawatomii's  to  Fort  NN'ayiie  in  return,  and  promising,  tiiem 
ii  fiirlher  liberal  reward  upon  arrival  there.  The  Indians,  with 
many  professions  of  frieiidshi)),  asst'iited  to  all  he  proposed  and 
promised  all  he  required. 

No  sooner  had  the  coinmander  made  these  imiiscreet  i>roinises 
than  he  allowed  himself  to  lie  persuaded  to  \iolate  them.  Mr. 
Kinzie,  well  knowinj;  the  ticaclu  ry  td'  tin;  ln<lian  character,  repre- 


ILLINOIS   TKURITOKY. 


2(i;} 


K«Mitc(l  t(»  liiiii  the  ihiii.uci-  to  llicii'  piirty  of  riiriiisliiii<:  llic  s:ivii,ut'S 
■\vitli  iiniis  nnd  aiiimiiiiirKHi.  and  liiiiior  to  lire  tlicir  hraiiis.  'I'lii.s 
iiriiiiiiiciit.  tiiic  iuid  cxccUfiil  in  itself,  was  now  cci'lainlv  inopjioi- 
tiinc,  and,  ir  acted  njion  conld  only  incense  tiie  Ireaclieidiis  foe. 
I'.iit  ('apt.  Ileald.,  struck  with  tlie  inipolicv  of  ids  condnct  and 
faliin^H-  ill  witli  tlie  ad\ice.  now  lesolved  to  bicak  his  iudiscicet 
pronuse.  Accordin,ul\,  on  tiie  i;!tii,  all  the  j^oods  inllie  factory 
stole  were  dnly  disti'ihiited :  but  in  the  ni;^ht  time  the  aims  were, 
broken,  the  aniniunition  seciclly  thrown  in  a  well,  and  the  Itarrels 
of  whisky,  of  wliieh  theicwasa  larj;*'  (niaiitity.  mostly  belon.^in^- 
to  traders,  were  lojh'd  (|nietly  thronjih  the  sally-port,  their  heads 
knocked  in  and  their  contents  emptied  into  the  river.  Hat  the 
liirkin.i;- redskins  witiiesscil  the  breaking' of  the  casks,  and  (piickiy 
ai)preliendin,u-  liow  laith  had  been  broken  with  them  b\  the  whiles, 
were  ^-eatly  <'.\asperated  at  the  loss  of  their  fond  -lii'e  w  ater," 
■which  tiiey  asserted  was  destroyed  in  siicii  abnndance  as  to  makc^ 
the  river  taste  ''yrou'^iy."  At  a  second  <"onncil  held  on  the  Mill. 
tlu'y  e.\])resse(l  their  iiidijiiiatioii  at  thiscoiidiict.aiid  their  mnrmiirs 
ami  threats  were  loud  and  <U'ep.  lilack  Hawk,  who  li\fd  many 
years  after,  always  maintained  that  this  violation  <if  promises  on 
the  part;  of  the  whites  j)recij»itated  the  massacre  on  the  Ibllowin,!;- 
day. 

\Vliile  nearly  all  the  Indians  in  alliance  with  the  r.ritish  i»arl(M>k 
of  tiie  hostility  of  their  people  ajiainsi  the  Americans,  there  werc^ 
still  several  <'hiefs  and  bra\t's  who  retained  a  ])ersoiial  rc,iiard  Ibr 
the  inhabitants  of  this  ]»lace.  Amoii^' these  was  iJlack  I'ariiidiic, 
a  chief  of  some  renown.  He  now  eiitert'd  the  (piarlers  of  Cajit. 
Ileald  and  spoke  as  follows:  "r'ather.  1  come  todeli\<'r  np  to  you 
the  medal  I  wear.  Jl  was  <ii veil  me  by  the  Americans,  and  I  liaNC 
huijn"  worn  it  ill  token  of  our  umtual  friendship.  Hut  our  yoiiny 
men  are  resolved  to  imbrue  their  hands  in  the  blood  of  the 
"wliit 'i^.  I  cannot  restrain  them,  and  I  will  not  wear  a  token  of 
peace  wlrile  iani  comiielled  to  a<'t  as  an  «'nemy.'' 

On  the  same  day,  the  Mth.  the  (hspondeiicy  of  the  garrison  was 
for  a  time  dispelled  by  the  arrival  of  CajU.  NVells  fi<im-  l'"t.  Wayne, 
Avitli  J.-)  friendly  31iaiiiis.  ('apt.  Wells  was  the  son  of  (un.  Wells, 
of  Kentucky,  and  either  a  brother  or  uncle  to  ]\Irs.  ('apt.  Ileald. 
AVhen  ti  child,  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  31iaiiiis  and  reared 
and  adopted  in  tl.e  family  of  Little  Turtle,  who  commanded  tlii' 
Indians  in  the  di'feat  of  St.  ("lair,  in  17110,  Wells  leadin.n  ;!(."()  of  the? 
warriors  in  the  very  front  of  that  battle.  He  snbscipjently  Joined 
the  army  of  (u'li.  Wayne,  and  by  his  knowlcdiic  of  the  country, 
])roved  a  ])ow('rful  auxiliary.  Later  he  rejoined  his  Ibster  father. 
He  was  a  brave  and  fearless  warrior.  Ilavinji  learned  the  older 
of  evacuation,  and  know  inj;'  well  the  l!>..^tile  dis]»osilion  of  the 
l\)ttawat<uiiies,  he  made  a  rapid  march  tliidui;h  the  w  ildciiics.s  lo 
i!<ave,  if  possible,  his  sister  and  the  fiarrisoii  at  (Jhicajio.  from  their 
inqieiidiny  doom.  IJiit  he  came  too  late,  'flie  ammiinilioii  was 
destroyed  and  the  savaji'cs  were  riotiiiydii  the  |>ro\  isioiis.  I're- 
])aratioiis  were  therefore  made  to  march  on  (he  morrow.  The 
reserved  ammnnition,  25  rounds  to  the  man,  was  now  distribiHed. 
The  ha«i}ia,u('  wajions  for  the  sick. the  women  and  (he  children,  con- 
taininji'  also  a  l»ox  of  cartridjics,  were  ;^oi  read\,  :iiid  amid  the 
])ervadiiij;'  <ilooiii,  n  fati^uin;;-  mireh  thronjih  the  wilderness  in 
prospect,  and  the  fears  of  diisaster  on  the  route,  the  whole  party 


li(>+  IIISTOllY    OF   ILLINOIS. 

cxrcpl  llif  ruillil'iil  s<'iitiiicls  rctii'cd  lor  ji  little  repose.  Tlie  iiioni- 
iiiji'  of  the  I'atal  l.")tli  of  Aiij;iist,  iMll,',  iirrived.  The  siiii  slioiie 
Avil h  its  wonted  splendor,  and  Lidvc  .Miclii.L  iii  "was  a  sheet  of  Imiii- 
ishe(l  yold."'  ICaily  in  tlie  nioriiiiij;  Mr.  Kiii/ie  r<'eeived  a  iiiessaj^o 
I'roiii  'I'opeiieehe.  a  fiiendiv  eiiief  of  tiie  St.  .losejih  hand  of  I'olta- 
vatondes,  warniiiii  him  tlial  his  people,  not withstandinji'  tiieir 
])i'onnse  of  safe  conduct,  desiyned  ndschief.  INIr.  Ivin/ie  with  iiis 
ehh'st  son,  wiio  iiad  a.ureed  tc  accompany  the  j;arrison,  was  iii'Lj-ed 
to  ;.:<•  witii  his  family,  for  which  a  boat  had  heen  (itted  out  to 
coast  around  the  southerly  end  of  liie  lake  to  the  St.  .losepli. 

.\t  ';!  a.  ni.  the  parly  (juitted  the  foi't  amidst  martial  music  and  ill 
miiilaiy  array,  ('apt.  Wells,  at  the  head  of  his  hand  of  Mianns, 
led  the  \an,  his  face  hiackened  after  the  manner  of  the  Indians. 
The  ti()o]»s  with  loaded  aims  came,  next,  followed  hy  the  waf^ons 
contiiiniiii;'  the  women  and  childi-eii.  the  sick  and  the  lame  and  the 
ha.ii;,uaji('.  A  little  distance  in  liie  rear  f  >llowed  the  escort  ofpiiout 
odO  I'ottawatomies.  The  jiarty  took  the  l»each  load  sonthwaid  with 
the  lake  ui)ou  their  left.  On  reachinu  the  rauj:t'  of  sand  iiilis  sepa- 
aatiu,u  the  heach  from  the  prairie,  the  Indians  defiled  to  the  ri^iit, 
l»riii;:;inj;  these  shore  elevations  lietweeii  them  and  the  whites  down 
on  tlie  heach.  Tliey  had  marched  ahoiit  a  iinle  and  half  from  the 
fort,  wlieii  ('apt.  NN'ells  rode  furiously  hack,  shouting:  "They  are 
ahoiit  to  attack  us:  form  instantly  and  ciiarj^c  upon  them.'"  The 
Avoids  were  scarcely  uttered  when  the  saxaj^cs  poured  a  x'oUey  of 
liinsketry  from  hehind  the  hills  upon  the  i>arty.  The  troops  wt've 
liaslily  formed  into  line  and  they  char.yc*!  up  the  hank.  Oiio 
veteran  of  70  \<'ars  fell  as  they  ascended,  'flic  action  l»ecam(3 
general.  The  Miamis  lied  at  the  outset:  tiieir  chief  rode  up  to  tho 
Pottawatomies,  cliar^fd  them  with  treacliciy,  and  !»raiiisliinii'  his 
tomahawk.  declarc(l  "he  would  he  ihe  lirst  to  head  a  i»ariy  to 
return  and  punish  tliein."  lit;  then  turned  his  horse  and  i>alIope(l 
after  his  cowardly  compani<»iis.  The  troops  hehaved  j^allaiitly, 
lint  were  overwhelmed  hy  nund)ers.  The  savages  tiankcd  ihein, 
and  '"in  ahout  l'>  minutes  ;.;()t  possession  of  the  horses.  |)ro\isions, 
and  haji^aiit' of  every  description.''*  IJere  the  niiirderon.s  work 
ui>on  the  helpless  women  and  children  was  eominenced. 

^Irs.  Helm,  wife  of  l.ieiitenant  Helm,  was  in  the  action,  and 
fnrnislied  Mr.  i\iu/,ie,  her  stepfather,  many  thrilling'  incidents. t 
Dr.  Voorliees,  who  had  heen  wouikUmI  at  the  lir.st  tire,  was,  w hile 
in  a  paroxysm  of  fear,  cut  dcwii  hy  her  si<le.  Knsif.;n  Konan,  n 
little  ways  oil',  thouj;ii  mortally  wounded,  was  struji<;iin,i;'  with  a 
powerful  sava<;e,  hut  sank  ninter  his  tomaha\vk.  A  younn'  bravo 
Avith  uplifted  tomahawk  soniilit  to  cleave  her  skull ;  she  s|iran<v 
aside  and  the  blow  jiiazed  her  shoulder;  sin-  seized  him  arouml 
the  neck  and  while  .i;rai)pliii,ii'  I'or  his  scalpin.i;'  knife,  was  forcibly 
borne  away  hy  anotlieraihl  plunji'ed  into  the  hike  and  held  down  in 
the  water.  She  soon  found,  howfver,  that  her  eajttor  di<l  not  desijiu 
to  drown  lier,  and  now  for  the  lirst  time  reco^'iii/ed,  throu,i;Ii  his 
disguise  of  paint  and  feathers,  the  Irieiidly  chiei,  lUaek  l'artridj;'e. 
AVlieii  the  liriit};'  liad  somewhat  subsided  her  ])reserver  hore  lier 
safely  to  the  shore.  A  soldier's  wil'e,  under  the  conviction  tlnit 
prisoners  taken  by  Indians  Avere  subjected  to  tortures  worse  than 
death,  lhou<ili  assured  of  iininunity,  fon;:lit  a  ])arty  of  savaj^es, 
AA'lio  attenii»ted  to  take  lier,  Avitli  siieli  desi»eratioii  that  she  was 

•Heuld'B  Kcport.    +See  J.  H.  Kiuziu's  Niirutivu. 


ILLINOIS   TEKUITOUY. 


L'Cm 


i  i 


littn'iilly  out  to  ]»i('c('s  iiiid  licr  iiiiiiijilcd  rciiiiiins  left  on  tlM^  (ifld. 
*'iMrs.  Ilciild,  too,  t(»ii;ilil  lite  ii  ixTfcct  licroiiic  iiiid  icccivi'd  scvcial 
uoiiiids.  Al'lcr  slic  \v;is  in  llic  l»o;il.  ;i  sinn^^c  iissnilcd  lit-i'  willi 
liis  toiiiidiiiwk,  wlicii  Iicr  lilV  was  s;ivcd  l»v  tlic  iiitciposilioit  of  a 
fri.'iidly  cliicf." 

Tlic  troops  liaviii.u'  l'oMjj,lit  yallaiitly  till  over  liall'  of  tlicir  niiiiiltcr 
■NVOiv  slain,  the  remainder,  Itnt  -1  ont  of  <>(!,  siii'ren<lered.  And 
in)\v  the  most  lieart-icmleiini:'  and  sickenin;;'  hntehei'v  (•('  tlii.s 
calamitons  day  was  eoniniitted  by  a  yoiin,:^'  hrntal  sa\'a<;'e,  who 
assailed  one  of  the  l)a,ujia.ye  waii'ons  eontaininiu'  12  ciiildreii,  every 
one  of  whom  fell  l»eneath  his  nnuderons  tomaiiawk.  \\'hen  ('apt. 
AVells,  wiio  with  the  others  had  Ix'conn'  a  prisoner,  beheld  this 
scene  at  a  dislanee.  he  exelainn'd  in  a  tone  lond  en(»nj;h  to  be  heard 
by  the  sava,ut's  aronnd  him :  -'If  this  be  yonr  .^aine,  1  can  kill  loo  I'' 
and  tnininj;' his  iiorse,  started  in  fnll  j;allop  tor  the  l'oltawatomi(i 
eamp,  loeatetl  alxnit  what  is  now  State  street,  near  the  erossinj^'  of 
Lake,  where  the  sqnaws  and  i)appooseshad  l)een  left.  The  Indians 
l»nrsned.  and  he  a\ oided  the  deaclly  aim  of  their  r dies  for  a  1  iine  i»y 
hiyin,^'  Hat  on  his  horse's  neck,  but  theanimal  was  directly  killed  aial 
he  W(»nnded.  lie  a,uain  became  a  jtrisoner;  W i n nenu'H' a i id  W'ai tan- 
see,  both  friends  of  the  whiles,  intei'ceded  to  save  him,  lait 
Peesotnm,  a  I'ottawatonne,  while  he  was  bein,i;'  supported  alon,ii', 
pi\'e  him  his  deaih  blow  by  a  stab  in  the  l>ack.  Tlins  fell  \\in. 
^Vayne  Wells,  a  white  man  of  excellent  ]»arenta<;'e  and  descent, 
reared  annniy  the  Indians,  and  of  as  In'axc  and  ji'enei'ons  a  imtnre 
as  man  e\-ei- jjossessed,  a  saerilice  to  his  own  rash  impidse  inspir<(l 
by  a-  deed  of  nnist  sava}j;e  ferocity.  Mis  renniins  were  teriibiy 
multilated  ;  the  heart  was  cnt  in  pieces  and  distribnted  aminii;'  the 
tribes,  as  was  their  wont,  for  a  token  of  bravery.  I>illy  ("aldwc-ll, 
a  half  bi'eed  AVyandol.  lon,y'  well  known  in  ('hica,ii(>  alterward, 
arri\inj;'  lu'xt  day,  gathered  np  the  several  porti(»ns  of  the  body 
and  bnried  them  in  the  sand.  Wells  stn^et,  in  the  i>resent  eity  of 
Chicaji'o,  perpelnates  the  memory  of  his  nann-. 

The  following'  is  copied  from  ihe  olticial  rei)ort  of  Captain 
Heald: 

"We  proceeded  about  a  mile  and  a  half,  wlien  it  was  discovered  the 
Indians  were  j)repared  to  attack  us  from  liclund  theliank.  I  inuuediately 
inarched  tlie  company  up  to  tlie  toj)  of  tlie  liank,  wlieii  tiie  action  cnni- 
nienced  ;  after  lii'in>i-one  round,  reclKirgt'il,  and  tiie  Indians  j>;ave  way  in 
front  and  joined  tiiosc  on  our  t1ard\s.  In  aliout  lo  niinnles,.they  fj;ol  pos- 
session of  all  our  iiorses,  provision  and  liajij^ajn' ol' every  descripli(.n,  and 
flndinj)^  tlie  Miamis  did  not  assist  us,  I  drew  oil"  tlie  lew  men  I  laid  left, 
and  took  possession  of  a  small  elevnlion  in  tiie  ojien  prairie  out  of  sliot 
of  the  bank  orany  otiier  cover.  'l"he  Indians  did  not  follow  me,  luit 
assembled  in  a  body  on  tlie  top  of  the  liank,  and,  after  some  eonsuKation 
auionjj  themselves,  made  si<^ns  for  me  to  approach  tiieni.  1  advanced 
towards  tlu'in  alone,  and  was  met  by  one  of  the  rottawatomie  diiefs, 
called  the  iJlackltird,  with  an  interpreter.  After  sliakinir  iiands,  lie  re- 
quested me  to  surrender,  promising;'  to  sparethe  Ii\-es  of  all  the  prisoners. 
On  a  few  moments  consi(leration  I  concluded  it  would  he  tlie  most  pru- 
dent to  comply  with  his  reijuest,  althoujib  1  did  not  jiut  entire  conlidence 
in  liis  promise,  .\fter  <leliverin^  up  our  arms,  we  were  taken  back  to 
their  encamjaiii'iit  near  the  fort  and  distributed  anions'  the  ditrcrent 
tribes,  'i'lie  next  morning-  they  set  tire  to  tlie  fort,  and  left  the  place, 
taking  (he  prisoners  with  tliem.  Tiieir  mimi)erof  wiU'riors  was  lietweeu 
400  and  VIO,  mostly  of  tlii'  Pottawatomie  nation,  anil  tlieir  loss,  fnao  the 
best  information  I  could  ;j,-et,  was  aliout  lo.  Our  streni;lli  w'as-)4  reuulars 
tnd  1-'  militia,  out  of  which  '2(i  regulars,  and  all  the  militia,  were  killed 
ill  tlie  action,  with  two  women  aud  12  cliildreu.     Eusigu  George  liouau 


200  IllSroiiV   OF    ILLINOIS. 

1111(1  Dr.  [siiiic  V.  Villi  VoorliccH,  of  my  coiiiiumy,  willi  Ciipdiiii  Wclli^, 
of  l''inl  \\;iyiii',  iir«'  to  my  j;rt'iil  sorrow,  mimiicrtd  anion};  llu'  (IcmiI. 
LifuL  1,.  'I\  Helm,  with  2')  non-com  mission  ctldiriccrs  a  11(1  privates,  ami  11 
women  anil  cliiidicii,  were  prisoners,  when  we  separated.  Mrs.  Ilealil 
and  myself  were  taken  to  llie  month  of  (he  river  St.  Joseph,  and  hein;;' 
IpoIIi  liailly  wounded,  were  jiermitted  to  reside  with  Mr.  I5nriiet,  an  In- 
dian tradei'.  In  a  few  days  after  our  arrival  there,  the  Indians  all  went 
oil' to  lake  l'"()rt  Wayne,  and  in  their  alisence  I  eiif^a^icd  a  I<'rencliman  to 
take  us  to  .Mackinaw,  liy  water,  where  1  };ave  mysf  If  up  as  a  prisoner 
of  war,  with  one  of  my  sergeants. 

In  I  lie  sill  rem  I  er,  ( 'apt  a  in  Ilea  Id  had  sti|nilale(l  lor  t  lie  salety  of, 
tlie  reiniianl  (d'  Ills  loice  and  the  remainin.ii  women  and  cliildreii. 
Tile  wounded  prisoners,  in  I  lie  iiiirry  (d'  I  lie  inoiiiciil,  were  mil'or- 
liinately  omitted,  or  latlicr,  not  ^laitieiilariy  iiiciit ioncd.  These 
helpless  siilTereis,  on  reaeiiili.u'  tiic  rotawalloinie  camii.  were  tliel'c- 
lorc  regarded  as  iiiopcr  siiltjects  upon  to  wreak  their  sa\ajit' 
and  cowai'dly  l>riitality  .\  distiii<;iiisliiii;:'  trait  (d'  civiii/e'd 
liiimanity  is.  pidleetion  Cor  the  helpless:  with  the  sa\a^(',  tlicsif 
become  the  olijects  of  ven^icaiiec.  .Mis.  Helm  writes:  '-An  old 
s(piaw,  iiil'iiiiated  l>y  the  loss  of  tViciids  or  excited  Ity  the  saii;;ni- 
iiary  scenes  around  lici',  .seemed  possessed  <d'  demoniac  liny.  She 
seized  a  stable  folk  and  assaiiltetl  one  miseiable  victim,  who  lay 
liToaniini'  and  wiilhiiii;-  iiillie  a.yoiiy  (d'  his  wounds,  aj:;;iavated  by 
the  seor(diiii;i  beams  of  tin-  sun.  \\'itli  a  delicacy  oi'  feeiiiij;' 
scarcely  to  have  been  expected  under  such  cifcirciimstaiiees,  Wan- 
bee  nee-wan  stitdched  a  mat  across  two  poles  bet  ween  ine  and  this 
dreadful  scene.  1  was  thus  spared,  in  some  dejiice.  a  \iew  (d'  its 
horrors,  althoiij;h  1  could  not  entirely  close  my  ears  to  the  cries  of 
the  sull'ei'er.  The  Ibllowin;.;-  iii;4lil  live  more  (d'  the  wounded  [iris- 
oiieis  were  tomahawked."* 

\\heii  the  Indians  about  the  fort  fust  learned  <»f  the  intended 
evacuation,  tliey  disjiatched  iniiiiers  to  all  the  villages  id'  the 
nation,  apprising'  them  of  tlie  news  and  their  purpose  to  overjiower 
the  .uarrisoii.  ICauer  to  share  in  the  act  cd'  bloodshed  and  jilun- 
der.  many  waii'ioi's  liasteiied  forward,  only  to  be  too  late. 

A  bami  of  I'otawattoinies.  from  the  \\abasli,  were  met  at  the  Atix 
Plains  by  a  party  from  Chicago,  bearin.u'  home  a  wounded  chief, 
JJeiiiiH'  informed  that  the  battle  had  been  foiij;lit  and  won,  the 
prisoners  slain  and  scaljied,  and  Ihe  sjioils  divided,  their  «lisap- 
pointment  and  rayc  knew  no  bounds.  'I'liey  aceelerate(l  their 
inarcii.  and  reachiiij;'  ( 'liieaj;(i,  (bdermined  to  j;liit  their  taste  for 
t)lood  on  new  victims,  'i'liey  bla(d<ened  their  faces,  and  witiioiit 
ceremony  entered  the  parloi' of  .Mr.  Kiii/ie  and  sulh'iily  s([uatti'(l 
upon  the  floor  amidst  the  as.sembled  family,  who  had  been 
kindly  restored  to  their  home  on  tin'  north  side  of  tlie  I'iver 
by  l'>lack  l'atri(lj;e.  Wabanseeand  others,  and  who  now  "iiardcd 
them.  Ulaek  I'atridye,  interpretiii};'  their  looks  and  intent  cor- 
rectly, (deserved  to  \\'abaiisee  in  an  undertone,  lliat  their  wliit(! 
I'rieiids  were  lost.  l>iil  at  (his  moment  the  whoop  of  another  band 
of  Indians  was  heard  on  the  opposite  shore.  lUaek  I'alridyc  liast- 
ily  advanced  and  met  their  chief  in  tlie  darkness,  on  tlu^  river's 
l)aiik.  ••Who."  said  he,  ••are  _\oii  f  ''•A  man,"  answei'ed  tiie 
elii(l',  ••who  are  you  f'  '"A  man,  like  your.self,"  replied  Ulaek 
J'atridj;'.' ;  "but    tell  me,  who  are   you  tbrf     "1    am,"   said    tlie 


*Hr()wii,  Hi--t.  Ills.,  patro  31fi,  note  .'i.  snys:  "Mrs.  Ileiilrl  and  Mrs.  lieliii  liaWnsr 
oclipscd  tho  most,  visiouai'.v  tiistool  i()iiiiii)c(>,  with  which  luodta-n  litLi'ature  iiboiuiils, 
lived  lor  uiuiiy  years  thereul'ter,  highly  respected." 


ILLINOIS   TEUHrrOlJY. 


L'dT 


cllicl'.  "  llic  Sim  n;i  iiiisir'  (tllilt  is,  llic  l''li;;iisliiii;ili).  "'riicii  lii:ik(f 
all  sjti'cd  l()  the  lnMi.s<',"  Wiis  Hie  n'|»Iy  ;  "Ndiir  IVit'inis  iiic  in  (imi- 
yvr,  iiml  ,vt)u  iiloiic  (tiiii  SUM'  tliciii."' 

It  was  Hilly  Caldwell,  liu-  half  l>irc(M\'.\  amint.  to  wlium  wci 
lia\ '' iciri'i'cd  as  l»iii\  iii^  liif  rcinaiiis  ul"  ('a|(laiii  Wells,  lie  liiir- 
lied  I'urw  aid,  entered  llieiiniise  witii  a  resolute  step,  dclilierately 
removed  Ids  aecoiilreaieiits.  jtiaeed  Ids  rille  lieldiid  tlie  do<a' and 
sainted  ilie  I'olawaltondes  :  *"l!o\v  now,  aiy  iViends,  a  ;i()od  day  to 
yon.  I  was  told  there  were  enendes  here;  lail  I  aai  -^lad  to  lind 
only  friends.  Why  ha\  e  _\on  lihu'ked  your  I'aees  .'  .\re\(in  mourn- 
iny'  lor  IViends  lost  in  the  liallle.' (adroitly  ndstaUiii;;' the  lohen 
of  their  e\il  intenl).  or.  are  yon  lasting;'  .'  11" so,  ask  oni'  friend 
and  he  will  jiive  yoii  food,  lie  is  the  Indian's  friend,  and  ne\er 
refused  them  ill  their  need." 

|)i\crled  hy  the  coolness  of  his  manner,  they  were  ashamed  to 
a\()w  their  mnrderoiis  purpose,  and  simply  asked  for  some  eolloii 
ji'oods  to  wrap  their  dead,  jireparatory  to  liiii'ial.  This,  with  other 
jtreseiits.  was  yiveii  lliein.  and  they  tpiietly  departed,  'i'hns.  l>y 
ids  presence  of  mind,  Cahiwell  aNcrtetl  the  murder  of  the  Kiii/.i(! 
family. 

The  prisoners,  with  their  wi\cs  and  ehildreii,  were  dispeised 
amoiiy  the  rotawatlomie  trilies  on  the  Illinois,  IJock  river,  the 
Waliasli,  and  some  to  .Milwaukee,  The  most  <d'  iiiem  were  ran- 
somed at  Detroit  tiiefollowin;;' s])riiij;'.  A  paitof  them  remained 
ill  eajitivity,  however,  another  year,  hut  were  more  kindly  treated 
than  ihey  expected,  laenteiiant  Helm  was  lai^eii  to  the  AiiSaMe, 
llM'iiee  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  liherated  tlirounh  the  int<'rveii- 
tion  of 'i'liomas  I-'orsythe,  loii,u'  the  ;^(tveriiment  Indian  a,i;ciit  at 
IVoria.* 

"nrown'sllist.  Ills. 


'    !» 


ClIAI'TKU  XXIV. 

ILLINOIS  IXTIIK  WAlf  OFISIL'.— (lOVKIfXOi;  KDWA  K'DS' 
ailLlTAllV  (JA.MI'AKIN  TO  I'lOOIMA  LAKK. 

(h'li,  IlopJ.lns  iritli  2iM)  MoinilfilKiiihicki/  Iu'ljlniicii  Mtirrlirsorcrtlic 
I'l'iiii'H-.s  i)/  Jlliiioi.s — ///.v  Force  Miilliiirs  <niil M((rcltf:s  Ixicic — ('((jit. 
('nt'ifi  lliirnn  I'eoria  and  iiibs  all  its  hdiahitaitls  l'ri.s<>iirrs. — Sir- 
oiiil  H.riH'ilHUm  to  I'eoria  Ijakr — fiiiliuu  Miinlrrs — Illinois  and 
Missouri  srnd  tiro  l-J-rpcditioHs  ajt  tllf  Mississippi  in  1S14 — Tliiir 
Halt  lis  and  Disasterii. 


Ai'tcr  liis  i<iii()iiiiiii(iiis  ictiTiit  I'roiii  ( 'aii;i<l;i,  (Icii.  Hull,  in  :i  most 
nii;i»<'()iliiliil»Ic  iiiiiiiiici',  ((11  the  Kttii  ol'  Aiiuiist,  the  <i;iv  nlUT  llio 
CliicMi;!)  iiiJissncic,  :il  I  )<'t  loil  siinTiMl<i<ti  liis  iiiiiiv  ;ill  tiic  iiiili- 
tiuv  stoves,  jiiid  the  wliolc  <»1'  i\li<'liijiiiii,  \\illi(tiitii  slni^i'^lc,  while 
liis  iiicii,  it  is  s;ii(l,  wcjit  iif  the  (lis;;iiicc.  Tims  by  the  iiiiddlc  ol' 
August  lilt'  IW'itisli  iiiid  their  red  idiies  were  in  possession  ol'tiie 
M  hole  noit  Invest,  with  the  exception  of  I''oits  \\ii\  tie  and  Ihii  risoii. 
This  iieti\it,v  iiiid  success  of  the  enemy  iiroiised  tin'  people  of  this 
rejiioii  to  ii  realization  (»f  their  innnineiiee.  Totlu  impulse  of  self- 
]ireser\  ation  was  added  the  patri(»tic  desire  to  wipe  out  the  dis- 
^^lace  with  whii-h  our  arms  were  stained,  stay  the  tide  of  sa\a;;e 
desola!i(»n  which  iiM-naced  the  frontiers,  ami  retriexe  our  losses. 

Tlie  savajics  j;rew  holder  and  penetrated  deeper  into  the  settle- 
menls.  l^arly  in  September  a  iari^c  force  from  the  I'ro[iliet"s  town 
made  u  nijilit  attack  on  I'ori  Harrison,  located  a  few  miles  abo\e 
the  present  city  of  Terre  liautc.  in  command  of  (Japt.  Zaehary 
Taylo)\  afterwards  ])resideiit.  They  in;^-enioiisly  lired  one  of  tin; 
blockhouses,  killed  during'  the  en,i;a>;ement  three  men  and  wounded 
sexcral  more.  l>y  the  cooliu'ssof  the  commandei'  ami  the  ciieruy  of 
tlie.i;arrisoii.tlioujnli  j;reatly  rediKU'd  by  sickness,  the  buildinj;s  were 
mostly  saved,  and  tlie  Indians  at  daylight  repulsed.  They,  iiow- 
ever,  shot,  killed,  or  (lro\«'  away,  nearly  all  (lie  hoys,  cattle  and 
Mork  oxen  beloiiyinj''  to  the  tort. 

(iov.  Harrison  superseded  (ion.  Hull,  and  was  also  appoint<'(l 
major-general  by  brevet  in  the  Keidiic..y  militia.  This  youiij;' 
State,  in  the  course  of  a  lew  weeks,  by  tiie  aid  of  Kichard  M.  .lolin- 
son  and  othci's,  jmd  raised  a  force  of  7,000  men,  a  portion  of  which 
Avas  directed  to  tlu'  aid  of  Indiana  and  Illimtis,  N'inccnnes  being' 
desiyuated  as  llie  i-endezvons*  The  IJritish  had  (U'scemled  the 
]\Iississippi  to  liock  Island,  and  were  disliibutinj;' loads  ol"  yoods 
as  presents  to  the  Indians,  throuuh  one  (liity. 

In  the  meantime  (Jovernor  Kdwards  was  active  in  making  i)re- 
parations  for  an  exi»edition  aj;ainst  the  ivickapoos  and   I'otawat- 


'Luuman  Bio.  Sketches. 


L'OS 


ILLINOIS  TKinnroiiY. 


2(M) 


totiiics  oil  tlic  Illinoi.s  river.  Tliscxccllciicy,  "lu'lore  <'(»iij;r«'ss  Inul 
jiiloptcd  liny  iiit'iisiii-«>s  on  the  siiliircl  of  \  (ilimtcci'  riiii^rrs,  or;:':iii- 
i/t>(l  <'oiii|);iiiifs.  sii|)|>li('*l  till-Ill  witli  iii'iiis,  iMiilt  stockiiilt-  rmls, 
illhl  cstiihlislMMl  II  line  ol' |mis|s  IVoiii  tlic  iiioiitli  ol'  III*-  Missouri  to 
tlif  Waltjisli."  His  foiiiiiiissioii  liiiil  :it  tliis  time  expired  iiii*l  liis 
ill'poiiiliiM-iit  li:i(l  iiol  Ix't'ii  I'l'iM'Wcil,  l'eiiil('i'iii<;'  liiiii  lc;^iilly  liiilile 
lor  iIh'  fxpciisrs  ol'  tli«-  expedition,  ii  ii-spoiisihility  w  liieli,  irlvin;;' 
upon  t  he  justice  ol'  liiscoiiiitry,  lie  did  not  liesitiite  to  iissiiiiie.*  Col. 
AVilliiiiii  liiissfll.  (»!"  tlie  ITtli  rt'L;iiiient,  on  tlie  lltliof  Oetolu'r, 
stiirti'd  I'roiii  tlie  li('i;',li'>o!liood  of  N'iiieeniies  witii  two  siinill  coiii- 
jiaiiit'S  ol'  I'.  S.  Ifiin^crs,  coniiiiiinded  liy  Ciiptiiins  l*cri\  ;iimI 
IModi'cll  to, join  the  expedition  of  (iovenior  I'jiwiirds.f  The  pliieo 
»)f  reiide/voiis  for  these  forecs  wiisCaiii])  I {nss«'ll, already  desnilicd. 

(ieiiei'al  Samuel  llopl<iiis,a  veteran  ofliccr  of  the  l!e\(»!iilion, 
liad  iteen  invested  with  the  eoiiiinand  of  the  Keiitiieky  inoiiiiled 
volunteers,  some  l.',tK)()  in  nnniber,  at  Niiieeiiiies.  Ilis  iiistrnetions 
Avei'c  to  hrcal;  up  the  \  illaycs  and  dispci'se  the  Indians  residing  on 
the  Waltash  and  Illinois  i-ivcrs. 

The  plan  was  now  snj^jicsted  that  the  expedition  of  lOdwards, 
tlii'n  in  prejtaration,  aet  in  eoneert  with  that  of  llnpUins;  liiat 
the  latter,  consist  iiij;-  of  iiioiiiited  KentneUy  lilleiiaMi,  siimild 
move  lip  the  W'ahasli  to  l''oil  Harrison,  destroy  the  villa,ycs  in  its 
course,  pass  over  into  Illinois,  inarch  across  the  prairies  \ia.  tlio 
lieati  waters  of  the  Sanyainon  and  V'eriiiilioii  riNcrs  to  the  Illinois, 
elfect  a  Junction  with  the  Illinois  forces  under  I'Mwardsand  K'ns- 
si'll,  ami  sweeji  all  the  \  illa^es  aloiij;'  the  Illinois  risfr.J  'I'ln'  I'laii 
tints  arraii<i'ed  was  sent  l»y  thc^  hand  (»f  Col.  I{iiss<'ll  and  readily  ac- 
cedi'd  t«»  Ity  the  Cioxcrnor.  i'>iit  it  was  destined  to  meet  with  f;iiliiro 
and  disj;race  on  the  part  of  the  KeiitiicUians.  In  that  ill-compacted 
and  iiii(lisci|)liiied  crowd  of  horseiiien  tln-re  had  already  lieeii  dis- 
content and  mnrinnrs  ayainst  ]»roccedinj;'  fiiitlier,  at  Viiiceiiiic.s 
and  Uosseroii.  At  Fort  liarrisiai  a  nnmlter  «»'.'  the  men  and  oiio 
ollicer  "  broke  off  and  rctnriicd."'  About  the  middle  of  October, 
however,  the  Wabash  was  crosse<l  at  this  point,  and  i^reat  liarimmy 
l>re\  ailinji' the  exixMlitioii  bore  promise  of  aiccess.  At  the  request 
of(ien.  Ho|)kiiis,a  council  of  tlie  oHicers  was  now  lu'ld,  and  tlio 
object  and  destination  of  the  expedition  considered,  which  wcro 
lii,iilily  favored.  In  liish'tter  to  (lov.  Shelby,  of  Kentucky,  dated 
October  LMi,  ISlL',  (Jen.  Ilo|)kins  writes: 

"Tiuiikhig  myself  st'cuie  in  the  confKlonceof  my  brother  offlecrs  and 
the  army,  we  proceeded  ou  our  march  earlj'on  the  I'tth,  and  eontiiuied 
it  four  days— our  course  lay  north  on  the  prairie — until  we  came  to  au 
Imlian  house  where  some  ('ori),  Ac,  had  i)een  cultivated.  Tlie  last  day 
of  tiie  march  to  this  plai-e  I  had  lieeii  made  accpiaiiiti'd  with  a  return  of 
that  sjjirit  of  [discontent]  that  had, as  1  had  hojjed,  subsided;  and  when 
I  ordered  a  halt  near  sunset  (lor  the  Urst  time  that  day),  in  a  tine  ])ieeo 
of  tirass  in  the  prairie,  to  aid  our  horses,  I  was  addressed  in  the  most 
rude  and  tlictatorial  manner,  re(|uirin>jf  me  immediately  to  resume  my 
march,  or  his  battalion  would  break  from  the  army  and  return.  This 
was  a  Alajor  *  *  *  1  mention  him  in  justice  to  the  other  officers  of  that 
grade ;  biit,  from  every  information,  Ibegan  to  fear  that  the  army  waited 
but  for  a  pretext  to  return.  This  was  afforded  the  next  day  by  our  uuides, 
who  thought  they  bad  discovered  an  Indian  village  at  the  site  of  a 
grove,  about  ten  miles  from  where  we  had  encamjjed  on  the  fourth  night 
of  our  march,  and  turned  us  six  or  eight  miles  out  of  our  way.  An  almost 

•Edwtirds'  Life  of  of  Edwurds 
+  Dlllon"sIiid.  1. 
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270 


IIISTOlv'V    <)I'    ILLINOIS. 


universal  (liscoutcnt  soi'iiu'ii  to  |)iwnil,  and  wo  took  our  course  in  sueli  a 
(lirecti((n  as  wesuiiposed  wouldatone  lor  tlie  error  in  tlie  nior-iinfi'.  About 
or  al'tersunset,  we  eanu'  to  a  tiun  strove  aflordiusj:  water.  Here  we  tooi< 
oureanip;  and  alioiit  this  finu'arose  one  of  llie  most  violent  trusts  lever 
reinendier  to  have  seen,  not  ijrori'ediiiu;  from  clouds.  Tlu'  Indians  had 
set  tireto  the]irairie,  w  hi<-h  ilrove  on  us  so  furiously  that  we  were  coni- 
)iell<'d  to  (ire  around  our  canip  to  protect  ourselves.  This  seems  to  have 
decided  tlu' army  toretin'n.  I  was  inlormeil  of  it  in  so  many  ways,  that, 
early  the  next  morninir,  Oct.  :Jnth.  I  re<|iiestcd  the  alteinlance  of  the 
aciiera!  and  lield  otlieers  and  stated  to  them  my  appi'ehensions — tiie  ex- 
peclatioiis  of  ourcounlry — the  disgrace  altendiuji  tlu'  measure — the  ap- 
proliation  of  our  own  c(Misciences.  Against  tliis  I  st;ited  tiie  weary 
situation  of  our  horses  and  the  want  of  provisions — widch  tome  seemed 
oidy  partial — six  days  only  havinii'  pitssed  since  every  part  of  (he  army 
was  furnished  with  ten  days'  r.ations  in  i)acou,  heef,  or  hreadstud".  The 
reasons  ^iven  for  relurnin.ii,  I  nHpicsled  the  eommandauis  of  each  rejri- 
nu'id,  with  tiie  wlioie  of  the  olticers  i)elou,irin.Lj  to  it,  to  take  fully  llie 
senseof  the  army  on  this  measure'^'  '•  •■'and  to  ri'[)ort  to  me  in  writiny — 
adilinji  that  if  ooil  volunteers  would  turn  out,  I  would  put  myself  at  their 
head,  and  proceed  in  (piest  of  the  towns  ;  and  the  halanee  of  the  army 
miL'ht  retreat,  under  the  conduct  of  the  olticers,  in  safety,  to  l"'ort  Har- 
rison. In  less  than  a  hour  the  report  was  made,  almost  unanimously, 
to  return.  I  then  re(iueste<l  thai  1  mi.Lihl  dictate  the  (  ourse  to  he  pur- 
sued that  day  <uily,  whiidi,  I  pledged,  sliould  not  jiut  them  more  than  six 
miles  out  of  their  way— my  ohjcct  heiufj;  to  cover  the  reconnoitering 
jiarties  I  wished  to  send  out  for  thi'discovery  of  the  Indian  towns.  Aliout 
this  time— the  tr(!ops  heinji'  paraded— 1  i)Ul  myself  in  iVont.  took  my 
course,  and  directed  them  to  follow  me.  The  columns  moving,''  oil'  ([uite 
a  couti'ary  way,  I  sent  Captain  [Zaciiai'y]  Taylor  and  Major  Lee  to  apjily 
to  the  odicei's  to  turn  them.  They  weri'  told  that  it  was  not  in  their 
l)ower — the  army  had  taken  tiicir  own  course,  and  would  pursue  it.  J)is- 
coveriiu;' yreat  confusion  and  disorder  in  tlu'ir  march,  1  threw  myself  in 
the  rear,  fearinjian  attack  on  those  who  were  there  from  necessity,  and 
continued  in  that  position  the  whole  day.  Tln' exhaustt'd  state  of  the 
horsi's,  i(jr  the  hunjier  of  the  nii'n,  retarded  that  day's  march.  "■'■  *■  '■■'  The 
genera'o  -Ivay,  Ramsey  and  Allen — lent  all  their  aid  and  authority  in 
restoriuf^dur  march    to  order;  and  so    far  succeeded   as  to  hrinjr  on  the 


whole  with  much  less  loss  than  1  had  feared."     'I'hev  were  not 


)wed 


or  menaced  iiy  an  I'nemy.  'i'hey  had  "marched  at  least  SO  or  iin  miles 
into  the  heai't  of  thi'  I'liiMny's  country."  A  Major  Duliois  commanded 
the  corps  of  s[iies  and  guides.  .Messrs.  IJarron,  l.asselle  and  liaj)lante 
Were  the  interpieters.  (ieii.  H()pkius  was  certain  tiiey  "were  not  lit) 
miles  from  tlu'  Indian  villaj;('  when  [they]  were  , '"/v.'/  to  retire."  The 
exact  point  at  which  they  commenced  their  retrograde  nuireh  is  not 
known. 

(Jovci'nnr  I'Mwurds  liud  collected  nnd  wns  oi'.ii;tiiiziii,a'  all  tlie 
(lisitosahle  loii'cs  (d'  liliimls.  anmnntin;^  to  about  .'!.')(>  iiu'ii.  at  Camp 
Iviissell,  by  the  tiuu'  Captain  {{ns.scji  airivi'd  ironi  N'iiicennes  with 
}i  l»ait  (d'  t wo  (•(tmiianics,  (•(msi.stin.y  cd"  .">(>  piixates.  The  \<dnn- 
tcei's  wcie  divided  into  tw(>  snuill  i^'uiiueiits,  cominaiuh'd  by 
Colomds  Mliiis  Itcctor  and  hcnjainin  tStcplu'ii.soM,  i'»'speeti\cly. 
Col.  Kiis.seil  commanded  tin'  l".  S.  iJaii^ci's.  Col.  Deslia  of  tiie  l'. 
S.  aiiiiy,  Major  John  ^loredoek  and  otlieis,  were  tlie  lield  ollieers. 
Tlie  coiupaiiies  were  comiiiaiMled  respect  i\cly  by  Captains  Samuel 
and  W  iiliaiii  !'>.  Wiiitesides,  dames  1'..  .Moore,  dacob  Sliort,  Willis 
llarjiiave  t'roni  tlie  Ohio  Saliiia,  Meiieiiry  afterwards  of  White 
Comity,  .laniiey.  and  l.ieiit.  I'oaksoii  with  a  small  independent 
eompaiiy.  ('ai»tain  Samuel  dudy  had  also  or^ani/ed  an  iiide- 
])en(l(Mit  e(»rps  of  spies.  e(Misisliii;4-  <d'  IM  men.  The  stall'  of 
(ioNcrnor  JCdwards,  who  was  in  chief  coiiiinaiKl,  were  Secretary 
Nathaniel  INipe,  >i'e!son  Ivcelor,  and  Lieut.  Kobert  K.  JMeLaiif;liliii, 
of  the  U.  S.   Army.      Col.   Iviif^sell,   an   iinpreteiidiiiy    bul   very 


n.LINOIS  TEni?TTOT?Y. 


271 


eftlciciit  onicci',  was  next,  in  coniiiiaiKl  to  liis  lOxccUciicy,  l)iit  lie 
iicitlu-r  liad  nor  wanteii  aids.  TJa^'ya^c  waii'oiis  tor  the  army  were 
not  provided  in  tliis  siiort  caiiijtaiiiii,  'I'lic  men  were  oi'dcrcij  to 
l)a<'ic  eaeli  on  iiis  lioisc  L'O  days'  rations.  Tlie  iiorscs  wrrc  to 
sustain  tlicnisclves  on  ])rairi('  ,urass.  Some  <)\'  tiie  ollicers  employed 
exti'a  pack-iiorses. 

Captain  Craiu'.  of  Siiawneetown.  was  detaelied  wilji  a  siiriicient 
force  to  man  two  boats,  one  laden  with  i>rovisioiis  and  the  neces- 
sary tools  to  hnild  a  I'ori,  and  the  other  armed  with  hliinderlaisses 
and  a  swivel,  both  solbrlilied  that  the  enemy's  bullets  coiiM  not 
ja'tU't  rale  their  sides.  He  wa<  dispatched  in  ad\  a  nee  apt  he  Illinois 
river,  with   (aders   to  wait  at  Peoria  nidil  further  word  tVom  the 


4(10  mounted  men,  took  up  its  line  ot  march  trom  Camp  Kiissejl. 
The  privates,  it  seems,  looked  upon  the  expcilition  as  affordimi;' 
tliem  r;ire  spoi't.  not  carinii"  whether  tliey  Mere  '•marched  into 
(lan.u'er  or  frolic."  The  route  pursued  was  upon  tin-  west  side  of 
Cahokia  ci<'eic,  thence  to  the  Aiauonpin,  which  was  (aossed  near 
the  ]»resent  site  of  Carliiiville:  tlieuce  northeasterly,  erossin^  i ho 
Sangamon  below  tlie  Junction  of  the  north  and  south  fork:-,  east 
of  the  present  capital  of  the  State:  piissilm'  thence  east  ol'  I'ilkhiirt 
.U"rove,  crossing'  Salt  (M'eek  not  far  from  the  present  city  of  Lincoln, 
and  theiKM'    '' '' '     ''      "•   ■       --i.: ii    i       ...    i 


and  theiKM'    in  a,    northward  direction   strikini;'   an    old  descrI'Ml 

Kickap(»o  villa<i'e  on  Su,i;ar  ereek.     These  tenantlessi)ark  wi<;wa  ii.s, 

Avhich  wer<'  p;iinted  up  here  iind  there  with  rud<'   sa\a.i;'e   devices, 
,>..>. ..I.  .....,..,...,..,<;...,•  .1.,.  ...>,i  .i;,,..  .,...1,.;.,...,.  Kit.,..  ,v..,,.-,.i'  ..,1 1 1... ,..,,. 


enemy,  or  rarner  ine  imiian  rown.  rour  mi'ii.  naineiv  i  nomas 
Carlin  (subseipiently  .udveriior),  and  three  ol'llie  Whitesides — 
lloliert,  Stephen  and  Davis — volunteered  for  this  ]»erilous  service, 
and  were  entrusted  by  the  governor  with  its  delicate  execution. 
They  proceeded  to  the  village,  explored  it  and  the  approaches  to 
it,  thoroughly,  without  starting' an  liidiaii  or  pro\ oiviii^-  the  bark 
of  a  don'.  The  ])osition  of  tiie  town  was  ascertaiiie<l  to  be  about 
5  nnles  distant,  situated  on  a  blulf  separatetl  in  sreat  i)art  from 
the  iiinh  lands  l)y  a  swampy  jihub',  through  which  meandered  ii 
miry  braiK'h  or  (aeek,  whose  low  banks  were  covered  by  a  rank 
growth  of  tall  grass  and  eluiiips  of  brush,  so  lii;;h  and  dense  as  to 
readily  conceal  an  Indian  on  horseback  until  within  a  few  feet  of 


m 
re 


HISTORY  OF  IIJ.INOIS 


liiiii.  Tlic  {i'l'oniKl  li.id  b«'(M»iii(^  iHlditioiuiIly  yicldiiijii'  by  v'-ciit 
I'liiiis,  rt'iidcriiiu'  it  aliiiost  iiii|>;iss;il)I('  to  iiKniiitcd  iiicii. 

Ill  the  lii't'li'ss  and  clii'i'iicss  «'iiiii|>  all  was  silent  as  llu'  uravc*. 
A  tl('('i)  jiiiooni,  with  many  niisnivinins,  liad  sctllcd  iii)(»ii  the  men. 
The  I'ati.^iiiiiii' miirclics  Ii;i(l  ccast'd  t(»  be  rrolii'soiiic.  Tlic  troops 
It'll  jiidfd  and  sulky,  and  they  were  within  the  enemy's  country. 
They  reposed  ii])on  their  arms,  with  tiieir  iiorses  tethered  near  at 
hand,  ready  saddled  t(»  l)e  instantly  ni(»iinted  for  action.  During' 
the  ni,i;ht  a  n'lin  in  the  hands  of  a  troopei'  was  carelessly  dis(diar;;»'(l, 
wliich  caused  ji'reat  consternation  in  the  camp.  The  stealthy  foe, 
Avith  j;ie;iminy'  tonmliawk  raised  ovei- ids  victim,  was  monwiitarily 
expected.  Ail  the  iiorroi's  of  the  ni^lit  attack  at  Tippecanoe,  then 
IVesIi  in  the  minds  of  every  one,  presented  themselves  to  theactivo 
imuuinations  of  tin'  men.  lOvei-y  white  coate*!  soldier  at  tiiat 
Itiittle,  it  was  said,  liad  been  sinj^lcd  out  in  the  dusky  mornin,n  and 
killed  by  the  savages.  In  a  monn-nt  now  not  a  white  coat 
I'cmained  in  sij^ht.  IJnt  directly  the  asinrin;^-  voice  of  his  IO\(!eI- 
lency  cried  out  thiit  the  lirin;;'  was  an  accident,  and  all  becam*) 
(piiet  a^ain. 

ICarly  on  the  followin,!i'  morniiii;',  with  a  dense  fo;j,- prevailing-,  the 
army  took  nj*  its  line  <»f  march  for  the  Indian  town,  Caplaiii 
-Indy  witii  hiscori»sof  si)iesin  ad\aiice.  On  the  route  in  tlie  tall  ^rass 
tiny  cauM'  up  with  an  Indian  and  his  s(piaw,  both  mounted.  Tiio 
Indian  wanted  to  surrender,  but  ( "ajtt.  -Iialy  observed  that  he  "did 
in)t  leave  home  to  take  prisoners,"  and  instantly  shot  aie  of  them. 
With  the  blood  streaunnji  from  his  month  and  nose,  and  in  his 
a,i:()ny  '•  sinuinji'  the  death  souji;-,''  pi'om|)led  by  tin'  instinctive 
emotii»n  of  self-defense  which  e\cn  a  trodden  worm  will  exercise, 
the  dyiuf;'  Indian  raised  his  jiiin,  shot  and  moitally  wounded  in 
the  i^roin  a  Mi'.  Wrijiht,  and  in  n  few  minutes  expired.  \\'ii,uiit 
■was  fj(nn  the  Wood  river  settlement,  and  died  after  he  was 
broniiiit  home.  Tlui  rest  of  those  who  had  incautiously  approached 
the  wounded  Indian,  when  they  saw  him  seize  his  jiiin.  <|Uickly 
dismounted  on  the  far  sides  of  their  horses,  makinji'  of  them,  as 
it  were,  a.  bi'cast-work.  .Many  j^iins  were  innnediately  discliarj;'ed 
lit  the  other  Indian,  m»t  then  Known  to  be  a  stpiaw,  all  of  which, 
ill  the  tre|)idation  of  the  occasion,  missed  her.  Badly  scared,  and 
lier  husband  killed  by  her  side,  the  a,u<»ni/,inji-  wails  of  the  sipiaw 
Avere  Ivarl  rendiiiji-.  She  was  taken  prisom-r,  and  subsequently 
restored  to  her  nation. 

Owinji'  to  the  fo^-,  the  army  was  misled  into  the  s]»oiijiy  bottom, 
some  ihree-fouiths  of  a  mile  below  the  town,  with  the  miry  creek 
to  cross,  which  deranjicd  the  i)laii  of  attack.  The  villajic  thus 
esca])eda  surprise;  and  while  a  halt  was  made,  preparatory  to 
erossinji',  the  Indians  were  observed  rmininj"'  from  the  town, 
bouudin;^- Ihroiijih  the  tall  jirass  on  their  horses,  almost  hid  from 
view.  An  attaitk  was  every  moment  ex[)ected  while  erossinj;-  the 
treacherous  stream,  and  the  advanced  eorps,  under  Judy,  sat 
lijihtly  in  their  saddles,  expectinn'  bi  draw  the  fire  (d'tlie  hidden 
foe.  To  their  j;reat  satisfaction,  no  attack  was  made  or  meant ; 
the  Indians  wen;  tieeinj;'  from  their  village  and  iiiipendin;^'  death, 
])ell  iiii'll,  women  and  children,  some  on  liorse-back  and  some  on 
toot,  into  the  swamp  amoiijithe  tall  yrass,  and  toward  ajxiint  of 
timber,  in  which  the  {ioveruor,  disappointed  in  his  char;;e  upon 
the  town,  judged  they  intended  to  make  a  stand  for  battle.     '' f 


ILLINOIS   TEllUlTOUY. 


iiiiiiicdiiitclv  «'liiiii.i;(M]  my  course,"  lie  writes,  ••ordered  iiiid  led  on  a 
;^'eiier;d  cliiir^c  niton  llieni,"  bnt  ••owinj;'  to  tlie  nnsonndness  of  the 
juround,"  llie  ])ursiiers,  liorses,  riders,  arms  and  ha.uua.uc,  I'roni 
1ms  i''\<'ellen<'\  so  \aliaiitlv  leading:  tlie  ciiar^c  to  tin'  sinaitin;;" 
snitaltern  and  ])ri\'ate,  all  .iiaied  in  the  common  cataslro|)lie  alike, 
and  were  nnhorsed  ami  (tvei-whelMied  in  the  nn)rass.  it  wascalled 
a  democratic  overthrow,  in   which  all  Wi'Vt'  literally  ''swamped."' 

rpun  this  yieldini;'  ;;roiiiid.  into  which  a  horse  woidd  sink  and 
]>lun;;e  withont  avail,  a  inoniiled  force  conid  not  be  mov«'d.  A 
])iirsnit  (Ml  foot  was  ordei'ed,  which  was  both  iliflicidt  and  exfi'enn'ly 
danu'erous  on  acconnt  of  the  tall  jurass  in  which  the  lndiani»  wero 
birkiiiii'.  Several  jtarties  on  fool  traih'fl  in  pnrsnit  of  the  Indians, 
liowe\er,  two  or  three  miles  acioss  the  sat  nrate<l  iiollom  toiln! 
rncr,  Uillin.^"  sonn'  of  the  enemy  while  attempting'  to  cross  to  tint 
farther  sintre.  'l"o  snch  a  pilch  of  e\cit<'ment  wen- sonu' ot"  the 
)iieii  wronulit,  that  Chai'Ies  Kilcheii,  dohn  Howard  and  I'ieire  .St. 
Jean,  lindiiij;' some  Indian  canoes,  in  the  fnry  of  the  chase,  <;rosse(l 
the  river  alone  in  full  view  of  tlie  retrealiiii;'  foe,  l)iit  withont  molcs- 
taioii. 

A  Potawattoniie  town,  called  by  th(>  iiov'e-nor,  ("he(pieneboc,, 
a  ft  ei' a  chief,  was  here  bnrned.  'I'lie  Indians  ti(-d  toward  theinte- 
jioi'  wilderness.  Anotliei'  party  made  i>iirsnit  of  the  fn<;itives  in  a 
dilVerenl  direct  ion ;  but  the  Indians  making'  a  stand  in  considerable 
Ibii-e,  these  were  compelled  to  retreat,  jfeinfoicements  were  sen), 
uheii  the  savaj;<'s  eiitii'ely  dispersed.  Sonn-  of  the  troops  were 
Avoiinded  in  this  action  it  is  reported,  but  none  killed.  In  tin) 
ineantiim*.  the  villa.uc  was  ]>illa,ued  and  bnrned  by  the  main  body 
«)f  the  troops.  The  Indians,  in  their  pi'eci])itate  tli.uht,  had  left 
behind  all  of  their  wintei's  st(n-e  of  pro\  isions.  wliich  was  de- 
fstroycd  oi-  taken  away.  Hiding  ai»ont  the  bnrninu'  embei's  of  the 
rnins,  were  fonnd  somu'  Indian  children,  left  by  the  fri;4litene(l 
l'u};itives  ;  also,  some  disal)led  adnlts.  (me  of  ^»hom  was  in  a  starv- 
ing <u»ndit  ion.  and  partook  of  the  bread  yiveii  him  with  a  vora- 
cions  appetite.  lie  is  said  to  have  been  killed  by  a  cowaidly 
ti'ooper  straji'iiiinj;' Ix'hind,  after  the  main  army  had  resumed  its 
retro^i'rade  nnirch,  who  wanted  to  be  al)le  to  assei't  or  boast  that 
lie  had  killed  an  liidian.  (JoNcinor  l-'dwaids  rejiorts  that  four 
])ris()ners  were  taken  away,  and  some  eiiihly  head  of  horses  ;  of 
the  Indian  losses,  ji;atliere(l  from  their  own  acconnt,  between  -1 
and  .'!()  were  killed  ;  oni'  loss  bein,ii'  one  wonnded.  The  Indian 
losses,  Itased  entirely  iijton  their  own  reports,  made  by  the  few 
jirisoners  taken,  to  please  the  \anity  of  the  whiles,  weic,  donbt- 
less,  apocln'yi»hal.  To  show  the  reckless  darinji-  of  the  Indian 
(dmracter,  it  is  mentiom'd  that  a  warrior  walked  calmly  down  the 
blntf  some  2(10  yards  distant,  deliberalely  raised  his  <;nn  and  lired 
ui»on  the  troops  in  the  town,  then  turned  and  strode  slowly  away 
amid  a  shower  of  bullets. 

><'othin.y  liavinj"' been  Inward  from  (Jeneial  Iloplunsand  bis 'JOOO 
moulded  Keiilncky  rillemeii,  and  ap[»rehensi\('  that  a  laryc  force 
of  wari'iors  would  be  spee<lily  co]leete(l,  it  was  deeim'd  i»rii(leiit 
not  to  |)rotract  their  stay,  and  accord iniily.  the  retrograde  inarch 
of  the  army  was  commenced  that  xcry  day,  A  hea\y  and  con- 
tinnous  rain  ]>re\a'ile(l  at  the  time,  but  the  dread  of  pnrsnit  caused 
them  not  to  iuterinit  their  travels  till  darkness  overtook  them, 
when,  yreallv  exhausted  and  wet,  without  lire  to  dry  their  clothes, 

"is 


274  HISTOIIV   OK    ILLINOIS. 

or  food  to  iioiiiisli  tlnir  ImmHcs,  tlicy  sank  into  sleep  on  tlic  wet 
^I'diiiid,  tlit-ii'  clotliiii^ c.oN'cr*'*!  witli  tlir  iiiiid  of  tlic  inoriiss.  'I'litt 
(li'c:i(|  wiiri'ior  did  not  iiitpciii'.  "Our  uriiiy  r<-tiii'iifd  liome 
Willi  :dl  •■oiiNcniciil  speed."  writes  (ioveriior  IJeyiiolds,  wlio  in  iIk^ 
('iiiiipiii;;!!  e:iriied  llie  soidtriipiet  of  "  ( )ld  Ifiin;^*'!','' iii'il  to  whose; 
sii'i'oniil  we  are  liii';^!  iy  iiidciiled    fortius. 

<  )ii  the  nioirow.,  ;i  detiieiinieiil  in  eliiU'.u'e  of  Lientenanl  I'eylon, 
wa-iiiuain  sent  o\erlo  I'coria  witiia  niessajic  to  Captain  ("rai;;' 
in  eiiarjit'  of  the  provision  Itoals,  to  ri'lnrn  as  speedily  as  possilile. 
This  pait\  on  tlieir  wa.\  Itiiint  a  .Miami  \illa,ue  within  a  half  inilo 
of  i'e(»iia. 

Tin'  loice  of  Captain  Craii;,  in  charge  of  tin-  piovisimi  lioals 
i'oi'  tin-  armies  of  Hopkins  ami  iCdwards,  and  under  instriietiou 
i'roni  ids  iv\c<ll(ney  to  proceed  to  I'eoria  ••and  lalvc  prisoners  liioso 
]tersons  wiio  Wfre  there  lor  tin'  jtiupose  of  assist  inji' the  savaji'es  l<» 
iniU(lerlhe  frontier  set  lleis."  was  not  idle.  His  aimed  lioat.  l»y 
I'oree  of  a  ,uale  iiaviiij;  InoUeii  its  ealtle  and  drifted  ashore,  it  was 
in  tlic  iii<'1il   liiiK'  lii'i'il  iiiion  li\   Icii  IikIimiis.  wiio  iiiimi'(li:it I'K   lii-il. 


muKM'i  MIC  iroiKier  sciiicis.  \\iis  iioi  luic.  ins  armco  noai.  n\ 
I'orcc  of  a  ,uale  iiaviiij;  InoUcn  its  ealtle  and  drifted  ashore,  it  was 
ill  tlie  !ii;:lit  lime  lired  upon  Ity  ten  Indians,  wiio  iinmeiliately  tied. 
1  Hscovciini;'  at  da.\liL;lil  their  t  racks  Icadiii;:  up  into  the  town, 
Captain  (  rai;;  iiupiircd  of  the  I'reiich  I  heir  w  liereahouts.  'i'iieso 
den,\  inji' all  know  ledjic  of  tiiem,  said  '-tlKN  had  iieardor  seen  iiotii- 
iii^  "  iiiit  lie  toolc  the  whole  of  them  prisoners,  l»in'iicd  and  de- 
stroyed    I'eoria,    and    hore    the     eapluretl     iniial)ilants    away    on 

lii<    luk'ils:   til    <i    luiint     Iki'lfkW     till!      itri>s:i*iit       Vttiiii       \\-|)i>rit     In.    I'ii;ili>fl 


•Sec  Ut(?  of  f!()\(M'iior  1'Mwiirfls,  by  his  son. 

+.\  Iter  Hie  Iniililiiiy:  of  Fori  ("rev  (•(•u'lir,  in  liisfl,  Pcorin  hike  was  over  fnmillnr  to  wo8- 
t(  111  iriiN  I  I  Mini  liisioiy  ;  Iml  there  is  no  iiutliciii  io  uccnnnt  ot  a  ticrninn'-iu  Kni-opeiiii 
sellleinenr  Ihi're  iintil  IVT.S,  when  LiivilU^  ile  Meillel ,  riiiiied  idler  its  loiunler,  wns 
St  II  It  r(  I  On  Mecoimt  ol  the  (|U!ilit>  of  the  wiiter  mikI  it.«  iri  enter  siiihilnity,  the  local  inn 
WiiseliMiiucil  Inrther  down  tlie  hike  to  the  incsent  site  of  I'uoria,  iliul  liy  IV'.lii,  the  old 
hud  lieeii  entirely  aliiiiidoned  lor  thi'  ik'W  \  illime.  After  itsdeslriietioii,  in  l.s|;.',  il  \vas 
not  sell  led  a  L'a  in  until  is  111.  and  then  by  .\nieiletin  idoneers,  thoii^'^h  111  IMl^i,  I'ort  Clark 
was  liiiili  there,  which  pave  II  name  to  the  i)lHee  for  .several  y<;ars.  In  IHIH,  the  fort 
was  destroyed  by  lire.  In  18;ij,  the  county  ot  I'eoria  was  estubllrthed  and  the  county 
seat  located. 


ILLINOIS   TDWKITOKY. 


275 


services,"  In  Iiis  jiddress.  to  Hie  Si.  ( 'liiir  e(iiiiity  niilitiii.  Hie  ;.;(»v- 
ei'lior  s  lid  :  ''Yuiir  ltr;i\ei'_v  iiiis  eiiiilileil  inc  to  lepel  hostile  iiiviis- 
ioii  aii(i  lo  Wii^e  \\;ir  upon  llie  eiiciiiv  in  tlieii' own  ediintry.  *  * 
^Oiir  iiili'('|ii(iil,\  iiiid  pMlriotisni  ii:i\el)een  e(|ii:illv  lioii()i':ii)le  to 
,\niirseh  cs,  ;iimI  iisel'iil  t(»  \  otir  count  l\ ."  Not  lo  Itc  oiiltioiie  ill 
siicli  lliilt(i'itiu  lestinioiii;ils,  tiie  niiiiliii.  Iliron^li  liieir  oHicers, 
replied  in  ;is  reiicitoiis  ;i  vein.  111. il  liis  I'Xeelleiicv  liiid  '•.mciitly 
iiicrciised  ids  cliiiiiis  iiptui  llic  ;;i';il  il  iide  ol'  llircoiiiitrx  lor  Ids  wise 
Iiieiisiires."  Mild  lli;il  lliey  liMil  "witnessed  Ids  coolness,  delihei'iilion 
iiiid  pi'oinplitiide  ill  the  lioiir  of  peril."  It  seems.  liowe\ cr.  I  liiit 
Ids  Kxcelleiicy  wns  not  willioiil  ii\;ils  for  tlie  liiiirels  of  lids 
CMliilcd^li.  Willi  inilcli  coiiceiii,  lie  writes,  under  diite  of  Dccein- 
her  L'.")lli,  iSlL':  ••!  diseoxer  tliiit  some  pitiful  ;illeiiipls  jirr  imiUiii^' 
to  dei>ri\('  iiic  of  tlie  credit  I  am  eiitiiled  to.  i)y  ;;i\in;.';  il  to  ('oloiiid 
li'ilsscll,  wlio  Inippciied  lo  join  liie  (aooiit  lliree  da,\s  ttefore  I  com- 
iiieiieed  my  inarcli)  willi.">(>  raii^^crs.  Tlie  iiijiist  ice  of  lids  is  known 
and  attested  Ity  the  whole  i>\'  my  little  army,"  etc.* 

1S1."». —  I<'ai'ly  in  lids  year,  the  country  was  juif  in  >iicli  state  of 
(lefeiise  auainst  the  hostile  Indians  as  its  sparse  population  admit- 
ted of.  IJlock  house  stations  and  stockade  forts  were  repaired  and 
.stren;f|heiied  aloiii;'  the  entire  froiilier,  and  the  remote  settler.s 
and  i'ecltle  jiarri.soiis  were  removed  lo  the  denser  seltleiiieiils. 
New  I'anuiiiji  companies  were  formed  and  ,so  stationed  as  to  easily 
I'anye  lliroiiiili  llie  setlleiiieiits.  l''roiiillie  present  A.'toiilo  Ka.s- 
kaskia,  twenty-two  family  forts  were  scat  I.ered  aloiiL;-.  In  sjiite  of 
these  precaiilioiis.  Uie  e\l<'ii;  of  the  front ier  was  soi;real  thai  no 
diliii<'iice  in  raii.i;iii;;- affordeiU'iitire  iiiiiniiiiit  \  from  sa\  i,u(' attacks. 
Niiinei'ons  depi'cdations  and  murders  were  coiiimitled  Ity  marand- 
in,ii'  hands  ol'  the  re<l  ioe.  Of  these,  only  a  few  will  be  men- 
tioned. 

The  sava^^es  fell  upon  Uie  family  of  .Mr.  Lively,  four  miles  soiilii- 
"asl  of  ('o\  iiiiiton,  in  the  present  \\'asli;ii;^|oii  eoiiiily,  and  four 
wei<  slain.  'I'lie  liodies  of  iwo  women  were  shockinjily  iiianjiled  ; 
a  little  hoy  of  seven  \cars  was  home  away  from  tlie  house,  his 
Iiead  severed  from  his  l)ody.  Ids  entrails  torn  out,  ind  both 
carried  away,  il  was  thoii<;ld:,  for  ]»iirposcs  of  caiiiiibahsm.  .Mr. 
liively's  body  was  indecently  mill  dated.  A  son  and  a  sliaii.^er 
sl<i])pin,n' there,  were  out  in  (jiiesi  of  I  heir  liorscs,  ;i',d  from  a  dis- 
tance saw  the  lioii.se  attacked.  These  in  their  retreat  to  the 
settlements,  bivoiiaced  in  a  .uroxc  (J  niih's  southeast  of  i'^ayette- 
ville  on  the  Kaskaskia  river,  which  perpetuates  the  name  of  the, 
murdered  family.  The  Indians,  siippo.sed  to  be  Kickapoos,  were, 
piii'sned  by  <';,ptaiii  I>oon's  company,  but  haviii;;'  I  days  the  start, 
made  <i<Mid  theirescape.  That  a  piirsiiinu'  foi'ce  should  be  1  days 
behind,  shows  how  iiicaiilioiisly  remote  from  llie  denser  seftle- 
iiieiits  some  families  must  hav<'  locale<l.  On  the  banks  of  Kas- 
kaskia, near  the  present  Carlyle,  a  .Mr.  Voiin.u  and  a  iiiiiiistei' by 
the  name  of  .McLean,  had  a  desparate  slrii.i,i:!e  with  a  jiarty  of 
sava.u'cs.  The  former  lia\iii.ubeeii  killed,  as  also  both  hor.ses,  ii 
.siiiyle  but  powerful  savajii'e  ]»iirsue(l  McLean,  who  was  iiiiarmed 
and  on  foot.  McLean  wonid  come  to  a  stand  at  times  and  in  :i 
nieiiaciii.L;'  nrdMier  defy  the  sa\  a^^c  lo  approach  with  his  tomahawk. 
I'he  Indian  ^  'ckiini  llie  ad\anta,ue,  would  hestilate.  At  such 
times,  McL(.  n    would  divest   hiiirself  of  a  portion  of  his  snri»Iiis 


♦EawuriM'  'iife  ol'  Edwurds. 


270  IIISTOUV    Ol'   ILLINOIS. 

clotliiii^',  iiiHl  flicilly,  tin-  iittciitioii  of  tli*-  TiMliiiii  li:i\iii^'  ])i-<-ii 
iiiit'shd  lt,N  lii>  (Msl  (ilV  ^niiiifiiis,  .Mcl^ciiii  i)liiii;;r(l  iiitiitli<'  ii\fi', 
swiiiii  loflic  I'iiiIIk'I' slion',  ;iii(l  cllcclcd  liis  csciiiH'.*  Soiin- iiiiiitit  is 
were  ii  ls(  mm  ini  milted  on  CiiclM-iiv  cr  in  I  lie  inrsciil  Alf\;iiHli'icuiinl.v.. 
On  IIm'  Wiiliiisli,  ."lit  miles  iiltove  \incennes,  MfiiP  I'ort  liJimollc,  I  lie. 
wircol':)  .Ml'.  I  liiMslon  ;inil  I'oui' cliiMii'n  were  killed.  In  :i  .snnill 
jiniiiie  L'  nr  .'!  miles  riuin  llie  piesenl  Alliiun,  in  lldwiii'ds  eiHint  v,  il 
t'iinner  iiy  tlie  liiiine  ol'  iSollenlioilse,  Wiis  killed,  the  piaiiie  iteipel- 
mil  in;:  liis  n;ime. 

( 'onsideiin;;  llie  rre(|iieiit  mnideis  ;ind  lliefiiel  llml  I  lie  jicnei;d 
•^oxeiiimeiii  had  made  no  |iro\ision  to  snslain  the  militia  and 
\ ohinleei's,  which  caused  those  of  Illinois  to  he  dischaij^cd  fVom 
the  ser\  ice  on  the  Sth  of  .hine,  l>y  IIm'  i^ox  eiiioi,  il  ma,\  Ite  said 
tiiat  the  yeai'  isl.;  presj-ided  Imt  a  ^loom\  |>ros|»ect  for  t  he  exposed 
seltlcMM'nts  in  the  west. 

Srctiiul  I'lriHilHiim  (it  I'corin, —  liaijjic  nnndieisof  hostile  Indian.s 
Aveie  known  to  have  collected  ii'iKn;^  the  INttawat  tomies  and 
Ki<'ka|ioos  on  Lake  i'eoiia,  whence  maramlin;;  [tarties,  which 
Lanassed  the  fiontiers  of  both  IIIin(»is  and  Missonii,  were  sei:t 
out.  It  liecame  a.uain  an  (»li/)ect  therefore  to  penetrate  t  heir  country 
witha  mililarv  force,  dispeise  them  from  t  heir  con  vcnient  location, 
and  drive  iliem  far  into  the  interior.  In  the  latter  part  of  the 
snmnier  a  Joint  expedition  from  Illinois  and  Missouri  °vas  projected 
ior  this  purpose.  An  army  of  some  !I00  men  was  collected  and 
Gen.  Howard,  who  lia<l  resi;;ned  theollict^  (»f  (i<tvern(ir  (»f  .Missitiiri 
to  accept  a  iSriyader  (icm-rars  commission  in  the  I'niteil  States 
Army,  was  placed  in  command.  'I'lif-  Illinois  troops  were  ordered 
1o  rende/vons  at  Camp  Unssell;  one  rompiny  was  ordered  to  (hii 
IVIississippi  at  a  point  called  the  I'iasa,  op|»ositt^  the  I'orla;;c  des 
kSioiix,  w  here  il  lemained  several  weeks  and  hecame  (piile  sickly. 
The  Illinois  troops  were  formed  into  the  second  re,i;iiiieiit,  and 
JSeiiJamin  Slephciison,  of  liandolph  coiinly,  was  appointed  colonel; 
AV.  U.  WHiitesides  and  .lohn  .More<lock  were  majors;  and  .losepli 
IMiillips,  Samuel  -Indy,  IS'athaniel  .loiiriiey,  ami  Samuel  White- 
sides,  captains.  There,  was  some  delay  on  accoiinlof  the  Missoii- 
lians,  who  were  lieint-;  collected  at  St.  Loiiis. 

{•"inally  Ihcordei'  for  a  forward  mov<nieiit,  ariivcd,  and  tho 
lllinoisans  marched  up  the  Mississippi  Wy  companies  to  tlie  Illinois, 
which  was  crossed  L' or .'!  miles  ahove  its  mouth.  'I'lie  movement, 
was  slow  ;  in  Calhoun  (!oiinty,  where  "he  hee-trees  were  very 
iimiieroiis,  a  few  raii^icrs,  who  lamMcd  fr<»m  the  main  body,  <;()t 
into  a  skirmish  with  some  Indians,  liiit  no  loss  was  siislaiiic<l 
<'.x<'ept  that  a  ,L;iin-stock  was  shivere(|  l»y  an  Indian  Imliet.  The, 
Mis.sonrians  marched  KM)  miles  north,  on  the  west  side  of  the, 
]\Iississippi  to  i''ort  Mason,  wlu'ie  they  swam  the  river  nioiiiitc(l 
naked  on  llir-ir  horses,  while  their  ;.iarmeiils  were  ei'ossed  on  a 
l>lat,forin,  lioriie  up  by  2  <"an(»es,  and  joined  the  lllinoisans.  They 
Avere  commanded  by  (!ol.  .McNair,  afterward  j;(iveriior  of  Missouri. 
The  whole  I'oice  was  re,-oi';;anized  iiiloa  bri;;ade,  of  which  (leneral 
Howard  was  in  chief  command.  'I'lie  march  was  continued  iiptlie 
Mississippi.  On  the,  present  site  of  t^iiincy  they  passed  a  i-cceiitly 
(leserlecl  camp  and  villaf^c,  sii|)posed  to  liav«^  contained  1,(KM»  Sac; 
wai-riors.  Ala  point  called  the  "Two  rivers,"  they  struck  out  east- 
Avaid  and  a<'idss  tliehi;;h  juairies  (o  the  Illinois,  which  was  reached 

~*Mli«(iiiii  Ou/.ett(i,  March  im.  " 


M.MXnlS   'li;i{IM'l'<i|{Y. 


iiriir  I  Ik'  iiioiiI  II  ut'  S|Mi(iti  lis  CI'.  I  Icir  I  li<-ii'  jirox  i>i<)ii  IiumIs  ;irri  vol 
:iii(l  luiilv  (III  hniii'd  llif  sirk.  'I'lit-  iii;ir(-li  \\;is  niiiliiiiit'il  ii|>  tlin 
llliiHiis  III  IN'oiiii.  wlicic  iIh'It  Wiisii  >iii:ill  stiickiKlc  in  cliiir;;!'  ot" 
('ii|il:iiii  Nii'liol;is  id'  llic  I'.  S.  Aiiii.v.  Twu  iliiys  iM'Torc,  )li(i 
lliiliiiiis  IiimI  iikhIi' ;iii  ;iMii('k  nil  llif  I'nrl,  IhiI  were  i't>|iiils«'<l.  Oil 
tin-  liiM'  of  iimitIi  IViiiii  (III'  .Mi.ssissi|i|ii.  iiiiiiicruiis  IVi-sli  tniil-j  imli- 
nilcd  tliiil  llic  liiiliiiiis,  i^iiiiiiii;-;  Uiiou  li-d^i' nl'  llii-  iii\  iidiii;;-  rmrt', 
were  llcciii;;   null liu iird. 

Mfiiii,'  ill  tlif  fiifiiiy's  coiiiilrv,  Uiiowiii^'  liis  sIimIiIiv  li;il»il.s  mid 
tli<'  lr(i(>|is  ;it  no  time  ohscrx  iiii;  ii  liiuli  dc^iicc  of  disci|iliiM',  iiiiiiiy 
niiiH'<M'>>iti',N  ni;;lil  ;iliiriii>  urnii-rcd  ;  ilirv  were  imriidnl,  tVc)|iifiil  ly 
oi'iicn-d  to  nriiis,  iiiid  iiiidrr  tin'  ^i-iiri';il  rxcitciiHiit  iiicidnit  ton, 
ronsliiiit  drciid  ol'  iiioiiii'iitiiry  nl  tiick,  yiiiis  wen- iiMMiit  ioiisly  liifd, 
:iiid  oiM-  liiH'  Noiinu  1\»  iiiicKy  triio|ici'.  wiis  sliot  di'iid  l»y  ii  tear 
MiiitU'ii  sniliiifl.     All  tlii>  liiiif  I  lie  diend  siivaj'cs  wnc  liir  ;i\Viiy. 

'I'Im'  Jinny  \\;is  niiiiclii'd  ii|i  tlic  liilu-  to  rioino's  villii^r.  tlic- 
liii'sriil  .sill-  of  ( 'liilirotlic,  iind  iiiidiii;;'  tliiit  t  hi'  t'ln-niy  Inid  iisci'iidi-d 
1 JM-  Illinois,  t  wo  drscrlcd  \  illii;;cs  welt'  dt-inolislii'd  iiiidrr  lln-  sliork 
of  its  oiisci,  iind  iMinii'd,  wlini  il  look  ii|)  its  i'ftrii;;i':id<-  in:ii'<-li. 
At  tlic  outlet  of  the  liikc  tlii'  present  site  ol"  i'eoriii.  the  tiuo|»s 
leiiiJiiiied  ill  e;iiii|)  se\  eiiil  weeks,  liiiildiii<;  l''ort  ( 'link,  iiiiiiied  in 
iiieiiior\  of  (ieii.  <  ieor;;e  K'o^ers  ('link.  IMiijor  Christy,  in  the, 
liieiiiitinie,  w;is  dis|iiitclied  uitli  ;i  force  in  eliiir;;e  of  two  fortified 
Keel  hoiits  n|)  the  i'i\ei'  to  tiie  fool  of  the  nipids,  to  eliMstise  iilid 
rout  siieli  of  the  eiiein.\  ;is  iiii;:lit  Inixe  loiljied  in  t  liiit  |-e;.;ioii. 
JMiiJoi'  ISoone  w;is  s<'iit  with  :i  fmce  to  seoiir  tlie  S|iooii  ri\er 
eoiintry,  tow;irds  IJoek  rixcr.  IJotli  evpeditioiis  ret  iiiiie<l  wilhoiit, 
otiiei' diseoveries  llijiii  si^lis  of  iihiriii  on  the  piiit  of  the  eiieiiiy, 
Jilid  Ills  i'«'tre;it  into  the  interior,  '{'he  ;iiiiiy  returned  l>y  ii.  direct; 
roiile  to('iiiii|»  iJiisscll,  where  the  \  iiliiiiteers  ;ind  iiiilitiii  were  dis- 
hiilided,  ()ctol«T:!'Jd,  ISi;{. 

The  (Mniiiiii^ii,  ilioiit;li  no  buttle  w;is  foimlil  or  enemy  seen,  was 
still  fraught  with  ^leai  lieiielii  in  iitl'ordiii;^  the  frontiers  immunity 
i'loiii  the  iiiiirderoiis  iiiciiisioiis  of  the  saviij^ics  for  the  entire  siie- 
eeediii^-  winter.  To  the  foe  was  unfolded  the  |Hiwer  and  resources 
he  liad  to  eonteiid  with,  and  shakinu  his  head  he  iiiiillcrcd,  "  |iale. 
laces  like  the  lea\('sin  the  lorest — like  the  j^iass  on  t  he  |trairies — 
they  i;row  every w  here  I"' 

ISI  1. — Tlie_\ear  ISl  j,  was.  however,  also  |irolilic  with  horril»i(>, 
<lee(ls  of  sa\aj;e  liiitchery.  Those  liciids,  with  a  natural  aplitinle, 
lor  such  W4ii'k,  received  ad<litional  inceiitixes  from  their  IWitish 
{lilies.  Oiii' naval  \ictoriesoii  I>ake  laie,  Ihe  recovery  (»f  Del  roit, 
and  the  defeat  of  the  r.iilish  at  tiie  Italtle  of  the  Thames,  where, 
'I'eciiinseli  fell,  which  was  fought  lietorc  tliecloseof  ISI.'!,  had  the, 
ell'ecl  to  eanse  the  savaj;<'s  to  retreat  from  <'aiiada.  and  concentrate, 
ill  j^ieal  iiiiinlteis  on  the  hanks  of  the  upper  Mississipjii ;  and 
jiiaraiidiii;:'  hands  aj^ain  \isiled  the  seltleinents  of  Illinois  and 
Missouri,  eoiiiinittin;;  many  ilepredations  and  niiirders.  We  do 
iKit  jHcteiid  to  cite  all. 

In  -Inly,  a  hand  of  Indians  raidiii;;-  in  the  Wood  ri\ cr  set  tie- 
iiieiil.  (I  miles  east  of  the  present  Alton,  massacred  a  Mrs.  I{eajiaii 
and  her  (iehildreii.  'i '  ■'hnshainl  and  father,  absent  at  the  time, 
^vas  the  first  to  discov  r  the  dreadful  slaii^jhter.  On  arrivinj;' 
lioiiie  after   iii;^:lit  tall,    and    opeiiin*;   tiie,    door  of  his   cabin,    ho 

'AiiiiuIh  or  tlie  West— ApiH'iiilix. 


sm- 


278  IIIST()I!^■  ol"  II-MN(ilS. 


8t«'|>!)(Ml  iiilotlic  •;(>r('t>r  his  lovi'd  f'liinily,  uihI  licln-ld  tlicii-  stiirU 
anil  iiiiiii;;lfil  rriiiaiiis.  Captain  Saaiiicl  Wliitt-sidcs  willi  liis 
t'onijianv  ol'  laii.ufis  itiiisui'd  llic  saxaucs  l«»  llic  Saiiuaiiioii,  w  licrc, 
ill  a  lliii'Ut't,  all  ('M'a|M-il  *-\('('|)l  llic  leader  ol'  llic  liaiid.  wlio  was 
sliot  out  ttl'  a  trci- top.  in  Ins  lu-ll  Ik- had  daii;;lin^'  the  scalp  of 
.Mrs.  Ifca-aii. 

Ill  till'  wfsicni  part  of  Clinton  coiinlN,  in-ar  tlic  crossin.u  of  llic 
jMcsciit  <).  •&  M.  U.  II.  over  a  >licain.  .Icssc  Ilailcs  and  wifr  wcki 
looUiiiji' lor  llicir  litijis  on  a  Siiiida\  fSfiiiii;.;  in  the  «'i('t'lv  hotloin, 
anil  tlic  do,us  lia\  inn  at  a  lliickci,  it  was  supposed  ilic,v  \\i-\v  lonnd  ; 
but  on  appi'oarliiii;^  tlir  Ihickcl.  tlic  Indians,  concealed  witliiii, 
lircd  upon  hotli,  the  ladv  onlv  liein^  liil.  She  was  taken  t«>  lier 
latlici's  house,  Mr.  Iiradle\,  and  died  in  a  .short  time. 

In  An^^ns!.  while  a  conipaiiv  of  ( 'aplain  Slnnl'.s  lan^eis  wci'*^ 
encamped  at  the  liiv«'l,\  caWiiis.  a  trail  was  discoNcred  which  led 
diii'ctlv  to  the  starlinji'  of  7  Indians  with  II  stolen  horses.  When 
oxerlakeii  a  skirmish  eiisned,  in  which  the  rangers  weic  rather 
worsted;  one  was  woiiiKh'd.  a  horse  killed,  and  another,  Moses 
Hliort,  received  a  hiillet  whii'h  loducd  in  a  twist  of  tobacco  ilk  his 
]>ockct.  William  Stout,  with  i;reat  .peed,  went  to  camp  for  icin- 
Ibrcemcnts.  Captain  Short  with  ■">('  men  now  followed  the  trail  all 
iiijilit,  and  next  morning;  overlook  the  iiiaraii(h>rs  on  a  Ibrk  of  the 
Little  Wabash,  A  la,uj;inj;  Indian  here  shot  a  turkey,  and  the 
report  of  his  ^i  ii  ai»prised  the  piirsiiers  of  their  pioximity.  On 
discovering  the  whites,  the  rear  Indian  ran  in  .meat  hasii- forward, 
and  all  jtreparcd  for  battle,  in  ij;noiance  pidbabl_\  of  the  miiniier 
of  the  piirsninji  force,  and  assured  «loiibtIess  by  tln'ir  previous 
siic<'ess,  for  the\  mij;lit  have  casdy  made  their  escape.  They  wcrc! 
dii'cctly  surrounded,  and  when  they  realized  their  situation,  sanj; 
the  death  son^,  shouted  dctiance,  and  tbii^ht  bravely  tt>  tlie  last. 
All  were  killed.  The  pursuers  lost  oii(>  man,  William  O'Neal, 
Mho,  while  takin;;-  deliberate  aim,  met  an  adversary  (quicker  than 
liimself,  and  was  shot. 


[NoTbi.— The  most  (Ifspiinite  sliifilt'-lmiiilud  coinlint,  witli  Indians, «!ver  I'outrliton  tlic 
pnll  of  Illinois,  wns  that  of  'I'oiii  lliyjriiis,  Aiiu'iist  :.'l.  IHU.  Uisfffiiis  was  ;.'.')  yrais  old,  of 
11  iniisciilai'  aiul  com  pact  build,  not  tall,  I  ml  strong'' and  active,  I  n  danircr  lie  iiosscsscil 
11  (juick  and  djsocniinfi'.jiidynu'nl,  and  was  williont  liar,  lit'  was  a  iMcniln'rol.iounic.v  s 
raniicrs,  consisting  of  II  nicn,  statimic  I  at  Hills  I'ort,  S  miles  sonthwi-^t  of  the  present 
(iiccnville.  Disi'ovcriny  Indain  ^i^irlsllca^  the  loit,  the  compaiiy  early  the  I'ollowinK 
morninjf  starteil  on  the  trail.  'I'hey  had  not  .uone  far  liefore  they  were  !■  an  amlnis- 
cadc  of  a  larjrcr  party.  At  the  Ihsi  tire,  t  h(dr  eonnnander  .lourney  and  :> '  icn  ft  II.  Si.v 
retiuatuii  to  th(M'ort  in  tlifiht,  lint  Ili^Kins  slopped  ■■  to  lia\  c  anollu'r  pull  at  the  red 
Bkiiis,"  and  tiikiny  deliheratc  aim  at  a  stiatrfflinsj-  sa\  aui',  shot  him  down,  lliufiin's  horse 
had  bofii  wounded  at  the  lirst  tire,  as  he  snpposeil,  mortally,  b.it  eondiifi  to.  he  was 
aliont  to  eliuct  his  esi'ape,  when  the  familiir  voice  at'  liiiryes's  haileil  him  from  the  lonff 
Rrass,  "Tom  don't  leave  inc."  in«->rins  tolil  him  to  comealonir,  hut  I Surt! ess  replied  that 
hi8  h'K  was  snuished.  Ilim.i;;\s  al  lem|>teil  to  raise  luin  on  his  horse,  but  the  animal  took 
lri;:ht  and  ran  away  I li^'v'ins  then  directed  Huihcss  to  limp  olV  as  best  he  could,  and 
by  crawling:  throURli  the  fjrass  he  readied  th(!  fort,  while  the  former  loaded  his  frm> 
and  remained  behind  to  protect  him  awairjst  the  pursninj;  enemy.  When  Iturucss  was 
well  out  of  the  wa.v,  lo  throw  any  wanderiny  enemy  olf  the  trail,  lli«uins  took  aiiolher 
route  which  led  by  a  small  t  hickct.  Here  he  was  unexpectedly  conli  ontcd  l)y  osavasjeg 
npproachiny:.  H*'"  ran  to  a  little  ra\ine  near  .it  hand  for  slitdtcr,  but  in  the  elfort  dis- 
eo\i'red  for  the  llrst  limi;  that  he  was  ba<lly  wounded  in  the  ley.  lb'  was  closely  pressed 
bj  1  he  largest,  a  |)owerful  Indian,  who  lodged  a  ball  in  his  lliiiih.  He  tell,  but  instantly 
rose  ayain,  only  to  draw  the  lire  of  the  other  two  and  avain  fell  wounded  Tho 
Indians  now  udvanccd  upon  him  wit  h  their  tomahawks  ami  scalping  kni\  es,  but  ii.s  ho 
l)resented  his  Run  llrst  at  one,  then  at  aiiotlier,  from  his  place  in  the  raNine,  each 
wavered  in  his  purpose.  Neither  part.v  hail  tiim^  to  load,  and  tin-  larye  Indian,  suppo.s- 
iuK  tlnally  that  HiKains'  trim  was  empty,  ru.shed  forward  with  uplifteil  tomahawk  and  u 
yell,  but  as  he  caini!  near  enoujih,  was  shot  down.  At  this,  the  others  raised  the  war- 
whoop  and  rushed  upon  the  wour.,,ed  Iliuyins,  and  no(v  a  hand  to  hand  conllict  ensued. 
They  darted  at  him  witli  their  knifes  timeandauain.inilii'tini!- many  iiha«tly  liesh  wounda 
which  bled  profusely,  One  of  the  assailents  threw  his  tonailiawk  at  him  with  such 
precision  ns  to  sever  hisear  and  la,\  bare  his  skull,  knociiintf  him  down.  They  now 
rushed  in  on  him,  but  ho  kicked  them  oil,  uiid  (jfrusping  one   of  their  spcurs  thrust  at 


ILLINOIS   7'";T{1{1T()1,'V. 


370 


TlH'inilitiiry  cxiKMlilioiis  of  isi  I.  In  wliidi  Illinois  piiiliripiit*'  I, 
Avert' l»y  Wiitcr  on  the  Mississippi,  'I'lie  lirsl  projceteil  in  Hie  west 
Viislli'iit  of  ('in\eiii(»r  Cliiik  (in  the  ;il»ence  (if  (leneiiil  iluwiinl), 
wiiicli  lell  SI,  litiiiis  ;ii)t)ill  llie  1st  of  M;iy,  it  eonilili.sed  ;i  loite 
of  some  LMtO  men  in  the  Mimed  itiirucs,  its  (|esliiiiiti(»ii  heiiijj: 
I'liiirie  (III  Cliieii,  Tlie  notorious  DieUson,  ISritisli  iiiieiit  iiimI  In- 
<li;iii  triiiler,  :i  iikiii  of  piciisin;:  iiiniiiier  iiiid  ciipl  i\  ;il  iii^  iidtlress, 
iiiiil  Imt  ii  lew  (l;i.vs  liefore  reeriiiled  for  Hie  IJiiti^li  iiiiiiv  .'><><> 
Sioux,  W'illlieha^'oesiiml  l'ols;iV(»isiis,  wliom  lie  Wiis  (■(iiKliietili;^  tt> 
(';1iiim1h,  .\  sMi;ili  niillison  of  "  MueUiniie  feiieibles",  in  eoiiiiiiiili(l 
of  :i  r.ritisli  oilieer,  Wiis  left  in  (  iiiir;^e  of  liie  pl;iee,  Itnl  IteiiiL;  ,i.'re;itly 
oillmiiiihered  l»y  <'l;iik's  foi<'e.s,  tliey  joined  Hie  lleeiiii;  iii!i;iliil;iiils, 
Cliirk's  unopposed  troops  were  (iii;irlered  in  llie  lioiiseof  tlu; 
]\Iiiekiii;iw  l''iir  <'oiiip;iny,  iind  ;i  fort,  eiilied.-iiejliy,  was  hiiiil.  in 
•luiie  (lo\,  Cliirk  reliirned  to  St.  Louis,  wiieie  tiu'  people  tendered 
liiiii  it  piihlieoviition  in  iionor  of  liis  eoininest.  Tiius  easily  did  lie 
will  military  <>lory,  i'.ut  in  .liilya  lar^c  foiceof  I'.ril  isli  and  Indians 
undei'  ("ol.  .\laekey,  eaiiie  i»y  water  from  .Maei^inaw,  \  ia  (ireeii 
J>ay  .111(1  the  \\iseonsin,aiid  after  a  short  seij;-e,(lo\ .  ( 'lark's  eiil  ii(i 
j^aii'ison  eajtitulated  and  was  paroled,  leaviiij;'  the  Uritisj)  w  ii ii  the 
new  foi'f  in  iiiiieh  lietter eoudilion  than  two  months  hefoic,  Siieli 
sire  the  f(M'tiiiies  of  war. 

In  the  meanlime,  (ieii,  Howard.  ha\  in-;'  returned  to  his  post, 
deemedit  advisable  t(*  streM^^theii  so  reimtte  a  post  as  I'rairie  dii 
Cliieii,  and  to  that  end  sent  reinforeeiueuts  to  the  numlier  of  KlS 
men,  in  eliar^(>  of  liieiit.  Caiiipliell  of  tiie  re^iilai'  army,  in  thre«i 
keel  boats  np  the  river.  Of  tliis  force  (iti  men  were  Illinois  liaii;;- 
<'rs,  under  ('ajttaiiis  Stephen  Hector,  and  iJi;;',i;s,  who  occupied  two 
boats.  The  reiiiainder  were  withCampiieil  in  the  other  boat, 
li'ock  Island,  wlieic  they  laid  iij)  for  a  iiiuht,  was  jtasscd  wiHniiit 
molestation,  but  at  the  foot  of  the  rapids  j;reat  numbers  (»f  tlm 
Sacs  and  Fox  Indians  \  isited  the  boats  with  ]»rofessions  of  frieiid- 
.ship.  Some  of  the  l-'reiich  boatmen  were  known  to  the  Indians, 
iiiid  vei'y  much  liked  by  them.  They  would  s(|iieeze  their  hands 
with  a  juill  (low  n  the  river,  indicating;' that  it  would  l»e  well  for 
fheiii  to  leave.  It  was  rinhtlx  Judged  by  them  that  the  treacherous 
sax  a'4('s  meditated  an  attack,  of  whicli  Lieut.  ( 'ampbell  was  duly 
informed.  lie.  however,  disi-eyarded  these  hints.  The  sutler's 
and  contractor's  boats,  and  ,  two  barges  with  Hie  Illinois  rangers, 
liad  passed  the  rapids,  and  had  uot  some  two  miles  ahead,  when 
Campbeirs  l»ar,ii('  was  si  nick  l>y  a  j;ale  from  the  west  so  si  ion;;  as 
to  force  her  a,nai list  a  small  island,  next  to  the  Illinois  shore. 
Tliiiikin,!;'  it  advisable  to  lie  to  till  the  wind  abated,  seiiliuels  wore 
immediately  stationed,  while  the  men  went  ashore  to  cook  break- 


liini,  WHS  niiscil  ii))  l).v  it.  He  quickly  seized  liis  miii,  imd  liy  ii  imweiTiil  blow  enisliefl 
ill  the  skull  (if  one,  i)Ut  hroke  his  ritle.  His  rem  liniun'  iiutiiuroiiisl  still  Kept  up  the 
eontest  iiiiikiujr  thrusls  wil  h  his  kiiite  iit  the  hleediuf"  ami  exiiiiiisted  lliiinirs,  whiih  he 
jmiiied  with  his  broken  (run  lis  liest  lie  eoiild.  Most  id'  this  desperute  eiiifftpeiiieiit  was 
in  plain  view  of  the  J'ort,  but  the  ranf-'crs,  hiivirin  been  in  one  iitiibiiseade,  sa'v  in  this 
llvrlit  only  ariiso  to  draw  out  the  Imlaneo  of  the  (.'unison.  Ibit  a  .Mis.  I'liisely,  lesHliiif? 
at  the  Kort,  no  lonsrer  able  to  see  so  brave  ii  mim  eoptemi  iinaiiled  for  his  lile,  seized  a 
(run.  and  mouiitiiiK  a  horse,  started  to  his  rescue,  /m  .his  t  he  men  took  cmiraiie  and 
liHstened  aloiiK  'I'lie  Indian  seeliiy  aid  eoiiiiim:.  lied.  Hiyirins  liciiiM'  luiirlv  hacked  to 
pieces,  fainted  from  loss  of  blood.  He  was  carried  to  the  Kort.  'riuM-e  beimi-  no  siir- 
jreoti,  his  conirades  cut  two  balls  from  hlsllesli;  others  reiiiained  in  Kor  da\s  his  life 
was  despaired  of,  but  by  tender  nursiiisf,  he  ultimately  recovered  his  health,  badly 
crippled.  He  resided  in  b'ayctle  County  for  many  years  after,  where  lie  raised  a  lar«e 
family,  and  di(Mi  in  IS:.'!).  Ho  received  a  pension,  iHirsued  farminj;-,  and  at  on.' time 
was  door-kooper  of  onu  of  tlio  Louses  of  the  Ouneral  Assembly  at  Vaudaliu .  Ifeynold's 
Plo,  Hist.-p.S^Jl. 


280  insToRV  OF  Illinois. 

1;ist.  \{  this  tiiiir  ii  liii-;>'f  torcc  of  liMliiiiis  on  the  i  itiiii  sliorc, 
tiiiilci'  llic  riiiiiiiiiiiiil  of  r>liick  IliiwU,  coiniiKMicni  iiii  iithick.  'riio 
h:i\  ii;;cs,  ill  ciiiint'S,  |)ii>sf(l  i':i|ii)ll\  In  liii'  ishinil.  iiimI  wiliiii  \\:ir 
w  li<)(i|t  riisiic*!  iipuii  llic  iiH'ii,  w  lit)  iclrciitt'd  iiiiil  S()ii;:iil  icl'ii;;!- in 
llic  l»iir;;<'.  A  Icilllc  ol'  Itiisk  imisiicti'.v  now  ciisiicd  lirtwccii  liio 
I't'W  I'fjL^iiliit's  iiitoMi'd  liif  stniiHird  l)iii'!^c  Mild  III*'  lioi'dfs  of  liidiiiiis 
under  cover  ol'  I  ices  on  I  lie  isliiiid.  with  seM'ie  loss  to  tir.'  ioiiiiei'. 
3lejin\vhilt'.  Ci.ptiiins  liector  and  l{i;;;;s,  iihend  with  tii  ■  l>iii';;('s, 
seili;;'  the  siii(d\e  of  Icitlle,  ess;i_\ed  jo  relllili.  ImiI  in  the  stroiij;' 
pile  Iki^ins"  hoiit  lieeaiiie  iiiiiiiiiiiiij;eiihle  niid  was  st landed  on  the 
rapids.  |{eetor,  to  avoid  a  similar  disast«'i',  let  ji(»  his  anchor,  'liu; 
iaii;;crs.  however,  opened  with  ^ood  aim  and  telliii;;-  elVect  on  tho 
sava.i:cs. 

The  iineipial  coiidiat  hav  in;;  ra;ni'd  for  some  time,  the  eon  una  mi - 
cr's  liarjic  w  illi  maiiv  vvonnded  and  several  dead  on  hoard,  ainoiij;- 
the  foinierof  whom,  verv  hadl.v,  was  Cainpltell  himself,  had  almost' 
ci'ascd  li^litiim  when  slie  was  iliscov  ered  to  Im- on  lire.  .And  now 
Slephcii  li'ector,  and  his  hrave  crew  of  Illinois  raii;;eis,  compre- 
heiidiiiu  the  horrid  situation,  perforined,  without  (lelav,  as  cool 
and  heroic  a  deed,  and  did  it  well,  as  ever  imperiled  the  life  of 
niortal  man.  In  llie  how  lin.^' uale.  in  full  view  of  hiindredsof  llu^ 
infuriate  sava.u'es,  and  within  raiiyc  of  their  ritles.  they  delilieralely 
raised  anchor,  lightened  their  ha rjiC  l»v  caslinj; overhoard  ipiaii- 
lilies  (d'  jti'dv  isioiis.  and  ^iiiided  it  with  the  utmost  lal)ord(»wn  tlui 
Nwi  ft  current,  to  the  w  iiidward  of  the  lairninii'  liaijic,  and,  in  llui 
I'iillinu'  lire  of  the  cnemv,  resciied  the  survivors,  removed  thei 
v.'iinded.  the  d.viii^  and  all,  to  their  vessel.  'I'his  was  as  heroic  ii 
deei,'  of  iioldc  dariiiji'  as  was  performed  during'  the  war  in  the, 
AVcst.  'i'lie  island,  in  iiiciikmv  •>!'  the  stiii;;,ulc.  was  named  after 
Caniplicll.  hut  with  iJectorand  his  crew  of  Illinois  rangers  remains 
the  ulorv  of  tli»'  action. 

'riie  manlier  of  ctfcctini;'  the  rcscm-  <lisplays  the  resoiiicc  of 
I'ouraiicoiis  minds  in  the  crisis  of  imminent  peril.  Iicctor's  harjio 
Avas  lirst  «pii<'Uly  li;;liteiicd  l»y  cast  in;;'  ovcrlioard  the  provisions, 
the  crew  (mostly  experienced  French  hoatineii,)  j^ot  into  the  water 
on  the  windward  sid(-  of  the  bar;;*',  which  ltroii,L;ht  it  hctwceii 
tliein  and  the  lire  of  the  enemy.  In  this  manner  it  was  j^iiided  i.i 
dose  inoximity  to  the  disabled  harp',  ami  held  there  till  the  re- 
moval was  etfected,  when,  after  Iteiii;;  hauled  ajiaiiist  the  wind  far 
out  into  the  stream,  it  ^^lided  safely  away.  The  loss  was  U."» ;  1> 
killed — I  ranjicrs,  ;>  re^iiilars,  I  woman,  I  child  ;  wounded  1(5, 
anioiij;'  vvIkuu  vveie  liicut  Camplicll  and  Dr.  Stewait,  severely.* 
JJectcu's  Itainc  was  nncomforlahly  crowded  for  the  vvoiindcd,  hut 
as  the  force  was  larp' they  rowed  iiijihl  and  daynntilSt.  Louis  was 
reached.  The  Indians,  after  the  ahandoiimenl  of  (."ami»l>eirs 
l»ar<i(',  feasted  upon  the  contents  (»f  their  prize. 

Jt  was  now  feared  that  Kiji.ys  and  his  coni[)aiiy  were  capliu'cd 
uiid  sacriliced  by  the  savap's.  11  is  vessel,  which  was  stroiijuand  well 
ariued,  was  for  atiiue  .surrounded  by  the  Indians,  but  tlie  whites 
on  the  inside  were  well  sheltered.  The  wind  becominji' allayed  in 
the  cveiiiii;L;,  the  boat,  under  cover  of  the  iiijiht,  jilided  safely  «lo\vii 
the  liver  without  the.  loss  of  a  single  man.  At  St.  Louis  there  was 
<;reat  rcjoiciii!.;'  (mi  the  arrival  of  lii,i;'j;s  and  crew,  all  safe.  Many 
I'ervent   jnayers   had    j^oiie    up,  many   anxious  eyes  had  eap'rly 

•Mo.  Ouzette,  July  30, 18U 


ILLINOIS   TKI.'IMTOUY. 


L'Hl 


\\:il('li<>i|  tilt' rivt'i,  iilxl  lii:iii,\  ii  piitiiol  liriiit  u  ;is  riiiul(>  ;;'l!i(l  l)\   llit* 
liiiiil  li(liii;^s  oT  llit'ir  siil'i-lv. 

Still  iiiiotlici' t'\|n'ililii>ii  lortlu'  I'|>|»t  Mississipid  whs  |»iojtM'tc(| 
this  sciisoii  iil'lt'i'  till'  two  I'nrruiiiii;;  (lisiislcis.  It  \\;is  til  t  •<!  mil  it, 
<'ii|if  iiii  (ills,  iiiiil  ulil  I'lciirli  liiiiiilct  oil  till-  h-l't  hank  ol  iIm-  Mis- 
.sissi|i|ii.  ii  tfw  mill's  iihovc  tlir  mniitli  of  tlx'  Illiiinis.  It  coiisistcd 
of  .').'! I  ('ir«'clivt'  iiii'ii,  10  ri'.niiliii's  iiiiil  till'  I'cst  i'aii;L;fis  iiiiil  xkIiim- 
tccrs,  ill  ciiiiiiiiainl  of  .Major Zackaiy  'ravloriaflciwards  picsidciit.) 
><«'lsoii  Itt'ctoi,  and  Sainiirl  Wliitrsiilcs,  with  tlic  lliiiioisans,  wows 
ill  coiiiiiiaiKl  of  iioats.  It  was  jiciicrall.v  n';;ai(lt'tl  as  of  inati'iial 
iiii|Miriaiiri>  loliavf  a  stroii;;'  fort  wilii  a  ;.:airis(iii  well  ii|i  the  .Mis 
sissippi  ill  tlic  heart  of  the  liiiliaii  roiiiitiv.  The  plan  was  to 
proct'i'il  alioM'  the  rapids,  and  in  desi-i'iidin;;  sweep  lioth  Itaiiks  of 
the  i'i\('i'  of  liir  Indian  xillaucs,  dcstrov  llieii'  coin  down  to 
Itock  Island,  and  tlicn'  Iniild  tin'  loil.  'i'jic  rxpcdil  imi  dt'partrd 
its  place  of  i('iidc/\ oils,  Aii;;iist  -•").  1S|  |,  ;iiid  passed  IJock  island 
and  the  h'apids  iiniiiolested.  It  was  now  leanied  that  the  coiintiy 
was  not  (Mil.N  swaniiiiii;  with  Indians,  lait  that  the  iCnulish  werc^ 
there  in  coininand,  w  itii  a  dclachineiit  ol  re,milars  and  aitillcry. 
The  advanced  Itoats  in  coniinand  of  Kector,  Whitesides,  and 
lleiiipstead,  turned  about  and  lie^aii  to  descend  the  Kapids,  llulit- 
iii.i;  w  itii  iir«'at  uallantrv  the  hoa  riles  of  the  eiieiiiy  poiiiin^-  theic  tire 
into  them  from  the  shore  i'\er,\  step.  A  lit  lie  w  av  alio\  e  the 
iiionlh  of  liocU  rivei',  not  fai  from  .some  willow  islands.  Major 
Tayloi' anchored  his  tieet  out  in  the  .Mississi|ipi.  I)iirin<:'  the  iii.uhf 
tin'  l']n;;lish  planted  a  haltery  of  si\  pieces  down  at  the  water's 
(>(!;;*'  to  sink  or  disahle  the  boats,  and  tilled  the  islands  with 
redskins  to  butcher  our  men.  who  iniLihl,  iiiiarined.  seek  refuj;'(^ 
Ihei'e.  JJiit  ill  this  scheme  lhe,\  were  friisl  rated,  in  the  niorniiij;- 
Taylor  ordered  all  the  force,  except  L'O  boatmen  on  each  v«'sscl.  to 
the  upper  island  to  dislodge  the  enemy.  'I'lie  order  was  executed 
with  .ureal  liallantry,  the  island  scoured  and  the  savages,  many  of 
whom  wei'c  killeil.  driven  ti)  the  lowerone.  in  the  meantime  the 
liritish  caniioii  told  with  elfect  upon  the  Heel,  piercing  many  of  llie 
boats,  'i'he  men  rushed  back  and  the  boats  were  drop|>ed  down 
the  stream  out  of  laiiiic  of  the  cannon.  Caittaln  iicctor  was 
now  ordered  with  his  company  to  make  a  sortie  on  the  lower  island, 
which  he  did,  drixiiij;  the  Indians  back  anions  the  willows,  but 
th«\v  belli jf  reinforced,  ill  turn  hiiilc<l  K'cctor  back  upon  the  sand 
bciU'h.  A  council  «»f  otiicers  called  l>y  'I'aylor  had  by  this  tiim^ 
decided  that  I  heir  force  was  insnfticient  to  contend  w  itii  the  enemy, 
who  oiitiiunibeied  them  three  to  one,  and  the  boats  wer(^  in  full 
retreat  down  the  rivei.  As  Uector  attempted  to  jict  underway, 
his  boat  jiroiinded,  and  the  savages,  with  dciiKMiiac  yells,  sui- 
roiiiidcd  it,  when  a  most  desperate  hand  to  hand  eii,i;aiicnient 
ensued.  The  .gallant  ran.i;er,  Samuel  Whitesides,  oii.scrviii!.;'  the 
immiuciit  j>eril  of  his  biiive  Illinois  comrade,  went  iininediately 
to  his  rescue,  who,  but  for  his  timely  ai<l,  would  undoubtedly  have 
been  overpowered  with  all  his  force  and  miirdered.  'I'aylor's  loss 
was  11  men  badly  wouikKmI,  ;J  of  whom  had  died  at  the  date  of 
liis  report  to  (leu.  Ilowartl,  Sei)t.  (>.  IS14. 

Opposite  the  mouth  of  I  lie  1  )cs  >ioiiies,  on  the  site  of  the  present 
town  of  Warsaw,  a,  fort  was  built  by  Taylor's  men,  called  ICdwards, 
■wliieh  consisted  of  a  roiiuli  stockath;  and  block'.,  miscs  of  nnliew  u 
logs.     Fort  Madison, oil  thewest  side  of  the  Aiississi[»pi  and  farther 


2H3  HISTORY  OF   ILLINOIS. 

lip,  iiftcv  beiiifi  i'«'i>('at('(ll.vattack«'<l  In- tlicciiciny.  was  cvaculcd  and 
liuriit.  A  I'cw  weeks  later  (in  ()c(ol»ei)  l'"(til  iMlwaids  sliared  a 
similar  late;  tlie  troops  yot  out  of  |»ro\  isioiis.  ami  iiiiahie  to  sustain 
tlicir  position,  reticat.'il  down  the  rixcr  to  ('ape  aiidiis.  'I'lie 
jicople  of  Illinois  and  .Missoiiii  weic  astonished  at  this  extraordi- 
nar.N  e\;"Malion  and  <lesi  iMietion  oi'  the  I'oit  liy  our  own  troops, 
'I'll*  laK^crs  and  voluiiteei-s  were  di>el!ar,u('d  Oetoiter  ISih, 
ISit.* 

Thns  ended  the  last,  like  the  t/.(!  ])re\  ions  exjx'ditions  (i|)  the 
jMis.-issippi  dining  the  war  of  IS!:.',  in  defeat  an<l  disaster.  'I'lu^ 
eneiMV  was  in  nndispnted  possessior,  of  ail  the  country  nctrth  of  the 
Illinois  I'ivei',  and  tile  prospect  I'espeelin^' these  territories  boded 
nothin.y  Init  ^looin.  NVitli  tiie  approach  of  winter,  liowevc-r, 
Indian  depredations  ceased' to  he  coininitted,  and  the  peace  of 
(jhent,  J)ec.  I'l,  ISI4,  closed  the  war. 

*Tlii!  iici^ouut  oi'  thesu  expedllioiis  has    l)oeii  in  tfi'<;at  paft  uratliered  I'roiu  Uoynolds' 
Own  TiuiL'si. 


<"iiAi'i'i;i!  XXV. 

Civil.    Al'FAlKS    OF  THK  ILLINOIS  TKlJlHTOlfY  VVA)M 

ISIL'   TO    ISIS. 

MeriuKj  of  the  LcnisldlKir — Tlic  Moiihos — Laics — CdiilVict  luiinrit 
iliv  L('(ji.sl((fiii'c  mill  'I ndickiry — Ciirioii.s  Actx — 'J'tiritoriu!  liaiihii 
— <'((iro  Bank — Coinincree — Firnt  iSt en iit hunts — J'urnaits  of  the 
J'eojtic. 


V\)r  iMsirly  four  ycsirs  iit'tcr  tlic  oryniiizntioii  of  tlic  tcnitoi'iiil 
ji(»\  ciiiiiu'iit  MO  l<',i:isl;itiii('  cxistt'd  ill  Illinois.  'I'lic  jiovciiior  \v;is 
botii  executive  iiiid,  in  j^ieiit  part,  tlie  law-iiiakiiiji  jiowei'.  Tliese  ex- 
ti'iiordiiiaiv  pow  ersjiaiitliorized  by  tlu'  oidiiiaiicc  ol'  17S7,  viewed  at 
111  is  day,  seem  si  ra  lively  iiieoiisisteiit  willioii''  re|)iil>lieaii  notions  of 
tlie  necessity  of  co-ordinate  brandies  of  jioveriiiiieiit.  I'nder  tliat 
celebrated  <»rdiiiance,  tlie  jiolitical  |iri\  ilcucs  of  tlie  citizen  were 
few  (•!•  none,  lie  could  not  exercise  llie  elective  iVaiicliise  unless 
lie  was  a  IVeeliolder  of  .")()  acres,  nor  asi»ire  to  a  seat  in  tiie  territo- 
rial le<>islatnre  unless  lie  was  .1  freeliolder  of  fniiii  UOO  to  ."itMl  ac'cs. 
Those  of  tlie  teiritorial  oflicers  wlioni  tlie  president  did  notappoint, 
were  appointed  by  tlie  ,i;"»\<'rii<t;'.  Tlie  |»eopie  ciaild  not  elect  Jus- 
tices of  tlie  )(eace.  county  siiixcyors,  treasurers,  coroners,  slieritfs, 
clerlvs,  jiid;L;«'s  of  tlie  inferior  <'oiiits,  nor  even  choose  the  otiicers  of 
the  territorial  militia;  all  this  pow  ci- and  iiincli  inoi'e  was  vested 
in  the  .uoveriior.  l!y  the  act  cftablishiiiL;  the  Illinois  t<'rritory,  it 
was  provided  that  whenever  his  Excellency  was  satistied  that  a 
majority  of  the  freeholders  desired  it,  then  he  mi;L;ht  authori/.e  a 
lejiislaliire.  W'liili' none  of  these  extraordinary  powers  were  per- 
haps ever  arbitiarily  exeiciscd  by  any  of  the  j:'(>veiiiors,  unless  it 
was  tSl.  ('lair,  the  people  were  all  tlie  time  clamorous  for  an  exten- 
sion ol'  siilVraiic.  Conj^rcss  (not  the  jioverimr)  finally,  by  act 
of  .May  I'l,  ISlL',  laised  Illinois  to  the  second  ;;rade  of  territorial 
jiovcinnienl,  and  further  extended  the  lij^lit  of  sn(fra<;('  to  any 
white  male  ])erson  L'l  years  old,  wli(»  had  paid  a  territorial  lax  and 
reside*  1  one  year  in  the  territory  next  pieced  in  j;  any  elect  ion.  a  ill  hor- 
iziii;.:'  such  elector  to  \(»te  for  rejircseiitative,  memlier  of  I  he  le^^is- 
lati\  e  council  and  d«'le,i;ate  to  coiij;r<'ss.  The  property  (pialilicatioii, 
undei'  the  ordinance  of  17S7,  was  abolislu'd.  This  was  a  very 
j;'reat  coiM-ession  to  the  people.  'I'he  j^'ovcrnor  was  rcipiired  to 
apportion  the  territory.  On  the  I  ttli  of  l''eiiriiary,  ISli;.accordin,nly, 
he  issued  his  jiroclamation,  ordcrinj;-  an  election  to  take  the  sense 
of  the  ])eoi>lefor  or  a^ainstcnterinji"  iiiioii  the  second  jiiade  of 
territorial  <i()\-ernment.  Theelection  was  to  beheld  for  three  suc- 
cessive days  in  each  county,  commencing'  on  the  second  Monday 
in  .\pril.     Tbe  question  was  decided  iu  the  atliniuitive  by  a  larjjic 

283 


2S4  nisToijY  or  iixixois. 


iiiiijoiit.v.  On  S('|tlt'iiilt('i'  KItli,  l(»ll(»\\inji,tln'  {^ovcnior  aiid jiidjics 
liiixiiii;'  ()ru;iiii/,<'(l  the  new  coiiiitit'S  of  Miidistiii.  (Iiilhiliii  iiiid  .loliii- 
Noii,  liiiikiiiji'  now,  Willi  llic  two  old  coiinlics  oi'  St.  Chiir  iind  K'mii- 
dolpli.il  totiil  of  livts  :i  procliiiiinlioii  w:is  issued,  iiiililisliiiii;  ilu-ir 
('stiiMisliiiicnl.  I>y  iiiiollicr  procliiiiinlinn  of  tlic  siiiiic  diit*-,  an 
i'lcclioii  lor  r»  iiiciiilicis  of  tlic  lc;4islali\  (■  coiiiicil,  7  rt'iiicsciitat  i\('.s 
and  a  dclcjialf  lo  conjiTcss,  was  ordci'i'd  to  he  licid  in  cacii  county 
on  the  Stli.  'Mil  and  l(»lli  days  of  OctoWrr  folJowiiii;-.  At  lliis  clcr- 
lioii.  SliadiiK'li  I'lOiid  was  rlntcd  to  con^icss.  Tlic  liu'inhris  elect 
of  the  le;;islative  council  were,  I'ieiie  .Meiiaid,  of  liaii(lol|tli — 
clioseii  to  preside  ;  NN'illiani  l'>i.ujis,  of  St.  Clair;  Sainiiel  .Iiid_\.of 
3Iadisoii:  'riionias  l''er,!4i:soii,  of  ,Jol'  ni,  and  Heiijainiii  Talliot, 
of  (lallatin. 

Tlu'  meiiibers  elect  (»f  tlie  lioiise  of  represenlat i\('s  w«'re,  (ieoij^o 
I'islier.  of  i;andoli)li;  .losliiia  O.uleshy  and  ,Facol>  Short,  of  St. 
Claii':  William  .loiies.  of  Madison:  I'liillip 'I'lainiiiel  and  Alexan- 
der Wilson,  of  (iailatin,  and  dohn  (Iraniiaar.  of  .lohiison. 

We  sniijoin  hi'ief  sketches  ol  the  inembers  eoiistitiltiiii;  the  first 
<,'eiieral  asseiiil>ly  of  illinois.  I'irrrc  J/ry/^nv/.  a  ( "anadian  I'leiich- 
liiaii.  settled  at  Kaskaskia  in  IT'.tO.  He  was  a  merchant  and 
enjoyed  an  e\teiisi\e  liade  with  the  Indians,  over  whom  he  ex- 
erted a  ,i;reat  inlliieiu'e  and  was  foi-  maiiyyears  the  i;(>\  ernment  a.uciit 
lor  them.  lie  was  well  inlormed.  eiierj;ctic,  frank  and  honest, 
and  was  very  popular  with  all  classes.  Wiilidiii  />'/V/_(/.v  w  as  an 
intelli_<;('nt  and  I'espectable  nieinher,  who  had  heeii  a  soldier  in 
Clark's  expedition,  and  ten  years  afterward  had  heeii  a  prisoner 
for  se\  eral  years  amoiit;  the  Kick  a  poos.  He  w  rote  and  pnl  dished  a 
complete  iiarrati\e  of  his  Indian  <'apt  ivily,  and  in  Isi'd.  con,i;ress 
Aoted  him  three  sections  of  land,  lie  was  for  many  years  county 
Jnd,i;c.  tSaiiiiirl  '/kiIi/ — the  same  who.  in  the  fall  preceding,  com- 
manded the  corps  of  spies  in  (loxcriior  iMiwanIs"  mililary  cam- 
l»ai;:n  to  Teoiia  lake — was  a  man  of  "energy,  fortitude  and 
enler)irise."  Some  of  his  descendants  now  icside  in  ;\ladisoii 
coiinly.  .f().sliii<i  (h/lislii/  WAS  ii  local  .Alelhodist  pi'cacher of  (trdinary 
education,  who  li\«'d  on  a  farm  and  was  ;ireall\  respected  hy  hi.s 
lieinhliors.  >l(ic()b  Short,  the  colleague  ol'  O.uleshy,  removed  t(» 
Jlliiiois  with  his  father.  .Moses,  in  IT'.MJ.and  pursued  farming;-.  Dur- 
ing; the  war  of  1S12.  he  distiiii;iiisiied  himseif  as  a  lanuei.  (Ii(tr<ni 
I'i.slirr  \n)ssfssft\  a  fair  education,  and  was  liy  prolession  a  ph\si- 
ciaii.  lie  reiiioNcd  from  N'iij^inia  to  Kaskaskia  in  1S(I((,  jiiid  «'ii- 
^a.i;c(l  in  nierehandiziiij;.  hut  at  this  time  he  resi<led  on  a  I'ariii.  Ilo 
Avas  all  ei  ward  in  pnhlic  life.  /'/(/////;  Tr<(iiiiii<l  was  a  man  of  dis- 
eriiniiialiii<;'  mind,  inclined  to  the  i»rofession  of  arms.  lie  wastlio 
les.vee  ol'  tiie  I'liited  Slates  saline  ill  (lallatin  county.  His  col- 
lea,i;iie,  Alciaiidtr  Wllxoii,  was  a  popular  laNcrii  kee|>er  at  Shaw- 
iieetown,  of  fair  abilities.  WiUiiun  -/aiKs  was  a  llaptist  preacher, 
};rave  in  his  deporlineiil.  and  possessed  of  moderate  aliilities.  He 
Mas  born  in  North  Carolina,  removed  to  Illinois  in  ISdii.  jmd  set- 
lied  in  the  l»attaii  prairie,  east  (»!'  .Mtoii  *  'I'liis  was  the  first 
ap|tearaiice  in  public  lit'e  of  ,/<)liii  (Irdniniar.  He  afterwards  rep- 
resented I'liion  county  fre(pieiitl\  diirinj;  a  period  of  liO  years. 
Jle  had  no  education,  yet  was  a  man  of  shrewdness.  After  his 
election,  it  is  iclated  that  to  piocuic  the  necessary  apparel  to 
ai»]teai' at   the  seal  of  {;overimu'iit,  lie   and  the  family  }4alliered   w 

*Auuul8  of  tlie  West. 


ILLINOIS   TKIMMTOUV. 


i;sr> 


lar^i'c  (iiiniitily  of"  Iiickory  iiiits,  wliicli  wcic  l;ik<'ii  to  tlic  Ohio 
siiliiK'  iiiid  ti'iult'd  lor  l)lii*'  sliniidiii^,  siicli  :is  tlic  liidiiiiis  wore  lor 
hi'cccli cloth.  Wlicii  tilt'  iici;ilil)oiiii,n'  women  iissciiihltMl  to  iii:iko 
up  tlH' .iiMi'iiM'iils,  it  WHS  I'oiiiKi  tliiit  he  liiid  not  invested  (|iiit(' 
enon;;li  nuts.  Tiie  piitlern  Wiis  nieiisnred  in  e\ery  wny  possilde, 
ImiI  wiis  iinMiist;d;;ilily  scant.  Wlierenpon  it  was  decided  to  niaUo 
a  '•holt-tailed  coat  and  a  lonj^- pair  of  ie;Li;;in.us."  Arrayed  in  tiiese, 
lie  daly  appeared  at  the  seat  o''  jitivernnient,  where  he  continued 
to  weai'  his  |)rimiti\e  suit  i(M'  the  j^i'eater  part  of  the  session. 
><ot  witlistandin.u'  his  illiteracy,  iu'  had  the  honor  of  ori;;inatin,L;'  the 
l>ra<'ti<M',  much  followed  Ity  public  men  since,  of  voting'  a.i'aii'st  all 
new  measures — it  heinn'  easier  to  coin-iliate  piihiie  opinion  for 
Iteinu'  remiss  in  votiiij;'  for  a  j^ood  measure,  than  to  sidfer  arraign- 
ment for  aidiiiji"  in  the  passa.nc  of  an  nnpopnlar  one.* 

On  the  lOlli  of  Novemher,  the  j;d\ crnoi',  by  jiroclamat ion.  or- 
<ler(dthe  members  elect  to  con\ cne,  on  theL'.")tli  instant,  at  \\;\< 
kia.  the  seat  of  ,i;<»vernment.  The  two  bodies  met  iri  a  lar^iv, 
I'oiiyh  old  l>nildin.n' of  uncut  limestoin',  with  steep  roof  and  yal)les 
of  nnpainted  boards,  situated  in  the  centre  of  a  sipiare,  whicii, 
after  the  ruin  and  abandonment  of  i''ort  Ciiartres,  had  served  tho 
J''reiich  as  the  headiuiarters  of  the  military  commandant.  The 
Jiist  thior.  i\  lai'nc  low,  cheerless  room,  was  lilted  ii]>  for  ti)e  lioiise, 
and  a  small  chamber  al>o\('  for  the  council  chamber,  'i'he  latter 
body  chose  John  Thomas  their  secretary,  and  the  former  elect  ei  I  for 
clerk  William  ('.  (ireeinip.  'i"he  two  houses  had  a  (loor-k«'eper  in 
comiiKm.     All  the  IU  nu'iuiters  boarded  with  one  family,  and  lodged, 


it  is   said,  in  one    room.      How   unlike 


jireseiit    times!       'I'lui 


members  addressed  themselves  to  the  business  iu  hand,  witliout 
delay  or  circumlocution.  Windy  speeches  or  coiiteidion  were 
unheard  of.  and  jtarlianuMitary  tacticians,  if  any  there  were,  met 
with  no  induluciice.  It  has  been  nai\('ly  remarked  that  not  ;i 
lawyer  appears  on  the  roll  of  names. 

The  assembly  ertected  a  ])eacei'ul  revolution  of  the  civil  polity 
of  the  tei'ritory.  at  a  time  when  actual  war  was  the  all-absorbin;>; 
public  (piestioii.  \',\  act  of  DectMiiber  1.'!,  ISll',  all  the  laws 
l)asse(l  by  the  Indiana  leuislatui'e,  and  in  force  .Alarch  1,  1S(M>, 
ji'encral  in  their  nature  and  not  local  t(»  Imliana,  which  stooil 
nnrepealed  by  the  u'ONcriior  and  Judges  of  Illinois,  ami  all  laws 
oriiiinally  adopted  for  Illinois  under  t lie  (irst  jn'rade  of  territorial 
};d\('i  nmeiit.  rcmaiidnj;'  nnrepealed,  were  by  them  re-eiiacte<l. 
The  idea  manifestly  was.  that  by  the  asseudHinn'  of  thele^iislatiire, 
the  territory  stood  forth  in  utter  nakedness,  divested  of  all  law 
until  reinvested  by  them.  The  enacting;' clause  of  the  territorial 
laws  was:  "Be  it  enacted  by  the  lejiislative  council  and  house  of 
representatives,  and  it  is  hereby  enacted  by  the  authority  of  the 
same."  To  the  courts  of  common  pleas  was  nixcn  the  same  Juris- 
diction previously  had  under  the  Indiana  territory.  The  u'cneial 
court,  established  at  the  seat  of  {government,  besides  beinu'  a  tiib- 
unal  of  oyer  and  terminer  for  jail  delivery  (Mi  indictments  found  by 
theji'iand  juries  of  the  common  pleas  court,  was  also  constituted 
a  court  of  oriiiinal  Jurisdiction,  of  appeals,  to  correct  errors  of 
inferior  courts,  and  to  punish  the  contemi»ts,  nejilects,  favors  or 
corruptions  of  the  Justices  of  the  peace,  clerks,  sheriil's,  e|c.,  its 
l)rocess  runninji-  to  any  c(»uiity,  to  tin-  ;;reat  inconvenience  of  the 

♦Ford's  Illinois. 


280 


HISTORY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


]i('o|>lc.  Siifli  oIImt  liiwsMsit  \v;>  ■  .'hciiiimI  tlic  coiiiitrv  it'(|iiiif(l, 
were  piisscd,  iiiiil  al'ici'  a  liricl'  scssiuii,  llic  liist  k'^isliiliiic  iid- 
Joiii'ikmI. 

Tlic  liiwsol'  till' It'iiitorv  wci'!'  nrtcrwnrd  icviscd  iiiid  di^icstcd, 
iiiidci'  llic  niitlinrily  of  tlii'  Ic.uislatiir,  l»,v  Niitlmincl  Pope,  and 
piiiilcd  ill  oil*-  xoliiiiic  l)v  .Malllicw  Ihiiiraii.  priiitci'  ol'  the  tcni- 
toiv,  wiiich  bears  tlir  date  .liiiic  1',  ISl.").  Tlicrc  arc  besides,  two 
small  \()!iiiiies,  bv  liie  same  printer,  ol'  tl  <•  session  laws  of  lSir>--l(> 
and  bSl-TlS.  Wliile  llie  laws  are  raill'i'iillv  rendered,  the  iiiecliaii- 
ical  a|iite;iraiiee  of  tliese  books,  owini;'  to  l!ie  j^real  eoarseiiess  of 
tlie  paper  and  liie  use  of  eliiiiisv  tvpe,  ill.v  conipares  willi  worU  of 
(lie  present  lime.  Maiiv  of  I  lie  laws  imported,  re\  ised  and 
adopted  b\  tiie  j^overiioi'  and  jiid,L;es.  were  \\<'li  drawn  but  liie 
j;reat  bodv  of  lliose  oii^inated  in  llie  le.uislatnre  present  mneii 
criulitv,  Itotli  ill  eoiiiposilioii  and  j;rasp  of  the  snitjeets  intended  to 
be  snbsei'\  ed.  We  will  aliiitle  to  somefealiires  of  the  territorial 
code,  iio^  hapjiilv  oi»>olete,  which  ,i;i\(',  b\  contrast  with  the  pres- 
ciil,  an  idea  to  liie  reader  of  tiu^  pro,uress  and  ainelioration 
allained  in  criminal  Jiirispriidcnec  ami  the  |innishnient  for  debt. 
Tims,  ill  the  pnnishment  of  crimes,  both  felonies  ;nid  inisdeiiican- 
(»rs,  the  barbarous  practices  of  whijipiiiu  on  thebaic  bacU.  coii- 
tinenienl  in  stocks,  staiidiiijL;' in  the  pillorv,  and  brandiii,^'  with  hob 
irons,  were  the  penalties  iVeipiciilly  prescribed;  besides  lines', 
inipi'isonijicnt.  and  loss  oi'  citi/,enslii|».  'i'hese  snininar\  modes  ()t" 
chastisement  .yrew,  in  l»art,  out  of  the  condition  of  the  country. 
It  was  but  sparsely  settled,  the  peo|)le  were  poor,  they  had  no  gen- 
eral prison  or  p<'niteiitiary.  and  the  few  .jails  were  so  inseeiire  as  to 
])rcseiit  scarcely  any  bairier  to  the  escape  of  i»risoners,  W'hip- 
j>in.u-  upon  the  bare  back,  besides  other  ininishineiits  at  the  option 
of  the  court,  was  |)rescribed  in  bnrjilary  or  robbery.  ."!!>  stripes; 
in  perjury,  larceny,  the  receiving'  of  stolen  ^iooils,  and  obtaiiiiiij;' 
ptods  by  fraiidnleiit  pretenses,  .'U  stripes;  liorse-stealin^',  tirst 
offence,  from  .")(►  to  lUO  lashes;  lioj;-slealin<;',  from  2.">  to  ."i!!  lashes  ; 
alterin,!^' and  del'acin,u' marks  or  brands  on.  doinestie  animals  at 
lar.Lic.  10  lashes  ••well  laid  (Ui;"  bigamy.  i)iinislied  with  from  l(K> 
to  .JOO  .striites  :  forsodomy,  from  lot)  to. "idO  lashes  were  prescribed; 
l«)rcibly  takin;^'  away  a  female  to  marry  aiiainst  her  consent,  was 
declared  a  felony  and  nii^uht  be  punished  by  whippinu:  chihlreii 
or  ser\  ants  for  disobedience^  mi^lit,  \\\h>\\  complaint  and  coii\  iciioii 
before  a  justice,  be  whipped  mtt  exccediiiji'  Ktstripes.  In  all  these 
olVeiices  tiicn^  were  other  penalties  provided,  allernatively  oraddi- 
tionally,  at  the  option  of  the  conri — such  as  lines,  impriscmmeiit, 
restitnlion.  etc.  I'ines  were  collected  fi'om  tli(»se  unable  to  pay, 
by  the  sheriff  hiriiij^  or  selliii;;'  them  to  any  one  who  would  pay  the 
line  or  costs,  ibr  such  terms  as  the  court  mi^lit  deem  reas<Miabl<', 
and  if  the  <lelin(pient  should  abscond,  the  penally  was  iloiible  the 
term  of  ser\itnde  and  .'!!>  stii[»es.  kStandinj;'  in  ]»illory  was  |>re- 
scribed,  in  addition  to  other  ]»enaItio.s,  in  perjury,  forjicry,  and  tlio 
altcrinji'  or  defacing'  of  brands  or  marks  on  domestic  animals.  For 
this  last  olfcncc,  on  second  conviction,  tin' culprit  was  to  \\,\\\'  the 
letter T  branded  in  the  h^ft  hand  with  a  red  hot  iron.  To  incvent 
the  cominon  ciime  of  killiiij;- stock  runiiinj;'  on  the  lanji'e,  every  one, 
inclndiiiii' the  owners,  wasrc(|uired  to  exhibit  the  eai's  of  liojis,  or 
hides  of  cattle,  killed,  to  a  ina,nistrate  or  two  freeholders  williiii 
three  <lays,  under  u  [lenalty  of  '10.     I'or  aiding-  the  escape  of  a 


ILLINOIS   TKRUITOUY. 


2S7 


convict,  the.  ]niiii.sliiiiciit  was  the  saiiu!  as  tliat  (il'tlic  ciilpiit,  cx- 
ct'pt  in  <'ai»i<iil  cases,  when  stiijx's,  staiidiii};  in  ])ill()r,v,  or  sittiiiy 
on  tlio  ji'allows  \vitli  tlic  rope  iidjiistcd  iitxtiit  tliciicck.al  the  option 
oftiie  coiiit,  was  tlie  j»en;iltv.  llesjdes  in  treiison  iind  nnirdei', 
tlic.  ])enalty  ol"  deiitii  by  liaiif-iiij^'  was  denonnced  aj^ainst  arson 
an<l  rape,  and  liorse-stealinm'  on  sec(»nd  con\  iction.  I'or  sellinj;' 
intoxiciitiiiy  li(piors  to  Indiiins,  slaves,  jipprenlices  :iiid  minors, 
se\cre  )ien;dlies  were  enacted.  l''oi'  reveliiij;'.  (|Uarr(lin,y'.  liuiitin;^', 
l»ror;in^i.v  cursiiij:'.  disoi'derly  heliavior  at  di\ine  worsiiip,  and 
linntinj;-  on  the  S:d»l)atii,  peniilties  hy  lines  wci'e  ]Mescrihed.  ( 'ock- 
lij^iilin;;,  iiorse-racin^'  on  tlie  lii,t;liwiiys,  ;;ainltliii;^',  iieepin;^'  M.  (). 
tilhles,  sendinji'  ciiallen^c  to  li^iil  or  i>o.\  at  lislienl't's.  lotteries,  elc., 
were  pnnished  hy  lines.  In  I.SIO,  a  l;iw  was  adopted  to  snppress" 
dnelin.!;',  which  made  the  fatal  resnit  ol"  a  <lnel  mnrder,  inchidinj'- 
the  aiders,  abettors  or  connselors  as  principals   in  the  crime. 

In  regard  to  the  collection  of  debis,  the  principles  of  the  com- 
mon law  obtained,  which  wholly  favore«|  the  creditor.  Allthepro- 
l»ei'ty  of  the  jndjicment  debtor,  b(»th  real  and  personal  withoni  any 
of  the  jtresent  humane  featnres  as  to  exemption,  mij^hl  be  levied 
iil>on  and  sold  under  e.xecntion.  The  sale  was  absolute — no  time 
of  rc(lem]»tion,  as  at  present,  was  allowed  in  the  case  of  I'ealty. 
If  the  land  failed  to  sell  for  want  of  ltid<lers,  it  was  the  judiiinent 
creditor's  rij;ht,al  his  o]»tion,  ti>take  it  al>soluiely  at  the  appraised 
Aalne  made  by  lU  jurors.  I5ut  this  was  n(»t  idl.  If  the  property 
was  insudicicnt  to  ])ay  the  jud.unient.  the  Itody  of  the  debtoi'mi^ht 
be  seized  and  cast  into  prison.  Here  he  won  hi  l)e  allowe<l  the  prison 
bounds,  extending'  LM'O  yards  from  the  Jail  in  an,\  direction,  on  con- 
dition oidy  of  ;;ivin,!4'  bonds  in  double  the  sum  of  the  del»t,  not 
to  depart  thci'efrom. 

The  territoi'ial  revenue  was  raised  by  a  tax  u|>on  lands.  Those 
situated  in  the  river  bottoms  of  the  ."Mississippi.  ( )hio  and  tho 
"NVabash  were  taxed  at  the  rate  of  !?1  on  every  1(M>  acres.  Tlio 
njdands  w<-re  class<'d  as  second  rate,  and  were  taxed  at  the  I'ate 
ol"  T")  cents  ]>er  tOOacics,  rnlocaled,  but  conlirnu'd  land  claims, 
were  taxed  at  the  rate  of  .'JTi  cents  per  I(i(»  acres.  The  county 
revenue  was  raised  chiefly  by  a  tax  ni)on  personal  property,  in- 
cluding' slaves  or  indeidured  servants  between  the  aji'cs  of  1(»  and 
40,  not  to  exceed  $1  each,  'i'he  only  I'eal  property  taxed  was  lots 
and  houses  in  towns,  an<l  mansion  houses  in  the  coinitry,  worth 
$L'(I(>  ami  npwanls.  There  was  levied  also  a  capitation  tax  of  si 
on  every  able-bodied  sinjiie  nuin.  ha\in,u'  attained  his  majority 
and  ownini;' .*2(l(>  woi'th  of  taxable  property.  This  on^^ht  to  hav<5 
induced  marriaj^e.  Two  men  were  appointed  to  apjtraise  the  prop- 
erty re(piii'ed  to  be  assessed.  .Merchants  and  ferries  were  licensed 
at  $1.1  and  ><1(>  res|)ectively.  Horses  and  cattle  were  taxed  by 
th(^  head,  not  exeeedinj^oO  and  10  cents,  respectively — not  accord- 
h\<x  to  value,  as  at  ]»i'esent. 

The  entire  territorial  revenue,  between  the  1st  of  Novendu'r, 
1811,  ami  the  .Stii  of  Xovember,  IHM  (■"!  years),  was  reixtrted  by 
the  legislative  connrnttee  on  linance.  in  ISl  1,  t,o  be  8  K'^^T.")  i.li. 
But  ot"  this  aiiM)unt,  only  )i<-.r)l(>  S!>  had  actually  been  paid  into  the 
treasury;  the  l)alance — nearly  hall" — 8-.  •"{"■'^  17  remained  in  the 
hands  of  delinquent  sheriffs.  The  delinciueiicies  of  sherilfs,  in 
their  capacity  us  collectors  of  the  revenues,  remained  a  curse  to 


2SS  msToiiY  oi'  ir-i,iNors. 


Illinois   not  only   •Inrin}''  its   territoriiil  existence,  hut   for   many 
years  aft<'r  it  became  a  State. 

Ill  IS]  \  tile  le.uislatiire  attciiipled  to  reoi'^anize  tlie  Judiciary  by 
estalilisiiiii;:;-  ilie  siipiciiie  court  of  tlic  tci'iiloiv.  'i'iie  I'liitcd  States 
jiid^Lics  for  tlie  territory  were  assif;iied  to  circuit  diity,eacii  iiaxiii";' 
a  ciicuit  composed  of  two  counties  in  cacli  of  widcii  two  terms  of 
c(  Ml  it  were  to  be  lield  iiiiuialiy.  Tlie  c(»iirts  possessed  common 
law  and  cliaiicery  Jiiri.s  i  lion,  and  suits  were  t()  be  tried  in  tlio 
coiiiities  ill  wliicli  iliey  originated.  Once  a  year  the  .iiid;4('s  weio 
to  coincne  in  banc  at  tlic  scat  of  ji'overmneiit,  to  bear  appeals  and 
revise  erroneous  decisions  IVoiii  the  conrls  lielow.  'i'iiis  arraiiji'c- 
ineiit  was  well  calculated  to  j;i\t'  to  tiie  people  in  tlicir 
counties  a  more  tlMa'onjih  administration  of  the  laws  than  the 
<'oiiits  of  coinmon  pleas  altbrded  ;  liiit  tlic  idea  of  circuit  <liity  was 
manifestly  distasteful  to  (lie  jiid^^cs.  In  the  le,i;islatiire  much 
iliseiission  arose  as  t«)  its  jiower  to  jirescrihe  tin-  duties  (»f  tins 
ai»pointees  of  the  jieiieral,i;<»veriimeiit.  The  Judges  were  re(pieste(l 
to  .uive  a  written  opinion  upon  the  merits  and  leualilyof  the  pro- 
])(»-ed  act.  These  liciitiemeii — Spri,uj.':s  and  Thomas,  (Iriswold 
beinj;'  absent — wanted  no  lietter  opportunity  to  assail  it.  which 
they  did  in  a  very  emphatic  inanner,  arj-nin;;-  at  lenjith  the  inva- 
lidity of  the  act;  that  "the  court  estal)lislie(l  by  the  ordinance  (»f 
17S7  cannot  be  subjected  to  the  re\  isioii  or  control  of  any  tribunal 
established  by  the  Teriitorial  Lej;islature;  and  that  an  appeal  from 
tli<'  same  court  to  the  same  was  a  solieisin.*'  The  jidvernor,  at  the 
instance  of  tlie  le.uisiature.  in  his  iiies.saj;'e  ajiproxin^'  the  bill,  took 
up  the  ((iiestioii.  «'laboiatel\  argued  the  power  oi'  the  le;^is!atnre  in 
the  premises,  and  aitpareiitly  demolished  the  position  of  the  Jnd;;es. 
The  bill  without  liiially  becomin<;'  a  law  was  by  the  lej^islature  re- 
ferred tocon;:re>  oj^'ethei' w  ith  the  oltjectioiis  of  the  Jit(lj;<'s  and 
thereply  of  the  ^o\  i  iiior,  with  an  addi'css  'M'e(jiie.stin>;'  lhe])assaj;'eol;' 
a  law  declarin;^' the  aforesaid  act  valid,  or  to  pass  some  law  moro 
explanatory  of  the  relative  duties  andpowcrsof  the  .jiidii'esalbresaid 
and  of  this  lej;islature."  Coniiress,  i>y  act  of  .March  .'»,  ISlo, 
juissed  "an  act  re^iilatiiiii-  and  detiniiiii'  the  duties  of  the  I'niled 
States  judin'cs  for  the  Territory  of  Illinois,"'  which  substantially 
embodied  the  ]>ro\isioiis  rc(piired  by  iiie  lc,i;isiature.  The  Jiid.nes 
Mere  reipiired  to  do  circuit  duties  and  reside  in  their  I'cspectivo 
circMiits,  and  to  inctit  in  banc  twice  a  year  at  the  seat  of  ^'overn- 
inent.  as  a.  court  of  appeals.  They  were  also  .subjected  to  tho 
re;iulations  of  the  lejiislatiire  as  t(»  the  times  of  holding'  their 
terms.     The  <i<>\'eriior  appointed  tlie  clei'Us 

In  the  meantime  by  a  suplemental  act  the  le}.;islature  attlie  same 
sessi(»n  had  abolished  the  ^t'ceral  coui't,  whose  jiiri.  fiction  was  to 
be  siipeiseded  by  the  supreme cornt ;  and  by  another  act  thecourt 
of  common  pleas  was  abolished,  and  coun'.y  courts  (the  jjerin  of 
our  i>resenr  county  system)  which  had  no  Juiis<liction  tor  the  trial 
of  ordinary  cases,  substituted.  Tntil  coni^ress  therelbr<'  acted, 
a  ]»eri'»d  of  some  two  months  and  a  half,  Jllinois  pi<'s<'iited  tho 
anomalous  condition  of  beiii^-  without  a  judicial  tribunal  liij;iier 
than  that  of  a  justice's  court,  whose  civil  jurisdiction,  by  another 
act  of  the  same  session,  was  enlarjicd  to  >)2(>  in  debt.  Sitting-  as 
an  examining  tiibunal,  to  what  court  could  a  justice  of  the  peace 
Lave  validly  bound  over  a  culjirit  duiinj;'  this  period  of  partial 
judicial  vacuum?  However,  we  have  liothing  showing'  to  the  cou- 


ILTilNOIS   TKTIUITOUY. 


2.S!) 


trary,  but  that  tlic  i)('0])lf'  got  aloiifj.jnst  as  well  aslu'lnic  and  after. 
By  a<'t  of  ,laii.  !(,  ISKl,  (he  diilics  of  tlic  JimI^cs  of  tlic  court  of 
appeals  \vei-e  more  clearly  iletiiied,  and  a  law  rclaliii.i;'  lo  this  court 
was  amended  in  IS17  and  the  ciicnits  reor^ani/ed ;  next  l)y  an  act 
of  .Inne  I'J,  ISI,',,  a  radical  change  was  made.  There  lieini;  somo 
ol»senrity  in  llw  connty  conrt  ael  passed  in  \x\l,  its  dnties  were 
more  clearly  delined  hy  a  snpplenn-nlal  act  of  the  same  session. 
The  civil  jurisdiction  of  the  Jnsticte's  eonrl  was  in  IS17  extended  to 
$40. 

'I'hns  it  will  l>e  ohsei'vcd  that  at  a  very  eaily  jjcriod  the  Lejii.s- 
latnre  of  Illinois  fell  into  the  habit,  winch  itecann-  elironie.  of 
<'han,uiii<i'  and  reor.yaiuy.iii,i!,'  the  conrtsand  niodil'yin,i;' their  jurisdic- 
tion at  almost  every  session,  down  to  ')>■■.■  adojttion  of  the  constitu- 
tion of  JStS.  Since  then  this  species  of  legislation  seems  ti>  have 
<'xpended  itself  in  the  •VeipuMit  chan^'cs  of  the  terms  of  (MMirt  in 
the  various  cintnits.  Next  to  chan,i;inj;'  and  sidftin;^  the  well 
•settled  principles  of  the  law  in  its  relation  to  the  rights  of  i)roperty 
and  tlu'  midtifarioiis  tiansactions  of  Itusiiu-ss,  notliin;;'  is  so  ]ivr- 
incious  as  the  varying-  of  the  means  and  nnxlcs  of  ohtainin.ij: 
redress  in  oui-  coui'ts.     IJotli  onyht  to  be  ])erirninent. 

Dnrinji' the  territoi'ial  existence  ot'  Illinois  tiiree  u'cneral  assem- 
blies were  elected  by  the  people — the  conncil  lioldili.ii'  over  the 
.second  term.  In  bS!4  Col.  I5enjamin  Stephenson,  father  of  tlu^ 
late  jiiillant  .hnnes  W.  SteiduMison,  of  (ielena.  was  elected  delegate 
to  congress,  and  in  ISK;  Nathaniel  Pope,  who  took  his  seat  in 
i'onjiress  l)ecend)er  1.S17.  The  Icj^islalure  met  eveiy  year  at  Ivas- 
kaskia,but  the  sessions  w«'re  short.  New(!onnties  were  establislu'd 
from  time  to  tinu';  in  bsir>.  the  tii-st  formed  by  the  lejiislature, 
was  named  Kdwarils,  in  honor  oi'  the  ji'oNciiior.  In  bSl."),  White 
(MMinty  was  or^ainzed.  muned  in  honor  of  (Japt.  Isaac.  White,  who 
fell  at  Tippe<*anoe;  in  iSKi,  Moni'oe,  Crawford,  .lackson,  and 
i'ope,  tin'  lattei'  in  honor  of  the  newly  elected  delei;ate  to  eonuress; 
in  ISK;,  ISond.  in  honor  of  Shadiack  IJond,  first  (ioverin)i' of  the, 
State  afterward ;  and  in  l.SbS,  L'nion,  Fianklin,  and  Washington 
connfie.s  were  organized. 

A\'e  subjoin  a  few  specinuMis  of  cnrions  leuislation  (birinj''  teri'i- 
torial  times.  It  will  be  ol)ser\('d  that  the  S«oloiis  of  that  jteriod 
thundered  considerably  in  the  preandde.  By  a  law  of  JSoptendx'r 
17,  1S()!>,  to  rej;idate  the  elections,  all  comni- -^sioneil  odicers,  either 
fedei'al  or  teiritorial,  except  Justices  of  the  peace  and  nnlitia. 
ollicrers,  were  made  ineli;^ibU^  to  a.  scat  in  eitliei' branch  of  the 
jieneral  assembly.  The  oliject  (d'this  law  is  not  set  clear,  unless  it 
was  to  avoid  a  monopoly  of  oflicial  di^idty  and  imjHirtance;  but 
sm-li  pi'oscriptiou  could  m)t  be  liiooked,  and  aceordinjily  it  fell  i»y 
act  of  J)e(!einbor  14,  1SI4,  the  preand)leof  which,  ('(Uisistiuj;'  of  li 
Avhex'eaHcs,  i.s  as  lm<>'e  a  specimen  of  "gaseous  buncond)  to  conceal  a 
trn«'  intent,  ami  nnike  it  appear  that  the  law  of  lS(»!t  was  immensely 
oppi-essive  to  the  ptoiile,  as  can  be  reclaimed  from  theeaily  annals 
of  i>(»litieal  denia;j;()guery  in  Illinois: 

"  WiiKKKAS,  Tiie  free  people  of  this  Territory  areaseompetentii.s  their 
pul)lic  serviuits  to  decide  on  whom  it  is  tiieir  interest  to  elect  to  re|)reseiit 
them  ia  the  f^eneral  a  send)Iy;  and  are  too  euli,!j;iitened  and  inch'pendent 
to  reeoffiiizetiie  odious  andaristoeratieal  doctrine  that  they  are  tiieir  own 
worst  enenues,  or  to  admit  tliat  it  is  tlie  duty  of  tiieir  re^jresentatives  to' 
save  the  people  from  themselves;  and 

ly 


290  IIISTOllY  OF  ILI.INOia. 

"WiiKiiKAH,  TliiH  lof^iHlature,  lu'lii^r  foinposed  of  tho  sorvaiits,  not  the 
nmstei's  ol  llif  pi'opk',  caniiol  witlioiit  iiii  arliitrary  a.ssiiiii|itioM  of  pusvor 
iiii|)(is<>  rcstriftioiis  iipoii  tlic  latU'ras  to  tlii' clioico  of  tlii'ir  ri'ini'.sciila- 
tivi's,  wliicli  aiv  iiol  warrantcti  Uy  tlif  cxju'i'ss  words  or  lu-ci'ss^ary 
iinplicatioiis  of  the  onliiiaiico  from  wliicli  tlu;  Ifgisluturi'  dciivts  its 
j)o\vt'rs :  ami 

'■\Viif:hi:\s,  'I'ln' duties  of  tlu"  Judges  of  1 1 H' county  court  cstalilisiu'd 
by  law  arc  sucii  as  liavc  iicrt'tol'orc  been  [HTforiiicd  in  liic  tciTitoi'y  liy 
justices  of  tiic  peace,  l>y  wlioni  liiey  are  also  usually  pi'rfornu'd  in  many 
of  the  States,  and  tlici'e  heiiijj;  notliinir  in  the  ordinance,  nor  any  reason 
to  exchide  from  a  scat  in  the  Icjiislalurc  those  jud^i's  of  tlie  county,  or 
surveyors,  or  prosecuting  allorncys,  that  do  not  apply  with  i-qual  Ibrco 
to  niilitai'y  otlicers  and  Justices  of  the  peace,  and  tlic  dutii'.s  of  llu'  foi mer 
heinj;  no  more  incompatahle  with  u  scat  in  the  Icfiislalu.'c  than  those 
of  the  latter,  tlu'rel'ore,"  itc.  By  one  short  section  of  two  or  three  lines, 
laws  inccmsistcut  with  tlu'  uhove  sentiments  were  abolished, 

Aijoliu'i'  spcciiiM'ii,  wiio.sc  object  is  disclosed  iiitiie  preaiuble,  .ve 
caiiimt  lorbear  to  f;ive  : 

"  WiiKUKAS,  Voters  have  hitherto  been  obliged  to  vote  by  ballot,  and 
the  ignorant  as  wel'  as  those  in  ombarassed  circumstances  arc  thereby 
subject  to  lie  impost'd  upon  by  electioiu'crin^zi-alots;  and 

"\Viii:ukas,  It  isconsistenl  withthe  spiritof  representative  republican 
government,  since  the  opening  for  bribery  is  so  muuifest  which  shouhj 
ever  be  suppressed  in  such  a  governnrent,  for  renu'dy  whcri'of,'' &c., 
when  follow  tho  sections  abolishing  the  ballot.  These  reasons  would 
hardly  be-  tenable  at  thei>resent  time,  and  were  doubtless  false  then. 

"i'.y  iiii  act  of  DeecMiber  24,  1814,  "To  prouiote  retaliation  upon 
hostile  Indians,"  we  liiul  evidenct's  ol"  llie  extiemc^  uu'asufes  of 
delcnce  to  wliicli  the  piiuieeis  had  toresoit.  Tins  may  be  diniciill. 
lor  us  at  tills  liuu',  witli  a  popiilaliou  e.vceediii};  li,."i()(>,(Hl(l,  and  the 
linliaiis  many  limidiccls  of  inih's  away,  to  a[)pi'e('iate.  The  \nv 
amble  icrers  to  tliu  ••liostih'  iiiciii'sioiis  of  savages,  tiieif  indiseiim- 
iiiate  siaujiiilei'  of  incii,  women  and  eliildreii.  Iv\p«'iieuee  sliows 
tiiat  noliiiiiji  so  iiuicli  lends  to  elieclv  those  bloodthirsty  moiistefs 
as  ietalialioii."aiid  "to  eiieoitra<;'e  the  bravery  and  enterprises  ol' 
our  leilow  cilizeiis  and  other  peiscms  hereat'ter  t'iij;agrd  in  iVoutier 
deleiiees,"  it  is  eiiaeled  :  I.  Tliat  when  in  such  ineiirsions  into 
the  setth-meiits,  the  eoininission  of  murder  or  other  depredations 
by  Indians,  citizens,  ianj;ers,  of  otlier  persons  who  shall  make 
l)risoiiei's  of,  or  kill  such  Indians,  shall  receive  a  reward  lor  each 
Indian  taken  or  killed,  ol  fjSoO  -if  done  by  ranji'ers  or  others 
enlisted  in  the  deleiice  of  the  eonntry,  $i;.">  only.  '2.  That  any 
jtersoii,  haviuji' obtained  ])erinission  Ircuii  a  eommandinj;' ollicer  on 
the  frontier  to  i^o  into  the  territory  of  hostile  Indians,  who  shall 
kill  a  warrior,  (»r  take  prisoner  a  scpi.iw  or  child,  is  entitled  to  a 
reward  of  $Uld  for  each  warrior  killed,  or  s(piaw  or  child  taken 
l)risoiier.  'A.  That  any  i)aily  of  ranj;ers,  not  e\<'eediii<i'  lo,  who 
on  leave  j>ranted  make  incursions  into  the  country  of  hostile 
Indians,  shall  receive  a  reward  of  $">()  tor  each  warrior  killed,  or 
s(jiiaw  or  child  taken  prisoner. 

In  ISU!  a  relalialmy  act  was  passed  to  prevent  attorneys  at  law 
from  Indiana  i>raeticin}>'  in  any  of  the  (;onrts  of  Illinois,  for  the 
I'eason  stated  in  the  preamble,  "Whereas,  by  a  law  now  in  force  in 
the  Slate  of  Indiana,  persons  who  do  not  resid(>  therein  are  not 
peiinitted  to  practice  in  the  courts  of  the  said  State;  and  wlu'reas, 
that  fesliicti<Mi  is  illiberal,  unjust, and  contrary  to  those  principles 
^)f  libeialily  and  reciprocity  by  which  each  and  every  State  or 
territory  should  be  governed,  therefore,"  &c.     The  young  Jloosier 


ILLINOIS    TEKHITORY. 


2ni 


Sliilc  nii^lit  not  to  liiivc  ]nit  j>n  such  cxnltcd  nil's;  but.  pcrliiips, 
she  \v;is  rii^lit  iiltcr  mII.  ;is  \\c  liiid  tliiil  Ity  net  of  .Iiiiiiniry  *.K  ISIS, 
Illinois  ntVci'cd  tiic  lollowinj;'  prcniinnis  \\>v  sKstiiiiirtl  indict- 
nii-nls.  In  section  I.  lixiiii;  tlic  snliii'v  of  |>rost'»MitinL;' iitloincys  iit 
.*!(»(►,  it  is  pi-o\  iilfd  tinit  in  nddilion  to  liis  siiini'v  in-  sjnill  rcccivo 
"in  cncli  and  every  case  ol"  felony  where  his  indielnn'nf  is  sus- 
tained the  snni  of  !*!.">;"  and  lor  other  '•  present  nn'iitH  in  eases  less 
than  felony,  "if  the  indictnu-nt  was  snstained."  he  was  to  reeeivn 
a  pertpiisite  of  iit.*).  Hut  the  most  unacconntahle  featnr'  ot'  tiiis 
law  icinains  to  he  told.  In  section  (»  it  was  provided  that  if  tho 
indictment  was  snstainecl,  not willistandiii.ii'  the  accnsed  shoidd  ho 
acfpntted  I>y  the  traverse  Jury,  the  fee  of  the  prosecntin.i;'  atlorin-y 
was  to  be  paid  l>y  the  i)rosecntini;'  witness.  What  person,  thonj^h 
never  so  i^ood  a  citi/eii.  in  \  iew  <il  the  <piirUs  of  the  law,  the  tinessci 
and  the  ability  of  counsel,  iind  the  notoiions  uncertainty  of  how 
any  Jury  will  (lecide.  would,  with  the  prospect  of  haviiiji  siu'h  fee  to 
pay,  care  to  enma^c  in  an  attempt  to  biinj;  an  otfendei-  to  Justice. 
A  singular  pro\isi(Hi  was  contained  in  an  act  of  Dec.  2L',  iSl  t, 
which  did  away  with  prosecution  by  au  atloriu'y,  in  cases  of  tivason, 
nuirdei-,  in-  (»liier  fehtiiy. 

I>y  ::n  act  of  1/ec.  .'H,  1S17,  the  territory  of  Illinois  was  in  a 
manner  turned  oxer  to  and  parceled  on!  between  the  medical 
<l<)ctors.  It  was  divided  into  the  east  and  west  districts,  the  head 
<piarters  of  the  doctors  beinsi'  located  at  Carnd  ami  Kasksakia, 
respectively.  The  incorporators  c(»mprised  about  all  the  doclor.s 
in  the  t»'rritory,  and  they  pritjtosed  and  were  empowered  to  hold 
these  extensive  fiehls  of  piaclice  foi'  their  exclnsixc  use  ami  benelit, 
unless  every  new  c(»mei',  i»roposiini-  to  practice  the  healinj;  ait, 
should  fir  t  lie  e.xamined  by  their  board  and  procure  fioui  them  per- 
mission to  do  so.  for  the  sum  of  810,  failing-  to  do  which,  he  was 
disipialilied  from  colh'ctin,i>"  his  fees  in  any  court  or  before  any 
imij'istrale.  The  act  was  repealed  by  the  lirsl  leji'islatiire  under 
the  .'■tale  ^■overnment. 

Willi  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  the  cessation  of  Tiidiaii 
hostilities,  the  tide  of  emijiiation  sef^  into  Illinois  with  a  xoliimo 
unequale<l  and  slreniith  unabated.  T(»  this  prosperity  contributed, 
in  no  small  device,  t lie  act  of c(minress  passed  in  ISl.".,  i^rantinj.^' tlio 
ri;4'lit  of  i»i('-emptioii  to  settle  u]»on  the  public  (hmiaiu.  This  was  the 
first  yreal  lexer  to  imtve  Illinois  forward  in  the  path  of  em|»ire.  I'rior 
to  this,  emiiirants  in  four  cases  out  of  five  "sipiatted"  on  the 
l»ublic  lands,  without  rij;ht  oi  title  to  what  they  were  improviiifjf 
by  their  labor,  and  with  the  evei'  harrassiufi  doubt  that  some 
siteculator  mi^lit  s]»y  out  and  buy  their  homes  beibre  theyconlddo  it 
themselves.  Small  and  inferior  improvements  were  of  course  the 
result,  and  jirosperity  la;iji'ed.  To  stimulate  a  man  to  industry 
and  enterprise,  let  him  be  assured  that  his  labor  is  md  misapplied 
and  his  title  is  indisputable.  Sliadrach  l)Oud,  our  dele;u;alt'  in 
t'onjiiess  at  the  time,  contributed  Iar,i>-ely  by  his  iiiHueuee  i»  pro- 
curinij;'  tln^  passaj>e  of  the  act  of  pre-emption. 

Prior  to  the  close  of  the  war  of  1S12,  money  was  \'ery  scarce  in 
the  west.  The  ])elts  of  the  {\i'i'r,  raccoon,  «S:c.,  for  which  there  was 
a  ready  market,  were  to  a  certain  extent  a  standard  of  exchan<>e, 
and  su|)]>lie(l  ill  a  manner  the  eirculal in <>' medium.  This  condiliou 
of  the  country  wasjirealiy  improved  by  the  money  distiibuted  in 
the  payment  of  the  rangers  mid  militia  for  their  ser\  iee.s  during 


ilM 


1 , 1-! 


m 


mm 


292 


TIISr(»i:\    <il'  ILLINOIS. 


tlic  will',  iiiifl  \>y  tlM>  iiirrciiscd  iiuiiii^^iiilioii  at'l'-i'  iLs clttsc.  l'M'.si(|«-s, 
tli<'  li'i'i'ildi'iiil  li';;i.sl;itiii'<',  t'liiiiliitiii;^'  tlic  liiiiiiichil  iispinil ions  of 
Oliin  :intl  Kt-ii  lucky,  wliicli  liad  t'acii  aiillioii/i-d  <  iiiiiiiIm  r  ol'  ban  Us, 
iiinii'|i(M'al*-(l  at  its  session  of  iSiii,  ihc  ItaiiU  oi  illiiii)is,  located  at 
Siiawiieetowii,  and  at  the  siieeeedin;;  session,  tiie  hanks  ol" 
lOdwardsv  ilie  and  Kaskaskia.  I'liey  were  l>anks  ol'  issue.  And 
the  le;iislatiire,  not  satislied  witli  tiiis,  vciv  nnjnstiv  lent  its  aid  in 
t'oicin^  Ihe  issne  of  these  hanks  iipoii  the  |ieo|ih':  Hot  onl,V  tliese, 
IhiI  tlie  issues  of  tiie  hanks  of  Oiiio.  Keiilnckv, 'r«'iinessee  and 
Missouri,  1»\  tiie  ena<'linent  of  laws  postiioninj;'  the  ettneclioii  of 
(h'iits  unless  tiie  creditor  Would  recei\  e  I  lie  notes  of  these,  liaiiks, 
were  thus  likewise  forced  upon  ihe  people.  l>olh  he«'aiiie  hanks 
of  deposit  for  the  I'liited  States  funds,  aiisiii;;  froiii  the  sali's  of 
inihlic  lands,  wliicli  tliev  used  as  their  own.  The  j;overiinieiit  hi.st 
1>.V  tlie  Mtlwardsviile  Itaiik,  .*,"il,(MI(l,  foi  which  iiid;;ineiit  was 
ohtaiiied,  hut  ne\«'r  collected  ;  the  Shawiieetown  hank  e\  i-iitnally 
accoiinled  lo  the  ;;()v«'rniiient    in  full. 

Tills  made  iiuuiey,  such  as  it  was,  ahiiiidaiit,  times  Hush,  and 
rendered  a  spirit  of  speculalion  rife,  which  was  apparcnlly  a 
desirahle  state  of  atVairs,  if  it  had  heeii  all.  The  circulation  of 
hank  notes  aiuoii^'  a  [leopU^  lar;;('ly  i;;iioraiit  and  unused  to  them, 
atl'orded  to  the  \  i  ioiis  a  rareopportiinity  to  set  atloat  <iiiantities  of 
counterfeit  money.  'I'liis  evil  hecaiiie  so  j;reat  that,  to  restrain  it, 
many  of  the  hest  citi/eiis  ot'  St.  Clair  county— did  what  no  ;;ood 
citizen  should  ever  do — or;;aniy.ed  tliemselves  iiito"l'ejLiiilatiiiji'  com- 
]iaiiies,"  as  they  desijiiiated  themselves,  to  visit  swilt  ,iiidjiiiieiit, 
and  condign  piiuisliineiit  in  the  foriini  of  .lud;.^e  l>yi>  ii,  upon  sucli 
offtMulers  as  were  to  their  secret  cahal  proxcii  ;;uilty.  A  l>r.  Kstes, 
of  Melleville,  was  chosen  as  their  captain.  Many  makers  or 
ntterers  of  the  hase  currency,  and  for  other  crimes,  fell  under  their 
hail  and  were  punished.  It  created  fiicat  excitt'iueiil  in  llie  comitry. 
IMililic  opinion  soon  withdrew  its  countenance  and  condemned  the 
order.     Altera  few  nioiitlis  time  its  orj;aiii/atioii  ceased  to   exist. 

The  visionary  schemes  of  hanking'  operations  diiriii<i'  territorial 
times  culiiiiiiate<l  in  llie  ('air(>('ily  charier,  granted  at  tlii'  session 
of  ISIT-IS.  The  low  toi:;.iiie  of  land  hetweeiitlu'  Ohio  and  Mis- 
sissippi rivers  at  their  coutiiieiicc,  was  at  a  very  early  period  re- 
pirded  as  the  l»est  position  in  the  west  for  a  ^reat  and  important 
city,  *•'  as  it  resjjccts  commercial  :'dvaiita;i«'s  and  local  sup|(ly,"  as 
the  preaiiihle  had  it.  Such  a  city,  it  was  arj;iied.  must  heconie  of 
vast  coiisetpieiice  to  the  jirosperity  of  t,  n  territory.  IWit  this  low 
jioint  of  land  was  fre(pieiitl_\  iiiiiiidated  •.  \n  answer  to  which  it 
was  further  argued,  that  as  the  ordinary  iiiiindatiims  oi'  the 
two  yrcat  riv<'rs  rarely  happened  simultaneously,  an  emhankmeiit 
mijilit  lie  constructed  to  effectually  ohviate  the  injurious  coiise- 
qneiicesof  floods.  Tlie  propriet<irs  and  incorporators  of  the  city 
and  liaiik  of  Cairo  were  .loliii  (i.  Comyges,  Thomas  11.  Harris, 
Charles  Slade  (afterwards  nieinher  of  Congress),  Shadracli  Moiuk 
(afterwards  (iovernor),  ^licliael  .loiies,  Warren  IWow  n,  Mdward 
Jliimphries,  and  Charles  \V.  Iliinler.  Tliese  j^cnth'ineii  proposed 
the  follow  iii;^  self-execntiii<>"  scheme  to  build  ill)  a  Iar<>(^  city  there, 
]ionr  wealth  into  their  cotters,  and  at  the  same  time  render  tliem- 
selves public  heiiefaetors.  The  basis  or  capital  of  the  hankinji,'  in- 
stitution was  lillOO  (!airo  city  lots,  (>(>  by  ILM)  feet,  valiu'tl  and  lim- 
ited at  $1.")0  ea(!li.  The  streets  were  to  he  SO  feet  iu  width.  As  fast 


ILLINOIS  TF.UIMTOHV.  203 

as  tlic  lots  \vcr«'  sold  !^."»(hi|'llit'  piod'cds  ol'riicli  wjis  to  hv  dcvntctl 
to  IIh'  coiistnii'lion  of  :i  Icxt't'  to  scctirc  tlicin  ii^Miiist  tlic  llooils, 
SI  I  id  to  I  lie  iiii|)roM'iii<-iit  of  |  lir  i-it  \  l),\  tlif  liiiildiii.u  o|'  |iiil)lir  I'di- 
tiers.    'I'lic  rrsidllf  -Itcili.i;  ■*<1<MI  per  lul       Wiis  to  roiistilnlt'  tlic('il|» 

itill  of  tlic  Itiilik,  Mill tin;;  to    .^L'tKI.CMMI.      'I'liiis    \\  ;ls  ii  yii'ilt    city 

to  Im'  loiiiidcd  I  Coiild  I'topiii  ;;(»  I'liitlicr  .'  Ol' course  tlic  scIiciik^ 
proAcd  ii  t'iiiliirc.  (':iiro  i:iii^iiisiicd  I'oi  iiiiiii\  vciirs.  Iiiij  ;it  tlic 
incsnit,  w  ilii  iK-tiiiii  c:i|»iliil.  the  power  ol"  iieive  iiiid  iiiiiscle,  iiiid 
tlie  concent  nit  ion  of  rnilroiids.  site  is  ni.-iKin;;  nipid  strides  towiii'd 
tlie  i'e:ili/;ilioii  of  liei'  eiirl.N  diciiins.  I  )iii'in.i;  llie  iiilermd  iiiipl'oNC- 
ineiil  iii;iiiiii  of  IS.'IT  liiis(':iiro  I'liiiilv  Wiis  ;;id\aiii/.ed  into  life,  liiit 
Jifler  Hoii)  isiiiii,!;'  u  short  period  expired. 

.\iiother  I  'topiii  wiis  the  iiicorporiitioii  of  ;i  c(»ini>;iii.\ ,  iit  ihesjiine 
session,  for  the  ciilliii;ndl  ii  e:in;il  :i  few  iiiiles  noilli  of  ( 'uiro  to 
unite  the  u.'iterA^ik'*  the  Mi.ssi,s>i|ipi  wiliitlie  Oliio,  \  i:i  tlie  town  (d* 
Aiiierieii,  liieii  in  .lohlisoii  comity,  owned  l>y  tlie  eoinpiiny.  'I'olls, 
Willi  rfii;.;e  cliiir;;es,  etc..  iiiidei' <'eiliiiii  restrict  ions,  were  periiiitti-d 
to  this  coiiip;iii\  :  hilt  iiolhiiii:' ciiiiie  of  it-  'I'lie  scheine  w;is  some 
1.")  or  is  ye;irs  since  re\ived,  in  coiinection  with  the  present 
INIonnd  Cily. 

('niiimeire  tln'ou^^lioiit  tile  eiirly  iiiid  territoriiil  period  of  Illinois, 
:ind  to  no  inconsideinUie  extent  for  some  t  ime  iiflerwiiid,  w;is  in  its 
lieljiU'ss  infiiiM-y.  All  foreign  products  (•onsiimed  here,  either  nat- 
iiiiil  or  imiiiiifiiclnred.  wer<'  hroii^ht  to  Illinois  \  in  New  ( )rleiiiis, 
in  keel  hoiils,  pn>li<'d  iit  ij^reiil  hilior,  with  lonu  poles,  and  towed  at 
jtoiiits  will)  lon^-  ropes,  a  process  called  '•cordellin ;;■.'' a,L;aiiist  tin; 
.stron;;'  ('iirrcnl  of  the  Mississippi,  !ty  the  hardy  lioatmen  of  that 
<lay;  or  wagoned  ov«'r  the  Allei;liaiiy  nionntaiiis  from  riiiladelpliia 
to  I'lltsliiiry',  or  from  i'.allimore  to  Wheeling;;  thence  in  tlat  Itoats 
lloated  down  the  Ohio  and  landed  at  coinenieiit  points,  whence  it 
was  a;;ain  taken  by  waiLfons  to  the  tinal  points  of  destination.  A 
trip  fioni  St.  Louis  to  New  Orleans  and  ha(d<.  with  keel  boats, 
uas  a  six  months  \(»ya,i;e.  Mill  a  revolution  in  the  carryiiiu  busi- 
ness of  til*'  Morld,  was  at  hand.  Tin'  power  of  steam  had  been 
utilized,  and  by  T'ldloii  siiccessl'ully  applied  to  the  jtropiilsion 
of  vessels,  wlijc'i  prodiic«'d  a  wonderful  etVect  iijioii  the  western 
<'oiintr.\  in  contiasl  between  steam  as  a  motor  for  coincyaiice  and 
the  oi-(linar,\  mode  by  keel  or  tlat  l:oat,  w  liicli  iiian,i;iirated  a  new  era. 

TIr' llist  steamboat  to  as<'end  tin*  Tppei-  .Mississippi,  reached 
St.  liOiiis  Aiiiiiist  li,  ISIT.  It  was  named  the  "  (ienerai  I'ike,"and 
was  coiiiiiiaiided  by  Uaplaiii  tracob  lieed. 

|Or  the  lii'st  wfeiiiiilioii't  on  tlic  Oliio,  tlic  "  New  Orlciins,"  whicli  wiw  InuMclicci  lit 
riltslmriili  III  tile  simiiiu'i' of  IHll,  it  is  rcliitcd  tliiit,  •'The  novel  iiiipeiiriince  of  the 
vessel.  1111(1  thr'  Iciiifiil  riipiilit y  witli  whieh  the  |);iss!i»>e  wiis  ir.;i(le  over  the  liroiul 
rtMclii'S  of  )  lu' ri\  (T,  e.\eite(l  ii  iiii.M  me  of  terror  iiikI  smprise  iinionji'  iiiiiiiy  ol  the 
Bettlei'K  on  the  liuiiks,  wlioni  the  niiiior  of  such  nil  invention  hml  never  reiieheil :  tinil 
it  is  reliitod  thai  on  the  iinex|)e<-te(t  iiriiviil  of  the  Itoiif  before  Louisville,  in  tlieeoiiise 
<if  a  line,  still  iiioonlif-'ht  nifrht,  the  extniordinaty  soiiini  which  tilled  the  iiii'iis  the  pent 
tip  steimi  Wiis  allowed  to  escape  from  the  valves,  on  ronndin*?  to,  in-idiicedii  general 
lilarni,  and  imiltitudes  in  th;;  town  rose  from  their  hi'ds  to  nscertitin  tlie  cause.  '  * 
'riie  yciieral  impression  anioiifr  the  ffooil  Kentiickians  was,  that  theeoni(!t|of  IKI1  visl- 
lilc  at  the  time  with  its  iinnieiise  tiery  tail,  and  hy  tlu^  snperstitious  lielleved  to  be  tho 
liarliiiiHcr  of  war  and  all  sorts  of  dire  evill,  had  fiillen  into  the  Ohio." 
"She  walked  the  waters  like  a  tliintr  of  life, 
Anil  seemed  to  dans  the  elements  of  strife." 

At  Louisville,  owinn  to  thosniall  depth  of  water  on  the  falls,  the  boat  wiis  detained  iJ 
week.s,  durinw  which  timeseveral  trips  wovo  made  by  her  between  that  place  and  ("iii- 
cinnati.  The  waters  tiiinlly  rose,  and  the  trip  to  NewOrleans  was  resumed.  On  reaeh- 
liif!-  the  Lower  Mississippi,  the  boat  was  nearly  overwhelmed  by  the  earthipiake.s  which 
rocked  the  waters  of  tliegriNit  river  to  and  tro,  and  which  confiiuied  for  several  diiyst, 


LMH  IIISIOIM     (il     II.I.INOIH. 


Tii(>  |Mir.siiits  1)1'  ilic  pcoplt'  tliii'iii;;'  tfiiiloiial  tiiiH's,  witc  mainly 
ii;;rii'iilliii'iil,  \  iirit'd  li\  liiiiiliii;:  iiiid  ti'M|i|)iiiju.  \'\\\  iiifnliaiits 
wt'if  i'iM|iiii'«Ml  lo  sii|)|)l,\  llir  nrdiiiai'N  ait iclfs  of  ntiiMiiiipl inn  nttt 
pi'iMliiccil  or  iiiaiiiiracliii't'il  at  Ininii-.  ( 'olV<'*-,  lea.  anil  Miuac  tiiil 
mil  tiitn  Ufni'iailN  >  nlcr  into  llii- tiailv  nnais  of  tin-  lamil.v.  Ma- 
tt'iials  lor  pergonal  wear  were  iithfr  ;;ro\vii,  or  lak<n  in  liif 
rliasf,  ami  nKianrartnrcil  into  ;>'ai'in*-nt.s  In  wil'i- or  (lani^litcr,  tin* 
niri'i'lianl  snpjilx  in;;  (inl,\  '^onn-  of  tin- <|\<- .stall' to  rolor  llii-  viool, 
lla\or  cotton.  l''oriM;:ii  mannfartiircil  hoots  ami  sliofs,  or  lials 
ami  caps,  were  worn  Iml  1)\  few — liomciria(l(>  nio«'casins  anti  nu*- 
cooii  caps  snpplyiii;.:  tlic  place.  Mechanics  in  pnrsnit  of  their 
trades,  are  scMoni  pioneers,  ami  ever\  settler  was  his  ou  n  carpen- 
ter. 'l"he  houses,  mo>lly  lo;;  cahins.  were  laiill  withtiiit  ;ilass, 
nails,  hin^t's  or  locks  ;  the  I'nrnitMi'c,  loo,  naMl<-le<l  in  the  same 
rnile  fashion,  was  made  h,v  the  same  hand.  Yokes  for  oxen,  ami 
harness  for  horses,  the  calls  and  wagons  iirrWrilv  use — without 
tiles,  lioxes  or  iron  -whose  woeful  creakiii;Lis,  for  tlie  want  of  iar, 
which  was  not  imported,  nii;;hl  lie  iieard  at  a  ;:reat  distance,  all 
were  mannfaetiired  as  occason  reipiired  l»y  self  taught  artifi- 
cers.* 


coniiuonclntf  on  tlic  inornlnif  of  tlio  Idtli  of  ■Dt'ccmbcr.  IHII .  'I'licv  vviti'  severest  in  the 
ni'itfliliorhood  ot  New  .Miidilil,  wlu'ie,  on  the  'reiiiiessee  slile,  a  lew  miles  liiiek  ii  I  tin? 
liver,  the  (•arlli  sinik  in  iniiny  pliiees  .j(l  pncl  lilt  feel,  ciifljIliH  wjtii  it  uieut  trees  lelt 
HtiiiKlliiu:  erect,  ))|'(ii1ul'Iuk  w'iiiit  18  kliov'ii  tiH  the  Ui-el-fout  Itiku  — tiuinlilei'  in  N'nitli 
Aniei'ieu. 

•.•\s  an  Iristaneo  of  the  ready  Inifcnnity  of  the  tiines.lt  l«  reliited  of  .lames  l,enion.  ii 
well  known  pioneer  of  Monroe  I'oniity,  an  olil  style  |{a|>tist  preai  her,  iiiid  a  larii.er  liy 
oeenpation,  who  inannla<'l  nred  the  liarness  tor  Ills  teams  as  oeeasioii  i'e(|nlred,  that 
lie  iriy  employed  plow  in.''  a  piere  of  slnhlile  itrouml  one  day.on  tiirnln^''ont  lor  dinner 
he  lidt  the  harness  on  the  lieam  (d'  the  plonuli,  as  was  his  wiait.  Ills  son  not  dilVerintf 
fi'(aii  the  proverliial  minister  s  lio>s  perhaps,  who  ha  .  a-->isted  him  liy  reiiio\  iriu  tlit^ 
Htraw  fr(Mii  the  el  ijfH:in«  plow  with  a  pitelifork,  remained  hrliind  lonu  emaiiih  ti> 
ooneeal  one  of  the  eollars,  that  lie  mlKht  laui'  a  pUi.>  inji  .spell  while  his  tatlu'r  was 
ueenpieil  in  makinu  anol  her  lint  his  plot  laili-il ;  on  ret  iirnlnu:  alter  dinner  and  nilss- 
ili«  the  collar,  Ills  lather,  rellictinu-  lor  a  l'e>.  miinites.  pKiniptly  divested  liliiiself  of 
his  leather  lireeehes,  stnlled  till' leifs  with  stnlilile,  straddled  them  ai'f.iHs  the  iieek  of 
the  horse  for  a  collar,  and  plowed  the  remainder  of  the  day  liare  leuiied  re((nliiinf 
(he  a.ssistanee  of  the  trnanily  inclined  lioy  all  tlm  t  iiiie.  .\t  thisday,  to  proviile  for 
Hiicli  a  inis|>a|i,  half  day  would  ha\c  lieeii  spent  in  ^oin^  to  town  after  another  col- 
lar, and  the  bov  wtaild'  o.olialiy  have  Kiim'-"'!  'li!*  point.— l-'rom  Kord's  lli.sl(a'y  of  Illi- 
uola. 


Chai'tku  XXVI. 

OIM'.ANI/ATION    OF    TIIK    STATK    (1<  >VKl{NMi:XT— A  D- 
MIXISI  K'A'I'ION     Ol'    (i<>\i;i{NOli    I'.OXD. 

Our  Sortlieni  livuitbuji — Firnt  (Jonstitiitioiidl  i'imn'ntiim  ami  Smne- 
tliiiii/  of  tlir  Iii'i/niiunit  FromH — (iorrnn'r  lioid — Licntomnt- 
jl<irtrii<ir  Mninnl—  MtrliHi/  of  (Itr  Lrijisliihin'  iiiiil  Khrllnii  of 
tS'titc  Offircrx — /•V/-.s7  Siiprcinr  (hiitrt — Jlttrd  TiincH  anil  First  State 
Jiank — Orijajiization  of  (Joiiiitirs. 


By  tlio  yciir  iSlS,  owitij;  to  iicr  fMpid  iiicit'iist>  of  ]io)>iiliitioii, 
Illinois  iisjiircd  to  ii  position  !iiii>>iij;'  tin- sistciliood  of  so' (•i<'ij'ii 
Stiitcs.  A<'coniiiijj[iy,  tlic  tt'i  ritori.ii  Ic^islntiirc,  in  session  :it  Kns- 
kiiskiii  in  .liininiry  of  tliat  yt-iir,  pn'piirtMl  antl  s*-nt  to  N;itii:inifl 
I'opc.  our  (l<'lt'i;iit('  in  (•oimjiicss.  tiit'ir  petition  piayini;  for  I'le 
iitlniission  of  Illinois  into  tlieCnion  on  an  etpnil  fool iiii^- nit li  t lie 
(triuinal  StiVtes.  'I'lie  petition  was  pi-oniptl\  preseiiteil.  and  the 
conoeit!)-,-  on  territories  in  duetinie  r<'poite<l  a  liill  loi'  the  admission 
of  Illinois  with  a  population  of  4(I,(KM).  The  ordinanee  of  I7S7 
i'e«piifed  (iO.tKIO.  Sir.  Pope.  lool<in,i;'  to  the  future  of  this  Stale. 
!sn<-eeedin;^  in  an)endin<;'  the  i>ill  as  it  eanu'  iVoni  the  hautlsof  the 
coniniittee,  in  several  essential  features.  One  of  these  was  toex- 
ten<l  the  nortliern  Ixaindary  of  the  State  to  the  parallel  of  M) 
dejirees  iHMni.iutes  north  latitude.  The  otli  seetionof  the  oi'di- 
iiance  of  1 7S7,  re<piired  that  at  h-ast  three  States  he  fornn-d  <ait 
of  tin  Xorthwest  territory — delinin^'  the  l)oundary  of  the  western 
State  hy  the  Mississippi,  the  ()lii(»  and  the  Waltash  ri\ crs.  and  a 
line  runnin;^  due  noith  from  Post  N'ineennes,  on  the  last  named 
stream,  to  Canada.  This  included  the  present  Slates  of  lilinoiis 
and  Wisconsin.  Hut,  l)y  a  proviso,  it  was  reserved  "that  i''  con- 
gress shall  hereaftoj- (ind  it  exped'ent.  they  sj.all  have  authority 
t(»  lorm  one  or  t  wo  Slates  in  that  part  of  said  territory  which  lies 
iMtrtli  of  ail  east  ami  west  line  diawn  tlironuh  the  southerly  itend  of 
I,aUe  Mi<'hi<ian."  The  line  of  10  dei;'..'>((  min.  extended  tlie  boundary 
.'lO  nules  farther  noi'th.  To  the  vi<;ilance  of  Xathaniel  I'oj)e, 
tlieretoi'c.  are  we  indebted  for  a  coast  on  Lake  IMichijian  to  this 
extent:  for  tin;  site  occupied  l»y  the  present  mij^hty  city  of  ("hi- 
<*ay«»;  for  the  northern  t«'rminus  of  the  Illim)is  anti  Michiuan 
canal,  and  for  the  lead  niiiu's  of  (ialena — all  of  which  come 
within  that  extension.  It  was  upon  the  above  (pjoted  lan;;najie 
of  thcordiinuice  of  1787,  which  was  declared  a  compact  to  renuiiu 

295 


k 


I    i:i 


206  IIISTOIIV   OF   ILLINOIS. 


forever  uiuilterahle,  tlmt  Wisconsin  siibseciiiently  based  her  claim 
to  tlic  It  iiortliei'ii  coiiiities  of  lliis  State. 

Wliii*'  the  lorf^oiiij;  were  iciramouiit  et»iisi(h'ratioiis  willi  Ihu 
l)eo[»le  of  IlliiKiis,  oiiicrs  were  iirjicd  with  iiuicli  force  aiul  entire 
ell'ccti\  t'liess  upon  con;^ress,  aclin.i;  for  the  nation  at  iai'^e.  Kveii 
at  tiiat  (lay  statesmen  had  not  faiU'd  to  mark  the  iniicrc  lit  weak- 
Jiess,  and  consequent  easy  dissohition.  of  coiifech'raled  reimlilies. 
Tlie  late  «Mvil  war  liad  not  tiieii  demonslrated  iiie  sUcn^th  and 
unity  of  the  Ameiican  coiife(h'ralion  tlirou;;h  tiie  lo;,aily  of  tlu' 
l»eoi»h'.  l]iiro|)ean  statesmen  iiad  eiit\'rtaiiied  no  otiier  tlioniiiit 
than  tiiat  at  llie  tirst  internal  hostile  tronhle,  the  bonds  of  tin^ 
L'liioii  wonid  be  broken  and  scattered  to  the  winds.  It  was  easily 
.shown  that  the  ;;eoj;rai»iiical  position  of  Illinois  made  her  the  key 
ill  the  western  arch  ot'  States.  The  sonthern  extremity  of  Illinois 
peiie; rated  far  lielweeii  the  slaves  States  down  t(»  the  main  Mis- 
sissippi, attbidiii,u  an  tiiitlet  to  the  tinlf  the  year  round,  and 
skiite<l  with  hundreds  of  miles  of  na\i,i;able  rivi-rs  on  either  side  ; 
to  <^\\v  her,  tiierefore,  a  fair  coast  on  the  lake  would  alst)  iinito 
her  interests  tiiroiijiii  the  strong  bonds  of  trade  and  commerce 
uith  the  nortli  and  east.  Linkiii;^'  thus  the  north  and  the  souili 
by  her  '^couraphicai  position  and  tin-  ties  of  iiitereourst',  her  in- 
terests must  lie  conservatixc,  and  she  would  ever  exert  a  eontroU- 
in;4  intbience  upon  tlie  iierpetnity  of  the  I'nioii.  This  view  has 
been  amply  \fiiiied  in  tlu-  lali-  war  by  the  prompt  occupation  of 
Cairo,  ami  the  rally  of  her  near  i;()(l,0(KI  sons  to  the  national 
standard. 

Another  amendment  was.  that  the  three  littlis  of  tin-  *»  per  cent 
fund  from  the  sale  of  public  lands,  applied  to  tiie  i-onsU uctioii  of 
imblic,  works  in  otln'i- Stales  carved  out  of  the  iiortIiw«'st  territory, 
should  instead  be  dexoted  by  the  le,:;iNlature  to  the  encoinaj:»'iuent 
of  education  ;  one  sixth  of  which  to  be  exchisively  bestowed  on  a 
colic;;*'  (»r  niiiversilv.  Tlies('  important  amendments  were  sn;;- 
yested  and  urycd  by  Mr.  I'ojte  without  insliuetion,  l»ut  they  re- 
ceived the  ready  sanction  of  the  peoi»le,  and  today  wi'  are 
realizing  the  full  fruition  of  his  foresight.*  The  bill  became  a  law 
April  18,  18  US. 


•Niitlmnic'l  I'opi' was  ill)  able  lawyer,  aridiuliis  ollicial  relations  was  ever  failliliil  to 
his  tiusln.  His  liist  apiiearaiice  ill  Illinois,  as  we  have  seen,  was  as  secretary  ot  tlie 
te  rilory.  In  islii.  lie  was  eleetecl  delegate  to  eonjfress  and  proenred  the  enahluitf 
act  lor  ilie  admission  ot  Illinois  as  a  Slate  Suliseiineiitly  he  was  appointed  rintej 
i?tateB  distriet  .jndfre.  in  wliieh  capaeity  heserved  tor  many  years,  residinn'  in  Sprinsr- 
fluld.    He  died  in  lK-)0, 

[NoTK  — The  ipiestiori  of  our  northern  lioundary  iitritated  the  people  of  the  seetion 
coneerned  lor  many  years,  eiiteiiiiji-  into  their  poiitieal  eonfliets  and  exereisiiif--  an 
lnipi)rtant  iiiflnence  upon  their  local  alVairs.  Many  of  the  old  settlers  down  to  il 
late  date  coiidennied  this  strikintidepaitiiie  from  the  ordinanee  of  ITCT,  which  lived 
the  present  line  fill  mil.  s  further  north,  itouiidary  lueetiiiMjs  at  various  places  in  tho 
14  northern  counties  eontiniied  to  he  held  from  time  to  tune,  sliowinu' tlie  teeliii;;  to 
be  deepand  wide  spread.  vV'e  note  the  proceedings  of  a  larjre  meeliiiH:  held  at  Oro- 
jron  I'ity,  .lanuary  i'.',  1S4:?,  as  showimr  thegronnds  of  comiilaint,  and  the  purpose  of 
the  iieople  to  eitlier  belong  to  Wisconsin  or  set  up  for  themselves: 

" /iti.xii/riy/, That  in  the  opiuion  ol  this  ineetinjf,  that  jiart  of  the  northwest  territory, 
which  lies  north  ofan  'east  and  west  line  through  the  southerly  bend  or  extreme  of  Laku 
Micliiiran.'  belongs  to  and  of  right  ought  to  be  a  part  of  the  State  or  States  wliieli 
liavc  been  or  may  be  formed  north  of  said  line." 

Wisconsin  was  yet  a  territory.  They  resolved  further  that  the  ordinanee  of  !!>*■! 
could  not  be  altered  or  changed  without  the  consent  <d  the  jieople  ot  the  original 
States  and  (d' the  northwest  territory  ;  that  as  )iarl  of  the  people  of  said  territory, 
they  would  not  so  consent  :  tliat  the  lines  designated  in  tlii"  oruiniinee  were  better 
suited  to  the  geographical  situation  anil  local  interests  of  their  region;  that  they 
Were  deeldi'djy  opposed  to  place  any  of  the  teiritory  nortli  of  said  line  within  tho 
jurisdiction  ot  a  State  south  of  it  ;  that  they  reeommended  the  legislature  of  Wis- 
ooiiBin  tu  apply  for  udmissiou  into  the  Union,  uliiimlug;  tliu   liuo  of  the  urditiuiiue  as 


bond's  administration. 


297 


111  piifsiKiiicc  (»f  tlic  ciiiililiiiL;-  iH'^  ;i  coiivcntioli  Wiis  culled  to  dral't 
tlu'  lirst  cuiislitiitioii  ol'  till' Stiilc  oi'  !!liii(»is.  wliicli  iissciiihlcd  iit; 
Kiiskiiskiu  ill  -Inly,  ISIS,  and  ('(Hiipictt'd  its  lulxtrs  in  si^iiiii;;-  tlui 
coiistiliitioii  (III  tlic  L'dili  nf  Aiiuiist  tollowiii^.  We  snltjoiii  tlic 
iiiiiiK's  ul'tlic  d<■l(•^ilt(■s,  and  tlic  counties  wliicli  tlicy  rcjU'cscnlcd, 
ill   llic  order  of  tlicir  oriiaiiization  : 

St.  Chiii'  county — .Icsse  15.  'I'lioinas,  -loliii  Messin^cr,  James 
LciiKMi,  Jr. 

iiandoipli — (icor.u'c  I'islicr.  iOlias  Kent  ivaiie. 

.Madison — I5eiijaiiiiii  Steplicnsoii,  .Joseph  IJoroiiuli,  Ahraliaiii 
Pricket  1. 

(iailaliii  —  .Micliat'l  rioiics,  licoiiard  Wliitc,  Adoli»liiis  Frederick 
IJuhi.ard. 

.loliiisoii — Ilezekiali  West.  \Viii.  McFatridyc 

I'Mwards — Seilidard.  Le\  i  ('oiiiiitoii. 

AVliilc — Willis  llar,ura\('.  Win.  .Mclleiiry. 

Monroe — Oaldwell  Cariis,  lOnocli  Mo(H('. 

l'o|>e — Sainiicl  O'Mclvcny.  Ilainlct   l-'crn'iisop.. 

.lackson — ('onrad  Will,  dailies  Hall,  jr. 

Crawt'ord — ,Foseiili  Ivitdiell.  I'ldward  N.  ("iilloni. 

IJond — Tlionias  ivil|)atrick,  Saiiiiiel  (1.  ^^ol•se. 

Knion — Will.  lOrliols.  dolni  Wliitaker. 

Wasliiii.n'ton — Andrew  IJanksoii.* 

l''raiikliii — Isliain  liarrisoii.  'I'lioinas  Itolierts. 

.Jesse  i>.  Tlionias  was  chosen  iircsideiit,  and  Win.  C.  Greenup 
secretary  of  the  c(Miventioii. 

'i'lie  coiistiliilioii  was  not  snliinittcd  to  a  vote  ol'  the  people  tor 
their  approval  or  rejection:  nor  did  the  people  liaxc  iiiiich  to  d(» 
with  the  choice  or  election  ofolliceis  uciierally  under  it.otlier  than 
that  (»!'  ;;d\»'rnors.  the  .general  asseniitlies.  sherin's  and  coroners. 
Xotwiflistandinj;  the  elective  I'rancliise  was  in  a  Itla/oii  nianiier 
i'Xteiidcd  to  all  white  male  inhaltitaiits  aliove  the  a.^e  of  lil.  having- 
SI  residence  in  the  Stall'  of  (>  inonths  next  in'ecediii;^'  aiiv  election, 
which  it  will  he  jtcrccived  included  aliens  and  possilily  imited 
iiiiiiii,nralion,  there  was  scarcely  an  ollicc  left  to  lie  tilled  l»y  its 
exercise. 

'I'lie  electors  or  people  were  not  trusted  with  the  choice  of  State 
ollicers,  other  than  iiicii  t  ion  ed  :  nor  of  their  judges,  eit  her  siipreine, 
circuit,  or  proiiatc:  mn' of  tln'ir  proseciitiii,ii  attorneys,  county  or 
circuit  clerks,  recordcis.  or  jiisiicesof  the  peace;  tin-  appoint  iiieiit 
of  nearly  all  these  liciiii;  vested  in  the  i;ciieial  asseiiilily.  which 
body  was  not  slow  to  avail  itself  of  the  ]»o\\ers  llnis  conferred  to 
their  full  extent.  The  lan.unajic  ol'  the  schedule  was,  "an  auditor 
of  ituhlic  accounts,  an  attorney  ,u<'iicral.  and  such  other  ollicers  of 
the  State  as  may  he  necessary,  may  he  apiioiiited  iiy  the  j^cneral 
as.sembly.  whose  duties  may  he  re,utilated  by  law."  it  is  said  to 
have  lieeii   a  «|iiestion   for  many  years,  in  view  of  this  lanjina,y(!, 

theli"  soutliorn  linuiulnry  :  tliiu  they  •lisflaiined  liny  iiitpiition  to  absolve  thoinselves 
train  iiiiy  pci'imiiiry  rrspmisiliility  crentcil  by  the  Icirishiliire  of  niiiiols  on  iiccniint  of 
till'  IritiT  Hill  inipiDvcMicnt  system ,  etc  The  resulutions  were  iilnplcd  ii  nun  inn  msl>'. 
A  cniMiiiittce  ul  '.I  Wiis  iippdiiiteil  to  pi'Mece(l  to  Miidison,  witli  lull  power  to  eonsult 
with  1  he  (fovernof  iuul  the  Icjlshitiire  ot  Wisconsin  terrihn'v  tiovi'mor  Itoty  iind  t  he 
leulslatiin'  yiivi'  thcMi  their  MssiirMneesor  eiii'ili'Sl  eo-opcriition  in  petitioiiin^reon'rress 
to\V;iril  the  end  in  \  i"\v  Hut  nolliinir  .'vcr  eiiiiie  ot  nil  the  eliiiilor.  'I'le'  I'sscniiiil 
point  was,  whether  the  nets  ot  the  eoiiirrcss  ol'  the  eoiili'dcratecl  Slates  are  ol  sueii 
liiMdinir  loi-ce  that  a  eonirress  nf  ih..  I'liitecl  Stales  eamiot  annul  or  anienil  them 
—whether  the  fornu'r  possessed  a  llluher  power  tiian  the  latter. 
*Uaaksou'a  colleague  died  during  the  session  ot  the  coiiveutiou. 


298 


inSTOUY  OK  ILLlNOrS. 


\vli;it  was  -'an  ollicci- of  I  lie  Stale."  'I"ln' ;.;(>\  friiois  were  lor  a  t  iiiit^ 
allowfd  In  a|i|M)iiil  Stale's  allnriie\s,  icerdders,  Stale  eniiiiiiis- 
siniieis.  l)aiiU  tlireelois,  tSLc,  liiil  the  le;;islal  iire.>  al'lerw  ai'd  Nested 
li,\  law  I  lie  a))|H>iiitiiielil  ul' all  llieseaixl  iiiaiis  iiKireiii  I  lieiiiseh  es. 
Oceasidiially,  wlieii  in  lull  ixililieal  aeeoid,  tlie  L:n\ei-iiMi'  would 
l)e  allitweil  the  aiipoiiil  iii.u  powef  picIlN  tVeels,  lo  peiliaps  lie 
sliorii  ol'  li\  a  siicceediii;;'  le^islal  lire.  In  the  adiiiiiiistral  ion  of 
I  )iiii<-aii,  w  lio  had  lorsaUeii  .iaeksoii  and  ineiirred  llie  dis|ileasiii'e 
of  llie  doiiiinaiil  party,  tiie  ;;o\ei'iior  was  linally  stripped  of  all 
pal  roiia^e,  excepi  the  appoiiitiiieiil  ol'  notaries  piililie  and  pnlilie 
adiniiiisl  ralors.  It  was  a  liad  lealMreol'  the  eoiisl  iliilion  :  it  not 
only  depri\cd  the  people  of  their  just  lights  lo  elect  the  \a. lolls 
oflieeis  as  at  proeiit,  liiil  led  hordes  of  place  liiinieis  lo  repair  lo 
the  sieal  of  i;(>\  erninent  at  cncin  session  of  the  le^iislal  lire,  lo 
liesie^e  and  loiineiil  iiieinliers  for  ollice.  Indeed,  this  was  the 
chief  oeciipal  ion  of  iiiaiiN  an  hoiioiahle  iiienilier.  I  nnniiierahie  in- 
trigues and  coiiiiplioiis  for  place  and  power  were' t  hiis  indulged. 

To  llie /ioNcrnor  was  denied  the  \elo  power:  Imt  he.  jointly  wilh 
111*  loir  siipreiiie  Judges,  was  const  iliited  a  council  to  re\iseall 
hills  passed,  l»elui-e  tlie\  should  lieeoine  law  s.  l'"or  this  piirpox- 
the  Judges  were  reipiired  to  attend  at  the  seal  of  .uo\  erniiieiit, 
diirini;  the  sessions  of  the  le;;i>lat  iiie.  without  coiiipeii>at  ion.  The 
validit.v  of  all  laws  was  thus  decided  in  ad\ance.  If  the  council 
of  revision,  or  a  iiiajorit  \,  tieeiiied  it  ini|iroper  for  aii,\  lull  toliecoiiie 
a  law.  their  ohjeclions  were  to  lie  noted  in  writiiiu;  Imt  the  liill 
iiii.i;lil.  not  w  it  h.Nlaiidin.u.  he  passed  o\er  t  heir  oiijecl  ions  h\  a  iiia 
jorit\  and  hecoine  a  law.  While  the  executive  is  coininoiily 
a  (■o-ordinale  hraiich  of  I  he  la  w  inakiii;;'  power,  here  he  waseiil  iiely 
stripped  ;  and  while  the  Jiidicial  depart  iiieiil  is  iievei'  thus  vested, 
here  it  was  clothed  with  a  (/nasi  le;;islative  preniju'al  ive. 

The  const  it  lit  ion  wasalioii!  the  liist  orj^aiiic  law  of  any  Stale  in 
the  I'liioii  to  aliolisli  iiiipri>oiiiiienl  for  dehi.  It  did  not  prohihit 
the  legislature  from  uranlinu  divurces;  and  this  was  a  fruitful 
source  of  Hejiislatioi.  asiheold  >lal  iiles  ahmidanlly  teslit'v.  ISiil 
its  worst  fealnie.  perhaps,  was  the  want  of  a  limilalion  a;:ainst 
t  he  le^islal  lire  loaniiiii or  pled;;iii^'  I  lie  fail  li  i"id  credit  of  t  he  Stall! 
in  aid  of,  or  lo  the  iinderlakiii;^'  of,  any  piihlic  or  priv  ale  eiiler- 
|iri,se;  or  to  the  aid  of  any  individuals,  associal  i<iiis.  or  corpora- 
tions. The  ahseiice  of  siii'li  most  necessary  liiiiilat  ions,  caused 
Im'I'  ri'peated  connections  afterward  with  hanUiii.n'  sclnMiies,  and 
her  nnderlakin;:  the  vast  system  of  iiilernal  iinproveineiit  in  IS,'!?, 
all  of  which  proved  detrimental  to  her  credit,  harrassiii;:'  and 
expensive  loher  linaiices.  and  caiiie  near  haiikriipl  iii.u  and  coin- 
pleiiii;^  her  riiiii.  Of  I  he  iiieiiiheis  <if  the  coiiv  eiil  ion.  Mlias  Kent 
Kane. afterward  a  senator  in  coii^^ress,  is  ineiitioiied  w  it  h  coniinciKlii- 
tjoii  as  a  leailiii;^  spirit,  and  as  lari;ely  stamping;  the  coiislitiilioii 
wit  h  its  inaiiv  ex<'ellem:ies. 


|"l)iirln(r  tlu-  wlttiniur  of  the  (ron  volition  tlio  llcv.  Mr.  Wiley  nml  j-ontrrctriitlon,  of  a  Hoct 
ciillc'd  ('ci\  (Mmnli'i's.  ill  l{iiliiliil|ili  cimiiiIv,  sciiI  in  tlicir  pi'litloii  iiskinir  liiiit  liixly  to 
ili'clni'c  in  t  lie  ciinst  it  iit  Idii,  Unit  ".Icsiis  Clii'lsi  wiis  lln'  IicmcI  ol  llii'  |.''<i\  I'l'iniiciit.  iiml  iliiit, 
t  lie  llcily  Sciipl  uri'S  w.Tc  lliioiily  iiilc  ol  IiiIIIiiiikI  ))1i1(|  ice.''  'I  lie  prl  it  inn  was  imt, 
ticiilcil  wit  li  liny  iillciil  Hill,  wlicnriiri' I  lie  (  iiM'tiiinlcis  Imvc  iifvcr  tiilly  icciiuiii/iMl 
the  Sliilc  i^<i\  i'lniiicnt  'I'licy  liini-  lixikcil  ii|iiiii  It  as  "iiii  liciitlii'ii  iiiiil  iinliii|>l./.i'<l 
K<ivi'iriijiciit,  '  wlilcli  ili'iiics  Cliiist ;  lor  wliicli  icnMiii  tlii'y  liiu  c  iMinstiinlly  ntUMil  to 
woi  k  I  III'  romls.  siTVc  on  jnrit's,  liohl  any  ollici'.  or  ilo  iiiiy  ot  licr  act  sIiowIiil''  I  hat  I  lii'V 
reel  111  rii /.I'd  the  K<'viiiiiiicnl  I'or  a  Ioiik  linn'  they  ii'tiistil  to  votr.  ami  ikvit  iliil  until 
the  ('li'ctioii  (if  IH.'.M,  wlii'ii  the  qiK'Stion  wa>.  wliflliiT  Illinois  slioiilil  lie  iiiailc  a  sliivi! 
iStatc,  wlii'ii  llicy  votL'ii  lor  the  lital  tune,  unil  uiiuiiiniouMly  U}?niiistsluvury."  Uovuiuor 
I'linl's  History./ 


UOND'S    ADMI.MSI'KATION. 


2m 


TIk-  lil'st  clcftinii  iiikIci'  IIh*  ruiislitiiliolK  lor  .i;<)\ cilMil',  liciit, 
p»\t'i'iior.  ;inil  iiiciiilicis  (»l"  llic  i^ciicinl  iissciiiidy,  wns.  iK-coidin;^ 
rn  llir  :i|)|)iiiiiliii('iil  of  I  III'  (Mill  \<'i  1 1  ion.  In 'It  I  on  I  hi'  tliiril  'I'liiirsihi.v, 
illiij  I  ill'  t  \Mi  siirri'cijiliu  (|;i\  s,  in  Si'pt  riiiltcf,  iSjS.  All  w  liil  i-  liiiili' 
iiiliiiliihiiils  Jl  M'iii's  iilil,  I'l-siiliiii;  ill  llif  Sliili'  :il  the  :iili)|)l  iiHi  ui' 
t  lie  cuiisl  il  III  ion  well'  |»(iiii  il  U  i|  lo  \  olr.  'I'lic  i^i'inrnl  ;isst'iiil»l\  wns 
1(1  iiii'cl  ill  l>i:i.>i\iiski;i  (til  lliclirsl  .MoiMJiiN  (  Iii'Iiil;  I  lie  .'»|  Ii)  of  Oct, 
Inflow  ill.L;-,  Id  set  I  lie  lii;icliiiii'l\  ol'  the  lit-W  ;;o\  criiliiclil  ill  liiuliitli. 
A  I'lcr  I  li;il.  ri'^iiliir  M'ssioiis  were  to  coiiiiiiciici-  on  1  he  liisl  .Moiiiliivs 
of  Dcci'iiiIht.  Sliadi'Mcli  lioiiij  wjis  I'lrclcii  ^omtiioi'  :ini|  I'iriri^ 
iMciiiinl  li('iit('ii;iiil  i;(>\  I'liior.  ;is  liail  licni  cniiitIciI  cncii  lictoi-c 
t  lie  rnrinalioii  of  I  Im' coii^l  il  iil  ion  ;  I  lifv  lind  no  o|i|io>ilioii.  'riicir 
tniii-.  of  si'i'\  ici'  wi'ic  t  ill    ISL'L'.  four  \  rais. 

( io\  I'liior  r>oii(l  w  a>  horn  in  P'rcdciick  I'oiinl  v.  Maivlainl.  in  I  77.!, 
iiiiil  was  laisi'il  a  fai  hut  on  liis  fatlii'i's  |ilaiilalion.  ami  a.^riciill  iirr, 
was  his  piiisiiil  in  Illinois,  w  hii  her  he  I'liii.uialcil  in  !  7!M.  IJi-  Iia«l 
rccciM'il  hula  jilain  Iji^lish  ciliical  ion.  'I'd  a  <'oii\  i\  iai,  hcii'\  olcnt 
•  lisjtosil  ion,  he  Joinrij  a  naliiially  slncwil  ohsri'x  at  ion  of  men  ami 
il  clcai  apiircrial  ion  of  cxfuls.  His  prison  was  erect,  slamliii^  (5 
led  in  hi^lil,  ami  afler  niiildle  lite  he  hecaine  |»orll\ .  wei^hin;^ 
IMKI  jtoiiinls.  His  features  were  sln>ii^l_\  inasciiline,  eoiii|>ie\ioii 
<l;iik,  Iiaiijet.  and  e.xesliazel.  He  was  a  favorite  uitii  liie  ladies.f 
His  jovial  dis|M)siiion.  ilioioiii:li  honestv  and  niiosteiilat ions  inter- 
<'oiirse  with  the  jieople,  mail.'  him  llieiiio>|  |io|)iilai'  man  of  his 
day.  He  had  hceii  a  memiiei' of  I  he  general  asseinldv  under  the 
liiiliana  'reniloiv.  a  delei^ale  to  ei'ii.mess  in  hSIl,',  and  in  tlieialler 
(•a|»ai'il_\  he  |iiociired  the  li.nht  of  |»ie  einpl  ion  on  (he  piihlic, 
domain  :  in  hsj  I  he  was  a|)|M)iiited  receiver  of  the  |iiii)lic  inoneys 
ill  Kaskaskia.  Afler  his  j^iihernaloriai  term  expired  he  ran  in 
isj  I.  for  eoimiess  a.uainsl  Daniel  I'.  ( 'ook,  inil  was  uealeii.  S:ii»- 
.seipieiitlv  he  was  ajipointed  register  of  the  land  oflice  at  Kas- 
kaskia  ;  vv  here  he  died,  in  peace  and  conleiilmenl.  April  I  I,  1S;!0. 
'I'iie  I'oiinlv  of  Kond  was  named  in  honor  of  his  memory. 

I'ieire  Menard  was  iioiii  at  (^)iiehec  in  I7<>7.  At  the  aj^c  of  l!l, 
inspired  hy  adv  ('iiliire.  he  came  lo  N'ineeiines  and  entered  llu^ 
eaiplov  ol'Tol.  N'i^o.a  mercliaiil.  In  i7!>l)  heiemoved  lo  KasUaskiii 
and  eii;^a.i;('d  in  merchandising  with  iMiliois.  of  \iiiceiines,  lly 
his  Irade  wit  h  I  he  I  ndia lis.  and  in  v  a rioiis  pnl die  capacities,  he  soon. 
Iteciime  w  ell  know  n.  Nalnremade  him  frank,  kind  nnd  honest; 
liis  mind,  with  Iml  an  ordinary  e(hicalioii.  was  st  ron^,  and  his 
Jnd.uiiient  ipiick  and  iineirin^i.  His  imiiisl  ry  was  wonderful,  heiiiif 
never  idle.  l"or  maiiv  vears  he  was  jnovcriinieiil  a.^ent  for  tlm 
Jndiaiis,  and  thai  race  had  llie  most  implicit  coiilideiice  in  his  in- 
tejii'ity.  As  a  merchant,  it  is  said,  he  could  hiiy  their  pelti'ies 
ill  lialf  the  price  a  *•  l,oiiu  Knife"  wo'ild  have  lo  pav.  H«^ 
had  heeii  a  meinher  of  the  lower  house  of  the  legislature  vvliih; 
Illinois  was  under  the  ImiiiiiiH  re.i^ime.  and  a  iiieinlter  of  I  he  Iliinoi.s 
Ie;;islaliv  e  council  fr<iiii  ISIH  ;o  |S|,S.  heinii  iIm'  president  of  thai; 
IhkIv.  In  tiie  framing  of  ijic  const  itiil  ion  the  (piidifiealions  for 
lieiileiiiiiil  jiKveriior  wei  first  tixed  the  s;iiiie  as  those  of  the  yov- 
enior — (Hie  of  which  was  cili/.eiiship  of  the  riiiled  Stiites  for  IM) 
yeai's;  hiit  iis  that  would  exclude  ( 'ol.  Memird.  w  ho  had  heeii  iiatiir- 
iili/ed  only  some  two  years,  the  coineiilion  elianyed  t  his  provision 
ill  the  siiediile  as  ii  special  favor  lo  him,  he  hein;;  ;;eiienilly  h»oke«l 

tUuyuolU's  rioiiuur  Kialury. 


3(Kt 


IIISTOUV    OF    ILLINOIS. 


I'orwaid  (o  for  tliiit  |»(».sili()ii.  A'lcr  tlu'  cxpiiiilidii  of  his  term  of 
ofHci'  lie  (Iccliiicd  all  t'lirtlici-  friitlcrs  of  oHicc,  iicccpliii^'  only  lliat 
of  I'liitcd  Stales  ( 'oniiiiissioiicr  hi  heal  with  llic  Indians,  whose, 
character  lie  knew  so  well.  I  le  acciininialed  <|iiilc  a  I'oitnnc.  hnl. 
it  was  greatly  inipaii'cd  l)y  that  kindness  of  heart  which  allowed 
him  lo  hecoinc  security  lor  his  friends.  In  IS.">!I  the  le^islalnre 
Innioicd  his  name  l»y  estahlisiiinj;-  the  c(»niily  of  Menard,  lie  died 
in  IS||  ill  the  ripe  a.n'e  of  77  yeai's. 

The  State  le,i;islal  lire  met  at  the  a|ipoiiited  t  iiiie.  October  .Mil, 
IHIS.  Niniaii  i'^dwards,  the  retiring'  e\eciiti\('  (»f  the  defunct 
territorial  uoxt'iiiineiit,  and  .lesse  i!. 'I'lioinas.  one  ot'tlie  federal 
Jiid^cs  for  the  territory,  who  had  also  lieen  president  <d'  the  c<in- 
stitiilioiial  comeiitioii,  holh  looked  loi'ward  to  the  I'liitcd  States 
senalorship.  and  weie  not  disappointed  in  their  aspirations.  ()iii' 
nieinhcr  to  the  lower  house  of  congress  at  the  time,  was  .lolin 
^Mclicaii,  elected  in  the  Se|iteinl)er  pre\ions.  in  one  of  the  most 
meiiioraltle  political  caiiipaijj^iis  ever  had  in  Illinois,  i)aiii<'l  I*. 
('«»ok  heiiiu'  his  oppinieiil.  lOlijali  ('.  Ilerry  was  elected  andili>r  of 
]»iil»lic  accounts,  .John  'I'liomas,  Slate  treasurer.  Daniel  I*.  ('<iok, 
atlftriiey  j;-en<'ral,  and  .Messrs.  Itlackwell  vK:  l!crry  State  printers. 
Klias  Kent  l\anc  was  appointed  Secretary  of  Stale.  'I'lie  supreme, 
(•onrt,  llie  Jiidiics  w  licicof  w ere  reipiired  also  to  do  circuit  tinly, 
vas  to  <-oiisisl  of  one  chief  Justice  and  three  associate  jiislices. 
r>olh  houses  aiiiiiii  met  in  joint  session  on  I  hi' Si  ji.  ;ind  on  the  llrst 
hallol  .Jos<'pli  i'liiilips  was  elected  chief  Just  ice  l>y  '.Vl  oiil  of  40 
V(»l<'s  cast  ;  'I'lioinas  ( '.  lirown  rccei\  ini;-  Land  Henry  S.  Dodii^c  ."{. 
l''or  associate  Justices.  Win.!'.  l''osler  and  Thomas  ('.  I)idwiiw<'re, 
chosen. on  the  tirsi  ballot.  Henry  S.  Dodu'c  recei\iiiji'  at  the  same 
time  IS  votes,  William  Wilson  !."),('.  It.  Matheiiy  U.  John  Wainock 
1.  .lames  W.  Whilini;'  I.  and  ,lo>epii  KitciielJ  7.  On  itallotin;;- 
a.naiii,  a  new  candidate,  -lohii  IJeynolils.  afteiwanls  j^on crimr.  was 
hron^ilil  forwai'd  and  on  the  second  liallo!  elected  l>y  L'l'  out  of  the 
'10  votes  east.  I'liiilips  was  a  lawyer  of  tine  inlellecliial  eiidow- 
iiieiil.  lie  ha<l  heeii  a  captain  in  the  regular  army,  and  diirin.u  tin; 
war  of  ISIli  had  sccw  ser\  ice  in  Illinois;  aflerwai'd  he  wasappoinled 
secK'tary  of  the  territory  in  place  of  N'alhaiiicl  i'ope.  IJein;;' 
iimliilions,  he  aspired  aiio\c  the  dull  routine  of  the  conri  at  tlia.t 
da\.  and  in  ISL'2,  l»e<'oiiiiii,u'  a  candidate  for^-o\ernor  a,yainst 
("oil's,  resijiiiiiijH' his  place  upon  the  heiicli  on  the  Itli  of  .Inly,  lait 
was  defeated.  Tiiiswas  more  than  his  hijili  slriinu- nature  woidd 
brook,  and  with  feelings  of  dis^nsl  ;il  t  lie  in.uiat  iliide  of  the  people, 
afterward  quilled  the  Slate  and  remo\  ed  to  Tennessee.  On  tlie  .'list 
of  Aiiunsl,  ISi.'2,  Thomas  I'eynolds  was  appointed  in  his  plai-e. 
JJiitwii  w  as  a  lar.i^c,  soinew  hat  stately  lookini;'.  alfahle  man.  yieldinii' 
ill  his  disposition,  with  little  indiistry  tor  st  iidy.  and  few  of  the 
lii^her  (inalilies  for  a  Jiid>4i'.  He  remained  on  tli(>l)ench  till  llii^ 
constitntion  of  ISIS  went  into  ellect.  a  period  exceediiiii'  thirty 
years. 

l>'i'.\  Holds,  in  his ''Own  Times,"  written  many  years  later,  tells 
how  he  came  to  liechosen  a  memlier  of  that  exalted  tiiltniial,  the, 
supreme  court.  At  the  lime  he  resided  at  Cahokia  and  had  no 
ilitenlionof  xisitiny  Hie  session  of  the  Ic.nislatiire.  whi<'li  was<lis- 
jM'iisiiiji' s<»  many  fat  lliinjis  on  the  fiist  oij^aiii/atioii  of  the  StaU^ 
p»\<'rnmeiit.  He  cared  little  who  olttaiin-d  ollice,  and  certainly 
wanted    none   for  himsell".      Hut  bciny   iir;L;i'd  by    his    friends,  lie 


IJOND'S    AI)Ml.\ISri.'.\ll(»\. 


;}()i 


Joined  tliciii  ill  it  visit  to  K;isU;iskiii.  \'\}nu  iiiriv:)!  they  loiiiid 
liiilcii  rxcilciiiciit  iiiid  coiiiiiiuliuii  ill  liii-  ciiiiil;)].  iin-i(l<-iil  lollic, 
st'lt'clioii  (»!'  State  ollieers.  In  ii  lew  days  lie  was  iiri;cd  ti)  ;^i\('. 
liis  assent  to  I >eennie  a  candidate  for  sii|neme  Jiidue.  This  r((|iiest, 
lie  says,  lii'()l<e  irpuii  linn  like  a  ela])  ut'  lliiindei'.  liis  eoiiseiit  \«a.s 
yi<'lded,  lie  was  elected.  I  lis  experience  in  tiie  law  was  foiii  years 
pi'actice  oj"  "coiiiiiierce  in  land."  *  ■•!  s|ieenlated.  sold  lain!  and 
lioni;!!!  two  stores  of  dry  ;;oo(ls.  ainoiinliiiji  to  « HI. (Mid.''  His  lirst 
term  ofcoiiit  wastoliiiii  a  "st  i'anj;e  and  novel  liiisiness.''  Tlfis  was 
at  ( 'oviiiutuii,  W'asliiiiiiton  coniity.  aiiioii^'  his  loniier  coni'ades 
ol'Indian  rangers,  u  ho  now  tailed  to  draw  the  line  of  disliiiel  ion  due 
liiin  as  a  siipicine  Jiidyc  The  sheriU'.  iininindfnl  of  the  exalted 
position  of  ins  old  coinrade  in  arms,  on  opeiiini:  <'oiirt.  made  proc- 
lamation of  the  fact,  witlioiit  risini;  from  the  iiide  heiicli  in  lln^ 
coiiit  room  wliicii  he  occupied  astiide,  >ayiii;;'.  in  a  familiar  tone, 
''lJo,\s,  the  court  is  now  open,  .loliii  is  on  the  Iteiich.'''  Tiiesc 
omissions  of  ceremony  were  not  distasteful  to  his  honor,  lor  he 
utterly  detested  any  kind  of  mock  dignity,  though  he  says  he  was 
not  re.uardless  of  I  lie",Nolemn.  serious  di,uiiily  and  decornnr"  proper 
in  the  proeeedinjis  of  court.* 

lM»ster,  anotlier  of  the  supreme  Jiidjics.  resijiiied  within  a 
year — .liiiic  2L',  l.Slil.  lie  •'  was  almost  a  total  staiijicr  in  tiie  coun- 
try, lie  was  a  .ureat  rascal,  lint  no  one  knew  it  liieii.  lie  ha\  ini;' 
Iteeii  a  citizen  of  the  Stale  only  for  alioiit  three  weeks  before  he 
was  elected.  He  was  no  la w.\  er,  ne\ cr  lia\  iiii; cither  studied  or 
piacticed  law  ;  lint  a  man  of  winiiin.u.  |iolislied  manners,  and 
willial  a  gentlemanly  swindler,  from  some  jiart  of  \'ir,uinia.  *  * 
He  was  l>elie\cdto  he  a  clever  fellow ,  in  t  he  American  sense  of 
that  pliiase,  and  a  ^ood  liearted  sdiil.  He  was  assiiiiied  to  hold 
courts  in  the  circuit  on  the  \\'aliash  ;  hut  heiiiy  tearful  of  expos- 
iii,n  his  iittiT  incompetency,  lie  iiexcr  went  near  any  of  them. 
In  the  course  of  one  year  lie  resi^iiied  his  liijih  ottice,  hiif  took  carc^ 
liisl  to  po(;ket  liis  salary,  and  then  removed  out  of  the  State.     He 


I'' a 


•fjov.  Vnri\  fn  his  lilstory,  writos;    "Ttiis  siimc  jiidwo  preslilrrl  nt  a  court.  In  whicli  a 

mil II  iiiiiiircl  (irccn  wnw  coiiviclcd  of  iTnirilcr;  iiinl  it  licciimc  his  uriplciisiiiit  'liity  to  |>i-o- 
lioiiiicc  scMtciiri' (it  liciil  li  ii|ioii  the  ciilinil  lie  ciiIUmI  the  piisoiici'  liclorc  liiiii,  iiikI 
wiiil  to  liiiii:  'Mr.  (liccn,  the  .jury  in  their  \  crdk'l  siiy  you  me  yiiilty  of  iiuiiiUm-,  iitul  tlio 
law  siiys  you  arc  lo  lie  liuii|i\  Now  I  want  you  ami  all  your  I'riiiiils  ilowii  on  Iniliai) '  riM^k, 
to  know  ihat  it  is  not  I  who  condcnins  >  on.  hut  it  is  the  .jury  and  the  law.  Mr  .irccn, 
the  111  wallows  yon  time  I'or  lire  pa  rut  ion,  and  so  tin'  court  wants  to  know  wliat  time  you 
would  like  to  III- hnmi.'  'I'otliis  the  prisoner  rcjilicd,  '."ay  it  pleasi^  the  <'ourt,  I  am 
ready  at  any  time;  tliosc  wlio  Kill  the  lioly  have  ii<i  pow  lo  kill  the  soul ;  my  prepara- 
t  Ion  is  made,  and  I  am  ready  to  sutler  at  any  time  tlic  court  may  appoint.'  'I'hc  .jud(.ro 
then  said,  '.Mi'  (ireeii,  you  must  know  that  it  is  a  very  serious"  mutter  to  hu  liiin^;;it 
can't  happen  to  a  man  more  tlian  once  in  Ids  lil'c,  and  you  hint  'letter  take  all  the  tiino 
you  eiui  Kit  ;  the  court  will  fjive  you  until  this  day  lour  wcidts.  .Mr.  Clerk,  look  at  tho 
almiuiac,  ami  sec  whelher  this  day  four  weeks  conns  on  Sunday.'  'I'hc  clerk  looked 
111  the  iilmaniie,  as  diie'cted,  and  reported  that  't  hat  day  four  weeks  came  on  'I'hursday.' 
The  .ludHi'  tlicii  Hiiiil,  '.Mr.  (irccn,  the  court  y■i^■es  you  until  this  da.v  lour  weeks,  ut 
which  time  you  are  to  lie  liiiiiK.'  'I'hc  case  was  iJidsecutcd  liy  .lames  'I'lirncy,  V,si[.,  tho 
llttoriiey  ncncral  of  theState,  ivho  here  interposed  and  said  •  '.May  it  please  the  court, 
on  sole  III  n  oecasions  llki^  t  he  present,  when  t  he  lite  of  a  hiinian  beiny  is  lo  lie  seiilciice(l 
iiwa.\-  for  crime,  by  an  earthly  t  ribunal,  it  is  usual  and  proper  lor  courts  to  pronounce  u 
fornial  sentence,  in  wHitcli  the  leadimr  features  of  the  crime  shall  be  liroiitrlit  to  the  re- 
iiillc<'t  ion  of  the  prisoner,  it  sense  of  liisKuHt  impressed  upon  his  conseieiiee,  and  in 
whiclithe  pii.soner  should  Tie  duly  e.xhorled  to  repentance,  and  warneil  iiy^iiinst  tho 
.judiiiiieiit  in  the  world  to  come'  'I'o  this  the  .jiidue  replied,  '(II  .Mr.  Turiiev,  Mr 
(irccn  nnderstnnds  the  whole  matter  as  well  as  if  I  had  iircachcd  to  hiivi  a  mom  h.  Mo 
knows  he  has  trot  to  be  hiiiitt  tills  flay  lour  we<d<s.  Voii  understand  it  "ii  tliiit  way.  Mr. 
(irec  11,  don't  your''  'Ves,' said  t  he  |irisoner;  upon  which  the  .jiidKe  remanded  linn  to 
.jail,  and  the  coiirl  then  adjourned.  ' 

llc.v  Holds,  1,1  his  work  enlitled"My  Own  Times,"  takes  piiinsto  deny  the  "silly  falirl- 
ciilion  re<'orde<l  In  liist<ir.v,"  and  says  :  ''I  may  not  Inn c  acted  in  that  frl»rid,  unfeeling' 
and  meelirtnlciil  iiiiiiiner  that  would  please  heartless  and  siiperllelal  nicn,  whotreii- 
eraily  write  nn<l  detail  these  teii-pot  slanders.  *  •  [  considered  tlieni  both  |alludini? 
to  the  ease  of  one  Helmet  also]  Knilty.  and  the  Judtfnient  of  the  court  was  ho  iinder- 
8tuo(l,  that  they  were  both  to  be  executed." 


302  ms'idijv  <>i''  ILLINOIS. 


siftciwiirds  licciimc  a  noted  swindler,  iu<n  inji'  from  eit.v  to  city, 
iiii<lli\  inj;'  h.v  sw  iiidliii.n-  sliaiij'ers,  and  in'ostitutiny  liis  diinyliters, 
wlio  were  very  Iteantilul."* 

On  llie  Till  of  An.uMsi.  |S|!».  William  Wiisctn  \va.-;  appointed  to 
1111  llie  va<'an<'y  erealed  l>y  llie  resij;iiation  of  l''oster.  Wilson 
was  a  youn.i;  luaii,  seai'cely  L'.">  years  old,  of  spotless  eliaraelei', 
^'ood  ednealion  (tlioi!;^'li  not  eoile^iale),  and  fair  attainments  as  a 
lawyer,  lie  was  soeial  in  his  disposit  ion,  eandi<l  and  ailiess  hy 
natnre,  willi  a  manner  pleasant  and  wininni;.  lie  proved  a  sonnd 
Jnd,u'e,  and  presided  wiili  a  dignity  wldeii  inspired  the  ntmost 
respect  in  the  i»ar  and  allendanls.  Tims  orj;ani/ed,  and  with 
these  men  t(».uiiide  her  helm  of  State,  was  Illinois  launched  on 
her  career  of  independ<'nce  anioiij;'  the  .sist<'rhood  of  soverciiiii 
Stales.  The  men  who,  a  little  (»vei- a  halfcentnry  a  ji'o.  assisted 
at  the  political  Itirth  of  this  now  ;ireat  Slate,  were,  many  (»f  them, 
the  eqnals  in  sturdy  viitnes  of  the  heroes  of  the  li'e\  oliilion, 
and  the  jM'crs  in  eoinmandinji'  iidellect  of  the  fonnders  of  any 
the  Stales;  linl,  wilhont  except  ion,  they  liaxc  jiassed  to  the  land 
of  shadows,  and  many  of  them  lie  l)nri<'<l  in  oltscnre  jira\cs,  theii' 
deeds  of  j;reat iM'ss  unknown  l<»the  yreat  majority  of  the  Inrsy 
thronji'  of  to-day. 

r>iit  Illinois  had  iM)t  yet  been  declared  adnntted  into  the  I'ldon; 
congress  was  not  in  session.  \{  the  <)cl(d>er  meeting  of  the 
assembly  therefore,  no  leyisl;!!  ion  or  business  other  than  the  elec- 
tion of  ollicers,  was  attempted,  tor  obvions  reasons.  After  a 
session  of  ei,;;lit  days  a  recess  was  taken  till  the  lirst  ]\Iomlay  in 
.lannary,  ISlit.  In  the  meantinuM-oniiress  met,  and  by  resolntion 
oi'  Decemiter  .'id,  ISIS,  declared  liliiiois  to  be  ••  one  of  the  I'Mited 
States  of  America,  and  admitted  into  the  I'lnon  on  an  equal  foot- 
ing with  the  original  States  in  all   I'cspeets." 

Of  the  I. "»  comities  or,iiani/,ed  at  Iheadoiition  of  the  constitution, 
the  faithest  north  was  I'.ond.  Only  abont  one fonrth  of  the  terri- 
tory of  the  State  was  embraced  in  these  1,")  cstniities.  The  settled 
pnrlionsof  tlie  State  were  all  sontli  of  a  line  drawn  from  .\lton, 
\  ia  Carlyle,  to  ralestine  on  the  \>abasli:  bnt  within  this  area 
were  lary'e  ti'actsof  wilderness  conntry  of  several  days  jon'-ney  in 
exlent  ;  the  settlenuMits  beinji'  mostly  scattered  aloii^-  the  Itordt'i's 
of  the  ,n'reat  rivers.  All  the  vast  i)rairies  north  of  this  lim'.eom- 
]>risin;i' the  most  fertile  lands  of  the  Stale,  and  nearly  every  acre, 
ol  which  was  snsce])tible  of  cultivation,  ready  cleared  and  pre- 
})aie(l,  as  it  were,  foitin'  hand  of  the  husbandman,  was  aliowlin;jj 
vvilderness,  uinnhabited  save  In  the  red  sa\a.:i«'  mid  the  prairio 
wolf. 

The  ])opida1ion  of  tlie  new  Stati'  for  admission  into  the  Tnion 
was  required  to  be  4«»,(I(M> ;  the  census  of  lS2(t  showed  r»r».L*lI. 
This  was  a  remarkable  ratio  of  increase — exceedii:^'  .'5(10  per  cen- 
tnm  within  the  ))receding  decade — the  jiieater  i)art  of  which  had 
conu'  hither  since  the  closeof  the  war  of  ISlL'.*  Of  this  population, 
scarcely  a  twentieth  part  were  the  desceinlants  of  the  old  l'"i-ench  or 
Canadian  settlers,  whose  blood,  by  their  lonj^'  isolation,  had  bec<tme 
freely  interinin<;led  with  that  of  tin'  Indians.  Niiu'teen-tweidietlis 
vf  the  residue  were  Ameri«*ans.  and  with  the  exception  of  some 
fi'om  I'eniisylvania,  weie  almost  wlntlly  from  the  southern  States. 
'J'he  laltei- stamped  their  peculiar  characteristics  of  manners  and 

*Fonr8  History  Illinuia, 


]U)M)S  ADMIN IWTIIATION. 


303 


ciistoiiis,  ill  Itiisiiicss  ;iii<l  s(>ci:il  relations,  upon  all  of  soul  licni 
Jlliiiois,  wliicli  arc  in  /^ical  part  rclaiiicil  to  this  day.  'I'lu'  nivalis 
of  ('(liicatioii  were  cxtrciiicly  liinilt'il.  ami  with  the  cxccplioii  of 
one  school  for  siirx  c\  iiiii  ainl  Itook-kccpiii;^-,  the  only  Inaiichcs  of 
Icaniinj;'  lan^^hl  at  that  lime  were  spcilin;;,  rcadiii;:,  wriliiij;  ami 
jii'ilhmctic.  Nor  were  tlu^  latleryciicrally  taii};lit,  or  \vilii(»iit  i)ri('0. 
I'rofessional  iiieiicaiiie  almost  invariably  from  abroad,  unless  they 
M'crc  ministers  of  tiie  i^ospcl,  \vh<i.  at  that  day,  more  than  perhaps 
at  the  present,  in  ol»edience  to  the  V(»icc  of  the  liOid,  entered  at 
once  upon  their  sacred  calliii;^'  willioiit  other  |)rei»aralions  than  a 
diliueiil  readinj''  of  the  scri|tliires — ihe  fre<'  qiiolaiionof  which, 
often  without  point  oi'  applicat  ion.  and  their  vehcincnt  e\hortii- 
tioiis  i)i'iii;n'  about  all  that  was  expected  (»f  them  Ik  Ihe  people. 

Ill  his  iiiessaji'c  t<)l]ie  general  assembly, .laiiiiary,  ISIK,  (iovenior 
iJoiid  repented  the  treasury  of  the  new  Stale  in  an  einitarrassed 
(■ondition,  and  ad\ised  a  temporary  loan.  'I'he  tola!  revenue  of 
Ihe  State,  (hie  DecM'iiiiter  1st,  ISIS,  was  re|)oried  by  the  auditor 
at  !$". .■)!(>  44,  part  of  which  was  in  the  hands  of  deliii([iieiil  col- 
lectors, while  Ibi' still  another  part,  the  sherilfs  of  St.  Clair  and 
(lallatin  coiii'lies  had  refused  i;)  receive  the  warrants.  A  lemi>o- 
rary  loan  of  ."^-T^OIMt  was  therefoi-e  a.nthori/ed  by  llir  le,l;•islatllr(^ 
The  jiovermtr  also  advised  n  reviion  and  modilicatioii  of  the  ter- 
ritorial laws  lor  the  punisliiiien!  of  crimes,  Ihe  penalties  whereof 
were  iinneiu'ssarily  severe.  Ibit  this  the  le^islatiire  did  not  \  iew' 
in  the  siiini!  lijiht,  and  no  anielioration  in  tlie  barbarous  jienalties 
of  the  territorial  code  was  made.  They  were  recnacted  verbatim 
(the  enactin.y  chinse  alone  beinjf  chan.ycd  to  conform  to  the  new 
j;-overiiiiieiit),  with  all  the  whip|)in,us,  tlio  .stocks  and  pillory,  and 
death  by  lian,i>iiiin'  for  rape,  arson,  horse-stealinii,  etc.,  left  intact. 
They  were,  howexcr,  modilicd  at  the  session  of  ISlM  ;  and  not  oidy 
the  criminal  code,  but  all  the  standard  lawswerti  rej^nlarly  altered 
ut  every  session  down  to  the  re\  isioii  of  ISUT.* 

'J'he  imildinu'  of  Jails  and  a  |teiiifenitary  was  also  recommeiidi'd 
by  the  yovermtr  ;  so  also  the  leasing;-  of  the  school  sections — the. 
])r()cee(ls  to  be  expended  for  education,  and  those  from  the  town- 
ship of  .seminary  lands,  to  be  reserved  for  .siibse(|ueiit  use.  The. 
}>'overnor  also  recommended  at  that  early  day,  the  takinj;'  of  some, 
steps  toward  the  construct  ion  of  tlie  Illinois  and  Miciii,uan  canal, 
;i  work  which  was  not  accomplished,  howcM-i',  for  thirty  year.s 
after,  but  tliroii<;h  which,  at  this  w|•itin<,^  by  the  ent<'r|>rise  of  Clii- 
ca.!4(>,  the  liin|)id  waters  of  I/ak«'  Michigan  course  their  way  to  the 
(lulf  of  -Mexico. 

Tiie  legislature  fixed  the  salaries  of  the  Stale  ollicers  as  follows  : 
Clovermtr  and  siiprcMiie  ,judj;'es,  s^KMK)  each;  auditor.  87(M> ;  see- 
I'ctary  of  Slate.  8(I(H);  treasurer,  !!*•"»<•<>;  jKiyable  »piarler!y  out  of 
the  State  treasury.  The  pcu' diem  compensalioii  allowed  to  nieni- 
bers  of  the.  I(^«j,i,slature,,  tiiid  also  to  the  delej>ates  who  fraiiied  tlio 
constitution,  was  $4,  and  to  each  of  the  presiding' ollicers  !?."). 

The  State  revenue  was  chiefly  raised  by  a  tax  upon  lauds  owned 
by  lion  residents,  which  at  an  early  day  fell  almost  wholly  upon 
the  military  tract  between  tlie  Illinois  and  Mississippi  rivers,  wliile 

•"  Kor  a  Inntr  tiino  tln>  riijre  for  miif'ti'linir  mi'l  iiltorlrur  was  sodroat,  tliiit  it  was  saiil  to 
Ima  iroixl  lliiiiir  Uiat  the  Uoiy  S(M-iptiii'«'sili(l  not  iiavo  to  cotiii'  he  tort'  tlio  it'SfislatiM'-',  lor 
tiiat  boily  would  lie  c(^rtairi  to  alter  or  uiiicMiil  tliom,  sotliut  no  one  eouid  tell  what  was 
or  was  not  tlic  word  of  (rod,  anv  more  than  could  bo  told  what  was  or  was  not  tho  law 
ot  tbo  State."— Ford's  History  111. 


im 


oOl  IIISTOTJY   OF    IM.INOIS. 

tlu'  coiiiity  revcmics  were  raised  by  u  tax  <»n  itcisoiial  itroin'ity, 
iiicliKliii;;'  slaves  or  indent iired  ser\:iiits,  and  by  a  resident  lantl 
tax.  IJnUke  as  at  incsent.  tiie  \abiation  ol"  lands  weie  liieii  ti\ed 
bylaw,  ill  tliree  <'lasses,  »»f  !?L'.  «.'»  and-Yl  pel' acre,  lespeetixcly. 
The  levies  of  taxes  were  made  aeeordiiiji'  to  tlie  estiinales  of  liu^ 
siiins  rei|iiired  to  ilefrav  aecrilili;;  expenses,  eitlier  State  or  eonnty. 
Non-residents  were  rtMpiired  to  enter  their  lands  foi'  taxation 
direrlly  with  the  andiloi',  under  oath  as  to  class;  and  the  taxes 
(Ml  their  lands  were  payal)le  direetlx  to  this  ollieer.  The  eolleetioii 
of  the  State.  rev(Miiie  on  deliiKpieiit  lands  was  enforced  by  seiidiiiji 
lists  thereof  to  the  slierilfs  of  eoiinties  where  sitnated  to  be  ex- 
posed at  public  sale.  The  penalty  for  failure  of  payment  was 
three  times  the  tax  imposed  and  costs. 

A  peculiar  feature  in  the  legislation  of  the  times  was  the  inak- 
in<;'  of  im|)oi'lMnt  public  iiiipro\cm«-nls  b\  means  of  pri\ate'lot- 
tery  schemes.  Thus,  the  na\  i.uat ion  of  the  \\\>x  Wabasli  at  the 
(iiaiid  liapi<ls,  near  Palmyra,  by  the  di^^jiinu  of  a  canal,  was 
to  l»e  accomplished  by  a  lottery.  Perhaps  a  siip«'rlliioiis  provision 
in  the  law  was,  that  the  overplus  of  any  moneys  arisiuj;'  iVom  the 
scheme,  should,  at  the  discretioii  of  the  maiia^icrs,  be  laid  out  in 
further  iiiiiiroveiiu'iits.  Other  like  schemes  had  for  their  object 
the  drainajic  of  ponds  in  the  American  Potlom,  tlie  biiildinu of 
levees,  and  the  reclamation  (»f  lands;  all  of  lliein  most  worthy 
objects,  but,  as  mijilit  liaxc  been  expected,  the  iiiewns  provided 
were  very  iiiadetiiiate  to  the  accumitlishnient  of  the  i'lnU.  The 
session  of  l.Sl!»,  was  the  last  ever  held  at  th«'  ancient  villa,u('  of 
Kaskaskia.  • 

\\'e  have  noted  the  fact  that  the  lejiislatnie,  dtiriiij;'  the  latter 
y<'ars  of  teriUorial  existeime.  firaiited  charters  to  sevoral  banks. 
I'rior  (o  that,  Oiiio  and  iveiitiicky  had  each  a  larjic  iiir  ber  in  o]»er- 
ation.  Missouri  also  ant hori/ed  tw(»  at  St.  Louis.  The  result  was 
that  paper  money  l)ecame  very  abundant,  times  lliish,  credit  un- 
limited, the  throii.u'  of  imini;;raiits.  ad  with  more  or  less  means  t»» 
invest  larue,  ami  pro]terty  rose  rapidly  in  value.  A  sj>irit  of  spcir- 
ulation  became  rife.  Towns  were  numercMisIy  jthitted,  lots  i»ur- 
<'liased  on  credit,  houses  built  on  promises.  y(»vernment  lands 
entered  in  larji'c  quantities — the  price  at  the  time  lieiiiy  !?!.'  per 
acre,  one-fourth  cash  (the  paper  money  of  the  banks  beinj;  re- 
ceived at  the  land  ollices,  Avliich  also  deposited  with  the  bank), 
and  three-fourths  on  .">  years  time,  under  [K'aalty  of  forfeiture  for 
iioii-l»aynieid  at  maturity  of  contracts.  ICveiybody  invested  to 
the  utmost  limit  of  his  credit,  with  the  conlideiit  expectation  of 
r«'ali/,iiiji;'  a  handsome  advance  before  the  expiration  of  his  credit, 
from  the  coining'  imini<;raiit.  The  merchants,  ever  eiiterprisiii';-, 
boujiht  vast  quantities  of  j^oods  on  time,  transported  hither  by  the. 
increased  facilitiits  of  steam  navij;ation,  while  the  ready  credit 
obtained  at  the  stores,  beji'ot  extravaj;ance  amoiij^'  the  i»eo[)le. 
Everybody  was  inextricably  in   debt  t»o  everybody. 

I>y  ISll),  it  became  apparent  that  a  day  of  reekonin<i'  would 
ap|)roacli  before  their  dreams  of  fortune  could  be  realized.  JJaiiks 
everywhere  bejian  to  waver,  paper  money  became  dei)reciated, 
while  <;()ld  and  silver  w«'re  driven  out  of  circulation  by  (he  irre- 
deemable (Mirreiicy.  The  le>;islature,  at  its  session  of  ISlfl,  sonjiht 
to  bolster  up  the  times,  or  stem  the  tide  of  ai»i)roaehinj;'  (lisaster, 
b^  incorporating  a  new  liaiik  of  Illinois,  a  iiumster  couceru,  Avitli 


bond's  administration.  303 


a  <-a|)itaI  of  !?L',(t(>(M»()(» ;  slock  was  divided  into  slmivs  of  !?10(», 
Avliicli  inijilit  l»('  siihscrilM'd  by  coipoialioiis  or  individuals,  tlio 
State  leservinjr  tlie  ii;;Iit  to  tak«'  part  (»r  all  tliat  .slioidd  remain,  as 
tlie  condition  of  tlic  treasury  inijiiit  wariant,  wlicnevci'  tiie  icj^isla- 
tnic  slionld  deem  it  pi'oi»er  to  do  so.  Tlie  cliaiter  was  to  rnii  L'T 
years.  Wlicn  l."»  percent  of  tiie  stock  was  paid  in,  it  was  to  ;•() 
iato  operation.  The  total  amount  of  its  debts  was  nexcr  to  exceed 
twice  tlie  amount  of  paid  np  stock,  beyond  wliicli  ollicers  weic  to 
become  liable  individnally.  It  nii^ilit  deal  in  specie,  excliaiij;e,  or 
])aper  pled<icd  by  <ioods  sold,  oi-  j^oods  wliicli  mij;lit  be  tlic  pi'o- 
i'ceds  of  its  lands.  This  last  was  a  very  objectionai»Ie  fcatnre. 
l>ooks  were  ojieiied  for  snbscriiitioii  in  divers  towns,  but  not  a  dol- 
lar of  stock  was  ever  taken,  and  it  utterly  failed  to  meet  the 
I'xijiciH'y  of  the  times. 

I>y  1S20,  the  banks  of  neijihborin<;' States  were  broken,  and  those 
of  Illinois  susp«'nde«l  ;  specie  had  tied  the  country;  inimijjraiits 
came  as  moiieyh'ss  as  were  tliose  who  had  looked  forward  to  their 
well  lilled  ]>nrses;  i)a])er  towns  failed  to  ;4row  into  Hourisliiny  \  il- 
latics;  trade  tlaj;',i;('d:  there  was  no  coinmeice  to  briii;^'  money  into 
the  countiy  ;  real  estate  was  unsaleable;  while  (contracts  wildly 
entered  into,  matured.  As  the  folly  of  the  ))eople  became  appar- 
ent, ruin  stared  them  in  the  face.  lOnormous  sacrifices  of  ]>roperty 
under  ])rospective  executions  must  ensue,  unless  some  scheme  for 
relief  <'<)uld  be  devised.  In  Au^iust,  ISliO.  a  new  Icjjislature  was 
elected.  The  jneinus  of  this  body  was  invoked  on  the  behalf  rtf 
the  <'iiibarassed  ])eo])le.  At  its  session  of  ISl'O-lil.  it  willinjily 
addressed  itself  to  this  work,  and  evolved  the  "  Illinois  State 
IJank"  with  a caijital  of  half  a  million  dollars,  based  entirely  upon 
the  credit  of  the  State. 

The  bills  of  this  bank,  issued  in  from  $1  to  $20  notes,  were,  by 
sectioji  12,  directed  to  be  loaned  to  the  i)eo]»le  in  sums  of  $1(M>  on 
])ersoiial  security,  deemed  to  be,  in  the  opinion  of  the  boai'd,  j^ood 
and  suihcient ;  and  all  sums  over  8100 — not  to  ex(u'ed  $1,000  to 
any  one  borrower — on  real  estate  security  of  double  value.  In- 
terest was  six  per  cent.  To  briuij  the  bank  nearer  to  the  people, 
a  mother  bank  was  located  at  Vandalia  with  blanches  well  distrib- 
uted— at  I'idwardsville,  IJrownsville,  Shawneetown  and  the  county 
seat  of  Edwards  county — the  State,  for  the  convenience  of  the 
judilic^  beiuf;  appoitioned  into  4  bank  distiicts.  Each  c<mnty  was 
entitled  to  a  dir<'c.tor,  who  with  the  bank  ollicers,  were  all  elected 
by  tlielejiislature.  The  notes  were  made  reeeival)le  in  jiayment  of  all 
State  and  county  taxes,  costs  and  teex,  and  the  salaries  of  tiie  i>ub- 
lic  officers  were  payable  in  them.  They  were  also  made  a  sjiccies 
of  Icfijal  tei  ,ler,  for  unless  an  execution  creditor  endoised  his  exe- 
(iution  "Tlie  bills  of  the  State  Uauk  of  Illinois,  or  either  of  the 
branches,  will  be  received  in  discharge  of  this  execution,"  the  de- 
fendant was  entitled  to  three  years  stay  by  replevy  and  ])ersonal 
security,  a  most  unjust  fejitur/i\  Three  hundred  thousand  dollars 
were  or<ler(!d  to  be  issued  immediately,  to  be  distributed  ainonji-  the 
respective  districts  in  ])roportiou  to  the  inhabitants  thereof.  \Vlicu 
the  banks  ccmimenced  operation,  every  one  who  was  able  to  fur- 
nish security,  borrowed  his  $100,  and  those  with  laiuls  unencuin- 
bered,  took  their  $1000  on  mortgages;  and  as  both  ofti<;ers  and 
directors  were  mostly  politicians  looking  forward  to  place  or  polit- 
cal  advanceuieut,  few  applicants,  it  has  been  inferred,  were  denied 
20 


3()(; 


IIIS'I'OIIY   (»F    ILMxNOIS. 


or  liiHl  llicir  endorsers  closj-ly  .scnitiiiizcd  ;  thus  the  );•.">( K»,(l(K)  were 
s<M»ii  iiltstd  Itt'tl  l)_v  flic  |M'(»|»I(',  iiiid  litth'  of  it  was  ever  paid  l>ack. 
Miiii,\  ot'tlitisr  who  i«MM'i\  fd  iiccoliiiiHxhitioiis,  i(';;iiidt'd  il  I'loiii  tin,' 
sliiil  as  ••  Nd  iiiiicii  ch'ar  ^iaiii,"  and  iicil  lici  did  iioi'  iiilcndfd  to  jiay. 
altliuii;;ii  at  tlic  .siii»M«'(iii('iit  dcinvciatioii  of  tlif  ciinciicy  il  was 
not  ditliciilt  to  do  so. 

Tlic  issues  l)ortt  L'  percent  annual  interest,  and  were  re<h'cnnii)h) 
l),v  tile  Slate  in  10  years  time,  wliicii  eonsliliited  tiieni  in  fact  hills 
of  credit,  whose  ennssion  is  inimical  to  tla^  consiitnlion  of  tlu) 
United  Stales.*  Ahtmt  this  point,  Uit  tronhle  was  made  however, 
other  tiian  that  the  council  of  revision  pointed  out  tins  anion;;' 
olhtM' oltjections  lolheliill;  hut  it  was  promptly  passed  not  with- 
stiiiidin;^'.  Althou^ih  no  provision  was  made  lor  the  conversion  of 
the  notes  into  specie  at  any  time,  it  was,  nevertheless,  conlideiilly 
believed  iliat  the  bills  would  keep  at  par  withhold  and  silver,  and 
our  dele;;ation  in  c(Hi;;i'ess  was  <>ravely  instructed  to  use  their 
ulinosl  exertion  to  pi'ocnre  them  to  be  made  receivable  at  the  land 
ofliees  in  this  State.  "When  this  resolution  was  ]»iit  toa  vole  in 
the  senate,  the  old  l-'reiich  lieiitenant^dveinor,  Colonel  .'\Ieiiard, 
presiding  over  that  body,  did  up  the  business  as  follows:  (ienlle- 
iien  of  dc  senate,  it  is  moved  and  seconded  ih(f  tie  notes  of  (Uh 
bank  be  made  land  ollice  money.  All  in  f,i\ or  of  daf  motion  say 
a.ve;  all  a;;ainst  it,  say  no.  It  is  de«'ided  in  </<- anirmative.  And 
iM»w,  •;enthMiien,  1  hct  i/ou  >f\{H)  lie  ncrcr  he  made  (mid  office  moii(if.^''j 
Such  lU'oved  to  be  the  fact. 

The  legislature  were  not  unadvised  of  their  infatuation,  .bdm 
]Mclieaii,  subseiiiM'iitly  a  senator  in  conj;ress,  was  si»eaker  of 
the  house.  He  was  opposed  to  the  measure,  and  his  power  as 
u  forcilile  debater  was  Justly  drt-aded  by  the  bank  men.  It  i.s 
riilaitle  to  debate  all  important  bills  in  committee"  of  the  whole, 
that  the  speaker  may  participate.  To  avoid  an  arrai;;ninent  of 
their  bantlin*;'  by  him,  the  bank  majority  resorted  to  the  trick  of 
refusing'  to  ^d  into  ;,'ommiltee  of  the  whole.  IJurnini;'  with  imli^'- 
iialion  at  such  treatment,  he  promptly  resi«;n(  ,i  the  si>eakersliip, 
and  takinji' the  floor,  denounced  in  scathing' terms  the  expensive 
folly  of  the  scheme,  presajiinji'  the  injurious  results  wliicli  must 
inevitably  tlovv  frojii  its  passage,  involving  creditors  in  ruin  and 
tiie  Slate  in  bankrupt(!y.  Ihit  it  was  pre-deteiniined  to  [»ass  the 
bill,  which  was  done;  over  the  veto  by  the  I'CMiuisite  leajority.  The 
issues  of  th<'  bank  did  not  long  remain  at  par;  as  their  worthles.s- 
ness  became  apparent,  giKx!  money  was  driven  out  of  cii'culation. 
Tliis  was  ])articularly  so  with  small  coins,  and  it  became  so  dilli- 
eult  to  make  change  that  bills  had  to  be  cut  in  two.  By  various 
.ste])s,  they  depreciated  to  lio  cents  (»n  the  dollar;  and  with  this 
\vorthless  8tj)te  currency  Avere  the  pectple  cursed  for  a  jieriod  ex- 
ceeding fojJj' years.  By  the  year  liSU4,  their  depreciation  had  Die 
etfect  to  almost  impede  the  wlnels  of  government.  The  oi'dinary 
revenue,  for  State  purposes,  amounting  to  some  $.'?(),(((•((  annually, 
wasiaised  by  a  tax  on  landsbelonging  to  non-residents;  the  exjien- 
ditiires  in  good  money  eiiUaled  the  revenue.  As  taxes  might  be 
])aid  in  bills  of  the  State  liank,  non  residents,  as  well  as  residents, 
iivailed  themselves  of  the  <lepreciated  currency  for  this  ]»urpose. 
Taxes  from  non-residents  were  collected  bienniallv — an  unfair  ad- 


*('rai(f  vs.  the  State  of  Missouri.— Supreme  court  of  theU.  S. 
tFord's  Illinois. 


I  AM 


Bf)NT>'S  Al)MINIS'l'KA«ON.  .307 


Viiiitii;;('  over  residents  wliosc  tiix  went  into  tiic  (•oiint v  tiejisniicst. 
]>nt  til*-  latter,  in  niiiny  instances,  resurti>(l  to  t  lie  aitiliee  of  lifting 
tlieii-  laiid.s  in  the  names  of  nnknown  or  lietitioiis  peisons  siip- 
]»ose(l  to  l»e  noil  residents,  jiaiiiiii;;  lliiis  the  same  adxanta^ies, 
uliieh  was  a  jnolitie  source  of  injury  to  many  counties.  \\  liilo 
the  State  thus  nominally  received  its  full  revenue,  it  was  in  |Kunt 
of  fact  worth  only  oiie-foiirth,  or  one-third,  as  niueli  as  yood  nmiiey. 
I'nder  lliese  circiimstanees,  the  leyislaliire,  tlie  de|iaitiiieiit  (»f  tli(5 
p>vei'iiment  that  had  made  the  Itills  a  (|iiasi  le^al-tender  which  an 
execution  creditoi-  was  eom|»eIle(!  to  take  or  wait  tlii'ee  ytars  for 
Iiis  pay — than  whicli  iiothinu' could  i»e  nioi'e  iiiijust  hcftiitatcd  not 
to  c<»mmit  the  enormity  of  xotiii^'  themselves,  the  State  »»t1iciaki, 
jiidjics,  and  for  other  expenses,  their  per  diem  compensation,  csahi- 
ries,  etc.,  in  treble  theamonnt  of  aiulilor's  wairants,  rated  with  tln^ 
depreciated  stiiir  to  eipial  i;i  value  i;ood  money,  'i'liiis  while  the 
ordiiiaiy  expenses  of  the  State  ^■overiinieiit  were  .*<.'I0,(MM)  annually, 
by  these  i)raetics  they  were  swollen  to  .*!»(».<»(»(»,  which  the  tax-pay- 
ors  'lad  iillimately  t(»  foot.  Never  was  law  more  dishonorable. 
With  such  examples  from  their  law  makers,  what  would  ha\»'bccii 
the  moral  etl'ect  upon  the  ]ieople  had  tla-y  been  iiiHueiici'd  by  them. 
A  crumb  w  as.  howoNcr.  throw  II  to  the  lattei-.  It  was  enacted  for 
the  acconimoilation  of  the  debtors — the  hi^'^icr  class,  but  ayaiii 
in(»st  unjustly  t(»  the  creditors— aiitliori/,iii;4' the  renderiiiji' of  Jialj;'- 
ineiits  against  them  for  only  one-third  of  their  ilcbts.  and  exempt  in;;', 
by  aiiotlier  act.  all  I'cal  jiiopcrty,  other  than  mortj;a;;e(l  lands,  ''from 
liability  to  satisfy  jud,i;iiieiits  for  said  debts." 

This  l>aiikiii;;'  folly,  not  to  characteri/e  it  worse,  is  said  to  have 
cost  the  State,  first  and  hist,  duiin^i'  the  ten  years  for  w hich  its 
eliarter  was  t(»  I'un,  the  full  amount  of  the  authori/ed  issue.  8"»(*<),- 
()()(>.  though  •"^•iO'M*"*' was  all  that  was  ev<'r  actually  issued.  Its 
j)ernicioiis  inlliienee  on  the  ji'eiieral  i>rosp<'iity  of  the  State,  and 
its  daman'inji'  elfccts  upon  tlu^  I'evenne.  became  speedily  so  palpa- 
ble that  no  le;iislature  ])ossessed  hardihood  enou^ih  to  eiicoiiiiler 
the  jjublic  resentment  by  pro])osiiij;'  tli.it  the  State  issue  the, 
remaimiiii;'  .*!-<><)l),(UM)  provided  for  in  tlie  charter.  Still  issuiii;L;' 
auditor's  warrants  and  )>ayinj;-  llieni  out  at  *.')  for  !?1  to  defray 
State  exiM'iises  ji'enerally,  as  authorized  by  the  le.yislatiire,  was 
inliiiitely  woise.  in  1S-J."»,  the  State  thus  ]»aid  out  *!()7,(MM»  in  ati- 
dito)''s  wai'i-ants  when  itsor<linary  annual  ex)»enses  in  ^ood  money 
Avoiild  not  at  the  uttermost  have  exceeded  sjs.'irt.OttO.  This  wa.s 
r(piivalent  to  borrowiiiji'  money  at  1MM>  [»er  centum  interest — a  most 
luinous  i)olicy  if  well  followed. 

The  ciiri'eiit  expenses  of  the  ))rineipal  bank  for  the  year  IS24, 
exceeded  the  discounts  by  .^L*,  KK!  !»(».  \\'itliout  ever  meet iii>;-  the 
fond  expectations  of  its  friends — unless  it  was  in  the  contriN  aiiee 
of  robbin;;'  the  creditor  class  for  the  benefit  and  relief  of  the 
debtor  class — without  (tbserving' any  of  its  promises,  the  old  bank, 
a  fri<>litfid  source  of  le<;isIation  all  its  life,  linj;ered  out  theallotted 
time  of  charter,  and  was  finally  wound  up  by  the  State  in  IS,'!!. 
This  was  doiK!  by  ineatis  of  the  "  Wiy/^ins  loan"  of  .slOO.OtIO, 
■which  yave  to  the  State  the  reipiisite  funds.  This  loan  was  for 
a  lony-  time,  unjjopular  in  many  sections  of  the  State,  where  it 
Avas  currently  believed,  it  is  said,  that  the  State  was  sold  to  Wijj;- 
i;ins.  It  lias  been  asserted  that  if  the  State  had  originally 
assumed  directly  and  gratuitously  the  obligations  of  the  clamorous 


308  HISTORY    Ol"    II.I.INOIS. 


(li'btors,  it  would  liav«'n»rov('(l  less  exjK  nsivd  to  tlio  tnnsiiry  ;  cer- 
tiiiiily  less  inJiii'ioUH  to  its  crnlit. 

At  tlir  session  of  ISL'l,  tin*  <'»»iinti('s  of  (Irccru',  [•"'nyctt*',  Moiit- 
goiiit'iy,  Lawri'iic*',  lliiiniitoii,  Saii^iiiiioii  and  I'iivc,  llic  latter 
iiit'liidiii;;  ill!  tiie  State  north  and  west  of  tlie  Illinois  ri\ei-  an<l 
wluit  is  now  (/ook,  were  estid)lisli«-d.  Applications  t'ortlu^  aidhor- 
it.v  to  I'oiin  new  eonnti(^s  |)onr)-d  in  so  liipidly  that  the  legislature 
|)i'ovided  lor  IL!  weeks  pidtliciition  of  their  intentions  befori;  the 
petitions  of  parties  would  in  future  he  eidertained.  A. joint  reso- 
lution was  passed  requesting'  of  Kentuc^ky  <'on(Mirrent  jurisdietioii 
on  the  Ohio  river,  so  far  as  the  siinie  foinis  a  eoinniori  boundary  to 
both  {States,  which  has  been  conceded  by  that  iStiite. 


CUAPTKR  XXVII. 

l822-lS2(U-Al)MIMSTI{Ari()N  OF  (JOVKIJNOR  COLE^. 

A  resume  of  Slarcnj  in   Jllinoix  from  Uh  earUent  ilate — Iwlentiired 
SItnrN — lilark  LaicH — Kidnapphitj — Life  and  ('lidmrter  of  Gov 
Cofen—Tlu'  effort  to  make  Illinois  ■  Slave  State  in  ].Sl!4. 


TIio  }j('H('i'iil  election  of  Aii;;M.st,  1S22,  resiiUed  in  tlie,  ciioice  of 
Kdwiiid  Coles  us  ^ovcriKtr,  li.v  n  plnralily  ol"  votes  over  liis  |>rin- 
rijtal  opponent,  .losepli  l'liilli|)s,  then  elii<>t' jnstie(^  of  the  State. 
Theie  weje  t\V4»  other  eantlidiites  in  the  tield,  Tlionias  (7.  lirown, 
associati'  ju.stiee  of  the  supreme  eoiirt,  and  .Major  (leneral  dames 
]S.  Moore,  of  the  State  niilitia.  Adolplins  I'^rederiek  Hidtbai'd  wan 
elected  lienteinint  ;;overnor.  The  other  ciindiiiates  for  lientenant 
jioxcjiior  were  diinies  Lemon,  ji'.,  Joliii  G.  Loften,  Win.  Tine,  and 
dames  A.  I'eacock. 

Into  this  election  the  question  of  slavery  entered  to  a  very  ooii- 
si(leial)l<^  extent,  Coles  and  Moon^  heiny-  anti,  and  Thillips  and 
l>ro\vn  pro  slavery.  The  conntry  had  l»nt  Jnst  (Mner^i'ed  from  tlio 
jniijry  contest  ovei- that  snl»ject  as  connected  with  the  a<lmissioii 
of  Missouri  into  the  Union,  in  wliich  onr  senators  in  con;;ress, 
iMessrs.  Kd wards  and  Thomas,  had  taken  a  leadin;.;  part,l)ein;;  the 
orifj;inators  of  the  compromise  line  of  .'>()  dej;ress  and  'M)  minntes, 
while  onr  niemher  of  the  House,  Dainel  1*.  Cook,  with  much  vi;;(>r 
liad  opjjosed  the  a<lmission  of  .Missouri  as  a  slave  .State.  Thomas' 
term  as  senator  would  expire  with  the,  existing'  eonj;ress,  and  he 
looked  forwai'd  to  an  approval  of  his  course  in  conj^ress  and  a  re- 
election. Of  the  le;ij;islatnre  chosen  at  the  same  election,  a  nmjority 
was  against  the  <iovciiior  in  his  anti-slav<'iy  \ lews.  J>nt  the  sub- 
ject of  ]ii'incipal  intei«'st  dnrin;;-  his  administiation  was  the 
(•onvention  stiiiji,ylin;.i'  to  make  Illinois  a  slaxc  State.  To  f;ive  the 
reaflei'  a  more  connected  idea,  we  have  hei'ctofore  purposely  omitted 
to  j>resent  in  chroiiolojj;i<'al  ordci'  the  kindred  sultjects  c(tnstitutiu^ 
the  heading'  of  this  ehaptei',  and  now  ^'roui»  them  toncther. 

African  slaves  weic  tirst  bronj;ht  to  Illinois  in  ITl'O  l»y  Iicnault, 
a;;'ent  ami  business  manaj^er  of  the  ''('omiKiny  of  St.  riiillips." 
The  belief  (d)taiued  in  Fran('e  at  that  time  that  the  wealth  of  the 
western  world  consisted  in  ifs  jx'arl  lislieries,  its  mines  of  j;'old  and 
silver,  and  the  wool  of  its  wild  cattle.*  A  mouoi»ol3-  of  these 
resources  with  many  others,  was  tirst  jiranted  by  the  Kin;;'  to  Crozat 
in  1S12,  and  upon  his  i'esi<;inition  in  1717,  to  the  ^reat  "Com])any 
of  the  West,"  of  which  tlie  St.  rhilli[>s  was  a  branch.  Kenault 
left  Fi'ance  in  1719  with  a  cargo  of  mechaincs,  ndners  and  laboiers 


•Charlevoix,  ill,  389. 


309 


310 


niSTOKY  {)V  ILLINOIS. 


iMHiilx'iiiiji  sonic  L'OO,  nnd  on  liis  wii,v  liitlicitoiiclicd  willi  his  vessels 
iit  San  l)oniin;i<),  where  lie  iMirclnised  ."(0(1  slavi's.  and  thus  pre- 
])ared  to  inoseciite  llie  objects  of  the  eoiniiaiiv.  he  ani\t'd  in 
Illinois.  He  loiiiided  (he  \  illa<;('  of  "St.  IMiillips,"  in  what  is  now 
the  southeast  eonier  of  .Monroe  eoiilitv,  whence  he  sent  out  exiihn- 
inj:  paities  to  vaiions  sections  in  Illinois  and  Missouri,  to  |H'ospcct, 
lor  the  piecioiis  metals,  in  17U.  hefore  his  return  to  I'rance, 
Iveiianlt  sold  these  slaves  to  the  i-'reiich  c(y|oiiists  of  Illinois, 
Vi\  iei'.  a  missionary  amon,i;'  the  Illinois,  six  leagues  from  l''ort- 
Charti'cs,  under  date  of  June  S,  17.10  writes:  "We  have  here, 
wliitcs,  ne,t;roes,  and  Indians,  to  sa\  iiolliiiiuof  the  ci'oss  breeds. 
There  ai'c  li\e  French  xiilaj^cs,  and  thie*-  of  the  iiativi's,  within  ;i 
.si)aee  of  I'i  leagues,  situated  Itetweeii  the  .Mississii>i)i  juid  another 
I'iver  called  the  Kaskaskia.  In  the  Ihe  French  villa.yes  are, 
perliai»s,  1,1(1(1  whites.  .'>(»()  blacks,  and  some  (Id  red  slaves  or 
.savaji'es.  'ihe  thre*'  Illinois  [Indian]  tt)wns  d(»  not  contain  more 
than  SOO  souls,  all  told."  These  San  l)oiiiiii,n-o  slaxcs  thus  intro- 
duced became  the  pi'Oii'ciiitors  of  the  French  sl;iv«'s  in 
Iliinois. 

The  edict  (»f  Lonisthe  XIII.  dated  A[)ril  L'.J,  1(>I.~>,  first  recognized 
slaveiy  in  the  French  possessions  of  America,  and  the  French 
.settlers  of  Illinois  bron,L;!it  with  them  from  Canada  the  l''rciich 
laws  and  customs,  amoiiu' thi-iii  the  law  which  tolerated  shi\  cry. 
Jn  March,  1724,  Louis  XV  i)id)lished  an  (trdinaiice  reeuact'u;;  the 
edict  of  XIII,  and  for  the  '•re.nnlation  of  the  novi-rnment  antl 
administi'ation  of  Justice,  police. disciple, and  Irallic  in  iieuro  slaves 
ill  the  i»rovinc(' of  Ii(»nisiana,"  which  included  Illinois.  It  |>rovides 
that  the  slaves  be  ba]>tized  and  instructed  in  tlu'  Roman  Catholic 
religion  and  that  they  obserxc  the  S;il)batli  ;  prohibits  theinter- 
niarriajie  of  whites  ami  blacks,  under  penalties,  and  the  priests 
Iroiii  soli'mnizinji'  such  niarriaj:'es;  provides  that  tlu'  chihlr- n  of 
slaves  shall  be  bomlsmeu.  or  if  one  jiarent  is  free  the  children  sliall 
follow  the  condition  of  the  mother;  that  sla\ cs  enfe»'l»led  by  ajic  or 
inliri:«iity  shall  be  maintained  liy  the  master;  allows  the  inastt-r  to 
])iirsue  and  recai>ture  fuj;itives;  prohibits  their  severe  tr*'atment, 
and  the  separate  sale  of  husband  or  wife,  or  children  iimh'r  aji'e, 
of  a  family,  either  by  bill  or  e.\eeiiti<m  ;  provides  that  no  skive 
over  forty  years  old  attached  to  lands,  shall  be  sold  from  (he  land, 
unless  for  the  debt  of  his  imrehase;  enjoins  their  parental  treat- 
ment upon  the  masters,  iS:c.  The  edict  contains  .V>  articles,  ami 
may  be  found  at  larj;(-  in  Dillon's  llistoiy  »»f  Indiana,  i,  .U.  It 
Avas  more  Just,  and  tempered  with  j;r('ater  mercy,  than  nmst  laws 
of  that  character. 

Thus  was  sla\ cry  ori,i;inaIly  established  in  Illinois.  r>y  the  peace 
concluded  at  Paris,  Feb.  Id,  17(>.),  this  country,  as  a  <lepeiidency  of 
Canada,  was  ceded  to  (Jreat  r>ritain,and  whendeueral  (lajio  took 
]»ossession  of  Illinois,  he  iiromised  in  his  |iroelamation  of  I)e<'.  M), 
17(tl,  to  the  latci  subjects  ot'  France,  "that  those  who  choose  to 
retain  their  lands  and  become  subjects  of  his  [ilritauicj  majesty, 
shall  enjoy  the  same  ii;;lits  and  pi'ivilejics.  the  same  security  for 
their  p»'rsons  and  etl'eets,  and  liberty  of  trade,  as  the  old  subjects 
of  the  kiiij;'."  .\.t  this  p<'riod  iOni^land  reco^iiiized  slavery  in  all 
her  American  colonies,  and  the  actpiisition  of  Canada  and  its 
dependencies  operated  to  extend  her  colonial  laws  and  customs  to 
these. 


coles'  AD:\IINISTRATIf)N. 


311 


Next,  Vii'iiiiiia,  177S,  tlivoimli  Ikt  expedition  iiiKler  tlie  ('oiiiiiiiUMl 
of  (ieoi'ju'e  IkOi^ers  Cliirli,  iiiade  tlie  coiiqiK-st  ot'  Illinois,  and  as  soon 
as  I  lie  news  was  received,  lier  house  of  hui',uesses  Ini'tliei' declared  as 
williin  lu'i'clnirtei'ed  liniitstlie  whole  of  the  northwest  teiTitory,  and 
jiroceeded  l»y  act  to  ei'ect  it  into  a  county  which  was  called  Illinois, 
and  extended  o\-er  tiiis  conntry  her  laws  and  Jurisdiction.  The 
jueanilileof  the  act  recites,  "that  the  iidialtitants  liad  acknowledii'ed 
themselves  citizens  of  tlie  coniiiionwealth  of  \'ir,i;inia,  and  had 
taken  the  oath  of  lidelity  to  the  Stat<',"  wherelore  it  was  declared 
"that  they  should  enjoy  their  own  reli;;ion,  with  all  their  civil  lights 
and  jn-opcrty."  Other  States  caiiK!  forward  with  charter  claims, 
bur  that  of  N'iriiinia  was  as  liroad  as  these;  added  to  which  was 
lier  title  by  comiuest,  yoiiij;'  back  to  the  first  principles  by  whicli 
all  titles  are  ()ri,uiiially  deduced,  and  her  actnal  occupation  coii- 
stiliitinn'  the  best  of  teniii'cs;  and  while  it  was  iir,yed  that  the  !al  ter 
could  not  operate  a.iiaiiist  her  confederate  claimant  sister  Slates, 
«'n,i;ajied  in  a  common  war  Jointly  with  liei,  coii,i;ress  did  iioi  deny 
the  riylit  of  her  separate  coiKjuest.  After  some  liesitation,  Vir- 
j;inia  liiially  authorized  lier  deleiuates  in  conj>ress  to  convey  all  of 
the  northwestern  lei'ritory  to  tlie  I'liited  States.  The  deed 
of  cession  was  executed  .March  1st,  17S4,  the.  same  day  accej)led 
and  by  coni^ress  ordered  to  beenr<»lled  amon<;'  the  jtnblic  archives. 
In  the  meantinie,  by  th(>  treaty  of  peace  witli  (ireat  Uritain.  iu 
17s;l,  the  whole  of  lliis  country  was  ceded  to  the   l'iiite<l   States. 

'J'he  folIowiii<i' stipulation  in  the  deed  of  cession  has  j;iven  rise 
to  mil.  ii  controversy  in  the  history  of  slavery  in  Illinois:  '-That 
the  French  and  ('ainMiian  inhaltitaiits  and  other  settlers  of  the. 
Kaskaskias.  St.  \'iiicents,  and  the  iiei.u'liborin,u'  villa;;'es,  who  ha\(! 
inofcssed  themselves  citizens  of  the  State  of  \'ir,iiinia,  shall  have 
their  ])(>s.se.ssions  and  titles  conlirmed  to  them,  and  be  ])r()tected  in 
the  enjoyiiieiit  of  their  rights  and  liberties;." 

The  lirst  effort  made  l)y  congress  to  or^yanize  the  northwestcrii 
territory  was  as  early  as  17(S1.  Tlu^  bill  contained  the  ])i()\  ision, 
'•that  after  the  vear  1800  there  shall  be  neither  slavery  nor  iiivol- 
initary  sei'vitude  in  any  of  the  said  States,"  to  be  formed  out  of  the 
territory.  When  the  bill  came  up  for  action,  the  ]»ro\iso,  on  a 
separate  vote,  failed,  althoiijih  (i  Stales  voted  foi'  it  to  .'?  against; 
i>iil  under  the  ai'ticles  of  confedeiatioii  the  vote  of  !>  States  was 
rcipiii'cd  to  carry  a  measure. 

On  the  l.'Uh  of  .Inly,  17S7,  congress  adojjted  the  oidinance  Cov 
the  jioveriimeiit  of  tlui  teiritories  northwest  of  the  ri\ cr  Ohio,  llie 
(illi  article  whereof  I'cads  as  follows;  --'i'liere  shall  be  neillier 
slavery  nor  involuiitaiy  servitude  in  the  said  territory,  otherwise 
than  ill  punishment  of  crimes  whei'cof  the  party  shall  have  been 
duly  convicted."'  The  ordinance  was  subsecpicntly  approved  under 
the  coiistiliifion,  when  the  latter  went  into  opeialion.  The  ads  of 
coin;ress  dividiii;n'  the  territory,  both  in  the  case  of  Indiana  and 
Illinois,  extended  to  the  inhabitants  of  each,  ail  and  siiijiular  the 
lights,  privileges,  and  advantaiics  j;rante(l  by  the  ordinanco 
originally,  as  we  ha\'e  seen.  The  census  of  ISOO  yave  the  niimbei* 
of  slaves  in  the  Indiana  territory,  wiiich  then  included  Illinois,  as 
l.'J.'i.  In  ISIO  Illinois  separately  had  KJS  slaves;  in  ISUO,  !»17,  whi(!li 
l)robal)Iy  includediudentured  and  registered  servauts,aiid  in  bs.io 
740. 


312 


HIHTOKV    OF   TLT-INOIS. 


Tlic  r»tli  iiiticle  of  tilt'  oidiiiiiiK'c  of  17.S7,  proliibitin^'  slavery, 
becaiiic  at  an  ciirl.v  period  ai  .suhjeet  of  repeated  ('oiiij)laiiits.  Iii 
17!H)  four  persons  in  Kasluiskia,  (loiiMless  pietiiriii*:'  to  tiieiiiselves 
ill  j;<»l(ieii  colors  tlie  ease  and  aflliieiiee  incident  to  sia\'e  labor, 
]>etitioned  congress  to  snsitend  the  restriction  of  tiio  ordinance. 
>»'oveinl»er  L'li,  ISOL',  (lov.  Harrison,  in  coni])Iiance  with  the  wishes 
of  a  ninnher  of  iniial>itaiits.  l»nt  with  what  le,i;al  rii;ht  it  is  dilticnlt 
to  conceive,  issned  his  jtrocianiation  directing;  tiie  jteople  to  hold 
an  election  in  the  several  eonnties  (»f  the  tt-rritorv  on  the  lltli  of 
December  and  ciioose  delej;ates,  who  were  to  meet  in  convention  at 
"N'incennes  on  the  -dth  instant,  to  deliberate  on  "territorial  inler- 
osis."  Fioni  Illinois,  for  the  c(»nnty  of  St.  Clair,  Shadrach  liond, 
flohn  .Moredoek,  and  .lean  F.  Perry  were  retnrned,  and  for 
I'andolph,  Ifobeit  Moiiison,  Pierre  Menard,  and  Robert  Keynolds; 
(lov.  Harrison  presided.  The  object  was  to  obtain  from  con,uress 
a  rejieal  or  modilication  of  the  (ttli  article  of  the  organic  act, 
]»rohiltitin,u  the  introduction  of  slaves  into  this  territory. 

A  meiiiorial  was  prepared  and  tiansmitted  to  congress, deelarin;;' 
the  consent  of  tl  »>  people  to  a  snspension  of  tlu'  prohibitory 
clause:  tiiat  .-  '..  suspension  would  be  hij;hly  advantageous  to  the 
territory  and  would  meet  the  approbation  of  nine  tenths  of  the 
j.'(K)d  citi/.ens"  thereof;  that  "inasmuch  as  the  nnnd)ei' of  s!a\ cs 
ill  the  I'liited  States  would  not  be  aujiinented  by  the  measure,"' 
the  abstract  (itiestioii  of  liberty  and  slavery  was  not  involved; 
that  the  inlro(lucti(»n  of  slaves  into  the  teiritoi-y  where  labor  was 
scarce,  from  the  Stales  where  it  was  al>undant.  would  ]»rove  e<|ually 
tidvantaji'cous  to  both  sections;  that  shivciy  was  pi'ohibited  in  tlu; 
territory  by  con.uress  when  •Mhey  were  not  represented  in  that 
liody — without  their  bciiii;- consulted  and  without  theii'  Unowledyc 
or  ai>pi'obation  ;■'  that  the  number  <»f  slav«'s  coidd  never  bear  sucli 
a  ratio  to  the  white  populati(tn  'ms  to  endanger  the  internal  j)eace 
or  ]»rosperity  of  the  country ;  that  slaves  were  tolerated  in  other 
territories;  that  amon^' their  smad  farnu'rs  they  would  l>e  "better 
fed  and  clothed  than  wherelhey  were  crow  (led  on  lar^e  i»lantatii»us 
by  hnndn'ds."etc.* 

in  M;ir<h,  ISO.'..  .Mr.  I'andolph,  of  N'iryiuia.  as  chairman  of  the 
8i»ecial  eonunittee,  reportetl  that  "the  raiiidly  intacasinj;  pojtnla- 
tion  of  the  State  of  Ohio  sullicieidly  evinces,  in  the  opinion  of  your 
eommitt<'e.  that  the  labor  of  sla\es  is  not  necessary  to  }>r«Muote 
the  jirowth  and  setllcMU'ut  of  eol(»nies  in  that  r«'j;i«iii.  That  this 
labor,  demonstrably  the  dearest  of  any,  can  oidy  be  employed  to 
advantaue  in  tlu'  cultivation  «»f  products  more  valuable  than  any 
liiu)wn  to  that  (piarter  of  the  Tnited  States;  that  the  c<iinnnlteo 
deem  it  hi^ihly  daniicious  and  inexpedient  to  impaii-  a  pi'ovisi«)U 
"wisely  calculated  to  prcunote  the  happiness  and  prosperity  ol"  the 
northwestern  (;ountry,  and  to  jiivt?  strenjith  and  security  to  flat 
extensive  frontier.  In  the  salutary  operation  of  this  sa.uaciou.s 
ami  benevolent  restiaint.  it  is  believed  that  the  iidial»itants  will, 
at  m>  very  distant  day,  lind  ample  r<'numeration  for  a  temporary 
privation  of  labor  aiul  imnnn'ration."  How  prophetically  tiiie! 
A  resolution  «'nd»odyin^'  these  views  was  also  reported. 

Thisrei>ort,  ma<le  just  before  the  close  of  th«'  session,  was  iu)t 
acted  npon.  an<l  at  the  ne.xt  session  was  referred  to  a  lu'W  com- 
mittee, with  Ml'.  Kodney,  (»f  Delaware,  as  chairman,  who  reported 

*bce  Annuls  oi  CouKt'CBS,  Uuuse,  Nov.  IHUT. 


COLES    ADMINISTRATION.  313 


F('l).  4,  1S()4,  favorably  to  tlic  iiiciiKHialists,  siisix-iidiiif;'  tlic  (Itli 
aiticlc  for  tell  years,  allowiiiji' tlic  iiii])oitatioii  of  slaves  iVoin  States 
only,  and  tliat  tiie  male  descendeiits  should  he  free  at  '2~>  and  the 
females  at  Ul  ;  hut  no  action  was  had  on  the  r«'|»ort.  Aj;ain,  at 
the  le^iislative  session  of  iSOo-tl,  additional  memoiials  of  similar 
import  weic  picjiared  and  submitted  to  con^^ress.  and  in  thc^  House 
I'efeired  to  a  select  committee,  with  Mr.  (iai'uett,  of  Virjiinia,  as 
chairman;  and  aj;ain  a  favorable  report  to  the  prayer  (»f  the 
memorialists  was  made,  Feb.  14,  concludinji'  with  a  resolution  snb- 
istantially  like  tin'  one  of  Mr.  JJodney.  The  rejiort  was  made  the 
special  order  for  a  certain  day,  but  it  was  never  called  nj».  ^Vitll 
the  openiiiji"  of  the  next  conji'ress,  more  resolutions  from  the  Indiana 
le.i;islatnre  transnntted  by  (lov.  Harrison,  wen;  presented,  ur,i:in,i>' 
in  a  lonti'  preand»le  a  suspension  of  thedth  article  of  the  ( ad i nance. 
"J'he  snliject  was  linally  ieferi'<'d  to  a  special  comnuttee,  this  time 
Avith  Mr.  I'arke,  the  teriitorial  delejiate,  as  chairnuin,  and  fortius 
third  time  a  favorable  lejiort  was  madi',  to,u('t  her  with  a  resolution 
suspending;'  the  ol)no.\i(»us  article;  but  no  action  was  had  and  the 
report  slept  with  its  pre(lecessors.  Simultaneously  with  these  iiu- 
])ort unities  upon  the  House,  copies  of  memorials  and  I'esolutions 
wei'e  also  transmitted  to  the  president  and  by  him  sent  to  the 
senate. 

r.ut  while,  those  favorable  to  throwing;'  open  the  territory  to  the 
influx  of  slaves  were  active,  the  opponents  were  not  idle.  In 
October,  ISOT,  a  lar.n'c  anti  enthusiastic  meetinji'of  the  citizens  was 
held  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  and  a  remonstrance  drafted  ex- 
pri'ssive  of  the  impropriety  of  the  suspension,  and  solicit  in;;' con- 
ji'ress  to  defer  action  until  their  population  shoidd  entitle  them  to 
tbi'm  a  constitution,  etc.  They  also  charj;'ed  that  the  slave  pai'ty,  by 
some  '•lej^'crdcmain,"  obtainiMl  the  name  of  the  president  of  the 
le;;islative'Council  to  the  last  resolutions  seat  to  congress,  which  he, 
denies  sinnin:;'.  In  the  senate  a  committee, consistiuyof  I'lanklin, 
of  North  Carolina:  Kitchcll,  of  New  ,Jei's«'y,  and  Tillin,  of  Oiiio, 
was  appointed,  to  which  the  whole  subject  was  referred.  After 
duly  consideriiiii  the  matter,  they  rejtorted  adversely  to  the  ]»ray- 
er  of  tile  legislative  memorialists.  Thus  ended  the  Ncry  \tvv- 
sistent,  but  hapi)ily  abortive,  efforts  to  throw  open  the  doors  of 
this  vast  and  fertile  re,yion  to  the  blij;litinj;'  iutliuMices  of  slavery. 
!Not  the  ])eopleat  home,  but  ('(nin'ress sittin;;  at  NNashiuiitou,  saved 
us  from  thiscuise. 

X(»twithstandinj;'  the  words  of  the  ordinance, '' ther(!  shall  be 
neither  shivery  or  involuntary  scr\  itude  in  said  territory,"  it  was 
very  early  contended  that  tiie  words  in  the  deed  of  cession  from 
Virj;inia—'' shall  have  their  possessions  ami  titles  coutirme<r' — 
guaranteed  to  tlu^  holders  <»f  these  slaves  a  rij;ht  of  pro]»erty  in 
them;  that  this  ])rovision  in  the  deed  oveirode  the  ordinauc<'  and 
secured  tliem  a  vested  ri.uht  for  all  time  in  that  species  of  prop- 
erty; that  slavci'y  in  the  territ<iries  was  not  abolished, Imt  its  fuilher 
introduction  simply  ])rohil»itcd  ;  that  these  slaves  were  the  prop- 
erty of  citizens  of  Virj>inia,  or  were  then  the  descendants  of  such 
slaves,  and  remained  slaves  by  tlu'  compact  entered  into  between 
the  State  of  V'ii'.i;inia  and  the  .li'eiu'ral  government.  And  although 
others  conti'inled  that  the  words  "titles," '' possessions,"  '•rights'' 
and  "libeity."  in  tJie  deed  of  cession, '•  were  never  intended  by 
Virginia  to  guarantee  the  jiossessions  of  slaves,"  still  all  that  class 


314  niSTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


of  iRMsoiis  wcit'  licld  as  slaves,  and  the  ri^litfiiliicss  of  tlicir  ten- 
ure was  not  bioiiylit  before  tlie  i)roiu'r  trilamal  in  this  State  until 
tlievear  1S4."). 

'IMie  lirst  thcision  siistaiiiinf;'  the  sixth  artich'  of  tlie  onlinaneeof 
17S7,  was  made  by  (iii^  s^l»relll(^  court  of  Indiana.  Next.  l>y  tinit 
of  Missouri.*  In  tin'  former,  themollu'r  of  i»laintilf  had  i»e«'n  a 
tihive  in  \'irj;inia,  was  taicen  to  Illinois  before  the  ordinain-e  of 
17S7.  held  in  slavery  there  before  and  after  its  passaj^c,  and  thei'e 
tlie  plaintiif  was  born  after  its  passaji'e.  It  was  held  that  she  was 
free.  In  the  ease  of  Menard  vs.  As|»asia,+  the  mother  of  As]»asia 
was  born  in  Illinois  Itefore  the  ordinance,  and  lu'ld  as  a  slave  from 
birth.  Aspasia  was  born  after  the  oi'dinance,  at  Kaskaskia,  and 
held  as  a  slave.  The  supieme  court  of  Missouri  held  that  she 
was  entitled  to  her  freedom,  and  upon  a  wiit  of  ei  ror  to  tlie  su- 
}>renie  court  of  the  Uiiitecl  States,  tliat  court  <leclined  jurisdiction, 
which  ahirnu'd  the  Ju<l,i;nient  below.  In  lSt."»,  for  the  tirst  anil 
only  tinu',  was  the  (|uestiou  brou^^lit  s(puirely  before  the  sn]>reme 
conit  of  this  State,  and  it  was  decided  that  the  descendants  of 
tile  slaves  of  the  old  I'rench  settlers,  born  since  the  ad(»ptiou 
of  the  ordinance  of  17.S7,  or  before,  or  since  the  constitution,  could 
not  be  held  in  slav»'iy  in  illinois.J 

Juthnfinril  and  h'l'j/islcrol  Sl<(r<:s, — Failin;L;'  in  their  etf(»rt  with 
eoniiicss  to  modify  the  restriction  of  the  orjianic  law  with  re^^ard 
to  slavery,  tlu'  next  steji  to  compass  the  same  result,  was  by  the 
law  inakiiifi'  powers  of  the  territoiy,  both  of  the  1st  and  2d  j>rades, 
and  in  dedance  of  the  i)roliil)ition,  a  law  was  adopted  entitled  '•  an 
act  <'oncerniii,y  the  introduction  of  ne^'roes  and  mnlaltoes  into  this 
territory."  The  act  bears  date  Seplend)er  17.  1S(I7,  but  this  sim- 
]»Iy  means  that  it  was  reiioitetl  amon;^'  the  rex  iscd  laws  by  ,Iones 
ami  .lohnson,  the  whole  batch  of  which  was  re  adoi)ted  on  that 
day  at  N"incennes.  It  was  a  law  adopted  liy  the  lirst  jirade  of  ter- 
ritorial j;'ov;'rnment.  'J'he  lirst  j.';eneral  assend»ly  met  at  N'inci'iines 
July  -\K  ISO,"),  yet  nntre  than  a  year  pre\  ions,  April  (»,  1804,  Gov- 
ernor llairison.  learning'  that  certain  persons  were  about  to  remove 
a  number  of  indentui«'(l  persons  from  the  territory  for  the  pur- 
pose of  sellinj;'  them  as  slaves,  issued  a  prochnnation  forbidding;' 
their  i'emo\al  and  <'allin<;'  upon  the  civil  authorities  to  interpose. 
AVe  (iiu)te   from  the  law  (tf    iS()7: 

"Skc'TIon  1.  It  sliall  and  may  l)e  lawful  lor  any  i)erH()n,  Iveinji'  the 
ownerof  any  ne^irecs  or  nnilattoes  of  and  al)()ve  tlieaj;e  of  1")  years,  and 
owiiiK  service  and  lai)()r  as  ^ilaves  in  any  of  the  Slates  or  territories  of  tlie 
I'nited  States,  or  for  any  citizen  of  tlie  I'nited  States  or  territories, 
pnieliasinj:;  the  same,  to  l)rin<;-  tlie  saitl  ne};n)es  or  (uiilattoes  into  lids 
territory." 

Section  '2  provided,  that  within  ,'5(1  days  after  l)rin,,';in};  tlie  slaves  into 
the  territor.v,  the  owneror  niastersiiouhl  takethem  In't'ore  tlie  clerk  of  the 
court  and  "have  an  indenture  ln'tween  the  slave  and  liisowner  entered 
uiioii  record,  specifyinjj:  tlie  time  wliicli  tlu'  slave  was  eompelled  to  serve 
his  master;  [the  term  liein;;  generally  tixed  at  !ii>  years,  a  perioil  ln'yond 
the  ordinary  term  of  luinian  life]. 

Seelion  .'!  friiarded  the  property  of  the  master  aii^ai list  loss  liy  allowinj; 
him,  in  the  event  of  the  slave  refusing  to  enter  into  siieli  afjjrt'enieiit  or 
indenture,  to  iiave  the  lawful  rigid,  within  (10 days,  to  removesueh  slave 
to  any  State  or  territory  where  such  i)roperty  could  lie  legally  held. 


*.li)lin  MuriT  vs.  TilHn  and  MemuU,  1  Mo.  U.T25. 

+5ili  Peters,  nio. 

4:8eo  2d  Uiliniin,  p.  1— Jarrot  vs.  Jurrot. 


COi^KS'  AWMIMSTUATION. 


oio 


'J'lit'  4tli  section   |)i'('scril»('(l  tlic  TiiMiiiicr  of  (•()n<'<*liii.i;'  tlic  scr- 
vaiil    fur  laziness,   hiisheliin  ioiir.  or  disorderly  eonduct,  tlie  pun 
islinieiit   heinj;  cliastisement   wilii  '•  stripes." 

'  Si:('.  o.  Any  jjt'rson  renioviny;  into  this  territory,  and  l)einijr  tlie 
owner  of  any  ne.trro  onnnlalto  under  the  aucof  15  years,  it  shall  and  may 
lie  law  ul  tor  such  jjcisom,  owner  or  ))ossessor  to  hold  the  said  n euro  or 
niuhiito  to  serviee  or  lalior,  the  males  until  they  arrive  at  tlie  a^e  of  .■!•") 
aii<l  the  fenniles  until  Ihey  arrivi^al  the  a;;'e  of  :>-  years. 

"Sic.  |;{.  'I'lu'  childieu  horn  in  this  territory  of  a  parent  of  color, 
owint?  service  of  lalior  hy  indenture',  according'  to  the  law,  sliall  serve 
the  master  or  mistress,  the  males  until  the  age  of  .'SO,  and  fenudes  until 
the  age  of  I'M  years." 

Tlieotlier  sections  of  tlie  act  were  all  in  liannoiiy  \vi»h  tin-  piir- 
l)(>s('  to  introduce,  inaint;ii!i  and  inotcct  sljivery  in  Illim)is  in  deli- 
aiicc  of  tiic  ordiiunice  <>l'  17S7.  Slavery  was  tints  not  only 
introditce(l,  htir  in;'  le  hereditary.  l»y  ini|)osiii,<;-  upon  tiu'  cliildreii 
born  iiiidcr  it  the  ohli^iitiun  to  serve  the  owners  of  their  jiareiits 
iiidil  -S  and  .'{()  years.  It  also  poitited  out  the  mode  iii  which  the 
master  mij;lit  sell  his  servants  Ity  an  assi;;nineiii  <d'tiu'  itideiitnrc 
Ity  wliicli  these  ))eo]de  were  made  e(Mninerce,  as  eomidetcdy  ii.s 
if  in  n  eonditioti  of  altsojute  slavery. 

Af!ertheor<iatn/,ati(Ui  of  the  Illinois  territory  in  IS(M),  the  o()\ crmir 
siinl  jiid.^es  adopted  the  same  act  as  the  law  ot  Illinois,  and  upon 
the  asseinhliny-  of  tlie  lirst  lejiishitttve  at  Kaskaskia,  it  was.  De- 
cember l.'{.  ISIJ.  re-adopted.  The  law  was,  to  all  intents  and  pnr- 
jioscs,  void  mider  the  ordinance  cd'  ITST.  in  the  case  of  IMiodn! 
vs.  .JaiTot,*  of  the  stiprcine  court,  Lockwood,  jnd;.:t'.  decided  that 
tliciicf  of  S('i»t<'mber  17,  ISOT,  resijectinji'  tin-  introduction  of  ne- 
jifoes  and  mnIatt<M's  into  the  territory,  was  \<)id,  as  lieiiii;'  rcpiij;'- 
naiit  to  the  sixth  arti(de  of  the  oidinanci'  of  1 7S7.  IJttt  it  was 
ftirther  held  that  the  contracts  cd"  indent  tire  under  tliiit  law  wcro 
rendered  v  'id  hy  the  third  section  of  thesixtli  article  id' the  State 
coiislitntion  : 


"Each  nnd  every  person  wlio  has  l)een  hound  to  service  hy  contract  or 
indenture  in  virtue  of  the  laws  of  Illinois  territory  heretofore  existing, 
nnd  in  couiormity  to  the  pro\isions  of  the  same,  without  fraud  or  collu- 
sion, shall  he  held  to  a  specific  performance  of  their  contracts  or  inden- 
tures; and  such  negroes  and  mulattoes  as  have  registered  in  conformity 
witli  the  aforesaid  laws,  shall  serve  out  the  time  appointed  hy  said  laws; 
provided,  iiowever,  that  the  children  lu'reafter  horn  of  such  persons, 
negroes  or  mulattoes,  shall  hecome  free,  tlie  males  at  the  age  of-1  years, 
the  females  at  the  age  of  IS  years." 

'riieconrt  say  :  A  constitution  can  do  what  a  legislative  act  can- 
not do,  hecaii.se  if  is  the  supreme,  tixed  ami  permanent  will  of  thy 
Iteople  in  their  orijiinal,  soxcrcign  and  unlimited  capacity  ;  that  the 
act  of  jiccejitiiig'  that  constitution  and  admitting'  it  into  the  I'nioii 
by  (MMigress,  abrogated  .so  much  of  the  ordinance  of  17<S7  as  was 
repugnant  to  it.  In  IJooiie  \ s.  , Juliet,*  tlu'  court  Indd  that  '-tlie 
children  of  negroes  and  iAiilatto»'s,  registered  under  the  laws  of 
the  territory  of  Indiana  and  Jllinoi.s,  arc  nmpiestionably  free — 
because  of  an  iib.seiice  in  the  law  of  l.S(»7  providing  for  the  chil- 
dren (»f  regisferefl  slaxcs.  ludw  itlistanding  the  constituti(m  of 
Illinois  says  that  the  (diildreti  lanii  of  sindi  registered  perstms 
shall  render  .service until  IS  and  Ul  years  old." 

The  (piestion  of  the  Aalidity  of  the  indenture  and  registrafiou 
act.  under  (he  sixth  article  of  the  ordinance  of  17<S7,  i-t  .seems,  was 


4' 


♦Uiecse  ills.  11.  268. 


+lst  Scum.  258. 


316 


HlSTOllY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


not  liiiscd  before  the  territoriiil  coiiits,  and  iiidccd,  not  for  somio 
time-  iiftcrwards.  Tlic  convcnfion,  thcicfoic,  wliicli  enacted  tlio 
constitution,  j;a\e  that  law  the  only  lej;al  vitality  it  (!Vei'  had,  l»nt 
it  is  ]>resunial)le  that  they  \ver«'  under  the  impression  that  it 
Avas  valid  and  had  been  all  tin*  time;  and  it  was  oidy  in  icMjuire- 
luent  of  the  cnabliuj;' act  of  conjiiess  that  they  enacted  article  \'I, 
Hcction  I  :  "Neither  slaveiy  nor  involuntary  servitude  shall  here- 
«//*'/•  be  inl rod uce<l  into  this  State." 

At  the  session  of  the  territorial  lej^iislature,  in  1817,  a  bill  uas 
passed  to  rei»eal  so  mucli  of  '^an  a<rt  concernin;^'  the  introduction 
of  ne;;i()es  and  mulatfoes  into  this  teriitoiy,"  as  autlKuized  the 
brin,i;in;;  of  neurcK's  and  nndatloes  into  the  territory  and  indeii- 
turinji'  tiiem  as  slaves.  The  preandde  declares  the  law  to  "intend 
to  intioduce  and  tolerate  slavery  under  the  pictense  of  voluntary 
seixitude  in  contiavention  of  the  peimaneut  law  of  the  land,'' 
and  "contiary  to  the  ordinance  of  17S7."  l>ut  the  veto  poweiof 
the  territorial  ;i(»v<'rnor  was  absolute,  and  his  Jvxcellency  (Ictver- 
iior  Kdwards  hesitated  not  to  exercise  it,  assij;ninj;'  reasons  at 
consiilerable  leiijilh,  as  was  his  Avoiit :  "  1  conscieutiously  ]»elie\e 
liiat  the  legislature  was  competent  to  i)ass  the  law— of  which 
oi>inioii  were  also  the  Jnd]n«'S  with  whom  1  was  associatecr'  in  the 
Jidoption  of  the  law,  "  previous  to  the  orj;anization  of  (»ur  general 
assenilily."  He  held  that  conj;ress  could  not  violate  the  sli])ula- 
tions  in  the  deed  of  cession  from  N'irj^inia,  "tiiere  was  and  still  is 
ylavcjy  in  the  territory,  notwithstanding;-  the  article  in  the  or<li- 
iiance  ;"  lait  "  wai\  inj;  the  ([uestion  whether  congress  ever  had  any 
ri}iht  to  impose  the  sixth  article  of  the  ordinance,  or  any  more 
restrain  the  })eople  from  j)urchasin<;'  additional  slaves  to  clear  and 
<Millivale  their  lands,  than  horses  to  i)low  them,"  he  proceeded  to 
aruue  the  abstract  ri^lit  of  '"inx olunlary  ser\itude."  After  tinally 
istatin.i;'  that  "•  such  indentures  would  l»e  and  ou;^lit  to  be  sujtported 
iilH)n  jtrinciples  of  law  as  well  as  common  honesty,''  aud  that; 
he  "can  see  no  evil  in  allowinj;-  them  to  be  made,"  he  concluded : 
'•1  am  no  advocate  for  slavery  ;  and  if  it  depended  u]»on  my  vote 
alone,  it  should  never  be  admitted  into  any  State  or  territory  not 
already  cursed  with  so  yreat  an  e\il;''  and  that  his  objection  to 
the  rejx'al  was,  that  there  was  no  such  law  of  Illinois  as  tli:;tof 
ISeptend)er  17,  JS()7,  desciibed  in  the  bill.  In  this  lie  was  tech- 
nically rijiht,  because  in  l.S(»7  illiiu)is  was  Indiana.*  This  xcto 
inessa;;<'  was  now  (ISl'.".-f)  ma<le  use  of  by  tlu^  convention  ]»arty, 
(Seeking  to  ^raft  slaveiy  u]Mai  tin'  constitution,  as un  eleetioneeriny 
document.t 

'^riie  convention  which  franu'd  the  first  constitution  of  the  State, 
evaded  the  lull  reipiiicmeid  of  the  ordinance  of  17S7.  in  aiticle 
A'l,  section  1  of  that  instrunu'Ut,  the  further  introduction  of  slaves 
into  the  State  was  prohibited  ;  but  it  did|iot(»nly  in)t  abolish  slavery, 
()!■  liberate  those  in  the  Stat«',  but  in  section  ."J  of  the  same  article, 
l)rovi(led  that  the  '•indi-ntiiicd  servants""' — slaves  for  !>lt  years  in 
most  eases — should  be  held  for  tlu'  \vh(»l«'  term  speeitied  in  their 
eonti'acts  of  indenture,  and  even  theii-  children  were  to  owe  ser- 
vice, the  mail's  till  21  and  the  females  till  IS  years  of  ajic  ;  and 
this  pi'ovision,  as  w<^  have  scimi,  the  supreme  court  liehl  as  valid. 
Thus  slavery  in  lllim)is,  while  it  was  steadily  decrcasinj;',  was  not 

•Governor  iidwards  wns  htnisplt'  the  owner  oi'  ciuitu  a  number  oflndenturcJ  slaves. 
111.  lutelligeucer,  S.pt.  0,  Ittia. 


COLES'  ADMINISTRATION. 


317 


wliolly  iibolislicd  until  flu;  iidoptioii  of  tlui  coiistitiition  of  ISIS, 
-\vliicli  contaiiUMl  the.  followiiiji  jtntvision  :  "Then;  slmll  be  ncitlici- 
sliivciy  nor  involuntary  servitude  in  this  State,  except  as  a  pun- 
isiiinent  foi'  eriine,"  etc. 

The  '•^  Jildck  Jaiivs.'''' — After  the  adoption  of  tlie  constitution  of 
181S  and  the  admission  of  tlu'  State  into  the  iriiion,  the  lirst  j^cii- 
eral  assenddy,  notwithstandinj;'  the  siiiall  niunber  of  ne^iidcs  as 
eoiiipared  with  the  wliite  inlialtitants,  re-enacted,  J\lai<'h  IJO,  IS1!>, 
the  ohl  strin<j;'ent,  not  to  say  liarbarous  law  '  resi>ectinj>'  fn-e  iie- 
jjroes,  mulaltoes,  servants  aiul  slaves,"  with  only  such  slij;ht  revi- 
si<ni  as  becanu'  lu'cessaiy  by  the  tiansition  from  the  territoiial  to 
th«  State  ;;overnnH'nt.  Of  course  the  teriitorial  law  winch  author- 
ized the  intro<luction  of  slaves  troni  slaveholdiiifi'  States  and  terri- 
toiies  was  ondtte(b  in  obedience  to  article  VJ  st'ction  1  of  the  <dn- 
stitution.  Perhajis  iio  severer  law  was  to  be  found  in  any  slave 
State,  even  Avhere  tiie  blacks  outnumbered  the  whites.  Tlieie  was 
no  ade(piate  cause  for  this :  it  doubtless  resulted  frt)m  the  early 
associations  of  our  law  mauers,  who  at  that  tinu>  were  nu-n  not  only 
mostly  born  and  bied  in  the  midst  of  slaves,  but  wlio  looked  for- 
ward to  the  niakinji  of  Illinois  a  slave  State. 

Xo  nefjro  or  nndatto,  by  himself  or  with  his  fanuly,  was  jHTinit- 
ted  to  reside' or  setth^  in  the  State,  until  he  had  lirst  pro«luced  a  U'V- 
titicat(!  of  freedom  under  seal  of  a  court  (»f  recmd,  which,  tojicther 
with  a  d(vs<*ription  <)f  the  person  produciiij'' it,  and  his  fandly,  if 
any,  was  to  be  entered  of  record  in  the  county  he  propivsed  set  tlinff 
in  and  so  duly  endorsed  ;  but  the  overseers  (dtlie  poorweic  not  wit  h- 
Rtandinj;' emi>owered  to  ex])el  such  fannly  in  tlieii' discretion.  Any 
person  connnj"' to  theState  toemancipate  his  slaves,  was  re(piiri'd  to 
execute  to  the  county  a  l)ond  in  $l(KK)as  j^uaranty  that  the  eman- 
cijtated  X)erson  should  not  become  a  public  charge  ;  for  nef;lect  or 
refusal  of  Avliich  he  Avas  liable  to  a  line  of  $L'(H>  ;  all  resident 
iiejjroes  or  mulattoes,  except  slaves,  before  the  1st  of  .June  ensuing, 
were  to  enter  their  nanu's  and  every  member  of  tlu'ir  families, 
with  the  circuit  clerk,  toj-ether  with  tlieir  evidences  of  freedom  to 
be  certitied  by  the  clerk,  but  which  should  not  bar  the  owners  to 
reclaim  them.  Ko  jjcrson  was  to  em])loy  any  ne«;ro  or  mulatto 
without  such  (tertificate,  under  a  penalty  of  .$l..'>0  for  each  day  em- 
])loyed,  recoverable  before  a  justice,  one  third  j;<>in<>'  to  the  inform- 
er, the  rest  to  the  owner  or  the  county.  To  harbor  any  slave  or 
servant,  or  hinder  the  owner  in  retaking"  a  slave,  was  declaicd  a 
felony,  i>unishable  by  restitution,  or  a.  tiiu'  of  tMo-fold  Aahie  and 
Avhippinj^-  iK)t  to  exceed  'M  stripes.  Every  black  or  mulatto  not 
Laving  a  proper  eertiticate  was  deemed  a  runaway  slave,  subject 
to  arrest  and  commitnu'ut  by  ajustice,  then  to  be  described  and 
advertised  for  (i  weelcs  by  the  sheriti',  when,  if  not  reclainu'd  oi'  his 
freedom  established,  he  was  to  be  sold  for  one  year,  at  the  einl  of 
which  tune  he  was  entitled  to  a  eertiiicate,  except  as  against  his 
owner.  No  person  Avas  to  sell  to,  buy  of  or  trade  with  any  ser\  ant 
or  shiA'e,  without  the  consent  of  his  master,  un<ler  penalty  of  f(»r- 
feiting  to  the  master  4  times  in  value  the  anuuint  of  such  transac!- 
tion.  Any  sUue  or  ser\ant  foutnl  ten  miles  from  honn;  Avithont 
permit  Avas  liable  to  arrest  and  .'Jo  stripes  on  the  order  of  a  justice  ; 
or  if  he  appeared  at  any  dAAelling  or  plantation  without  leave  of 
his  master,  the  OAvnerof  the  place  Avas  entitled  to  administer,  or 
have  it  done,  10  lashes  on  the  bare  back;  for  being  lazy,  disorderly 


.'M8  IILSTOUV   OF    ILI-INOIS. 

or  mishcliiix  iiiii  to  liis  iiiiister  or  fiiiiiily,  ou  tli«'  ordorof  ajiisfi<!e, 
lu'  Wiis  to  lie  (•(•iTcctcd  with  stripes,  sukI  for  every  dii.v  lie  refiiseil 
to  work  lip  Wiisto  serve  two. 

liiots,  routs,  iiiiliiwriil  iisseiiil)li<'s,  tres])jiss,  seditious  speeelies 
Ity  sjjives  or  ser\iiiits,  were  puiiisiialile  witii  strip. -s  not  exeeediiij;- 
oil ;  persons  siilVeriiij;'  .'»  or  more  slaves  or  servaiils  to  assemble  on 
their  incmises  tor  <laiieiiifi',  reveling,  &e.,  were  lii'de  to  a  tine  of 
$-{\,  i'eeo\cral»le  l»y  </»//<(»/ action.  It  was  made  the  duty  of  all  cor- 
oners, sherill's,  judincs,  and  justices  of  the  i»eace,  on  view  or  knowl- 
e<ljie  of  siK'li  assenddaj^'cs,  to  have  the  ort'enders  comnutted  to  Jail, 
and  ni>on  juiljihient  to  order  ;{!(  stripes.  In  all  eases  where  free 
]iersons  were  pnnislialde  hy  line,  slaves  <»r  servants,  were  to  lie 
ehastis<'d  by  wliippinji.  at  the  rate  of -0  lashes  for  «'very  ftfS  (»f 
line,  not  to  exceed  40  stripes  at  any  one  time.  Thus  was  the  free 
State  ol' Illinois  provided  with  a  complete  slaxc  code. 

In  IS17,  the  convention  which  revised  the  constitution,  in  aiti- 
cle  Xl\',  re(piired  of  the  j;'eneral  assendtly  at  it.slirst  session  under 
the  anu'niU'd  constitution,  to  pass  such  laws  as  would  etfectually 
pi'ohibit  free  jiersoi IS  ot"  color  IVom  immij^ratinj;'  to  or  setllinj;'  in 
this  State  and  pieveiit  the  owners  of  slaves  fiom  brinj;inj;'  them  in- 
to the  State  for  the  jairpose  of  settiii};'  them  free. 

In  pursuance  of  tliis  provision,  the  legislature  i»assed  an  act  of 
]''eb.  IL',  IS."),'),  which  provided  that  if  any  neuro  or  mulatto,  bond 
or  free,  came  into  tliis  State  and  rcmaineil  ten  days,  with  tlu^ 
evident  inteidion  of  residin;;'  therein,  he  shoidd.he  deemed  jiuil- 
ty  of  a  hi^li  misih-nieanor,  and  foi'  the  lirst  oti'cnce  should  l»e  tined 
.*."»0,  and  if  the  tine  was  not  forthwith  ]>aid  he  was  to  be  comnntied 
to  the  custody  of  the  sheriff,  to  be  advertised  ten  days  and  then 
sohl  to  any  imtsoii  who  would  })ay  the  tine  and  costs  for  the  short- 
est pei'iod,  the  pui'chaser  bein.ii'  empowered  to  hold  and  work  (he 
eul])rit  duiin^-  the  time.  One  case  under  this  act  was  taken  u|)to 
the  supreme  court  from  Hancock  county,  and  decided  in  18(14* 
The  court  held  the  law  to  be  valid  :  that  the  punishment  was  not 
slavery,  because  the  jK'i'son  was  sold  only  fora  limited  i)eriod;  it  was 
only  a  sjiecies  of  ap](i'enticeslii))  ;  and  that  the  State  mi<;lit  define 
oH'ences  and  ])i'escribe  the  i)unishment,  and  the  exercise  of  such 
powers  could  not  be  intpiired  into  by  the  court. 

'flic  "black  laws,"  as  they  were  for  a  loii^  time  kiu>wn,  were 
continued,  with  slijiht  modilication,  in  all  the  revisions  of  the  laws 
iVom  ISl!)  down  to  JStio,  when  by  act  of  Feb.  Ttli,  they  were  re- 
])caled.  Durinii' that  time,  however,  efforts  were  repeatedly  nnnle 
to  al>olish  them.  IJut  they  had  ceased  to  be  enlbrced  for  nuiny 
years  ]»reviously,  and,  except  the  act  of  IS."),'},  were  re^ai'dcd  as  a 
dead  letter.  The  obstiiuicy  with  which  they  were  letained  was 
owiny  in  ^I'cat  i>art  to  the  Abolition  excitenn-nt  of  mo(h'i'n  times, 
wliicli  in  a  manner  constituted  them  tests  of  party  fealty. 

KitliHt}tj)in(f. — JJut  the  nn»st  odious  feature  of  the  act  of  .^fai'ch 
30,  1810,  '•respeetiufi'  free  nej;ro»'s,  mulattoes,  servants  and 
slaves,"'  was  one  of  omission,  oi'  the  inadequate  provision  nuuh'  for 
the  punishment  of  theciinu'  of  ki<lnappinf>'.  it  provided,  "section 
1>,  (1)1(1  he  it  further  enacted,  that  any  i)ersou  <U'  ])ersons,  who 
slndl  forcibly  take  and  carry  out  of  this  Stat<' any  nej^ro  or  mulatto 
(slaves  excepted  by  thi'ir  owners),  ovviny  service  or  labor  to  any 
person  in  this  State,  or  who  shall  f(U'cil>ly  take  out  of  this  State 

•Sec  Nclsou  vs.  Tlie  People,  Sec. 


Il« 


coles'  A1):M IMHTKATION. 


319 


any  frfc  ncj^ro  or  iiniliitto  liaviii^i' jfaiiiod  ii  Icjiiil  si'ttlcinciit  in  tlii.s 
Stilt*',  shall  lurlcit  uimI  l>iiy  lor  cvciy  siicli  oHciicc  tlic  sum  (»!'  .^HKM) 
t(»  the  party  injured,  to  he  rt'covcrcd  in  tin'  ininio  of  the  people  of 
the  (Stale  oi"  Illinois,  by  action  of  debt  in  any  eonit  havinj;'  cogni- 
zance of  the  same.''  J>y  a  pro\iso  it  was  added,  that  this  should  not 
apply  to  the  recapture  of  fn;iitive  slaves. 

'I'lie  line,  it  will  he  observed,  was  for  (lie  party  injured,  who 
miylit  have  been  successfully  carried  to  so  icinotea  section  in  the 
south  an<l  tlier(>  sold  into  bondage,  as  to  precliule  the  jtossibility  (d* 
liis  retuiii.  \o  share  (d*  it  wastoj^oto  a  prosecutor.  It  in  eltect 
]>rovided  a  preiiiiuiii  for  the  successful  kidnapper  who  would  steal 
the  remedy  with  the  iiersoii.  The  remedy  was  civil  :  no  i)rovisioii 
occurs  in  the  law  for  any  other  ])uiiishment  if  the  culprit  was 
uorthless  in  visible  worldly  ellects  upon  which  to  levy  an  execu- 
tion, and  this  doubtless  was  the  condition  of  the  kidiiapi»in;4' 
seoiindi'cls  in  W  cases  out  of  every  ](>(>.  The  law  reads:  who 
'•shall  forcibly  take  and  carry  out  of  this  State"  &c;  liiit  in  the 
majority  of  cases  the  jxtor  ignorant  blacks,  by  !Vaud  and  deceit, 
Avere  iiiveij;led  into  atrip  south  on  a  Hat  b(»at,  or  other  errand,  ami 
at  some  i>re-arraii^cd  ]>oint  on  the  river  they  would  be  turned 
over  to  confederates,  forcibly  and  rapidly  taken  totlie  interior  and 
there  sold  into  slavei'y,  the  orij;iiial  parties  often  leavin.i;'  the 
iiii])ression  u[H)ii  their  ItJack  dii|)es  that  they  had  no  hand  in  the 
outraji'c.  Af^ainst  such  enticements  the  law  cit«'d  made  no  provi- 
sion, and  they  were  ])eii)etrated  with  impunity.  .\  not  her  mode  was 
to  seize  a  black  and  forcibly  convey  him  to  a  rendezvous  either  on 
the  Ohio  or  .Mississippi,  but  not  outof  tiie  State,  where  a  ccmfede- 
rate  would  apjtear  and  carry  him  beyond.  Nor  were  the  blacks 
allowed  their  oaths  against  whites,  and  hence  it  was  jicnerally 
im))ossible  to  convict. 

The  crime  of  seiziiif;'  tree  blacks,  runniiiji'  them  south  and  selling 
them  into  slavery  from  this  State,  for  a  I011.U  time  was  (piite  C(tiu- 
nion.  The  jxior  iniiorant  colored  creatures,  aiiainst  whom  was  not 
only  tlie  law  but  apparently  every  iiiaiTs  hand,  were  hanijiered  in 
the  south  by  all  the  contrivances  of  inj;eiiious  slave  codes  to  pre- 
vent their  escape,  whih'  the  weary  years  of  nnretpiitcd  toil 
rolled  slowly  ai'ound.  ev«'r  embittered  by  heart  lonjiinys  to  return 
to  home  and  kindred.  The  same  may  be  said  of  the  att'ectionate 
ones  left  at  home.  No  crime  can  be  <>reater  than  this.  Tort  ions 
of  southern  Illinois  ftu'  many  years  attbrded  a  safe  retreat  to  these 
kidnaiipinji"  outlaws.  AVe  cannot  cite  the  numerous  cases  of  kid- 
na])])iiij;.  An  early  conviction  for  this  crime  was  that  of  deptha 
Lambkins,  at  thetei-m  of  the  Madison  county  circuit  court,  Novem- 
ber, 1822.  We  hav  not  the  i»articulars.  On  the  ni,nlit  of  May  l'.~), 
1SL'.'5,  a  free  colored  man  named  .lackson  Jlutler,  liis  Avife  and  o 
children,  residing-  in  Jllinois  a  few  miles  from  Vincennes,  were  kid- 
iia]»ped  by  a  band  of  villians  from  Lawrence  county  in  this  State. 
]>utler  had  been  purchased  by  Gov.  Harrison  in  Kentucky, 
brouj^ht  to  Lidiana,  indentured,  and  liad  served  out  his  term 
faithfully.  His  wife  was  born  free,  which  rendered  the  children 
also  free.  They  were  taken  (h>wn  the  Wabash  to  the  Ohio,  tlu'iu^e 
south.  Harrison  leariunj;'  of  the  outraj^e,  otlered  a  reward  of  $'M)0 
for  the  apprehension  of  the  ki<lnap])ers.  The  name  of  Harrison 
gave  it  wide  circulation,  and  in  September  following,  news  came 


320  IIISroilY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


lliiit  tlio  Uiitlci'  fimil.v  liiul  hccii  rescued  lit  New  Orleiiii.s.    just  as 
tlie.v  were  iil»oiit  l«»  he  sliipped  to  ("iil>il.* 

Ill  the  first  liiessii};('  to  the  j^ciieral  asseiiildy,  Deeeiiilter,  ~>, 
1S1,'2,  (Jov.  Colics  ealled  sju'cial  attention  to  the  siil»iect  of  Uiilnap- 
piii^  ;  that  crime,  lie  was  sorrv  to  say,  was  loo  (dten  comiiiitted  in 
llie  Slate  with  iiiipiinil.v  ;  iir;;edthat  liiediity  ot's(»ciet.v  as  well  as 
every  beiie\(»Ieiit  I'eeliii};  denianded  better  protection  tor  the  free 
blacks,  while  Ihey  remained  in  the  Stale;  tliat  the  peciiMar  situa- 
tion of  the  Slate,  liorderiii;;  on  lliiee  rivers  coinmniiicaliii;;  witli 
the  coiiiilry  wiiere  there  was  always  a  demand  for  sla\  fs,  alVorded  it 
^rcal  lemplalioii  and  facility  to  the  lawless  and  inhninan  to  eii;:a<;'o 
in  this  criiiie,  and  that  more  ellicient  laws  were  required  to  luex  cut 
the  kidiiai»piiij;  of  free  blacks. 

This  part  of  the  niessa;;e,  with  tiie  subject  of  slavery,  was  refer- 
red to  a  special  coininitlee  <"onsislinji' of  .Messrs.  N\' ill,  l-^mmil  and 
]\Ioore,  wli(t  i-epoi'ted  Dec.  lU,  ISL'U,  as  ibllows  :  "Yoiir  commit  lee 
lia\c  carefully  e.\aiiiiiie(l  Ihe  laws  upon  tlie  subject,  and  with  deep 
rcuret  aiiiioiiiice  tlieir  incapability  (»f  devising  a  more  elVecliial  i>lan 
than  the  one  already  i»rescribed  i»y  law  for  thesui»pression  of  siicli 
intaiiioiis  crimes,  It  is  believed  that  the  benevolent  views  of  the 
executive  and  the  beni;;ii  pnij»oses  of  the  slatiites  can  only  be 
realized  by  the  redonbled  dilii^icnce  of  our  ^iiaiid  juries  and  our 
inanistrates,  aided  by  the  well  directed  siip[»ort  of  all  just  and 
jiood   men.'' 

The  lejiislature  was  ixtlitically  op[)osed  to  the  };<n('rnoi',  and  tin? 
Iaii;;ua<;e  of  the  committee,  "beiii;;!!  statute,"  was  the  baldest  of 
irony.  These  ycntlenieii  however  were  (piite  capable  of  devisiii};' 
a  scheme  how  to  introduce  slavery  into  llu^  State,  which  they 
reported  at  the  same  time,  and  to  which  we  will  now  direct  our 
inquiry. 

[In  IHT)!  nn  uttoinpted  miinlor,  «rowin(r  out  of  tlio  lius'lncss  of  kidnapping:, was  enrious- 
ly  ilevt'lopt'd.  It  sliuwsalsotliu  nioilus  opcnindi  and  tlie  d(;spL'nitu  clianictcrs  coiinec- 
tcd  witli  tills  crlnu!.  A  Mrs.  PrntlitT,  dccuiised,  of  Weiikley  county,  Tuiint'ssi-e,  luul 
sonic  yeurs  before  cnmntMpnted  her  sliives,  and  they  removed  to  Uallittin  county, 
Illinois.  Here  they  were  followed  by  parties  from  their  former  home,  who  conspived 
to  arrest  them  as  fuifitivo  slaves.  The  U.  S.  district  court,  Judge  Pope  iiregidinjr,  de- 
cided upon  full  proof  that  they  had  n«t  a  shauow  of  claim  to  them.  With  the  con- 
spirators was  connected  a  shrewd  bad  man  by  the  nnine  of  N'ewton  E.  Wright,  residing 
In  Kentucky,  back  of  Wolf  Island,  who  had  long  been  engaged  in  kidnapping.  While 
iiere  attempting  to  reclaim  the  Prather  negroes  as  slaves,  he  formed  the  ac(|uaiiitanco 
of  a  notorious  kidnapper  of  Hamilton  county,  named  Joe  O'Neal,  with  whom  wa3 
associated  a  disreputable  character  by  the  name  of  Abe  Thomas.  Subsequently 
O'.N'eal  stole  tlircc  likely  children  from  an  old  negro  named  Scott,  in  liaiiiilton  county, 
Illinoi'',  and  ran  them  off  and  sold  them  partly  on  credit  to  Wright,  who  resold  them  at 
New  Madrid  to  one  Phillips.  When  O'Neal's  note  matured  he  sent  Thomas  to  collect 
it,  telling  him  further  that  Wright  had  business  of  a  particular  nature  for  him,  for 
which  he  would  be  well  paid,  Thomas  proceeded  by  steamer  to  Wright's.  There  ho 
undertook  for  18)50  to  kill  a  l)r  Swayne,  at  HIcco,  Tennessee,  who  had  sued  Wright  on  a 
noti;  of  $8000.  If  the  doctor  could  be  killed,  Wright,  by  means  of  nicely  forged  receipts, 
could  successfully  defend  the  suU. 

Ill  .May,  1H.T0,  uman  calling  hlii.self  Stewart,  rode  up  to  the  house  of  Dr.  Swnyno,  de- 
Biring  him  to  visit  his  father,  a  little  way  off,  allegeu  to  have  been  taken  suddenly  ill 
on  his  return  from  Texas.  The  doctor  invited  the  stranger  to  dinner,  just  ready  ; 
that  attended  to,  the  two  rode  away  to  seethe  sick  man  After  proceeding  some  dis- 
tance, Stewart,  tailing  a  little  behind,  drew  a  pistol  antishot  the  do  tor,  the  liall  lodg- 
ing in  his  arm,  fracturing  itbadly.  The  cry  of  murder  was  raised,  but  Stewart  made 
ills  escape.  Pursuit  was  made,  and  every  effort  to  ferret  out  the  assassin  ;  suspected 
parties  were  followed  even  to  Texas  ;  much  money  was  expended,  but  without  avail. 
Dr    Swayne  recovered . 

Hut  now  unexpectedly  a  clue  was  gained.  Two  citizens  of  White  county,  Illinois. 
John  Eubanks  and  son,  Shannon,  took  a  lot  of  horses  to  Tennessee  for  sale,  and  while 
In  the  neighborhood  of  Dr.  Swayne's,  heard  him  relate  the  particulars  of  the  attempt 
to  assassinate  him,  giving  also  a  minute  dcscriptionof  his  aBsaila'<t,  whose  nose  was 
flat  at  the  base,  projecting  forward  like  a  hawk's  bill.  .Shannon  knew  the  description 
fitted  Abe  Xtiomas,  and  no  other  living  man,  who  was  then  stopping  at  JoeO.Neal's, 
in  Hamilton  cou'ty,  Illinois.  Further  description  as  too  size,  complexion,  &c.,  tallied 
exactly.  A  short  time  after,  Thomas  was  seized  by  same  Tcnnesseeuns,  and  carried 
to  that  State  for  trial.    (Shawneetown  Mercury  1851.] 

*111.  Intelligencer,  1823. 


COLES'  ADMINISIHATION. 


321 


TIk;  ('onirufinn  qui'ntUm  of  1S'J-I — The  /'Jff'orf  to  make,  IllhiolH  a 
i^hn'e  Slatf. — It  liiis  duiiltllcss  Im-cii  ikiIimI  tliiit  the  voice  of  tlu'  Jico- 
J)l<'  (»r  III!'  It'irilurv.  !is  it  Ibiiiiil  «'\iM('ssi(»ii  fioiii  tiiiii'  to  liiiic,  wiih 
stloii;;|_V  in  I'iivoi'  of  siii\<'i_v.  I  >_v  riili\  iissiiii;'  tlic  IIMIIH's  oI'  IcikI- 
iiiji coiiventioii  advcx^iitCiS  ill  lSi»;{-4,  iiiid  iVoiii  otiu'i- cii'ciiiiistiiiM'cs, 
it  iii;iy  ln'  asscrtcMJ  wilii  entire  siiiety  lliat  tlie  ediistitnlionni  eon- 
venlioii  of  ISIS,  jet'l  unrestrained  l»y  liie  oidinanee  ol'  I7S7.  «ii-  lli(> 
i'lialiliny  act  to  loini  a  eonslitntion,  would  have  estaltlislied 
slavery.  As  it  was,  that  convention  in  a  inanner  evaded  tiie  lull 
re<|iiiienM'nt  of  I  lie  acts  of  eoii,i;i'ess  hy  declaring  (article  \'l.  sec.  I.). 
'•Neitlier  slavery  nor  involnntary  servitude  sliall  hcno/lrr  l»e  intro- 
duced into  tins  State;"  and  hy  the  .'Jd  sect  ion  of  t  he  same  article; 
they  yave  to  iiid<'iitiired  slavery  the  only  validity  it  ever  had. 
Tile  tVelin;,'  in  lavor  ot'slavei'y  was  still  stroiij;'  after  the  adinissioii 
of  the  State.  The  linaiicial  einharrassnieiits  of  the  ]»eo|>le,  to 
Mliicli  we  iiav(;  adverted  in  the  preceding' cliapler,  (toiipled  witii 
the  >;oId<'ii  ])ictiiresof  ])ros|)erity  which  that  institnti(»n  would 
hriii!^  to  the  country,  as  they  were  wont  to  re;;ard  it,  <lid  not  altatc 
their  lonjjrin^j^s.  The  siihject  was  fnrthei'  kept  astir  hy  the  frenzied 
a;j;itation  of  the  slavery  (piestion  as  connected  with  tin'  admission 
of  Missouri,  which  convulsed  the  entire  nation  and  threatenl'd 
a  dissolution  of  the  I'nioii. 

It  had  also  the  ell'ect  to  extensively  advertise  that  new  State, 
and  stimulate  einiji'ratioii  thithei-,  as  the  crctwds  of  immijiiants 
from  the  southern  States  to  .Missouri,  consist iuii'  in  i,neat  part  of 
the  wealthiest  and  Ix'st  educated  classes,  passed  through  southern 
Illinois,  where  immijiratiou  had  been  for  some  time  Ntaj^naiit,  and 
the  want  of  which  was  seriously  felt.  "Many  of  our  peoi)le  who 
liad  land  and  farms  to  sell,  looked  upon  ilie  jiood  tortiiiie  of  Mis- 
souri with  envy;  whilst  the  lordly  immijiraut,  as  he  passed  alonjif 
Avith  his  money  and  drov«'s  of  iiejiroes,  took  a  malicious  pleasure 
in  increasiiij;-  it,  hy  jiretendin^'  to  reiiict  the  short  si;;hted  poliiiy 
of  Illinois,  which  excluded  him  from  settlinj;  with  his  slaves 
ainoujif  us,  an<lfrom  pnrchasiiiy  the  lands  of  our  ])eoi)le."* 

into  the,  election  of  Aujjust,  1>Sl*2,  as  we  have  noted,  tlie  ques- 
tion of  slavery  eutere«l  to  a  larye  extent,  and  while  it  was  not 
j;eueially  sharply  delined,  it  was  well  known  that  ("oles  was  a 
zealous  oj)[)onent  of  the  institution  of  human  chattels;  so  also  was 
(Jen.  Moore;  and  foi-these  reasons  the  ]>artisans  of  freedom  rallied 
Avitli  little  division  foi- Coles.  Jlis  a^j^re^ate  vot(^  was  L'SKI,  that 
of  .Moore  522,  total  ;};{;52.  The  vote  of  Phillips  was  27<;(>  and  that 
of  IJrowii  2.51.'},  total  ~)'.i{)li — heinji"  ii  majority,  so  far  as  this  ex- 
]»ressiou  was  a  criterion,  of  about  2()()()  in  favor  of  the  introduction 
of  slavery.  ])Ut  personal  ('onsiderati(»ns  at  that  day  entered  more 
lai'iicly  into  election  contests  than  principles. 

Edward  Coles,  tlie  j>overnor  elect  of  Illinois,  was  born  in  Vir- 
frinia,  Dec.  I.'),  1780,  and  was  amoiifi-  the  yonnjiest  of  ten  children. 
His  father  was  a  planter,  owniuj;'  many  shives.  Duriii};-  college 
life  the  <piestiou  of  proj)erty  in  nuiii  tirst  presented  itself  to 
Edward's  mind,  and  he  returned  home  impressed  with  its  natral 
wronji'fuluess  and  political  impolicy,  and  the  resoluti(»n  that  when 
he  should  become  the  owner  of  his  ])ortiou  of  his  fatlier's  slaves  he 
Wiudd  emancipate  them.     Apprehendinjf  that  these   sentiments 


•Ford's  History. 


21 


322  HISTORY   (tK    II.MiNOlS. 

wiMild  iiH'ct  witli  no  coiiiitciiiiiicr  at  lioiiic  lie  kept  tliciii  hiiciciI  to 
liiiiiscir.  I'poii  IIh- <l*-;itli  t>r  liis  I'iil  lit-i- in  ISOS,  lie  iM-ciUiic  riilil  lt'<l 
to  lT)  ii('<;i'()fs  mimI  1,000  ii(  its  oI'  hiiitl.  I  lis  lilt  lifi'  iiiid  tiiUiii  no 
Nliiii'c  in  |)iil)lic  lil'c,  Init  iiis  Ikmih'  liad  Ium-ii  tlic  rcsoil  of  iiciii'l,N  nil 
tin-  iiivM  stntcsincn  of  the  tln.v.  Kdward  iM-canio  tin'  private 
s*'i-r*-!arv  ol'  I'rt'sidfiit  Madismi.  In  imtsoii  Coles  was  tali  and 
gia('«'t'iil,  witli  lace  of  tin'  (iiccian  st.xlc.  To  a  iK'Ucvdlcnt  dis- 
[losition  lie  added  a  wide  fund  of  iiit'orination,  .social  tact  and 
e«ni\('rsatioiiaI  jtowcrs.  |>y  the  Jndieitnis  exercise  of  these  he  is 
said  to  lia\c  in'oii^lit  into  new  bonds  of  lrieiidshi|i  Mr.  Madison  and 
.Mr.  Monroe,  and  Mr.  Adams  and  .Mr.  .lelVerson,  who  had  respec- 
tiv»'l,V  lieeii  someuiiat  estian;;('d.  ill  ISKi  he  was  sent  in  the  sloop 
of  war  "I'roiiiethioiis"  on  a  special  mission  to  IJnssia.as  the  ln-arer 
of  iniportani  dispatches  to  the  .\nierican  ('mhassadors  at  Si. 
iV'terslnir;;.  i'.efore  his  return  he  made  the  tonr  of  Mnrope. 
After  his  arrival  home  he  shortly  determined  to  <{o  west.  lie  spent 
the  sninmer  of  ISIS  in  Illinois,  and  witnessed  the  lahors  ol  the 
eonveiitioii  at  KaskasUia  to  enact  the  tirst  coiislitiiti.tn.  In  the 
following'  sprinji',  ISIO,  he  removed  with  his  slaves  to  Illinois.  On 
the  trip  hillier,  made  mostly  on  Hat  boats  down  the  Ohio,  the 
nejsroes,  bein;;  i;;iioraiit  of  t  heii- destination,  were  one  clear  niooii- 
li<;lit  evening  in  .Inin-,  while  calmly  tloatiiijii  down  the  placid 
stream,  called  t(»j;etlier,  and  by  their  master  addressetl  in  a  plain, 
uliort  speech  in  which  he  ])roiM)niiced  them  all  free.  Their  ^rati- 
tnde  was  so  pidfonnd  that  they  tendered  him  one  year's  service  at 
their  new  home,  lint  beiii}:  nnich  touched  at  this  nianifestatiou 
of  their  attachment,  he  refused  their  otter,  lie  <;ave,  besi«les,  to 
each  head  of  a  family  1(10  acres  of  land  in  Illinois,  in  the  neijili- 
boihood  (»f  Kdwardsville,  aided  them  with  money,  and  for  many 
years  exercised  i)aternal  care  ovei*  them.* 

In  1S;»;{,  at  the  a;^f  of  47,  he  remove  '  to  Philadelphia,  and  was 
married  t<»  Miss  Sallie  liO<;an  Ifobeits,  by  whom  he  had  one 
da.iijihter  and  two  sons,  lie  died  .Iiily  7,  IStlS,  in  the  Slid  year  of 
his  afic.  On  coming"  to  Illinois.  Coles  received  the  apitointmeiit 
of  rej^ister  of  the  land  otlice  at  ICdwardsville,  from  Mr.  Crawford, 
secretary  of  the  treasury,  who  was  an  aspirant  to  tin'  presidency. 
C<tles,  it  was  sn[>posed,  was  sent  ont  to  counteract  the  intlnence  of 
(lov.  Kdwards,  who  favored  Cahonn.t 

The  jrartisans  of  slavery,  althonf;li  beaten  f(n' governor  in  1S22, 
by  a  schism  in  their  ow  n  ranks,  had  carried  both  houses  of  the 
general  assembly,  and  the  lienteiiant-jiovernor,  and  throujiliont  the 
lirst  lialf  of  his  term,  the  j;'overnor  experienced  a  want  of  a(;cor(l 

♦The  law  of  1810  respecting  free  negroes  renuired  the  ciniinclpntor  to  give  bond  that 
they  should  not  beuome  a  county  ehargo  Having  proviiled  them  iinipiy  with  lands, 
Coles  neglected  to  do  this,  whereby  he  incurred  a  liability  to  u  tine  of  S5~(I0  for  (Mich 
negro,  wliich  might  be  sued  for  by  the  county  In  which  tliey  were  settled.  During 
tlic  heat  of  the  convention  struggle  the  county  commissioners  of  Madison  were  insti- 
gated to  bring  suit  against  the  Governor  lor  this  i)enalty,  resulting,  in  Sc|)tpmlier,  IS24, 
In  a  verdict  of  $:.',000  for  setting  at  liberty  negroes  without  giving  bond  I'ending 
a  motion  for  a  new  trial,  in  January  18:i5,  the  legislature  released  all  penalties  incurred 
under  the  act,  including  ttiose  of  Coles.  At  the  ne.xt  term  of  court  he  plead  this  re- 
Icastf  in  l)ar  of  .judgment  against  him.  But  .lodge  MeUoberts  decided  that  the  legisla- 
ture liad  no  power  to  t.iKu  i';om  a  municipal  (K)rpi)ration  its  vested  right  in  a  line,  any 
more  than  from  an  inJividual,  aud  rendered  judgment  on  the  verdict.  This  decision, 
believed  to  have  been  influenced  by  the  feelings  growing  outof  the  slavery  contest  the 
year  before,  caused  no  little  popular  excitement.  The  cast;  was  talten  to  the  supremo 
court  and  reversed,  tl.e  power  of  the  legislature  being  held  to  be  arni'lc  in  the  premises 
The  o|)lnion  of  the  court,  by  W'ilson,  chief  justice,  says:  "It  is  said  tlie  king  cannot 
remit  an  informer's  interest  in  a  popular  action  after  suit  brought ;  this  is  no  doubt 
Pa  ■  ■    ■  


true,  but  it  is  ciiually  true  that  the  Pari  lament  can.    It  is  not  pretended  that  the  exe- 
utive  coiild  remit  tn 
tFord's  History  of 


cuti ve  coiild  remit  th>i  penalty  In  this  case,  but  that  the  legislature  may." 
■"     "    ■■■  '  "  Illinois. 


COI.KH'   ADMINISTKATION. 


323 


widi  that  body.  ( ln\ t'liior  ( '<il(>s  diit'ctctl  iittriitioii  to  tlie  siiltjcct 
of  sliivrrv,  ami  in  clear  aii<l  I'orrililf  laii;;iia;;c  iii'^rtl  ilic  ciiiaiici- 
]>ati()ii  (if  tiic  i'"r»'iH'li  ,sla\t's,  icniiiiiiiciiih-il  a  revision  of  the  Made 
laws  in  aeroi'tlancr  with  the  dirlates  of  hntiianitv.  and  the  rnact- 
nniit  of  nioi'c  adcqnatc  laws  to  icpirss  the  frcciacnt  ciiinc  of  kid- 
napping, as  we  hav(>  Motic-4-<l.  This  was  <-:ioni;'ii  to  ininx-diati'Iy 
fan  into  tlanir  the  snionldciiny  rinhcis  of  ti;*'  slavcfv  (iu('sti(»n. 
The  pnip(»s('  was  now  to  inaUr  a  >.tr(.:i;;'  cIVoil  to  introdnci  slavery 
into  Illinois,  wlii(  h  coidd  only  hr  done  by  anientlin;;  !!ie  eonstitii- 
tion.  which  recpiiied  a  t  wo-tliiids  \  ;ite  in  each  laaise  to  pass  tlio 
proposition  snltniiltin^  the  (piestion  to  a  vote  of  the  people.  So 
nineli  of  the  message  as  i-elaled  to  the  abro;;ati»»n  of  slavery,  was 
referred  t(»  a  select  coniniiltee,  eonsistiiii; of  Messrs.  Ileaird,  I»oon, 
liJiiUl.  Kinney  and  White,  who  in  a  few  days  reported  as  follows: 
After  ^iivinji' a  historical  resume  of  the  establishment  of  slavery 
in  Illinois,  (h'nonstratin;;  its  U"^:\\  existence  and  claimin;.;'  that  thu 
j)rovisi(»n  in  l'  e  (\r{'{\  of  cession  from  Vii>;inia,  vi/  :  that  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  territoiy  who  professed  tliemsehes  to  lia\e  lieen  citi- 
zens (tf  Virginia  pre\  ions  to  the  cession,  slioidd  "liav«'  (heir 
]»()ssessions  and  titles  eonlirined  to  then.',  and  be  protected  in  the 
enjoyment  of  their  rijihts  and  lilM-rties."  coidd  n(»t  be  overridch'ii 
and  set  aside  by  the  snbsecpient  act  of  con;;ress,  which  pr(»\  ided 
that  "  there  shall  be  neither  slaveiy  nor  involuntary  servitude  in 
the  said  t«'rritory  :"  that  the  lan-^najic  in  the  deed  of  cession  wa.s 
too  plain  an<l  forcible  to  be  misnntterstood  or  evaded  ;  that  the  con- 
stitution, in  obedience  to  the  behests  of  con^jicss,  for  the  purpose 
of  havinj;  the  State  admitted,  was  careful  to  avoid  any  interfer. 
ence,  Avith  (his  s|)ecies  of  ])roperty,  and  left  it  in  the  sanu'  state  of 
.security  that  the  ordinance  had  placed  it  ;  (hat  thus  the  constitu- 
tion of  Illinois  was  ratiiied,  no  doubt  U|M)n  (he  ground  that  no 
condition  of  the  ordinanccdiad  been  violated,  and  that  the  consti- 
tution left  (he  rij-ht  to  pi'ops'ity  ac(piired  nnder  th(^  (tonipact 
witli  N'irjuinia,  entire. 

They  concluded  their  rejiort  by  sayinjn':  "  Your  committee  have 
now  arrived  at  the  peiiod  when  Illinois  was  adnntled  into  the 
Union  U]>ou  an  eipial  footinji  with  the  orijiinal  Sta(es  in  all  respect.s 
whatover;  and  whatever  causes  :»f  rej^ret  were  experienced  by  the 
restrictions  imposed  upon  the  tirst  conven  ion,  your  conindttee  are 
clearly  of  (he  opini<tn  (hat  (he  people  of  ill  .mo's  have  now  the  same 
riiiht  to  alter  (heii-  cons(i(u(ion  as  the  i)e(-pie  of  the  State  of  Vir- 
ginia, or  any  other  of  (he  orii^inal  S(ates,  and  nuiy  make  any  dis- 
]>o.sition  of  nofi'ro  slaves  they  choose,  without  any  breacrh  of  faitli 
or  violation  of  com])act,  oi'dinances  or  acts  of  couijress;  and  if 
the  leasoninji'  <'mployed  be  correct,  (here  is  no  oilier  course  h-ft  by 
which  to  accomitlish  the  object  of  this  portion  of  the  jiovernor's 
nu'ssaj^e,  than  to  call  a  convention  to  alter  (he  c(>nsti(u(ion." 

And  (hey  recommeiuled  the  ad<»p(ion  of  the  following;'  resolu- 
tion :  "  AV.w/a'f/,  That  the  ficneral  assembly  of  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois (two-thirds  thereof  concurring;'  tlu'rein),  do  recommend  *o  the 
electors,  at  the  n<'xt  elecition  for  mendu'rs  to  the  jjeneral  assembly, 
to  vote  for  or  aj;ainst  a  convei'^ion,  aj^reeably  to  the  7th  article 
of  the  con.stitution." 


"See  111.  Intelligencer,  Dec.  14, 1822. 


.'J24  nisroKY  oi"  ii,i,i\()is. 


On  iiKttioii  di"  Miitliticl  .Touch,  the-  r('|i(»rt  Wiis  <'oii('iiii«'(l  in.  A 
minoity  i(|piiii  u;;s  iiiiidt-  l»y  liisdcn  Moctic  ;in<i  .loliu  i'jnincll, 
t^troM^lv  ;iM(i  ;il>lv  iiryiii;;  llic  iiholilion  <>l"  slavery,  I  In-  iniiclioriilion 
nl'llic  l>liirk  laws,  ami  ;4icat('i'  st  lin.ncncv  rr;;ai(liM;;  I  lie  piinisli- 
iMcnl  of  ki(liia|i|iiii;4.  Mi.  Will  niadt'  a  M'paialc  ii'imhI,  of  a  aiilk 
am!  water  eluuiieier. 

Ill  llie  seiiale.  il  w  as  s|»ee(|il\  aseeilailied  1  lial  t  lie  re(|iii.-^ile  I  \V(»- 
t  liinls  \  ule  Id  pass  llie  resoliil  ion  I'lHllie  call  of  a  eoiixeiilioii  lo 
aiiiemi  the  ennslilnl  ion,  eoiild  We  ohiaiiied,  and  to  spar*-;  l>iil  in 
tlielionse  llieease  slitod  ollieiwise — tlie,V  needed  one  \o|e.  At 
tils*  il  was  slieiiiioiisly  argued  llial  tlie  I  wo-tliiids  vole  icipiiied  l»y 
r  eoiisl  itiil  ion  lo  pass  llie  eoii\  eiil  ion  I'esohit  ion,  meant  two- 
tliirds  ol°  the  two  houses  in  joint  session.  r>nt  llie  opponents 
Avere  loo  powei  I'lil  in  ar;;iiiiieiit  upon  lliis  point,  'i'iie  iiiaJoiil\  wa.s 
iiol  lobe  toiled  in  tlieir  purpose,  liowe\ei'.  .Vnollier  mode  jirt^ 
>seiited  itself — all  that  was  leipiired  was  ('onia;^!'  to  peipetiale  a 
{;ioss  (»iilraj;-e  upon  a  recaleiti'ant  meiiiliei'. 

'I'here  had  heeii  a  eonU-sted  election  case  lr<nii  i'ike  <oiiiily, 
which  then  included  all  the  country  lietweeii  the  Illinois  and  Mis- 
sissippi fixers,  iioith  to  the  bonmiaiA  of  the  Slate.  'I'lie  sittinj; 
liieinlier,  decided  by  the  iioiise,  lo  lie  entitled  to  the  .seat,  was 
Nicholas  liaiixiii.and  t  he  contestant,  .lolin  Shaw.  Hanson's  miIc 
iiad  liecii  olil;iiiicd  for  the  re  election  of  .lesse  II. 'riiomas,st ron^ily 
\>vn  sla\cry,  lo  the  United  Stales  senate,  hiil  fai-tliei-  than  this  lie 
\vonld  not  ^<».  Shaw,  who  Ta\oreil  the  comcntion  pio(ect,  was 
now  discovered  to  lie  justly  entitled  lo  the  seal!  .\  motion  was 
thereupon  made  lo  reconsider  the  admission  of  Hanson,  wliicli 
]ire\ailed.  It  was  next  fiirlher  nioM-d  to  strike  ont  the  nann^  of 
Hanson  and  insert  that  of  Shaw.  iMirin;^  tli«^  penden(*y  of  tin*, 
resolnt  ion,  a  I  iimiiil  iioiis  crowd  asseinliled  in  tln^  evenin;^  at  the: 
state  jioiisc.  anil  after  the  deli\(-i'y  of  a  niimtier  of  incfiidiary 
speeches,  inlianiin;;  the  minds  of  the  peoph;  a<;'aiiist<  Hanson,  they 
jiroeecded  tliroiiiih  tlic  town  witii  his  efliL;y  in  a  Ma/e.  aecompa- 
iiied  liy  the  lieatiii;;(if  drnins,  tin-  sounds  of  biij^les,  and  shouts 
of  "  ( 'onxeiitioii  or  deatii." 

'I'lie  molioii  lo  expel  Hanson  and  admit  Shaw  was  adopted,  and 
Ihe  lat  lei-  rewarded  the  majority  ii\  \oliii<;  for  t  he  coii\  cut  ion  res- 
olution, which  thus  barely  passed  by  his  aid  on  the  ni;;lit  follow- 
iiiji'.  .\  niimlier  of  the  niembeis  of  both  houses  entered  tiieir 
solemn  protest  a;;aiiisl  this  ylaiinji  outrage  of  iinseatin^  Hanson, 
liotli  as  to  the  object  intended  and  llie  manner  of  perpet  rating' if. 
iMany  retlectin;^  men,  earnest  in  their  support  of  the  convention 
question,  condemned  it  ;  and  it  proved  a  powerful  lever  befon^thc 
jicople  in  the  del'eat  of  t  he  slavery  scheme. 

The  passa;;c  of  I  he  con  \  cut  ion  rcsolnl  ion  was  icj^arded  as  taiila- 
inouiit  to  its  cania;;('.  at  the  polls.  The  pro  slavery  part,  cele- 
brated their  Iriiimph  by  an  illiimiiial  ion  of  the  town  and  u 
]irocessioii.  accompiiii  ied  by  all  the  horrid  paraphernalia  and  dis- 
cordanl  music  ot'  achivarai,  marched  to  the  residemu' of  (lovernor 
("oles  and  the  (piailers  of  the  chief  opponents  of  the  measure, 
where  tlie\  performed  I  heir  demoniac  music  to  annoy  and  insult 
Ihem.  The  pidcessioli  is  said  to  have  been  headed  h.>  such  di;^na- 
laries  as  ex  jiid;^e  and  late  gubernatorial  caiiidaie,  .losepli  i'liil- 
li|»s;  the  newly  chosen  chief  justice,  Thomas  Iteynolds,  afterwards 
goveiiior    of    -Missouri;    associiale,    sul)reln^^  jiid^^e,  Smith ;    pros- 


<'oi,i;s'  ADMiM.^  ;i;ai  ION. 


|»c(',liv<',  liciitciiiiiil  ^ovcriKii'  l\iiiiic\,  etc.,  lollowcd  l»y  niiiiiy  of 
the  lioiioriildc  iiiciiilicrs  ol  llic  Ifj^ishiliiic,  IIm-  I(il»l>\ists — soiiic of 
lliciii  sti'iiimfis  I'loiii  iidjoiiiiiit;  slii\  <■  Stiili's — llic  inlddc,  etc.  TIh', 
icji)iciiius  (»r  llii'  cdiiv  ('III  ion  |);iil\  iilso  roiiiid  cxiircssidii  in  |tiili- 
lic,  diiiiiiTs.  iiiid  (d'  IIk'  t(»;ists  llicic  ^ivcii  we  siihjoiii  ;i  I'cw  :  Tlici 
(•iiii\  <'Mt  inn  :  'I'Im'  nicMiis  (d'  inl  ludiicini;  ;ind  .s|iiciidin.L;  tlic  AlViriin 
I'iiMiilv — I  iiif'c  cIhmts.  'I'Im' <'n('Mn('.s  (d'  t  lie  conx'^nl  ion  :  .Miiv  iIk'.V 
i'i<l<- ii  itorrnpinH  siiddlc  on  :i  Inird  tioltin^'  iiorsi-,  ;i  Ion;;  Joniiify 
willioiil  nioncv  or  (Vicnils.  .Miiy  tliosc  individniils  w  lio  mic  <i|»|m)s<m| 
to  our  cuMsr.  ItcCoic  Um'  next  (dcrlion.  iiliiindon  (lie  .Stiitc  oT  Illi- 
nois. 'I'lic  Stiilf  (d'  Illinois:  llic  ;Lji(»nn(l  is  ^ood — |)i;iii'ics  in 
;iiinndini('<' ;  <Xi\c  lis  |dciily  <d'  iii'.i;rors.  it  litl  Ic  iudiisliy  ;iiid  slit; 
Mill  (listril»ii(c  licr  ticiisiirc 

I'.iil  iIh'sc  iHiil;il  proceedings,  iidciidcd  lo  iiit  iniidiitc.  only 
recoiled  ii|)on  I  lie  perpet  liitois.  'I'lie  ;iiili  conveiil  ion  piiily  wiis 
ilispircil  \\\\\i  iciiewi'd  coiir;i;ii'e  ;ind  (ielci'iniliiltion  lo  delcid  the, 
cull  heCorellie  people,  'riijii  indeed  \v;is)  lieoiily  IioJh' t'oid  lie  lilieity 
n{'  till  \\{r\t  in  Illinois.  Al  I  his  period.  I  lie  iippoilioiiinent  ol'  llie. 
Slide  into  repi">enliili\  e  iind  seiiiiloriiil  distii<ds  wjis  jtecidiiirly 
Miic(|iiid.  IIm'  st  roii'^liolds  oC  the  c<iiivent  i(ni  ;idvoc;iles  liein;,'  in 
Hie  counties  iie;ir  I  lie  Ohio  ;ind  t  In'  <dil  l-'reiicli  sett  leinenls.  w  hiie. 
llie  nipid  jholji-css  ol'  popiihilion  iioit  liw  iinl  was  nninei'iciillv  I'iif 
ill  ;(d\  iiiKM- ol'  its  just  iMlioor  repi  cseiiiiit  ion.  IT  the  conxenlioii 
shinild  be  (n'dered  hy  llii'  piople.  it  wiis  deiiionstniled  tlnit  by 
ie;i--on  olthis  nneipi:il  npi  oeiiliit  ion,  oneroiiitli  of  the  \-oters 
could,  in  ii  cerljiin  com  iii^<-nc_\.  (Iliiil  of  the  dele;;;ites  heini;  ninde. 
1(»  correspond  lothe  iininiterof  iepi'esenl;iti\es),  elect  ;i  niiijoi'ily 
of  (lie  iiieinliers.  w  ho  niiulit  liisteii  sl;i\  eiy  upon  t  he  Stiite.  It  l»c- 
cniiie,  t  heieloif,  llic  p;ir:i  iiioiiiit  oltjeet  (d'  the  friends  of  freedinii 
lo  defcijl  tlic  coii\cnti(»n  cull  licforc  tiie   p«'ople. 

The  c;niv;iss  now  o]ien('d  ;ind  for  neiirly  I.Snioiitlis  ni^ed  \\itli 
iilieipiiiled  V  iuleiice  t  hroiii;lioiil  I  he  Sliite.  Nevt'r  Wiis  sindi  cilli\  ;iss 
iiiiidc  ill  tiic  Sliile  before.  The  voiiii^  iiiid  old.  without  regard  to 
sex  ciilercd  lliear<'iia  of  pai'ly  si  rile;  families  and  iieiuhborhoods 
liecjiMic  divided  and  smieiidered  tlienis(d\es  up  to  the  bitter  war- 
fare. Delraclion  and  personal  abuse  reiuned  siipreiiie,  wliiU^ 
«'oniba)s  w  ere  iMil  iiifre(pieiil.  The  \\  hole  count  ry  seemed  on  the, 
veiiic  (d'  a  resort  t«»  physical  force  lo  stdtle  the  aiiL.'r.\  tpiest  ioii.*^ 
The  press,  both  for  and  aL;aiii>l.  teeiiie<l  with  incendiary  publica- 
tions on  the  subject.  Iloth  ami  and  pro  coiix  eiitioii  newspa|ters 
were  established  :  tt\'  the  former  "7'Ac  >/;cc/^f/o;-,"  at  Ivl wards\  ille, 
edited  by  Hooper  Warren  ;  one  al  Shawneelown,  ediP-d  by  lleiiry 
Kddy  ;  the  llliimis  / iih'lll;ifiic<'r.  located  al  N'andalia.  which,  at  tirsfc 
jtrocoin  cut  ion,  v\  as  siibse(|iieiil  ly  pnr<-liased  by  ha\id  l>lacl<we||. 
secrelaiw  of  State,  and  I  hen  ably  <'on<liicted  in  opposit  ion  to  tin; 
J'oiiveiitioii  sidienie.  To  these  paiu'ls  theic  were  also  a  number  (»t" 
aide  and  ^leady  coiii  ribnlois.  principal  amoii^'  whom  may  be  meii- 
lioiied.  his  excellency  the  i:o\enior;  Morris  llirbeek,  the  able  lOii^- 
lish  colonist,  in  lOdwards  count;,  ;  diiduc  Lockwood,  Thomas  Lip- 
piiic(dt.  Ocoil;*'*  "hiircdiill,  t.\:c.  I'ampidets  wt'ie  |iiiblislied  and  ex- 
ieiisivcly  circnlal<'d,  coiilaiiiiii!4'  statistics  and  <d»seivatioiis  re,- 
};iirdin;;  the  woikinir  of  slavery  in  other  coniitries.  (Hov.  (  oles 
freely  i'esi;;iied  the  salary  of  his  entire  term.  «  IO((l»,  as  a  contribution 
to  the  cause.     Tliidii;:li  the  (dTorls  mainly  id"  the   l{ev.    Dr.  .1.  M. 


'Iti'viiolclH  "Own  TIlIlUB." 


32)  HISTOllY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Peck,  iiiiti-.slavory  six-ictics  were  orf;aiii/(Ml  by  tlu;  "friends  of 
frcciloni,"  wliicli  lainiricd  i,ioro  or  less  tliiou/^lioiit  tlic  Stale,  to  tlie 
iminher  of  It,  with  liea'i(iiiai'tei's  in  St.  ("lair  eoiuity,  and  \viii(;li 
were  active  diirini;'  the  canv  kss.  The  ministers  of  tin-  jiospel  were 
enlisted  in  tlie cause,  and  tiiey  met  to.m-tiier  in  lar.u('  nnndters  to 
devise  ways  to  av«'rl  tiie  impending  evil.  l)enominalioiial  ques- 
tions, ordinarily  much  more  hirter  in  tiiose  tinu-s  than  at  tite 
l»resent,  were  laid  asi(h' for  tiu'  tinu'.  and  the  pulpit  now  thunder- 
ed its  anathemas  a.uainst  spreaciinj;'  tiiej^reat  sin.  All  the  means 
known  to  civilization  to  impart  ideas  of  tli«'  enormity  of  slavery 
Avere  made  a\ailal»le.  To  the  distril»ntion  of  pamphlets  and  news- 
l>aper  writin;;s,  were  aihh'd  tracts  and  handliills  of  a  most 
incendiary  tone,  'ilie  Ivcv.  Dr.  Peck,  who,  in  his  voeati(»n  of  dis- 
tril)utin;i'  Itibles,  had  the  opportunity  to  observe  the  mana;4ement 
of  the  campaign  on  tiie  part  of  tlu'  opposition,  shaix-d  iiis  ends 
with  the  tact  and  skill  of  a  ji'eiu'ral.  to  meet  them  at  every  hand. 
Political  meelinus  wen^  called,  and  almost  e\ery  stun)p  resounded 
with  the  declamations  of  indi;;iiant  orators,  both  pro  and  con. 
The  raidv  and  lile  of  the  pt  )ple,  no  h-ss  excited,  wrangled  and 
suj^tied  with  each  other  whe,'  ver  they  met.  3liich  time  was  cou- 
Kumed,  and  intbistry  was  at  a  staml. 

In  the  meantime,  the  pro-slavery  party  was  not  idle,  ami 
ad(»l»ted  the  same  means  to  rea<'ii  the  pul»lic  mind.  F.lias  Kent 
Ktiue  ;  Thomas  Ueynolds,  tlu^  chief  justice  ;  -ludfic  Tiieo[)hilus  \V. 
Snutli,  of  the  supreme  court  ;  .1  nd j^c  Sam lu-l  Mcivoberts,  Kmaunel 
J.  West,  A.  1'.  i'ield,  .b>seph  A.  llaird,  (ieor^f  Korcpu-r  and 
others,  were  their  pn»miuent  writers;  while  ainon^'  tiieir  chief 
orators,  besides  some  of  these,  may  be  in«Mitioned  It  .M.  Voiuij;', 
John  ^b'Lean.  .Jesse  U.  'I'liomas,  ex  (iov.  lictntl.  (iiiiinin<i  Ibr  con- 
g'l'ess  aj;ainst  I).  1'.  C^ook,  at  this  tin\e),  -hnl.m' I'hillips,  and  man,\ 
others.  The  nuMubers  of  the  legislature  in  favoi  of  the  conven- 
tion, before  they  disperse<l  in  the  si)riiiji  of  bsi'.;.  levied  a  contri- 
buti«>n  ujion  each  other  by  which  they  raisi'd  about  -*l()tt(>  tor 
their  side  of  the  cause.  \\  illiam  Kiiuu'y,  alterward  lieutenant 
governor,  to  his  vcunition  as  a  pro-slaveiy  politician  a<hled  that  of 
a  baptist  jireacher,  nnngliui;  the  two  with  much  fieedom,  traveled 
constantly  oxer  the  State,  actiiij^;  with  /A-al  ami  eiiei-^y  in  arousing; 
the  people  to  the  Itlessings  (»f  the  institution  of  shtxery.  Kiiiiissa- 
ries  of  both  parties  ranged  the  Stale  in  every  direction  (hiring  the 
canvass,  with  bitter  partisan  tracts,  and  all  manner  of  inllaniatory 
appeals,  to  arouse  the  |»assions  of  the  people,  and  awakened  tiu'iii 
to  the  duty  of  the  lioii''.  The  ]»rin«Mpal  newspapers  of  the  pro- 
slavery  party  wore  located  at  Kaskaskia  and  ICdwardsville. 

In  looking  oxer  the  arrav  of  prominent  names,  ii  has  been 
thought  the  most  talented  and  inlliieiilial  pid»lic  men  were  on  liie 
side  of  the  convention  party,*  but  in  energy  and  zeal,  which  grew 
with  the  progress  of  the  campaign,  the  opposition  werelietter  or- 
ganized. Their  attacks  were,  besides,  direct  upon  thesuliject  in- 
Aohing  themeiits  of  slavery  ;  while  the  other  side  showed  signs  of 
avoiding  the  direct  issue.  The  latter  argued  that  tlie  constitution 
needed  amendment  in  many  particulars;  that  the  convention 
would  not  probably  inteii'ere  in  behalf  of  slavery,  and  if  it  did,  it 
wouM  estaiilish  it  oidy  toia  limited  iteriod,  or  prov  idtt  tor  inden- 
turing and  gradual  eimmcipation.     ISnt  the  oppom-nts  were  uot  to 

*Ford"8  History. 


coles'  abministratioi^. 


327 


!)(' hoodwinked  ill  tlii.s  mainu'r;  indeed  as  tlie  jteoplc  took  a  very 
al).sorhiii}>'  interest  in  tlie  subjeet,  nnd  as  the  eanvass  was  exten- 
ded lor  a  ])erio(l  of  IS  inonths.  they  came  to  tlioroiiyhly  ai>i)re- 
ciate  all  there  was  in  it  It.v  the  day  of  election.  Thecontest  was 
not  devoid  of  extraneons  pio-slavery  inllnenees  frcm  heyond  the 
borders  of  the  State,  as  ini,i;lit  well  be  expected,  brd;  snch  inij>ertc- 
iieiice  was  promptly  met  as  it  deserved. 

\Vlien  the  day  of  election  tinally  arrived,  the  ntmost  exertions  at 
the  polls  thron,i;liont  the  State  wei'ensed  by  both  sides  to  brin;;'  ont 
a  fidl  vote.  The  aji'ed,  the  crippled,  the  chronic;  invalids,  all  that 
could  be  conveyed  with  theii'  bodily  inlirmities,  were  bron.uht  ont 
and  cast  their  votes,  either  for  a;;ainst  the  call.  The  result  was 
that  the  convention  scheme  was  (lefeated  by  s  ine  18()()  nnijoiity. 
This  was  a  womlerfnl  victoiy  to  achieve,  showing  a  yain  for  the 
anti-slavery  canse,  excc'cdin;;'  .'{.")(»(>  votes  since  the  ^iibermitorial 
contest  of  two  yeais  before.  The  ajj',iirej;ate  vote  was  ll,(ilLJ; 
4,i>7L'  for,  and  (!,(I40  aj>ainst.  This  was  a  laryc  vote;  at  the  ])resi- 
•lential  election  in  November  following,  the  a;;j;rej;ate  vote  of  the 
►State  was  4,707. 

And  thus  ended  the  most  important,  excited,  and  anjiiy  election 
that  took  ])lace  at  that  early  day  in  Illinois.  All  feelini;,  however, 
speedily  subsided,  ami  in  (I  months  alter,  is  it  said,  a  politician 
who  favored  tin-  introduction  of  slavery  was  a  rara  avis.  The 
victory  was  decisive  of  the  question  for  all  time. 


Chapter  XXVI II. 
lSL't-0— MISCELLANEOUS  MATTERS. 

Ler/islafio)! — h'e-on/duization  of  the  Judiciari/ — Cliirf  Justia^  Wil- 
fioit — Hubbard  as  Gonrnor  ad  htterim — Pitpulation  of  l.Sii,"i — 
Visit  of  LaFaycltc. 


The  {convention  strun^ilt-  ovci',  oilier  ndaii'.s  elaini  our  attention. 
And  liist  as  to  the  leyislatnit'.  wliicii  was  aiiti-eonveiition  in 
its  i)olitieal sentiments,  Tiie  nieiuhers  eliosen  siinnllaneously  with 
the  defeat  of  the  convention  call,  eoiistituted  in  a  .sensic  the  lirst 
ever  eh'cted  in  Illinois  upon  (ttlier  than  personal  eonsidcrations. 
J'ernianenI  pait.v  principles  and  oi'puii/ations  had  been,  as  Vi-t, 
torei;;n  to  the  vir^^in  soil  of  Illinois.  To  land  one  and  deliune  the 
other  candidate  was,  nj)  t(»  that  time,  the  oidy  recoi^ni/.ed  mode  of 
conduct in,i;'  a  ])()litical  caii\ass,  and  the  canii)aij;ns  weit-  usually 
.shoit.  (lovernor  Coles,  in  his  inessaj;<',  eonuratulated  the  pe(»plo 
ui)on  the  result  over  the  slaveiy  qnestion,  and  aj;ain  recom- 
mended the  abolition  of  the  remnant  of  Afiican  slavery  still  exist- 
inii;',  as  an  anomaly  in  this  free  State.  lint  the  lej^islaiure, 
notwithstanding'  its  anti-convention  majority,  was  n(»t  abolition, 
and  it  paid  little  heed  to  his  reeommendation.  Two  United  States 
senators,  four  suprenu'  Judj^t's,  and  hvi'  circuit  Jndjies,  besides  a 
crowd  of  other  oflicials,  were  to  be  electe<l  at  this  session;  but  the 
nmjority  proved  itself  of  (juite  a  forjiivinj;'  disiiosition  towai'd  its 
recent  bitter  o])poin'nts,  and  the  convention  (piestion  was  not 
made  a  test  in  the  choice  of  the  niunerous  oflicers  durin}^'  tiie  ses- 
sion. John  McLean,  a  leadinji'  pro-convention  orator,  was  eh'cted 
United  States  s«'nator  over  (lovernor  Edwards,  who  was  not 
closely  identilied  with  the  aiij>Ty  (contest,  beinj;'  absent  in  NNash- 
in<:ton.  It  was  at  this  tinu'  that  he  becanu'  involved  in  his  unfor- 
tunate (puirrel  with  .Mr.  Crawford,  secretary  of  the  treasury, 
which  caused  him  to  j;ive  np  the  .Mexican  nussioii  to  which  he 
had  been  appointed.  Oiu'  week  later,  IClias  Kent  Kaiu'  was  also 
elected  to  the  Cuited  States  senat«'.  I h' defeated  for  the  position  siudi 
prominent  anti  convention  men  as  (lovernor  Coles  and  Samuel  I). 
Lockwood.  Kaiw  was  perhaps  the  ablest  writer  that  the  conven- 
tion i»arty  had  duriuj;'  the  (contest,  althouj;h  a  northern  nmn  by 
birth  and  education.  Two  leading  pro conveution  nuMi  were  thus 
houtu'cd  by  an  anti-convention  legislature  with  the  two  highest 
ollices  in  their  gift. 

JJy  the  constitution,  the  terms  of  ollice  of  suprenu'  Judges  were 
to  expire  with  the  close  of  the  year  lSli4.  The  legislatur(!  re-or- 
ganized the  Judiciary  by  creating  both  circuit  and  suprenu^  courts. 
The  Statt!  was  divided  into  live  Jiulicial  circuits,  providing  two 
terms  of  court  annually  in  eueli  county.     Tlie  salaries  of  the  eir- 

328 


COLKS'  AUMIMSTKATION. 


;529 


ciiit  Jiulj^t's  were  lixcd  at  $<»(>().  Tlic  IV)ll(>\viiij>-  circuit  jiulj;<'s  were 
cIioNcii  :  .ioiiii  V.  Sawyer.  Samuel  McKoherts,  Ificliard  M.  Vouuj;', 
James  Hail  and  -loiiu  O.  Wattles,  uamed  iu  the  ordi-r  ol'  tlieir 
resi)e(;tive  circuits.  Tiie  sii|»reuie  court  was  relieved  of  circuit 
duties  iiud  made  a  court  of  appellate  Jurisdictiou.  It  was  to  bo 
held  twice  a  year  at  tlie  seat  of  ;;<>ve,iiiueid,  aud  as  Iteforc,  com- 
jtosed  of  four  Jud.ijcs,  l»id  uow  eomuiissioued  duriu,i;j;ood  belunior. 
Tlieir  salaries  Were  cut  down  from  ."jSHKH)  to  ."JSSOO.  J)ec.eml)er  ;>U, 
18U4,  the  two  houses  met  in  joint  session  to  elect  one  chief  jus- 
tice ami  three  asso<'iate  justices.  On  the  first  ballot,  William 
Wilson  received  .■).')  votes,  Thomas  lieynolds,  chief  justice  up  to 
that  time,  li).  Wilson  havinj;'  receiNcd  a  majority  of  the  whole 
number  of  votes  (;ast,  was  duly  dec^Iared  t;hief  justict'  of  tlio 
State  of  Illinois. 

For  associate  justices  there  were  six  candidates:  Thomas  (', 
lirown,  Samuel  1).  Lockwood,  Theophilus  W.  Smith,  David 
JUackwell,  Thomas  Iteynolds  and  John  Iteynolds.  in  the  course 
of  five  ballotinjis,  the  Hrst  three  named  were  chosen.  .lames 
Turney  was  elected  attorney  ^^'eneral.  The  two  Heynolds,  Thomas 
and  .lolin,  um-le  and  ne|)hew.  wiio  were  rejected,  had  been  on 
tile  siiprcnu'  lieiich  up  to  tliat  time,  and  the  former  had  been  a 
conspicuous  convention  man. 

William  Wilson,  at  th«'  time  of  his  elevatitm  to  the  liiuh  and 
lioiioiable  position  of  chief  justice  of  Illinois,  was  but  L".> years  (»ld, 
and  had  i»een  already  tivcyeais  on  the  siipreiiM' bench  as  associate 
justice.  He  was  born  in  Loudon  county,  N'ir^iiiia,  in  17!).")-  When 
quite  youiij;'  his  father  died,  leavinj^'  his  widow  w  ith  two  sons  an<l 
an  embarrassed  estale.  At  an  early  aiic,  his  mother  ol>tained  for 
him  a  situation  in  a  store.  Ibil  the  yoiiiii;'  man  discovered  no  apti- 
tude for  the  business  of  nieicliandi/in.<i,  and  yoiiui;'  as  lie  was, 
deve]o|>ed  an  unusual  ^reed  for  books,  readiii.i;'  e\cry  one  attaina- 
ble, to  the  almost  total  ne.i;iecl  of  his  duties  in  the  store.  At  the 
aj>e  of  18  he  was  placed  in  a  law  ollice  under  the  tuition  (»f  the 
Hon.  Jolni  Cook,  who  ranked  liiuii  as  a  lawyer  at  the  Itar  of  \ir- 
fiinia,  and  who  also  served  his  country  with  honor  and  distinction 
abioad  as  miiiist<'r  to  the  court  of  !■' ranee.  In  IS! 7,  \oiiiij;' 
AVilson  came  to  Illinois  tt>  look  for  a  home,  and  siicli  was  his 
jieisonal  bearing  and  prepossessinii'  appearance,  that  one  Near 
later,  at  the  iiiaiii;iiratioii  of  the  State  j^overnmeiit.  his  name  was 
broiiylit  before  tlie  le;;islatiue  for  associate  supreme  judaic,  and 
he  came  witinu  0  votes  of  an  eleiition.  AN'ithin  a  year,  as  we  have 
M'cn,  lie  was  cli(»sen  in  the  |>lace  of  I-'oster.  I'or  live  years  he 
ser\('d  tln^  pe(»ple  so  acceptalily  upon  the  bench  as  to  be  at  this 
time  chosen  to  the  lirst  p(»sitioii  by  a  larj;e  majority  over  the 
former  chief  justice,  iieynolds.  This  was  the  more  a  mark  of 
apiii(»bation,  because  .liidjuc  Wilson  was  totally  de\(>id  of,  and 
never  in  his  life  could  wield,  any  (»f  the  arts  of  the  ]»olitician  or 
])arty  schemer.  As  rei;ar<ls  political  intriyiie,  he  was  as  iiiiio- 
eciit  as  a  child.  lie  wassinjiulariy  pure  in  all  ills  convict  ions  of  duty, 
and  in  his  loiiy'  public  career  of  nearly  .U)  years  as  a  su])reme  jiidije 
of  Illinois,  he  commanded  the  full  respect,  conlideiice  and 
esteem  of  the  i»eoi>le  for  (he  probity  of  his  ollicial  acts  and 
his  upi"ij;ht  conduct  as  a  citizen  and  a  man.  His  education 
was  s;utU  as  he  had  ac(piired  Ity  dilijicnt  read  in;;' and  self  cull  lire. 
As  ii  writer  his  diction  was  iiure,  clear  and  elegant,  as  may  be  seen 


330  IITSTORY   OF  IIJ.INOTS. 


l».v  it'lt'i'ciicc  l(»  Ills  piiblislicd  opinions  in  tiic  snprcnicconrt  reports. 
"NVitli  a  niiiul  of  rare  analytical  power,  iiis  jiKlj^nient  as  a  lawyer 
Avas  (liseriininatin^'  and  sound,  and  upon  tlie  heneli  Ins  learniii<;' 
and  iniparliaiity  coninKinded  res|)t>ci,  wiiile  Ids  own  di;;iiilie(i 
deportment  inspired  decoiiini  in  others.  I>,\  the  niendiers  of  the 
liar  lie  was  lireatly  esteiMiied  ;  no  new  iM'^iiniier  was  ever  without 
tint  |>roteetioii  of  almost  a  fatherly  iiand  in  his  eonrt,  a<4ainst  the 
arts  ami  poweis  of  an  ohh-r  o|ipoiient.  In  polities,  ii|M»n  the  foini- 
ati<in  of  the  Wliij;  and  Deinoeialie  parlies,  he  associated  hiinself 
with  the  former,  ile  was  an  amialile  and  accomplished  ^icnlleinan 
in  private  life,  with  manners  most  eiiyajiinujind  friendships  si  ronj;'. 
Jlis  hospitality  Wiis  of  the  old  \'irjiiiiia  style.  Seldom  did  n  sum- 
mer season  jiass  at  his  jileasant  country  seat,  aliout  two  miles 
from  Carmi,  on  the  hanks  of  the  Little  W'aliasli,  llmt  troojis  of 
fiieiids,  relatives  and  distinjinisiied  otiicial  visitors  did  not  sojourn 
Avithlii:n.  His  oflicial  career  was  tenninaled  with  the  ^()in^  into 
effect  of  the  new  constitution,  Decemlier  1,  l.Sl.s,  when  he  rctii'ctl 
to  ]irivate  life.  He  «lied  at  his  home,  in  the  ripem-ss  of  aj;e  and 
the  consciousness  of  a  life  well  sjicnt,  April  liO,  1<S,")7,  in  his  (i.'Ul 
year. 

The  le^iislatiire  of  ISL'4  was  an  important  and  able  body. 
Throii.yliont  its  session,  hiinuony  and  coidiality  obtained  amonj;' 
the  members.  ']"he  men  who  wt'r<'  proinoteti  o;-  elc\;ited  to  otlice, 
and  chaificd  with  iiiii»ortiint  responsibilities,  \\ei«'  jicnerally  wi'll 
known  to  the  iieojile  for  their  chiirncter,  merit  and  ability,  and 
failed  not  to  <ii\e  satisfaction.  HcNciity  thonsiind  dollars  ol  the 
Stiite  biink  currency  were  committed  to  the  llames  in  the  presence 
of  the  <i(i\«'rnoi'.  supreme  Jml.ucs  and  directors  of  the  jirinciiial 
biink,  accoidini;  to  the  rcMpMiements  of  the  law. 

In  the  summer  of  ISii,"*,  immigration  rexived  considerably  A 
jii'eat  tide  set  in  toward  the  cf'iitral  parts  of  the  Stale.  Throiifih 
\'andalia  alone,  ^.'iO  wagons  were  counted  in  three  weeks  time,  all 
.U'oinn'  northward.  Destined  for  Sangamon  county  alone,  SO 
Wilsons  and  4(M>  people  were  couiiled  in  two  weeks  time.  Sanj^a- 
inoii  connly  was,  at  that  time,  without  doubt  the  most  i»opnlou8 
county  in  tiie  Stat<'.  All  the  nortliein  counties  were  most  dispro- 
]»idportionately  represented  in  theiiciieial  assembly.  \\'hile  such 
counties  as  J\andoiph  and  White  had  each  a  senator  and  tlir«'e  re|i- 
reseiitatives,  Sangamon  had  one  re]ireseiital  i\ c  and  one  senator 
«»nly. 

It  liaj»]iened  at  tliis  time,  that  (!o\ernor  Coles  was  temiioiarily 
absent  ona  visit  to  N'iruinia.and  Lieutenant  {iovernor  Hubbard  was 
the  acting ji'oveiner.  His  Exc^'lleiicy  ml  hdcrhu,  struck  with  the  in- 
justice of  this  uiietpial  representation,  issued  his  proclamation  for 
an  e:vtra  session  of  the  h'^^islat lire,  to  coiixcne  at  the  seal  of  j:(»v- 
erninent  on  the  llist  .Monday  in  ilaniiary,  18-0,  for  the  pnipose  of 
apportioning  the  State,  and  for  busiix'ss  <>'enerally.  He  was 
not  loth  to  claim  ]M»wer.  (loveriior  Coles  returned  on  the  last 
day  <if  October  and  resumed  his  o(1ice,l)ut  the  aclinji'  ^ioveriior 
Avas  not  inclined  to  yeild  it  up,  claiminji'  he  had  superseded  tini 
former  and  to  be  j;(>\ernor  dv  Jure  under  section  IS,  article  111 
of  the  constitution,  which  icad  : 

"  In  case  of  an  impciiciinieiit  of  llie  fi;()vernor,  his  removal  from  ofTlce, 
death,  refusal  to  (|uality,  resiiiiiatioii  or  aliseiici'  from  tiie  State,  tlie 
lieuteuaut-goveruor  shuii  exercise  all  the  power  aud  authority  apper- 


coles'  ADMlNISTKATlOiV. 


331 


taiiiini;  to  the  ottice  of  ^jovonior,  until  the  time  poiiitod  out  liy  tlu'  con- 
HtitutioM  for  the  clcclion  of  a  governor,  sluill  arrive,  inili-ss  tlii'  jreiitral 
Uj^scnihly  sliall  oIluTwisf  jn'ovide  l)y  law  lor  the  (.'lection  of  a  governor 
to  till  sueii  vacancy." 

Alice  the  aniviil  of  Coles.  FIul)l»iii<l,  as  a  test,  issued  a  coinniis- 
sitHi  to  W.  \j.  I),  lOwinu'  as  paymaster  <i«'neial  of  the  State  militia, 
vliieli  was  presented  to  the  secretaiyol'  Slate,  (ieoijie  l'"(ti(|Uei', 
for  his  signature,  who  reliised  to  si/^n  and  allix  llie  ollicial  seal 
thereto,  in  I );'ceml)er  I'ollowin!;.  the  suprenu' court  beinj;- in  ses- 
sion, Mwinj;' ai»plied  lor  a  rule  on  the  secretary  to  slniw  cause  why 
a  uiandauius  siiould  not  he  awarded  I'eipiirin^  him  lo  eoiintersiun 
and  allix  thesealol'  the  Slate  lo  his  commission  issued  an*l  signed 
by  Adolpliiis  FiedericU  liul»l>ard.  uox  eiiior  of  Illinois.  The  rule 
bein.u  granted,  tin'  secretary  answeied,  slatinji'  the  facts,  wlieichy 
tin'  wlntle  (pu'slion  was  hionuld  Itefore  the  court  and  ai'^ned  at 
leuf^th  with  luin-li  ahiiity  by  talented  counsel  for  both  sides.  'I'iio 
Jndincs, al'tcrmiM'h  deliberation. delivered  sepaiale opinions  of  yreat 
learuini;' and  research.  I>nl  all  a ;i iced  in  the  jud;:iiienl  prouounced, 
tinit  ihe  ride  must  be  dischariicd.  Ilid)bard  was  still  irrepressible, 
and  next  nn'nH)riali/.ed  tin-  lej^islalure  in  reference  to  liis  j;rievance. 
l>ul  the  senate  (le<'ided  that  the  subject  was  a  Jiidicia!  on.-,  inex- 
]»edient  to  leyislale  upon,  and  the  house  laid  his  mcMuorial  uikui  the 
table. 

'l"he  census  of  lSl*.">  I'etnrned  a  population  of  71'. SIT,  beinti  •"o"- 
isidcrably  l«'ss  than  the  sanjiuiiu'  expectations  of  niiUiy  led  them 
to  hojte  for.  The  State  was  duly  ai)poiti()ned  anew  at  the  sjn'cial 
session  in  -lanuaiy,  lS:,'(i,  with  rcferense  to  the  (list  rii)ut  ion  of  pojui- 
laliou.  The  (pu'stion  was  also  nM)oted  at  this  session  of  repealinj^" 
the  circuit  court  system,  not  that  the  court  did  not  sidtserve  a  ,i;reat 
])ublic  need,  but  that  |)o!ilicians  in  Iheir  disappointment  in  obtain- 
ing ollice  the  winter  ]»rece(linji',  soujiht  to  redress  Iheir  .yrievanees 
liist  by  (lei)rivin,y'  the  circuit  Jud.iics  altoii't'ther  of  ollice,  and  next 
by  loadinji'  the  snurenu' Judj^cs  with  additiomd  labor  by  remaudiuf^ 
them  to  circuit  duty.  Tin'  latter,  bein<i'  life  nu'ndters,  could  not 
be  otherwise  reached  asobjects  of  their  venjicance,  wherefore  they 
Were  eharyi'd  with  having-  loo  easy  a  life  as  a  court  of  apiteals 
for  a  State  so  endtairassed  as  Illinois.  The  house,  however, 
struck  out  of  the  bill  to  repeal  all  after  the  enacting;'  clause  and 
as  a  i>iece  of  pleasantry,  inserted  a  section  to  lepeal  the  wolf-seali) 
law,  in  which  the  seinite  did  not  concur.* 


'•THE  nation's  guest." 


•Ill  ^tiircli  siu'ci'i'il  iii«,  witliin  .">  miles  of  wlifrc  tlio  k'Kisliitiiri'  had  siit.a  livi;  your  olil 
cliild  (it  DiiiiU'l  liiiliniiii,  which  had  waiKleri'il  triiin  hoiiM'  into  tliu  woods  a  niilo  or 
so,  was  attacked  and  killed  by  a  wolf  The  aiiiinal  was  seen  leaving  Us  nian^^led  und 
partly  Cionsunicd  boay  by  thu  iioiglibors  iu  search  of  it  ou  the  following'  day. 


332  UlSTOllY   OF  ILLINOIS. 

eariKstly  iiivitinji-  liiiii  to  i'xtriid  his  western  visit  to  Illinois.  On 
tile  !)tii  of  Deceniher  tiie  addn'ss,  witli  an  att'ectionateiy  written 
letter  IVoni  (iov.  ( "oles,  wlio  liad  fonried  Ids  peisonal  a<'quaiiitaiic(^ 
in  l-'raiiee  in  ISl",  were  transmitted  to(ien.  Iiai"'ayette.  I'lider 
date  (»f  WasliinjLiton,  .Ian.  1(5,  ISl',"),  he  expressed  his  j;rati(ieation 
for  the  lionor  doiu'  Inni  by  Illinois,  addinji':  "It  has  excr  been  uiy 
eaj^er  desire,  and  it  is  now  my  earn«'st  intention,  to  visit  tlii' western 
States  and  ]»articiilarly  the  State  of  Illinois.  The  feelinj;s  which 
ionr  distant  weleome  eonid  not  fail  to  excite,  have  in- 
creased that  ]>atriotic  euH'ernes.s  to  adndre  on  that  blessed 
.spot,  the  happy  and  lapid  resnils  of  rei>id)lican  institu- 
tions, i»nblic  and  domestic  virtues.  I  shall,  after  the  celebration 
of  the  L'L'd  of  Febrnary  anniversary  day,  leaver  this  place  for  a 
journey  to  the  southern,  and  from  Xew  Orleans  to  tlar  western 
states,  .so  as  to  return  to  lloston  on  tlie  14tli  of  .lune,  when  the 
■  corner  stone  of  the  Hunker's  Hill  monument  is  to  be  laid;  a  cere- 
mony sacred  to  the  whole  rnion,aud  in  which  llnive  been  enj;a;;«'d 
to  a(!t  a  peculiar  ami  honorable  part." 

On  the  L'Sth  of  April,  ISl',"),  the  steand)oat  Xache/,  with  (iencral 
Lal-'ayette  and  suit  on  board,  anchored  below  ^t.  Louis  at  the  old 
Fieucli  \  illaj;e  of  Carondolet.  On  the  followin<;'  nita'nin;^'  };ov- 
crnors  Clark  of  ^Missouri,  and  Coles  of  Illinois,  Col.  l>enton.  and 
ollieis, ]'c|)aired  thither  to  escoit  the  distinj;uished  visitor  ui>  to  the 
city.  During'  the  forenoon  the  boat  with  the  entire  party  steamed 
u[)  to  St.  Louis,  where,  upon  the  wliarf.au  immense  concourse  of 
jteo|)le  had  asseinl»lcd  to  <;reet  and  honor  the  patriot  liero.  lie 
landed  amidst  the  boominji-  of  cannon  ami  the  animated  cheers  of 
the  vast  nudtituch'.  lie  was  accom])anied  by  his  son,  named 
(Jeorye  Washiiij^ton  Lafayette,  and  his  secretary,  Col.  LeVassear; 
by  a  deputation  from  Louisiana  consist iuj^'  of  Col.  .Morse,  aid  to  tlie 
y()\-eruor,  .^Ir.  LeCiair,  his  private  secretary,  and  .Mr.  l*riei',  re- 
corder of  New  Orleans,  and  Col.  Ducros;  by  Col.  Scott  from  the 
State  of  ]\Iississip]»i,  and  by  MaJ.  (ien.  (iibl>s,  MaJ.  Ivutlcd.nc,  Mi'. 
JJolcli  and  Ml'.  Stewart,  (»f  Tciin.  Addresses  of  welcome  and 
res]»onse.s  were  made,  when  the  entire  coiK^onrse  moved  to  the- 
ele,i;aiit  mansion  of  Pierre  Choteau,  where;  a  reception  was  held. 
Su]»i»er  was  had,  followed  by  a  number  of  toasts  and  a]»iiropi'iate 
spi'cches,  and  in  the  eveiiiiiji  a  splendid  ball  at  ^lassie's  hotel, 
attended  by  (icncral  LaJ'ayette,  liis  suit,  and  all  the  dii^nitaries. 

Jn  person  JjaFayette  was  about  six  feet  tall,  incliuiiijn  to  corpu- 
lency, and  a  tiorid  complexion.  He  limi»ed  upon  his  left  Icji,  the 
I'csult  of  a  wound.  He  spoke  the  English  lan^uaye  fluently  and 
had  a  leady  command  of  appropriate  exi>ressioii. 

On  Saturday,  April  30,  ISL',"),  (Jen.  J.aFa.\ette  and  suit,  attendi'd 
by  a  lai';ne  delcjuaiion  of  proniineiit  citizt'iis  of  ^lissonri,  made  a 
visit  l)y  the  steamer  Natchez  to  the  ancient  town  of  Kaskaskia.  No 
military  i)arade  was  attemi»ted,  but  a  f^reat  multitude  of  patriotic 
citizens  bade  him  welcome.  A  reception  was  held  at  the  elej;ant 
residence  of  ]Mr.  F^djiar.  (iox.  Coles,  on  lu'half  of  the  jteople  of 
Illinois,  delivered  a  .nlowinj4  address  of  welcome  to  the  illustrious 
ynest,  to  which  LaFayette  reiilied  in  a  most  feeliny  and  hapj)y 
vein,  expi'<'ssive  of  his  exquisite  gratiticatiou  for  the  honor  done 
him  uiK)n  that  occasion. 

After  this  a  general  introduction  of  the  citizens  and  hand-shaking 
followed,  when  a  most  touching  scene  was  presented.     A  few  old 


GOLKS'  ADMINISTIIATION.  .'533 

icvolmitioiiiiry  soldici's  ('((Ilcctcd  iinniiid  tlic  (Iciiciiil,  who  lijul 
loiiylit  uiidcr  liis  c'V(^  at  IJiaiidywiiK^  and  Vorktown,  and 
■svlio  all  r(!(!()llt'('l('(l  liiiii  and  now  <ir«'('t»'d  liini  most  In-artily. 
Altlioujili  tlif  }^i':;fial  did  not  iicisoiially  it'(M»ll('ct  tlicni.  tlic  occa- 
sion was  to  |i;in  and  all  present  most  atlcctinj;-.  Tliis  meeting  in 
the  winter  Oi  their  lixcs  seemed  to  awaken  .vonthlnl  I'eelinji'  and 
carry  back  thesis  old  soldier  patriots  to  the  event  lid  period 
when  th«'y  wei'c  associated  in  arms  and  lij;htin>;-  the  hattlts  ot" 
libei'ty. 

The  entire  company  of  dislin;iiiislie(l  j;nests,  visitors,  and  citi- 
zens next  ]»ro(!eeded  to  tin-  taxern  kept  liy  Col.  Swcel,  where  an 
ample  diunei-  had  Iteen  i»re|»ared.  The  |»atriotic  ladies  had  deco- 
rated tlu'  diidnj;  hall  with  lanrel  wreaths  in  u  most  tastefid  and 
appro{>riate  manner,  and  over  the  table  where  tlu^  heroand  hohoi-ed 
guests  were  seated  a  beaut  did  rainlxtw  of  roses  and  flowers  was 
.S]>anned. 

\V(!  cjui  oidy  give  a  very  few  of  the  after  dinner  toasts  that  weici 
drank: 

lljl  IjaFajictte — Kaskaskia  and  Illinois;  may  their  Joint  pros- 
])eriry  more  and  moi'c  evince  the  blessings  of  congenial  iudu^try 
and  freedom. 

/»',//  (jIi>v.  Colas  -The  inmates  of  Lafirangos  [LaFayotte'.'*liome]: 
let  them  not  be  anxious;  for  though  their  father  is  1,(100  miles 
in  the  interior  of  America,  he  is  yet  in  the  Piidst  of  his  alfectionatc 
children.     [Very  good]. 

/>'//  G.  IV.  lj((F<(i/i-tf('—T]u'  grateful  confidence  of  my  father's 
children  and  grand-children,  in  the  kin<lness  of  his  American  family 
towaids  him. 

/>//  Oor.  Hand — (leneral  LaFayette;  may  he  live  to  see  tli: 
libeity  established  in  his  native  country  which  he  helped  to  estai>- 
lish  in  his  ado])ted  country.  AN'hen  this  toast  was  given  the 
general  arose  and  (»l)ser\('d  that  he  woidd  driidc  the  latter  pari  of 
the  toast — the  liberty  of  his  adopted  country — standing. 

After  dinner  the  distinguished  ]»arty  icitaii'ed  to  the  large 
and  commodious  house  of  Wm.  ^Morrison.  Sr.,  Ksq.,  where  a  giand 
ball  was  given  for  their  delectation.  Here  during  the  night  (piite 
an  interesting  int<'rview  took  ]>Iace  between  the  renowned  (iencral 
and  an  Indian  s(pmw  whose  father  had  scrxcd  under  him  in  llu; 
lievolutionary  war.  The  squaw,  learning  that  the  great  \N  liite 
Chief  was  to  bt^  at  Kaskaskia  on  that  night,  had  ridden  all  day  from 
early  dawn  till  some  time  in  the  night,  from  her  distant  home,  to 
see  the  nnui  whose  name  had  been  so  often  upon  her  father's  tongue 
and  witli  which  she  was  so  familiar.  In  identitieation  of  her 
claim  U)  his  distinguished  ac(puiintan(!e,  she  brought  with  her  an 
old  worn  letter  which  the  general  had  written  to  her  father,  and 
which  the  Indian  chief  had  [(reserved  with  great  care,  ami  finally 
be(pu'atlied  on  liis  death  bed  to  his  daughter  as  the  most  pre<;ious 
legacy  he  had  to  leave  hei*. 

Jly  \'l  o'clock  at  night,  (Jen.  LaFayette  returned  to  tlie  steam- 
boat, and  started  on  hisi-oute  to  Nashville,  (Jov.  (Jole.s  accomi)any- 
iiig  him,  the  boat  being  chartered  by  tluifState. 

lie  returned  from  Nashville  on  the  steandioat  IVIechanic.  On 
the  14th  of  May,  l.S2o,  when  the  boat  appeared  in  sight  at  Shaw- 
lU'ctown,  a  deputation  of  tluH-itizens  waited  on  the  general,  anda})- 
prised  him  of    the  reception  in   waiting  for    him.     As    the  bout 


3;u 


IIIHTOKV   (»K    ILLINOIS. 


npproiiclMMl  till'  liiiidin^,  a  .salute  of  24  rounds  was  fict'd.  'I'Im'  |»'0- 
plcof  tlu-  town  and  snii'onndin^'  connlry  liad  tninctl  ont  en  in:issu 
to  <xn'v{  lilt'  loved  Iicro.  Two  lines  were  loriiie<l,  extending'  iVoiii 
Kaw  linji's  hotel  to  the  river.  l>own  this  passed  the  eoiiiiiiitlecs 
of  reception,  town  ollieials.  and  other  dignitaries,  and  received  the 
nation's  yiiest.  who  with  the  distinynished  party  accoinpanvinj;' 
him,  passed  up  the  line,  tin'  citi/eiis  standiii;^  uncovered  in  per- 
fect silence,  niitii  his  arrival  at  the  door  of  the  iiolel.  wheic  a  larjic 
imiiiher  <»['  ladies  were  ;isseiiil)led.  Here  an  address  of  ;it1'ectioniite 
welcome  was  delivered  l»_v  .ludj;('  .lames  Hall,  iial-'iiyette  replied 
witiiont  preparation,  in  a  voice  Iremnloiis  with  emotion,  tliankiii<; 
the  people  for  this  evidence  of  their  love  and  jiiat it nde.  A  colla- 
tion Wiis  then  piirtakcn  of,  followed  hy  a  iinmlter  of  toasts  sniliii)le 
t<)  the  occasion,  Ai'lei- speiidiiiiii'  a  few  hours  in  pleasant  converse, 
the  jiciieral  was  conducled  hack  to  the  slcamci',  when  he  took  a 
most  alfectionate  leave.  A  saliiti^  was  lired  af  the  departure. 
The  general  appeared  much  vvcnn  with  the  f;itij;ue  of  his  tii|». 
(ioveriior  Coles  quitted  hiiii  at  Shawneetowii,  and  proceeded  by 
land  to  V^indalia. 


CiiAPTEK  XX  rx. 

]8LM)-.",()— ADMINISTK'ATIOX  OF  (lOVKIJXOIl  KDWAIMhS. 

Camim'ujn  of  1S2(! — Tlir  (HiihrnHitoridl  Candidates — Coiift'st  hetivecn 
Jhinicl  /'.  Cool;  and  Jost'idi  l>nnrmi  for  ('onj/rcsN — ('Immctcr  of 
(tor.  Edirardn'  spccclits — His  eliafj/esayoinst  the  State  Ji(iiik(>(ficers 
and  trsult  of  the  iuiinit'ij  into  their  eonduet — Uepeal  of  the  Cirenit 
Court  system  —  dor.  I'Jdirards  eloinis  for  the  ISt((te  title  toall  puh- 
lie  funds  within  her  limits. 


At  tlic  {joiHTiil  election  of  Aiiji^nst,  ISL'O.  there  were  tliree  <jii1)er- 
iiatoriiil  caiididiites  in  tlie  lieltl :  Niiiian  lOdwaids,  I'lionias  (J.  Sloe, 
and  Adolpinis  Kredericiv  IInl>ltai'd.  'I'iie  latter  was  at  tlio  tiiiio 
lientenaiit-<;()Vernoi'.  That  lie  was  ambitions  to  beeonie  governor, 
we  have  s«'en  in  his  attempt  to  snperedc^  (iov.  Coles,  failinj;'  in 
which  lie  now  sonjiht  that  distinction,  as  was  more  hecomiiij^-, 
directly  from  the  hands  of  the  people.  ''As  a  pi(!tnre  of  the 
tinn's,"  (Jov.  ("oles  '/ivv.s  the  following;-  niorcean,  from  Ilnhlyard'.s 
speeches  to  his  constitntents :  "Fellow  citizens,  I  offer  myself  as 
a  candidate  before  yon,  for  the  ottice  of  >;'overnoi-.  J  do  not  pre- 
tend to  be  a-  nnin  of  extraordinary  talents;  nor  do  I  claim  to  be 
tMjnal  to  Jidins  Ca'sar  or  Napoleon  IJonaparte,  nor  yet  to  be  an 
j;reat  a  nnin  as  my  oi»p()nent,  (lo\.  ICdwards,  Nevertheless,  [ 
think  I  can  jjjovern  yon  ]>retty  well.  I  do  not  think  it  will  re(piii*e 
a  veiy  extraoidinary  snnirt  man  to  fi'overn  yon;  for  to  tell  you 
the  truth,  fellow-citizens,  1  do  not  thiidc  yon  will  l)e  very  hard  to 
govern,  no  how."     lie  was  an  oddity. 

The  contest  lay  between  Sloe  and  Edwards.  Sloe  was  a  {icu- 
tlcMnan  of  <>()od  sense  and  capacity,  whose  bnsinoss  was  merchan- 
disinj;-.  lie  had  been  much  in  i»nl)hc  life,  and  as  a  member  of  the 
h'<iislatnre,  time  and  a<;ain  had  wiehU'd  a  larj^e  influence  as  a 
l)ractical  worker  in  that  body.  In  deportment,  he  was  difinilied 
and  urbane,  but  had  not  cultivated  the  art  of  public  si)eakin.y', 
in  which  Edwards,  an  A])ollo  Belvedere  in  form  and  Titan  iu 
intellect,  had  cpute  the  a<lvantaoe  of  him. 

"  Edwai'ds,''  says  Gov.  Ford,  "  was  a  larjie,  well  made  nuin,  with 
a  noble,  ])rincely  ai)peai'ance,"  who  "  never  condescended  to  the 
common  low  arts  of  electioneering'.  AVhenevcr  ho  went  out  amonj>' 
the  peoi)Ie  he  arrayed  himself  iu  the  style  of  a  gentleman  of  the 
olden  time,  dressed  in  tiiu'  broadcloth,  with  short  breeches,  lonj? 
stockings,  and  high,  fair-to])i)ed  boots;  Avas  drawn  iu  a  fine  car- 
riage driven  by  a  m^gro;  and  foi-  success  he  relied  upou  his 
speeches,  which  were  delivered  with  great  pomp  and  iu  a  style 
of  diffuse  and  florid  eloqueuce.    Wheu  lie  was  inaugurated  iu 

335 


.'{;«'. 


nisroin  oi"  m.mnois. 


1SL'(»,  he  iii)|K'iir<Ml  before  tlie  ;;eiicr;il  asseiiildy  weariti;^  ii  ;;ol<leii 
liieeil  clnaU,  iilid  witli  }i\v:[\  |Miiiip  lie  proiioiiiieed  Ins  tii'st  iiies- 
Nli;;e  |i»  llie  iioilses  ol'  the  le;;i.s!aliiic.'' 

I'"(H' tlieolliee  (»!'  lieutenant  ;;oveni(»r  llu'ic  wereinit  Iwueaedi- 
<lates — llnl)haril  iieiii;;  wilhont  an  as.s(M'ia(e.  Tliev  were  William 
Kinnev  ami  Samuel  II. 'riiompsDn,  ami  what  mav  appeal' a  litll(> 
.sin;;iilar  at  this  tla,\ .  holii  were  ministers  of  the  gospel,  I  he  I'tunier 
a  Kaptist,  the  lattec  a  .MelhiMlist.  Kinney  was  <)n<>  of  the  uhl 
pioneei's,  lijiviiii;'  emi;iia!e.|  to   lllin(»is  with  his  father  in  IT'.t?. 

lie  possessed  natniallv  a  ;l;(io(I  mind,  lint  hadieeiexed  no  ediiea- 
tion.  until  after  mania;;*',  when  liis  wife  tan.uht  him  its  rndinu-nts. 
lie  had  been  nineh  in  pidtlie  lite,  and  was  an  efticient  and  nntir- 
iii;;'  canvasser.  In  the  eoiiveidion  (contest,  he  had  been  nneeas- 
iiiu  in  his  elforis  to  lender  it  a  success.  He  was  wcaltlix,  an<l  in 
a  political  canvass  the  dniies  of  his  IioIn  calliii;;-  were  not  ii 
stnndtlin;;  block  in  his  way.  The  Itev.  .Mr.  'riioinpsoii,  his  oppo- 
nent, while  he  was  his  superior  in  scholaslic  attainments,  had  nof 
his  knowled.u'e  of  men,  nor  his  political  art.  This  was  his  vir^iiii 
eibirt  to  attain  honors  which  perish.  His  character  was  irre- 
iM-oachable  ami  Ibriiade  him  to  en^iaue  in  any  elect ioiieeriii;;'  con- 
duct to  sidly  it.  His  candidacy  was  distasteful  to  him.  The  re- 
sult of  the  secular  contest  between  these  twoftf  t  he  sacred  cloth, 
\vas  the  reverse  of  that  for  ptv«'riior.  The  Itev.  .Mr.  Kinney, 
althon^ih  riinniii;^'  on  the  Shu-  ticket,  which  failed,  was  elected  by 
a  small  majoiiiy. 

There  was  howexcr,  a  more  important  c(Hitest  connected  w  ifh 
the  election  of  ISL'tl,  in  a  political  point  of  \  iew,  than  that  tor  tli(< 
ollice  of  ;;overnor.  We  allude  to  the  race  tor  conj;ress  belwceii 
J)aiiiel  P.Cook  and  .loseph  Duncan,  which  inaiked  the  be^in- 
iiin^^of  party  principles,  instead  of  mere  local,  personal  scram- 
bles for  ollice.  To  liel]»oiir  nndcrstandiii;;' w«' must  take  a  short 
view  of  national  affairs. 

Oiif  of  the  presidential  contest^  cd"  ISi'l,  yrew  the  parties  known 
afterwanls  as  the  wliiy  and  democratic.  The  election  had  failed 
before  the  [tcople,  ami  the  lioiis<>  of  rcpi'cseiitatives,  in  disre;;ard 
of  the  will  of  the  people,  chose  the  one  who  had  received  next  to 
the  hi^ihest  number  of  electoral  Notes,  Mr.  Adams.  Mr.  Clay 
accepted  the  liij;lu'st  ])osition  in  the  cabinet,  but  Mr.  ("ruwford 
refused  otlice  under  tlie  m-w  adiniuistratiiMi.  Some  bitterness  of 
I'eelin;;-  sprang;'  up  between  Mr.  Clay  and  (b'li.  .Facksoii,  the  tbriner 
liaviii;-'  written  a  letter  in  which  lu^  deprecated  the  election  (d"  ii 
"military  chieftian*'  to  the  hi^ih  ollice  of  |»resideiit,  which  Avas 
tlioui^ht  to  rellect  upon  the  latter.  A  coalition  of  the  Clay  and 
Adams  iikmi  followed,  and  as  dackson  had  received  a  plurality  of 
electoral  votes,  nnu'c  than  doultle  tli(»se  of  Crawlbrd,  and  as  Ik; 
further,  throu;;h  the  iiomination  of  the  le;;islatiii'e  ot  Tennessee. 
dire(!tly  became  a  candidate  a,naiii  for  the  same  p(»sitioii,  it  became 
evident  at  an  early  day,  that  the  next  contest  would  lie  between 
bim  and  ]Mr.  Adams.  The  friends  of  Mr.  Crawford,  therefore 
{javo  in  tlieir  adhesion  to  the  .lackson  ]»aity,  as.  by  so  doin;;-,  was 
there  any  hope  of  defeat  in;;'  Adams.  I'arty  i»riiiciples  did  not  .is 
yet  obtain;  indeed  Jackson  had  voted,  while  in  the  senate,  .vith 
Adams  and  Clay,  and  supported  attirmafively  S  different  bills 
jn'ovidin;;'  for  internal  im|»rovenients  by  the  ^i'cneral  ^^overiimcnt, 
and  also  the  tariff  of  1821,  founded  on  the  principle  of  lU'otection. 


EDWAKDM'   AnMTNrsrUATI(»N. 


337 


I'iirty  «l'viMi()iN  IiivoIvimI  imtsoiijiI  (•(iiisidcriitioiia    only   wliic^h 
wiTc  V('r,\  iiciiiiionioiis. 

Diiiiii'l  l\  Conk,  ill  tlic  clfctiiiii  of  tS'JI,  niii  ii^siiiist  (iov.  I'oihI 
for  nui^ilTss,  iiiiil  Wiis  rltTlcd.  I  )iiriiij;-  I  In- fiiiii|»;ii;ili,  I  lie  pioliii- 
liilil.v  of  tlic  |)i'<-si(lriiliiil  clt'ctioii  ;i'oiii;>  into  tlic  lioiiso  Wiis  not 
iiiit'orsccii.  iiiid  he  li;i(l  pledged  iiiiiisclf  in  siicli  (•oiitin;4:riicy,  "f(» 
Mile,  iis  ii  rcpiTsciitiilivc,  in  iircoidMncc  willi  I  In-  clciirclv  cxpicss- 
»'d  sense  ol"  u  iniijniity  of  tlinse  w  liose  will  lie  should  he  called  upon 
to  express."  'I'lie  titliil  popnliir  \»>le  ol'  Illinois,  whieli  \oted  hy 
districts,  was  4.707,  of  wliicrli  loH  wei'c  cast  lor  I  lie  electors  of 
Aihims.  rj7.'!  lor  .Jackson,  101(1  for  Clay,  L'lS  for  Crawford,  and 
(»_'!!  for  ,1  allies  'riiriic.N,  elector  lor  Clay  and  Jackson  joint l_\.  If  half 
of  these  latter  \(»tes  had  lieeii  added  to  .lacksoii's.  it  would  lia\(^ 
}ii\eii  him  a  jiliiraliy  but  not  a  nnijorily.  The  electoral  col|e;n'e' 
of  Illinois,  in  Deceiiilier  followiiiLi',  droppiii;;'  Clay  and  Crawford, 
j;a\e  to  .lackson  two  \(»tes,  and  to  Adams  oiH';  iiiit  when  the  elec- 
tion of  president  came  hcforc  the  house  of  representatives  in  <'on- 
jU'ress,  Mr.  ( 'ook  cast  the  \<tte  (»f  Illinois  for  Sly.  Ailaiiis,  as  it  was 
supposed  l>y  the  peopli'  (who  proliahly  made  no  distinction  between 
the  highest  ]iopnlar  \oleaiid  majority)  in  violaliiuiof  his  express- 
ed picdtifes  ;  and  they  believed  that  (leii.  Jackson  had  been  ;;ross- 
ly  clicatcd,  by  their   representative.* 

And  now  Mr.  Cook  was  a;;ain  a  candidate  for  eon;;rcss.  Prior 
to  his  votiiiy  for  Adams,  he  was  the  most  ]M)pular  man  in  the 
Slate.  This  was  attributable  in  ;j;'reat  part  l<<  his  social  (pialil  ies, 
beiii;^-  <;ifled  with  a  natural  charm  ot"  manner  almost  irresistible, 
and  ii  ready  adaplabilitv  to  surroiiiidiii^is,  wliich  were  to  him  a 
^reat  aid  in  his  clectionecriiin'  inlercoursc  with  the  people,  and 
wliic''  enabled  him  to  accommodate  himself  with  ac<'eptaltility  to 
every  ciicuiiistance  and  condition  of  wesferii  lifc.t  Thus, 
with  iiotliiiijn'  ai^ainst  him  but  his  vote  for  Adams,  did  he 
start  into  the  campaiirn  of  I.Sl'O.  Ills  former  opponents,  ,lohii 
McLean,  I'lias  Keiil  Kane,  and  x  (Iov.  I'xiiid  had  been  Iieateii  so 
badlv  and  not  aiipi'eciatiii;^'  the  piililic  I'eseiitinent,  they  even  now 
feared  to  a.nain  e.ssay  the  i-aeo,  and  Joseph  Dnnciin,  afterward 
jiovernor,  tlieii  but  little  known  in  the  State,  liad  the  temerity  to 
come  out  against  him.  .Vt  that  time  Duncan  was  an  ori^^iiial  .lack- 


♦RoynoltVs  Life  aud  Times,  Jiajie  254. 

l+l/iii'iii)f  thociiMVi'iitioii  cuniimiKn,  in  1834,  when  Mr.  Cook  ininnlnif  for  cntfrcss,  wiis 
oppdscil  Ity  ex  (iov.  Iloiid,  he  lia<l  (K'ciisiiin  to  stop  over  iilirht  with  ii  riirmiM'  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  Stiito.  In  (M)nversiition  Vmik  inquired  the  news,  to  whieh  tlio 
liu'uii-r  replied  "liiero  was  none,  e.veept  they  were  iitriiid  that  that  d-d  little  Vatdtee, 
("ooltj  would  be  re-eleeted  to  congress."  Tlie  conversation  eontinui'd  duriiiji  tlio 
eveinnf?  on  various  topics;  in  the  ir.orninK  when  Mr.  ("ook  was  about  to  tuk('  his 
departure,  the  fanner,  pleased  with  hia  agreeable  and  intellitrent  jrnest,  inciuircd  his 
niinit!  Mr.  (^ook  replied,  that  he  was  "that  d — d  little  Yankee  Cook,"  he  had  alluiUid 
to  tlie  oveninjf  previous  !  The  fanner  bee  one  his  devoted  supporter.  (Kdwards'  life 
of  Kdwards.)  In  stature  Mr.  ('ook  was  below  the  ine<liiun  hisrlit,  slendcM'  and  erect, 
wtd^rhtuK  not  exceeding:  t^O  ))ounds  ;  his  voice  was  soft  anil  melodious,  and  his  speech 
rearly  and  fluent.  Ho  was  born  in  Scott  county,  Kentvieky,  and  was  a  self  made  man, 
haviiis:  few  educationa'.  advantajres  in  liis  youth.  In  olticial  life  hi,'  e.vhibited  an  exten- 
sive and  varied  knowledsrc  of  iniblie  allaira.  Ho  settled  in  Illinois  in  IHIfi,  was  the  first 
attorney  general  of  the  State,  and  the  second  eouKrcssnuin.  beatin^f  .lohn  Mi:Ijean  in 
181'.'  and  was  bi-ennlally  thereafter  re  elected  up  to  18:;u  In  coM^rress  he  stood  hi-rh  ; 
in  '  -tl  he  was  transferred  from  the  comndttee  on  imblic  lands,  to  that  of  ways  and 
means,  and,  owinj;  to  the  absence  of  the  chairman,  acted  in  tliat  laborious  and  responsi- 
ble capacity  most  of  the  time.  During  liis  last  term  in  eontfress  ho  procunil  the 
very  important  (?rant  of  near  ;j()0,000  acres  of  land  in  this  State  for  the  construction 
of  the  Illinois  and  Michiiran  canal.  Mr.  Cook's  health  havinir  been  feeble  for  sonic 
time,  at  the  close  of  the  session  in  the  Sprint?  of  18;i",  he  made  a  visit  to  ('ubii,  but 
soon  returned.  He  died  of  consumption,  at  the  home  of  his  nativity.  October  1(1,  1837, 
at  the  early  ajro  ot  34.  Ho  was  the  son-in-law  of  (}ov.  Edwards,  and  left  one  child, 
Gen.  .John  Cook,  now  of  Springfield.  The  county  of  Cook,  was  named  appropriately 
in  bis  honor.] 

22 


33S  nisTOKY   OF   ILLINOIS. 

8(Mi  111:111,  iillaclu-d  to  liis  political  Ibrtiiiic  in  ii<lniiration  of  tlio 
jjiorv  of  liis  iiiiliiaiy  acliim'ciiiciits.  lie  had  been  an  riisi^u  iiiidcr 
till'  (laiiiilicss  {'roj^iiaii  at  Lowci'  Saiidiiskv  and  a('((iiillcd  liinisrH" 
\vilii  cr*'*!!!.  In  tin-  Illinois  !c;^i.slaturc  he  had  st'i\cd  as  a  senator 
from  Jackson  conntv.  His  chances  of  success  aj^i'ainst  C-'ook  wei'c, 
re.uanicd  as  hopeless;  lint  he  t'ntered  ii))on  the  canipai,uii  iin- 
(lannled;  his  speeches.  dcNoiil  of  ornament,  Ihon.uh  shoil,  wcic  I'ldl 
of  jidod  sense,  lie  made  a  dilij;ent  canvass  of  the  Slate,  Mr. 
Cook  heini^'  mnch  hindered  liy  the  state  of  his  health.  The  most 
that  was  expected  of  I )nncan.  howexer.  was  that  he  w(»nld  ;;'ct  a 
I'cspectahle  vote — not  tliedi'feat  of  Cook,  liolli  friends  and  foes 
were  strnck  with  snrprise  and  amazement  at  the  result.  'I'he  \  io- 
l«'nce  of  ]>arty  feeliiif?  smonlderin^' in  the  breasts  of  the  peojde  on 
jicconnt  of  the  defeat  of  .lackson,  was  not  didy  apprecialed  nntil 
the  defeat  of  Cook  and  the  election  of  Dniican  by  a  majority  of 
(!tl — ihc  \()te  slandinji' t>,.'{21  for  Duncan  to  ."ijtiSO  foi-Cook.  Aside 
from  the  <'on\ cnt  ion  slrii,u,L;lc  in  ISi'  t.  none  other  than  mere  local  and 
j»er,sonal  considerations  hade\er  before  coni  ■olleil  the  icsult  of  an 
eh-ction  in  Illinois. 

In  the  jiidternatorial  contest  the  party  lines  were  not  so  closely 
drawn.  Sloe  was  the  nndonbted  -lackson  candidate,  bi;|  Ivlwards, 
too.  professed  adherence  to  the  political  forlnnes  of  the  '"military 
chieftain."''  I  hit  the  bnr<lenol'  his  speeches  iciated  to  State  alia  irs  and 
j»ar(icnlarly  the  wasteful  a<lmiiustration  of  the  State  linaiu'cs,  and 
olhci' abuses.  He  charactcii/cd  in  lit  I  iniv  terms  the  wretched  ic.uis- 
lation  which  had  tirst  saddled  the  State  with  the  bank  whose  worth, 
less  issues  it  was  bound  to  redeem  in  ^'oldand  sii\crby  IS,;!;  whose 
notes  it  was  bound  t(»  receixc  at  par  for  taxes  and  olhcr  indeltted- 
iicss,  and  which  were  paid  out  a.uain,  or  auditor's  warrants  as  their 
eipiivaleut.  at  >S.)  Ibr  81;  showed  the  loss  from  this  policy  must  neces- 
sarily be  >f-2  tor  )^l  received;  that  a  debt  of  .sl.-»(>.(IO(>  had  been 
imposed  upon  the  State  yearly  when  the  ordinary  iMirreiit  expenses 
should  have  been  but  about  >'2.">,0()(>;  that  these  losses  must  event- 
ually be  wriiny  (»ut  of  the  jieople  by  ti'cble  taxation;  that  no 
State.  liowt'\er  jureat  its  eneriiies  or  resources,  coiihl  Ion;;  wit  list  and 
so  enormous  a  (h'aft  upon  them  :  that  it  tended  to  check  immigra- 
tion: emi.urants  as  a  class  were  •'ueilher  the  most  able  mn'themost 
williii.y  to  pay  hijih  taxes;"  thai  while  the  annual  Stat<'  re\enue 
amounted  to  between  fjtOiddl)  an<l  ."i'.'tO.OOO.  iiciiiu  nearly  (hnible  tin; 
current  expenses  of  the  j;d\('inment,  these  deplorable  deficits  and 
deprciriation  of  currency  were  taking  place,  huiniliatin^  to  our  jtride 
and  disreputable  to  our  character  abroatl.  He  inveighed  a;:;ainst 
the  unjust  discrimination  whereby  residents  were  compelled  to  J>ay 
taxes  yearly  and  non-residents  semi-annually;  that  as  the  State 
revenue  was  chietly  derived  from  the  latter,  human  inyeniiity 
could  not  hav<'  devised  a  more  ettect  iial  scheme  to  produce  an  annual 
delicit  in  the  State  trcasui'y.  This  it  was  that  created  the  demand 
for  new  issues  of  lh»ods  of  auditor's  warrants  w  hich  de[)reciat('d 
the  currency  and  aftbided  the  opportunity  for  sjieculators  to  riot  on 
tlu'  necessities  of  the  people;  but  I'or  this  unfair  ad\aiitaiLie  the 
further  emission  of  these  warrants  would  cease.  '••Hut  tlicii.'"  he 
exclaimed  to  his  auditory,  "this  W(»uhl  have  withered,  if  not  anni- 
hilated, that  spcculalioii  which  has  so  lonj;' Ix-en  Inxiiriatinj;' upon 
the  resources  of  the  State  and  the  honest  cai'iiinus  of  the  sweat 
of  your  brow  s.     Such  impositions  as  these,  upon  a  free,  hiyhminded 


EDWAUD.S    AUMlNlSTliATION. 


3.']9 


;iihI  iii(l<'|)('ii(lciit  ]t<'o])l«'.  I  1»ol<lly  iissci't,  liavr  no  ihiimUcI  in  the 
iimiiils  of  iVi'f  ^oxci'iiiiiciit.  iind  llicy  an;  only  to  be  borne  by  that 
I'iiaiilv  wliicli  liopctli  all  Ihinjis,  bclicvctli  all  tliin<>s,  and  cndiuctli 
all  thin-s."* 

Kdwai'ds  loiifi'ld  liis  cainpai.Liii  battles  sini^ledianded,  and  solely 
njion  tlie  yronnds  of  fiscal  reform  as  atleetinn' tlie  welfare  of  tlio 
Slate.  irres])eeti\(' ot"  party  afliliations.  Tins  bi'onylit  liiin  in  array 
ajiainst.  nearly  e\cry  imbiie  Mian  of  any  proiniiieiiee  in  tlie  State, 
wiiile  many  of  liis  fri<'iids  st(M»d  aloof.  (le<'inin.ii  it  liazardoiis  to  be 
ideiitilied  witli  iiiiii.  l>iit  from  li's  triiimpli  it  may  well  be  (lediie<'d 
that  Ills  forcible  and  instriictixc  addresses  <:aiiied  the  <'ar  of  tlui 
l)eo)»Ie.  'I'lie  leuislatiire  was.  however,  lai'.ii'ely  a,uaiiist  him.  Ilis 
caiii]iai;;ii  s|teeclies  ha\  ini;'  |irodnced  a  j^ood  effect  iijion  the  jieopio, 
as  e\  iiiced  iiy  tlieir  siistaiiiiii;^'  him,  and  eiicoiirajicd  by  his  remark- 
able triiiiii])h.  he  now  attempted  to  y'o  fiirtiier.  In  his  inaiiiiiiral 
mes.>a^('  lie  alluded  to  the  (!eliii<|iieneies  of  the  Slia wiieetowu 
branch  of  the  State  bank,  as  reported  by  the  committee  of  iiivestij;a- 
tioii.  statin.n'  that  "'its  eoiieeins  had  iieeii  htosely  and  iirej;idarly 
conducted;"  that  the  deraii^cil  state  of  its  aecoiints  did  not 
exhil»it  the  amount  of  debts  i\\n\  and  that  money  had  been  loaned 
wilhoid  security,  contrary  to  the  refpnremeids  of  the  law.  sworn 
l)y  all  its  odicers  to  execute  faithfully  the  injunction,  "1  will 
not  peiiiiit  money  to  be  loaned  to  any  iiidisidnal  without  security." 
From  which  he  deduced  imM  only  irand  and  imposition,  but  the 
dearest  moral  i»erjiiry,  voluntarily  and  deliberately  committed. t 

And  now  followed  in  short  f)rder  several  messaji'cs  from  him  to 
the  lionse.  charyiiiy  s|»eeilic  acts  of  eorriiption,  particularly  ii]>ou 
the  (dticers  of  the  Ivlwanlsville  branch  of  the  State  l)ank.  A  loan 
of  $2,0"''* '""'  been  ol>tained  by  a  mort,iia,ii'e  upon  real  estate,  wliicdl 
on  execution  was  valued  at  *7.">7.7.~)  and  which  actually  sohl  for 
((Illy  >'l'.n.S.'):  another  loan  of  ij<(),(L*5  was  eU'eeted  ujion  realty 
vahied  at  .f.'t.lKt.Tl.  when  the  sworn  duty  of  the  oflicers  was  to 
exact  real  estate  seeiii'ity  in  doulile  \alne  of  the  loaii.  and  to  loau 
but  .sl.OIMIoii  such  security  atone  lime  to  one  man.  Three  days 
Jater,  in  another  message,  he  ehai\yed  that  these  loans  were  to 
Thus.  .1.  ^IcC.uire.  i-jiianiiel  .1.  West,  and  Theoiihiliis  AV.  Smith, 
to  establish  a  press  at  JOdwardsx  ille.  inteudcfl  to  pi'omote  the  iiitro- 
diu'tioii  of  shncry  into  the  Slate;  that  lieiiteiiant-;:(>verinu'  Kinney 
jM'esideiii  of  the  bank,  advanced  the  money  to  buy  the  press,  that 
Mediiii'e  was  the  pi'inter  who  oblainecl  the  loan  with  West  as 
security,  and  that  Smith  the  cashier,  became  the  eililor;  that  no 
entries  on  the  minute  book  showed  when  the  loan  was  made,  tS:c. 
These  details  were  ])erhaps  indiscrete,  as  they  ;;iive  color  to  the, 
charge  that  his  excellency  was  a<'tiialed  by  somi'lhinj;'  more  than 
i'eclinus  purely  of  refoi'iii, 

IIa\  iiiii' obta.iied  further  intbrmatioii,  the  yovermu',  on  the  2r)tli 
of  .lanuary,  submitted  to  the  house  of  representati\('s,  as  tlui 
^raiid  imi  of  the  Slate.  cliai',i.'('s  of  j^ijnc   and  serious  import 

against  tiie  oflicers  and  boai'd  of  ilireetors  of  the  branch  bank  at 
Mdwardsx  ille,  alleju'cd  tc*  be  )U'edicat<  <1  u])on  the  bo<iks,  accounts, 
and  pa))crs.  deliveretl  by  the  late  cashier,  T.  AV.  Siiiilh,  to  his  siic- 
cessiu'.  Mr.  Miller:  1st,  for  makiui;- loans  of  mcuc  than  sKtOO  upon 
real  estate  security  to  various   iudividuals:  L*d,  makinji' loans  <d' 

♦Kchvuvd'j*  Lire,  by  Iiih  hoii  N.  W. 

+8ee  House  Joufnul,  Hussion  ol^  18iJtl-7. 


340  IIISTOUY   Ol'   ILLINOIS. 

more  Ihiiii  ><1(M»  MiHUi  ixTsonal  security — tiiiit  tlir  president  liiin- 
se!t' linil  two  several  loaiis  of  sKKtO  each  oil  ])ers(>iial  security, 
liiaile.  too.  out  of  the  10  per  cent  I'uiul  whieli  was  nex'er  to  he  put 
into  cireiilat  loM  ;  ."xl.  loaniiiu  on  real  eslate  not  IVee  Ironi  iniaini- 
braiices;  4tli,  loaniu;^  on  iiisuHieient  secmily  ;  ."idi.  culi»al)lc  iic{»- 
]eel  ol'  ilnly  in  not  prot«'sl  ini;  o\  t-rilue  i)aper  and  proeeedinn-  to 
llie  eollei'tion  tliereol';  all  in  \  iolat ion  (»l'  llu'  jiositivc  re(|iiire- 
inents  of  tlie  law  ;  statinji  tliat  anionu' the  hatch  of  promissory 
uotes  due  and  nui'eiiewed.  rnnnin,u'  hack  tor  three  years,  and 
lianded  over  hy  'I',  ^\  .  Smith  (late  cashier)  to  his  successoi',  there 
■\v«'re  eleven  lorucries  delected  as  early  as  ISi'i;,  yet  no  ctl'ort  had 
l)een  made  to  hriuji  the  olVender  to  punishment;  that  in  ISi't, 
Thomas  , I.  Mc(iuire  had  ohtained  a  loan  ot  ?!(1(>0  on  a  mortj;a,in(' 
improperly  executed  and  without  reliuipiishinii dower  (he  heinj:; 
inariied).  on  a  |»iece  of  property  not  woith  s.'JOd  ;  the  same  to 
]']uiaiuu'l  J.  West  ou  land  valiu'd  oii  execution  at  8.'>(H  IS;  that 
h>  the  law.  all  loans,  hel'ore  made,  wci'c  to  he  i»assed  ujion  hy  two- 
thirds  of  the  hoard,  yet  T.  \V.  Smith  had  »»htained  a  loan  without 
t)eiug'  >so  sauctiuueil,  hccause  at  the  tiuu'  tlie  jtresideut  wasabseut 
fr<»m  the  State,  two  of  tlie  four  dir<'ctors  were  atteu<linu-  the  legis- 
lature as  senators,  and  Smith  himself,  on*'  td'  the  sujueme  jiul^cs, 
Avas  also  tln-re  in  attendan<'e.  The  iiovernor  further  adroitly  de- 
clar«'d  that  he  fully  api»reciatcd  the  lormidahle  couihinations  that 
had  };ro\vu  out  oi'  the  haidiiu";'  interest  in  the  wState.  hut  as  th(5 
crisis  had  arrived  he  pioposed  meetinji'  it,  not withstandiui:  men- 
aces to  intimidate  him  had  hceii  made,  lie  woidd  shrink  from  no 
danji'ci',  hul  fearlessly  discluu;;*'  the  hi^h  trust  reposj'd  in  hiui  hy 
the  people.  The  messajic  and  accompanying-  docnnu'iits  were  I'c- 
I'erred  to  a  select  committee  of  se\ fu,  com],osed  of  Henry  J. 
i\lills,  (Jeor<;e  Churchill,  Thomas  Ifeynolds,  William  Sim,  \V. 
("axarly  and  Conrad  Will,  with  power  t(»  send  for  persons  aud 
pajH'rs. 

i'Our  days  later,  the  ,i;(>veruor,  Iia\  iu<;'  eifd)arked  in  tiie  uudei'- 
taUin<i'  of  ferret inu' oi'.t  fiscal  corruptions,  holdlyand  circumstan- 
tially hrou^iht  foiward  nine  distinclixe  chariics  against  the  cashier 
of  th<'  iirinei[tal  hank  at  N'audalia,  .1.  M.  Duncan,  nM)stly  relatin;;'  t(» 
Avithholdiu^H'  the  recpiired  information  as  to  the  condition  of  the 
l)aid<,  failiufi'  to  make  out  desciiplive  lists  of  the  burnt  nott's,  and 
failiny'  to  lay  heftire  the  h-^islature  his  half  yeaily  rt'|i(u1  as  to  tlu> 
condition  of  the  hranches.  all  of  which  the  law  re(piircd,  and 
in  all  which  i)articulars  the  law  had  Tmmmi  violated.  This  ines- 
saj^c.  too,  was  referred  t(t  a  connnittee.  Still  a;.;ain  he  charged 
that  The<ipliiliis  W.  Smith  did,  when  actinj;' as  easiuer.  misajiply 
and  a]>i>ro|)riate  to  his  own  use  a  lar^ic  amount  of  funds  of  the 
bank,  which  he  still  withheld,  and  as  he  ])residcd  over  the  circuit 
court  in  the  county  of  his  residence,  he  asked  that  provision  he 
made  foi  instilntiiiu  suit  ai;ainst  him  outside  of  his  own  circuit. 

And  now  there  was  intense  ex«iteinent  at  the  c:  ,,iial.  The  ,<:<»v- 
enioi'  had,  sinj-le  handed,  to  deal  with  adroit  and  saj;acious  ])oliti- 
<'ians  of  the  dominant  parl.\,  some  hi;L;li  in  otlice,  betore  a 
le<;islature  with  whom  he  was  in  a  jiarty  minority.  The  cry  was 
raised  tiuit  the  charj;'es  "  emanated  fiom  a  hase  and  maligna  ♦". 
(b'lerniinati(Ui.  on  the  jiai't  of  the  ;;(i\crnor,  to  prostrate  e\cry  in- 
dividual who  had  dared  to  o]ipose  his  elect  ion,"*     (lovernor  i''ord 

*SeoJ.  M.  JDiiuaiii'siuttur,  Housu  Journal,  Jaiiuui-y  L'«,l«27. 


EinVAKOS'  ADMIMSTKATION. 


341 


says:  "A  ])()\v('ifnl  ('<uiil)iiiiiti(»ii  of  iiilliu'iitial  iiu'ii  was  thus  formod 
to  thwart  the  iiivcstijiatioii.  Tlic  ^^ovcriioi'  was  o|»<'iily  and  boldly 
(•liar>;«'d  witli  base  motives ;  aiidtlial  kind  of  stiyiiia  was  altciiiptcd 
to  Im>  cast  on  liini  wiiicli  is  apt  to  li\  ilscil'  upon  aconiniun  inrornicr. 
His  cliai-^cs  aj^ainst  .Mr.  Ciawloid  wj-rc  icmcndicrcd,  and  lie  was 
now  cliarurd  willi  hriny'  inllncncccl  l»y  iiostility  towards  .Ind^'o 
.Smith,  wlio  liad  been  a  tVinid  to.Mr.  Craw  ford's  ch'ction." 

'I'hc  charges  a.uainst  .1.  .M.  !)iincan  Wi'ic  speedily  dis|»os('d  of. 
'J'iic  committee,  I'eliniary  Stii.  rejiorted,  "cxculitat  in;;'  the  cashier 
of  the  ))rincipal  !>anli  from  all  censure,"  and  that  there  was  ••  not 
the  h-ast  semidance  of  the  \iohition  of  his  duty,"  in  any  of  the 
<'hai'i;es  preferred  l>y  his  lv\celleu;'y  ;  and  as  t<»  the  misapi»licat  ion 
of  the  bank  finals  l»y  ,Iu<l;ne  Siintli,  while  cashier,  they  icpoited 
that  it  was  not  the  pro\in<'e  of  the  ^'cneral  assendtly  to  decide 
upon  the  validity  of  the  claims  between  the  bank  and  its  ollicers  ; 
the  ipu'stion  was  ajadicial  on<';  that  a  law  already  existed  provid- 
ini;  for  a  clian;;!'  of  scnue,  wheie  tlu'  Jnd^e  of  a^  comt  was  inter- 
ested in  a  suit.* 

The  committee  of  7,  whidi  (iovernor  l''ordsa\s  was  -'■  ]»acked" 
a.yainsl  tlu' governor,  ;;ave  the  subject  a  lon^  an<l  a))parently  care- 
ful invest  iyat ion,  tlieii- ]>roce<'(lin;;s  beiu^'  taken  down  in  writing 
and  fully  reported  to  the  house. +  .Many  of  the  cliai'.i;cs,  apparently 
hiistily  made.  wer<'  satisfactorily  explained,  yet  much  inej^^nlarity 
in  the<'oiidu<'t  and  mana;.;«'mentof  flu*  bank  also  a|»p<'ared,  chief  of 
which  was  in  conne<'ti(ni  with  the  insnllicieiicy  of  the  real  estate 
security  rcipiiied.  Hut  this  was  i)artly  explained  in  that  val- 
nalion.s  weie  made  al'tcr  the  (h'preciat ion  <»fthe  bank  noti's,  in 
accordance  with  the  real  vaitu' of  1  he  money  received,  while  the 
hanltintes  incident  to  that  pei'iod  also  caused  a  \erv  lireat  de|)re- 
«'iatiou  of  pro|>crly  generally.  'J'he  loans  e\cecdiu^  .*  10(1(1,  made  to 
directors  and  otiicers.  it  aj>peai-ed,  were  aut  horized  bysection  jSof 
llie  law,  whi«'li  allowed  them  to  borrow  8T.-)t»*'  in  a<l(liti<m  ((»  the 
amount  which  as  individuals  iliey  mii^lit  !»<■  enlith-d  to."  The  law 
was  fniihcr  cousiruc<i  tiial  they  were  entitled  to  borrow  on  per- 
sonal s<'curity  beyond  liie  .*l(l(>  allowed  to  individuals,  which  luid 
l»ecn  sanctioned  by  llu'  uoveriior  himself  in  the  case  of  Oaniel 
r'aikins«)n.  a  direcitu'  from  Sanyamon.  who  ha<l  borrow«'d  ><S."((>, 
An^iusl  0,  bSL'l,  on  a  n«»te.  with  N,  ivlwardsas  personal  security. 
it  ai>]»eared  turther  that  this  .snne  i'arkinson  had  presented  and 
di'awii  the  nnniey  (Ui  the  eh'ven  ><1(((»  n(»tcs  alle^cil  by  the  ^ovcr- 
iior  to  be  forced.  Tlu'  nol<\s  purported  to  be  from  a  nund)er  of 
paities,  but  •' a|>peared  to  have  been  sii;ned  in  the  handwritini:-  ot" 
tile  dir<'cto>' from  Sangamon.  ( )u  iuipiiry.  I'arkinson  said  he  was 
not  pei-sonally  acqiiainted  with  the  makeisnf  the  notes,  but  he 
liad  licard  thai  they  were  u<>od.  and  lived  down  on  Indian  creek. 
T.  \V.  Smith  made  aflidavil  that  he  had  licm  iiitbrnu'd  by  the 
.slierilf  and  clerk  of  vSan^anion  c(Hinl,\.  who  had  made  diligent 
search  for  them  in  ordci'  to  serve  tlnni  witli  process  at  ihe  suit  of 
the  bank,  that  no  such  pers<His  evei'  resided  in  ilie  comity  to  their 
know  lcd;ic  ami  belief.  The  chai'iic  that  money  had  been  re-loaned 
out  of  the  10  |ter  <'eid  fnml,  the  uoverncM'  took  occasion  t(»  retract.| 
'I'lie  house   oi'  i-epresentatives,  iu    c(unnnttee   of  the    whole,  aftei" 


*.Si'e  llnMM'.Ioiirii!*!'  lUMl,  •UO-lliO, 

tlhiii,  ;,(i+  to  r.<X) 

ISce  House  Journal,  p.  •■"a, 


342  HISTORY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


coiisitU'iiii^'  tlic  report  of  llic  spicial  coiimiiltic,  rcixnlcd  I'or 
iidoplioii:  •' /i'r.so/rr(/, 'riiiil  iHilliiii;.',  lias  hrcii  proved  aj^aiiist  tin* 
late  ](re,>ideiit.  directors  and  cashier  ol'  tlie  hraiicli  hank  at  ImI- 
AvardsviiU',  t()-\vit :  William  Kiiuiev,  .losepli  A.  IJeaird,  'I'lioiiias 
("arliii.  Ahi'aliam  I'licUclt,  I'MiJali  iles  and  Tln'ophilus  W.Snutli, 
whicli  Would  Jiislilv  tlie  l>eliet'  tiiat  tliev  had  acled  coriiipl  i,v  and 
in  had  faith  in  the  nianam-nient  ol'  I  lie  alfairs  of  said  hank;" 
which  was  adojited  hy  the  house.  Thus  «lid  Ihe  atteiiipt  of  the 
jiovernor  to  iiiipeacii  the  niaiia;i('rs  of  the  old  State  Hank  [)rovc  ;i 
coiii|ilete  failure. 

As  illusi  ratiNC  hotli  of  tiic  cordialit,\  existing;' hetnceii  two  of 
tlie  co-ordinate  hranches  of  p>verniiieiit  iiiid  tlii'  relative  dignity 
4»f  tlie  same,  we  i^ive  the  following-:  Some  joint  r(>soluti(Uis, 
addressed  to  eoiij;ress.  were  passed  hv  the  lej;islature  in  favor  ol' 
ameiidinji'  the  constitution  aecordi!i<;  t(»  Mr.  Henton's  idea,  to  allow 
the  people  tovote  directly  foi' president  an<l  vice  president.  The  j;ov- 
eriioi'  w  as  raiiiircd  to  transmit  a  copy  of  the  icsoliitiims  to  the  execu- 
tives of  the  sext'ial  States,  witii  lher«'(piesi  that  they  be  laid  hefore. 
tlH'le}iislatiires  tlieicof,  and  also  toour  senatt»rs  and  rejuesentatives 
ill  eoiij;ress.  Jiiit  he  returned  tlu'iii  to  the  house  with  an  iiidi,miaiit 
letter,  pi'otestin^'  ajiaiiist  the  •■unprecedented  laii^ua;:,e  of  tln^ 
resohitions  rciiiiiriiij/  Www  to  iransmit"  tliem;  that  it  implied  an  au- 
thority over  a  co-ordinate  branch  of  the  government,  and  was  an 
assuin[>tion  of  p(»wer  not  j^ranled  to  I  he  two  houses  luuler  the  con- 
stitution; that  such  ■•  lan^iiajic  was  \iolative  of  llu'ir  relative  inde- 
pendence," and  that  he  "  declined  obedience  to  a  cianniand  sci 
unwarranted;''  he  would,  however,  conijdy  with  a  "re(pu'st'"ltt  that 
i'ffect.*      The  otVeiisive  word  was  cliaii_\;ed  I 

One  of  the  most  excitin.i;  measures  pass<'d  at  tliis  .s<'ssion,  was 
the  repeal  of  the  circuit  court  system,  established  U  year.s  hefore. 
Duiiiiji  that  time  deiiiaj;(i;^ues.  well  knowiu!;  how  to  t-reate  polit- 
ical ca[»ital  hy  inference  in  the  absence  of  facts,  charj^cd  extrava- 
j^ance  and  a  prodijial  waste  of  tlu'  jteojile's  money  in  sustaining  ;i 
Judiciary,  and  virtually  i)ensioninj;  the  suju'cme  court,  which 
uii.uhl  well  peilbrm  all  the  cin'iiit  duly.  A  j;ood  deal  of  ujiposi- 
tion  had  been  stirred  up  amoii.u  the  i»eo[»le  l>y  the  ^(ueriior  duriii,ii' 
liis  eairvass,  ami  lu^  also  iirjicd  the  rept  al  in  hisinauj;iiral  messaj;e. 
Tpon  the  (»ther  hand,  all  the  nine  jud.ufs,  circuit  and  supreme, 
ojiposed  it.  r>iit  in  this  nu-asiire  the  governor  was  aided  by  some 
«)f  his  wor.stenemies,  who  had  failed  in  their  judicial  aspirations  two 
years  before  when  the  court  was  r( -or^ianized.  and  the  hill  pre- 
vailed. The  State  was  divide*!  into  (inc  ciicuits.  assi-^iiin^  one  of 
the  sui»reme  Judges  to  each  of  four,  to  hold  two  terms  of  court  ill 
each  county  \early.  One  of  the  circuit  Jud,i;fs,  tiie  Hon.  K.  .M. 
Youu;;',  was  retained  on  a  circuit  in  the  military  disiiict.  I'.ut  i>ne 
yearly  term  of  the  supreme  couit  was  |>ro\  idcd.  'I'lie  salaries  id' 
tliejudji'cs  were  increased  from  !<S{M  to  .'ii' 10(10.  The  salaries  of  the 
live  circuit  judjics  were  $(i(»(t  each.  Thus  was  saved  to  the  Stato 
trt'asnry  annually  a  <^ofal  of  .**L't()0  from  this  source,  at  an  incal- 
culable delay  and  vexation  to  suitors  in  itoth  the  supreme  and  cir- 
cuit c(»urts.  l>ut  Ihe  mere  tpu'stion  of  expense,  and  the  petty  re- 
venfi'eof  sore  aspii'ants,  were  not  the  only  things  which  conspired 
to  tins  repeal.  One  of  the  eii'cuit  jud.ucs  was  to  he  ])unished  tor 
"pr<>seri]»tiou,"it  was  said.  The  circuit  .jud;.;('sliad  power  to  ajipoint 

*t^ce  liousu  .Inuiiuil,  p.  i'>\. 


EDWAKUS'  ABMlNlSTltATION. 


343 


circuit  clerks,  hut  that  froui  this  as  a  coi'ollavy  Innowcd  tiic  i)()\ver 
of  itinuN  al,  WHS  uol  so  clear.  Judjic  McKoltcits  so  viewed  it,  aud 
had  exercised  holli  powers.  |>r(»scrii»li\ civ,  it  was  thought,  lie, 
had  removed  tVoni  tliat  ollice,  in  .Madison  counl.v,  .Iose|)li  Com  way, 
SI  political  opponent,  and  a|)poiiited  in  ins  stead.  Knianuel  .1.  West, 
his  trieiid.  ( 'onway.  lieiny  well  known  and  i)opiilar,  was  electeil 
to  tile  State  senate,  and  after  lidiiiu  into  ollice  on  iiis  j;iievanc(^ 
before  the  jx'ople,  in  tiie  le,nislature  lie  brought  it  to  b-ar  a.uainsC 
tiie  entire  system,  and  completed  his  reveii;^-e  aiiaiust  McUobeiTs 
by  repi'alinL;-  all  the  Jnd,i;<'s  but  one  out  of  otiice.  , Indue  Mclfolt- 
erts,  inteliectnaly  oiu^  of  tin'  lirst  men  of  the  State,  was  also  un- 
])opidar  on  account  of  arbitrarily  enterin,!i'  u])  Juduinciit  a,uainst 
(iovernor  Coles,  after  he  had  been  released  by  an  act  of  the  le,nis- 
latiire  iVom  tiiM' in  cmancipat  iii.u'  his  lU'.iiroes  witliout  uivint;'  bond 
that  they  sliould  not  l)ecomea  cinirj^c  upon  the  county. 

Tlu'  supreme  Jmlfi'es  appointed  at  the  session  of  bSl'l-.")  to  revise 
the  Stat  uics,  sulunitted  tin'  result  of  their  labor  so  far  a>  com- 
l»leted.  Ap}»reciatinj;'  the  nia.unilude  of  such  a  worl<.  frau,nlit; 
with  such  <;Teat  interests,  to  the  jierfectiou  of  which  j;reat  and 
uninterrupted  research  shotdd  be  brought,  they  had  not  com- 
pleted many  cliaplers.  A  joint  commiltee  iVom  botii  houses  was 
appointed,  which  went  eariu'slly  at  woik  to  finish  up  the  revisicm, 
em]»loyin;4'  as  assistants  the  circuit  Judges  in  attendance  at  tln^ 
.seat  of  j;-overnnn'nt.  The  revision  embraced  all  the  \arious  laws 
relatiui^- to  the  rii^lit  of  ))ro])erly,  conti'acis  ami  civil  actions,  and 
tlie  riiilitsof  persons  aud  society,  and  the  unxles  of  redress.  Jus- 
tices of  tilt;  peace  were  at  this  sessicui   made  elective  bv  the  peo- 

1,S2S-J> — Harly  in  llu'  session  of  bSUfi-T,  the  legislature  had  uii- 
<h'r  consideration  some  resolutions  inemoi'lalizin,;;'  c(Mii.;ress  to 
I'cducc  the  price  of  pul»lic  lands,  and  for  a  luraiit  to  the  Slate  of 
all  tlu'  puldic  lands  lyini;'  therein,  upon  sm-li  prim-iples  as  mi^ht 
be,  dcenu'd  Just  and  cfpiitable.  .Mr.  Ulackwell  ottered  au  amend- 
ment— ••on  i.jmlilion  that  tlu'  State  at  all  times  j;ranl  to  actual 
settlers  each  not  less  tha,ii  ;t  (piarter  section,  to  b(!  oecupie<l  aud 
improved."  lu  a  comifninicalion  to  the  house,  the  ji(iverm)r  re- 
('.omim'uded  that  our  delegates  in  congress  be  instructed  •'to 
t'oiitract  with  the  government  for  a^  surremh'r  of  the  piiltlic  lands 
Milliin  the  State,  on  the  Ibllowin.u  terms:  the  State  to  lie  at  all 
the  expenses  of  selliu]!;'  them  at  a  price  not  exceedin.ii  L'.">  cents  j»er 
acre;  to  keep  an  otiice  constantly  open  tor  that  purpose,  ami  to 
])ay  to  tJM'  n'eiieial  .yoveriimeiit  annually  L'.~)  cents  per  acre  tor 
all  that  shall  have  been  sold."  Lat<»r,  the  conunittee  to  which 
the  <;overin)r's  conuiuinicatioii  had  been  referred,  rei»orled,  and 
takiiiix  a  st<'p  in  advance,  re(iuii'ed  from  eonu'iess  a  surrender 
ol'  the  public  lauds  '•uncomlitionally,  subject  to  such  disposition 
as  the  people  of  the  Statc,by  their  representatives,  may  deem 
most  ('(tudiicive  to  their  prosjierity  and  happiiu'ss." 

'J'his  proi)osition  threw  the  governor's  effectually  in  t!u'  siiado, 
ami  he  was  not  heard  from  a.ii'ain  diirint;'  the  session  upon  llie  sub- 
ject. Ibil  by  the  meetin;n' (»f  the  le;.iislature  in  bSL'S.  he  had  had 
ample  linu'  to  work  this  subject  up  to  its  larji'est  i)roportions.  lie 
uow  eclipsed  the  bold  deumiid  of  the  committee,  by  liroadly 
claiminy  in  his  message  of  extraordinary  length,  evincing  unusii- 


344  IIISTOHY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


al  U'jiJil  rosciiicli  and  iKMiiiicii,  that  tlu^  |»iihli(!  lands  within  tho 
limits  (if  ililMois  b('l(>nj;t'(l  aUrad.v  to  tlic  State,  lie  sh(t\vi'd  that 
the  ailiclcs  ol'  contVucration  not  onl\  atl'iiiiicd  the  ri^^ht  of  every 
iState  to  all  the  lands  witiiiii  its  limits,  lint  e\i»ressly  deelaicMl  that 
"lu)  Stale  shall  he  deprived  of  territory  ibr  the  beiu'lit  of  the 
United  States."  lie  ariiiied  tl  at  the  I'nited  States,  1»\  the  terms 
of  the  constitution,  eoiild  not  acMinire  or  hold  any  land,  in  any 
oriyiinii  State,  even  witii  its  t)\vn  eonsent,  exeei)t  what  nniy  l»c 
necessary  ''for  the  erection  of  forts,  nni^iazines,  arsenals,  dock 
yards,  and  other  needful  i»nildin;;s  ; "  that  as  liiis  State  had  been 
adnii'ted  on  an  e(|nal  fooiin^i'  with  the  original  States,  the  I'liited 
States  (H)nld  hold  no  moic  land  than  for  these  i»nri»oses  within  its 
limits,  and  for  anytliinji  more  the  jicneral  p)verninent  had  to 
obtain  "the  consent  of  the  le.uislatnre  of  the  State;"  that  till 
the  ::diiiission  of  the  Stale  into  the  I'nioii,  it  had  no  rij;hts  as  a 
State  nnder  the  const itnl ion,  and  conse(iiieinly  no  competenc.v  to 
act  in  that  character ;  it  was  like  a  minor,  not  within  thea.ucof 
consent  ;  that  the  State  coidd  iu)t  tiierefore  be  bound  by  the  acts 
of  the  territ(»ry,  in  conseidin,u'  for  the  I'nited  States  to  hoiil  lands 
within  her  limits;  that  if  the  federal  j;-overiiment  enjoyed  tins 
ltri\  ile;:;('  of  dominion  o\'er  the  public  lands  dnrinj;'  "its  political 
mimirity,  it  ceased  on  the  admission  of  the  State  into  tlie  Union, 
having'  thence  forward  the  sanu'  ri^^hts  of  sovereignty,  freedom, 
and  indei)emlence  as  the  other  States;  that  the  sovereij;iity  of  a 
State  includes  the  ri.Lilit  to  exercise  snpreim'  and  exclnsive  control 
over  all  lands  within  it  ;  that  the  freedom  of  a  State  is  the  ri^^lit 
to  do  whatever  may  be  done  by  any  nation,  and  inclndes  tho 
li^ht  to  dispose  of  all  the  jinblic  lands  within  its  limits,  according;' 
to  its  own  will  ami  pleasure;  that  the  imh  pemU'iice  of  a  State 
includes  an  exemption  from  all  coidrol  by  any  ollu'r  State  or 
jiation  over  its  will  or  action,  within  its  own  territory.  The  gover- 
nor seems  t(»  have  been  deeply  in  earnest. 

Jleyond  tiiis  broad  claim  it  was  impossible  Ibr  the  iej^islatiire  to 
p).  'riu'y  did  theret"ore  the  next  best  Ihiny,  which  was,  to  divide 
the  credit  and  honors  of  the  ;;rand  discovery  with  his  excellency. 
The  commiltee  who  had  considered  the  subject,  re[)orU'd  :  That 
from  a  carefid  examination  of  tiie  ^-overnor's  arj;iiment  and  aided 
by  the  best  li.yhts  they  conld  jjit,  they  believed  the  piisitioii 
assumed  in  tin'  messai^c  to  be  correct.  They  close  recommendiii<;- 
the  adoption  of  resolutions  by  the  Semite  and  House  of  iicpn'scn- 
talives  of  the  State  of  illinois;  that  this  State  iu)ssesses  the 
exclnsive  so\  ereiyidy  over  all  lands  within  its  limits;  that  the 
United  States  jiossesses  lu)  rijiht  of  jurisdiction  over  any  lands 
within  the  limits  of  Illinois;  that  the  I'lnted  Slates  cannot  hold 
any  lijilit  of  soil  within  the  limits  of  the  State  but  Ibr  the  erei-tioii 
of  forts,  maptziiies,  arsenals,  dock-yards  and  other  needful  bnild- 
inji's,  an*l  that  this  State  possesses  the  ri,uht  of  soil  of  all  the  public 
lands  within  its  limits.  The  resolutions  were  passed,  and  it  was 
fnrther  }»rovided,  that  they  be  sij;iM'd  by  the  sjieakers  of  both 
houses  and  coi»ies  thereof  sent  to  our  seimlors  and  re})resenta- 
tives  in  conjiii'ss,  with  iiistriu'tions  to  lay  ihem  before  that  body. 
Coi)ies  were  also  to  be  transmitted  to  the  ^^overnors  of  the  several 
States  of  th(^  Union.  ''Having'  thus  laid  a.  broad  foumlation  to 
euiich  the  State  with  the  public  lauds,  the  uieiubers  retiuiied  to 


EDWAUDS'   AUMINISTUA'l'IOX. 


345 


tlicir  (•((iistitiiciits  swclliii;;-  with  imiiortiiiicc  and  liiuli  (  \|icctiitioii,s 
of  fiitiiic  favor.  J>iil  i\\v  people  wi-re  not  sneli  I »i^  fools  as  was 
tlM)n<;lit,  foi*  nniny  laii,uhe(l  at  tlieii'  representatives  in  veiy  seoni 
of  tiieir  pfelensions."*  Tiie  splendid  hiintliii^'  I'ell  still  Itoi'u  upon 
the  pul)li<:,  and  nothing  more  was  heard  of  it  aflerwanl. 


•Foi'd'B  History. 


It- 


CiiAi'iKi;  XXX. 

TS;!(>— A  KKTKOSIMOCT. 

Aih'diicc  of  til  f  Sitfh'iiH'nts — \n(c:  (SnUiiii,  its  /■^(uli/  J/istorj/;  Orif/iii 
of  the  ftriii  ".S//(7.v;;"  l>oi(i/l<(s^  Humorous  Account  of  it — Ttitds 
uuil  Troulilcs  of  I'iouccrs  in  New  Counties — Enropcun  ColonicH — 
Fiudiicidl  Condition  of  the  Stotc — Triiilc  and  Commerce — J'Jitrh/ 
Mail  lionles,  Xeu'sixiperSj  and  Literati — I'olitics  of  the  reople — 
Militia  Si/stem. 


Tlic  poimlatidii  of  tlic  Slate  in  ISl'O  was  ir)7,H7,  Iiavinj;'  nearly 
tiebled  itself  (liuiiin'  the  preeediii;;'  deeade.  I'lieie  were  at  tliis 
time  .")()  eoniities  uryaiii/,('<l,  Itiit  those  in  tlie  mtrliieni  poition  of  tlie 
State  were  mere  skeletons  and  nnwieldiy  in  size.  A  tliinl  of  tin; 
State,  (»r  more,  l;>  in^i'  between  (iaiena  and  ( 'iiieaji«»,exlendin;;  sonlli- 
\vard  to  the  lvasl;askia.  tlie  headwaters  of  tiie  Vermilion,  alonj;' 
the  Ifoek  Kiver  and  far  down  into  the  military  tract,  eonslitnlinji" 
at  present  the  most  densely  settled  and  liest  improved  portions, 
Avasa  trackless  j)rairie  waste,  overrun  by  the  Sac  and  l'\»x,  Winne- 
bago, and  I'otawattoniie  Indians.  Mn<'h  of  the  interior  of  the 
south  part,  and  the  country  Itorderin;;  tiie  i'anbjirrass.  the  San;;- 
amon  and  their  tiil>iiiaries,  had  ceased  to  be  a  wilderness.  Into 
the  country  of  the  Sanj^amon  iiiimi,i;ralion  had  forsoiin'time 
throiiu'ed.  Alon.ii  the  Illinois  to  ('hica^^o,  (hen  j'lst  be;iinnin,ii  to 
attract  attention,  there  weic  seal  tered  a  few  seitleiiients  ion  i;- dis- 
tances apart,  l-'or  some  years  after,  the  settlers,  eitlier  in  chister.s 
or  separat<'ly,  continued  to  liuj;'  the  outskirts  of  the  timber  border- 
inj;'  the  rivers  and  creeks,  or  the  edyc  of  ^iroves,  scart-ely  any 
\enturin,n'  out  on  the  open  prairies.  Alon;;'  tiie  .Mississijtpi, 
►settlements  were  scattered  at  distant  intervals,  culminatinj;- at  the 
lead  mines  on  Fever  river,  where  had  gathered  a  heterojicnous 
l»oj»nlation  from  many  parts  of  the  world,  nnnd»erin<i  ubcait  1,(100 
souls,  niiH'-tenths  bein;;'  men  enj;ayed  in  minin,i;'.* 

•In  1804,  (iovernor  HiirrlMon  lioiifflit  froin  the  Sue  and  Kox  trilx's  ii  triictof  land  at 
tlio  iiioiiili  ol  the  Fever  I'iver  (Mec'apiasipo)  15  miles  S(Hiure.  I,e:i(l  had  been  mined  for 
nian,\  years  on  tlie  Iowa  .lide  and  waM  known  to  exist  on  the  Illinois  side  The  first 
white  settler  at  theniines  on  Kever  river,  was  a  Krenehman  named  lioutilier,  In  ISli). 
Shortly  after,  .lesse  Shall,  a  trader,  oeeupied  an  island  therein  the  river,  and  ii(dn«- 
inlornied  that  the'  Indians  hail  discovered  lead  near  when;  (JaliMia  now  stands,  moved 
thither.  I'his  proved  to  lie  the  notecl  "  hiiek  leiid.''  A.  1*.  Van  Metre  soon  joined,  and 
"all  took  to  themselves  wives  of  the  daughters  of  the  land,  and  were  traders  lor  llioir 
liri'thii'ii."  Latir.  l)r  Sanniel  Mure  also  mariied  to  a  squaw,  and  was  associate  of  the 
Well  known  Indian  tradi'r,  Davenport,  of  Itoek  Island,  loeated  tliere.  Me  pave  to  Ga- 
lena its  name  (from  the  (ii-eek,  Oalanas,  ,i  spi/eies  o(  lead  ore)  In  IM.'d,  f'olonel  .1.  .lolm- 
80I1.  anthori/ed  by  the  war  department,  arrived  and  assnmed  almost  exelnsive  eontrol 
of  the  M.inintf.  Ho  was  followed  liy  a  few  others  the  sanu!  year,and  more  in  lH;.':i  4, 
Float  or  p;ra\el  mineral  was  extensively  sown,  some  prospects  sold,an<l  thus  hy  fraud, 
parties  went  further  out,  and  some  splendid  "  leads"  wi're  discovered. 

In  18^'.'),  the  I'l  ndlo  boundary  was  overleaped,  and  the  country  of  the  W'inneliajjTOS 
first  trenched  upon.   The  "Shuilsburg,"  "  Kast  Fork"'  Hud  "Now  DiKginjfs"  were  found 


KDWAKDS'   ADMIMSTU'AI'ION.  .'U7 

As  tlicrc  Wits  (lonUtlcss  iimcli  siiinciM'ss  in  tlic  ciirly  scttlcincnt 
ol'  new  coiiiilics,  iiai'liniliii'lv  in  tlic  cciitnil  iiiiil  iioitlii'i'ii  iMtitioiis 
ol'  ilif  Sliilc,  tin-  (Ifliiils  ul'  wiiicli  would  pioitiililv  pi'dxt'  liotli  dull 
:iiii|  iiiiproiitiiUlc  to  III*'  ut'iiciid  rciidcr  ;  iiiid  as  siicli  ciirly  tlatii 
iiavc,  t'\cci»t  ill  a  few  rasi's.  nciirrally  Ix'fii  so  iiiicniisiticiioiis  as  to 
cause  lliciii  Mill  lo  lie  pit'sci'N  fd.  and  arc  iiuwcillicr  lost  or  liccoiiic 
traditional,  \\c  snlijoin  tiic  lolhtwiiin-  acconiil  hy  Nathan  Dillon, 
)»ii'liiiiii.'.rllic  coiidilion  of  I  wo  coiiniics  al'UT  llicir  liisl  or;^aiiizatioii, 
wliiciiuivcs  perhaps  tlic  I'air  avciayc  experience  of  many  an  oUl 
selllei.aiid  conveys  to  lis  their  trials,  privations  and  dillieiilties: 

"As  early  iis  iHiil,  u  few  loir  <'iil>iiiK  were  iiiready  l>nilt  in  Sahj;ann»U 
eouiiiy,  wliieii  iit  tliat  date  eniUraeed  all  tlie  northern  purl  of  the  Slate. 

iitid  ill' volopuil,  i\nil  till!  iiiimliiT  of  mliKM's  hint  IniTcased  toltlOO.    Tn  I8!i6,  a  one  tiorso 

iiiiiil  WHS  (sliihiishcil  Irom  Vnrnlaliii  lo  (iiilciui,  oiicc  every  ^'  wecl's. 

In  l'*:.'".  till'  ^loviiniiiciit  liisl  siiivi'.vcil  the  town,  peniiitlinu-  piirtiea  to  occiipv  and 
iiniiiovc  lots,  on  I'onilition  tliiil  I  liey  \iieiiti'  them  on  :ill  ilujs  not  ice.  'I'll  Is  wiis  nil  tlu'  ti- 
tle .my  oei'iiiiiiiil  IkiiI  ii|>  to  Isijs.  Till-  next  tiei>;liliiirs  (it  the  (iiilenliiMs,  siiutli,  were 
the  I'coiuins  :  and  between  the  two  jiliiees  lay  ii  vast  wilderness  ot  iininhalilteil  t'lri- 
tory.  Ill  IH.'.'i.Mr.  Kelloif  started  his  "  trail"  rroin  I'eoria  to  (i.iiena,  rossiiiK  Uoek 
river  a  lew  miles  alio\e  t  he  |i resent  Dixon,  t  hence  I ly  the  West  (irove  to  (jalena.  Tlio 
Wlniieliaiitis  M-^sisted  in  lerryln'-'  Hork  rhcr.  'I'wo  canoes  phieed  side  liy  side  foiiiu^l 
till'  teny  lioat,  the  wheels  ot  one  t  iile  ot  a  waniin  iiione,  and  thosi-  of  the  opposite 
in  the  other  canoe.  'I'he  hores  swam,  'riie  next  year,  "11 'lies 'I'rail"  was  estalilished. 
The  river  was  teriied  at  Dixon,  wlierethe  Illinois  Central  raiiriiad  liridue  now  crosses. 
This  was  more  direct,  and  liecame  shortly  the  main  loiitt'  ot  travel  to  the  lead  miiicH. 
In  I  he  sprinu- ot  IH.'T,  the  Inivel  was  so  ureal  that  in  a  very  tew  day.sL'hl)  teams  passed 
at  this  point,  'rhere  were  als()i)tlier'"trails'  larther  to  the  west,  'I'he  ''I^'wistoii 
t  rail  "  crossed  Itock  river  a  little  aliove  I'roplietstowii,  Whiteside  county.  (Kroni  the 
lli^lory  ot  OltIc  county  ) 
'rhe  low  co^'-iiomcn  ot  'sucker,"  as  applied  tn  Illlnoisans,  Is  said  to  have  had  Itsorltrin 
at  the  lead  mines.  Says  (ieia'^re  UriiiiK,  ot  San'jainoii  :  I,ate  in  the  tall  of  I.sL'ii.  1  was 
St. I II  iicj-on  t  lie  levee  of  what  is  iio\s'  (iaicna.  watch  iiii;  a  mmilier  of  our  Illinois  lioys  no 
on  lio.ird  of  a  steamiioat  liouiid  down  the  river,  when  a  man  Irom  Missouri  >itepped  up 
andaskeil— ''Hoys,  where  are  you  yointr  y"  'I'he  answer  was, ''lioiiK,'.'  "Well.'  iic  re- 
plu'd.  'yiMi  iMit  me  in  iniiiil  of  siicivcrs:  up  in  the  spi'lny,  spawn,  and  all  ret  iirnin  tho 
tali"  'I'he  appellat  ion  stuck  to  the  lllinoisaiis  ;  and  when  .liidye  Sawyer  ciinus  up  to 
the  niiiC'S  on  his  circuit  duty,  he  was  styled  '•Kiii'i'  id'  the  Suckers  "  These  who  sta.ve(l 
iivrr  wiuli'i'.  inii.stly  IViaa  Wisroiisin,  wi-ir  I'lilliil  l!ailj;i'iH.  'I'lie  I'lilliiwiii!;  spriiit;  tlic  Misim- 
riiiiis  piiMii'il  iatn  till'  MiiiiiiiL:  ii'iiiiiii  in  siiili  niiialiirs  that  I  he  State  was  saiil  te'liavi'  taken  a 
jiaki'.  anil  the  nlli'iisivc  appi'llatioii  ef  ■  Takes"  was  lliiniit'in  ward  applii'il  tnull  .MiHsDuriiius. 
Jial  ilii'  fiillowiu^  is  a  imiie  tasteful  iiri'.;ili  nf  the  appi'llatimi  iif  "SMrkrl'"  : 

Oa  iii-i' isiiu  lit  a  pirisuit  calerLiiaiiii'iit  at  l'l'll'l■shlll■^■,  Virginia,  .Jiiil'ii' Diiii:;las  ijave  tho 
fiilliiwini;  himiiiriiMs  ai'iniuit  nf  the  miL^iii  ef  the  lena  "Siirkers"  as  applli'il  In  llliiiiiisaim^  tho 
arniiiiit  is  valaahli'  firttlii'i'.  and  riial'irs  a  piiiiiil  ilist  iiirtiiai  Mpiin  Illitiiiis.  in  that  it  clears  up 
all  iliialit  ii"4aiiliiii;  the  ilisrnvery  i>f  that  iiiipnrtaiil  anil  inspiring;  hevcraiii'  rallcil  "iniat 
.jali'p."  a  ineiiiiiiliius  i|ai'stiiiii  heri'lefori'  ciivi'iril  with  iih.si  luily  ami  liesct  w  itli  many  iliaihts, 
iiiit  iiiiw  ill  the  li'.;lit  of  llii'si'  facts.  lia|ipil.\  plareil  at  rest.  It  is  iiul  iaipnihahh'  that  a  ;;las.s 
lit  (III'  aiiiaatiai;  hi'Vi'iaye  served  tn  ipiii'kiii  the  iiieciiory  iif  the  hiiiiiaahli'  senater  nil  tlu) 
ociasiiai. 

':  .\lmiil  the  year  1777,  CJoiirne  KiiijiM'H  Cliirk  applied  to  the  iioverniir  of  Vlr;;iiua.  and  siij;- 
fli'sti'il  to  him  that,  as  peace  iiiiuht  he  di'ilareil  at  any  lime  lietwei'ii  (irriit  Hiitaiii  and  the  col- 
oiiii'N.  it  uoiild  he  well  for  us  to  lie  in  po.s.-.i'>siiiii  of  the  iiorlliwisl  leriiloiy,  so  that  wlirii  the 
I'liiiiiiiissiiiiicrs  caiiie  to  lii'^oliate  alriatv.we  iiii;;ht  act  on  thi'Well  known  ]>i'iai'i|ilt' of  iffi 
/los..' I  </(■//;.■,  e.irli  party  holding;  all  they  hail  in  posse-sioii,  lie  sni;i;i'stcd  to  the  mo\  irniir  to  jier- 
mil  liiai  to  <;o  out  to  the  niirtliwesl.  loiniiier  the  I'oiintiy.  and  hold  it  riiilil  ilic  treaty  iif 
peaie.  when  we  would  hrronii'  itossrssi-il  iil  it.  'fhe  liovcriior  consented  anil  sent  him  across 
till' inoaiitaiiis  to  l'itlsliar;;li.  Kroni  there  he  and  his  coaipaiiions  lloati'd  down  tlicOhioon 
rafts  lo  tliefalls,  where  I.onisville  now  is.  .\  tier  riaiailiili.u  thelea  short  tiiiie,  llieyajiaiii 
took  lo  their  r.ifis  and  lloati'il  down  to  the  salines,  pisl  lii'low  the  pri'senl  Sliawnectown  in  Illi- 
iiiiis.  Here  they  took  n|i  their  niarili  across  I  Ic  iiHuilry  to  Kaskaskia.  wlnii'  the  I'"rencli  had 
an  old  si'ttli'iijeiit.  and  hy  the  aid  of  a  yniile  they  reached  the  Oi|naw  river,  and  cncanipi'd 
near  I'dcr  .Menard's  lioii.^i'.  soine  little  ilistani  e  finiii  the  town.  Von  see  I  am  well  ai'i|naiiiti'il 
with  till'  loi'alily.  [Laughter. |  .Next  niorninii.  Ckirk  i;ot  his  iittle  army  of  ia;>amiilliiis  toi;etlier 
(for  they  li.iil  niiarniy  wai;iiiis  with  snpplii's,  ii.' satli'i.  and  no  stores,  anil  hy  this  time  iooUeil 
rau'u'cil  eiiiiie.;h).  anil  lookup  his  line  of  inaich  for  the  little  Kreinli  lowii  of  Kaskaski.i.  It 
wa- siunmer  iiiiil  a  very  hot  day,  and  as  lie  entered  the  town  he  saw  llie  l-'ri'inhnii'ii  sittinj; 
ipi'i'lly  on  llicirliltle  vi  raailahs.  in  front  of  their  houses,  siickiiii;  tlieir.jnli'ps  lluiiii;;h  straw.s. 
Ill'  rnshi'il  ii]ioii  them,  cryiii!;;,  "■larreniler,  you  suckers,  yoa  !"  [(Ircat  laili;liter.J  'riia 
I'liniluneii  surreialered,  auil  from  that  (lay  to  this,  llliiii>isaii.s  have  been  known  as  ".Suckers." 
I  .\pplaiise.| 

•  I  hat  was  the  orisiiii  of  oar  ciiiiioiiicii.  and  when  Geiir};e  Uosers  (.'larke  returned  to  Vir- 
,i;inia  III' inlrodai'i'il  llii'.jali')is  here.  [Laiijihter.]  Xow,  I  want  toKive  \'ir',iiniaiis  fair  iiotioo, 
thai  when  they  elaiin  tlic  honor  of  a  •leli'i'ison,  of  a  Madison,  of  a  .Marshall,  and  of  as  many 
olln  r  ilislin^iiishcil  sa^es  and  iiatriots  as  the  world  ever  saw.  we  yield;  when  yoa  i  hum  the 
uliiry  yon  achieved  on  thetield  of  hattle.  we  yield;  when  yoa  i^latni  credit  for  the  cession  of  the 
iiiirtliwestern  territory,  that  oat  of  it  .soveroiun  .States  niiyht  he  created,  ne  yield;  when  you 
liana  the  j;liivy  of  never  hiivia;,;  polleila  vote  a;;iiiiist  the  Di'inocnilii'  party,  we  yield  :  hut 
wlii'ji  vou  cl.um  the  nlorv  of  the  mint  jalep,  hands  olf;  llliiuiis  wants  that.  tShoiitB  of  laughter 
anil  applaiise.J— HI.  Keg." Sept.  19,  IHtiO. 


.'MS  IIISTOItY   or   ILLINOIS. 


Till'  ciiliiiiH  wore  ttllt'd  to  ovcrtlowinn  witli  the  fiimilii'H,  tli(>  jjioiii't'is  of 
the  ('(iimty,  my  taniily  liciii^  iiiiioiitr  llu'  iiuiiilu'r.  I  wiis  itrcst-iil  at  llm 
clcclioii,  August  \H'2'2,  licid  at  Sprinnlicld  (tlicflcctioii  prcciiicl  fxtciMliii^? 
many  miles  cast  ami  west,  and  ixiilli  to  llu- Slati' liiuM,  and  saw  all  llio 
voters  who  could  conu'  to  vote  in  that  wide  sco|n'  of  iininliahiled 
coimtry.  ^^os^  of  the  voters  residing  in  the  precinct  attended  thtt 
elcclioii,  though  many  of  them  had  miles  of  wild  country  to  travel  in 
order  to  do  so. 

The  voti'i's  were  mostly  imnn^niints  from  the  east  and  south,  thou^di  a 
laijic  portion  of  the  men  present  were  Indians  and  ilarkies,  they  of 
course  not  lieiiiji  allowed  the  ri,tj:hl  of  sun'ra^e.  The  volin;;  portion  of 
theeommuiuly  were  then  called  the  Vankiis  and  white  nun.  Threo 
men  named  Kinney,  Parkinson,  and  Mdwards,  had  a  long  hench  ranged 
along  side  of  the  court  house,  on  which  they  set  their  licpmrs.  Tlu) 
l)olls  were  held  in  the  interior.  We  all  got  pleiily  todrink.  The  wliito 
men  sang  songs,  the  Indians  anil  darki'ys  danced,  and  a  geiu'ral  frolic 
occurred;  hut  what  has  surprised  nu'  as  I  have  rellectcil  upon  these 
early  tiays,  we  had  no  lighting.  The  great  evil  was,  that  every  candidate 
had  to  till  his  jiortmanteau  with  widskey,  and  go  around  a'nd  see  and 
treat  every  voter  iind  his  wife  and  family  with  the  poisonous  stull',  or 
8tand  u  ehanct'  of  heing  defeated.  John  Ileynolds  was  our  circuit 
judge.  He  held  his  court  at  Springfield,  in  a  cahin  huiltof  round  logs, 
the  walls  of  which  were  only  (i  feet  high  ;  it  was  also  destitute  of  a  lloor  ; 
yet  we  continued  to  get  along  very  well.  The  jury  had  to  retire  to  tho 
"jail,  another  such  huilding  as  1  have  descrihed.  Such  is  the  outline  <»f 
those  happy  days. 

hi  tlu'  winter  of  1823,  I  emigrated  to  what  is  now  culled  Dillon  settlo- 
ment,  in  thiscouidy,  10  miles  from  Pekin,  and  17  from  Peoria,  where  [ 
spent  the  season  in  iiuielude;  my  nearest  neigldxirs  living  in  I'l'oriu, 
e.\cei)t  onei)y  tlu'  name  of  Avery,  who  had  raised  his  cabin  at  l-'unk'rt 
hill.  lUit  things  did  not  remain  in  this  eoiulitioa  long;  for  during  the 
Hanu'  winter  the  legislature  made  a  new  county,  witli  Peoria  lor  tho 
county  si'at,  emiiracing  all  the  country  north  of  Sangamon  county. 
Pliclps,  Stei)hcn  French  and  myself  were  appointed  justices  of  the 
jieai-e  lor  the  new  county,  which  exten<led  east  as  fai'  as  J'doonnugton, 
and  north  and  west  to  the  State  line.  We  sent  our  summonses  tot'hicii- 
go  and  (ialena,  and  they  were  jiromptly  returned  hy  our  constalile. 

March,  lHii4,  we  held  an  election  at  Avery's,  \Vm.  Holland,  Josej)!! 
Sndth  and  myself  were  elected  county  commissioners.  The  whoio 
county  was  emhraced  in  one  election  distrii-t.  The  nundier  of  votes 
poded'  was  liO ;  hail  some  whiski-y  on  the  occasion,  hut  it  was  well  tem- 
pered, having  t)een  imjiorted  a  long  way  by  water;  and  we  did  notsuc- 
ceeil  in  getting  on  as  great  a  spree  as  we  did  at  Springlield. 

In  those  days  'vheii  we  could  not  get  the  store  room  of  Hamlin  or 
Allen,  or  the  dwelling  house  of  John  Dixon,  wt'  held  our  courts  on  the 
river  hank  ;  not  heing  as  wealthy  or  strong  handed  as  in  Sangamon,  we 
had  to  do  without  a  courthouse;  Judge  Sawyer  was  our  circuit  judge, 
and  it  was  some  time  hefore  we  could  scare  up  a  jury.  At  that  date 
there  was  not  a  cahin  on  thesite  of  the  city  of  I'ekin,  and  jierogucs  were 
the  oidy  crafts  we  had  to  freight  our  whiskey,  salt,  and  iron  from  the 
Slate  t<')  Peoria. 

iS'ow  let  me  tell  you  how  we  got  along  about  mills.  There  were  8  or  4 
horse  mills  in  Sangamon,  at  40  or  4.')  nulestlistance.  Sometimes  we  wi'iit 
to  them;  sometimes  to  Southwick's,  siluateil  at  a  distance  ol  tiO 
miles;  we  did  not  nund  the  journey  much,  unless  the  streams  were 
swollen  with  rains,  in  which  case  the  task  of  going  to  null  was  severe, 
as  there  were  nobridges  and  ferriesin  those  days.  Jiy  and  by,  to  reini-dy 
our  wants,  Samuel  Tutter  erected  a  small  horse  mill  in  the  lu'ighlior- 
hood  of  Peoria;  and  a  few  years  after,  William  Kds  put  up  one  at  Kim 
drove;  a  public  imprcn'cment  which  made  us  feel  (juite  rich.  In  lliose 
early  times,  we  only  took  corn  to  mill,  jjaying  one-sixth  and  one  bit  per 
bushel,  for  grinding.  The  meal  obtained  was  of  an  inferior  (juality 
when  comiiared  with  what  we  now  have.  Our  millers  were  good,  hon- 
est fellows,  and  the  someMhat  heavy  tarills  tliey  laid  on  their  customers 
not  at  all  wrong,  for  their  income  w  as  small. 


KDWAKDS'  ADMINISTRATION. 


.".  in 


TiiiH'M  arcHianncul.  Tli«>  render  who  tiow  looks  til  the  fertile  pniirii'H 
of  Illinois,  wIimI  <loes  he  IicIidIiI.  Liir^i'  cities  uiiil  lloiirishini!;  towns! 
JJehold  the  pniiries,  llien  wild  and  nntrodden,  now  covered  witli  lino 
farms  and  dwi'llint;s,  Ixliolil  llie  liavel  of  oiir  railroads  and  rivers,  visit 
onr  eonnly  fairs  and  lnconie  aeipiainted  willi  onr  inlellineiit  fai'niers, 
and  Ihe  vast  an<l  valiialile  ainonni  ol  pi'odiiets  derived  from  lliesoil  they 
till;  lieliold  on  every  hand  onr  nnnn-rons  ehnrehes  and  school  lionseH, 
onr  court  honses  anil  scats  of  jnst ice,  spread  all  over  the  wide  territory 
which  l'"ri'ncli,  Philips  and  ni>'sclf  early  p>vei'ncd  as  hninlile  Jnsiices  ; 
and  tell  nie,  has  not  the  changed  iniprovenient  hci'ii  ^^real  and  reniaiU- 
ah|,>."^ 

I'lurnpvttu  Coloiiisla, —  ll  ii;is  heeii  sliilrd  tiiiit  the  early  sellleis 
were  mostly  tVoin  the  sinilheni  slntes.  There  were  also  sonn' 
toreij^n  cnlonisls  located  in  Illinois  at  :iii  eailx  date.  Tin'  lirst 
were  a  lew  Irish  I'lnnilies,  nnder  llie  leadership  (d'  SaniiKd  ()".\lel- 
vaiiy,  ii  i>()])iilar  pioneer,  who  located  (»ii  the  Oido  river  ahont 
]SII."). 

Shortly  iilter  the  wai' (»f  ISlL.',  Morris  ilirlteck.  an  l]ii<ilislniniii 
inihned  with  republican  principles,  visited  Illinois  with  a  \  lew  to 
localin^'  a  colony  (tf  his  conntiTinen.  Ih-inii  ii  nian  of  line 
scholarly  at lainnn-nts,  he  wrote  honu'  lor  |nd>lication  a  nnnilier  (d' 
letters  lailhrnlly  represent  in, ;,;■  the  ad\  anta;,;»'s  of  this  coinit  ry,  w  liicii 
recei\ed  a  wide  (;ir('nlati(»n  and  proved  of  j^ical  Itcnelit  to  Illinois 
abroad.  In  ii  sliorf  time  after,  he  and  (lein'^c  l-'lowcr,  hotlMnen 
of  wealth  hroniilit  oid  from  I'-n^land  a  lai-yc  colony  (MMisisiinu' 
of  several  hnndred  families.  i'ei»resentin^- ahnost  e\ery  industrial 
])ursnit.  They  located  in  Mdwards  c<»nnly.  The  tow  ii  of  Alhion, 
the  present  connfy  seat,  was  started  l»y  Mv.  I'Mowei',  and  ahont  a 
mile  west  (d'  il  aimlher  l»y  Mr.  l>irl)ecU.  called  W'annocU.  wliicii 
])roved  a  faihn*'.  Tliei'e  was  sonu^  livalry.  There  was  mnch 
wealth  and  relinenu'nt  in  the  (tolony,  aside  from  that  in  the  posses- 
sion of  thi!  foinnlers.  A  few  of  the  lirst  sellleis  are  si  ill  living", 
tlK'ir  descendenis  are  (piite  numerous  in  and  alxnit  Alltion.t 

AhoiU,  IiSlT),  two  (iernnin  families,  by  the  name  of  .Markee  and 
(lermain,  iirst  settled  in  a  ;i'or^e  of  the  .Mississippi  blidV  in  St. 
Clair  county,  known  IVcnn  that  circumstance  as  I)ntch  Hollow. 
These  fanulies  became  the  nucleus  of  the  present  laryc  (iernnin 
]>opidatioii  of  St.  (lair  and  adjacent  eounlies.  Ain)ther  l'^n;^lisli 
colony,  Iloman  Catholic  in  belief,  comi»osed  of  l."»  or  L'O  families 
from  Lancasliier,  set  tied  in  Prairie  du  Loiiy'  Creek.  Monro<'  coiuity, 
in  JS17.  Tlionms  Winsfanly,  ihimbei',  Threltall  and  Newsham 
were  the  founders.  They  became  a  thrifty  settlenu'nt.  Numerous 
J'aiiilish  immij;rants  also  settled  in  (irecn  county  in  ISUO. 

In  IS1!»  l''erdin;ind  Hrnst,  aj;entleinen  of  wealth,  education  riud 
literary  taste,  from  the  kinj^doni  of  Hanover,  canu'  to  N'andalia, 
then  just  selectiid  as  the  seat  of  ji(nernment,  and  l«»cated  a  (Jernmu 
colony  eonsistiny'  of  L'o  or  .'!(►  families.  In  lS2ii  IJernard  Steiner 
setlle(l  a  small  Swiss  cohniy  of  S  or  Id  families  in  the  sontheasiern 
]iait  of  St.   Clair  county.     Their  location   was  on  a  beautiful  and 


♦Sep  Illinois  Stiitr  .rimnial   .rune  HO   1854. 

+  Mr.  l''|ii\vi'f  lost,  liiH  t'ortiiiic  liy  Uii^  IiiviiUinil  of  tlic  T'lii  tod  States  l)aii  If,  niiil  afteiwarils  ro- 
inovi'il  to  -Mt.  VcTiioii.  Iniliaiia,  liiit  soiiir  ol'  his  (Icscciiilciits  still  live  in  the  rxillcnlionsH 
Jirairic  Mi'.  Hirhi'cU  was  sii  rrtiji'v  of  .Stati'  unitcr  (Inv.  Coles.  In  tlm  convention  ciMilcstof 
If'JI,  lio  conti'ihnti'il  niort'  liy  his  wi  itinjis  than  iicrhaiis  any  one  else  to  ilcfciit  tho  scImimi'S  of 
tile  (•(iliciilM  of  slavery,  lie  was  nnfoitnuately  drowneil  in  a  hayon  of  the  };i'eat  Walia.^h,  cal.ed 
l'"o\  liver,  swollen  t)y  heavy  rains,  lie.  aeeonipanieil  iiy  his,  son  was  on  his  way  lionie  IVoin 
'Srw  Harmony,  Iniliana,  then  in  eharjii' of  th((  liohert  Owen  eonimnnists,  whither  they  had 
made  a  visit.  In  utieiuptin;;  to  cross  the  stream,  the  r.ipid  ciiri-eiit  swept  their  hors(^<  onl  of 
their  coiirsn,  and  Mr.  IJirheek  and  hotli  liorsi  s  jierished.  llis  son  harely  escaped  the  same  fate. 
His  nntimoly  death  was  aijrout  loss  to  the  .Stale. 


.■{."•(>  IIISTOKV   (tl'  ILLINOIS. 


cDiiiiiiiiiKliiiu:  ciiiiiKMicc  callfil  iMitdi  llil!.   it  was  :ul<l<-tl  to  l),v  siib- 
s«-t|iifiil  iiiiiiii;;i':nil.s  until  it  Ioi'iimmI  a  lar;;*' s(>ttl)'iii«-iit.* 

Flii<iiirl((l  ('(iiiflllii)ii  dl'  llir  Sl(ilt:—\\\\i'\'  llic  Slalt'  ;;ovcrimn'iil. 
Weill  iiild  t>|M'i'alinii.  in  l^is,  ilii'  luial  i'c\ ciiiif  i'«'|MM'lt'(|  in  tln^ 
tr<'a>iii',\,  anil  Id  iM't'iiiift'  tlnr  on  the  tst  ol'  Dcmiilii'i',  was 
)5i7..'illl.l<l:  il  now  aiiiiinnlnl  tor  I  lie  years  ISJlt.'td  to  «7S.1»;;s, 
of  wliicli  !S»7<l.'j;;7  was  derived  solel.\  iVoin  taxes  on  iinii  residents' 
lands,  !i<:j,7."-<7  IVoiii  the  Ohio  .salines,  ijfLl.SlKi  iVcnii  the  sale  of  \'an- 
dalia  lots,  and  >««.">. (IS  I  colleeled  li.v  slieiill's.  The  hieiiiiial 
Stale  e\|Mnses  were  e>liiiialed  h,\  the  li'easiiier,  for  salaries  and 
to  sii|i|M»it  ihe  (•oiitiii;^('nl  I'liiid,  at  •■^ !.*.">( KM ►.  and  lor  a  session  t)l'  tin; 
;4<'iieial  assembly  at  ><1."),(M)0,  total  •»<  Kl.Odd,  or  .*«_'(l.(HMI  aiimiall.v, 
leaving'  al  I  he  lowest  esliniale  a  siii|iliis  rexcniie  of  .'r<.' 10,(1(1(1  cNcry 
two  years.  Tliat  was  a  j;tiod  healths  eondilioii  of  the  Stale's  liseal 
alVairs.  (io\.  I-Mwards  was  <;n'atly  liislruiiieiilal  in  ltriii;;iii;;  altoiil, 
this  highly  cieditalsle  eondilioii  of  the  Slate  treasury,  wliieli  li«^ 
found  I  years  Itelori' empty,  and  auditor's  warrants  al  a  di,>eonnt. 
of  .■»(»  per  ceiil.  Al  the  |Meseiil  w  rit iiij;  wc  have  a  popiiial ion  1(» 
times  as  lar^c,  lowit,  L',.V);).(I()(I;  we  ha\e  no  pidilie  debt  of  conse- 
•  pieiiee,  anil  our  piin  of  properly  is  jiropoi  tioiialely  larger  than 
our  ratio  of  increase  in  popnlalioii,  yet  our  Slate  expenses  are. 
.■)(>  limes  <;realer,  as  e\ery  tax  pa\er  yearl\   feels. 

Diiriiiu'  the  period  over  which  we  are  now  castiiij;' a  relros|iect, 
the  treasuries  of  the  State  and  eoiiiilies,  and  snilors  at  law  in- 
dividnaily,  were  subjected  to  serious  losses  b\  defaull  in;;  slieriU's, 
lor  taxes  collected  and  moneys  received  on  execiil  ion.  I  f  tlie  sheiilV 
was  an  aspirant  for  re cleclioii.  the  State  or  comity  would  iiofc 
sillier  much  the  lirsl  term,  because  he  could  not  be  commissioiieil 
for  a  second  term  w  ithoni  a  cerlilicate  of  selll'iiieiit  for  all  piildic; 
i'linds  placed  in  his  hands;  but  to  exhibit  such  a  clearance,  tlu; 
money  coilected  on  executions  and  belon.nin<i' to  indixidiials  would 
be  used;  whilt^  with  Ihe  jn-ople  ;;eiierallt,  who  fell  little  coiicerii 
ill  these  private  a  Hairs,  and  amoii^'  whom  his  ollicial  duties  con- 
stantly called  him,  he  was  in  the  condition  to  contradict  rumors, 
and  ill  the  face  of  his  dereliction  ciialded  to  maUe  friends  and 
secure  a  renewed  lease  of  power.!  No  ollicial  who  handles  iarjio 
sums  of  the  people's  money,  or  is  so  closely  ideiitilicd  with  all  our 
]»ropcrly  ri;;lils,  either  coipoiate  or  iiidi\  idiial,  as  a.  shcriiV  or 
I  reasiirer,  onylit  bylaw  lobe  allowed  |o  become  his  own  successor 
ill  ollice.  We  can  i>iil  rc.uard  this  as  a  l>ad  feature  in  the  constitu- 
tion of   1S7(). 

Tntilc  (dill  Cnmmnri: — rnternal  improvements  to  fa(!ilitat('  trade, 
and  c(Mnmercial  inli'rcourse,  consisted,  up  to  that  linns  mostly  in 
acts  of  the  lenislatuic.  declarin;;''  certain  streams  iiavi;.;able.  In 
Ihesedcclaralions  that  honorable  body  was  not  Ihe  least  parsimo- 
jiioiis,  but  dealt  them  out  to  almost  every  rivulet  with  a  prodi^inl 
liand;  and  a  stranger,  in  looking'  o\er  Ihe  old  statutes,  aiite-datiii<;-, 
'  say,  ISKI,  would  inevitably  conchide  that  the  State  of  Illinois  was 
inlersected  by  navi.uabic  sticams  in  e\ery  direction  as  abundantly 
as  could  possibly  be  desired  by  Ihe  most  ccuiimercial  people.  To 
the  Illinois  and  Mi(tliijiUii  canal  liicre,  was  as  yet  iiothiiiy  done 

*|{oynol(l'R  liil'o  iind  Times 
tFoid's  History. 


KDWAKDS'   ADMINrsTKATION 


.'Wi 


except  Moiiu'  very  iiiiiH'rH'ft  siirvi'.vs,  tlinii;;li  it  liiul  Im-cii  (lie  tliciiu^ 
of  rccoiiiiiH-iMliitiuii  hy  every  governor,  iiml  iln  ;;riiiit  of  liiinl  was 
l>l'(»('iilt'(|  iVoiii  r»»ii;;i<'s.s. 

Tlie  |tro;^ie.s.s  of  euiiiiiK  lie  from  I.S|S  |o  \S'.\{)  Wiis  jostled  I  lit 
litl  le  from  i  Is  hen  I  en  truck  l>\  t  lie  im|>i'o\  <mI  fiiriiilit's  of  i|iiiek  eoii- 
veyiiiice  olVereil  liy  t  he  iiit  I'odiict  ion  of  ste:im.  Steiimlioiils  upon 
the  Ohio  and  .Mississippi  had  become  fieipieiit,  Itiil  the  older 
setllei's  were  not  slirrol  t'roiii  their  drowsy  eoiidil ion  of  maUiii};' 
simply  eiioiii;li  lolixcoiihy  llie  iit-w  life,  and  the  reeeni  seltleis, 
if  I  hey  de  'ed,  were  iiol  in  a  eondilion  to  raise  anythiii;;  Weyoiid 
their  presei.,  needs — the  coiitlition  of  all  new  coiners,  'i'lie  Illinois 
?iver  was  not  \isiled  Ity  the  newly  propelled  craft,  e\<'e|»t  small 
ones  which  ascended  to  ricardslown  and  occasionally  to  I'loiia 
and  above,  as  re(piired.  (leii.  Joseph  Street,  writini:  Irom  I'eoriji 
iMi'l'-r  ilale  of  March  .'»(>,  lSl,'7,says:  "'I'liere  is  nothing  doin^'  on 
land  aid  less  on  water.  *  *  The  harbor  and  town  site  are  the 
best,  i  presaiiie,  in  all  the  western  coiiiitiy:  init  not  one  sail 
enlivens  the  iiionotoiioiis  prospect  or  one  oar  dips  in  the  dark 
blue  waves  of  lie  fairy  lake  irom  one  \ears"  end  to  another — if 
yon  will  excepi  the  i'viry  boat,  with  now  and  then  the  canoe  of  a 
few  miserable  savages  in  quest  of  a  dram."  Keel-boat  transporta- 
tion had  been  superseded,  it  is  true,  but  the  scanty  commerce  and 
ieeble  trade  made  no  demai.ds  for  more  extensive  carrying  facili- 
ties than  we  have  meiitioiieii.  In  development  and  wealth  tli(>. 
State  was  ill  its  merest  infancy. 

Merchaiidi/in;^'  diirin;^'  this  peri(>d  consisted  in  the  bare  relailin;;' 
of  a  few  dry  ;;oods  and  ^roei'iies.  None  of  the  products  of  tli(! 
country  were  taken  in  cxchanne,  except  peltries,  l»ceswax*  and 
tallow.  The  peoples' chief  supi»!y  of  money  came  from  iinini';rants 
who  l)oii^ht  of  their  ,tiraiii,  stock  or  jirodiice,  and  often  em|iloyed 
their  labor  besides.  The  money  went  out  auaiii  into  the  hands 
of  the  merchants  who  sent  it  abroad  in  payment  lor  j^oods.  and 
thus  the  coiinlry  was  kept  drained  of  anything'  like  a  siifticieiit; 
enrrency.  \\'lieii  credit  was  obtaiiM'd  at  the  stores,  in  default  of 
j»ayiiieiit  ami  to  yaiii  time,  iiiort.i^a.ues  would  often  be  jiiveii,  these, 
tbrcclosed,  the  mercliant  would  in  time  iiiid  himself  the  |»ossess(»r 
of  perhaps  a  iiiimber  of  ianns,  retire  from  business  on  a  compe- 
tency and  dream  away  his  life  in  xilla^e  idleness,  without  <'Ver 
beiielitin^  the  country  in  the  least,  but  rniiiinj;'  perlia|ts  a  number 
of  its  ('itizens.  I"\)r  a  loiij:'  time  there  vvasjio  class  of  iiiereliaiit.s 
who  did  a  bart<'r  business.  Tliey  w  re  uii\villin<;'  to  exeliaiiue, 
goods  tor  ]ir()diice  and  incur  the  resp-  ..sibility  ol'  ownershiii  until 
ishipments  to  distant  markets  and  sales  could  i)e  eHected.  There 
was  the  risk  of  a  lliic.tualing  market  in  tlie  interim  ;  their  ca]>ital 
as  a  rule  was  small,  and  a  loss  on  produce  might  render  them 


••'Fifty  yrars  n^rn,  or  in  tli"  snmirior  of  1821,"  writes  CIiiis.  Hobcrt^on  of  Arnzvllle, 
undciMlatoof  Keh.  H,  1S7»,  to  tlit;  (;iii('ii«-o  Journal,  'tliorc  was  not  a  busliel  of  corn  to  bo 
had  In  Ocntnil  Illinois.  My  I'atlicr  settled  In  that  year  ~';i  iiille.s  west  of  Sprin-iHeld. 
We  had  to  live  for  a  time  on  venison,  hiackherrlesnnd  milk,  while  tlie  men  were  uono 
to  Fffypt  to  harvest  and  pronuri!  hreads'tutlH.  The  land  we  improved  was  surveyed 
that  smnmer.and  afterw;n(l  lion^rht  of  the  frovcrnment  by  sending  beeswax  down  the 
Illinois  river  to  St.  Louis  in  an  Indian  canoe.  Dressed  doer  skins  and  tanned  hides 
were  then  In  upc,  and  we  matle  one  i)ieeo  of  cloth  out  of  nettles  instead  of  flax. 
Cotton  matured  well  tor  a  decade,  initil  tlie  deep  snow,"  in  IKM). 

The  southevnpnrt  of  the  State,  known  as  Kjrypt,  received  tliis  appellation,  as  '"ro 
indicated,  l)eeauso  lieiufr  older,  better  s.  ttled  and  cultivated,  it  "fratliercd  corn  as  tho 
sand  of  the  sea,"  ana  the  iinmijrrants  of  the  central  part  of  the  iState,  afterthe  manner 
of  tho  children  of  Israel  in  their  wants  went  "thituer  to  buy  and  bring  from  tbenee 
that  tbcy  might  live  and  not  die. 


^i 


!   li 


3")2  niSTORY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

insolvent;  no  liusincss  conned  ions  witli  coniinission  Iionses  Inid 
heeii  estiil»lislie(l;  added  to  tliese  was  (ti'len  a  limited  capacity.  A 
I'ew  veais  later,  it  seeiiis,  mercliaiils  weic  I'oreed  into  harler  Wy  the. 
refusal  of  the  I'nited  .Slates  liaiiiv  at  .Si.  I.onis  to  exlead  acconnao- 
dations  to  thein,  in  nieelinu  their  Mialiired  eoiiliaets  lor  p)ods 
lioM^hl  in  theea>t.  'I'heii  the  .main.  heel,  and  pork  of  the  coniitry 
\ver<'  pnrehased  and  shipped  forward  'n  payment  thereof,  and  not 
unfie(pMMilly.  it  was  found,  a  doul>le  protii  was  rt-aiized,  one  on 
t he  .uoods  .sold  at  ictail  ami  another  on  the  piodaee  forwarded.* 

It  was  no  nneommon  piaeliee  in  early  linu's  foi'  farmers  to  he- 
conu^  their  own  cariiers  and  merchants;  the  practice  obtained  to 
\vithin  (piite  a  recent  period  in  many  parts  of  southern  Illinois. 
A  llal'l)(»at  wonld  he  hnilt  on  the  hanks  of  a  snitahle  stre;/m, 
lannehed,  loade<l  with  the  prodnce  ol'  the  year — the  Ihmr,  Itaeon, 
corn,  etc.,  of  perhajis  a  iieiyhhorhood — manned,  and  with  the  first 
ris«' of  the  waters,  cut  loose  and  lioated  down  to  New  Orleans. 
After  a  te<lions  and  often  ha/.ai'dons  \(»ya.i;e.  on  arrival  at  tlic 
distant  market  a  total  stranji'er,  it  was  not  nnf:e(|nentl\  the  case 
tiiat  the  farmer  merchant  woidd  fall  into  the  clutches  of  sharpers 
"vviio  took  a<lvanta,uc  of  his  want  (»f  acquaintance  with  commercial 
transactions  and  lleeeed  him  of  his  ear,L;(».  I!ut  these  \('iitni'es 
ju'oved  at  times  exceediii^Iy  prolitahle.  IJefore  the  day  of  steam 
the  journey  home  was  lon;^,  toilsome  and  weary,  eithei'  on  foot 
thronji'ii  the  country  inhabiied  by  savaj;es,  or  l»y  keel-boats,  labo- 
ii(»usly  jMislicd  witli  jioles,  or  ccrdclhd — towed  with  loii;^'  ropes — 
a;.;innst  the  sti'on;;' currents  ol"  the  ri\ers.  An  eiitiic  season  would 
thus  often  be  wasted,  a  crop  lost,  and  the  farm  abandoned  to  iiey- 
lect,  on  account  of  the  loni;'  alisence  of  the  pioprietor.t 

Fori  1/  Mail  FitcUitics. — The  lirst  inrdl  loute  crossin.i;-  the  Alle- 
yliany  mouutains,  was  oi»eiied  from  i'hiladelphia  to  Pittsburgh  in 
17.SS,  and,a.  intervals  of  six  years,  was  extcniU'd,  in  17!(4,  to 
Louisville,  ami  in  IS(H)  to  \'iu«'eniH's.  From  the  latter  plac«',  routes 
Avere  extended,  in  ISO."),  to  Cahokia.  and  in  1S(I(I,  to  Shawneetowu. 
Ill  ISIO,  mail  routes  were  established  by  act  of  con.i;ress  froin  Vin- 
eeuiies  toSt.  Louis,  via  Kaskaskia.  I'rairie  dii  liochi'iaud  ("ahol  >a, 
and  from  the  former  i)]ace  to  Cape  (lirardeaii.  \  ia  St.  (ienevi-  •, 
and  also  from    Louisvilh'  ;o    iShawnectow  u 

*~i i.  I.     ....      /  1..1 i.-.     iii;..,.:  .\     'i 


ill     l.SL't).      Ill 
n  Viiiceiines  to 


Clii'-aiio  to  (ialeiia,  and  to  Spriiijid.hl,  were  oi»ene( 
1.S27-.S,  foui'-liors'"  coaches  were  juit  on  the  line  from  \  iiiceiines  to 
St.  liouis.  The  dilliculties  and  daiit-crs  encountered  )>y  the  early 
iitail  carriers,  in  time  of  Indian  ti«ail)les,  were  very  serious.  The 
bra\ery  and  ingenious  devices  of  Harry  AViltoii  (subsecpu'iitly 
L'liiteil  States  marshal),  who,  wlieii  a  boy,  in    hSlL', convey <'d  the 


*l''i)rrrH  History. 
tFoi'il's  History, 


EDWARDS'  AD:\nXIsTRATIOX. 


353 


j)i!iil  on  a  wild  Frt'iicli  i)(>iiy,  ovci'  swollen  sti'ciiiiis.  iiiid  .Ip'oiiyli 
tlif  ••  fiicm.v's  coiiiitiy,"  IVoiii  Hliiiwiit'ctowii  to  SI.  Louis,  arc  iiicii- 
lioMcd  with  s))0('i:il  coiimiciidatioii.  Stacy  .McDonald,  of  IJaii- 
do!)tli  connty.  an  old  jtionccr,  who  was  at  St.  ( "laii's  Defeat,  and 
iiiiiie)'  Wayne  in  I71I4,  was  the  .uovernnient  mail  con  tract  oi'  on  that 
line.  So  infre(|nent  and  irre,i;nlai'  were  the  coniinunications  l>y 
mail  a  jircat  i)art  of  the  time,  that  to-day,  the  remotest  i»ai't  of  the 
L'nited  Statiss  is  nnal)le  to  appreciate  it  by  example.* 


Fdrh/  Xcirspapcrs. — Tlio  first  ncws]>ai)er  i)nltlished  north  of 
flic  Ohio,  and  west  of  Cincinnati,  was  the  N'incenncs  Sioi.  in  l.so;>, 
edited  by  Eiihii  Stont.  'i'he  next  in  the  west  was  the  .Missouri 
(iii:rft(\  established  at  St.  licniis,  in  ISdS.  by  ,Fose])h  Oharless,  and 
continued  ever  since,  but  siibse(|uen11y  iner,i;('d  in  the  Ixi'juihlican. 
Tlie  next  in  the  west,  and  the  lirst  within  tin-  limits  of  tlie  State, 
was  the  Illinois  Ilmild,  established  at  Kaskaskia,  by  .Matthew 
Dnncan,  brother*  of  the  s\ibse(|uent  jfovei'uor.  There  is  some 
variance  as  to  the  exact  time  of  its  establishment.  \Vm.  If. 
]>i'own,  afterward  editoi'  of  the  same  |>a[>ei'  at  \'andalia,  under  the 
inuiie  of  IftU'Uinciicer,  aiul  in  aft<'r  years  president  of  the  (Jliicaj;() 
liistorical  society,  says,  "at  or  before  IS  Ik"  (lov.  Ifeynolds  says, 
]S0!».  lloo]»er  Warren  «'X])lains  the  latter  statement  by  sayinj:', 
''the  press  broujilit  l»y  .Mr.  J)uncan  was  foryeai's  only  used  forthe 
l)nl)lic  printinj;."  Matthew  Duncan  sold  out  to  IJobert  lUackwcOl 
and  Daniei  I',  Cook  in  1S1.1.  The  former  suci-eeded  Mr.  Duncan, 
as  public  i)rinter,  and  was,  moreover,  the  territoi'ial  anditoi'  of 
public  accounts.  In  the  iatter  ollice  he  was  succeeded,  in  the  fall 
of  JS17,  by  Filijali  ('.  Herry,  who  also  succeeded  to  the  sanu'  otlicc 
under  the  St;  S'  <j;overnnient  in  ISIS,  iunl  who  becanu'  a  cocditor 
of  {\w  llcrnUl.  In  the  hands  of  P.lackweil  and  iieriy  the  inune  of 
the  paper  was  ehanj^'cd  to  lUitwiti  Litcllificiicer,  and  iii)on  the 
I'cmoval  of  the  seat  of  ji'overnmeiit  to  N'andalia  in  1SL*().  the 
Jiifcllif/i'iicn-  establishment  followed  it.  3Ir.  Uerry  relincpiished 
liis  inte)<'st  in  tlie  concern,  and  his  place  was  taken  by  a  brother 
arid  Wni.  If.  IJrown.  In  the  convention  <'ontest  of  ISL'I,  ditlerinj;' 
with  his  associates,  .Air.  r>r<iwn  withdr<'w.  The  Intcllijicmrr  was 
lon^'  an  ably  conduct<'d  ]>aper,  Mr.  l>laekwell,  a  well  known  law- 
yer, bein;^'  for  many  years  its  editor. 

The  Illinois  IJinij/ranf,  the  sec(nnl  new.spa))Ci  ])rinted  in  Illinois, 
was  established  at  Shawneetown  by  Henry  Eddy  and  Sinulelou 
]I.  Kiujniel,  in  the  fall  of  181S,  wlien  the  State  was  admitted  to 
the  Union.  Jjuiies  Hall  succeeded  Mr.  Kimniel.  Thronj>;h  this 
l»ai)er  ^\r.  Eddy,  a  clear  and  vijiorons  writer,  in  the  convenliou 
stru^ijU'le of  JS24,  dealt  her(adean  olows  in  opposition  to  slaveiy. 
The  mime  had  been  changed  to  Illiitoin  (iazvtte. 

Tin;  tiiird  newspaper  established  in  Illinois,  was  l';)unded  by 
Hooper  Warren,  at  Kdwardsx  ille,  in  1S1!>,  called  the  Spectator. 
The  lii'st  year  he  had  the  assistance  of  the  aticrward  Hon. 
Georji>c  <'hnrchill,  a  practical  ]irinter  and  expeiienc(  d  wiiter. 
Mil  ,.,  he  met  at  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Churchill  I'ctired  at  the  end  of  ii 
■  1'  to  his  farm  near  lOdwardHville,  wheic  he  livetl  until  tpiite 
»!  ..ently.  Hooper  Warren  was  a  bold,  abh',  and  vij;()rous  writer, 
and  did  mu(!ii  to  «lefeat  the  slavery  schemes  in  l.SLM.     In   ISLT),  he 

•Piiper  ri-nd  before  the  Chicago  Hist.  Society,  by  W.  H.  Urown  In  1800 
23 


3."i4  IIISTOKV   OV   ILLINOIS. 


sold  (»ii(  to  tlic  Ikt'V.  Tlioiiiiis  liippiiicott  iiiid  .Ii'irciiiiali  Abltof. 
Mr.  Will  It'll  iiltciwanl  started  iicwspaiH-is  in  various  plact's  in 
tlic  Stale.  1)111  iicxcr  with  the  success  tliat  liis  al»ilit\  promised. 

Ill  Septeiidier.  ISL'l',  \\n"'SI((r  a/'  tlic  Wcsf"  was  started  i)\  a 
.Mr.  Miller  and  sons,  also  at  Mdwardsville.  'I'liev  had  just  coiik; 
I'roin  re;iiis\  l\  ania  with  a  jucss  and  iiialerial,  seeiuny  a  location. 
At  ICdwaiilsN  ille,  while  sloiJpiiiyoN cr  iii.;;ht.  liiev  were  persuaded 
l»v  the  opponents  of  .Mr.  NN'arreii,  to  unload  and  set  up  their  i)ress. 
lie  remarks,  "we  had  a  lively  rime  for  a  leu  months,  when  the: 
'•Shd'"'  went  (low  ii."  They  sold  in  Ajuil,  ISl*.').  t(»  'I'lioiiias  d.  Mt;- 
(iiiire  tS:  Co.,  w  hoelian.m'<l  the  name  to  Ul'nioix  licpiihlicdii.  ,liid,ne 
Theophiliis  \\.  Smith  and  iMiiaiiiiei  .1.  West  were  the  leadiiij;' 
editors  during;'  the  convention  c»»ntest,  in  counteracting'  the  inllii- 
enceol'  the  Siicchifor.  It  was  disconi  iniied  with  the  close  <d'  tiiat 
eainpai<;n.  the  las  number  beiii};'  issued  Saturday  pri'Ci'«linj;'  the 
election  in  Aiijiust,  ISL't 

III  .lanuary,  ISii.'l,  l».  K.  l''lemin_u'  comiueiiced  to  piiMisli  the 
]>'<l)Hl>lic((ii  Aiirociilc,  at  KasUask'a,  which  was  the  orjian  of  the 
Itro-eoiiveiitioli  jiarty  diiriiiu   the  contest. 

In  ISUd.  at  (ialeiia.  on  the  1th  of  duly,  was  issued  the  (irst  niiin- 
l>ei' of  the  Minrrs'  J(H(rii<(L  h\  .lames  .loiies.  In  hS.'lL',  he  sold  to 
Dr.  I'liillio,  when  its  name  was  clian,y('d  to  (idUiiUin. 

In  the  winter  of  lSL'(»-7,  Hooper  Warren  estalilislied  the  Sun- 
(liiiiio  SjKvtiitor  at  Spiin;;tield.  Mr.  Warren  says  (letter  to  the  old 
settlers'  meetiii,i;-  of  Sangamon  county.  Octoliei',  l.S.V.t),  "it  was  hut 
a  small  alfair.  a  medium  sheet,  worked  \\\  myself  al(Uie  most  of 
the  time."  It  was  transferred  to  S.  C.  Mt-rreditli  in  ISL'S.  In  the. 
latter  year  was  start( d  at  Mdwaidsx  ille,  the  I llinoi.s  ('(irrcctoi;  and 
at  Kaskaskia,  the  h'l'iHililivnii.  In  lSi:!»  was  estalilislied  liie  UnUna 
Ailrertiser,  by  >.'eAvhall,  I'liillio  tS:  Co.  The  Alton  SiHctator  was 
t'slalilished  aliont  l.SdO,  hy  ICdward  IW'cath.  The  Tclciirapli  wa.s 
estalilislied  hy  Parks  and  Treadway,  the  latter  transferrinji'  his 
interest  in  a  short  time  to  .Mr.  Uailliaehe,  who  wuss  its  principal 
editor  lor  many  years.  In  Is;!!,  Simeon  I""raiicis  estalilislied  at 
Sprin.nlicld.  tln^  Saiifiioiin  •foiiriKd,  which  he  continued  to  edit 
until  IS,")."),  when  he  sold  to  liailhaclie  and  IJaker.  In  Cliiea;;«i,  on 
tlie  2(itli  of  November,  IS."..'!,  was  issued  the  first  number  of  the 
DniiDcnif,  luiblisbed  by  John  Calhoun,  wldcli  was  the  lir.st  news- 
paper there. 

IJterature  and  Literati. — The  literature  of  Illinoi.s,  prior  to  IS.'JO, 
aside  from  mer<'  jiolitieal  aitieles  in  the  newspapers,  often  well 
and  forcibly  w  ritteii,  was  ediiliiied  to  few  hands.  AVe  will  here 
mention  the  ])roniinent  <'arly  literati  of  Illinois,  il/o/r/i  Birbcclc^ 
an  I']n,ulisliman,  whom  we  have  noted  as  settlinji'  a  colony  in  Ed- 
wards county,  ill  IS,")."),  wrote  home  sketches  of  t-onsiderable  merit 
re.t;ardinji'  tlu'  adsanlajit's  of  Illinois,  which  I'eeeived  a  wide  iiub- 
lication  and  were  afterwards  collected  in  book  form.  He  aecpiired 
considerable  cehdirity  as  an  author.  I>i\  LiicisC.  /itW.- wrote  the 
\  alual)le  and  well  known  (ia/etteei°  of  Missouri  and  Illinois,  which 
ill  iSL'.;,  was  published  in  book  foiiii.  Jmlfic  JaiuiN  Hall  was  a 
riiiladelphian,  born  17JK5.  He  settled  in  Illinois  about  iSlS.  lie 
had  been  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  bSlL',  having'  participated  under 
Scott  in  the  battles  of  Chippewa,  Niajiara  and  Fort  Erie, and  been 
with  Coniniodore  Decatur  to  Algiers.    At  I'itt.sburyh,  iu  1817,  he 


EDWAlMiS'   ADMINISTRATION. 


oi}<) 


cotiiplctcd  liis  liiw  sliidics.  r(»si,uii<'<l  liis  (Kmiiiiissioii  in  flic  i'<'i;iiliir 
iirmv,  lloMtcd  (hnviitlic  Ohio  and  scfllcd  ;il  Sliawnct'towii.  Jl(} 
liiid  idiCiKly  devoted  uiiicli  time  to  lilciaiT  coMiposilion.  Here  lie 
Itccanic  a  co  editor  with  Henry  iMhly  on  the  (lazffcc.  He  also 
soon  attained  oHice  at  tiie  handsol'  the  h'jiishit  nre,  l»ein,n' succes- 
sively iiroseciiiin,:;- attorney,  circuit .jiidji'e  and  Stat<'  treasni'cr.  In 
tin'  lirst  named  position  he  hecanie  well  acijnaiiited  with  the 
operations  of  the  ijan^s  ot  \illians,  counterleiters  an<l  l'i'e<'l>ooters, 
wiiich  then  inlestecl  the  shores  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  in 
southern  Illinois,  and  which  doiil»tless  i'ui'nished  him  many  an 
incident  ont  of  which  to  \\ea\'e  ins  '••IJoi'dei'  Tales.''  At  \'aiidaii:i 
he  started  the  flliiiois  M<itiii:iiir.     He  also  at  that  lime  edited   tin* 


ne  siaried  me  iiiniins  .\i<i(i(i:iiir.  lie  also  ai  iinir  iimeeniied  in«i 
Wcsh'ni  Siitirriiir,  published  at  ('iiicinnati,  whither  he  r<'mo\('d  in 
IS.").'!,  and  hccame  connected  witli  ItanUini;'.  luit  he  pni'sniMl  his 
literary  iaiioi-s  nntil  his  death  in  JStiS.  'i'liroii^hont  life  his  pen 
was  constantly  active.  He  wi'ote  with  ^rcat  iacility,  and  his 
^•olnn^no^ls  woiks  e\ince  a  lii.nh  de;4ree  of  literaiT  merit.  He. 
I'arly  Ix'came  distinL;iiish<'d  as  a  scholar  and  anthor  thron^hont 
the  ('nited  States.  As  a  jioet,  t«»o,  he  was  larely  gifted.  Anion;;' 
Jiis  works  best  known  are  perhaps,  ''lieiicnds  of  the  West.*' 
'•Harpe's  Head," ''I'.order  Tales."  "Life  of  (ieii.  Harrison." '-Tales 
of  1  lie  \Vi,u wain  and  War  i»ath,"  tS:c.  He  has  also  left  an  elabo- 
rate '•  History  of  the  Xoilli  American  Indians." 

h'er.  'f  >liii  M.  I'rrh\  l>.  I>.  This  distiii^^iiished  liajitist  divim*, 
])iom*er  and  historian  (»f  Illinois,  icsided  tor  near  M>  years  on  lii.s 
i'aiiii  at  JJelleville,  kii<»wii  as  "l.'ock  Si»iiii;i'."'  He  <'ame  to  Illinois 
about  ISL'O.  There  was  no  man  in  all  the  west  who  traveled,  lec- 
tured or  wrote  so  much  as  lie.  diii'lny  his  Ion;;'  life,  thron.ulioiit 
Mliicli  he  was  also  a  constant,  faithful  and  able  preacher  of  the 
.H'ospel.  He  was  the  founder  in  ISU7,  of  the  '"Kock  Spriiiii'  tlieo- 
louical  seminary  and  hiiiili  scliool."  and  became  its  ])rofessor  of 
christian  theolo^iy.     .lohn  .Messin^cr  was  ]>rofessor  of  matheinatics 

.11.. I      ti.ifiii-.il      i.liil.w.iiilii-       Mil. I      l.>..\'         l.i^'liii.i      I'i'.i.lK'      •.I'iiK.iiwil  If 


tiuiiM  laiiiier,  .>ioiiM  i  ro;;re>i.>s  oi  iii«.  ^uis.si.sMjipi  >  aney,  jjiiu  oi 
liev.  .leieniiali  \^)rdenian,  kv.\  but  the  work  which  will  transmit 
liis  name  to  posterity  the  loii^-est  is  his  re\  ision  and  enlar^^cineiit 
of  the  "Annals  of  the  West,"  by  .las.  H.  Perkins.  It  evinces 
iiMicli  research  and  contains  a  veiy  accurate  history  of  the  iioitli- 
Avcst.  We  are  c<»nsi(lcrably  indebted  to  it  in  the  i»rei»aration  of 
this  work. 

John  Russell,  a  nativ<'  of  Vci'niont,  after  niariiaj;'e  in  1819, 
removed  west,  and  a  few  years  later  settled  in  (Jreeii  county,  at 
lUntV  Dale,  a  beautiful  and  romantic  site  not  far  from  tlie  Illinois 
liver.  .Much  of  his  life  was  spent  as  a  professor  in  various 
<'olle{iPS  ill  the  west.  He  was  a  pi'ofessor  at  an  early  day  iii 
Shuitletf  colleii'e.  a  ])rofound  sciiolar  and  chaste  and  eleuaiit 
wrilei',  but  his  jiroducticnis  were  not  voluminous.  Like  many 
authors  before  him,  he  was  uiiol»trusive  with  his  talents.  He  led 
a  (piict  and  re.ired  life  in  his  western  hoiue,  but  was  ever  an  indc- 


[i'iCi  niSTORV   OF   ILLINOIS. 

fiitij;;il)l<'  stii(l<'iit.     His    litci'aiy   iiiorcciiiis    were  ol'trii   set    alloiit 
\vitli(»ut  tlic  aiitlini's  iiiiiii*'. 

Dr.  I'cck  sold  a  iiinmisciii)t  fof  liiiii  in  the  cast,  a  iiia<;ii/iiie 
aiti<'I(' called  "Tlie  l>ej;('iid  of  tlie  Piasa,"  represent  in  j;'  a  teiril»le 
bird  of  pi'c.v,  wliieli  t'casicd  on  the  Indians,  nndei'  an  injunclion 
not  t(»  disclose  the  writer's  name.  It  attracted  eonsideralvle  atten- 
tion, and  was  afterwards  translated  into  French,  as  orij^inal.  Dr. 
Peck  c.Npost'd  the  plaj^iarisni,  to  the  ;:reat  inortilication  of  the 
l"'renchnian.  who  resided  ii>  Anieri«-a.  One  of  I'lof.  Ifussefs 
fn;;itive  pieces,  called  the  "\'en(tnions  Worm,"  j^ained  a  wide  cele- 
brity, l)ein<i'  tiansalat«'d  into  many  lan^iiiajics.  It  conveys  a  det-p 
nn)ral  lesson  in  allejiitry  on  intein|teranct',  and  became  a  staiidard 
jiiece  in  onr  earlier  school  ItooUs.* 

[Note]  -To  anticipiitca  few  yonrs,  we  lind  Pcyasusnlsoliostnido  upon  tlu^  level  plfiins 
ol  Illinois,  scvciiil  iirioiis  liaviinr  tli<'ir  lncnJ  poets.  Kiuic  county  had  ono  uppiircntly 
eiumioifd  of  the  soliil  advaiitajros  which  thi'  State  ol  liis  adoption  ulloidcd.  He  suii[5 
us  loliows: 

"The  Jinibcr   hero  is   very  (rood  — 

The  forest  dense  of  stiiidy  wood: 

The  maple  tree  its  sweets  affords 

And  walnut  it  is  sawn  to  lioards; 

The  Riant  oak  the  axinati  hails 

Its  massive  trunk  is  torn  to  rails. 

And  ^rame  is))lenty  in  the  State, 

Wtiieli  naikes  the  hiinler's  ehaneos  srent — 

The  prairie  wolf  infests  the  land. 

And  the  wild  eats  all  bristlintf  stand.' 

To  show  tlie  comparative  cxeellenoe  of  onr  rivers,  ht^  saiij?  further: 
"  I've  pizeil  upon  the  wild  Seioto, 
And  wondered  where  its  waters  a:o  to;' 

But  the  Illinois, 

"Hnttlintr  onward  in  its  course. 
Doth  seek  the  .NHssissippi's  source" — 

afforded  hiii  no  such  niisffivintrs,  for  it  will  lie  perceived  that  by  a  poetic  license,  per- 
haps, but  in  Jetlance  of  natural  law,  he  runs  its  waters  up  tl.c  Mississippi. 

Politics  (//■  the  I'eopJe — Mtfuiwr  of  coitdHcihKj  Vntupa'ijitH — In- 
tri(ji(t'Ho/  I'oliticians. —  Ucjiardiny  the  political  sentiment.  (»f  the 
people,  it  is  not  tlatterinjj;  to  our  re])ul)Ucan  i>ride  to  read  from  an 
accurate  obseiver  of  the  ])eriod:  ''  ri>  U)  the  year  18t(t,  lean  say 
Avith  perfect  truth,  that  considerations  of  mere  l)arty,  men's  con- 
descensions, ajireeable  carriaoe  and  professions  of  friendship,  liad 
more  intluence  with  the  on^at  body  of  the  people,  than  the  most 
imi)ortant  public  services."t  IWit  it  is  more  humiliatinj;  to  confess 
tliat  these <'onsiderat ions  play  to-day  no  less  a  part  than  they  <lid 
40  and  ")()  years  ajio;  and  they  probably  always  will  be  formidii.ble 
ajitMieies  in  politics,  however  we  may  boast  the  intelli>;ence  of  the 
masses. 

The  masses  did  not  expect  that,  nor  did  thc'  i»nblie  serviints 
think  or  study  how,  {iovernment  miolit  '.ic  made  et»nducive  te  the 
elevation  (»f  the  pe(>i>le.  To  advance  the  civil  condition  and  hap- 
piness of  society  was  an  object  foreion  to  the  puiposcsof  le;^isla- 
tioii.  Government  was  tolerat<'d.  and  its  forms  and  re<pnrements 
ae»piiesced  mi.  by  the  masses,  froui  a  feelin;;<»f  habit,  so  lonj^as  its 
administration  did  not  clash  with  or  encntach  upon  their  inter- 
ests, enjcymeiits,  or  personal  freecUtm  too  miich.f 


KDWAUDS'  ADMINISTRATION. 


iim 


AiiKtilt;- tlic  j»ioii»'frs  wri'c  also  iiiniiy  iKhciitiirtTs ;  iiiul  nearly 
all  iiiinii;4iaiits  soil.tilit  tln'  new  coiiiitry  Ibi'  an  t'asicr  lit'c  or  tin; 
acciininlation  of  property.  r|>on  <;(>vernnienta'  alVaiis  bnt  littlo 
tlion.i,f|il  was  bestowed.  Wlien  aioMsed  to  the  e>ereise  of  tiie  ;4i'eat 
|)ri\  ile^eof  tlie  cilizeii — the  elect  i\e  tVaiieliise — l)y  interested  deiil- 
JiJi'ojiiU's,  no  otlier  consideiatioii  entered  into  the  act  tliaii  to  either 
favor  a  iVioid  oi-  pniiisli  ai  enemy.  This  indilleienee.  so  unworthy 
of  the  eiri/eii.  I'edonnded  In  the  advantage  of  the  active  and  diii- 
.H'ent  |)lace  liiiiiteis.  in  that  i'  pernntted  tiu'iii,  witliont  molestation 
or  e\])osure,  to  j»erlect  their  "  pipe  la\  in.i;'' Ibi'  the  jtai'tition  of 
^•ovenniH'nlal  ..atrona^c.  TJm'j'c  weie  no  ureat  j»olitical  questions 
todividethe  )ii'o])le  prioi'  to  ls;{L.*-;5.  I'olities  wei'c  ])ersonal.  and 
snlfra.i,'e,  was  bestowed,  not  with  I'eyard  l(»  jjnblic  welfare,  bur  as  a 
matti'r  of  ])ersonal  favor.  In  sn<'li  eii'ctions,  tin'  l»allot  system, 
which  in  deJisei'  po))idations  aHbids  the  greatest  independence  to 
the  votei-  in  eliciting'  his  trne  intent,  was  hei'e  )>rostitnted  to 
don1)ie-dealinjj;  and  dissininlation.  Out  of  it  ijrew  what  was  known 
as  file  "Ueep  dark  l>oon''  systenj,  in  which  were  saeritice<l  on  the, 
]»art  of  i)oth  olhce  seekers  and,  to  a  ceiMain  extent,  the  |>eoi»le,  all 
l»rinci])les  of  honor  and  sincerity,  by  mutual  deceptions  of  every 
lira de  and  (diaraeter,  from  whi(di  the  most  adroit  intiiyner enu'r^ed 
^\it]l  the  .yreatest  suiM-ess.  i'ionns<'s  of  su])]ior1  uonid  bi'  ^•io- 
lateil  as  jreely  as  tJjcy  were  made.  To  cure  thee\il,  the  legislature 
repealed  the  mod<'  of  votiny  by  ))allol  at  the  session  of  ISL'S-'.I 

The  n.st;  of  ardent  s])ii'its  was  abnost  a  nnivc'sal  custom  with 
the  j)e(>]»Ie,  and  •' treat  in;;-,"  as  it  was  called,  duriiiU  a  political  can- 
vass, was  a  shi<-  tjiia  )io)i  to  sn<'cess.  Not  nnfrcipn  ntly  candidal<',s 
lor  oflice  would  uive  orders  to  li(|Uor  saloons  to  treat  freely  whoso- 
ever would  di'ink  at  their  eN])ense.  on  ceitain  days,  usually  every 
?>atur<lay  andotlu'r  days  of  ]»ublie  oc4-asion,  for  weeks  betbre  the 
<lay  of  election.  At  such  j>laces  the  voters  woniii  conj;j(';;aie  trom 
:ill  ]mrts  of  the  smroundini:'  neiubborhoods  on  "•  treating  days" 
durin,;:  the  cam])ai.yn,  riding  in  to  iiathei'  the  news,  ami  not  unfre- 
•juenl  ly  .ut'l  d)-unk  and  en;^:ii"  in  i()U.i;h  and  tuiid)le  li.iihts.  The 
randidati'S,  t(»o,  would  often  )nake  it  upoint  lobe  there  on  these 
days,  either  tlKMiisi'Ives  or  by  j»roxy,  ami  harangue  the"sover- 
t'iurns'' upon  the  issues  of  the  eamj)ai^n,  in  a  convenient  shady 
.yrove.  the  auditors,  not  iintretpu'iitly  interspersed  with  ladies, 
.seated  about  on  tli<'.  pei'U  sward.  The  orators  woidd  tlnnnler 
Ibrth  their  claims  to  oflice,  mouuted  on  eomeuient  waj^ous,  loys, 
or  stuni|)s  of  trees,  lience  the  phrase  of  "•stuini)  sjx'ech."  The 
"vital  (juestions  of  the  day,"  discussed  at  these  nn'etinj;s,  were 
not  , measures  i)nt  )n«'n,  and  consisted  in  bitter  jiersonal  arraijiU- 
nn-nts  ol  op))onents,  oft<Mi  of  little  .uen«'ral  concern.  Toward 
ovenin^i'flie   crowd  would  disju-rse,  mounted  on  their  diminutive 

vcntiircil  to  (•onipliiin,  im<l  when  Iiodui.  the  juries  w»,re  sure  to  punish  his  presump- 
tion with  llic  «<istB  ol  the  suit. 

"Writ,  imc  ol  tho  old  r  lllcis,  to  whom  t  iilliiclc,  ciiino  to  my  otHco  ono  <\,\y,  atatod 
tliiit  he  liud  lolled  a  Ix'C  u'(<'ii|>oii  his  nci^lilMirV  liiiid,  iilhuli'd  to  the  old  ct'istom  of 
confi'i  rill)/ title  liy  dlncoveiy.  iind  tliiit  ii  8iiit  wns  thiciiteiieil,  mid  rei|\iesleil  my  ad- 
vice in  tlie  ineiiiHes.  1  replied  t  hat  he  had  eoiumltted  a  ti<«nasw  and  ndv'lsed  hiV.i  to 
<.'(Mn|)i()iuis«'  the  alValr.  llelefi  the  oHii  elii  hJKh  dudL'eon,  sayitisfas  he  was  departliijf, 
'•  til  is  eoii'itrv  I?  uiMtlnii  too  d-d  ii\  h/id  I'o'-  me;  I  II  iiuiUe  t  I'm  jis  lor  Oregon,  or  some 
other  count  I- \,  wliei-e  the  idd  iiiotii'ii  can  (ret  .)iielice  "  Mr.  Itia  kwcdl  was,  with  other 
works,  the  anihor  ol'  "  lli  lekwell  on  Tax  'I'it  les."  an  exeelleiit  standard  treat ise.  ludit 
In  hipli  esteem  tliroiifrhniit  the  I'liited  Stales,  lie  was  a  nati\  e  I  lliiioisari  and  self 
■•jiide  iniin.  endowed  with  line  intellectual  powers,  tie  diedal  ChieaL'o,  in  l.sii:!,  at  the 
early  a»re  iif  MS  yeiirs.  His  early  life  was  an  e\am|ile  to  tlie  yoiiiii;-  a  d  aspiiiinr  his 
mid  Ueaue  a  moiiiiment  to  t-ulf  iiiailc-ulory,  iiiid  liis  early  deal Ij  a  warning:  to  all.— ciii- 
ciiKo  Journal.l 


SoS  IIISTOIJY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


liorscs,  <iiill()i»iiij;' tliroiiji'li  IIm-  tow  ii.  |ifrli:i|>.s  reeling  lidiii  tlic  iii- 
HiUMicc  ol"  liquor,  liii/.zaliin;^  aiitl  veiling  lor  tiicii'  liivtirih-  ciiiuli- 
(latcs,  iiiiil    ui'oiillili^-.   ciirsiii;;    :iiiil    licijit  iiii;    tlic   o|)|Mi.sit  ioli.* 

'I'lic  pioneers  in  nil  |>;iils  of  tlie  Siiile  exeicised  ii  yrcat  iiillu- 
f-liee  ill  llie  eleeliolis.  TlicN  were  here  liist ,  elailiied  sii|ieiior  pliv- 
ilej^c  on  liiat  aeeonnt,  wliieli  was  inosllv  ac«*onle(l  to  tliein,  and 
Iviiew  \\<'ll  every  sultsetineni  e<(nier.  Thev  were  nnlortunatelv  in 
«(Mne  instane(s  not  only  extremely  i;iin»rant.  Iinl  ^oNcnied  Itesides 
by  passionate  prejudices,  and  opposed  every  pnldie  policy  wliicU 
looked  to  the  elevation  of  society;  and  Iheinlescendants  in  nniny 
cases  at  an  early  day,  were  no  inipr(»venienl  on  their  pi'otol_\  pes. 
They  were,  as  a  ride,  brave  in  personal cond tats  and  brawls,  and  had 
a'piiipensity  to  indnl;^c  intheni.  Theyarrayed  Iheniselves  in  luicU- 
skin  breeches,  leather  nntccasins,  raccoon  caps  and  red  luintini; 
sliirts  belted  al  the  waist,  in  which  they  carried  a  la r;ie  knife, 
Mhencethey  were  denominated  ••  Uutclier  lioys."  When  pioi-laim- 
in;;  their  bra\ery,  a  proceedin;;  id'  whii-li  they  were  not  chary, 
they  woidd  swear  that  they  were  "half  horse  and  half  allij^ator," 
ineanin;^'  that  it  was  impossibU-  to  o\fr<-ome  them  in  ('(Hnlial.  The 
inlliU'nce  of  tiiis«'lass  was  mncli  courted  hy  candidates,  ami  with 
tlii'se  and  their  peculiar  chai'acteristics  thrown  in  the  scale,  succi'ss 
"was  no  doui»tfnl  i«'snlt.t 

•'  Like  people,  like  |»ries|" — pidtlic  sci\ants  under  any  luiin  (d* 
piveruinent  ultimatel\  rellect  thecharacter of  t lie  ,>eople,  for  tliey 
Jii'c  of  the  people.  In  the  lej;islature,  while  the  ;;eneral  interests 
of  the  ]>(>ople  received  but  little  attention,  all  manner  of  c<un- 
binations  for  the  parceling'  out  and  creation  of  otVices  were 
ibrmed.  Kat  .jobs  were  i'n;;ineered  Ibr  theitenelit  of  fiiends;  to 
'"  rin<;Tejiislation,"  s(»  rife  in  modern  times,  they  were  not  strau- 
fiers;  the  "^()(»(l  thin;:s"' were  ap|)orlioncd  by  disrepulaUle  bar- 
jiains  made  in  ad\ance — -indei'd,  it  was  very  nuu-h  as  it  is  at 
ju'csent — "  the  cohesive  power  of  i)ublic  plun<ler"  was  most  potent; 
and  the  possessor  of  the  greatest  capacity  lor  tact,  blandishments, 
and  intri.uue  jicnerally  carried  otVthe  lion's  share,  IJovirmtr  Fortl 
relates  of  Samuel  Cro/ier,  senator  from  Randolph, '- a  remaikable 
example  ol'  i»ure,  kind  and  single  hearted  honest  \ ,  after  ser\inj;- 
two  sessions,  and  alter  he  lia<l  lieen  boujild  and  .>old  a  hundred 
times  without  knowini;  it,  said  he  '-reany  did  Iteliesc  that  some  in- 
tn;;ue  had  been  ^oin^  lui.''  So  little  are  honest  men  aware  of  the 
necessity  of  keepinji"  tlu'ireyes  open,  in  sleepless  watchfulness,  or 
otherwise,  a  few  will  nnuiopolize  all  the  adsantajies  of  jiovern- 
inent,  and  it  will  becbuu-  in  the  most  unfiiir  and  corrupt  nmnm-r. '' 
(lo(»(l  laws  badly  adndnistered  with  the  tacit  acciuiesenee  of  the 
])eople,  cannot  reform  any  <;<)\  ernim-nt.  The  virtue  of  the  \»eoi)le 
sl.oidd  both  demand  and  entbrcethem. 

Militia. — The  nMlitiii  system  was  an  important  feature  <d"  tlie 
early  times  in  Illinois,  both  ilurinj;  its  territorial  and  State  (Ujiiini- 
zations.  IMilitia  duties,  \iewed  from  a  modern  stand  jtoint,  dcudtt- 
Icss  appear  droll,  if  not  uninteresting,  yet  at  the  tim«'  when  the 
system  was  fully  in  vojiiie,  they  wfre  im[>«>rtant  suul  (>n<>r(ms. 
])urinji"  tlu' loiiji  i»eaee  whieii  tlur  country  en)o.\ ed  between  the 
uar  «tf  iSlli  and   that   with    Mexico  in    1SK»,  it    is  not  to   l>e  won- 


» Ford's  Hist. 
tFora'sHlat. 


KDWARDS'   ADMIMSTUATION. 


nr.o 


♦Icrcd,  as  tlin  systrm  also  licciiinc  iho,  roininoii  tarji'ct  of  iimcli  wif- 
tii'isiii  and  i'i(ii(Mil*>,  tliat  it  It'll  iiiidcr  rcproiirli  and  idtinndcly  into 
disuse.  V<'t  it  is  not  nnr('asoiial)lt'  to  assert,  tiiat  it'  a  viyoi'ons 
inililia  system  iiad  all  the  tinu'  heeii  niainliiined  up  to  the  hreak- 
inu' out  of  the  late  i-el»ellioii,  |)eilia|ts  uiau,\  oi'llie  iieadiouy-  (iaseos 
ol'  the  Union  forces  in  the  earl.v  part  of  thai  war  woidd  lni\e  lieen 
axoided,  and  pr(»l»ald.v  a  year  of  the  war — expended  in  peilectin;^' 
and  diilliiiii' the  soldiery — sa\cd  l»esides.  'I'iie  niilitar>  system  of 
I'lussia,  wliieli  in  the  late  war  with  l''iaiiee  has  liron.i;ht  tliat 
country  forwai'd  as  the  vciy  tiist  military  powei'  of  tlie  world,  is 
nothing  hilt  the  militia  syslein  in  its  ])erfeetion.  \\liile  the  sys- 
tem of  tinit  eonnlr,\  has  demonstrated  it  to  he  tlie  best,  i|  is  also 
l>y  far  the  eheajiest  mo(h^  of  maintaining;'  a  slandini^'  army,  for 
which  it  hecomes  to  a  ji'i'eat  extent  a  siil>stitiite.  I!iit  notwith- 
iStaiidiii^' its  |»erfection  in  that  country,  Ainerieaiis  coiihl  nevrr  i»e 
Ju'oii.Liht  fully  to  siil>niit  to  its  de|M'ndeiil  and  oiieroiis  duties, 
and  it  will,  jtei'iiaps,  never  obtain  any  considerable  foothold  where, 
tlie  jfovernment  is  not  strongly  centrali/ed. 

Diiriiii,' the  territorial  existence  of  lllimtisthe  militia  proved  a 
valiial)le  auxiliary  to  the  defence  of  the  coiiiilry,  in  re|)ellin;^-  hos- 
tile sava;,fes  and  aflbrdin.y  protection  to  the  froiiliei'  settlements. 
The  law  was  substantially  the  siime  as  that  of  iSj'.t,  from  which 
we  subjoin  a  synopsis.  It  contained  e«piilai>le  provisions  tor  dr;ift- 
iiij^'  or  (M)nseription — a  drafted  militiaman  was  known  as  a  "foi-ced 
voliMitecr."  From  the  militia  spriin,!^',  it  may  l>esaid,  the  mounted 
raiiuei-s  of  that  jtei-iod.  An  early  law  jtassed  at  N'ineeiines.  iin- 
]»oiled  for  Illinois  Ity  llie  i^ov criior  and  jinl.u<'s.  and  siiliseqiieiilly 
adopted  by  the  territorial  le;L;isliiiiire.  prohiltited  all  commisioiied 
olticei's,  except  justices  of  the  peace  and  militia  ollicers.  from 
serviii.ii' in  either  house  of  tin'  lejiislatiire.  This  placed  the  road 
to  political  ))i-e ferment  in  a  nianner  in  the  hands  of  the  militia,  reii- 
deriufj  it  very  obnoxious  to  other  onie,e-holdiii<i'  aspirants. 

All  free  white  inlial)itan(s  i-esidcnt  in  the  State,  of  the  aii'e  of 
IS  years  and  nndei-  to,  except  as  hereinafter  excepted,  shall  l»e 
einolled  in  the  iinlitia  by  the  comniandin;;'  otlieer  (»f  the  comjyany 
within  whose  bounds  such  person  shall  reside,  within  ten  days 
next  aftei-  he  shall  be  informed  of  such  jcsidence:  ai  d  at  all  times 
thereafter  in  like  manner,  shall  be  enrolled  those  \  ho  may  from 
time  to  time  arrive  at  the  aj;'e  of  IS,  or  come  to  ics  de  in  tiie  dis- 
trict, beiiiii' of  that  lis(^  and  under  4o.  .Such  eni-ollcd  jx-rson  was 
to  be  notilied  of  Ids  enrolliiH'nt  Ity  an  otlieer  of  the  .•oinpiiny.  and 
within  six  mtniths  thereafter  he  was  to  provide  himself  with  a  j^ood 
musket  and  bayonet,  fusee  or  rille,  knapsack',  blanket,  canteen, 
two  spare  Hints,  cartridge-box  to  contain  not  less  than  L't  car- 
tridi;es  with  ]»owd<'r  and  ball  suited  to  the  i)ore  of  his  miiskel  oi- 
fusee,  or  ]>oueli  and  ])owd('i'-horn  with  1-4  lb.  powder,  and  21  balls 
.suited  to  the  bore  of  his  ritle;  and  <'Very  enrolled  peison  wlieii 
ciilled  on  shall  so  appeal'  armed,  aceontered  and  pro\  ided.  except 
when  called  to  exei'cise  by  companies,  battalion  oi'  regiment,  w  lien 
lie  may  appear  without  kiia])sack  or  blanket.  Field  and  stall' 
(dlicers,  rankinif  as  eommissioned  otlicers,  shall  be  armed  with 
sword  or  lian;i<'r  and  a  ]>air  of  pistols.  Company  ollicers  with 
stiflieient  sword  or  lian,i;<'r.  Otlicei's  were  to  furnish  iiieir  respec- 
tive commands  as  follows:  The  colonel  to  each  battalion  a  stand 
of  colors,  with  the  number  of  the  battalion,  leyiineiit.  Iniuade  and 


300  IIISTOUV    (»1"    I  ILLINOIS. 


division  iiisciilHMJ  (licrcoii.  Tiic  (taptiiin  was  lo  I'liriiisli  Iiis  (•diii- 
])iiiiv  witii  (Iniiii  and  lil'c;  i'(';^iniciital  dniiii  and  lite  iiiajor.s 
1(»  riiniisli  tlii'iiiscivi's,  witli  iiislriiiiit'ids  of  iiiitsic,  Tiio 
ollic'i'is  wt'iv  to  be  ri'-indaiisrd  lor  tin'.sc  articles  out  of 
til*'  rc;:;iiiu'iital  fund  (lines  and  |)(-nalli«'s)  n|i(ni  tiic  oidrr  of 
tilt'  rc.uinicntal  itoanl — a  sli'iidci'  cliaiicc.  'I'lic  ciitirt'  niiiilia 
of  lilt'  State  was  apiHutioned  iiili>  divisions,  l»rij;ades,  rei^i- 
nieiits,  haltalioiis  an<l  i  t>iii|ianies ;  ail  It)  take  rank  wlien  in  tin; 
lieitl,  a;^real»l\  tt»  llie  date  of  tlie  foinniissioiis  ttf  tiu'  oflieers  in 
eoiiiMiaiitl.  Kat'li  tlivision  was  enlitled  It)  its  inajor-jicneral,  with 
division  iiispectoi' ami  aitls;  eaeli  Ini.uaile  lo  a  hriuatliei'-;^t'n»'ral, 
niajoi',  and  aitl  tle-eaiiip  who  was  also  jiid^t' ath  tteale  and  t)nailer- 
mastei';  eaeli  re^iinenl  It)  a  etilonel,  lieutenant  t'olonel.  niajtir,  sni'- 
{;'eon.  sm';j,('oii"s  male,  atljnlanl  (ex-ttllicio  clerk),  tjiiailermasler.  ser- 
;;('an;,  thiim-majoi'antl  life-inajoi'.  Tlie  snpeiior  olliceis  appointed 
tlieir  siihortliiiales,  ami  their  ranks  weif  delinetl  acctatliiij;-  to  lln; 
U.  !S.  ariii.N  rej;idatitins.  The  I'tniipanies  electetl  their  captains  ami 
lieiilenanls,  antl  these  ai)pt)inte(l  tlieir  subalterns. 

The  ollieers  must  he  eili/ens  of  Hie  ('.  S.  and  this  State,  and 
take  an  oail.  to  support  the consi itntions  t»f  liolh.  The  re};imeiiis, 
ballalions  and  companies  ch'cled  their  respective  superior  tillicers, 
■who  were  commissioiietl  by  the  j;t)vernor.  The  j;t)veriior,  by  virtu(^ 
of  his  otlice,  was  commamlerin-chief.  I'rovision  was  made  for 
one  conijiany  of  artillery  ami  t)ue  of  cavalry  or  Irottp  of  h(»ise  to 
each  re^iimeiit.  liy  voluntary  enrollmeiil.  In  llie  same  manner  ii 
company  of  rillemeii.  jirenailier.s  or  lij;lit  infantry,  mij;lit  be  raised 
ill  tlie  battalions;  all  of  whicli  were  lo  et|uii»  antl  uniform  tliem- 
.selves  in  manner  fully  poinletl  out.  They  were  to  appoint  their 
ollieers  in  a  manner  siudlar  to  the  lirst-menlit)ned.  C'omi»anies 
M'cre  re<[uiretl  to  muster  ar  limes  yearly,  on  Ihe^  first  Satunlays 
of  A[iiil,  .Iiiiie.  Auj;iisl  ami  October;  ami  also  the  lirst  lialtalioiis 
of  each  first  rejiinjent,  tni  the  lirst  ^Mondays  in  April;  the  lid  on 
the  succeeding'  Wednesdays;  the  Isl  battalion  of  the  lid  regiments 
on  the  sncceetlin;:,'  iMitlays  ;  and  the  I'd  battalion  of  the  lid  re^i. 
anents  on  the  succeedinj;  Mondays  in  each  and  every  year.  liej;i- 
meiital  musters  were  [)rovided  for  similarly  to  theal)t)ve,  in  Septem- 
l)er  of  each  year.  The  e\(>liitioiis  and  exercises  were  to  be  con- 
dnctetl  ajireeably  to  the  military  discipline  of  the  armies  of  the 
I'.  S.  In  athlition  to  these  times  tlu'  ctimiminders  of  re<;iuieiits, 
ballaliiuis  or  companies,  were  empowered  to  call  their  respective 
ctdiimands  out  to  muster,  as  '•' in  their  opinituis  the  exij;ency  ol 
the  case  may  retpiire."  The  brijiadier-ycnerals  were  re<iuired  to 
call  together  for  drill  or  exercise  all  the  conuuissioued  oliicers  iii 
April  and  September  td"  each  year. 

These  rei>eate<l  musters,  it  will  be  perceived,  were  no  lij;ht  duties. 
Every  otlicer  anil  soldier  must  a[»pear  at  the  iihices  of  muster, 
aiiiietl  and  etiuipiieil  as  the  law  diit-cted,  at  the  proper  time.  The 
roll  was  lo  be  called  antl  deliiKpieiits,  either  as  to  absence  or  im- 
l»it>pt'r  ('(piipmeiils,  were  to  be  duly  notetl,  for  which  fiue.>^;  and  tdr- 
leiliires  were  to  be  assessetl  by  courts-martial,  ranj^ing  as  follows: 
privates  from  oO  cents  to  551  oO;  commanders  of  divisions  for  neg- 
lect of  any  duties  enjoined,  from  $20  to  .t!l'(K) ;  commanders  (d' brig- 
atles,  for  disobetlience  of  ortlers  or  any  tlutics  enjoined  by  law, 
from  $lo  to  $150;  of  regiments  from  $10  to  $100;  of  battalions 
ii'um  $8  to  $80 ;  of  comi>anies  from  $5  to  $oO.     fathers  w  eve  liable 


EDWAKDS'   ADMIMSTUATION*. 


mi 


for  tlic  tines  of  tlu'ii'  iiiiiioi  sons,  •{'iiiirdiiuis  Ibi'  their  wards,  aixl 
luiisters  lor  tlieir  apprentiees.  Kxeniiion  was  t(»  issiH' ni)on  (lie 
lin(linj;s  ol'tlie  eouits martial,  directed  to  the  liaiids  of  eonstalties 
to  l»e  levied  as  in  other  eases. 

Tiie  lieutenanljiON criioi',  Jiidiics  of  the  supreme  and  eiifiiit 
courts,  atlorne,v-;;'eMeral,  licensed  ministers  of  the  (iospel,  and 
jailois,  were,  in  addition  to  tliose  by  the  laws  of 'he  T.  S.  <'X- 
enipted  from  ndlitia  dntv.  i-'roni  time  to  time  acts  were  also 
])asscd  for  the  relief  of  Diinkaids,  (^Miakei's,  and  othei'  reli;;ioiis 
jK'rsons  coiiseientionsly  scrni>nlons  a^^ainst  heariiij*'  arms.  I>y  net 
of  .lan.L'l,  ISi;i,siich  persons  were  I'elieved  lt\  [>ayinj;' ><.">  each  toihe 
sheriff,  and  the  entry  of  tlieir  names  with  a  statement  of  their 
scru|»k'.s,  with  the  assessor  of  the  county,  ihit  when  detachments 
of  militia  for  actual  service  wei'c  i-e(piired.  they  like  others,  wen* 
li(»t  exempt  from  the  tours  of  duty,  liut  nii.i;ht  icspdud  by  siiloti- 
tute  like  others. 

'J'lie  militia^  was  liable  to  1m;  called  into  actual  service  at  any  tinu; 
for  the  space  of  three  months  on  the  r«'(pnsition  of  the  Ivveeutive 
of  IIma  U.  S.  in  actual  or  Ihicateued  invasion  of  this  or  nei^idior- 
in^' State's  or  territories;  tor  which  purpose  the  nundter  rccpiired 
were  to  bo  distributed  amonji'  tin;  classes  (into  which  eomi>aiues 
were  to  be  foi'mcd),  one  man  to  be  furnished  by  \ olunteeriui;  or 
draft  out  of  each  class ;  classes  mi;;hl  furnish  siibstitides.  'I'iio 
j>overiior  could  exempt  the  militia  IVoin  a  call  into  a(;tiial  service, 
in  such  frontier  settlements  as  in  I  lis  opinion  tlieir  safety  re(  pi  i  red  de- 
fence, and  make  such  fiirt  her  pro\  isioii  as  t  he  eiiieriii'iicy  demanded. 
\\  Idle  in  actual  service  the  militia  was  to  be  subject  to  the  same 
rules  and  n-niilatioiis  as  the  armies  iA'  the  V.  S.,  and  to  receive 
the  same  i)ay,  lations  and  fora^i'e ;  but  theii' transgressions  were 
to  be  tried  and  deteriidned  by  a  court-martial  of  militia  (»tlicers 
only. 

This  is  but  a  very  brief  outline  of  some  of  the  main  features  of 
the  militia  system  of  Illinois.  The  law  contains  many  sections 
and  is  a  very  lonu  one. 

Whih;  the  reijuirementsof  tlu'  militia  system  in  times  of  profound 
peace,  without  the  stimulant  of  a  common  dan,ii('r  to  aid  in  tliedis- 
eliarj;«>  of  itft  oneidiis  duties,  were  perhaps  dull  and  irksome,  it 
nevertheless  atfoi'ded  to  many  a  bnddiiij;  ainbititui  ibr  the  "bub- 
ble r«'piitation  at  the  caiimurs  mouth."  "that  swelliiij;  of  the 
heart  you  ne'er  can  feel  a^ain,  while  with  fearless  hearts  thouj^h 
tired  liiid)s,  [theyj  Ibiijiiit  the  mimic  fray."  The  military  titles 
of  ^^eneral,  colonel,  «S:e.,  of  many  of  our  jjublie  men  of  the  period, 
from  1812  to  1840,  were  mostly  of  militia  oriyin,  and  had  little 
other  s i Jill iti can (H'. 

The  militia  system  was  much  the  same  in  all  the  States ;  and  to 
come  down  to  a  later  period  the  people  abhorred  it.  ISnt  le-^isla- 
tiires  were  unwillinji'  to  distuil>  ihe  lime  lumored  hiw,  which  in 
many  instances  had  been  the  means  to  oriuinally  briuj;-  them  per- 
haps into  ]>romiiience.  ibit  the  shafts  of  wit  and  ridicule  were 
liuiied  at  it  with  such  effect  as  to  inak(;  it  exentiially  siiccumb. 
The  meiiiorable  attack  of  Tom  Corwiii  in  the  Ohio  lejiislature,  by 
his  (icle  rated  *•' water  melloii  siieech,"  is  familiar  to  every  school- 
boy. 11  w  it  fell  into  disuse  all  over  Illinois,  we  do  not  prereiid 
to  recount,  but  we  gleau  the  following  account  of  the  means  used 


3f{2 


niSTOUY  OK   ILI-INOIS. 


to  l)iiiij>'  it  into  coiitciiipt  in  one  place,    IVoiii  ii  spcccli  (»f  Mr.   liiii- 
(;olii  : 

'•  A  iHiiiiltt'i'  of  years  ••y:o  the  aiililia  laws  of  (liis  state  letiiiired 
that  the  iiiililia  sImhiIiI  ■  ii  at  slale<l  ititeivals.  Tliese  ti'aiiiiii;;s 
beeaiiie  a  j^icat  bore  to  .e  people,  and  every  persctii  nearly  was 
t'oi'  piittin;;  them  ilowii;  liiit  the  law  leipiii'ed  t  lieni  to  train  and 
tliev  eonld  ii(»t  iH'l  it  lepealetl.  S(»  they  tiied  aintthei'  way,  and 
that  was  to  bnrlescpie  tlu'in.  And  henee  they  elected  old  'rim 
Lanuwell,  the  j^reatest  iliiinkaitl  and  l)laek;^ininl,  lor  colonel  o\er 
the  lu'si  nu-n  ol'  theconntiy.  Ihil  this  did  not  sinceed  alto;;ethei'. 
Wo  they  laised  a  company  ami  elected  (loidon  Alnaiiis  coininaii- 
<ler.  lie  was  dressed  in  peenliar  style,  one  ]»art  of  his  pants  were 
of  one  collor  and  maleiial,  and  the  other  different,  lie  wore  a 
jiastehoard  cap  about  (I  feet  haij;-,  resenddinj^  an  inverted  ox-yoke. 
The  shanks  of  his  spurs  were  about  S  inches  Ion;;',  w  itli  rowels 
about  the  circumference  of  common  saucers.  He  carried  a  sword 
made  of  pine  wood.  '.)  feet  lon.u.  They  als(»  had  'rules  and  regu- 
lations/oin*  of  which  was,  ^ 'i  hal  no  othcer  should  wear  more  than 
liO  lbs,  of  eodlish  for  e])aulets,  inti  moi'c  than  IW  yards  of  r)olo<;iui 
sausa,i;('  lor  a  sash  ;  an(l  on  the  lianner  was  boin  aloft  these  words: 
'  W'-'ll  ti.^ht  till  we  run  and  run  till  we  die.'  This  succeeded  to  u 
demonstration.  They  wer<'  the  last  company  that  trained  in 
.Sl))iii-;tield." 


wm 


ClIAl'THW    XXXI. 

1S;',(M— ADMINISTIIATION  OF  (lOVHKNOi:  K'KVNOI.DS. 

77/r  (iiilnrii<(t(>)ltil  ('t(ii(li<l(ili's,  tin  if  IJrrsiniil  CliKnictrrs — 'I'ltc  Cuni' 
paillit — 'I'lif  Wimiliin  Lixdi — liiiiHKtIimnit  of  t^Kpninc  JikIiic 
tSiitith — \V.  y..  />.  Eiclnij  (lorrninr  for  1.")  flai/s. 


Ill  Aiiiiiisl,  IS.'IO.  iiiiotlM-r  tiiili:'riiii((>ri;il  clrctiiwi  \v;is  t(»  hike  pliiro. 
'J'Ih-  cMiKlidjilcs  wdf  W'illiiiiii  l\iiiiicv,  llicii  liciilciiiiiit  p>\riii()r, 
iiiid  .loliii  K'cviiolds.  roiiiii'ilv  one  of  tliti  iissociiitc  Jiistict's  of  tliC! 
siipiciiM'  ruiiit.  l)()lli  of  the  (loiiiiiiMiit  iiiiity.  SiiK-c  ISi'd.  tlio 
,l;iclisoii  piii'ty  li;i(l  hccii  rcjiiiiiiit  in  liotli  lioiiscs  of  the  .uciicral 
iissciiii»lv.  'I'lic  o|>|M»siiioii.  oi' Miiti  .liicUsoii  iiit'ii,  l>roii;nlit  forward 
ito  ciiiMlidiitr  for  j;()\('riioi' at  lliis  cU'ctioii ;  tlicy  were  in  a  iiopr- 
l(ss  minority.  In  Illinois  i)ai1y  |)iinri|»I('s  had  not  taken  deep 
rool,  nor  were  tlicy  as  yet  well  defined  aiiywliei-e  hy  the  position 
of  presideiil  riaekson.  Those  who  weie  ai'deiitly  and  nneoiiipro- 
iiiisiiij,Hy  attached  to  the  fortunes  of  (len.  .laekson,  weiv  deiioinina- 
t('<l,  in  the  political  slaiii;'  of  the  period,  '"whole  hoy  nieii."  Mr. 
Kinney  was  a  stron,i:  example  of  the  tlioroiij^h  ;;(»in;i  .lackson 
men.  Of  those  who  nominally  espoused  tlie  cause  of  Jackson, 
not  nniiii\ed  with  jtolicy  jK-rhaps,  as  that  jiarty  was  so  largely  iu 
the  majoiity,  while  at  the  same  time,  the  support  of  the  anti- 
Jackson  men  was  not  nnacceptable.  was  Mr.  L'eynolds,  who,  it 
should  I  added,  however,  had  always  consistently  acted  with  the 
Jackson  ])arty.  The  oi»position,  intlnenced  not  so  mnch  hy  any 
clearly  deliiied  ])arty  pi'inciples,  as  a  dislikes  to  the  str(Miji,  arhi- 
tiary  and  personal  charact«'ristics  of  (len.  .lackson,  came  to  tlie 
support  of  Iicynolds,  not  on  acrconnt  of  love  for  the  latter,  but  of 
theii' hatred  towaid  theJbrmer.  Kinney  had  \h'OU  to  Washin^^itou 
and  witnessed  the  inanji'iiration  of  jn-esident  Jackson,  and  was 
thoiii^ht  to  have  much  a;;encv  in  dire(;tin^'  removal;?  from  federal 
ollices  in  Illinois.  It  was  rejtorted  he  said,  in  his  i)ecnliar  jiraphic 
manner,  that  the  whiys  on<;ht  to  he  w]iip]»e(l  ont  of  otlice  '"like 
dojis  out  of  a  meat  house."* 

-Ml'.  Kinney  was  horn  1781,  in  Kentucky,  and  emij^rated  to 
Illinois,  in  17!).'{.  As  has  hefore  been  stated,  he  acquired  his  echi- 
eation  after  mai'irijic,  hein<;'  tanj>ht  its  rudiments  by  his  wife.  I>y 
unwearied  a])plication  he  became  remarkable  for  intellijjenee  and 
business  capiKtity.  Shortly  after  iiis  early  marriage,  contracted 
with  a  most  estinial)]e  lady,  he  removed  to  a  farm  a  short  distance 
mntheast  of  Belleville,  and  hefore  long  Mr.  VonlMiul,  of  St.  Louis, 
induced  liim   to  engage  in  merchandizing.     He  brougiit  his  first 


'Itoynolds'  Life  and  Tiinos. 


303 


.%. 


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SG4  HISTORY  OF   ILLINOIS. 

stock  of  goods  IVoiii  St.  Louis,  at  out'  load  on  liorschack.  He  pros- 
])cr('d  as  a  nicrcli.iiit.  bccaiiit'  an  cxtciisix  (^  tradci',  and  acciiimda- 
tcd  a  rortiinc.  Filiidy  iinpivsscd  with  religions  convictions,  lie 
eai'ly  became  a  mendter  of  tlie  ba)>tist  clinrcii,  and  afteiwaid 
forcibly  )»reached  tlie  faitli  of  that  denomination  of  christians. 
]Ic  lrc(|iH'ntly  had  the  honor  of  a  seat  in  the  legislature  wheie  he 
Avas  noted  for  close  attention  to  business.  He  was  of  a-  social  <lis- 
])ositi()n,  and  had  gathered  a,  wonderful  store  of  pithy  anec(l(»tes, 
which  serv<'d  him  a  good  ]>ur|)ose  in  electioneering.  He  was 
regarded  as  one  of  iiie  best  ]»oIitical  canvassers  in  the  State,  pos- 
sessing uniionndcd  energy  and  great  and)ition.  \\'ith  his  strong 
]»artisan  bias  he,  associated  a  rare  Jovial  and  witty  pleasantry, 
which  made  him  very  acceptable  in  his  intercourse  with  the  peo- 
ple. Notwithstanding  his  clerical  calling,  which  he  did  not  lay 
aside  while  in  (pu'st  of  ottiee,  he  availe(l  himself  fully  of  the 
woildly  jnactice  of  those  days  in  elections,  by  "treating"  \\itli 
intoxicating  li(|nors,  as  did  all  other  candidates,  it  was  wittily 
n'lnarkedof  liim  that  he  was  invincible,  betiause  he  went  forth  to 
the  contest  "arnu'd  with  the  sword  of  the  Lord  and  the  spirit." 
Tel  with  al)  these  I'avoi'able  traits,  he  was  not  sulliciently  guarded 
dniing  the  canvass  in  his  sarcastic  ntterances,  which  were  canght; 
up  and  distoited  by  his  enemies,  to  his  disadvantage.  His  strong 
(lenomiiiational  iti'cjndiccs  and  clerical  calling,  induced  him  oc- 
i'asiunali\  to  beiate  other  churches,  which  hediseoNcred  from  the 
drift  of  tilings  to  be  arrayed  against  him,  often  fntm  no  other  than 
seciarian  motives.  He  also  ariayed  himself  in  oi)position  to  thu 
i-anal,  then  mnch  belbi'c  the  j)nblic,  not  on  account  of  its  inlriesic 
or  j)nblic  value,  but  because  that  great  improvement  would  send 
ji  tide  of  '•Yankee"  emigrants  to  the  State,  which  he  and  his  ultra 
]»artisaiis  affer'ted  to  despise  ever  since  the  defeat  of  the  jiroposi- 
tion  to  introduce  slavery  into  the  State  six  years  belbic.  'fhese 
jsentimeiits,  inconsiderately  expre.ssed,  did  him  much  injury  in  the 
campaign. 

His  opjimu'ut,  John  K'eynolds,  was  born  in  I'cnnsylvania.  in 
17SS,  ol'  Ii'ish  parents,  who  I'emoved  to  Tennessee  while  he  was  an 
infant,  and  to  Jllinoisin  ISIH).  in  early  manhood  young  Ueynolds 
returned  to  Tennessee,  where  lie  received  a  "classical  education," 
as  he  asserts  in  his  ••Life  and  Times,"  but  Cor  this  assertion  no 
one  would  evei'  have  snsi»ected  it,  either  from  his  conversation, 
public  addresses,  or  writings.  He  was  reared  among  a  frontier 
])eople,  ami  imbilied  their  ehara<'terislics  of  nmnners,  customs, 
and  speech — disliked  polish,  coiiten.ned  fashion,  and  wasaddided 
tt>  inordinate  i>rofanity,  all  of  which  attached  to  him  through  life, 
of  none  of  which  he  took  any  pains  to  dixcst  himself,  and  mucdi 
of  which  is  said  to  have  i)een  alfecled,  which  we  doubt.  These, 
garnished  by  his  varied  reading,  a  uali\e  shrewdness,  and  a  won- 
deilnl  faculty  ol"  gariulity,  make  him,  considering  the  high  olliees 
to  which  he  attained,  one  of  the  jiublic  oddities  in  the  annals  of 
Illinois.  J  lis  imagination  was  fertile,  but  his  ideas  were  poured 
ibrth  regardless  of  logical  se(pu'nce,  evidencing  his  Milesian 
Itlood.  lie  had  an  extraordinary,  disconn«'(!ted  sort  of  memory, 
and  possessed  a  large  fund  of  detached  I'acts  relative  to  the  eaily 
selliementof  St.  Clair  and  liandolph  counties,  which  are cndxtd- 
ied  by  him  in  a  work  entitled   the  "  IMoneer  History  of  Illinois," 


REYNOLDS'  ADMINISTRATION.  305 

and  iirc  in  the  main  coiTcct  and  valnablc,  tlion^li  badly  ananjicd.* 
lie  was  tall  (»r  stalnrc;  liis  face  i»»n<i',  bouy  and  d('(']»ly  liirrowcd, 
and  nndci-  liis  lii^^li,  narrow  toi'clicad  rolled  liis  eyes,  laryc  and 
]it|iiid,  exitrcssivc  of  volnhility.  His  u.,m'  \no\i'v\v{\  v. cU  dowii- 
■\vard  to  liis  aiii]»l(;  inontli.  lie  was  kindly  by  nature,  treasured 
few  icsentnu'nts,  and  was  ever  ready  to  do  a  I'avor.  Mis 
thoroughly  democratic-  manners,  soeial  disposition  and  talkative 
Labit  caused  him  to  mingle  readily  with  the  peojde  and  eii.joy 
their  confidence.  He  was  much  in  jtnblic;  life.  We  hav(^  noted 
liiiii  as  a  Judge;  he  served  three  terms  in  congress,  was  afterward 
commissioned  (nM)st  unwisely)  one  of  the  State  linancial  agents 
to  negotiate  large  loans  to  <'arry  on  the  State  internal  imjirove- 
)Ments,  visiting  Europe  in  tiiis  (-apacity ;  still  again  we  tind  liiui  iu 
the  legislature,  lie  :vlways  claimed  tiie  staun(^liest  adhesion  to 
the  democratic  party.  Iu  1S,">,S,  however,  he  refused  to  foll(>w  the 
lead  of  Douglas,  but  si<led  with  President  liuchanan  in  his  effort 
to  fasten  slavery  upon  Kausas  by  the  Leconipton  constituti«)n,  and 
Ins  hatred  of  JJouglas  was  such  tiiat  he  preferred  Mr.  Lincoli  for 
the  senate.  In  l!S»JU,  ohl  and  infirm,  he  attended  the  Charlestou 
convention  as  an  anti-Douglas  delegate.  Owing  to  his  age.  his 
extreme  pro-slavery  views  and  l()(|uaciousness,  no  man  froui  the 
north  re<?eived  more  attention  from  tiie  southern  delegates  than 
lie.  lie  suj)]K)rted  Ibcckinridge  for  the  i)resideney.  After  the 
elections  of  October,  in  Oiiio,  Indiana  and  Pennsylvania,  had 
foreshadowed  the  suc(!ess  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  he  however  publisiied 
an  addrt'ss  uiging  democrats  to  rally  to  the;  sni)port  of  Douglas, 
that  the  election  might  be  thrown  into  congress,  where  Ibeck- 
iuridge  would  succeed.  lmmediat<'ly  preceding,  and  during  the 
war  of  the  rebellion,  his  correspou<lence  with  extni-IJilly  8mitli 
of  Virginia,  and  his  letter  to  his  brother-in-law,  J.  L.  Wilson  of 
Alabama,  which  was  widely  circulated,  evinced  a  clear  symi)a- 
thy  for  the  treason  of  the  south.  About  the  1st  of  ]March,  ISIil, 
lie  urged  upon  IJuchanan  oflicials  the  seizure  of  the  treasure 
and  arms  in  the  custoni-h(»use  and  arsenal  at  St.  Louis.  He  died 
at  r>elleville.  May,  l!^V)~>.  lie  left  no  will,  and  his  fine  property 
descended  to  his  wife,  who  survived  him  but  a  few  months,  lie 
Lad  no  children  by  either  of  his  wives. 

During  the  ]>olitical  (campaign,  Keynolds  professed  great  admi- 
ration for  the  character  of  Jackson,  though  he  was  not  accounted 
idtra  enough  by  the  real  Jacikson  men  who  denounced  him  as  an 
'•outsider."  lie  and  his  competitor  made  a  thorough  canvass  of 
the  Sfat«',  and  ])arty  excitement  ran  exceedingly  high.  .Much 
jiersonality  entered  into  it,  and  bitter  reproaciiies  were  indulged  by 
the  partisans  of  the  respective  candidates.  The  press  was  loaded 
with  abusive  articles  on  both  sides,  and  hand-bills  were  scatteied 
).i()adcast,  cctntaining  distorted  reiioits  of  the  speeches  of  tlu'  can- 
didates, and  all  sorts  of  scandalous  charges.  After  a  wearisomw 
campaign  of  near  18  numths,  Keynolds  was  elc,  ^ed  gov«'rnor. 

Ibit  with  regard  to  the  <'lection  for  lieutenant  governor,  the 
same  result  did  not  obtain  ;  it  was  the  same  as  four  years  before. 
llig(h)ii  IJ.  Slocumb  was  on  the  tictket  with  lieynohls,  and  Zadock 
Casey  with  Mr.  Kinney.     Both  candidates  for  lieutenant  govi-rnor 

•Ho  writes  :  "In  the  yenr  1794,  the  Morrison  family  emiprrafed  to  Illinois.  They 
were  talented,  industrious,  and  beciune  very  wealthy.  In  tlie  same  year  the  hoi-se 
flies  were  very  bad,  and  of  these  the  greeu  headed  tly  was  the  worst. '^ 


3G(]  HISTORY  OP  ILLINOIS. 


Avciv,  ;;<'iitl('iii('ii  of  sti'iliiij;-  wortli,  cliariich'r  niid  ability.  Slocmnb 
AViis  iiiiiiscd  to  tlic  not  iiiicoiiiiiioii  ac('oiii|ilisliiiiciit  of  tlic  Aiiu'i'i- 
caii  ]i(>liliciaii.  |)iil>lic,  spcakiiiii';  nor  did  lie  electioneer  nineli,  it  is 
said,  in  any  oIIut  manner.  Not  so  iM)\vevei'  witii  Casey;  Ik;  was 
jiifled  witii  the  j)o\ver  of  cliarndnn'  oiat(»iy,  Aillioiij-ii  lacidnj;'  in 
tlioi()M;iii  early  education,  by  eonipi'eJM'nsive  readinu'  ii<'  iiad  stor- 
ed iiis  mind,  naturally  strong',  witli  varied  kno\vled;;('.  lie  had 
IVeciuently  be«'n  a  member  of  the  lej^islature,  and  his  tine  jiersonal 
appearance  and  lar^c  pnblic  experience  jiave  him  distinction 
liironj^iionf  the  State.  laiic  his  colleague,  he,  too,  occnpied  the, 
]»idpit  occasionally.  The  clerical  ticket  was  somewhat  injured  by 
the  fact  that  the  peo|>le  could  not  brook  the  worldly  aspirations  (»f 
men  en^iajicd  in  a  calliii.u  so  militant  to  honors  that  perish  ;  but 
this  objection  did  not  cMend  to  b»ith  .gentlemen,  for  Casey  was 
elecied.  (iovciiior  (  asey  possessed  in  an  eminent  dej^ree  the  eom- 
mandinji'  tact  of  i»residinji' over  a  deliberative  body. 

In  his  messajic,  (iovernoi-  lleynolds  invited  atteidion  to  the  sub- 
ject of  education,  internal  impro\('inent  and  {he  canal;  nr.ued 
that  congress  be  memorialized  to  imi>rove  ChieajiO  harbor;  recom- 
nu'nded  three  pnblic  hiiihways,  c(nnnn'ncin,ii'  i'es]»('ctively  at 
( 'airtt.  Shawneetown.  and  on  the  l()wer  Wabash,  all  to  terminate  at 
the  lead  mines;  the  completion  of  the  ixMiiteiitiary ;  winding;  up  of 
the  ol<l  State  bank;  and,  inoccnlated  with  his  iiredecessor's  theo-y, 
stated  he  was  '•satislied  that  this  State,  in  ri,uht  of  its  sovereijiUty 
and  independence,  (wasj  the  rij;htfnl  owiu-r  of  the  soil  within  its 
limits,"'  Ibit  His  Ivxcellency  advocatecl  no  hobby,  and  his  adndn- 
ist radon  was  not  stronj;ly  ixMsomil. 

The  ji'overnor  was  not  in  political  accord  with  a  majority  of  the 
senate,  and  the  usual  contlicts  between  that  body  and  the  executive 
obtained.  The  senate  desired  the  removal  of  A.  P.  Field,  secretary 
of  Stale,  and  with  that  view  i)assed  a  resolution  re(iuestinj;'  his 
lenomination — that  they  nufiht  reject  him.*  ]>ut  the  }i«>vernor 
refused  eon>|)liance,  and  would  neitlu'r  remove  nor  remtnnnate  him. 
lie  rein)nunated  Henry  iMldy,  Sidiu'y  Ureese.  Thonms  Ford,  and 
Alfred  ('(^vles.  who  had  been  ellicient  and  acceptable  prosecuting 
attorneys,  but  as  they  had  opposed  the  election  of  Kinney,  the 
senate  rejected  them  and  turned  all  out  (»f  oflice.  exccjjt  Thomas 
Ford.  They  were  aji'ain  nominated  and  ajiain  i'«jected;  but  alter 
tile  adjonrmnent  .of  the  lejiislature,  the  "."overnor  icappointed 
them.  He  succeeded  in  liavinj;  his  choice  of  treasurer,  .bdin  De- 
ment, conlirmed  by  the  senate.  ])em'ent  was  an  idtra  .lacksou 
man,  but  had  sup]>ort  d  Weynolds.  The  incundtent  .ludj^c  .lames 
Hall,  desired  to  bi'  retained  in  the  oflice;  and  althoujih  an  anti- 
, Jackson  man,  he  had,  as  editor  of  the  Illinois  IntdliiU'iurr,  with 
niiicli  |»(»wei',  snpported  Kinney;  but  this  tailed  t(»  avail  him.  That 
curious  |)olitical  posture  would  indicate  both  as|»irants  to  the  treas- 
nrership  to  have  been  jioverned  in  theii-  course  more  by  the  hoj»e 
of  ol1ic(^  than  by  party  i)iincii)les.  JJut  that  is  a  weakness  m>t 
l>ecnliarto  those  days  alone.+ 

Amou^'  the  measures  jiassed  at  the  first  lej^islative  session  of 
Ikcynolds'  adndnistration  nniy  be  noted  the  adaptation  of  the  crim- 
inal code  ti>  the  |»enitentiary  system.  Hut  thenntst  notable  measure 
of  this    session   was   the   passaj;e  of  the  act   jtrovidiii}''  for  the 

"Kevnohis'  Life  and  Times. 

+Hull,  us  Trt'iisuror,  was  lii  urreers  with     luStttte. 


jfoiii! 


REYNOLDS'  AD>nNISTRATION.  3G7 

r<'(l('ini)ti()ii  of  the  notes  of  llic  old  State  baiilc,  wliidi  would 
liiatmc  duriiin'  the  curiciit  ycai'.  The  notorious  "Wi;.v.i;iiis  loan  " 
of  >(  100,000  was  autlioiizt'd,  and  if  that  provi'd  insullicicnt  to 
rc'di'ein  the  out-staiidin}^'  notes,  tlie  residue  was  to  1)e  refunded  by 
issuinj;'  State  st<»cks  l)eaiin,u'  (5  per  centum  annual  interest.  This 
siK'cdily  raised  the  credit  of  the  State  and  advanced  its  currency 
to  i)ar.  But  while  tlie  liiuuicial  standiu};'  of  the  State  was  tlins 
])reserved,  the  honoral)le  inend)ers  who  actively  authoiized  it,  it  is 
said,  sank  beneatii  the  waves  ot' |»oi»nlar  iiidij^nation,  never  to  rise, 
ajiiiin  as  jioliticians,  '^h(^  value  of  a  financial  character  for  the 
younj;  Stat«'.  oi'  the  dis<;race  of  repudiation,  was  not  duly  appre- 
ciated by  the  ))eople,  DenioyojiUes  availed  themselves  of  this  and 
jjroclainu'd  to  the  jteople  that  their  I'eprcsentatives  had  corruptly 
betraye(l  theii-  interests,  and  sold  out  them  and  the  State  to  \N'i,ii- 
jtins  for  judjnerations  to  come.  The  mend)ers  <pmiled  before  the  first 
onset  of  ]»ublic  iinli;;'nation  as  if  stricken  with  the  enormity  of  their 
Avr(»nJ,^  Trnth  was  crushed  to  earth  never  to  rise  aj^ain,  in  the 
case  of  these  ixditicians.  A  bli<;ht  swept  ov«'r  the  State  and  laid 
low  many  i>i'omisinj'-  buds  of  incipient  statesmen.  It  is  left  for  us 
at  this  day,  who  look  back  with  swcUiiifi'  pride  t(t  the  fact  that  our 
Stat"  has  emer;^ed  from  eveiy  imi>eudin,i;  financial  crisis  with  her 
{garments  unsullied,  to  a])preciate  the  merits  of  their  act,  only 
veyrettiuj;'  that  they  did  not  boldly  defend  their  course  ami  hold 
up  to  publict  ,s(  ()rn  tlu'  unprincipled  demayojiues  who  inflamed  the 
peoi)le  to  the  contrary.* 

The  United  States  census  returns  of  IS.'JO  showed  a  ]>o]>ulatiou 
for  Illinois  of  ir>7.44r>,  and  in  accordance  therewith  the  State  was 
appcutione.d  into  three  cont;ressional  districts.  ("[>  to  this  time  the 
State  had  had  but  one  represeidative  in  the  lower  house  of  congress. 
A  siX'cial  eh'ction  foi'oue  conjiTcssman  wasordered  foi-  Auj^ust  JH.'U, 
at  wiiich  .Jo.sei»h  I  >nm'an  was  elected;  but  for  the  general  election  of 
Auj^ust  IS.'Ji',  iiud  excry  two  years  thereafter — it  bein,y'  jjrovided 
that  coujfressmen  should  be  elected  one  year  and  overprior  to  taking' 
their  scyts — three  ineiidK'rs  were  to  be  elected.  Joseph  Duncan, 
Zadock  Casey  (the  lieutenant  {>overuor,)  and  Charles  Slade  were 
elected. 

In  his  message  to  tlie'sessiou  of  the  general  assembly  of  ]8;J2-3, 
goveru(n'  lieynolds  stated  the  ordimiry  receipts  iido  the  treasiuy 
tor  the  two  years  endiny  Xo\e)nl>er  30th,  IS32,  to  be  in  lound 
numbers,  .$102,000;  the  cunent  e.\|>enses  of  the  State  government 
for  the  same  jteriod,  were,  in  round  inuubers.  !*!tO.OOO.  This  indi- 
cated a  healthy  condition  of  tlu'  Stat(;  finances,  when  it  is 
considered  that  the  IJlaek  Hawk  war  oeeuired  during  this  period. 
The.  e.\i)enses  of  that  war  amouidingto  some  two  million  dollars,! 
were  however  assiuned  by  the  general  gov(»rnnient.  At  this 
session  the  first  earnest  efforts  were  nnide  to  build  railroads; 
several  charters  were  gianted  incor])oiating  railroad  companies, 
but  no  stock,  it  is  said,  was  ever  subscribed  to  any  of  tiiem.  It 
Avas  proposed  to  build  a  lailroad  from  Lake  .Alichigan  to  the  Illinois 
river  in  place  of  the  canal ;  surveys  for  the  Northern  (!ross  road 
(now  tlie  T.  W.  &  W.,)  and  for  the  Central,  from  Peru  to  Cairo, 
were  also  pro[)o.sed.  • 

•Ford's  History. 
tBrowii's  Ulinols,  355. 


3fi.S  HlsTOUY   OF    ILLINOIS. 

r)iit  tlic  most  iibsdibiiij;'  topic,  of  this  session  \v;is  the  iiiipciicli- 
liu'iit  trial  of  Tlicoidiilus  W.  Siiiilli.  oiic  of  the  associjitc  judges 
of  tlic  siiiu'ciuo  (M)tiit.  I'ctilioiis  imiiicroiisly  signed  were  rcccixcd 
by  the  lioiisc  clmi'iiiii;^'  liiiii  witii  inistlciiicaiiors  in  onicc,  TIki 
lioiisc  \(>t('(l  seven  articles  of  inipeaclinient,  wiiieli  were  tians- 
iiiitted  to  the  senate  for  trial.  Tlie  lirst  three  related  to  the  eornii)t 
sales  of  cii'cnit  clerkships;  he  had  anthori/ed  his  son,  a  minor,  to 
bar,i;ain  otf  the  oHict'  in  Madison  connly,  l»y  hiiin<i one  (leorj^v, 
Kelly  at  i^U.")  ])er  month,  reservin<;'  the  fees  and  enn)lnments  to 
liimself;  he  did  the  sanu' — reservin;^'  the  fees  and  eniohnnents — 
till  his  son  became  of  ai^'c;  and  to  subject  said  ollice  to  his  will,  he 
liad  nmde  appointments  thre(^  several  times  without  re(piirin,y; 
bonds  from  the  appointees.  He  was  also  charged  with  bein.i;'  ;i 
('o-plaintitt' in  several  vexations  suits  foi' an  alle.i;('d  trespass,  coni- 
menced  by  allidaxit  in  a  court  where  he  himself  i)i'esid(Ml,  holdinj? 
the  defendants  illegally  to  excessive  bail  npon  a  tritlin;^'  pretext, 
to  o))press  and  injnie  them,  ami  (tontinuinj^'  the  snits  from  term  to 
teiin  to  harrass  and  persecnte  them.  The  .")th  article  (^harjicd  him 
with  arbitiarily  sasixMuliny  .lolin  S.  (Ireathonse,  a  lawyer,  from 
])ractice  for  advising-  his  client  to  api)ly  for  a  (;lianji:e  of  venue  to  ii 
cir<'iiit  where  his  honor  did  not  preside;  (!th,  for  tyranically  con>- 
mitlinii'  to  Jail,  in  .Mont^.i'omery  connly,  a  (^naUer  who  entertained 
conscientious  scrui)li's  apiinst  removiiiJi;  his  hat  in  open  court;  7th, 
for  decidinji"  an  agreed  case  between  the  sheriff  and  treasurer  of 
3Iadison  county  without  process  or  plcadinji',  to  the  lu'ejudice  (»f  the 
county,  rendering;'  a])peal  to  the  supreme  court  necessary.  The 
senate  resolved  itself  into  a  hij>h  court  of  impeachment  antl  ii 
solemn  trial  was  had,  which  lasted  from  January  !>th  to  February 
7th,  1S;{.'{.  The  jtrosecution  was  conducted  by  a  committee  of  nian- 
a^i'ers  from  tln^  house,  consistiuji'  of  Benjamin  Mills.  Murray 
jMcConnel,  John  T.  Stuart,  James  Semple,  and  John  DoujLrherty. 
The  defendant  was  rei)resented  by  Si<lney  Ibeese,  It.  M.  Yonnji', 
ami  Thomas  Ford,  subsecpiently  j^overnor.  The  array  of  talent  on 
both  sides,  the  exalt<'d  i)(>siti(ui  of  the  at;cused,  and  the  excitement 
thereby  (caused  in  political  circles,  <>ave  to  the  trial  \uuisual  public 
attraction  thronjihont  the  State,  and  duiinj;',its protracted  i)endency 
little  else  was  transacted  by  the  Iciiislature. 

Tlie  trial  was  conducted  thron^ihout  by  nmrked  ability  ami  learn- 
in<>'.  A  ji'reat  number  of  witnesses  were  examined  ami  nuu'li 
documentary  evideiuMi  introduced.  The  arj^nments  of  counsel 
were  of  the  hijihest  order;  and  in  the  final  sunnnin,y'  np  for  the 
prosecution,  the  chairnmn  of  the  house  committee,  Mr.  Willis,  (Uie 
of  the  most  brilliant  orators  of  the  time,  s[»oke  for  three  days  in  ii 
strain  of  nnsui'passed  elo<iuence.  IVndiny  the  trial,  the  defendant, 
after  each  adjonrnmt'ut,  hiid  the  desks  of  senator.s  carefully 
searched  for  scraps  of  i)aper  (!ontaininf>scril)blin}i"  concernin<f  their 
status  upon  the  respective  charges.  Beiu};'  thus  advised,  his 
counsel  enjoyed  i)eculiar  advantai^cs  in  the  inanainement  of  the 
defence.  The  constitution  required  that  "no  person  shall  be  con- 
victed without  the  con(;urrence  of  two-thirds  of  all  the  seinitors 
l)reseiit."  When  the  vote  was  finally  takvu  upon  each  article 
sel^amtely,  22  senators  were  preseid,  4  absent  or  excused.  It 
required  15  to  convict,  12  voted  "guilty"  on  some  of  the  charges, 
10  were  in  favor  of  acquittal,  and  15  "voted  him  guilty  of  one  or 
other  of  the  sijeciticatious,  but  as  12  was  the  highest  vote  on  any 


REYNOLDS'  ABMINIKTIJATION.  309 

Olio  of  tlioiii,  lio,  Wiis  iU'<iuitt('<l.'**  Tli('i'«'iii»oii  tlic  lioiis<'  of  r»'pro- 
si'iitiitivcs,  well  coiiviiiccd  of  liis  ^iiilt,  iiimicdiiitcly  jinsscd  a 
resolution  by  a  two-tliinis  vote  niKlcr  tlic  coiisiitiitioii  t(»  iciiiove 
liiiii  from  ollicc  by  iiddrcss;  liut  this,  too,  wlicn  reported  to  tlie 
seiiiite,  failed  in  tliiit  Ixxly,  and  .Indj^c  Smith  retiiineil  his  seat 
iijion  the  supreme  beiieli  of  Illinois  until  he  died  about  ten  years 
afterward. t 

W  lien  Lieutenant  Clovernor  Zadoek  Casey  was  ele(;ted  to  eon- 
gress  in  liS;{2  lie  resijiiied  his  otlice  and  (icii.  AV.  Lee  D.  Ewinj;',  a 
senator,  was  chosen  to  preside  over  the.  senate.  At  the  August 
eleetion  of  1<S.">4,  <;()vernor  Keynolds  was  nlso  elected  to  congress, 
more  than  a  year  ahead,  as  was  tiieii  the  law,  to  succeed  ]\Ir.  Slade; 
but  shortly  after,  the  incnmbeiit  died,  wlieii  Reynolds  was  also 
chosen  to  serve  out  his  uiiexj)ired  term.  Accoidiii^Iy  ho  set  out 
for  Washin^i'ton  in  Xovenil)er  of  that  yoiir  to  take  his  seat  in  con- 
j>ress,  and  (Ion.  J-^wiii^',  by  virtue  of  his  ollicc  its  ])resident  of  the 
senate,  be(;aine  j«'overnor  of  this  Stiite  for  Just  15  da.Vs,  when,  upon 
the  meeting  of  the  legislature,  to  which  lie  sent  liis  messaj;e  as 
iictin;jf  {jfovernor,  he  was  relieved  of  his  exalted  station  by  tlie 
governor  elect,  Duncan,  beiny  sworn  into  otlice.  This  is  the  only 
time  that  such  a  conjuncture  has  liapi)eiied  in  the  history  of  the 
State. 

•Ford's  History- 

fiSco  Senate  Journals  1833,  appendix,  for  full  proceedings  of  this  trial. 


24 


Chapter  XXX  rr. 
1S27-1S;51— lU.ACK   HAWK  WAR. 

1.  Winnehaf/o  JIoNiiliticif — IiKlians  uitahle  to  lifsist  the  Eucroack- 
mentis  of  the  MinerH— Coalition  with  the  ISioux — Attack  on  a 
Steamboat — Compelled  to  sue  for  r<;ace. 

2.  8acN  and  Fo.res — lilael-  Han-l; — Keohnl: — Hae  Vitlanes — Inva- 
sion of  the  Slate — Militia  and  L'et/nlars  Itroin/ht  into  h'eqnisition 
— March  to  the  Scene  of  Dantjer — Black  llaick  conqHlled  to  en- 
ter into  a  Treaty  of  Peaee. 


Tlio  most  ficqiKMit  cause  of  the  (lifliciiltics  Avliicli  from  tiiiio  to 
time  liave  <listiiil)c(l  the  pcacc'iil  rclalioiis  of  the  wliiU' and  red 
men,  has  resulted  from  a  desin  of  tlie  former  to  possess  the  liuut- 
\\\%  ^liMuids  of  the  latter.  Iiitiiisioiis  ui»oii  Indian  territory,  led 
to  the  war  with  i'ontiae  and  that  of  Kiny  Phillip,  11  years  after- 
Avard,  and  at  ii  later  date,  and  farther  westward,  to  the  saii- 
jiiiinary  contest  with  Tecnmseh.  Tlu'  orijiinal  emij^rants  from 
JCurope  and  their  des(;eiidanrs,  recinirinji'  lands  tor  cnltivalion, 
purchased  larj^e  tracts  from  the  Indians.  As  fast  as  these  became 
populated  others  were  recjuired,  till  the  savaj^cs,  seeinji  their  for- 
ests and  hiuiting  f>Tonnds  rapidly  disappearing;,  endeavored  to 
re-possess  them.  The  Europeans  met  them  in  arms,  and  as  the 
result,  they  lia\e  been  (lri\en  from  river  to  river  an<l  from  forest 
to  forest  till  scarcely  an  abidinjj;  jihice  is  left  them.  The  last  effort 
toresist  encroachments  of  this  kind,  was  nnule  by  the  AVinneba- 
goes  and  the  iSacs  and  Foxes,  within  the  Hunts  of  Illinois. 

Winnehapo  War. — During'  the  latter  part  of  (lovernor  Edwards' 
administration,  the  Indians  on  the  uoithwestern  frontier  manifested 
sym])tous  of  discontent.  The  dissatisfaction  increased,  and  in  the 
snnnner  of  I(S27,  culminated  in  what  the  writers  of  the  tinu'  style 
the  Winnebafi'o  war,  an  atiray  of  no  j;reat  unignitude  but  the 
precnisor  of  the  hostilities  umler  IJlack  IJawk,  wliich  tilled  the  na- 
tion with  alarm.  This  sudden  ebnlition  of  savaye  animosity,  was 
the  unjust  occupation  of  their  lands  by  the  miners  of  (lalena.  At 
this  j)eriod  larji'e  number  ol"  adventurers  tVom  ditferent  Stat(>s, 
were  hasteninj;'  to  the  lead  mines,  and  in  i)assin<;' throuj;h  the{!()un- 
try  of  the  Winnebagoes,  i)urposely  exasperated  them  with  the  in- 
tention of  i)i'ovokinjH' hostilities  and  securing-  their  lamls  by  way  of 
re|trisal.  The  right  oi'  this  tribe  to  the  lands  in  <pu'stion,  was,  how- 
e\  cr,  involved  in  doubt,   liy  the  treaty  of  1804,  the  iSacs  and  Foxes 

370 


BLACK   HAWK  WAR. 


Ml 


(•••(led  to  tlic  riiitcd  Stiitcs  iill  the  land  between  tlie  iikmiI  lis  of 
the  Illinois  iind  Wisconsin  ii\ers.  In  ISltJ,  tliat  portion  of  tlK! 
tenitority  l.vinji  norili  of  n  line  drawn  west  from  tim  soiitliern  ex- 
ticniit.v  of  I.aUe  Mielii^an,  was  retrocededhy  tlie,  j^ovcinnient  io  tli« 
(>t(a\\as,  ('lii|»i»ewas  ancl  IVitawaltoniies,  the  \Vinnel»aj;(>es  not 
Ix'in;;-  included  in  thcf^riint.  Snl>se(|iieidly,  however,  u  war  Itioke 
out  anionji  tlu'se  tiiltes  in  re;^ard  to  tlicii'  lespective  honndaries, 
and  in  ISLT*  the  comniissiinicrs  <tf  the  I'liiled  States  interposed  as 
mediators  to  re-adjnst  them  and  terminate  liostilities.  In  the  new 
arranu'ement.  tlie  ri^^iit  of  the  >Vinnel>aj;(»es  to  the  land  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  the  Iea<l  niin<'s,  seems  to  have  been  admitted,  althonyli 
they  were  not  recoiini/.ed  in  the  preeedinj;  treaty. 

IJnt  wai\  inii' the  (piestion  of  title,  they  had  been  in  possession 
of  the  connlry  for  years,  and  l»elie\in.u'  it  belon;;i'd  to  them,  re- 
jjardcfl  the  intrusion  of  the  whites  with  the  same  intense  jealousy 
and  ill-will  nmnifested  by  civilized  men  on  similar  occasions,  liicli 
deposits  of  lead  ore  had  been  found  in  tlieii'  territory,  and  Mr. 
Thomas,  the  ajicnt  at  (lalena.  j;ave  permissirui  to  the  miners  to 
procure  lar.Lfe  <piantities  of  minei'al,  despite  the  remonstrances  of 
the  \Viiiutd>a;4(»es.  The  sava;;'('s  at  lenj;th,  fiiidiu;;their  complaints 
unheeded,  attempted  to  eject  the  trespassers  l»y  f(»rce,  l>ut  were 
thems«'lv<'s  repelle<l  and  "greatly  exasperated  at  beiuj;  unable  to 
protect  their  property.  Assistance  from  others  was  now  their 
<uily  alternative,  and  for  this  purpose  they  sent  a  (lele,uatiou  to  ask 
the  advice  of  their  principal  chiefs  north  of  FMairie  du  ("iiien.  An- 
other object  of  their  visit  was  to  seeu'c  the  (Cooperation  of  the 
Sioux,  who  had  also  become  offended  at  the  .Vmericaus  and  only 
waited  an  opp(»rt  unity  to  wreak  their  ven,n'eanceui»on  tlieoltjectsof 
their  ill  will.  Soin<'  of  theirc(»uiitryinen  had  not  lonj^-  before  surpri 
ed  and  murdered  a  number  of  the  (.'liippewasin  the  vicinity  of  Fort 
Sncllinji',  and  the  commandant  immediately  caused  their  arrest 
an<l  had  them  delivered  up  to  the  injuicd  tribe  formerited  ])unish- 
ment.  The  inteiposition  of  tiie  American  oflicer  was  ])i'om]»te(l 
only  by  a  sense  of  justice,  yet  IJed  P.ird,  the  chief  of  tlietrilie,  be- 
<v.ime  fj^reatly  offeiuled  and  secretly  resolved  tolbrm  a  coalition  with 
tlu'  Winneba^oes.  Uotli  tribes,  therefoi'e,  had  yrievancesto  re(lr(\ss, 
and  each  foun<l  the  other  ready  to  strike  u  united  blow  ayainst 
the  common  enemy. 

Accord  in  j^ly.  while  the  Winnebayoes  were  in  consultation  with 
their  chiefs,  tliey  were  visited  by  a  messen^-er  of  the  Sioux,  who 
after  <letailin<i'  the  wroniis  of  his  own  tribe,  resorted  to  falsehood 
to  further  exasperate  his  auditors  ayainst  the  Anu'iicans.  lie 
infoniH'd  them  that  two  Winneba;;(»  jnisoners  coutined  at 
Fort  Snellinji',  had  recently  been  cruelly  nuirdered  by  the  whites, 
under  circumstances  which  demanded  imnwdiate  and  bloody 
retaliation.  Xotwithstandiii};'  the  utter  mendacity  of  this  state- 
nuMit,  the  Winneba^'oes,  smarlin<;'  under  their  treatment  at  the 
hands  of  the  nniu'rs,  were  easily  persuaded  it  was  true,  ami 
resolved  upon  revenp',  while  the  visitor  assured  them  that  as 
soon  as  they  struck  se  first  blow,  his  own  tribes  w<udd  assist 
them.  They  accordinj;ly  killed  -  white  men,  and  a  more  Jnstid- 
able  pretext  was  not  lonj;'  wi.ntin;;'  for  them  to  stiike  another  blow. 
On  the  ;5(»thof  .Inly  1S27,  2  keel  boats,  laden  with  supplies  for  Fort 
Snellinji',  landed  at  a  larji<c  Winnebajfo  encanipnu'iit  a  short  dis- 
tance above  Prairie  du  (jbien.     While  hei-e  the  Imlians  collected 


372    .  HISTOllY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


silioiit  tlh-  lioiits,  (loiihtlcss  tor  the  pui'posr  of  pliiiidci-  Init  were 
I'oilt'd  ill  llit'ir  (l('si;4iis.  In  llic  uhsciici'  (»!'  oilier  \vc;ip(»iis  the 
Aviiitcs  iiiadc  tliciii  driiiik,  anil  tiikin;;  ii(lvaiitii;:(>  of  tlicir  liclpicss 
('ontlitioii,  captiii'cd  several  sipiaws,  and  took  tlieni  aboard  for  a 
purpose  too  base  *o  mention.  IW-fore  their  intoxicated  hiishands 
Iteeaiiu'  aware  of  the  injury  they  iiad  sustained,  the  boats  and 
their  s{|iia\vs  weni  too  iUr  up  tin;  river  for  pursuit,  yet  several 
liMiidred  infuriate  warriors  now  assembled  with  the  deternduatioii 
of  ineetin;^'  out  to  tlie  a;;;;ress(us  the  ni<)st  severe  punishment 
w  lien  they  retiii'iied.  In  due  time,  tiie  boats  were  seen  deseend- 
iiiu  the  river,  but  th(^  crews  awar*'  tliat  tiieir  misdt'eds  deserved 
eastijiati(»n,  iiad  made  preparati<Mi  for  di'feiice.  One  of  the  boats 
]»assed  l»y  unobserved  diirin;;  tiie  uij;ht,  but  tiie  oilier,  less  fortu- 
nate, was  assailed  by  an  (tverwhelmin;;  force  of  sa\a;;es,  who 
fouj;Iit  with  a  d«'teri  iuation  only  e(pialled  by  their  passion  lor 
Aeiijiearlee.  The  boat  became  ;;rouiided,  and  for  a  time  the  men 
on  board  seeme<l  doomed.  I)ir«'ctly  in  tht;  face  of  a  ;;alliuj;  lire, 
the  savages  succeeded  in  lashiiifi  solium  of  their  canoes  to  the 
iiumanaj;eable  craft,  but  when  tiiey  attempted  to  board  h«'r,  they 
were  beaten  back  into  the  river,  and  tinally  retire<l  frctm  the  con- 
test. Duriu}^-  the  en<;a<"''iieut  the  scpuiws  escap«'d,  and  no  doubt 
"with  the  hearty  c(mseut  ot  ;'ie  b«tatmen,  juovided  it  mi}iht  be  the 
means  of  drawing;  after  them  their  iiduriate  lords,  Two  of  the 
Americans  >vei(>  kil!  ',  and  so  many  others  v/ounded,  it  was  with 
ditliculty  that  Captain  Lindsey,  who  had  char<;'e  of  the  b(»at,  ran 
d(»wii  to  flalena,  and  made  known  the  hostile  attack.  Dire  alarm 
at  the  reception  of  the  news  spread  amou};  the  miners,  and  in  n 
short  time  not  less  than  MHM  men,  women  and  ehildrtMi  tied  to 
(laleuafor  protei'tion.  Exa<>ji'erate<l  reports  spread  rai)idly  over 
the  country,  and  most  of  the  settlements  in  the  northern  part  of 
tlu'  Htate  partook  of  the  fear  and  exeiteuu'ut  incident  to  an 
actual  invasion.  At  (lalena  a  committee  of  safety  was  formed, 
tem|»orary  defenses  were  erected,  and  in  pursuance  of  an  order 
from  (Jov.  Kdwards,  the  miners  were  formed  into  com])anies  and 
eipiipped  for  action.  A  re<;iment  was  also  raised  in  Hanf-aiiHUi 
and  5lor<ian  counties,  and  under  the  conimand  of  T.  M.  Xeale, 
inarched  to  the  scene  of  danj^er.  On  his  arrival,  however,  he 
f(tund  the  war  virtually  at  an  end.  (ien.  Atkinson  with  (500  rej^u- 
lars  and  the  (lalena  militia,  under  (ien.  Dod^e,  hadi>enetratetl  the 
enemy's  country,  as  far  as  the  portage  of  the  Fox  and  Wiscitnsin, 
and  comiielled  the  hostile  sava}j;es  t<»  sue  for  peace.  The  ariny 
returned  from  I'rairie  du  Chieii,  with  7  of  their  ])rinei|,*al  men, 
amon<»-  whom  were  lied  Bird  the  chief  of  the  Sioux,  and  Ulaek 
Hawk  who  shortly  afterward  beciame  the  insti}>ator  of  other  and 
};reater  disturbanc<»s.  They  were  all  thrown  into  prison  as 
abettors  of  the  murderous  attack  on  the  boat,  and  sutfered  a  long 
conlinement  befort;  they  were  tried.  As  the  result  of  the  tardy 
trial,  some  were  acquitted,  and  others  convicted,  and  more  than  a 
year  after  tlieii'  incarceration  executed  on  the  <;allows. 

In  the  meantime,  Ked  Bird  whose  ])rou(l  spirit  could  not  endure 
the  humiliation  of  conlinement,  si<'kened  and  died  in  prison. 
There  was  associated  with  the  latter  days  of  his  life  a  romantic 
and  melancholy  interest,  different  from  the  usual  phases  of  Indian 
character.  He  had  always  been  the  favorite  of  his  own  peoi)le 
and  np  to  this  illicit    connection    with    the    Winnebagoes   the 


nLAf'K   HAWK   WAI?. 


373 


nr<l<>iif  iiiiil  iiiiiiltcriiMc  IViciid  of  tlic  whites.  ITnlikc  other  sii\a;{0 
hNnh'i's,  when  lii.s  allies  were  pressed  with  a  victorious  t'on-e,  lio 
rel'iised  t(»  (h'sert  tiieiii.  aiitl  voliiiitiiiily  ^''iive  hiiiiseH'  op  t(t  Niifler 
not'  only  lor  his  own  misdeeds,  iiiil  tor  tlie  eoiiiinoii  otl'eiise  ol'  tiie 
Iriiie.  Chid  in  a  roiie  of  skins,  and  hearing;  a  wliite  tla<;,  lie  roth) 
into  camp,  and  witii  dauntless  ('onra<^e  and  an  M'..i'lou(le(|  brow, 
])iii('ed  iiini.seif  in  tin*  iiands  of  his  eih>ni\.  Not  even  tlio 
I'estraiiits  of  prison  life.  altlioii<^h  they  irnjiaiied  his  health,  eonid 
oltscnre  the  native  vi;L;(>r  of  liis  ndnd,  and  when  called  on  hy  whito 
men  all  the  iiohility  of  a  j^reat  savage  lit  up  iiis  niaidy  feainres. 
Incensed  at  the  Americans  hecanse  they  had  (h-liNcied  his  ccmiii- 
trynn'M  into  the  hands  of  their  enemy,  he  was  doni)tless  tin' secret 
insli<;ator  and  riding  s|»irit  of  the  war.  although  tlu'  NViniiehiiiLroe.s 
committed  the  overt  acts.  'I'his  tribe  now  completely  hundded,  in  a 
,snhse«juent  talk  with  the  federal  authorities  abandoned  idl  their 
lainis  sonlh  of  the  Wis(!onsin  river,  to  the  insatiate  j-i-asp  of  tho 
nanpierors. 

Hardly  had  the  (listurbances  of  the  vampiished  tribe  ceased  be- 
fore the  frontier  inhabitants  became  endnoilcd  in  dillicnilies  with 
the  Sacs  ami  l"\>.\es.  The  lirst  reco;;nilion  of  these  Indians  by 
the  Dnitt'd  States,  was  in  a  treaty  cmiclnded  at  lM»rt, Marnier,  in 
17S7,  by  (iov.  St.  Clair,  wherein  the  ^iovernnuMit  i,fiiaranteed  them 
its  protection.  In  I.S04,  (Iov.  \V.  II.  Ilariison  was  insirncted  by 
jnesident  fJeltersoii  to  institnte  ne,i,'otiations  with  them  for  tho 
l)nrchase  of  lands,  ami  shortly  aftei'ward  a  treaty  was  ratilied 
with  them,  by  which  their  beantifnl  conidrytni  IJock  river  was 
tlivested  of  the  Indian  title.  A.yain  in  IS.'iO,  a  third  treaty  was 
«'iilered  into,  by  the  terms  of  wlii<'h  they  were  to  remove  Irom  the 
lands  whi(di  they  had  sold  to  the  United  Stal<"s,  east  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, and  peaceaidy  retire  across  the  rivei-. 

At  this  time,  Keokuk  and  l>lack  Flawk  were  the  two  principal 
chiefs  of  the  nali(»n.  The  latter  was  born  at  tin'  i>rincipal 
villa;,'*'  of  his  ti'ilte,  on  Rock  river,  in  I  7()7.  I'ossessiiii;- no  here- 
ditary lank.  his  chieftainship  was  due  to  the  native  vi<i<n'  of  his 
charact(M-,  and  fjreat  siicj-ess  in  war.  In  <'aily  youth  he  dislin- 
j;iiished  himself  as  a  brave;  and  in  the  iiiany  liercecontlicts  of  his 
.sui>se(|iient  lite  w'th  the  Osajres  and  Cherokees,  he  never  lost  a 
battle.  When  tie  war  of  1.SI2,  broke  out  between  the  lJiMt<'(l 
{States  and  Kn.i,daml,  he  offered  his  services  t«»  the  .Americans, 
which  frcMii  motives  of  humanity  they  declined.  He  however, 
.soon  found  patrtms  ainonj;  the  IJritish,  who  reuaidless  of  the  bru- 
tal attrocities  of  savajj^e  warfare,  furnished  his  men  with  arms. 
At  the  instaiKM'  of  their  meiceiiary  aycnts,  he  siicct'cded  in  collect- 
in;;  L'OO  braves,  and  repaired  to  (Jreen  Hay,  where  he  nu't  Col. 
Dixon  and  a,  larjjfe  body  of  Indians  assendtled  irom  the  adjacent 
tribes.  Of  th<^  interview  wldch  followe<l  between  him  and  the 
l>ritish  otiicer,  he  says:  ''He  received  me  with  a  hearty  shaken  of 
the  hand,  and  presenti'd  me  to  the  other  otlicers  who  shook  my 
hand  cordially,  and  seemed  much  pleased  with  my  men.  After  I 
vas  seated,  (!ol.  Dixon  said  :  '(Jen.  Black  Hawk,  f  sent  foi-you  to 
explain  what  we  are  ;;<>in;;-  to  do,  ami  the  reasons  that  have 
bronjjht  us  here.  Your  l'ji;>lish  father  has  found  (mt  that  the 
Americans  want  to  take  your  country  from  you,  and  has  sent  me 
and  his  braves  to  drive  them  bai-k.  He  has  likewise  sent  a  laiye 
quantity  of  arms  and  ammunition,  and  we  want  your  warriors  to 


874 


IIISTOUT   Ul'   ILLINOIS. 


Join  us."  II*'  tlifii  pliKM'd  ii  iiH'<l:i]  iiroilixl  iii,\  ikm-I;,  :iimI<;:i\<>  Hit- ii 
Itiipri'  <iii(l  ii  silk  liii;:,  siiviii;;,  ■\'uii  aw  IimoiiiiiiiiikI  iitl  the  braxcs 
■Nvliii'li  arc  lo  h'livc  Ihtc  day  aiUT  loiiioiiou,  lu  join  our  braves 
at  Detroit.'  Illiick  Hawk  I'ou^lil  in  L' «'n;;a;i»'nii'Mls  witii  liis  new 
allies,  antl  aninialiv  received  |»a.\nienl  loi  liis  sei\  ices  ni»  to  liie 
time  of  his  own  war  a;>ainst  tiie  Anieiieans.  h'toni  tins  eireuni- 
staiiee    liis   I'oice   was  desi^unated  the  i'.rilisli  hand. 

Keoknk,  his  risai.  indike  iiiin,  leinained  I  lie  iViend  ol'tiie  Ainer- 
it'ans.  Not willistandiii;^  (lie  insatiate  l•as^ion  of  tiie  Saes  and 
Foxes  for  war,  and  tin'  lielief  that  tlie.v  Innl  l»e»'n  injincd  l»>  tin; 
])e(>l  le  of  tin'  Inited  Stales,  he  drew  alter  him  a  majorit.s  of  the 
nation,  and  thus  weakened  tlieen'ortsof  IWaek  Hawk.  In  *li|il«>- 
maey  and  jinl};nn'nt  he  was  nnMc  than  a  mat«  l|  for  his  luotlier 
chieftain,  and  as  we  shall  see,  throni^h  the  intliieiiee  of  the  L'liiletl 
States  whoxe  cause  he  had  espoused,  he  lu'came  llu>  sole  chief  of 
his  |>eopIe. 

In  accordance  with  the  treaty  sti|Mdalioiis,  Keoknk  and  Ids  fol- 
lowers renmined  on  tlie  west  sideof  the  river,  llhu  k  Hawk,  Inuv- 
e\er,  actuated  no  donht  parllv  by  |>aU'iolism,  but  nntslly  by  the 
ill  will  he  entertaiiu'd  toward  the  .Vnu-ricans  ileclared  all  llie 
ju-evious  tn-aties  \  (»id.  and  in  the  Sprin;;  of  bs;il  n-crossed  the  Mis- 
sissippi with  his  women  and  <'liildren  and  odb  warriors.  ICveiy 
ar;iunn'nt  had  been  nseil  by  his  most  prudent  advisers,  to  deter 
him  from  end)arkin;;  in  this  hazardous  enterprise,  and  even  ihe 
authorities  of  Canada,  with  whom  he  bad  <'unsulted,  counseled 
liim  t(»  leave  his  village  if  he  had  sold  it.  Tht  ;'overnment  of  the 
I'niled  States,  desirous  of  preventing  bUtodshed,  bore  with  him  m 
l<m<>'  time,  hopin*;  after  due  rcHection  he  wouUl  al>andon  his  rash 
desi;;n.  This,  however,  bein;^  construed  as  weakness,  he  was 
induced  t(»  believe  that  tin- ^t>\ernnient  either  (Muld  not,  or  would 
not  attempt  his  removal,  lie  also  atfecled  to  believe  it  was  an  act 
of  cowardice  to  abandon  his  villa;;*',  and  llius  leavt'  the  <>raves  of 
his  fathers,  to  be.  ruthlessly  plowed  up  by  stran;;'ers,  wlnvsi-  ri;;lits 
to  the  soil  was  of  doid)tful  anthoril.\. 

This  celebrated  Indian  tow  n  was  romantically  sit ua ted <tn  a  prom- 
ontory fornu'd  b\  thejnnction  of  the  Mississippi  and  I  Joi'k  rivers,  antl 
the  j;reat  lu-auty  and  fertility  of  the  adja/ent  country  made  it  the 
centre  of  attracti'm  tor  emijiirants  from  all  jiarts  of  the  «'ounlry. 
The  village  was  callable  of  sheltcrinu  a  po|adati»»n  (i.dlKt  or  7,(100 
inhabitants.  The  houses  consisted  of  poles  wrouj^lit  into  frames 
and  coNcred  with  bark,  previ«tusly  prejiaied  by  drying'  to  a«lapt  it 
to  the  walls  of  these  structuics.  Seven  hundre«l  such  lodges  of 
various  dinu'usions.  the  lai'<i('st  of  which  did  not  p«'rhaps  excee«l 
](M>  feet  in  len;:th  and  ."i(t  in  breadth,  constitnbid  the  ilwellin^is  of 
the  villa^'crs.  About  7(HI  acres  of  the  adjacent  prairie  was  sur- 
rounded by  a  fence,  and  the  enclosed  soil  cultivated  by  the  Indian 
Miuneii  ill  corn,  beans,  peas  and  s(pmshes.  The  place  was  said  to 
be  ].")(»  years  old.  and  had  for  (1(1  orTO  \ears  been  the  principal  vil- 
hij;c  of  the  Sac  Nation.  On  the  one  hainl  Hashed  tlie  broad  wa- 
ters of  the  ^lissiKssippi  in  the  ray.s  of  the  evening;-  sun,  t)ii  the  other 
the  rijiplinji"  str<'am  of  l'«ick  river  stru;;;;led  between  the  dark 
Ibrest-chul  islands  wiiich  obstructed  its  channel,  ilardly  an  in- 
dividual coidd  be  found  who  did  not  have  friends  and  relatitin.s 
"whose  ashes  were  reposing  in  the  adjacent  j^rave  yards.  Hither, 
in  accordance  with  an  immemorial  custom  of  the  nation,  bereaved 


nLA<,'K   HAWK  WAR. 


375 


inotlit'i's,  wives  ami  sisters  ix'tionncd  iiiMiiiiil  |»il;iiiiii;ii;es  to  pny 
a  triliille  ((f  respects  to  llicir  (Icpiirtrd  relatives.  On  these  iiieliin- 
(•iiol.\  oee;isi(»iis  lliey  eiii'erilll.\  removed  tiie  ;;ro\viii;^  ve;;etiil  loll 
from  tiie  moinids  and  addressed  words  ot°  endearment  to  the  dead, 
intpnrJMii'  iiow  lhe\  fared  in  the  land  of  spirits  i\nd  wlio  peitorinecl 
tlie  kindly  olliee  -d'  molliei',  sisteior  wife.  The  depttsji  in;;' (d' lood 
on  the  yi'ave  vo     'Mded  these  time  honored  reli<;ioiis  ser\  ices. 

As  is  Msaallv  tiie  ease  with  lival  factions  l)ronL;lit  in  contact,  tlie, 
eondnci  of  hoih  whites  and  Indians  admitted  of  censure.  'I'lie 
7lh  arli«'le  of  the  treaty  of  ISdt  piov  ided  that  as  Ion;;'  as  the  lands 
which  are  now  ceded  to  the  I'.  S.  shall  remain  their  property  tho 
.said  Indians  shall  enjoy  the  pri\  ile;;e  <d'  li\  in;^  and  Inintin;;'  on 
them.  These  lands  wer«'  not  liidii;;ht  into  marUet  till  the  year 
1S2!),  and  cons«-(pM'ntly  all  who  had  pre\  ionsly  settled  on  theiii 
were  lrespass<'rs,  having:  violated  the  laws  <d'<'oninress  and  the  pre- 
exist inj^' treaties.  The  most  adxanced  settlements  at  that  timedid 
not  approach  nearer  than  oO  or  (>(>  miles  <d'  Kock  river,  and  the 
lands  for  even  a  ^-reater  <listaii(M'  lia<l  not  l)een  ott'ei'ed  foi-  sale, 
yet  the  government  disposed  of  a  few  (piaiter  sections  at  the  in(»nth 
of  this  stream,  enda'a«'iii;;'  the  site  of  the  villa;iie  and  lields  cidtiva- 
ted  by  the  inhahitaMts.  The  maiufest  ohject  of  this  advanced 
movement  upon  the  Indian  settlements  was  t(»  evade  the  ]>ro\is- 
ions  of  the  ti'eatv.  by  haxinj;'  the  ;;<»vernmental  title  to  the  lands 
pass  init)  the  hands  of  in<lividiials  and  thus  obtain  a  pretext  for 
I'cmovinj;  its  owners  west  (d'  the  Mississippi.  The  white  inhabi- 
tants thns  introduced,  commenced  depredations  by  (b'stroyin^'  th(3 
eoni  <d'  the  Indians,  killinu'  their  domesti<-  animals,  and  in  sonn; 
instances  whippin;-  theii"  women  ami  children.  They  <'arried  with 
tlienj  as  articles  of  tnitti<'  iidctxicatin;;  liquors,  and  by  fre<iueidly 
selling;  them  in  vi<dation  of  law,  introduced  scem-s  of  drunkenness 
and  disorder.  Sonu'  of  the  chiefs  renaaistrated  a.uainst  these  out- 
laj-es  and  even  visited  the  house,  of  a  white  settler  and  emptied 
the  contents  of  his  whiskey  bairels  (Ui  the  .uronnd,  to  prevent  their 
people  from  becomin;;  intoxicat''d  and  mui-derini;  the  white  iidiab- 
itanls.  'I'he  Ameri<'ans,  on  the  other  band.  ])referi('d  jurave, 
<'har;4'es  ajiainst  the  Iraliaas.  many  <d"  which  w«'i('  triU'.  Notwith- 
.standinjf,  in  bSl(»  Ulack  ilawk  had  rec<»<inized  the  treaty  of  ISOt, 
and  t<t  use  his  own  «'X])ression.  he  touched  the  i^oose  quill  to  this 
paper  in  it!<  contirnmtion,  he  endeav«a'ed  to  de<'ei\('  his  tribe  with 
statements  that  their  lands  were  inalienal)le  and  that  the  picvions 
eessi«ms  ami  treati<'s  were  fraudulent  ami  void.  A^^ain.  when  the 
ji'oveiiiment  survey«'d  and  sold  the  site  of  their  villaju'e,  althoutih 
the  object  which  induced  the  pur<dnisers  to  pass  ovei'  such  lar^ic 
scope  of  unoccupied  territoi'y  was  hardly  justilialde,  yet,  when  the 
title  of  the  <;(»verument  bei-aau'  \-ested  in  individuals  the  rijilil  of 
the  Indians  ceased  and  they  shouhl  liav<'  ]>eaceably  retired.  l''ur- 
thermore,  HIack  Hawk  ami  his  band,  when  they  cross«Ml  the  river, 
not  died  the  whit«'s  that  they  nnist  <lepart  from  the  villaji'e.  and  the 
latter  refusini''  to  coiajdy  with  theii'  demand,  tlu'ir  jtroperty  was 
(h'stroyed  and  they  sutlered  in  perscai  various  imli^'nities  at  the 
hands  of  the  suva#;es.  A  ix'tition  si;j:iH>d  l)y  40  ]»ersons,  was  sent 
on  the  .'5(>th  of  April,  IS.'il,  to  the  executive  of  Illinois,  repr<'seiit- 
inj;  that  the  i)revious  fall  the  I>lack  Hawk  bami  of  Indians  de- 
stroyed most  of  the  croi)s  and  ma<le  several  attem])ts  ui)on  the 
lives  of  the  owjuTs  when  they  endeavored   to  prevent  the  depre- 


370  IIlSTOJiY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


diilitnis ;  Uiiit  now  tlicy  act  in  a  more  oiitnificoiis  and  menacing 
iiiannei'  and  (lieir  number,  wiiicli  amounts  to  ()()(»  or  TtK), 
is  to  be  liirtlier  anj>nientt.'d  it'  neees.sar.v,  by  the  I'otawatto- 
mies  ami  Winnebaj^oes,  A  few  days  alter  another  i>etition  was 
hent,  which  al'/r  detailing;  sindlar  outraj;es  committed  by  the  sav- 
ages, states  that  it  relief  does  not  arriv*;  the  iidiabnaids  will  be 
comi»eiled  to  leave  their  croi)s  and  homes.  Several  depositiens 
■wer*!  also  [tresentcd  to  the  j^overnor,  eorroboratinj;-  the  above  evi- 
dence. 1>.  l'\  I'ike  stated  under  oath  that  the  nendu'V  of  warriors 
"was  about  .'!(»();  that  they  had  in  various  instances  done  much 
Uamag«'  to  the  white  inhabitants  by  throwinj;'  dowu  their  fences, 
destroyinji  their  fall  j^rain,  jjullinj;' olf  the  i oofs  of  their  houses 
and  [to.silivt'ly  asserting;-  that  if  the  An  ricuns  did  not  leave  they 
■would  kill  them. 

(Jovernor  Keynolds,  thus  informed  in  rej;ard  to  the  state  of  ati'airs 
at  the  mouth  of  Rock  Itiver  and  believiuj'-  that  lUack  Hawk  and 
his  baud  were  deternuned  to  retain  possession  of  the  country  by 
force,  resolv«'d  to  etlect  their  exitulsiou.  A  call  was  accordinj^ly 
made  for  volunteers,  and  when  it  becanu'  known  the  vvlutle  n«»rlh- 
Avestern  part  of  the  8tate  resounded  with  the  clamor  of  war. 
Many  of  the  ohl  citizens,  who  2(1  years  before  had  fouj;ht  tlu'se 
Indians  in  the  war  with  Great  Hritain,  still  survived  and  urjicil 
their  sons  to  ap])ear  on  the  tented  field  aj^ainst  the  same  enemy. 
The  exijiei.i'ies  of  the  situation  demanded  that  tr«)ops  should 
reach  the  scene  of  acttion  in  tlu^  shortest  time  practicable,  and 
tin  refore  the  lOth  of  .luiu'  was  appointed  as  the  tinu',  and  ileards- 
town  as  the  place  for  the  asseml)lin^'  of  the  forces.  }so  c^tuuty 
south  of  St.  ("lair  and  east  of  Sanjianion  was  included  in  the  call, 
it  ''linj;'  impossible  for  troops  from  the  remote  i»arts  o['  the  State 
t(»  nu'ct,  or<;anize  and  reach  the  place  of  rendezvous  in  the  brief 
interval  of  14  or  1,"">  days,  the  allotted  tinu'.  The  j^overuor  circu- 
lated docinnents  amonj;'  the  i)eoi>l«'  and  made  speeches  showin;^" 
that  the  defence  of  the  northwestern  frontier  re<piired  pnunpt  and 
ener;i('tic  action.  Notwithstandiuji'  it  was  the  most  busy  season 
of  the  year,  hundreds  abandoned  their  plows  and  cornlields,  and 
more  than  twice  the  number  called  for  volunteered.  Jt  was  easier 
to  obtain  men  than  provide  means  of  sustenance.  Cols.  Enoch  (J. 
]\larch  and  Samuel  (J.  Christy  were  ap[)ointed  quartermasters,  who, 
beinj;'  extensive  merchants,  possessed  sui)erior  facilities  for  obtaiu- 
iu<;'  supplies.  These  ^entlenuMi  were  successful  in  the  discharj;e 
of  their  duties  and  [irovisions  were  in  readiness  at  the  appointed 
tinu'  for  the  expedition  to  nuinth. 

Thi' <;()vernor,  aware  that  CJeiu'ral  Clark,  the  superintendent  of 
Indian  affairs  stationed  at  St.  Louis,  liad  fiieat  iuHuence  with  the 
Sac  and  Fox  tribes,  on  the  27th  (»f  Alay,  1S;U,  the  day  on  which  he 
made  the  call  for  volunteers,  addressed  a  letter  to  him  re(piestin}'' 
Ir's  co-operation.  In  this  letter  he  states:  "1  have  called  out 
aoout  700  militia  to  protect  the  citizens  near  Kock  Island  from 
Indian  depredations.  I  consi<ler  it  (but  tlui  yeneral  {i'ovennnent  to 
State  that  in  about  15  days  ii  sufhcient  force  will  appear  before  the 
hostile  Indians  to  remove  them  dead  or  alive  west  *^'  the  Missis- 
sippi, but  [)«'rhaj)s  a  request  from  you  would  induce  them  to  leave 
withoid  the  necessity  of  lesortin;;'  \o  arms."  On  the  2<Sth  another 
letter  was  sent  to  (Jeueral  Gaiiies  at  Jeil'erson  liarracks,  in  which 


BLACK  HAWK  WAR. 


.>( 


he  also  stated:  "I  have  received  undoubted  inl'oiinatiou  that  tlio 
seetiou  of  the  State  near  IJoeU  Island  is  ac^tuully  inva(h'd  by  liostile 
baiMls  of  Indians  heaih'd  l»_v  Hhiek  Hawk,  and  in  orcU-r  to  ri-pel 
tin'  invasion  and  protect  tin'  <'itiz«'ns  of  tin'  State.  I  lia\-e, uinlei'  tlio 
l)rovisions  of  tin'  constitution  of  tlie  I'nitcd  States  and  the  laws 
of  tliis  State,  called  out  the  militia  to  the  iiunil!"r  of  TOO  nu'U,  who 
will  be  mounted  and  ready  for  service  in  a  very  shoit  tinu'.  I  con- 
sider it  my  duty  to  lay  before  yon  tlie  above  information  that  you 
may  adopt  such  measures  as  you  deem  Just  and  proper."  IJoth 
j^cnerals  (Jaines  and  Clark  considt'red  the  j)recaution  of  raising;' 
troops  ])ursii('d  by  j;'o\ criM)!'  Reynolds  nnneces.sary,  believinji'  that 
the  t'orces  of  the  regular  army  were  snIUcient  to  protect  the  frontier 
settlenu'uts.  On  the  L'd  of  June,  jicneral  (laines  replied  to  His 
l^xccllency  that  he  had  ordered  10  companies  to  IJock  Island,  (} 
I'roni  Jetl'erson  Barracks  and  4  from  Prairie  du  C'liien,  which  he 
deenu'd  sutlicient  for  the  ]»rotection  of  the  frontiers,  that  if  the 
entire  Sac  and  I'ox  nation  and  other  tribes  united  with  the  band 
of  IJIack  liank,  he  would  call  on  him  for  additional  forces  to 
repel  the  in\asion,  but  did  not  rej^ard  it  necessary  at  that  tinu'. 

Accompanied  i»y  six  comi)anies  from  the  barracks,  (leu.  (Jaines 
j)ass('d  uj)  the  rixcr  in  a  steand)oat  to  Fort  Armstrong;',  situated  on 
ilock  Ishiml,  and  on  the  7tli  of  ,Iune  a  council  was  held  with  the 
Indians.  JJIack  Hawk,  Keokuk,  Wapello,  and  a  innnber  of  other 
".hiefs  and  braves  were   i)resent.     (ien.  (laines  stated  in  council 

hat  the  President    was  disi)le    <ed  because  the  Sacs  on  Kock  river 
...(•.......I  4,.  ,1... «     41. ..^  (1...; r..ii 1, ; i  t\..,t    ,.  i.;..i. 


that  the  President    was  disi)le    <ed  because  the  Sacs  on  Kock  river 

lefused  to  (lej)art,  that  their  iireat  lather  only  rccpiired  that   which 

"was  reasonable  when  he  insisted  that  they  should  remove  west  of 

therivei'.  IJIack  Hawk  replied  by  asserting  that  they  had  lU'ver  sold 

their  land  and  they  weic  (Ictermined  nexcr  to  al'<andon  them.     (ien. 

(laiiM's  thereupon   impiired,  ''Who  is  IMack    Hawk?  is  he  a  chief, 
.iiwi  .1-1.,-  ,i,wo  I..V  ..If  :. ...w.;i*"      i!i.,,.i-  II..,. 1-  ii.....  ..........  (•..,..,.  Mo 


Avho  niack  Hawk  is 


A\lM»  iJlacIv  llawiv  IS." 

The  result  of  the,  conference  was  that  P.lack  Hawk  icfused  to 
leave,  and  (ien.  (laiiu's  inlbrnu'd  him  that  if  he  and  his  band  were 
m)t  on  tilt;  west  si(U' of  the  Mississippi  in  a  short  tinu'  he  would  bo 
compelled  to  remove   him    by   lorce.     The  Ameiican   connnander 

■  ll^.v       <i'i.,.fi.       f..     ...,.!., ...I.....      I.>,..'I.,.KK.     >..... II. ....f  III..-      til..     .I..'v:ivt.>l>/>1>    /.)'      t)wk 


also  wi'ote  to  "governor  Peynolds  re(pu'.stin<;'  the  assistance  of  the 
volunteers  and  iutinnitin<;'  that  it  mi>;ht  be  necessary  to  <'all  for 
more  troops  as  lilack  Hawk  was  (  iideavorinj;'  to  secni'c  the  co- 
operation of  the  lu'liiliborinji'  tribes.  It  was  hojx'd  that  by  this 
auftnientatioii  of  the  forces  tin'  hnlians  mif;ht  be  intimidatetl,  and 


thus   i>revent  the  effusion  of  blood,  and  in  <tase  of  actual  eonflie 
the  army  would  be  enabh-d  to  act  with  greater  efliciency. 

(Ireat  enthusiasm  was  exhibited  by  the  peoj)Ie  in  respondinj^'  t( 
the  <;all  for  trooj)s,  and  instead  of  7(H),  HHH)  men  ofb'red  their  ser 
vices.     All  were  eaji'er  to  enlist    havinji'  made  airan^icments   on 
leaving  home  to  renniin  and  take  a  part  in  the  expediti(»u.     Tho 


378  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

('iitiiviiiiiiibercoiild  bcinovisioiicd  iiii(l('(iiiii)]UMl,  and  it  was  dt'oiiied 
iblly  to  appear  on  tlic  Held  willioiit  a  foice  siiniciciitly  larj^c  wlicii 
one  nioic  iniposin;^  and  adcipialc  could  Itc  sccnrcd.  Ani(tn<;'  tlie 
\ ohintcers  were  many  of  tlic  best  and  most  cnciji'ctic  citizens  of  tho 
►State,  a  number  of  wiiom  afteiward  attained  celebrity  and  still  live 
to  enjoy  the  respect  of  tlieir  countrymen.  The  whole  force  consisted 
of  one  bri<;ade,  subdivided  into  two  rej^iments,  and  a  si)y  and  odd 
battalion.  The  j;()vernor,  wlioaccompani«'d  theexpedition, appointed 
J(»se]>ii  JJunean,  then  u  mend)er  of  confjress,  brij;adier  ;;('neral  io 
command  the  entiic  brij^ade.  and  Samuel  Whitesides  a  majoi'  to 
command  the  spy  battalion.  The  other  ollicers,  not  bein;^'  rej;arded 
so  essential  to  the  success  of  the  campaign,  were  elected  l>y  the 
volui>t<'ers. 

Col.  -JaiMcs  U.  Henry  was  chosen  to  command  tiie  first  rejiinu'iit, 
Col.  IViniel  1  ieb  tiie  second,  and  major  Nathaniel  J>uckmaster  the 
odd  battalion.  Thus  orjiauized  and  furnished  witli  the  ne(;essary 
supplies,  the  brij;ade  left  their  encamjunent  near  liushville  on  the 
loth  of  elune  for  the  seat  of  the  Indian  disturbances.  Altliou;;li 
not  hijihly  disciplined,  it  was  the  larj;est  military  force  that  had 
ever  ass(!mbled  in  cliv'  State,  and  made  a  very  imixtsiuj;-  appearance 
in  its  march  over  the  then  broad  expanse  of  prairie  wilderiu'ss. 
Ea<i(M  for  a  fray  with  the  Jiidians  the  utmost  vi};ilaiice  was  re- 
(piii'cd  on  the  i)art  of  the  otlicers,  to  keep  the  men  from  indiscrimi- 
nately killinj;'  every  stra^jilinji'  sava<ie  they  encountered  in  their 
]tleasant  journey  of  four  days  to  the  Mississippi.  A  halt  was  nmde 
on  its  banks  eight  miles  beh>w  the  old  Sac  village,  where  they  were 
met  by  Ji  steand)oat  containing  i)rovisions,  in  charge  of  general 
Gaines,  who  received  them  into  the  sei\  ice  of  the  I'nited  States, 
A  beautifid  site  was  selected  for  an  encampment,  and  as  a  battle 
Avas  considered  innuinent,  the  greatest  watchfulness  was  excr<Msed 
during  tln^  night  to  guard  against  surprise,  but  no  distnibanct^ 
occured.  Ih-re  generals  Duncan  and  (iaines  concerted  measures 
of  attack;  the  latter  otlicer  having  been  in  the  vicinity  of  thi^ 
Indian  town  for  some  time,  thus  became  accpiainted  with  the  to])o- 
gra|>hy  of  the  ]»Iace.  Previous  to  the  arrival  of  the  volunteers  he 
had  possessed  and  fortilied  with  cannon  a  commanding  blulf  in 
range  of  the  village,  and  in  another  directi(»n  had  i)ostcd  a  strong- 
force  of  legnlars  to  aid  if  necessary  in  the  conflict.  In  accoid- 
ance  with  the  plan  adopted,  on  the  following  nu)rning  (ienc'ial 
(Jaines  with  ii  force  of  regidars  and  cannon  steamed  up  the  rixcr 
in  the  b<»at,  while  the  volunteers  miuched  across  the  country,  both 
forming  a  junction  at  ^^'oodrufl"s  Islands  in  the  channel  »»l  the 
river  ojtposite  the  Sac  village.  The  boat  having  conn'  within 
range  of  the  islaml,  lired  several  lounds  of  grai»e  and  canister  into 
the  dense  growth  of  timber  and  thickets  to  test  thc^  picsence  of  the 
Indians,  who  it  was  feared  nught  be  concealed  among  them,  to 
intercej)t  the  ])assag(^  of  the  xolrnteers  ai-ross  the  strt-am.  The 
spy  battalion,  followed  by  the  main  body  of  the  forces  in  three 
colinuns,  passed  over  a.  slough  to  the  island,  wheti  it  was  discoxcred 
that  the  rapid  elevation  of  the  laml  from  the  water  had  i»reveuted 
the  shot  taking  effect  nn)rethan  1(K»  yards  from  the  shore.  Owing 
to  this  circnnistance  the  Indians  might  have  been  con«"ealed  in  full 
f(»rce  without  being  discovei'cd.  l-'ortunately  no  enemy  was  fotnul, 
for  the  volunteers  became  so  completely  bewildere(|  in  the  tangled 
thickets  as  to  discjualify  them  for  ell'cctive  resistance,  and  in  case 


BLACK  HAWK  WaK. 


379 


of  ill  1  attiick  tlic  ai'tillciy  looking'  down  from  the  blutt's  on  what 
Avouhl  liavc  been  tlic  biitllc  lichl,  was  too  faraway  to  distiii^iiisli 
friends  fioni  foes.  On  ariivin^'  at  tlni  river  between  tiie  ishmd  and 
town,  it  proved  to  be  a  (h'ep,  bohl  stream  at  tiiat  point  nntbr(h»l)h', 
ami  iienee  the  proorcvss  of  tlie  troops  was  (h'hived  till  scows  eonhl 
be  proeiired  to  terry  them  over.  When  the  town  Wiis  liiialiy  enleicd 
it  was  found  ch'serted,  the  i.i'aabitaiits  ha\  iiiji'  tlie  previous  ni;;iit 
eiossed  to  tlie  west  sich-  of  tlie  .Alississippi.  It  was  sMp|)osed  that 
(ieneials  Duncan  and  (laines,  before  leaviiijn'  camp,  bebeved  tiiat 
the  Incbaus  wouhl  al»amh)n  tiieir  villajic  and  now  that  sucli  was 
tin'  case,  it  served  to  e.\i»hiin  the  apparent  nenh'ct  in  as«'ertaininj;' 
tlie  presence  of  Indians  and  tiie  seeniinjily  nufavorabh'  <bsposilion 
of  the  forces,  (leueral  (Jaines  appears  to  iiave  been  an  ellicient 
olhcer,  anxious  to  settle  tin'  <lit1iculties  without  tiie  ett'usion  of 
blood,  and  ;4reat  credit  was  undoubredly  due  (rovernor  lieynolds 
and  (ieneral  Duncan  for  the  promptness  with  winch  the  troojjs 
were  called  out,  orj;ani/,ed  and  marclied  to  the  seat  of  war. 

1Mie  nund)er  of  warriors  who  tied  across  the  Mississippi  coidd 
never  be  delinitely  ascertained.  .Many  of  the  stra;j;'^liiij;'  and 
disaffected  \Viunei»a,ii()es,  ami  Potawattoniies,  doui»tless  united 
witii  the  i)and  of  IJlack  Hawk,  and  [xMiiaps  the  nnml)er  amounted 
to  from  400  to  (»()0.  The  Indians  havinj^' escaped  without  injur}', 
the  volunteers  took  ven.u('ance  on  the  villa;;e  by  btirniiiji"  it  to  the 
jiiound,  althoujih  the  dwclliu,i;s  would  have  sheltered  them  from 
the  incessant  rains  which  pr«'vaile<l  durin<;'  the  day.  ••  Thus 
]»erislied  this  am'ient  vilhiji'e  which  had  been  the  delightful  homo 
of  (»()()()  or  7000  Indians,  where  ji'eneratiou  after  ncueration  had 
been  l>orn,  hiid  died  and  been  l)uried,  wher(^  the  old  men  had 
tatiyht  wisdom  to  the  youth,  whence  the  Indian  youth  had  often 
j^oue  out  in  parties  to  hnid  or  to  war,  ami  returned  in  triumph  to 
diince  aroiuid  the  s]»oils  of  the  forest  or  the  scali)s  of  the  enemy, 
and  whei'c  the  diirk-eyed  Indian  uniid«'ns,  ity  their  presence  and 
cliainis.  had  made  it  a  seem;  of  delij-htftU  enchantment  to  nmny 
an  admirinu  warrior.*'* 

Clack  Hawk  ami  his  warriors  having' dejiarted  the  uij^ht  prrceding" 
the  destruction  of  their  villaj;*',  encamped  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
]\lississip]>i,  while  the  Aineri(taus  t(K)k  ai  ])osition  12  miles  .above 
where  l{o(dv  Island  now  stands.  (Jen.  (Jsiines  sent  an  order  to 
IJlack  Hawk,  re(piirinji  him  and  his  baml  to  retur  and  enter  into 
a  treaty  of  ])eace,  or  he  would  move  on  them  with  all  the  troops 
under  his  commnnd.  Several  days  afterwar<l  some  of  the  chiefs 
mmie  their  ai)pearance,  but  l>lack  Hawk  ami  the  majority  of  them 
refusinj;  to  come,  a  more  perem)»lory  denuind  was  nnide,  which 
lijid  the  desired  effect.  H(!  and  about  .50  chiefs  of  the  Ibitish 
biiml  of  the  Sacs,  now  canu>  and  in  full  council  with  (leu.  (iaiues, 
and  (lov.  lieynolds,  on  the -'{Oth  of  dune,  IS.'H,  signed  an  aj;rec- 
meut  of  which  the  followin<(is  tlu^  first  article. 

"Tin'  IJritish  band  of  the  Sac  Indians,  are  required  juMceably  to 
subuntto  the  authority  of  the  friemlly  chiefs  ami  braves  of  the 
united  Sac;  and  Fox  mitions,  and  at  all  times  hereafter  to  reside 
and  hunt  with  them  upon  their  own  lauds,  west  of  the  Mississij)pi 
j'iver,  ami  to  bo  obedient  to  their  laws  ami  treaties,  and  m)  one  or 
more  shall  ever  ho  j)ermitt<'d  to  recross  said  liver,  to  the  usual 
place  of  residence,  nor  any  part  of  their  old  huntinj;'  {ifounds  east 

'  •FordVHlVtory.  ' 


380 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


ol'  tlic  Mississipiti,  without  j)t'nnis.si()ii  of  tlic  lU'csidciit  oC  tlio 
United  Htatcs  or  fji'ovcnior  of  tln^  Stiitcctf  Illinois.'" 

The  truism  thiit  th(^  brave  are  merciful,  was  well  illustrated  by 
the  treatment  extended  by  (leii.  (Jaines  and  (lov.  Keynolds  to  tlui 
vanquished  and  unfortunate  Indians,  after  the  eonclusioii  of  the 
treaty.  The  lar;;'er  part  of  the  invadinji'  force  had  been  deluded 
by  listeniui;'  to  the  bad  counsel  of  IJlack  llawU  and  other  leaders, 
and  as  a  conseciuence,  their  heli)less  wonuMiand  children,  were  tiieu 
destitnteof  Ibod  and  clothiny.  (Jov.  Keynolds  in  a('(»nversatiou 
on  the  subject  rennirked,  "I  i)resume  this  is  the  last  tinu^  the  >i»»v- 
prnnient  will  have  any  trouble  with  these  Indians;  the  wonu'U  and 
childicn  are  not  so  miu'li  to  blame,  and  a  sup[>ort  for  them  one 
sunmu'r,  will  be  uothinj;'  to  the  United  States.  The  j;()vernment 
has  possessed  their  Hue  country,  and  I  cannot  rest  satislled  to 
leave  them  in  a  starvinj^' conditi(»n."  Provisions  were  aecor(lin<;ly 
dislribiiled  anumj;'  them  at  stateil  ]»eriods,  exceedinj;  in  amount 
the  (piantity  th(\v  would  have  raised.  The  volunteers  seeiuj;'  this 
exhibition  of  charity,  ridiculed  the  adjustmeni  of  the  Indian  dif- 
licnities  by  calling'  it  a  corn  treaty,  and  sayinji,  '"we  give  them 
bread,  when  we  oujiht  to  '/ivo  them  lead." 

The  enemy  being'  aiiparently  hundded  and  (puet  restored,  the 
army  was  disltanded  and  returiu'd  honu'  in  the  l»est  of  spirits,  not 
a  single  person,  bv  disease,  accident  or  otherwise,  having  lost  hi.s 
liJe. 


Chapteii    XXXIII  I 

1S32— SECOND  CAMl'AKJN  OF  THE  WAR. 

lilack  Hairl-  Uuhwcd  hy  White  Chmd  to  recroxs  the  Mississippi — 
J\'e/i(ses  to  obey  the  order  of  (ieii.  Atkiiisou  to  return — State  Forces 
reonjanized — March  to  Rock  Hirer  and  unite  irith  the  Hef/idars — 
Army  proceeds  up  the  river  in  2>ursuit  of  the  enemy — Battle  of 
iStiUman^s  Run — Call  for  fresh  troops — The  old  forces  disbanded. 


Prior  to  tlio  ox])iilsi()n  of  tlic  liidiinis  from  tlieir  villiifio,  Naopopo, 
a  cliier  of  tlio  Ihitisli  l>aii(l  and  second  in  <-oniniand  to  IJJack 
Hawk,  liad  started  on  a  visit  to  Maiden  to  consnlt  his  Enjilisli 
fatlier  (!on(',ernin<i'  the  lijiiit  of  tlie  Indians  ro  retake  ])ossession  of 
their  lands  on  iJock  river.  Aecordinfi'  to  his  statement,  he  was 
a(h  ised  by  tlu'  anthoritios  at  Maiden  that  the  Americans,  without 
a  previous  purchase,  could  not  take  possession  of  their  lands.  On 
liis  return  he,  also  visitod  Wa-bo-kies-shiek  or  White  Cloud,  the 
])roi>het  of  the  AViniiebaf-oes.  His  home  was  a  village  bearing'  the 
naiiu'  of  I'rophetstown,  situated  on  liock  river,  3.">  miles  from  its 
mouth.  Like  the  projihet  of  the  Wabash,  he  had  great  intluence 
with  his  <;ouiitr,vnien.  He  was  a  stout,  shrewd  looking  Indian, 
about  40  years  of  age  and  claimed  that  one  o^'  his  parents  was  a 
Sac  and  the  other  a  Winnebago.  A  full  and  tlowing  suit  of  long 
hair  graced  his  head,  which  was  surmounted  by  a  white  head-ih'ess 
several  inches  in  height,  resembling  a  turb.an  and  emblamatic  of 
liis  profession.  Sagacity  and  cunning  were  prominent  traits  of 
his  character  and  essential  to  the  ju'ophetic  iiretensions  by  which 
lii^  im])osed  on  the cnHlnlity  of  his  ignorant  followers. 

Wiiite  Cloud  informed  his  visitor  that  not  only  the  British  but 
the  Ottawas,  Chijipewas,  Potawattomies  and  Winnebagoes  would 
assist  his  tribe  in  regaining  their  village  and  the  lands  around  it. 
AVlieii  Naopope  in  tlie  summer  siu'ceeding  the  treaty,  returned  to 
his  friends  he  communicjated  this  information  to  Black  Hawk  who 
att'ected  to  believe  it,  and  immediately  commenced  recruiting  to 
increase  the  number  of  his  braves.  He  also  sent  a  messenger  to 
Keokuk  apiirising  him  of  the  good  news  and  recpiesting 
his  co-operation.  The  latter,  however,  was  a  chief  of  too  miu^h  sa- 
gacity to  be  misled  by  these  promises  of  British  and  Indian  as- 
sistance, and  wisely  admonished  Bhutk  Hawk  that  he  was  deceived 
and  should  therefore  abstain  from  hostile  demonstrations.  Tlie 
latter,  however,  willing  to  credit  any  report  that  even  faintly 
promised  an  oi)portuiiity  to  wn»ak  vengeance  on  his  old  adversa- 
ries the  Americans,  rejected  this  good  counsel  and  persistently 

381 


382 


HISTORY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


imrsucd  his  own  plans.  Ila\iii;;  H'soIvjmI  to  l)i(l  (h-liiiiicc  lo  I'nc 
wliitcs.  in  tiic  \vinl('i(tl'  Is,'!!  ;>l!,  ;;rt'iil  clforts  wen'  nnidclo  ohtaiii 
iccniits.  and  tiic  number  of  iiis  warriors  cMihracinj;'  tlic  riiivalry 
of  lilt'  nation,  was  aiij;in('nt»'(l  to  "lOO.  His  Iicachiuartcrs  wen-  sit 
tlic  site  of  old  I-'ort  iNIadison  on  tlic  west  sid*;  of  tlic  .Mississij»|>i, 
wImmicc  lie  nM»\('d  np  i!'  river.  Ids  warriors  proceeding;  on  horses 
and  his  wonn-n  and  children  and  hai^^jajic  ascending;-  in  canoes.  A 
halt  was  made  ojiposite  the  site  now  occnpied  hvOipiawka.  where 
the\  were  met  l»v  White  Clond  the  prophet.  His  mission  was  to 
tiirtlier  strenjithen  l>lack  Hawk's  determination  to  recross  the 
^Mississippi.  1),\  assnrin^  him  that  he  ndylit  depend  on  the  assist- 
ance of  oilier  tribes.  Nalmally  i»roiie  to  mischief  and  eiiter- 
taiiiiii.n'  a  stroii;;'  i»r<'jndice  ajiainst  the  whites,  he  was  at  all  times 
ready  to  stii'  np  si  rife  without  carinji'  for  the  e\ils  that  mij;lit  be 
inllicted  on  those  wli(»  listened  to  his  advice.  In  a  speech  to  tiie 
warriors  and  biaxcs,  hetoidlheiii  that  by  followiiiii  his  advice  they 


had  nothin"'  to  fear  and  much    to 


that   I  he  .American    war 


......  ..w,  .....^  ,,,.. ...    ......    .,.,,,..    ,.,   j^..... ,   ......    ....     .............     ..... 

chief  would  not  interfere  with  them  if  they  refrained  from  hos- 
tilities, and  that  sti'en<;thened  by  reiiifoi'cemeiits  the  time  would 
come  when  they  would  be  able  lo  i»ursiie  a  dilVereut  course, 
rieased  with  this  ad\i«'e,  on  the  0th  of  Api'il,  IS,')!*,  they  ]»idcccded 
to  the  mouth  of  Hock  river  and  the  whole  party  crossed  the  31is- 
si.-2sippi  and  commenced  ascciidin;;'  the  former  stream,  foi'  tlui 
avowed  object  of  eiit<'rinj;'  the  territory  of  the  >Vninebaji(»es  and 
raisiiij;'  a  crop  with  them,  when  the  real  object  was  to  secure  them 
as  allies.  After  they  had  ])roeee(led  some  distance  they  were 
o\('ilaken  by  an  order  from  (ieiieral  Atkinson,  then  in  command 
»)f  the  regulars  at  Fort  Armstronji,  retpiirinj;  them  to  rei  -;s 
the  ^Mississippi,  which  they  refuised  to  do,  allejiin;;' that  tlie  <;eneral 
had  no  iij;ht  to  make  such  a  demand,  as  they  were  peaceably  jour- 
iieyinj;-  to  the  village  of  their  friends  for  the  purpose  of  raisinj; 
corn.  JJefoie  tlie\  had  I'eaehed  their  destination  an<ither  courier 
was  sent  in  piii'suit,  who  this  time  informed  them  unless  they  re- 
turned force  would  be  used  to  effect  their  expulsion.  The  Indians 
replied  that  they  would  not  be  driven  back,  but  did  not  intend  to 
make  the  first  attack  upon  the  whites.  I'.lack  Hawk  on  arrivinj; 
anionu  the  I'otawattomies  and  \Vinn<'ba,ii()es.  readily  obtained  per- 
mission to  culli\  ate  corn  with  them,  but  they  refused  to  unite  ill 
any  acts  of  hostility  ajiainst  the  United  {States,  and  denied  liaxiu};- 
yixcn  the  prophet  any  assurances  of  eo-o]ieration. 

'I'he  refusal  of  I'dack  Hawk  and  his  warriors  to  comi)ly  with  tlie. 
demand  of  (ieiieral  Atkinson,  and  the  imposii!<i'  eliaiaeter  of  his 
military  operations,  created  a  j^'eneral  panic  alonji'  the  whole  m)rth- 
ern  frontier  from  the  Mississippi  to  Lake  ^Michijian.  ]M(>st  of  the 
settlers  abandoned  their  homes  and  moved  into  the  interior,  while 
inessenjicrs  were  at  the  same  time  sent  to  inform  (lov.  Ifeynolds 
of  the  hostile  attitude  assumed  by  the  Indians.  The  j;(»veriior 
uiiderstandinji'  the  bellij;'ei'ent  chaiacter  of  the  settlers  and  In- 
dians, and  knowinji'  that  tln^  sli<;litest  indiscreti(Ui  committed  by 
either  jiarty  nii;;hl  iiivohe  the  whoU'  frontier  in  a  bloody  wai',  de- 
termined, on  the  Kith  of  April,  to  call  out  a  hnj;<'  body  of  volun- 
teers as  the  best  .neans  of  aveitin*;'  such  a  calamity  or  meeting'  it 
in  cas(^  of  its  act  mil  occurrence.  (len.  Atkinson  in  eoni- 
iiiaiid  of  the  re<;ulai'  forces  near  the  scene  of  the  threatened  hos- 
tilities, at  the    same  time,  made  a  reiiuisitiou  for  troops,  stating 


BLACK   IIAAVK   AVAR. 


383 


tilt'  frontier  was  in  <;r('iit  (laii^icr  and  tliut  the  Corcc  nndcr  liis  coni- 
jiiaiKJ  was  insnllicicnt  for  its  (IctViicc.  Dan^^cr  hcin;;  i/nniincnt,  llio 
L'lM  was  made  tiie  time  for  uicetin;;,  wiiicii  pivo  only  (>  <la,vs  for 
the  troops  to  nu'ct  at  licardstown,  aj;ain  .selected  as  the  ])hi(;e,  of 
ren(h'ZVons.  Tiie  j^overnor,  with  j^reat  j>ronii)tness,  sent  inthien- 
tial  inessen<rers  to  tlii^  iiorthwestein  eonnties  of  tiie  State,  in  whieli 
h'vies  were  to  be  nnuh'  and  aihlressed  the  foHowinj;'  h'tter  to  the 
citi/cns:  "  I-'eHow citizens :  Vonr  e<»nntry  re(|iiires  ycair  ser\  ice. 
The  Indians  iiave  assnnied  a  liostile  attitnck'  and  invaded  tiit! 
State,  in  viohition  of  the.  treaty  of  hist  sinniner.  Tlie  British  band 
of  Sacs  and  otiier  hostih'  Indians  are  in  jtossession  of  the  country 
on  Ii'ock  liver,  to  tiie  j^reat  terr.ir  of  tlie  froiiiier  inlialtitaiits,  and 
1  consider  the  settlers  in  ininiii:ent  dan<;('r.  Under  these  cinMini- 
stances  I  have  not  hesitated  what  course  I  should  pursue.  No 
(jitizen  ouj;lit  to  I'cniain  inactive  when  his  country  is  in\a<led  and 
the  iiejjtless  i>art  of  coiuniunity  is  in  dan;^('r.  I  have  called  out  a 
stioiii;  'letaclinient  ot  militia  to  rendezvous  at  Meardstown  on  the 
lilM  inst.  Provisions  for  the  men  and  iood  for  the  horses  will  bo 
furnislied  in  al)Uiidauce.  I  hoix'  my '.-on  n  try  men  will  realize  my 
ex[)('ctations  and  offer  their  services  as  heretofore  with  prompti- 
tude and  cheerfulness  in  defence  of  their  country." 

Daily  accounts  ies])ectin<;'  the  (»])erati(ms  of  the  Indians  were 
received.  -lud^e  Vounj;',  Col.  Strode  and  IJciijamiii  .Mills  wrote 
to  the  j;overnor  ur^inji'  tlu^  spee<ly  protection  of  the  frontiers  as 
the  Potawattomif's  and  Winnebajioes  had  Joined  IJlack  Ilawkand 
the  inhabitants  were  in  j;reat  d.anj;cr.  On  the  receipt  of  this  in- 
teiliiicnce  L'UO  nuMi  under  the  commanil  of  .Major  Stilbnan  were 
ordered  to  yiiard  the  frontier  near  the  Mississi|)])i,  an<l  200  un- 
niider  .Major  Bailey  the  froiiiier  between  the  JMississi[»i)i,  and  the 
settlements  on  the  Illinois.  Such  was  the  threatening;' aspect  of 
atfaiis;  the  call  of  troops  was  now  extended  to  every  portion  of  the 
Stale,  for  the  purjwse  of  raisiiij^  a  reserve  force  of  .5,000  men  to  be 
ready  in  case  of  enierji'ency.  Various  causes  operated  to  retard 
the  progress  of  the  campaign,  and  this  precaution  pioved  highly 
advantaj^eous  in  the  closing  staj^es  of  the  war.  As  in  the  prece- 
dini;  year,  nniny  of  the  most  consi)icuous  men  of  the  State  volun- 
teered, their  prominence  in  public  lite  j;ivinjj;'  them  eleyibility  for 
]>otions  in  the  organization  of  the  forces. 

Eighteen  Ini mired  men  met  at  the  jilace  rendezvous  and  were 
divided  into  lour  regiments,  an  odd  and  a  si>y  battalion.  An  elec- 
tion being  held  for  field  oliict.'rs,  Col.  De\\  itt  was  chosen  com- 
mander of  the  tirst  regiment;  Col.  Fry  of  the  I'd  ;  Col.  Thomas  of 
the  3d,  Col.  Thompson  of  the  4tli,an(i  .Major  James  of  the  odd  bat- 
talion. The  goveriU)r,  who  pai'ticipated  in  the  cam[»aign,  ])laced 
(ien.  Whitesides  in  (command  of  the  biigade,  and  (,'ol.  .Fanu's  I). 
Henry  in  comnniiul  of  the  spy  battalion.  He  also  ai)pointe(l 
Colonels  Enoch  C.  March  and  Samuel  C  ('hristy  to  jtrocure 
supplies;  as  brigade  <piarternmster,  >Villiam  Thomas;  as  staff 
oflicers,  James  IJ.  Stapp  and  Joseph  ]M.  Chadwick;  as  pay- 
master, Janu's  Turney ;  as  adjutant  general.  Vital  Jarrot,  and 
as  ordnance  otticer,  Cyrus  Edwards.  On  tin;  27th  of  April 
the  army  started  from  their  encampment,  a  few  miles  north 
of  llushville,  for  Ocpiawka  on  tin;  Mississipi  river,  with  only 
M  few  days'  rations,  while  Col.  March  was  dis[)atched  to  St.  Louis 
for  additional  supplies  which  were  to  be  sent  up  the  river  to  tlie 


384  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


SiUiic  i)lii('0.  Aftt'i- tlic  iirriiiijicinciit  liixi  liccii  inndcii  Irttcr  ciiiiio 
l),v  express  IVoiii  IVdiii  ( ieii.  Alkiiisoii.  iiilui  iiiiiiji  the  j;(t\  eiiKir  tliiit 
tlie  liostile  Iiidiiiiis  iiad  <n>nc  up  l{».;-k  iivcr.  hill  llu'  iiitellijicueo 
CiDiie  too  liite.  Had  it  lieeii  received  one  <la.v  eai'Iier  tlie  i)roviH- 
i(tiis  iui<;ld  have  been  or(h're(l  to  I'eoria  in  <;reater  |»roxiniit y  to 
tlie  enemy,  and  iiad  tiie  army  marched  to  the  same  point  it  mi;;ht 
liave  ended  the  c(»ntest  witiiont  j^ivinj;  tiie  Indians  an  opi)ortnni(y 
to  esca)»e.  Ivains  iiad  veceiitiy  prexailed  and  tiie  projires.s 
of  tlie  troojis  was  retarded  by  tlie  muddy  |)rairies  and  swollen 
.streams.  On  arriviii^i'  at  Oijiiawka  they  liojied  to  liiid  Colonel 
JMarcli  and  the  supplies  I'rom  St.  Louis,  but  they  had  not  made 
their  a])pearance.  'J'he  eveiiin<i'  of  the  same  day  Captain  Warren 
and  two  com|»aiiies  from  Shelby  county  also  arrived  and  wen; 
j^ieeted  with  loud  cheers  for  the  energy  which  they  exhibited  in 
swimiiiiiiji'  streams  and  ov<'rcomin<i'  other  formidabh' obstacles  en- 
countered in  tlieir  route,  (ireat  anxiety  was  now  t'elt  for  the 
safety  of  the  siipjdies.  A  considerable  advance  had  been  made 
into  the  wilderness  and  any  accident  which  prevented  or  proloii;;('(l 
the  cominji' of  the  boat  mi,i;lit  iieccssitat*'  the  disbandinj^'  of  the 
army.  On  the  ."ith  day  the  provisions  were  exhausted,  and  miir- 
murin^i'  bciiiji  heard  aiiionji  the  men,  the  (iovernor  eiijiiif^ed  tliiee 
trusty  persons  to  deliver  a  messa^ic  to  (Jen.  Atkinson  informinj;' 
]iim  of  the  destitute  condition  of  the  army,  and  recpiestin;;  relief. 
Althoiiiili  Itock  Island  was  oO  miles  <listaiit.  and  it  was  necessary 
to  swim  several  streams  in  traveisinji'  the  intervening  country,  the 
journey  was  .successfully  accomplished  and  a  boat  load  of  iirovi.s- 
iong  arrived  the  next  day.  The  siicceedinji'  iiMnninji' the  steam- 
boat William  Wallace  from  St.  Louis,  also  came  in  and  the  army, 
which  a  short  time  before  was  in  a  sulleringconditiiui,  had  now  a 
two-fold  supjily. 

Immediately  on  the  receij)t  of  provisions  rations  were  issued  to 
the  men  and  i»a<ij>a<;(^  wagons  were  loaded  pr«'paratory  to  moving 
to  Dixon,  where,  ac(!ordiiig  to  the  latest  intelligence,  the  enemy 
was  posted.  Sjiies  had  iireviously  been  sent  to  obtain  informa- 
tion of  the  Indians,  but  instead  of  returning  with  proper  dispatch 
they  loitered  with  the  officers  of  Fort  Armstrong  and  linally  re- 
turned on  theboat  wiiich  brought  the  sni»plies.  When  the  army  was 
ready  to  march,  a  letter  was  lirought  from  (Jen.  Atkinson  informing 
the  governor  that  Ulack  Hawk  and  hisliand  had  descended  liock 
ri\er,  and  requesting  hiin  to  niarcli  immediately  with  the  troops  to 
Fort  Armstrong.  l)isai)pointment  was  felt  at  the  reception  of 
this  news,  and  perliaps  the  re<iuest  would  liave  been  disregardiMl, 
but  according  to  the  statement,  the  Indians  had  descended  the 
river,  and  it  was  tally  to  move  up  it  to  find  them.  Instead,  how- 
ever, of  going  to  th.'i  fort,  the  f()r(;e  was  niarclied  to  the  mouth  of 
liock  river  wliere  they  were  received  into  the  .service  of  the  United 
States,  and  General  Atlvin.son  assumed  command.  It  was  now  as- 
certained that  the  infonnatioii  in  regard  to  the  Indians  was  incor- 
rect and  the  commanding  general  steamed  up  the  river  with  an 
armament  of  cannon  and  400  regulars  a<!(!oinpanied  by  the  brig- 
ade, which  rode  through  the  .swamps  in  the  vicinity  of  the  .stream. 

As  the  expedition  advanced,  dogs  immolated  to  appease  the 
Great  Spirit  were  frequently  found  at  the  various  Indian  en(;amp- 
ments.  This  relic  of  barbarism  and  super.stition  common  among 
the  oriental  nations  of  antiquity,  was  employed  by  these  Indians 


BLACK  nAWK  WAR.  385 


wlicii  tlic  iiiitioii  wiis  tlircatoiKMl  wiJii  ;;ivat  caliimitv.  Tlu^  body 
of  tlic  iiiiiiiiiil,  ill  Mi«'S(!  iiistiiiMM's  liiiviii^i'  tlit-  vitals  iciiiovcd,  was 
rastciicti  to  a  tie*' over  a  small  lire  witii  ils  head  in  the  tliirctioii 
the  Indians  were  tiin cliii;;'.  instead  of  icndciiiijii' any  assistance 
itoiily  served  to  jioiiit  out  tlicir  trail  to  the  piirsninji'  foe. 

On  tile  lOtli  ol'  .May  some  spies  sent  in  ad.\anee  captured  near 
I'i'oplierstowii.  an  Indian.  iVom  wiioiii  iiil'ormalion  was  ohtaiiicd 
that  IMack  Hawk  and  his  warriors  were  on  IJock  river  above  tho 
town  of  Dixon.  In  acconlance  with  this  iiitbrmatioii  the  volun- 
teers iiio\'ed  ii|>  t<»  tiic  town,  where  il  was  asccrlaiiied  Iroiii  scouts 
who  had  scoured  the  cotiiitry.  that  the  Indians  had  dispersed  and 
it  was  detcrniiiicd  to  aiiandoii  the  piirsnit  and  await  thearrival 
of  (ieii  Atkinson  with  the  sfeamitoat  ami  |iro\  isions.  It  was  con- 
jeclnred  that  ISiacU  llawU  and  his  iKiiid  contemphited  resitlin;;'  on 
the  lands  of  the,  INttawattomies,  and  as  a  means  of  preveiitiii;;  the 
(•((iisnmation  of  such  adesi;iii,an  embassy  of  live  iiersons  was  sent 
to  confer  with  (he  chiefs  of  that  nation  upon  the  subject.  In 
coiise(pieiic<^  of  cloudy  weatlu'i'  the  parly  became  liewildcred,  and 
losiii;;-  their  way  fell  in  with  some,  of  Illack  Hawk's  band,  who  very 
adroitly  endeavored  to  decoy  them  into  tii"  jiower  of  the  princii)al 
iiidian  fence.  After  niiicli  skilll'nl  maii<'U\ criiii;;' on  horseltack  the 
sa\a;L;»'s  retired  and  the  Americans  ictiirned  to  Dixon  <>reatly  cx- 
liaiisted,  havinj^'  lieeii  witli<»nt  food  or  rest  for  two  days. 

.Majoi's  Stillman  and  Uailey,  who  had  previously  been  ordered  to 
]»rotect  the  fr<mtier  were  at  Dixoii  when  the  army  arrive<l  at  that 
j»lac<',  and  liaviii;^  done  but  little,  service,  they  b«^souJ•ilt  the 
l)rivile<j;e  of  reconnoiterinj;'  the  country,  and  reportiiij:' the  situation 
of  the  enemy.  It  was  rumored  that  a  small  party  of  IJlack  ilawk's 
J'orce  was  encamped  at  the  head  of  Old  .Man's  creek  J2  miles 
above  Dixon,  ami  in  accordance  with  their  re([iiest,  the  governor 
issued  (lie  following  order:  "  Major  Stillmaii :  Vou  will  cause  the 
troops  under  your  immediate  commaiid,  and  the  battalion  niuler 
]Ma.jor  Mailey,  to  jiroceed  without  delay  to  the  head  of  Old  Man's 
creek,  where  it  is  supjiosed  there  are  some  hostile  Indians,  and 
coerce  them  into  submission." 

On  the  following  morning,  tlie  ^fajor  with  275  men  started  on 
liis  mission,  hoping  to  give  a  good  account  of  himself  when  he 
returned.  The  expedition,  after  reaching  Old  Man's  creek, 
although  unauthorized  to  pass  beyond  it,  continued  their  marcli 
l-l  miles  higher  up  the  stn^am  to  Sycamore  creek,  where  they  dis- 
mounted for  the  piir[»oseof  spending  the  night. 

Here  they  were  within  a  few  miles  of  the  main  lodgment  of  DIack 
Hawk  and  a  part  of  his  braves,  and  while  engaged  in  eain[)  duties 
3  unarmed  Indians  bearing  a  white  tlag  made  their  appearance. 
The  Indians  giving  themselves  up,  were  taken  into  (Uistody. 
Shortly  o  other  Indians  were  descried  on  horseback  upon  rising 
ground  about  a  mile  distant.  A  party  of  Major  Stillman's  men 
iinmediatelj'  started  in  jiursuit,  and  others  followed  as  fast  as  tlu'y 
could  mount;  in  a  short  time  three-fourths  of  the  whole  detach- 
ment werc^  scattered  pell  mell  over  the  intervening  prairie,  in  this 
irregular  running  fight,  the  troops  at  the  camp  knowing  that  blood 
had  been  shed,  killed  1  of  the  3  Indians  who  had  been  sent  «s 
envoys  ur.der  the  white  tlag,  but  the  other  2  in  the  confusion  escap- 
ed. The  Americans  having  the  fastest  horses,  overtook  and 
killed  2  of  the  other  party,  and  pursued  the  survivors  to  the  edge 
25 


3S(;  IIISTOKV    OP   JI.LINOIS. 


of  Uh'  lorcsr.  At  tlii.s  JiiiH'tiiic.  IJlacU  I  lawk  iiii(i  alxmr  40  braves 
rose  up  iVoiii  their  aiiihiisli,  and  with  a  tenilic  veil,  nisjicil  on  the 
assailants.  Those  \\li(»  had  just  e\liil)it«'d  so  iiiiieh  hraxeiy  ill 
imisiiii  ol'  the  Heeiii;^  I'oe,  now  reliealcd  wiih  a  eoirespondiny; 
swil'lncss.  'riu-  tVi;;lillnl  din  attending  the  I'li^iilives,  who  icaciiecl 
eanip  aliout  dark,  eansedtiie  leniaindei  of  the  loice  to  think  ihat. 
lUaek  Hawk  and  his  whole  hand  wvw  uhont  to  hnrst  upon  them 
like  an  avalanche.  .V  pani<-  ensued,  and  some  with  onlv  a  saddh^ 
i>r  Iti'idle,  and  others  without  either,  mounted  their  hoises  and 
joined  their  eiuniads  in  the  in^^lorious  lii;;ht,  leaviii;;  their  wa^^ons, 
ammunition  and  other  property  to  the  \ietors.  .Ma,ior  Stillmau 
ordeit'd  his  men  to  reticat  (»\t'r  the  creek  and  rally  on  more 
elevated  ji>'round,  hut  such  was  the  consternation  that  no 
elevated  ;;round  was  found  till   they  reached  the  foices  at    l)i\on. 

The  principal  resistance  ollered  to  th«'  pnrsninj:  Indians,  was  at 
Old  Man's  creek,  a  small  stream  rising  in  ();;leconnly  and  I'aliinj;' 
into  ikock  rivei'  at  the  town  of  i!loonun;;\  ille.  It  has  siniH'  Iteeu 
called  Stilhnan's  liun,  in  eommenoration  of  thi>  haltle,  a  result  inci- 
dent to  the  delay  caused  in  crossing;  its  mud  ly  hanks.  Aft«'r 
l)assin;;' the  stream,  .Major  Terkins.  Captain  .Vdams  and  al»e  ;t  l.~> 
other  daring  men  made  a  stand,  and  by  their  heroic  conduct 
]»artially  ehcck<'d  the  cai'cer of  the  Indians  and  saved  the  lives  ol 
others,  who  must  otherwise  have  fallen  victims  of  savajic  veu- 
ji'eaiu'e.  Capti'.iu  .\dains,  however,  in  saviiiji  the  1'^  esol  hi.s  fiieuds, 
Kacrificed  his  own,  his  body  beiu;;'  found  the  m«  \t  day,  nt'ar  the 
two  Indians  w  hom  in  a  personal  encounter  he  had  slain.  Nou«'  of 
the  parties  lived  to  teil  the  story  of  the  terrilic  st  rii,ujnle,  bat  lr<uu 
the  evidi'Uce  left  behind  it  nuist  have  been  of  the  most  (h'termined 
character.  Their  ^nus  were  broken  into  iVajiMU'Uts,  ami  the 
ghastly  wounds  iidlicted  by  rille  balls,  spears,  butcher  knives  and 
tomahawks  were  frij;htful  luoofs  ol'  the  etlbrts  that  had  been  nuule. 
The  Anu'ricans  <;reatly  lamented  the  death  of  Captain  Adams, 
and  even  the  Indians,  as  a  nuirk  of  respect  tor  his  bravery,  neither 
scalped  nor  otherwise'  mutilated  his  body,  ^'ear  was  (lisMumuted 
Major  Ilackleton,  who  luul  a  severe  encounter  w  ith  with  an  Indian, 
in  which  he  killed  his  taw  ny  anta<''onist,and  afterward  made  his  es- 
cape to  the  cani[»  at  Dixon  J^'ime  others,  in  the  confused  ami  precip- 
itate lijiht,  oeeasi(»nally  tii'ed  on  ■.he  [UU'suin^'  savaj^cs,  and  as  the 
residt  of  the  ecuitlici,  '.'bout  11  whites  and  7  Indians  lest  tlu'ir 
lives.  The  fuj^itives  eonnneneed  ;;:Tivinf>  at  Dixon  about  ll5  o'clock 
at  niji'ht,  ami  from  that  time  till  mornin<i'  they  continued  to  c(»me 
in  small  s(]nads  of  4  too  (su;h,  telliu<^'  the  most  traj^it;  stories  of 
the  disaster.  Every  one  seemed  to  be  impressed  witli  the  idea  that 
liis  own  party  was  all  t'lat  escaped,  ami  while  tellin<;' the  death  of 
a  (;omra(le  he  would  arrive  and  contradict  the  aercount. 

Durinj;  the  night  of  the  battle,  which  fully  imiugurated  the  war, 
Gov.  Hey(H>lds  nuule  out  a  recpusition  for  HOOO  men  to  be  in  readi- 
ness for  future  oi»erations,  and  oi'ders  were  also  ju-epared  re(piir- 
inji'  Col.  March  to  forward  supplies  for  the  nuMi,  and  Majcu-  Adams 
to  j)rocure  provisions  for  the  horses.  Letters  wer«'  also  written  to 
(iens.  Atkinson  and  l)od<;'e,  apprising;-  the  fornu'r,  who  had  not 
yet  arrived,  that  the  army  was  without  jiroivsions.  and  the  latter, 
that  Stilhnau  was  defeated,  and  the  frontiers  of  Wisconsin  were 
in  dan«i<'i'.  ^Vhen  the  news  of  tlu^  defeat  reached  the  camp,  the 
oHicers  were  smumoned  to  meet  at  the  tent  of  (Jen.  VVhitesides, 


BLACK   HAWK   WAR. 


;w 


it   \\;is  (IcfcnniiH'd  to  iiuirch  the  next  irioiiiiiif;  to  the  f'ntiil 

(  f  tlic  ('\  t'iiiii;;'s  disiistcr.     (^)ii;iilriiiiiislci'  'riiniiiiis   wiiticip:)- 


iind 
fi('l<l 

iIiil;'  \ ..('  result  oi'  llic  <Miiilicil,  ohtiiiiu'd  iVuiii  .loliii  Dixoii,  tlicii  llii^ 
oidy  iidiidMliitil  in  that  |)iirt  of  tiit-  roiiiili  \,  S  ay  \u  oxni,  as  a, 
tt'iii|M>iiirv  sii|i|il\  IoiIIh'  expedition.  'I'lie  animals  were  slan;;ht- 
errd  and  disi  I'll  Ml  led  anioiii;'  the  rnen.  w  ho  pa  it  akin;;'  of  their  llesli 
willioiit  Itread  or  salt,  started  Ibr  the  iiattle  Held.  Arrixin;; 
tliilher,  llie  liodies  of  their  I'aMeii  eoiiirades  were  I'oiiiid  t'ri;;htriiil,v 
niiililated,  pieseiitiiiii- a  seeiie  appalling'  t<»  troops  who  liad  ne\er 
liel'ore  witin-ssed  such  a  speetaele.  Some  were  heheaded,  soliK! 
had  tlieir  hands  and  feet  cut  ott',  while  their  hearts  and  other 
internal  oi';;aiis,  were  torn  out  and  scattered  oxer  tlie  piairie.  Tlu! 
iiiaii.^letl  l'ia;iiiieiits  were  ;;atliered  lojict  her,  aixl  Ixiried  in  a  com- 
mon j;ra\(',  over  which  a  rmle  slaii  hewn  from  the  trunk  of  a  tree, 
was  erected  to  mark  the  phu'c.  Tiie  troops  encamped  on  tlin 
siiouml.  and  heavy  j;uiis  Itein;;  lieard  diiiiii;;'  tiie  iiijihl,  tiiey  were 
siip|»(ised  l(»  lie  signals  for  colh'ctiiij;'  the  scattered  wariioi's  <»f 
I>lack  Hawk.  The  men  rested  in  their  saddles,  exjteetinj;' every 
moment  an  attack,  luit  the  nioniinj;'  dawned  without  the  enemy 
Iteiim'  seen.  Major  lleiiix  and  his  battalion  were  then  ordered  to 
scour  the  siirroiiiidin^  counti.x,  tiiil  no  traces  of  liie  foe  liciiij^ 
detected  tiie  whole  detachment  fell  hack  to  Dixoii. 

Perhaps  no  Itelter  material  for  an  army  could  be  found  than 
Major  Stiilman  and  iiis  men.  and  their  defeat  was  not  the  lack  of, 
braxcry,  Itut  tiie  want  of  experience  and  discipline.  \o  body  v,f, 
men  under  similar  circumstances,  xvould  have  acted  ijipi'j 
elliciciitly.  yet  for  years  afterxvard  tliey  xvere  made  the  siibiect^|.(,i|^ 
tlioii;;hlless  merriment  and  ridicule,  as  iindeserviiiji' as  theiy  l;,>t>»e- 
ditioii  xvas  disastrous.*  Stillman's  <lefeat  spread  consly.i'ij^tji,^^ 
tlirttn^hout  the  State  and  nation.  The  niimbei'  of  Iiid^l^j^xv^u'j 
riors  xvas  jLiieatly    exa;;jicrated,   and    the  name  of    l>lH(fl^,^)t*'.V^k 

-       — -    -        -     ■-     ^-f^--  >*■■»  '_*-p-/  i  ;i^ 

Note. — "It  is   said  timt  a  liljr,  tall  Koiitucklnii,  witli  a  very   ioiul  voi'fL-UiiH'^u  ^i^ 
onloiu'l  of  the  iiillltli\,  liut  private  under  Stillinnii,  iiprin  his  arrival   in  oi'iiiip  (.'ave  \o 
(ieii.  Wliiiesiilis  and  tlie  W(iMiler;iii.'  multitude  the  loll()\vinir«-l"Wiiijraiirt.tii>tt(Biin(tUliiHi> 
eou   t  (it  tlie  liatt  le:  •Sirs  '  said  he,  'ouidi'tach merit  waseiieamiu'daiiioiiirsodiy  svatiti'riuit 
t  miller  on  the  iiortliside  of  Old  Man's  creek,  with  the  prairie  on  the  nortn  W'YitlyMiSpinB 
down  to  our  eneainp.i.ent       It  was  .ju»t  after  twiliKlu,  in  the  Rloaiiiiii^ior.llio  ('\^|lnw{ 
when  we  diseov(>red    lilaek  Hawk's  ariexconiintr down  upon  iis  in  siiIkI    e(^^inmi;  tlieK 
deployed  in  tlie  form  ol  a  crescent  upon  the  Urow  of  Ihe  prairie,  and  such  ae»'fti'ae>Min<l 
precision  of  uioveinents  \v^•\■^'   never  witnessed   by  man  ;  they  \MW'iUieM*V'' 'W'"!^'*''*'" 
tr(i(ips<if  XV'ellinifton,  inSpiiin.     I  lia\esiiid  that  the  Indians  eaiiie  nolwii  i,:i  solid  coliiiiin, 
and  deplayed  in  tile   form  of  u  (irescent  :  and  what   was  most    wOilduHhi^,  uWH-' Wl*i*S 
laif-'c  sipiiires  of  cavalry  rest  in  tr  upon  the  points  of  1  he  curve,  whiilj  sjyiaiyjSiViiire  (\Ui(- 
ported  ajjrain  !iv  other  eolunins  I.')  deep,  e.vtendin^r  liack  throuitli  the  WoiWlWn  moVer  f 
s\va\np  tliree-(iuartersol  a  mile,  which  auain  rested  upon  the  ni)li|i|ii(»»ty  ol;Ula(|k;|UlwJ}'{ 
army  liivouaelied  upon  the   hanks  of  the    KIswakee.     It    was  .a   fvrriliji>  aiid  uJorlqUi 
si)ilii  to  see  the  tawny  warriors  us  they  rode  alonir  our  flanks  alK'nljAilHrtVl  ontMii'rttc'iW 
with  the  irlitK-riiij;:  inocuilieains  triisteninu:  from  their  poiisLipl  Jiljiilofi,  in\\ii\  iniyf\^\^\H 
spear.s.     It  was  a  siwlit  well  calculated  to  strike  consternaiiotVintV)  the  stonte'st  luuu't 
and  uccordinuly  our  men  soon  he>ran  to  lireak  in  small  sipnnls,/lj)iimilfit1inibfctv  'IHJi'wtiJ! 
little  tunc  the  route  heoaiue  tfeneral;  tlii'  India  lis  were  upvii  our  /lanks-iinjt  threal|CHUC  ■ 
the  ('estriietion  of  the  entire  detacliment.    Alioiit   this  tini" '  M*a>U' Htiirnhfn.  Cfmiiit : 
Stephenson.  .Major  Perkins,  (^apt,  .Xdams,  ,Mr.  lIuekletoii,«u^  myijelf,  v^t^i  >itoi|i?  rMbljftii^ji 
threw  ourselves  into  the  rear  to  nillv  the  filtritlves  and  ti)'(it«^ef  tlie.rcl  reat.      Hut  ui u 
Kliort  time  all   my  eoinpanions  fell,  briively  llirhtiiiR  IrttHil  tVtWiit^d  wit'h'Yhti  ^uvAtKF 
enemy,  and  f  alone  was   left  up  n  the  Held  of  battle      AlponV  t.Uift . t.iwu  ,  |   dij^wiyeJitf^ 
not  far  to  the  left  a  corps  of  horsemen   which  secine<r  rn  hcS  i;i  toTiW-aiilo  Order      L  lin- 
iiK-'li.itely  deployed  to  the  left,  when  leaiiinjrdown  andijlliWlfWtiW  bntlylin*  r(-c|(i»tll'Ri^ 
posture  upon  the  mane  of  inv  horse,  so  as  to  lirintr  the  lieiids  of  the  horsenieii  lietwceii 
my  eyoanrt  the  hori/.on.l  discovered  by  t!ie   liu'ht  of  thrtnTrnrr rtint  thny'WTn^'-a'i'iiftP^ 
hien  who  did  not  wear  hats,  by  which  lokeu   I  kiie\v,|IJ^/u'fiiVr«(*',<)  jn<t  fiii)(l«  <jJr'  mind.!  ''I 
t'lerefure  made  n  refro<.'rade  ihovcment  a'ld  rceoV|»'j'k.'J  uyiiirw^cr  pflp|ti<i)ri,i,  \rl«t',viMi  r«rl 
iniiined  some  time  ineditatinyr  what  further  I  eoujii  (|o  ia1|lie,,*n,L-viv<.'  <it  ,i)iy  id-'iHmM'Mo 
when  ii  random  ball  came  whistlinjr  by  my  car  a;j(Vi»l;|iiMy,iXyW*W"*'<llV'»».'.  'StruHgeifo 
yon  have  no  further  business  hero.'    Upon  henrujtf  tills,!  tolh^wt'd  thoexntnpl*  fliiuy^ 
companions  inarms,  and  broke  for  tall  timber, i|i^(|tJit;.XV^y  1  vnjn  lys^s  not  »  JvW|e/'?i-:;n' 

•Fonrs  History. 


388  niSTOllY  OP  ILMNOIS. 


riinictl  with  if  iissnciatiiMis  of  ;;i»'iit  inilitiir\  talnit,  sinii;;*' 
(•iiiiiiiiiji  iiiiW  ciiiflt.v.  (icii.  ScnII.  uitli  10(1(1  liiilcd  Stall's  trnttps, 
AViiM  sent  to  till-  iiidtliwi'sl  to  siipt'iiiiti'iitl  tln'  riiluic  oiu'r;itioiis  of 
till'  riiiiipiii^'ii. 

Tin-  lifw   levies  iiiidei'  tlie  |iroeliUii:ilioii  of  <iov.  Uesiiolds,  were 
t(»  meet,  Koiiie  on  the  M  of  .liiiie,  ii;:iiiii  at  ISeiii'dslowii,  and  otiiers 
on  the  KMli  of  the  same  montii  at  lleniiejin,  and  ellieieni  messen 
j:<'rs  were  sent  to  eonve.v  intelli;;enee  of  liie  re<|iiisition  to  dilVerent 
i  ]»iirfs  of  tin- Slate.     Tiie  jirealt'st  dispatch  was  recpiired  lo  enaUh* 

.  forces  in  tlie  most  distant  counties  to  ass«'ml)le   and    mareli  more 

tlian  a  linndred  ndies  to  I'm-  places  of  remie/vous  in  so  short  a 
period  of  time.  The  pi«'\  ions  oij;ani/ation  of  the  volnnteers, 
intwevcr.  jjieally  facilitated  the  liiltor  of  hrin;;inji'  the  piesenl  call 
into  tin'  Held. 

'I'he  nn'ii  in  the  service  nowasiicii  to  \h'  dischar;red,  nv^in;r  that 
tlu'V  iiad  enlisted  at  a  nnnnent's  waiiiin*;,  IVirthe  iirotectiou  of  the 
frctnliei',  withont  pio\idin<;  clothes  for  themselves  or  food 
lor  their  families  at  honn>,  and  lioth  must  snIVer  if  the  cam- 
]»ai;;n  was  protractei'.  'I'he  term  of  enlistuu'nt  hein;;  nndelined, 
tlicy  lni(i  a  rij^ht  to  return  iiome,  but  tlie  };<>veriu>r  appealin};  to 
theii"  ])atriotism,  they  a;:ree<l  to  n'main  lli  or  !">  days  lon}i«'r.  in 
the  meantime,  (icM.  Atkinson  arrived  at  Dixon  with  provisions, 
eiM'ami»ed  on  the  in»rtliwest  side  of  the  rivi'r,  and  threw  up 
cmlKiidunents  for  tin'  protection  of  his  stores.  Tlie  companies  of 
("apts.  liailey  and  Slillman,  wi're organized  asal»ri;iade  under  the 
command  of  Col.  .lohnson,  and  received  iido  tin*  service  «)f  the 
United  States,  and  one  part  ordered  to  Ottawa  for  the  dt-fence  of 
tinit  ])lace,  while  the  (»ther  remained  at  Dixttn  to  <iuard  the  stores. 
.  On  the   UMIi  of  May,  trie  whole   army  consistinji  «)f  volnnteers 

'■  and  re;;ulars,  under  the  command  of  (ieii.  Atkinson,  inarclied  [\\t 

tiie  river  in  pursuit  of  tiie,  enemy.  Toward  eveninj-'  news  was 
received  tliat  several  v.hite  families  !:;;,!  l»een  murdered  liy  the 
savajics,  (m  Indian  creek,  not  far  fntm  Ottawa.  The  story  <»f  tho 
massacre  is  hut  a  re[)etition  of  the  i>loody  traf>edies  whictli  always 
characteri/e  sasa^^c:  wiirfiire.  About  70  warriors  made  a  descent 
on  tlie  settlement,  and  in  Imtad  dayli^^ht  stealthily  entered  n 
liousein  wliicli  ;{  families  l»ad  assembled,  and  murilered  15  of  tiie 
inmates.* 

On  the  receipt  of  tlie  news,  Gen.  Atlviusou  ordered  Gen.  White- 
sides  and  Col.  Taylor,  afterwards  president  of  the  United  States, 
to  continue  the  pursuit  of  tlie  Indians  witli  the  volunteers,  while 
he  witii  tiie  regulars  fell  back  to  Dixon.  After  several  days 
inarcli,  the  trail  of  Black  Hawk  led  the  army  to  a  village  of  the 
Potawattoniies  on  Sycamore  creek,  where  were  disc<n"ered  several 
relics  of  tlie  traj^edy  on  Indian  creek,  and  the  battle  of  Stillman's 
linn.  Tlie  inhabitants  had  tied,  and  the  trail  sepai'atin<>'  led  in 
ditfi'rent  directions,  a  precaution  doubtless  taken  to  elude  the  piir- 
.sniiifi'  force.  It  was  the  suppf)sition  that  Black  Hawk  had  visited 
the  town  to  secure  the  co-opertion  of  tlie  Potawattoniies,  who  were 
perhajis  deterred  from  renderinjjf  assistance  by  the  overwhelming 

♦Thellends  who  pprpotrrttcd  the  butchery  atterwitrd  related,  with  Infernal  (flee,  that 
the  women  siiuawked  like  (feese,  us  they  were  pierced  with  speurs.or  felt  the  keen  edge 
ot  the  tnmnliuwk  cnterlnjr  thol"  heads  The  bodies  of  the  victims  wore  sculped  and 
otherwise  nintilatcci.  the  children  were  chopped  to  pieces  with  axes, i.iid  the  women 
8uspcn<led  by  tlieir  feet  to  the  walls  of  the  houses,  their  clothes  falling  over  their 
hca<ls,  leaving  their  persons  exposed  to  the  public  guze. 


k 


380 


IIIHTOUY   OF   IM.INOIS. 


iiiiiiiImt  of  Mm' whites.  WliiU*  tlMMii'iny  lay  iit  llic  villii;;*',  ii  ro- 
(Miiiiiiiilci'iii;;  |t:ii'tv  was  .sriit  out  to  search  tor  hist  horses,  and 
I'ctiuniii;;' ill  tlie  iii^^hi,  tliey  tlisroverrd  ii  lar;;)'  liitliiiii  I'orcc  steal- 
ill;;' awa.v  ill  t  lie  <laik,  evidently  toa\<>i<l  the  whites,  ami  to  join 
their  coiiMiKles,  a  lai-^e  body  (»!'  whom  it  was  iiilened  was  in  tlio 
vieinily.  The  trail  of  the  Indians  led  iioitli,  while  the  homeward 
l'<Hileof  the  voliiiiteei-s  now  ahoiil  to  let  iil'ii  letl  south,  and  it  tlieie- 
I'oi'e  heeaine  necessary  to  detcrniine  whether  tocoiitinne  the  |iiii'- 
8iiif  or  reliii'ii  home.  Col.  'i'aylor  am'  Major  Harney,  of  tliu 
reijiilar  army,  and  (iov.  IJeyiiolds  iir;;(Ml  them  l(»  remain  in  the 
service  till  llie  Imliaiis  could  he  oxcrtaltcn  and  chastised.  Tho 
volunteers,  liow«'\ei',  expri'ssed  ureat  reliietaiice  to  a  eoiitiiiiiam-o 
of  llie  |iiirsiMt,  The  private  s(»ldiers  also  wcic  not  only  displeas- 
ed with  the  commaiidin;;  .general,  hiil  they  had  left  their  hiisinc  s 
ill  sm^li  comliiion  as  )o  reipiin^  theii*  pi'Hseiic(t  at  home.  (ieii. 
\\  hiteside,  upon  whom  the  principal  command  devolved  in  tlio 
sd»seiic4'  ot'  (ieii  Alkins<»n,  althoii;;li  (tpposed  to  folhtvviii;;  the 
enemy,  agreed  to  he  piverncd  hy  a  majority  of  the  ollicers,  and  tlicj 
question  lieiii;;'  snhiiiitled  to  a  vol(>,  one-lialf  were  for  piirsniii;; 
the  Indians  aixl  the  other  half  for  letiirniii;;  home.  (iov.  Key- 
iiolds  seein;^  t he  deiiiorali/iii<;:  condition.  cans«>d  them  to  he  march- 
ed to  Ottawa,  and  on  the  I'Tlli  and  L'Stli  of  May  they  were 
ilisi-harjucd  and  the  campaign  thus  ended  without  etrecting  any 
imjtojtant  resiilts. 


1  1.  .-n't' 


ClIAl'TER    XXXIV. 

IS.".:;— TinUI)  CAMl'AKiX  OF  THE  WAR. 

KcqulUion  for  AdilUloHul  Troops — AttucU  on  Apple  Creek  Fort — 
Captain  ISteplieiis''  Eiieouiiter  ivHli  the  In<lian>i — <)r<janizntion  of 
the  N'etc  Levies — Battle  of  Kelltx/K  (Jroce — Battle  of  the  Wis- 
cousin. 


Gen.  Atkinson  called  ii|)(Hi  tlic  ;i()V('ni(»riit  tlu"  time  these  troops 
Avere  mustered  out,  and  at  his  su;i;L;estioii  aeall  was  made  for  liHH) 
additional  men  to  eo-oi>erate  with  the  previous  ri'ipiisitiou  a\Ml  1(I(M» 
more  to  guard  the  frontiers.  Tiu'  danp'r  of  <'.\posed  si'ttlements 
beiu'!,'  very  imminent,  an  appeal  was  made  to  the  disbanded  tntops, 
and  a  re<;iment  raised  to  serve  till  the  new  levies  could  he  made 
available.  After  the  election  of  .laeol)  Fry  as  c»>lonel  and  .lames 
D.  Henry  as  lieutenant  colonel,  tli(^  <litlerent  companies  of  which 
it  was  composed  were  immediately  dispatched  to  the  most  exposed 
localities.  The  >  '"iimeni,  after  bravely  .miardiiiji'  the  imperiled 
frontier,  was  linally  mustered  out  of  service  at  Dixon,  on  the  llHli 
of  dune  by  Col.  'I'aylor.  One  of  the  companies  under  Captain 
Snyder,  lia<l  some  sevei'c  skirmishinu'  with  a  l>ody  of  some  seventy 
Indians  in  the  vicinity  of  Keiloii's  grove,  in  which  I  of  the  savages 
and  '2  or  iJ  of  his  own  men  were  kdled,  'i'he  new  levies  arrived, 
but  before  they  could  be  oi-ganized  or  brought  into  the  (ie-ld,  the 
Indians  committed  a  number  of  murders  in  ditlerent  {tarts  of  the 
country. 

On  the  0th  of  Jun<'  IJlack  Hawk  and  about  b")()  warriors  made 
an  attack  on  Ai)i>le  Kiver  lM>rt,  situated  a  tpiarter  of  a  mile  north 
of  the  present  village  of  Kli/abeth  and  within  lli  miles  of  <ialena. 
The  fort  was  a  stockade  having  strong  bhu-k  houses  at  the  corners, 
and  had  been  erected  tor  the  benelit  of  a  small  village  of  miners, 
Avho  resided  in  their  homes  during  the  day  and  retired  to  the  fort 
for  protection  at  night.  Three  messengers  chanced  to  he  on  their 
Avay  from  (lalena  t(»  Dixon,  and  when  within  half  a  nule  of  the 
village,  were  tired  upon  by  Indians  lurking  in  anduish.  One  of  them 
Avas  wounded,  l)ut  l)y  the  assistance  of  his  two  companions  he 
reached  the  fort  without  further  injury.  The  inhabitants,  as  usual 
<luring  tlnnlay,  were  scattered  ahr<tad  attending  to  husiness,  when 
the  report  of  guns  apprised  them(»f  danger  and  I  lu'y  tied  to  the  tort 
in  advance  of  the  enemy.  Tlu'  Indians  canu'  within  tiring  distance, 
when  the  battle  commenced  and  was  continued  with  gr«'at  fury 
for  15  hours,  (luiing  which  several  attempts  were  made  to  burn 
ami  storm  the  tbrtitications.  'i'he  assailants  took  jiossession  of  tin; 
dwellings   in   the   village,  and  while  some  knocked  lioles  in   the 


BLACK  HAWK  WAR. 


301 


\v;ills  tliidujili  wliicli  ill  siii'cty  tli«\v  finMl  nnoii  the  fort,  otlicrs  (li>- 
stio.vcd  ])i(tvisi»)ii.s,  broke  crockcn,  jiiul  witli  devilish  jilee  ripped 
(»peii  beds  and  iiestrewed  tlie  lioiises  iind  yiirds  wifii  leathers. 
Tiiere  were  only  IT)  men  in  tlie  ibrt,  but  they  toii;;ht  with  the  im- 
petuosity of  (h'si)eration,  deeming'  it  better  if  they  could  U(»t 
repulse  their  adversaries  to  die  in  (h'fence  of  their  families,  than 
surt'er  capitulation  and  \)utchery  aft<'i\vard.  The  mothers  and 
children  partook  of  the  sanu'  inspiration,  and  by  moiihlin^  bullets 
and  ehar^iii;,'  jiuns  greatly  assisted  in  warding'  off  the  assaults  of 
the  enemy.  Tiie  Indians  at  leiij;tli,  tindinji'  they  could  not  prevail 
a^iiinst  the  jj;arrison,  rais«'d  the  seij^c  and  departed,  takinj^-  with 
them  lu>rses,  cattle,  tloiir  and  other  provisions.  The  Americans 
.sustained  a  loss  of  one  man,  tliat  of  'he  Indians  could  never  be 
asci'itaiiied  as  their  killed  and  wounded  were  carried  away  in  tlio 
retreat.  A  messenger  in  *he  meantime  had  hurried  to  (laleiia  for 
jissistaiM^e,  and  (,'ol.  Stros.e  of  the  militia  marched  to  atford  them 
assistance,  but  the  enemy  had  left  before  he  arrived. 

On  the  24th  of  .Iniie  two  men  were  killed  near  Fort  Hamilton, 
..silimted  amonj;"  the  lead  mines  i  or  5  miles  east  of  (ialeiia.  (Jen. 
J)odj;<>,  of  Wisconsin,  wlio  by  chance  visited  the  fort  shortly  after 
the  tr;ij,fedy  was  committed,  immediately  followed  the  trail  of  the 
.Siiviiji'es  to  the  I'ekatonica,  when'  they  took  r<'fu<;('  iiiidei-  a  hiuii 
biink  of  the,  river.  The  brave  (commander  and  his  e(pially  brave 
men  immediately  I'ushed  on  the  sheltered  foe  and  killed  the  entire 
number,  Imviiiy  three  of  ilieir  own  men  mortally  wounded  in  the 
assiiult.  This  action  alth<Mi^ii  small,  exhibited  the  greatest  daring 
on  tile  part  of  those  en<,'a,yed  in  it. 

About  the  same  time  Capt.  Stephenson  of  Galena,  and  a  )>oitiou 
of  his  company  tell  in  with  a  [>arty  of  Indians  between  Apjile 
liiver  l'\»rt  and  lvello<;'s  (irove,  and  ]>ursued  them  till  they  took 
refu<j;e  in  a  small  grove  in  the  midst  of  the  prairie.  The  Ameri- 
cims  commenced  a  ramhmi  tire  into  the  timber  but  after  the  loss 
of  a  few  men  retired.  Notwitlistaiiding  this  loss  neitlu'r  otlicers 
nor  men  were  yet  willing  to  iibaiidoii  the  contest,  and  the  jiaity  in 
a  sh(U't  time  returned  and  charged  into  the  grove,  receiving  tlie 
giiUiiig  iii'i^  of  the  savages,  who  were  so  etfectually  protected  by 
the  trees  it  w;is  imjiossilile  to  dislodge  them.  The  charge  was 
renewed  a  seccuid  and  a  third  time,  and  not  until  li  additional  men 
were  killed  and  the  ca]>tain  supposed  to  be  mortally  woiiiided  did 
the  lighting  (U'ase.  The  Indians  had  greatly  the  advantage,  and 
the  lashness  of  niiikiiig  an  attack  under  the  ciicumstances  is 
perhaps  as  much  an  object  of  censure  as  the  heroic  dei'ds  per- 
formed are  feiits  of  admiration. 

As  ]»reviously  arranged  in  the  call  for  troops,  the  new  levies  met 
at  IJeiirdstown  and  liennepin,  but  were  afterward  ordered  to  I'ort 
AVilburn  where  a  ])(rniaiieiit  organiziition  wiis  etfecte<l.*  A  i)ro- 
niiscnous  multitude  of  several  tliousiind  persons  had  assembled  at 
this  place,  and  the  greatest  i>atieiice  and  jiidgmeiit  was  riMpiired 
to  form  them  into  an  army.  As  many  of  the  most  prominent  men 
ill  the  State  were  present  and  wanted  ]iositions,  tlier<' was  great 
<lai)ger  in  the  bestowal  of  oiliccs  that  <lissatisfactioii  mi}.;lit 
u.'ise  and  thus  .seriously  iinpaii  the  elliciencty  of  the  army.     It  was 


•This  wiiBasmnii  forlifltMtion  (in  lli'!  sntrtli  biuik  of  tlio  Illinois,  nboiit  a  iiiilo  aliove 
Pciii,  and  liaj  been  t'l-iM'tcil  by  liiciit.  Wjibiiin,  for  tlie  protection  of  the  sujiidles 
euti'usti'il  to  his  cure  by  Col.  March. 


392 


HISTORY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


li()\v«'v«'r  iijiT('«'»l  ill  a  coiisiiltiitioii  hctwi'cii  tlic  fiovcnior  and 
captains  of  llu'  various  <!oiii|»ani('s  wiio  iiad  already  been  cliosi'ii, 
tliat  the  principal  olUccrs  should  bu  (elected  by  the  troops  over 
wlioin  tlicy  were  t(»  act.  Tlir«'c  brij;ad«'S  were  orj;anized,  and  on 
the  KUii  of  . I  line  Alexander  I'osey  was  elect(^d  j;eneral  of  tho 
tirst,  Milton  K.  Alexander  j>eneral  of  the  second,  and  on  the  ISth, 
James  1).  Henry  ;;('iieral  of  tlu^  third,  (leii.  Atkinson  i«'(!eive(l 
them  into  the  service  of  lln^  United  States  and  acted  as  coin- 
niander  in-chief  of  the  force  thus  or<;aiiized,  which  amounted  to 
31*.t2  men.  The  jiovernor  ai)pointed  on  his  staff  Meiijamin  l'\ 
llicliinan  and  Alex.  F.  (iraiit  as  aids,  , James  Tiiiney  as  adjutant 
general,  K.  ('.  March  as  (piartermaster  general.  IJesides  the  main 
army  4  battali(»iis  were  organized  lor  spetiial  purposes,  and  com- 
jiiaiided  severally  by  Majors  l>oj;art  and  IJaily,  anil  Colonels  I'.iiciv- 
iiiaster  and  Dement. 

In  view  of  the  disasters  which  threatened  tlu'  lua-fhern  frontier 
of  the  State,  the  jiovernor  ordered  a  chain  (»f  forts  to  be  erected 
and  ^arrisoiie<l  from  the  Mississippi  to  ("hicaj;o.  Indian  war 
parties  lurked  in  every  delile,  beset  every  solitary  road,  hovered 
altoiit  every  settlement,  and  woe  to  the  traveler  or  nni»rotected 
party  of  white  men  who  atteiiijited  to  pass  Ihroiiii'h  the  country. 
J)es|»ite  their  vijiilance  their  supremacy  in  the  lield  was  scton  to 
end;  beaten,  humbled  and  ideedinji-  tney  were  to  be  driven  belbro 
the  comiuerers,  and  their  linntinji  jiroiinds  were  to  know  them  no 
more. 

On  the  I7fh  (»f  .hiiie,  Col.  Dement  and  his  force  wi-re  ordered  to 
re[)oit  themselves  to  C«»l.  Taylor  at  Dixon,  while  the  main  army 
Avas  to  follow.  Here  Col.  Dement  was  ordi'ied  to  tak(>  a  position 
ill  Kelloji's  (iroxc,  where  on  tlM'2r>th  (»f  dune  he  was  visited  by  Mr. 
Tniik  of  McLean  c(aiiity,  who  came  dnriiij;  the  nijilit  from  the  lead 
niiiies  and  informed  him  that  the  trail  of  about  .°i(H)  Indians  lead- 
iii,i>'  southward,  had  been  seen  the  ])revioiis  day,  and  that  there 
was  perlia])s  a  larji'e  body  of  them  in  the  neighborhood.  A  eoiin. 
eil  of  war  was  held  the  same  iiij;lit,  Avhi(di  decided  that  Col- 
])enient  and  TiO  picked  men  should  rec-oiiiioitre  the  siirronndiiifj 
country  the  next  day,  while  the  remainder  were  to  remain  in  the 
fort  near  the  ;;rove  prepared  for  any  enierj;('iicy  that  nii;;lit  hap- 
pen. This  rude  block  house  was  an  <d>l<)iifi'  buildinj;'  constructed 
of  \ojXx,  contained  .'5  rooms,  and  was  fni'iiishcd  with  doors  of  slroii<>' 
material.  At  di.yli^ht  on  the  followiii^i'  iiKtrninji  the  party  sallicil 
forth,  but  the  more  advanced  jiortion  of  it  had  not  i»roceeded 
niore  than  ;'»()(>  yards,  wIkmi  several  Indian  s|des  wen?  discovered 
on  the  adjacent  inairies.  Col.  Dement  and  Lieut.  (Jov.  Zadocrk 
Casey  wer<'  mounting;'  their  liorses  ]>reparatory  to  leavinji'  the 
fort,  when  a  messenger  returned  to  make  known  the  <liscovery. 
Tli(>  news  was  soon  (tommnnicated  to  the  whole  battalion  ;  A 
i>lireiizy  to  tight  the  redskins  took  p«»ssession  of  tin'  men,  and 
contrary  to  orders  they  mounted  their  horses  and  started  alter 
them.  At  their  approach  tin;  Indians  lied,  but  Col.  Dement  siis- 
IH'cting  that  their  intent  was  to  decoy  the  whites  into  an  ambus- 
cade, galloped  alter  them  to  induce  them  to  return  and  thus 
))reveiit  the  occurr«Mice  of  such  a  catastroi»lie.  Tlieex(Mted  volun- 
teers, howev«'r,  mistook  his  iiitentions,siipposiiig  he  also  was  pursu- 
ing the  Indians  to  kilUhem,  and  the  chase  was  conlinned  till  they 
came  near  a  bushy  ravine  in  which  Ulack  Hawk  and  his  men  were 


BLACK  HAWK  WAK. 


393 


coiHjcalcd.  Tlic  objccl  coiitciiijdiitj'd  by  the  hidden  foe  was  now 
consniiiiiiiilcd,  and  no  ^^cncralsliij)  of  <'i\ilizcd  wiirfaic  could  liave 
been  bftlei'idanncdoi'  luort'  succcsslidly  executed  tlian  this  stratejiy 
of  tlie  booliless  men  of  liu'  forest.  Suddenly  a  war-wiioop  ])rocee(l- 
inj;'  from  the  tiiroats  of  3(K)  naivcd  sava;i('s,  wiio  liad  previously 
l»re|)ared  for  batth*  by  divestin;;'  themselves  of  their  clothes,  star- 
tle<l  the  Americans.  Determined  to  profit  by  the  surprise  and  the 
advaiitiijie  of  numerical  strenj^th,  they  ruslied  with  the  fury  of 
ilenioiis  upon  their  adveisaries.  ('ol.  Dement  and  several  other 
ofti«;;'r'<  made  sev<'ra!  att<'mi»ts  to  rally  their  j»aiji(^stricken  men, 
but  tlu' dan;;('rof  beinj^'  out  Manked  by  su]>erior  nundiers  rendered 
their  efforts  futile.  All  subordination  ceased,  and  each  fugitive, 
])i'omi>ted  by  the  'ustinct  of  self  preservation,  shaped  his  course 
toward  the  fort  with  a  speed  e(pial  to  that  with  whi(rh  a  slioit  time 
before  lie  had  left  it.  In  tlu^  hurried  and  confused  retreat  which 
followed.  .">  Americans  who  wmv  without  horses  were  killed,  while 
the  remainder  reached  the  fort  and  dismounting;  entered  it,  closely 
pursued  by  the  enemy.  The  fort  was  vifjorously  attacked  for  near- 
ly an  lioui',  but  the  foice  within  returned  the  tire  of  the  assailants 
with  such  rapidity  and  precision  that  they  letired,  leaving-  nine  of 
their  comrades  dead  on  the  Held,  and  carryin;^'  others  away  with 
thciit.  No  one  in  the  fort  was  killed  l)ut  several  were  wounded 
by  bullets  which  occiisionally  entered  tlii-ouj;h  crevices  in  the 
walls.  Three  balls  passed  through  the  apparel  of  Col.  Dement, 
all  of  them  touching'  his  person,  but  none  e!iusin<;  a  wound. 
About  ")()  hoi'ses  weic  killed,  and  suddeidy  swelliu};-  afterward  it 
was  sui>posed  they  had  been  pierced  with  pctisoned  arrows. 

With  the  retreat  of  the  Indians,  sentinels  were  sent  out  to  watch 
their  movements,  and  work  was  commence<l  on  the  fort  to  j^et  it 
in  rea(hness  lor  a  ni<;ht  attack.  The  heavy  timber  of  which  it 
Mas  built  would  withstand  thc^  effect  of  l»ullets  better  than  that 
of  tire,  and  lest  an  attempt  should  l»e  made  to  l)urn  it,  barrels  of 
water  were  provided,  and  a  larj>'e  nundier  of  wet  blankets  were 
hunj; on  the  walls. 

At  8  o'clock  in  the  morninji'  when  tlit-  batth^  had  ]»aitially  sid)- 
si(h'<l.  Col.  Dement  sent  live  messen^cis to  Dixon,  a  distance!  of  aO 
nnhis,  for  assistance',  and  towaid  sundown  (ien.  '*osey  and  his 
brigade  nnide  their  appearance.  Shortly  alter  his  arrival  some 
Indian  spies  were  seen  to  enu'r-ic  fiom  the  adjacent  thicket,  where 
they  had  been  watchiuy  to  see  if  any  additional  troops  came  to 
the  I'clief  of  the  foit.  Retirinu'  to  the  miiin  body  of  the  enemy,  a 
consnlaticui  was  held,  nnd  doubtless  fuither  attemi»ts  upon  the 
fcu't  were  abaiuloued,  in  conseciuence  of  the  timely  arrival  of  Gen. 
Tosey. 

Early  the  next  niornin;;'  an  excavation  was  nuide  with  knives 
ami  tomahawks  near  the  j;rove,  and  in  this  lonely  jiiave  were 
buried  the  mutilated  reniiuns  of  the  five  Americans  killed  the 
jtrecedin;;'  day.  ,  When  the  melancholy  task  wasemled  (Jen.  Posey 
starteil  after  the  Indians,  but  soon  discoverinn'  by  the  trail  that 
they  had  scattered,  the  pursuit  was  discontinued.  Thus  tei  inin- 
ated  this  expedition.  Nature  had  endowed  in  tin'  hij;hest  (le,uree 
with  .<oldiery  (pndities  those  en,ua,ii'ed  in  it,  and  the  only  reason 
their  elfctrts  were  uoX  u\orv  successfid  was  the  want  of  discii)liin',  a 
disideratum  which  the  innnediate  denuind  for  their  .services  had 
not  permitted  them  to  acijuire. 


4m 

m 


W 


394 


IIISTOllY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


After  tlir  biittlf  of  Kclloji's  drove,  ilie  forces  of  (leii.  Posey  and 
Col.  Dement  retiiiiied  to  Dixon,  where  the  icinuhirs  and  most  of 
the  voluiitet'is  wvvv  concentiated  nnder  llie  eommaiid  of  (Jen. 
Atkinson.  To  prevent  tiie  escape  of  IIk;  Indians  if  thev  attempt- 
ed to  reci'oss  the  .Mississippi,  (ien.  Ah'xander  was  onh-red  to  tlie 
country  south  of  Galena,  and  (ien.  Posey  to  I'ort  liamiiton  on  llie 
I'ekatonica.  Wiiile  the  army  was  at  Dixon,  ;{  Potawattomie  chiefs, 
Wapello,  Dilly  Caldwell  and  Wauhansee,  came  to  (Jen.  Atkinson 
asking'  sonn-  ])rotection  aj;aiiist  P>lack  Hawk,  'i'lu'  ire  of  the  old 
Sac  warrior  was  aroused  because  the  tribe  of  these  chiefs  i»ro- 
l>osed  an  alliance  witli  tlie  Anu'ricans,  who  deemed  it  better  to 
secui'c  theii' CO opeialiou  than  have  tueni  lij;ht  on  the  opposite  side. 
C!ol.  l-'ry  and  his  i'e<;iment  were  ac/ordin^ly  sent  in  advance  of 
tbe  main  army  to  Sycann)re  creek  t'>  alibrd  protection,  and  to  re- 
ceive into  the  service  100  Potawattomie  warriors,  who  had  sij;ni- 
tied  their  willin<iiM'ss  to  unite  with  the  whites.  ^luch  was  exjtec- 
ted  from  this  acc«'ssion  to  the  army,  l)ut  they  soon  returiu'd  home 
and  little  was  realized,  altliouj;ii  comnniinled  by  WabansiH',  n 
veteran  chief  of  the  tril»e.  (Jen.  Atkinson  liavinj;  heard  that 
JUack  Hawk  had  fortified  a  position  on  the  four  lakes  in  southern 
Wisconsin,  started  thither  for  the  purpose  of  brin;;in<i'  on  a 
{i'cneral  cnj^aiicment  and  tiius  termin;itinji  the  war.  I'assinj;' Syc- 
amore creek  he  was  Joined  by  the  Wiun<'ba,u()  warriors,  and  on 
the  .')Otli  of  .lune,  encamped  near  'I'lirlle  villajic,  a  considerable! 
town  of  the  Winnebaj^oes,  then  deserte<l  by  its  inhabitants.  Tlie 
iiijiht  following  was  one  t)f  continual  alarms,  tin-  whole  connnand 
was  fretpiently  paraded  in  order  of  battle,  but  no  enemy  wasseeii 
excei»t  a  tew  jn'owlinj;'  Indians.  The  next  mornin,u  the  maicU 
Avas  resunu'd,  and  on  the  4th  of  -Inly  the  aiiuy  reached  I-ake 
Kush-ka  non^:;  an  expansion  of  Pock  rivi'r,  wliei'c  they  fornu'd  ti 
Junction  with  the  forces  of  (  ol.  I'ry  and  (Jen.  Alexandei'.  These 
liavin<;'  scoured  the  whole  of  tin'  a<ljacent  countiy  and  not  lindinji" 
the  enemy,  the  march  of  the  mounted  men  was  continued  up  the 
east  side  of  the  Pock  river  lo  PurnI  villaji'c.  another  town  of  the 
Winnebaj;()es  situated  on  Whitewater,  a  ti-ibutary  of  the  iirst 
mentioned  stream.  Here  they  were  joined  by  (Jen.  Posey  and  a 
l)attalion  of  100  men  under  Slajor  Dod^c  oi'  Wisconsin.  The 
evening- of  theirarrixal  at  that  i)lace,  a  company  of  scouts  came 
in  ami  reported  the  unun  trail  cd"  tin;  Jndians  ■'!  miles  Idjiher  up 
the  stream.  l*re]»arations  were  inunediately  made  lo  follow  it, 
and  at  an  early  hoiu'  next  day  a  delaclHueut  proceeded  u])  the 
river  a  distan(!e  of  b")  ndles,  but  no  tra(;e  (d"  the  eiu-my  beinj;  de- 
tected the  detaidnnent  tell  back  to  P»urnt  villajit'.* 

Kiyht  wctdis  had  now  been  spent  in  maichinj;  and  counter- 
inarchinji'  to  lind  the  <Miemy,  and  the  attainment  <d'  the  object  did 
itot  seem  any  nearer  at  hand  than   when    the  caniitaign  was  eom- 

[NoTK  — *  "  In  tills  cxpcdlUoii  tlio  forcjo  oiniuf  upon  tlio  treinhliiiu'  Imuls,  whiuli  are 
iinniciiso  tints  (it  tiirl  Iroiii  (1  to  1:.'  liu'liis  lliiik,  L'Xli'iidiiin  lur  iiiilusiii  cvi'i-y  diiiji;- 
tioii  iiiul  ie!?t1ii(r  oil  liccis  ot  \viit(!r  uml  (juicUsiiiKl  A  trooi)  or  even  ii  sniji'k'  lioiseniuii 
riiliiiy  ()v<'r  lliciii  pi-o(liice(i  nil  muliiliitiiiK  motion  of  the  liiiicl  from  wliicli  it  nets  its 
niiiiie.  Alllii)u;ili  the  sml'iicc  is  (piiti'  dry  v  (  t  there  is  no  dillieiilty  in  j)i-oe\iiiiiK  plenty 
of  Wilier  by  eiittiiif;  iin  opening  llii-oii;!li  itie  stratum  ot  turf.  The  horses  would 
sometimes  ioree  n  foot  ihroiiuh  or  lull  to  the  slioulders.  y«  t  so  fiieiit  wiisthe  teiineily 
of  the  snrliice  in  no  insliinee  wns  there  iiiij-  trouble  in  jrettiiiK  then:  out.  In  some 
plieesthe  weiiilit  of  tlieenrth  loiced  iistreiunof  wiiter  upw'iird,  wliieh  eurrylnif  with 
it  mill  deposiiiii^r  liiitfo  ipiiintitles  of  siiiid  foinied  mounds.  The  iiioimkIs  »s  they  eii- 
iiirireil  im-reiised  the  pressure  on  I  lie  wiiter  below  pri'.seiil  ii.R  the  novel  sblit  of  a  louii- 
tiiiii  on  tluMU'iiiih'.  tl"*"*^'"-  its  streiiin  down  the  sides  id  I  lie  hillock  then  to  bu  ab- 
sorbed by  the  suiul  and  rcturtied  to  the  waters  bfiiuatti." J— Ford's  Hist.  III. 


BLACK  HAWK  WAR.  395 


iiiciicctl.  Tlic  pro^tre.ss  of  the  anny  was  uiHU'ssarily  slow,  tlio 
('oiiiitiy  was  coiiipaiiitivt'Iy  an  uiicxplorcd  wildciiicss  of 
]>i'aii'ii'  and  forest,  none  of  tlic  couiniand  liad  lu-cn  tln*>n;;lL 
it,  and  it  was  tlicrcfoic  ini|»ossil)l('  to  obtain  irlialilc  j^nides. 
A  niindtcr  of  \Viniit'l)a;;(»('s  followed  who  from  necessity 
wei'e  fi(M{nentiy  coiisnlted,  but  (heir  fidelity  was  of  a  doubtful 
chaiaetei-,  and  the  information  they  commnnicated  ^x'neially  de- 
Insive.  The  residt  was  short  nnirrin's,  fi'e(|Ment  delays,  fiiiitles.s 
explorations,  ;:;ivin<;'  the  eiu'iny  every  opportunity  to  asctei'taiii  the 
intentions  and  moxcments  of  tlie  pnisnin^'  foi'eeand  thns  elude  it. 
The  effoits  of  the  comnnindinj;-  <;eneral  weii'  further  retarded  l)y 
the  distance  fiom  the  bas(^  of  snpi)lies,  and  the  jireat  dillicnlty  of 
transportation,  in  conscMinem^e  ol"  which  the  troops  were  fre(piently 
withont  pi()\  isioiis  ami  iiirely  had  snilicient  foi"  protracted  oper- 
ations. ()win<;'  to  this  dinicnlty,  it  now  l)ecame  ne(;essary  to  dis- 
])erse  th((  army  to  obtain  food.  Accordini;ly  Major  Dodjic  and 
(ienei'als  Henry  and  Alexamler  werc^  sent  to  I'ort  Winnel)a;;o, 
sitnateonthe  porlau'e  between  the  Fox  and  Wisconsin  rivers,  for 
this  ])nrpose,  while  (J»'n.  I'osey  marclu-d  to  Fort  Hamilton  foi'  th(^ 
protection  of  the  adjacent  i'rontier,  tiu'  governor  retni-ned  to  his 
home  at  IJelleville  ami  (ieii.  Atkinson  fell  back  t(»  lake  Kushka- 
non,i;.  Here  he  erected  a  fort,  which  was  called  after  the  mime  of 
the  lake,  in  which  he  exi)ected  to  remain  till  the  volnnteer  j^enerals 
I'ctMrned  with  sn])plies. 

l''ort  \\'innel)a,u(),  a  distance  of  SO  miles  from  the  encampment, 
on  the  Stillwater,  was  reached  in  three  (lays,  but  themarcii  thither 
over  the  intervening;*  swampy  country  so  cripi>led  some  of  the 
horses  as  to  render  them  nseless  in  the  siicceedinj;' ]tart  of  the 
campai,nii.  Another  calamity  also  befell  the  horses  shortly  after- 
ward, which  was  worse  than  an  ordinary  battle.  Abont  J,0(K) 
were  peaceably  ,t;razin,y  on  tlie  praii'ie  when  a  stanipedi'  occnired, 
cansed,  as  was  supposed,  by  Indians  attemj)lin,<;'  to  steal  some  of 
them.  Th(^  soldiers  at  tiie  time  were  sound  asleej)  in  their  tents, 
which  were  closely  pitched  to;nether  and  the  friyhtiMH'd  aiiinnds 
in  their  nnnl  Hiuiit  jnshed  directly  over  the  eiicanii)inent,  kiiock- 
ini;  the  tents  down  on  the  faces  of  the  jnen  and  tramplinj;'  their 
weapons  ami  camp  etini[)a};e  into  the  "ground.  Then  coursing 
inirthward  with  j;reat  rapidity,  the  sonml  of  their  feet  produced 
an  api)alliiiy  noise  resembling'   the  roll  of  distant  tlmiuler.     Tlio 

[*  '•  A  view  of  till'  country  from  cimip  ut  Fort  \Vinn('t)»(ro  presented  tlie  most  strik- 
ina-  pontniriety  of  feiiturcs.  liookirig  towaril  tlu!  fort  wliu.li  was  u  neat  striieture 
aiiionM'  the  (ireeii  liills,  two  streams  are  seen  the  Fox  and  Wisconsin,  with  sources  sev- 
eral liundred  miles  apart,  the  former  in  tlie  cast  and  the  latter  iu  the  north,  RlidinH'  as 
if  to  miiiyle  their  waters,  until  within  three  miles  of  each  other,  when  they  sweep  the 
one  to  the  northeast,  and  the  other  to  the  southwest,  as  if  they  had  met  to  hid  each 
other  a  uiillant  adieu  before  partinu',  the  Fox  to  mintrle  its  sweet  and  limped  waters  in 
the  (iiilf  of  St  l,awrenee,  and  the  Wisconsin  to  contribute  its  stained  and  hitter  Hoods 
toilie  Gulf  of  Mexico..  The  (Jourse  of  the  Fox  is  short,  crooked,  narrow  and  deep,  and 
abounds  ill  the  linest  variety  of  fish,  whilst  the  Wisconsin  is  large,  wide  and  compara- 
tively stiaiyrht,  luid  is  said  to  have  no  flsh,  owinir  perhaiis  to  its  passage  throujjh  cy- 
press swamps  which  renders  it  unwholesome  for  the  tinny  tribes,  ami  also  causes  the 
discoloration  of  its  waters  liesidestlK.'  rivers  the  face  of  the  country  is  no  less  I'e- 
markable.  The  strip  of  land  between  the  two  rivers  is  low  and  marshy,  with  no  other 
(xrowth  except  a  course  variety  of  rush,  atid  at  IiIkIi  waters  so  -  ompletely  inun<lated 
as  to  convert  all  that  part  of  the  United  States  east  of  the  Mississippi  into  u  vast  island. 
A  wisp  of  straw  heinjr  thrown  into  the  Hood  where  the  twocurrents  meet  will  separate 
and  one  portion  float  Into  the  northern  and  the  other  into  the  southern  sea.  i'iast  of 
the  Fox  river  the  land  Is  p-enerally  midulatiiijr,  preKentinir  an  etpial  di-tribution  of 
prairie  of  the  richest  mould  and  timber  of  the  lliiest  (jrowth.  West  of  the  Wisconsin 
conmieneesth  se  frownina  steppes  of  ru(rjre<l  barren  rocks  covered  with  black  and  brist- 
lliiM'  pine  and  hemlock  which  toward  the  Mississipiii  terminates  in  a  rejrion  mountaia- 
CHJS,  dreary,  terrillc  and  truly  Alpine  In  uU  its  features."— Ford's  History.] 


3!>G 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


l>i<'k('t  fi:ii!inls  and  st'iitincls  tli'd  to  tlic  cimiii),  supposiiiji'  an  attack 
liiid  hccii  made  hy  tlic  Indians,  tlif  bii;;l('s  sonndtMl  to  aims,  hnt 
many  of  tlic  soldit'i's  were  tcnipoi'aiily  injured  and  in  tlic  conl'nsioii 
wliicli  |n('vail»'(l  could  ii(»t  lind  tlicir  broken  and  scattered 
ueapons.  Tlie  Wisconsin  river  clian;;<'d  the  direction  ol'tlie  stani- 
])ede  hut  did  not  stop  its  I'nry,  tor  the  t'ri;L:iiteiie<l  animals  Inmed 
alt(»ut  and  aj;aiu  ran  into  tiie  nddst  oil  lie  canip,an(l  the  soldiers  now 
snvai'c  oftlie  situation,  en(h'avored  to  arrest  their  lieadlony  cimrso 
hut  without  success.  It  was  suppos«'d  that  most  of  them  ran  a 
distaiiie  of  .">(>  miles  before  the  alaiin  suhsich'd.  Some  were  fol- 
lowed a  distanc(^  of  "»()  miles  helbn'  they  were  fouiul,  and  about 
100  were  jK'rmanently  disahlied  in  the  siirroiindin;;  swam]>s. 

'i'wo  (hiys  were  spent  at  the  fort  in  re;;ainin,y  Ihe  iioises.  recruit- 
in^tiiemen  and  procuring' lu-cessary  supplies,  during-  which  sonic 
AViiineha<:(»  cliiefs  said  that  I'dack  llawk  and  Ids  force  were 
encamped  on  IJock  river,  .)."»  miles  al)ove  lake  Kush  ka-minii,  the 
head(juarters  of  (Jen.  Atkinson.  It  was  now  evideid  that  if  tiie 
army  attempted  to  return  to  (len.  Atkinson  the  Indians  would 
perhaps  escape  to  the  west  of  the  .Mississippi,  and  the  only  oppor- 
tunity of  closiuii'  the  war  with  prolit  to  the  country  and  honor  to 
the  service  would  he  lost.  A  council  of  war  was  convened  and  it 
was  the  unanimous  opinion  of  all  the  olliccrs  present  that  the, 
exi.ycncy  of  the  cas«>  demanded  that  they  should  disregard  the 
orders  of  (len.  Atkinson.  i»y  marciiin;;'  directly  upon  the  enemy 
with  the  intention  of  taking'  him  hy  surprise  or  i»reventinji  his 
retreat  fui'ther  northward.  'J'lie  ir>lh  of  .Inly  was  accordinj;ly 
ai»p»»inted  as  the  tinu'  of  starting,  and  (ien.  Henry  at  once  com- 
lueiiccd  re()i',i;aMizinji-  his  hrijiade,  and  disencundtci'iiiji'  it  of  tlui 
sick  and  dismounted  men,  who  would  retard  the  celerity  of  his 
march.  IJefore,  howevei',  the  day  of  depaiture  canu'  around, 
(icn.  .\le\andcr  aniioiniced  that  his  men  becominj;'  dissatislied 
had  determined  not  to  accompany  the  e\|)e(lition,  and  Major 
Dodiic  re|K)rted  that  so  uniny  of  his  horses  were  disabled  that  he 
coidd  not  mount  a  force  sutliciently  larj^c  to  render  any  valinihlo 
assistance.  At  this  Juncture  ('apt.  ( "rai;.;  arrixcd  with  a  linecom- 
]>any  of  mounted  men  from  (ialena  and  vicinity,  which  unitin;;' 
with  the  battalion  oi  Major  I )o(lji('  increased  it  to  IL'O  I'tfective 
men.  (leu.  Henry's  brij^ade  was  reduced  to  (100  men,  and  even 
these  associatinji  with  Alexander's  malcontents,  became  so  demor- 
alized as  to  he  at  the  point  of  open  mutiny.  A  protest  was  hantled 
to  the  former,  si;;iied  by  all  his  suhoidinate  olliccrs  excej)t  the 
c(»lonel  who  presented  it,  rcmonstratinj;'  ayainst  the  «'nterprise  as 
a  violation  of  (ien.  Atkinson's  orders. 

'J'his  was  the  tuininj;  |>oint  on  which  hinjicd  the  fate  of  the  cain- 
paiiin.  and  but  for  the  priulence  and  determination  id' (Hen.  Henry 
all  W(»uld  have  been  lost.  He  was  periiaps  the  only  man  in  the 
army  who  possessed  the  rare  faculty  of  successfully  connnandin;;" 
the  militia  by  inspirinj;'  (heui  with  order  and  the  honoralde  im- 
]»nlses  of  his  own  noble  nature.  He  could  command  with  sternness 
and  not  ;iive  otVeiice,  and  whih'  he  excited  the  fear  he  always 
won  Ihe  love  of  the  most  ohduiate  soldier.  In  this  emergency  lie 
knew  he  was  ri^lit  and  jn'omptly  ordered  all  the  olliccrs  sinning 
the  protest  (o  be  arrested  and  maii'hed  to  (leu.  Atkinson,  who  he 
knew  would  approve  his  course  when  he  hceaine  accpuiinted  with 
the  cireiiuistances.     This  tlecided  command  fiom  a  iieiieral  whom 


DLAOK  TIAWIC  AVAR. 


:vM 


tlicy  knew  liud  tlio  <'onrii<"('  to  cxcfiitc  it,  ciuiscd  tin*  oHiccis  to 
I'clciil,  The  colonel  wlio  prcsfiitcd  (lie  sliiiint'riil  paper  dcnit'd 
kiiowinj''  its  ('(Mitciils,  and  ail  inoinisrd  with  tiie  ^iicatest  contiitioii 
that  they  would  never  ajiiiin  be  ;;iiiltv  of  insidiordination,  (leii. 
Henry,  who  understood  linnian  natni'e  and  knew  how  to  jMoiil  by 
it.  spoke  to  tlM'ni  with  dijiuity  and  kindness,  wisely  t'or^i\  in,!;  the 
olt'enee  and  thus  seeuiinj;  their  laithfid  cooperation  durinj;  tho 
remainder  of  the  campaign. 

At  the  appointed  time  (Jen.  Tloury  and  Ma.joi-  Dodjic,  with  two 
Winiu'bii;;oes  tbi-  ;nuides,  started  in  pursuit  (»!"  the  Indiaui;,  and 
(len.  Alexander  w  ith  |)r(tvisiou.s  returned  to  (leu.  Atkinson.  Tiui 
former  Avhile  on  tlu-ir  way  to  the  infested  rej;ion,  weri^ 
1Ve(pu'idly  thrown  'oni  a diieet  course  by  interveninji'  swamjts  of 
.several  miles  in  extent,  yet  after  three  days  hard  marciiiuf;- they 
aj^ain  encamped  on  Kock  livei'.  Here  information  was  iH'ceived 
that  Ulack  Hawk  was  entrenched  onCraidu'iry  lake,  hijiher  up  tiie 
river,  and  relying'  on  this  infornnition  Henry  determined  to  make  ii 
fcu'ced  march  to  that  i)hu!e  the  following  day.  Adjutaids  10.  II. 
IMerryumn  and  W.  \V.  Wood  bridge,  accomi)anied  by  Little 
Thunder,  a  Winnebajio  chief,  as  j;uide.  were  sent  to  (ien.  Atkinson 
to  appiise  him  that  they  had  discovered  the  situation  of  the  enemy 
and  wore  makiuji'  pi'cparations  to  move  aj;ainst  him.  The  uu's- 
seuji'crs  started  about  dark  and  after  i)]()c<'edin.y  aliout  S  miles 
soutliwest  they  struck  the  fresh  trail  (»f  Ulack  Hawk,  who  was 
nudiinji'  toward  the  Wisconsin  river,  evidently  to  elude  his  pur- 
suers by  crossin<ii-  it.  Little  Thunder,  juniic  stricken  at  the  si;;lit 
of  the  trail,  without  ;>ermission  returned  to  the  camp  an<l  revealed 
tlu'  discovery  to  the  two  Indian  jiuides,  wiio  attempted  to  make 
their  escape,  but  before  their  obJe(rt  was  fully  accomplished  they 
were  arrested  and  brought  to  the  tent  of  (len.  Henry.  Confessing 
that  their  motives  for  acting  as  giddes  was  to  give  false  infoinia- 
tion  ami  thus  favor  the  escape  of  IJlack  Hawk,  they  now 
disclosed  all  they  knew  of  his  movements,  with  the  hojx'  of 
escaping  the  ])unishment  wliit'h  their  perlidy  des(>rved.  (Jeneral 
Henry  humanely  si)ared  their  lives,  and  to  invvent  his  nu'U  who 
Avouhl  have  wreaked  summary  vengeance  on  them  for  their 
treachery,  ])rudently  ke]>t  it  a  secret.  The  nussengers,  when  they 
fouml  themselves  deserted  by  Little  Thunder,  also  returned  to  the 
camp,  but  Just  before  reaching  it  one  of  them  canu'  near  being 
killed  by  the  fire  of  a  seidinel.  Karly  the  next  mcuning  the  same 
nu'ssengers  ami  gui<le  were  again  dispatched  to  (ien.  Atkinson, 
and  the  aimy  started  in  i)ursuit  of  tlie  en«'my,  leavingall  tln^  heavy 
baggage  behind  in  the  wilderness.  Those  who  had  jueviously  l(»st 
their  horses,  abandoned  their  blankets  and  all  their  clothing 
exce]>t  what  they  wore,  and  carrying  their  guns,  ammunition  ami 
])i(»visions  on  their  backs  through  thickets,  swamps  and  prairie, 
ke[»t  i)aee  with  their  comrades  on  horseback.  The  riders  on  reach- 
ing a.  slough  through  which  their  horses  wore  Uiiable  to  carry  them, 
dismounted  a>id  waded  across,  driving  tlu'ir  animals  before  them. 
The  large  fresh  tiail  being  strewn  with  various  articles,  belonging 
to  .lie  Indians,  gave  aiiinuition  to  the  pursuing  force;  there  were 
no  nu>re  complaints  among  the  men,  and  even  the  horses  seenu'd 
to  partake  of  the  eidhusiasm  which  prevailed.  Towards  evening 
there  arose  one  of  those  terrific  thumler  storms  common  to  the 
prairies,  frightfully  dark  and  aecompained  by  torrents  of  rain  and 


;!!IS 


nisTouY  oi'  ii,r,iN«»is. 


|»<'iils  (tf  lliiirirlcr.  TIh'  rrnii,  liowrAcr,  ilaslicd  on  tcjiiiiillcs.s  nf  IIm', 
i'ii;;iii;;  clt'iriciils.  tliroii^li  II<i(m|s,  iiuiislics,  ;iii<l  iiliiHtst  iriipcnclijilthi 
cliiiiips  ol'  iImiImt,  IIm'  lidrsciiini  rr«'(|iifiil ly  (lisnidiiiil in;;  and 
niiii't-liin^' mIuoI  thai  tin-  rnoliiM'n  nii;;lil  Ix'  rflicsod  hy  I'idin;^  t  lirir 
liDi'M's.  'I'lic  si (II  in  rdiiliiiiH'd  iiMisI  III'  the  ni;;lil,  and  llir  i-xliaii.stfd 
iiicii  llii'cu  llicinsflM-s  on  llic  niitddy  raiHi  lo  olitain  a  lilllr  rest, 
lia\iii;4  liMi'laUi'ii  of  no  .sii|i|M'r  cxci-pl  a  lilllcrau  iiical  and  sonic, 
<ioii;;li,  IIm-  irsiill  of  llir  di i-ncliiii;;  lain  on  llic  tloiii'  lliry  raiiird  in 
llu'ir  sacks.  A  similar  npasl  serving  tliciii  lor  Incaklast,  liy  early 
da\li;4lil  llicy  were  a;;aiii  in  niolioii  and  al'lcra  inarcii  :is  iiard  as 
thai  ol'  llic  |irc\  ions  day,  IIicn  cn)'iini|icd  on  one  of  Hie  lour  lakes, 
neai  wlicrc  jtlaek  Hawk  had  rested  the  |irc\ioiis  ni<^iit.  The  iiicii 
iKiw  ea;;crly  cnilHaced  the  o|i|Mirtiiiiil.\  wliieii  was  ofl'ered  to  iiiiiiil 
fires  and  cook  liieir  sii|i|iei.>,  lia\  iii;^  nian-iied  100  miles  w  iliioiit. 
eating-  an.vlhin;;'  except  raw  food.  As  soon  as  I  heir  liiin;^er  was 
appeased.  Ilie\  a.i:ain  lay  down  lores!  w  il  li  not  liiii;^  under  liieiii 
lint  the  naked  e;irlh.  and  iiolhin;;'o\cr  llieiii  Init  the  starry  caimpy, 
and  slept  swcelly  liil  iiroii>e(|  iindciilled  loarins.  A  sentinel  who 
diiiiii;;  the  iii^hl  discovered  an  Indian  sleall  hily  ;;lidiiij;  toward 
the  slioi'c  in  a  canoe,  lired  his  ^nii  which  canseij  an  alarm,  lint, 
nolliiii;^  riirllicr  occurred  to  indicate  the  presence  of  an  eiiciny. 
Maily  llic  follow  in;;  (lay  ihe  iiiiirch  was  res'imed  wilh  };rcat  \  i;;or, 
all  liiiii;;  elated  with  Ihe  hope  of  soon  oNcrlakin;^  the  Indians  and 
tcrininalinj;'  the  war  in  a  ;:eneral  iiattle.  ('idssin;^- the  river  lie- 
tweeii  Iwd  of  the  lakes,  the  army  ascended  :iii  cniineiice.  whence 
could  lie  seen  a  panorama  iif  wondcroits  lieanty.  Three  of  tliestt 
loNcly  sheets  id'  water  einironcd  liy  svooded  hills  ami  rollin<;' 
prairies  were  in  I'lill  \iew.  The  hami  of  civili/alion  had  not, 
marred  their  primi'\al  liciuiiy  and  e\er,\iliiii;;  was  wild  and  still, 
sa\c  Ihcdislanl  ioai' of  the  snr;;iii.n' waters  lashed  li_^  almost  (ton- 
slant  winds. 

The  Indians,  however,  were  only  a  few  iniles  distant  emIea\orin;ij 
to  escape,  and  the  hurried  march  lo  overtake  them  ;;a\c  lint  little 
time  lo  cfintemplate  the  snrronndin;;  scciierx.  '{'he  path  of  tlu; 
fnuilives  was  strewn  with  all  kinds  of  lia;:jia;;e  hi^^hly  valued  hy 
t  he  ow  iicrs,  w  liicli  I  hey  were  compelled  to  I  hrow  away  to  accelerate, 
their  lli^^ht.  Some  of  the  horses  were  foinid  dead,  the  rcsnll  of 
exhanslion,  and  others  were  occasionally  killed  lo  alford  their 
hniijiiy  liders  the  means  of  siistenanc*-.  Alioiit  1-  o'clock  on  Ihe, 
lilst  <il'  'Inly,  .'{  Indian  spies  were  o\erlakeii  and  killed,  and  short- 
ly afterward  the  rear  ;;iiard  lie;;iin  to  make  fiiiiil  stands  as  if 
desirous  of  liriii;;iii;;  on  a  lialtle.  It  was.  however,  soon  apparent 
thai  their  olijecl  was  to  ;;ain  time,  for  afler  firing  a  few  i-onnds 
llicy  would  dasii  ahead  while  the  pnrsiiin;;  force  was  forming;  for 
liallle.  In  this  manner  liy  t  o'clock  they  ;;aiiied  the  Idiilfs  of 
the  Wisconsin,  and  as  the  van;;nard  «if  the  i\ mericans,  consisting,'' 
of  Iwti  liallalions  commanded  by  .Majors  l)od;;e  and  lOvviii;;',  came 
np  they  were  tiled  upon  hy  the  Indians  concealed  in  the  timber 
which  skirts  the  bliin"  of  the  stream,  (leii.  Henry  soon  arrived, 
and  the  entire  force  was  formed  iiioiderof  battle.  Major  Dodge's 
bailalion  consliliiled  the  cNtrcine  ri;iht  of  the  line;  Col.  .loncs' 
ic.uimcnl  llieeeiiter,  siiid  ('ol.  ("olliiis'  the  left,  while  Major  10 win j:'s 
battalion  was  phu-cd  In  front,  and  Col.  l-'ry's  rej^iiiient  in  tlio 
rearas  a  reserve.  A  charge  beinj;' order<'(i,  lOwini^'s  battalion  ami 
the  regiments  of  Cols.  .Jones  and  (.'ollins  iiiatle  a  gallant  onset  up- 


IJLAr'K    HAWK    \V\K. 


300 


on  llic  ciM-iiiv,  <'!iiiHiii;;  liiiii  to  rtlir<-  <ilili<|iii-l,v  to  tin-  i'i;^lil  iiiiil 
('i)ii<'ciitt':it<-  ill  IVdiil  of  the  hiil  liilioii  nt'  .Miijoi'  l>o(l;;<-,  wImi  WiiS 
then  orflcml  to  ;i<l\  iiiicc  ii)miii  tlii'loc,  hut  ('((iisidcriii;;  liis  fuii-c, 
iiiii(lt'(|iiiil«',  iiiitl  rcfincsliii^f  iiMsistiiiKM',  < 'ol,  l''r.v'.s  r»';;iiiM'rit  Wiissciit 
to  his  iii<l,  ulicii  ji,  \  i;;(»roiis  cliiir;;!'  \\;is  iiiiidr  tVoiii  oim*  fiid  ol"  tlin 
line  lo  Ilic  <)tii<T.  I'lv's  I'c^iiiifiil  :iiiil  l)nil;;c's  hill  tiiiioii  nitfu-d 
IIm-  liiiilMT  iiiid  till!  ;;riiss,  exposed  to  the  jieiee  lire  of  tiie  liidiiiiis, 
wlio  iiiiiiiit:)iiied  their  ;:;'i'oiiiid  till  their  iids  ersiiries  eoiild  reiieli 
tlieiii  wilii  their  h:ivoiiels,  when  thev  Ih'd  iiiid  took  :i  new  |)(Kilioti 
in  the  hend  of  a  rii\iiie  liiither  weslwiinl.  :iiid  leiidiii;^  to  the  low- 
hiiMlsol'  the  river.  Here  they  nnide  ;i  more  stiihhoni  re.sistiinee, 
ImiI  :i  ii;iii<lsoiiie  eliiir^e  hy  Collins^  :iiid  .loiies'  re;;iinenls  iiinl 
IO\\iii;;'s  l»;it  t;ilioii,  I'or'eed  some  of  tliein  down  the  hollow,  :iii(l 
others  liirther  westwiird  ;doii^  the  hlidls,  whence  they  esciijied  to 
the  hottom  liorderin;;  on  the  stre;iiii.  This  wns  iihont.  :i  mile  wido 
iiiid  next  l(t  the  river,  covered  with  lie;i\y  tiiiiher,  while  nciir  tli(i 
Idiiir  it  w;is  swiimpy  :ind  o\cr;irown  with  ;:i'iiss  .>o  tiill  as  to  lie 
iihost'  the  heads  of  the  men  on  horsehack.  it  was  now  near  siiii 
down,  and  ( i<-ii.  II'  iiry  eoiielnded  it  would  lie  too  ha/ardoiis  to  dis- 
lod;,'e  the  enemy  diirin;;- I  he  ni;;iit,  and  a"i-ordiii;;ly  remained  on 
the  liallle  ;:roniid. 

The  hattle  of  the  Wineonsin  was  the  first  impoitant.  victory 
ohtaiiied  over  the  enemy  diirin;,' the  war.  The  Indians  had  with 
them  their  women  and  childien.  and  I'lilly  alive  to  the  disastioiis 
(!(m.-<'<)iieiices  wliieli  would  attend  defeal,  l'oiij;lit  with  ^real  deti-r- 
ininatioM.  Diirin;;  tlie  en<;aj;eineiit  Naopope,  theii-  commander, 
jtosted  himseir  on  an  elevation  near  his  wairiors  and  ;;ave  his 
ordei's  ill  a  \oic<' of  t  linnder,  vvhi<-li  could  he  (listinctly  heard  aliovc, 
the  dill  of  ha!  .*'.  It  was  said  that  of  all  men  he  had  the  loudest; 
voice,  hilt  it  ceased  to  he  heard  when  his  hraves  were  diiveii  IVoiii 
tlieii-  position,  (ireat  praise  was  due  the  eiilii'e  army,  the,  oilicer.s 
Jiavin;;' diseliar;;<'d  their  duties  with  j;reat  ellicieiicy  and  tliepri- 
vul<'s  e\liihite(l  nnnsnal  hravery  in  the  ditVeient  eharj;es  made. 
upon  the  eneiriy.  (len.  Henry  was  yoiiiiy  and  iiie.\|>erieiiced,  yet, 
in  his  coolness  and  the  Jiid^'meiit  displayed  in  the  disposit  ion  of 
]iis  forces  aeteil  the  part  of  a  veleran  cc)mniaiider.  He  now  <-on- 
cliided  that  if  the  IndiaiiM  intended  to  continue  the  contest  they 
uoiild  make  an  at  tack  diirin;;  the  niulil.  and  as  a  precaution  he 
increased  the  slren;;tli  <d'  the  j^iiard  and  caused  fires  to  he  huill  in 
Trout  of  the  camp  and  kept  iMirniii<;  fill  iiKniiin;;'.  Orders  were, 
^^Mveiifhat  the  men  should  sleep  on  their  arms,  and  they  had  iiof< 
lont;  heeii  wrapt  in  sinmher  when  they  were  ai<»iised  hy  the  trainp- 
in;i  of  horses,  it  was  siipp(»se<l  that  the  latter  had  I  ceii  fri;;lit,- 
eiied  hy  the  appioachinji  enemy,  and  the  men  were  ord«'red  to  hold 
themselves  dnriiit;  the  lemaindci' of  the  iiinht  in  readiness  for  an 
attack.  Ahont  ■>  trclock  in  the  mornin;^'  Na(»pope  took  a  stand  on 
the  same  ehrvation  in;  had  occupied  diirini^  the  hattle,  ami  s|)oku 
with  a  loud  voice,  in  the  \Vinnel»aj;'o  toii;;iie,  which  in  the  calm  of 
the  nij,dit  reverheiated  from  hill  t<»  hill,  it  was  ascertained  v\heii 
the  war  was  over  that  he.  wassiiin^  for  peace,  iie  stated  that  his 
(;oiintryiii<;ii  \ver<Mii  a  sfarviti}; condition  and  iinahle  to  fi<;hf  t.liu 
Amerieatis,  and  that  if  they  were  permitted  to  peaceahly  return 
\v<'sf,  of  the  Mississipjii  with  their  families  I  hey  would  do  no  fur- 
ther inischiid'.  As  tiie  indiaii  {guides  iiad  Med  at,  flie  (tonimeiKHi- 
ineiit  of  thti  battle  tliere  waH  Jio  ^lei'son  in    the  camp  who  uncUir- 


400 


IIISTOllY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


8t(HHl  liis  liiii};iiii<:(',  iinil  it  \v;is  supposed  lie  was  yix  iiii;'  coiiiiiimimIs 
to  liis  Wiii'iiors.  'I'lic  Americans  cxpccliii^'  every  inoiiieiit  to  he 
attacked,  (ieii.  Henry  Muide  a  s|)irited  speeeli  in  wliicli  lie  told 
tliein  lliev  were  altoiit  to  meet  the  savages  who  had  iiidchered  in 
cold  hlootl  s(»  many  of  their  heljiless  and  nnollendin;;  citi/eiis,  re- 
minded tlicni  of  the  obstacles  which  they  had  encountered  and 
oNci'come  dnrin;;'  the  campai;^'n,  and  nr^ed  them  not  to  tarnish  th(> 
reputation  they  had  ;;ained  in  the  battle  of  the  |»reeedin<;  day. 
Every  man  then  took  his  position  and  remained  in  it  till  early 
dawn,  wIm'U  lOwinj^'s  battalion  proceeded  t(»  the  top  of  tli«'  hill 
whence  the  voice  proceeded,  but  only  I'ouimI  the  fool  piiiits  of  a 
few  horsemen.  The  army  then  nmrclied  t«»  the  river  and  disco\  - 
ered  that  the  Indians  had  crossed  and  made  their  escape  ann)n<j;' 
tlie  mountains  betwe<>n  it  and  the  Mississippi.  One  lniiMli'<>d  an*l 
sixty  eijiht  of  their  fallen  c(Murades  were  found  dead  on  the  field 
of  battle,  and  the  nundter  of  the  wcMindcd  was  perinips  propor- 
tionately ]ar};(',  as  2i)  of  them  were  subsequenly  found  (h'a<l  alon<;; 
the  track  <»f  their  departinji'  trail,  (leii.  Henry  ha«l  (me  man 
killed  and  S  wounded.  The  <;i'eat  dispariiy  in  tlMi  loss  of  the 
Anu'ricans,  and  that  of  the  enemy  was  accounted  for  on  the  .sup- 
liosition  that  the  Indians  had  been  taujiht  to  tire  at  men  on  horse- 
back andconse<puMitIy  aimed  too  high  to  hit  tlieir  iidversuries,  who 
dismouided  before  entering'  battle. 


CiiArTEU  XXXV. 

1832— CLOSE  OK  Til K  WAU. 

Pursuit  of  the  Tiidiaiis — Battle  of  Had  Axe — Anirnl  of  Gen. 
tSeott — Treaties  irith  the  fnilians — Eastern  Tour  of  the  I'risonerti — 
J)eath  of  Blaek  JIairk. 


It  will  1)0  rciiKMnbciuMl  tluit  Adjiitiiiifs  Woodbridfre  ami  ^fcny- 
liisiii,  |»il<>t(Ml  by  liittU^  TIhiimIci',  were  s»>nt  tlic,  si-coiid  limci  to  <l('ii. 
Atkinson's  liciMbiUiirtcrs.  Tlic.v  iinivcd  siil'ci.v.  and  alter  cnnrcir- 
inj;'  witli  him,  tlicy  were  ordeicd  to  it'turn  with  instinct  ions 
antlioiizin;''  (Jen.  llcniy  to  pursue  the  trail  of  IJlack  Hawk,  and  if 
l)ossil)le  overtake  and  ca]»ture  his  lbr(!e,  and  that  when  his  provis- 
ions wei'e  exhausted  he  siionld  fid  to  the  IJhie  .Mounds  tbi'  sii]>plies, 
when^  he  and  Ids  army  would  meet  him.  The  messengers  reached 
Gen.  Ileniy  duiin}>-  the  recent  battle,  and  the  next  day,  as  the 
army  was  without  food  and  the  means  of  lenderin^^-  the  wounded 
comfortable,  it  was  determiiuMl  to  visit  the  .Mounds  for  this  pur- 
pose and  re])lenish  their  stores.  No  one  in  the  bri<;a(le,  howi^ver, 
understood  the  topo<;ra])hy  of  the  country  sufliciently  well  to  act 
as  jiuide.  They  had  now  ])(Mietrated  100  miles  into  an  unex]>l(»r('d 
■fl  ildei  iiess,  and  the  AVinneb:iji;()es  who  had  accompanied  the 
expedition  fled  at  the  commencement  of  the;  battle  and  had  not 
returned.  A  council  was  called  to  consider  the  means  of  over- 
C(»minji'  the  ditticulty,  and  whil'!  in  session  a  white  tla^;'  was  seen 
approachinji',  boi-ne  by  a  number  of  friendly  Winnebajioes,  who 
a;ireed  to  act  as  {;ui<les.  Litters  were  constructed  for  the  wound- 
ed, and  on  the  2;Jd  of  July  the  army  was  ajjain  in  motion,  and 
aftei-  enconnteriuf;'  a  number  of  njuddy  creeks  and  a  larjue  extent 
of  rou^h  roads,  they  reached  the  l>lue  Mounds  in  safety.  Here, 
as  they  had  been  advised,  th(\v  found  (Jen.  Atkinson,  with  the 
reji'ular  and  volunteer  forces  under  his  imnu'diate  command,  and  a 
inunber  of  inliabitants,  whose  kind  treatment  made  the  wounded 
forget  the  liardships  they  had  suffered  in  the  Jouiiiey  thither. 

It  was  now  evident  that  Gen.  Atkinson  and  other  officers  of  the 
reoular  army  were  greatly  mortified  at  the  success  ot  Gen.  Henry, 
as  they  did  not  inteml  that  the  militia  should  acquire  any  renown 
in  tlu^  war.  Gen.  Atkiiison  relying  mostly  on  the  regulars,  had 
always  kei)t  them  in  front,  but  unexpectedly  while  they  were 
snugly  ensconced  at  Lake  Kushkanong,  (ien.  Henry  discovei'cd 
and  vanquished  the  enemy  as  effectually  as  if  the  veterans  had 
participated  in  the  engagement.  This  unmaidy  jealousy  was 
further  intensified  by  the  fact,  that  the  victory  had  been  obtained 
in  opposition  to  the  council  and  orders  of  those  who  arrogated  to 
26  401 


L 


402 


IMSTOIIV   OF   IIJ.INOfM. 


tiM'iiiNclM'M  Hii|M'iioi'  ntiiia;;)'   iiii<l  kii)iwi«'<l{ri*   jn  ihf  pniiliri-  iiiiil 
nil  III'  Will'. 

All  lli«-  ;;riicriils  wt-if  now  to^fllit  r,  liiil  iinl  nil  llii-  iikmi.  (irii. 
I'iinc,v'n  liri^'iidi*  cniiliiiiitMl  only  LMIO  flli-rtn  <•  iih-ii  ;  (it-ii.  Ali-\iiii- 
jln's  .'{ri(»,  iiijil  (ii'ii.  Ilriii\',s  lifiii;:  iils(»  ^(H'iills  i<<liiiT<l,  llif 
llilff  l)ri;;iiil)'N  r'.iiiliiiiiMl  writ-  iiol  iiiiirli  ^Iidiik*!'  Iliiili  oiif  at, 
1li<^  I'OiiiiiH-nniiii-iil  nt'  llir  raiiip:ii;;ii.  Ill  atlililiuii  lo  llii-  \  uliiii 
liM-r  I'lirri-,  llii-rc  wi-n-  idms  tOd  it ';;iilar,s  iiihIit  IIm-  roiniiiaiMl  ol' 
(ii'ii.  Iiridvaiiil  his  siilMirJiiiatf  ntiicir.H,  ( !itl. 'I'a,\  lor  aiiti  Majdt.s 
li'lif.N  aiil  M(»i;^aii.  A  llci  spi'iMliii;;  -  <la.\.s  at  lln  Mounds.  (»ii  llici 
'Sil\\  iiT  Jiil.N  llM-vvlioif  ariii,\,  iiiidt'i  (lirt'cliiiii  id'iini.  .\l  Uiiu-oii, 
uUiiiii  Hliirh'd  at'trr  till-  Indians.  'I'ii*'  rr;;iilai'H  inaiclH-d  in  Iront, 
l'oM<\\'s  and  A  h-saiidri's  liriyadrs  ami  h(id;;«'s  itallaliun  caiiK' 
iH'Xf,  and  iasllv  I  Imrs'.s  Id  i^iKlc  in  cliai  ;;••  of  I  In-  lia^;;;a;;c  ltmn;;lil 
lip  III*-  rt-ar.  'I'lic  positimi  a.s,si;{ii<-d  (itn.  Ilmrs,  tin-  lit-ro  of  tin-, 
liatlli*  of  W'isniiisin,  slnnvcd  Ion  plain  I  \  lli<-  iin^iiKioiis  I'l-i-lin;;  I  ha  I 
laiiKh'd  in  lin-  hrt-ast  of  tin-  I'oiiiiiiandin;^  ^incral.  'I'lii  wiioh^ 
iuin,\  nolircd  tin*  in.siilt.  and  lh<-  liravi-  iiirii  who  wrii-  thus 
<h-;^i'adrd  Kih-w  tln-v  df.si-r\)d  IhIIit  lii-atiiK'nt,  and  .jiisll.V  riaiiii 
«-d  iIm>  post  ol°  honor  and  ol'  daii;:i'r.  It  was  now  i-viih'tit  thai  if 
oIIm-i'  laiiK-ls  w<-n'  to  lir  won  lli<-,v  wonid  dri-oiatc  olhrr  hiows. 
i'n-i\.  Il<-iir,\  and  his  inni,  \M-r«-  loo  inif  to  tiiiirdiilii-sas  ,soldi<-is  to 
Knfl'i  r  this  injii.stiirc  to  iiitnl'ri*-  witli  tin;  .sii(!i;<'n.h  of  tJM^  expedition, 
and  theidore  )|iiietlv  liii<l;;ed  aloii;;  in  the  rear,  doiii;;  th<-  diud^ 
er,^  of  tlieaiinv  and  taUiii;,' ehai-;;e  of  t  he  ha;;;;a;4e.  On  tiieL'dlh 
they  iii'i'ived  at  Helena,  ssitii  a  view  lo  eiossiii;;  Ihe  Wi.s<-oiiNin  at 
that  plaee. 

This  \ilia;.;e,  t'oiinerly  a  proinisinu  tow  it,  was  now  aliandoiied  hy 
its  inhaliilanls,  and  the  houses  were  pulled  down  and  converted 
into  la  Its  on  wliieh  to  eioss  the  river.  DiiiiiiK  tlie  eonstriielion  of 
the  rafts,  seoiils  wen;  seid  up  Iherivei-  to  the  Wattle.  ^Moiind  to 
aseei'tain  if  the  Indians  had  returned  thither  as  theeoiirse  tiiey 
had  taken  in  their  lli;;ld  alter  the  hattle.  A  ilay  was  s|teiit  in 
iiiaUiii^'  explorations,  hid  no  tiiKUMif  the  enemy  Iteiii;;  dis<-overe(i 
the  parts  leluriied.  On  the  L'Hth  tin-  w  hole  army  had  gained  tiio 
opposite  hanU  of  the  river,  and  afler  marehiii;;  a  distaiiee.  id'  5 
miles  fell  ill  with  the,  trail  of  the  retreating  fii^iliveM.  Uefore  tlm 
discovery,  the  army  was  ffieatly  disheartened,  the  distance  to  the. 
Mississippi  was  siipjiosed  to  he  MO  miles,  and  it  was  seriously 
feared  that  ere  the  enemy  <;oiild  ai;ain  lie  overtaken  they  would 
make  their  escape  vvesf  of  this  stream.  The  men  liad  hecome, 
M'cary  in  huiiliii;^  trails,  hut  now  it  was  found,  the.  hope  of  a;:aiii 
talliii;^  ill  with  the  Indians  was  rev  ived  and  all  murmurs  ceased.  Tin; 
trail  at  lirst  followed  the.  course  of  the  river,  hut.  soon  turned 
northward  amoii<.,r  liii<re  moiiiitains,  which  never  hefore,  had  eehoi'd 
witli  the  tread  of  civili/ed  men.  Tliree  weary  (luys  were  consiiiiied 
insealin;;  these  preeijtiious  elevations  and  crossin;;  the  iirlerveii- 
iii;f  H(»r;^es,  tin;  om;  heiii^  covered  with  heavy  tiinher  and  a  deiiHC, 
iiiider<^rovvth  of  hriers  and  \ines,  and  theother  tilled  with  swamps 
of  deep  hiack  mild,  'i'lie  men  were  well  siijtplied  with  provisions, 
and  liore,  their  lalioiN  witli  cheerfnlness,  hut  it  was  difUciilt  for  thi^ 
horses  to  liiid  ^rass,  and  many  of  them  hecomin;;  dehilitated  liy 
liiin;^!'!' were  left  ',«»  perish  in  these  past iireless  solitudes.  TIkm-oii- 
ditioii  of  the  IiidiaiiN  was  extremely  deplorahle.  They  were,  com - 
piiilcd  to  subsist  on  roots,  bark  uikI  the  Ihiwh  of  horwcs,  iiaU  their 


III.ACK    HAWK    WAU. 


403 


trnil  f^itld  \w  rt'iMlity  liiicnl  ii\  lil:iiik<*iH,  k<'ttl<>N  iiinl  otlirDuiiclcH 

iil>;iiiilutii  <l  lu  hiistfii  tlirir  lli;:lil.  hiMlli,  Ion,  liiiil  niiiikril  Ihiir 
roiUNf  Willi  llif  IkiiIm-.s  ol  IIiu.m-  wliuliati  Im-cii  wiiiiiidrtl,  iiiii.>l  i»i' 
ulioiii  liiiil  ilit'il  tiMti'c  I'lir  IIm^  Uiiiit  of  |(i<i|M-r  iiM-ilinil  trniliiii'iiL 
(liiiii  riuiii  iIh-  liiliil  ii;iliin'<tr  tlii-ii'  injiii  i4-->. 

Al  lit  n'l'liH-k  oil  lilt-  iiKiiiiili;;  III'  III)'  L'lj  nl'  All^ilst,  lli<-  ;il'rii,V 
rtiiilicil  iIh'  ltliiH\  (»r  iIm-  .Mis>is.si|(|ii,  wliicli  ;il  lliis  iioiiii  wcro 
HMiiK*  i|i>l;iiic)-  liMiii  IIh-  .sti<';iiii.  'Jlii-  liKJiiiiis  liiixiii;;  idmIici!  IIii) 
111:117;  I II  of  I  Ik-  I  i\  tr  soiid-  I  inic  lii-furc  I  lie  111  ri\  ill  of  I  lir  Aiiin  it':iii>, 
WIT)-  hiisijy  «'ii;;ii^<'(l  in  |ti'<'piiriilii(iiH  to  cioss.  Soiim-  IiimI  iilitMily 
ifiirliiMl  IIm' o|i|iosil<-  slioiT,  iiiiil  sonic  ol'  tlif  woiim-ii  Ii:i<I  Ihiii  |iiiI, 
iiMMiiofs  ;iii<|  sliulril  down  to  I'iMiric  tin  ('liitn,  Wiii  ikiiI  ol  lliir 
j;ill<i'  \M>n-  ilrou  mil,  :iiiil  I  Iiom-  w  ho  iiiiiliiil  lii<-  low  11  \\^^l^^  IoiiimI 
ill  ii  stiii'v  in;;  loinlilioii.  W  liilc  I  liiiscni|ilo\i'ii  |Ih-,\  wi-rr  iilLickfil 
Itv  llii^  NtiMMilioiit  VN'iiii'ioi',  wliirli  liiiij  Imm-ii  ('Iiiii'Ii-ii-<|  for  tin-  pur- 
po.si'  of  «'oii\  rv  in;;  Mipplifs  lo  I  III-  iniiiN.  Oil  lln'  Isl  ol'  Aii;;ii.s|, 
nIm-  w:is  si-nl  iiji  tin'  liver  lo  nol  H'n  souh-  |i'<'IhII.\  linliiiiis  lliiit  tin; 
iSiK's  wi'i'i'  npproiii'liin;;,  niiil  to  Inkt*  IIk'Iii  ilown  lo  I'niirii'  dii 
Cliirii.  On  Ins  wii\,  (';i|itiiiii  'I'licuckiiioiton  lii'iinl  llnil  IMiirk 
ll;n\k  w  lis  iili'i'inlv  tiiciiinpi'il  (mi  iIii'  hunks  of  the  ri\ti-,  iiihI  lin 
ininii'iliiih'ly  uiiMJi'  piipiuiilions  lor  :mi  nttiirk.  i\.s  tin*  slriinilioiit. 
lii'iH'i'il  llicniinp  ol'  till'  JiKliiiiis,  tlicy  I'liisi'd  ji  wliiti-  Ihi;;,  wiiirli 
tin-  nipliiin  iill'rri  in;;  lo  lM'li<'\c  Wiis  only  ii.snj  n.s  n  iriiisk  lo  comt 
tlirir  iciil  (l('si;;iis.  oiiN'icd  llii'iii  to  .send  ;i  ciiiioc  ;iloli;;.sidt'  liis 
lioiit.  'I'lii' order  lii'iii;;  dcrliiM'fl,  llii'V  wci')' idlowrd  lo  iniliiltes  (o 
reniovf  tlieiV  women  :ind  eliildreii,  wlieii  n  nIx  |ioiiiider,  loiided 
Willi  eiinnistei',  wiis  dise|iiii;;('d  into  llieir  midst,  I'ollowed  \>\  :i 
severe  lire  (W  innskeliy.  'I'lie  hiillle  eonlilined  iilioiil  an  lioiir, 
diirin;;  wliieh  the  enemy  had  L'.'t  men  kilhd  iind  a  proportionattt 
iinnilier  vv(Min<led.  The  lii''!  ol'  ihi-  sieamer  now  lie;;aii  to  tail, 
nnd  iii;;lit  eomin;; on,  she  tell  down  the  river  to  i'raiiie  dii  Cliieii, 
iiileiidin/r  to  j-etiirn  the  im-\I  day. 

The  eiijdain  (if  the  Warrior,  e\eii  if  jii.s  siirmises  were  eorrerl, 
respeclin;;  the  peilidv  of  the  Indians,  was  still  lialile  to  eeiisiire, 
I'or  llie  preeipitiinev  with  which  he  liroii;;lit  on  the  en;;a;;emeiil. 
lie  and  his  men  weie  heyoiid  the  reach  ol'  harm,  and  coiisei|iieiilly 
Iiolli  iiiimanity  and  the  rides  of  war  reijtiircd  that  he  should  lia\<t 
laken  mine  than  lo  miiinti's  to  discover  the  real  motive  ol'  the  In- 
dians in  lioisi  in;;  t  lie  s,v  111 1  lol  orpeiK'c.  iilack  Hawk  himsel I' assert eil 
(hat  he  diici^ted  hishraves  not  t«)  lire  on  tlieW'anior,  as  he  in  tern  led 
;;oiii;; on  hoard  in  order  to  save  his  women  and  children, and  that  he 
raised  a,  white  lla;;  and  ealleil  to  llie  caplaiii  of  the  lioal  Utr  tint 
j)iiipos«' of  eU'eclin;;  tliisohjeel.  His  c(nHliti(»li  was  imw  hopeless, 
his  warriors,  lednced  in  iiiimliers,  weie  exhausted  l»\  f'ati;;ne  ami 
liiMip'r.  while  an  ovcrw  hclmiii;;  force  ready  to  move  a;;iiinst  him, 
Mas  just  in  his  lear.  It  is  therefore  hi;;hl\  prcdialile  that  he  wi. 
sincere  ami  aiixioMs  to  emi  the  contest,  in  which  so  many  of  Ids 
)M'Oplc  had  heeii  slaii;;litered  ;  and  had  the  caplain  of  theWiir- 
lior  properly  respected  the  Ha;;  of  Irnce,  which  all  <'ivilized  war- 
fare holds  sacred,  the  cainpai;;ii  wtmld  have  tennlnatc<l  without 
the  further  eiriisioii  of  hlood. 

iiefore  the  Warrior  could  reliirn  to  the  Indian  encampnienf, 
wlii<;h  was  on  the  Mississipjii  liclow  the  month  of  the  Mad  Axe, 
<ien.  Atkinson  arrived  ami  ccmimcnced  ii  ;;cnei'al  haltle.  Itia<-k 
Hawk,  aware  that  the  American  force  wa.s  in  close  proximity,  to 


404 


HISTORY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


gain  tijilo  ior  ciossiiifi-,  with  L'O  wariiors,  wtMit  back  to  inoet  them, 
his  (ihject  bciiiy  to  make  an  attack  aii<l  then  retreat  nj*  the  river 
to  decoy  the  Americans  from  tiie  princi])al  force.  Accordinjjiy, 
wIhmi  tlw  army  readied  the  blntVs  of  tlie  5lississii>[)i,  it  was  lired 
ni»on  fr<»m  heiiind  trees  by  the  Indians,  tlie  tall  grass  growing 
ann>ng  tlu'  timl)er  gieatly  favoring  their  (h'sign.  Tlie  onU'r  of 
battle  being  the  same  r.s  at  iirst:  Major  Dodge's  battalion  was  in 
front,  next  the  regnlars,  then  the  brigades  of  Alexander  and  Posey 
and  lastly  the  command  of  Henry.  At  the  lirst  indications  of  oj)- 
position,  (ieii.  Atkinson  rode  to  the  scene  of  action  and  in  person 
directed  the  charge  against  the  Indians,  who  of  course  f<'ll  l)ack, 
and  were  pnrsiied  n\)  tln^  river  by  the  whole  armyex<*ei»t  the  force 
under  the  immediate  command  of  (.Jen.  Henry  and  ^lajor  Ewiiig. 
In  the  linrrie<l  ])Mrsnit  In;  was  called  on  for  one  regiment  to  cover 
the  rear  of  the  pursuing  forces,  and  the  rest  v.ere  left  witliont  or- 
ders. It  now  seemed  that  fortnn<!  was  determined  to  distinguish 
her  favorite  son,  despite  the  inleiition  to  disgrace  him.  He  who 
during  the  whok^  march  had  been  k(  pt  in  the  rear,  now  by  the 
strategy  of  a  few  untutored  savages  wlio  had  triumphed  over  the 
science  <»f  the  veteran  geneial,  was  suddenly  placed  in  fnnit. 

While  (leii,  Atkinsmi  was  ascending  tln^  river,  the  main  trail 
leading  directly  to  it  was  discovered  by  Major  Ewing's  men,  who 
>vere  in  front.  Ib'nry  being  notitied  of  the  fact,  followed  to  the  loot 
of  the  blutfs  bordering  the  valley,  where  he  left  his  horses  and  ar- 
ranged his  men  Cor  an  attack.  Eight  men  were  sent  tbrward  as  n 
forlorn  hope  to  draw  the  tire  of  the  enemy,  and  thus  rlisclose  their 
situation  in  the  diitt  wood  and  hiusli  through  which  tlu^  trail  led. 
The  men  moved  boldly  forwic  I  till  tliey  came  in  sight  of  the  river, 
when  they  were  tired  n])oii  l»y  about  oO  Indians,  who  were  in  ad- 
vance of  the  main  force.  Five  of  the  eight  instantly  fell,  eithei 
killed  or  wounded,  while  the  other  three,  protecj^ed  by  tiiiiber,  re- 
mained in  their  ]»ositi<)ii  till  the  army  came  to  their  rescue.  Henry 
immediately  ordered  a  charge,  before  which  the  Indians  retreated 
to  the  main  body,  amounting  to  .■iOO  warriors  and  fully  e^iual  to 
the  forci!  contending  against  them.  The  whole  force  of  the  enemy 
beccuiiing  invo  »ed,  fought  with  great  bravery  and  determination, 
yet  they  IumI  evidently  been  surprisetl  and  there  was  little  concert 
of  action.  (Jlosely  ])resse<l  they  fell  bick  from  i)osiii«ni  to  posi- 
tion, until  tlie  bank  of  the  river  was  reached,  where  retreat  being 
impossible  a  frightful  carnage  ensued.  The  bloody  bayonet  in  the 
hands  of  an  excited  soldiery,  drove  them  into  the  water,  when 
some  of  the  surviVoi's  endeavored  to  swim  the  river  and  others 
sought  refuge  in  a  willow  island  150  yards  from  the  shore. 

About  this  time  Gen.  Atkinson  and  that  portion  of  tlie  army 
whi(;h  luul  been  decoyed  ui>  the  river,  made  their  apjiearance  at 
the  scent;  of  conllict.  Henry  had  previously  sent  nussseiigers  to 
inform  him  that  he  had  discovered  the  main  for<*e  of  the  enemy, 
but  tlm  roar  of  battle  ai)j)rised  him  of  the  situation  before  mes- 
sengers had  time  to  reach  him.  He  came  but  found  the  battle 
substantially  over,  the  dead  and  dying  strewn  uiioii  the  fatal  field, 
disclosing  tlie  stern  work  which  Innl  been  done  in  his  absence. 
Seeing  the  ])osition  of  the  enemy,  he  immediately  ordered  a  descent 
upon  the  island.  A  force  consisting  of  the  regulars,  Ewing's  and 
Dodge's  battalions  and  Fry's  regiineut,  charged  through  the  water 
up  to  their  arms,  to  dislodge,  them  from  tlieir  last  refuge.     When 


BLACK  HAWK  WAR. 


405 


tlic  isliiiid  was  inaiiuMl  most  of  tlie  ciKMuy  who  liad  tied  tliitlier 
wci'c  killed  or  capliiiod.  tlioso  attcmjstiiijj;  to  swim  to  the  o]>|)osite 
siiore  hciiijLi;  cither  shot  in  the  water  or  drowned.  Lai'<;e  numbers 
of  women  and  children  lost  their  lives,  owinj;'  to  the  fact  tliat  they 
were  dressed  s<»  much  like  Ihe  men  it  was  inipossihle  to  distinjiiiisli 
tluMU  in  the  hiiyh  firass  and  weeds  which  ol>struet<'d  the  view. 
.Some  of  them  ])hiiij4('d  into  the  Mississipiti  and  were  shot  escapinfj 
in  th(^  ]>ronns('uous  <trowd  which  was  bulletin^  the  waves  in  the 
attemi>t  to  reach  the  opposite  shore.* 

It  is  snpi)osed  that  the  entire  Indiiui  loss  amounted  to  loO  killed 
and  as  many  lost  by  drowninji'  in  the  attempt  to  swim  the  I'iver. 
About  ")(>,  <*oiisistin<4' mostly  of  W(»men  and  children,  were  taken 
pris(»ners.     The  Ameiican  loss  amounted  to  17  killed. 

Soon  after  the  l>attle  was  ov«'r,  the  captain  of  the  AVarrior 
steamed  up  (he  river  an^l  commemted  rakin<;' the  island,  thinking; 
that  the  Imlians  were  still  on  it.  The  land  forces  hearing;' his 
j>nns,  suj>posed  he  was  firiiij;  a  sahite  in  honor  of  the  victory,  and 
tired  n  volley  in  a<'knowled;j;ment,  and  it  was  not  till  she  came  to 
land  that  intelligence  was  for  the  tirst  time  interchanficd  in  regard 
to  Ihe  battles  which  had  previously  beeu  fou<,dit  by  the  resi»ectivo 
forces. 

(ien.  Atkinson  eonsiderinj,'  the  war  virtually  ended,  on  the  4th 
of  Au};ust,  with  the  rejiulars.  ]»risoners  and  wounded,  on  board 
the  Wairior,  fell  down  the  river  to  Prairie  du  Chien,  and  the 
mounted  men  marclu'd  to  the  same  ]»lace  by  lau''.  The  news  of 
the  battle  had  prcced<'4l  the  a<lvent  of  tlu'  army,  an«l  when  it 
jirrived  the  Menomon<'e  Indians  were  expressinj;  their  joy  at  the 
defeat  of  the  .Sacs  and  Foxes  by  music;  and  dancinj"'.  Having 
obtained  sevi'ral  scalps  from  the  sipmws  of  the  enemy,  they  pre- 
.seiited  them  to  their  own  women,  whose  r<'latives  had  beeu 
murdered  the  preci'din<;'  year  at  Fort  Crawford  by  the  same  tribes. 
Thesi?  tro]>hies,  hehl  alolt  on  poles,  constituted  a  {uominent  feature 
of  the  dance,  which  was  conducted  in  the  followinj;"  manner:  the 
men  an<l  women  stood  in  tw(»  lines  facing  ea<'h  other,  while  the 
scpniws  lutlding  the  scalps  were  situated  between.  The  party  was 
fnrnished  with  a  rudely  constructed  drum,  and  each  one  who 
participated  in  tlu'  dance  held  in  his  hand  a  gourd  ]»artially  filled 
with  pebbles,  which  weie  rattled  to  keep  tinu'  with  the  drnm. 
Thns  arranged,  and  e(piip])ed  at  the  sound  of  the  drum  the  exercise 
commenced,  each  dancer  moving  around  the  central  group,  sup- 
porting the  scalps,  and  uttei'ing  a  loud  monotonous  ref;';iin,  kept 
time  by  stamping  with  his  feet  and  shaking  his  gourd.  As  the 
exercise  wasi)rotracted  the  chant  became  louder  and  more  animated, 
the  jumping  correspondingly  '  iglier  an''  nn»re  boisterous,  and  the 
scali>s  were  twirh'd  in  the  air  with  increased  vehenuMice.     iJuring 


IN'oTE.— M.iiiv  painful  Bcones  of  ailvciitiiri.'  and  linrror  were  crowdtui  into  the  3  hours' 
foiitiiiiiiiiu'i'ol  tlu'liatth!.  A  Sa<' woman,  the  sister  of  a  warrior  of  some  notoriety, 
loiiiiil  lici-si'lf  in  the  thiekost  of  tlietiirht,  but  at  lenitth  sneceeeded  in  roa<:liin(f  the  river, 
when  keeiiiiiL;-  her  io'.'aiit  eliildsnfe  in  its  l>lanke  ts  by  nieanwot  her  teeth,  she  piunKedinto 
the  WMter.  seized  the  tail  of  a  horse  with  her  hands  whose  rider  was  swltnniinir  the 
St  ((Ml  at  and  wasdrawnsafely  aeross,  A  youiursquaw  during  the  battle  wasstiindin^i'liithe 
"iniHs  a  short,  illstanee  from  the  Anieriean  line,  holdintf  her  oliild,  a  little  jiirl  of  4  years, 
in  her  arms.  In  this  iiositii)n  a  liallstniek  the  ri«ht  arm  of  the  child  ami  shntteriiifr  tho 
lione,  passed  into  the  breast  of  till?  vouny  mother  anci  instantly  killed  her.  She  fell 
ii)i<in  (lie  elilM  und  eon  lined  it  to  the  irround  till  the  Indians  were  dii\-en  from  this  part 
of  tlie  Held  (ien.  Anderson  of  the  Ihdied  States  arm.v,  h"arinfi-  Its  cries  went  to  the 
spot  and  takniK  it  from  \irider  the  dea<l  bod.v,  cairi(^d  it  to  tlie  surgeons  to  liave  its 
wound  dri'ssed  The  arm  was  atninitated  and  ilnrinsr  the  operation  the  half  starved 
child  ilid  not  cry,  init  sat  quietly  eatiuK  a  hard  piece  of  biscuit.  It  was  sent  lo  Pruirle 
dn  (.'lileu  and  entirely  recovered. 


400 


HISTORY   OF   IT.LINOIS. 


tlio  oiitiio  pcrtbiiiiiiiicc  the  bodies  (tf  tlic (liinccrs  were  bent  Ibrwiinl 
briiijiin<;'  tlieir  noses  so  (;lose  tojiellier  as  frecjiiently  to  toncli,  and 
Avlien  finally  tliey  becanu'  exliaii.sted  tlu'  t-xereist'  ended. 

The  2(1  (lay  at'ter  their  aiiival.  (ien.  Atkinson  lia\  in<;'  every 
reason  to  luflieve  that  the  Winnebago  chiefs  had  been  treacherous, 
snnniioned  them  for  the  juirpose  of  liavinji  a  talk,  lie  accused 
them  of  deception  and  rentlerinji'  assistan«'e  to  the  Sacs,  anil 
Winnesheik,  one  of  their  number,  liavinj;'  commanded  the  Indians 
in  the  iccent  battle,  an'.l  his  sons  who  were  subsecpuMitly  ltrouj;ht 
in  wounded,  were  i)ut  in  i)ris(ui.  (ien  Street,  the  Indian  ajicnt, 
who  was  present  at  tiie  conference,  then  told  the  chiefs  that  if  they 
■would  brin^'  in  IMack  Hawk  and  the  prophet,  it  would  be  well  with 
them,  an«l  the  <;()vernment  would  hold  them  in  future  as  friends. 
At  this  declaration,  I )ec(tri,  ("heater,  an<l  two  other  chiefs,  at  the 
head  of  a.  snudl  i)arty  of  Si(»ux  and  WiiinebajiiH's,  startt'd  alter 
the  tw()  fuj^itives,  who  with  20  men,  durinji  the  battle  of  the  IJad 
Axe  tied  up  the  river.  The  Sioux  and  the  Sa(^s  had  been  at  war 
for  yt-ars,  and  the  former  eaj;erly  «'mbraced  the  op}»«»rlunity  now 
ottered  to  avenjiti  their  wronjis  by  brinjiinji  them  to  punishment. 
The  \Vinnebaj;oes,  altliou<;h  first  synipatlii/,inj>'  with  the  '  ide 
band,  like  civilized  man  in  the  hour  of  adversity,  when  friendship 
is  nutstly  nec<led,  provcil  unfaithful.  As  soon  as  war  had  demon- 
strated the  (utmparative  stren;ith  of  the  two  helli<;eients,  their 
criu<iin>>-  and  <'ratty  nature  commenced  i»anderin;^'  to  the  power 
of  the  concpu'rors. 

On  the  7th  of  Anj^nst,  (Ien.  Scott  who  with  0  companies  ot" 
infantry  had  been  sent  from  the  eastern  sea-board,  arrived  and 
assumed  command,  lie  started  from  T'ortress  Monroe,  anil  in  18 
days  4of  the  companies  reached  Chicajio,  distant  IStlO  miles,  whii-li 
before  the  existence  of  the  i)resent  railroad  facilities  was  an 
nnparelled  tesit  of  <*elerity.  The  whole  force  was  destined  for 
Chicaji'o,  but  the  virus  of  a  disease  more  fatill  than  the  swoi«l 
]>reyed  u]»on  their  vitals,  and  prevented  the  accomplishment  ot" 
the  object  contemplated.  The  e\|>editiou,  lilh'd  with  patriotic 
ardor,  arrive<l  .safe  at  Detroit,  and  while  moored  at  its  wharves 
tw<t  cases  of  a  stranyc  disease  made  their  appearance  and  .'reated 
nnnsnal  al;)v;n.  Tiie  army  sinjicons  and  local  plivsiciaiis  were 
immediately  summoned,  but  despite  all  their  ettbrls  two  soUliers 
attacked  were  no  nuue.  The  .\siati<'  Choleia.  then  a  new  disease 
on  the  continent  of  America  was  lajiinji  in  tlu'  .\tlantie  cities, 
and  had  n»)w  broken  <tut  in  the  army,  causing;  terror  and  ^looni 
forest  on  every  countemiiice.  The  expedition  passed  on  to  I'ort 
(iratiot,  distant  40  miles,  where  5  companies,  numherinj;  'JSO  mi'ii, 
who,  either  unwilliiiji'  or  nimble  to  proceed  fiiither.  were  landed. 
Some  of  them  died  in  the  hos]»itals,  and  others  lU'cinj;  to  avoid 
the  i»estilence,  wandered  ho})elessly  over  the  conntiy,  shimnetl  l)y 
the  inhabitants,  not  throujih  inhumanity,  but  the  fear  of  contaji- 
ion,  till  nature  becoming;-  exhausted  they  laid  «lown  in  the  liehls 
and  expired.  The  entire  nund)erwith  the  exception  of  0  i)erished, 
without  a  friemlly  hand  to  offer  them  assistance,  or  console  them 
in  the  last  nu)ments  of  existeuic.  Of  the  other  4  c(unpanies  ;{0 
•  lied  on  the  way  to  (jhieaj^o,  and  as  a  sustitnte  for  burial,  were 
lu'aved  into  the  waters  of  the  lake.  Arriviuj^  at  Chicajjo  on  the 
<Sth  of  .Iidy,  Fort  Dearborn  was  couNcrted  into  a  lios|)ital,  and 
the  families  which   had  taken  lemitorary  refuse  within  its  walls 


BLACK  HAWK  WAR.  407 


from  the  attacks  of  the  Tiuliaiis,  \v(!r<!  turned  rootless  on  tlio 
priiirie.  In  M)  days  00  inniiitcs  of  the  liosjjital  became  victims  of 
tlu^  destroyer,  and  life  was  hardly  extinct  before  they  were  cast, 
unwept  and  uucotlined,  into  pits,  to  prevent  the  .spread  of  the 
ei)idemic.* 

Alter  the  disease  had  abated,  the  march  was  resumed,  and  tinally 
thii  remnant  of  tlu^  force  which  had  started  with  such  brij-ht 
anticii)ations  of  jj:lory,  reached  Fort  Armstronf>-on  the  Mississipjti, 
the  latter  part  of  Aujiust.  Here  not  only  m;;:i.v  of  the  survivors 
perished,  but  the  Indians  were  alstt  attacki'd,  and  hnj^c  nunil)ers 
of  them  swept  away.  (Jen.  Scott  arrived  only  in  tinu' to  partici- 
pate in  the  nejiotiations  w]ii(!h  followed  the  war,  but  in  hia 
humane  exertions  in  behalf  of  the  soldiers,  he  won  laurels  far 
transcending  the  ylory  of  the  most  brilliant  <;amitaijin  ayainst  the 
enemy. 

The  further  ]MU"suit  of  the  rndians  beinjr  considered  unnecessai-y, 
on  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Scott  the  volunteers  started  for  Dixon 
to  be  mustered  out  of  service.  Arrivinj;  tiiither  on  the  17th,  they 
were  dischai'jjed,  and  each  soldier  now  leleased  from  military  life 
returned  to  his  home,  kindred  and  friends,  pleased  with  the  con- 
gratulations whi('h  w«'re  ever  extended,  aiul  feeling  honored  iu 
having  been  instrumental  in  freeing  the  country  from  the  ravages 
of  t  lie  merciless  foe. 

Many  of  the  noted  men  of  the  State  had  been  engaged  in  the 
war,  ami  many,  at  that  time  unknown  to  fame,  atterward  attained 
the  highest  honors  in  tlie  gilt  of  the  country  which  they  lisked 
their  lives  to  defend.  Of  the  former  class  were  Reynolds  and 
Scott,  men  of  State  and  national  reputations.  Of  the  latter,  S.  11. 
Anderson  becanu^  lieutenant  governor, .Tames  Turney,  attorney  gen- 
eral;  W.  L.  I).  Kwing,  auditor  of  jiublic  accounts;  Sidney  Ui-eese, 
«'hief  justice  (»f  the  State :  John  Tlionms  ami  John  Dement,  State 
treasurers;  Thomas  Ford  and  Jos<'ph  Duncan,  governors  of  the 
State;  Henry  Dodge  governor  of  Wisconsin,  and  (leneral  Taylor 
and  Abraham  Linc(»lii  j)residents  of  the  United  States.  .letfersoii 
Davis,  the  rival  of  the  latter,  also  participated  in  the  war,  but  his 
future  career  as  the  chief  of  the  great  rel>ellion,  gave  him  a  fame 
iu  striking  <'ontrast  with  that  which  was  won  l)y  the  martyr  of 
liberty  and  the  savior  of  his  country. 

Among  the  many  who  distinguished  tluunselves  in  the  war, 
there  was  no  one  more  elhcient  as  an  oflicer,  or  more  highly 
resi>ected  by  the  people  of  Illinois,  than  (Jen.  .Tames  1).  Henry. 
His  great  sagacity  anil  (h'terminalion  at  Fort  Winnebago,  gave  a 
new  direction  to  the  campaign  and  enable<l  the  army  1o  overtake 
the  Indians.  He  was  the  chief  commanch'r  in  the  l»attle  (»f  the 
AViscousin,  which  followed  the  lirst  decisive  victoiy  of  the  war, 
and  the  battle  of  the  Ma. I  axe  which  closed  it,  was  tlu' I'csult  of 
liis  generalship  and  not  of  the  superior  otlicers  who  endeaxoied  to 
prevent  his  sharing  in  its  dangers  and  honors. 


•'•The  li\n-liil  of  tho  (lend  wns  entruBteil  to  n  scrireiint,  who  cxo('iit(Ml  his  duty  with 
military  procisloii,  its  soon  iis  life  whs  extinct.  On  (mk?  oceiision  scvi'iiil  were  icriioxc'l 
I'roni  tlio  hospital  to  be  bnrleii  at  onee.  The  tf'"iive  hii<l  iili'c.tily  been  diiL',  mid  tho 
bodies  wriipped  in^jlunkets  were  l»id  by  its  side,  th(f  Inst  niilitiiry  honors  hud  twcn  piiid, 
iind  nothinir  more  reniiiined  to  eomplete  the  service  liiu  to  tumble  thcin  one  niter 
another  in,  when  ucorpse  nppenred  toinove.  A  brother  soldier  resortlnir  thilln  r,  his 
old  ni(>ssninto.  opened  hiseyes  nnd  iiskcd  liini  for  some  wnter  The  ser«-ennt  s;ii(l  they 
mifrht  tiiiio  him  buck,  as  he  wns  !iot  yet  ready  for  burial.  The  <)rder  was  obeyed  and 
the  soldier  lived  many  years  thoreulter."    Urown's  History  of  lllluois. 


408 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Tic  was  ii  native  of  Peiiiis.vlvaiiia,  and  in  tlic  year  ISl'L'  cinijirii- 
tcd  to  Illinois  and  located  at  lOdwardsville.  liorn  in  poxcity  and 
ol)S(Mi)ity,  liis  earlier  years  were  entirely  devoted  to  iiiaiHial  toil, 
and  when  he  attained  the  a<ie  ol'  manhood  he  was  hardly  able  to 
read  or  write.  F(n-  some  lime  alter  his  airival  at  Edwardsx  ille,  he 
worked  as  a  meehuMic  dnrinj^'  the  day,  and  at  ni,nht  attended 
school  for  the  piirjutse  of  improvinji  his  education.  Alter  lea\  ing 
school,  and  en^ajiinj^'  for  a  shoit  time  in  tiie  mercantile  business, 
he  removed  in  182(1  to  S|>rin<;tield,  and  was  elected  sheriff  of  San- 
iianion  county.  The  integrity  and  sound  JudjinuMit  exhibited  in 
discharuinji'  the  duties  of  this  ottice,  attraeted  tlu'  attention  of 
Gov.  lieynohls,  who  at  the  breakinj;-  out  of  the  war  made  him  one 
of  his  aids,  lie  was  e.\ceedinj;ly  modest  and  retirinj;  till  his  j)a.s- 
sions  were  tally  aroused,  and  then  he  showed  an  intensity  of 
ft'clinu'  and  an  ii'on  will,  Avhich  was  iri'csistible  so  far  as  he  had 
power  to  act.  The  fear  of  n(»thin^'  excei»t  his  maker  ever  entered 
liis  breast,  and  he  knew  and  cared  as  little  for  danjicr  and  «leatli 
as  a  marble  statue.  His  extreme  sensibility  and  dittidenee  never 
permitted  him  to  api)ear  in  the  .society  of  ladies.  At  the  clo.se  of 
the  lUack  Hawk  war,  the  citizens  of  Sitrinj^lield  <iave  liiin  a 
splendid  reception  in  honor  of  his  seivices,  but  he  never  entered 
the  apartments  where  the  ladies  presided.  At  the  close  of  the 
wai'  iu'  was  the  most  jxipular  man  in  Illinois,  and  had  he  lived 
lie  could  have  been  elected  to  any  ollice  in  the  ;;ilt  of  the  ])e<»i(le. 
His  health  and  constitution  wereorij;inally  iiood,  but  the  hardshii)S 
olihe  war  imluced  consumplion.  wliicli  caused  his  death,  on  the 
4lli  of  March,  IS.'U.  at  New  Oi'leans,  whither  he  had  <nn\i'  for  the 
bcuelit  of  the  climate  and  medical  trealnu'Ut.  Huch  was  his  sin- 
ji'ular  modesty,  that  durin<;  his  sickness  in  the  city,  he  never 
nu'utioned  his  connection  with  the  lUack  Hawk  war,  and  no  one 
knew  he  was  den.  Henry  until  aflei  'lis  death. 

While  Henry  was  duly  appreciated  at  home,  he  never  received 
abroad  the  honors  to  which  he  was  entilletl.  Tlienewsof  the  war 
first  made  its  a]»pearance  in  The  ({alcniaii,  a  news])ai)er  printed 
at  (ialena,  and  the  only  sheet  issued  north  of  Spriujilield.  Dr. 
Philleo,  the  editor  belonged  to  Dodge's  battalion,  and  when  from 
time  to  time  he  chronicled  the  events  of  the  war  and  sent  them 
liom<»  for  publication,  he  ixnvo  his  own  command  a  jirominence  iu 
the  wai'  to  which  it  was  not  entitled.  IJy  a  wilful  perversion  of 
facts,  he  never  mentioned  Henry  excejit  as  a  subordinate  ol'licer, 
while  ]\rajor  Dodiic  was  spoken  of  as  a  general,  thus  ereatinj;'  the 
inipression  that  the  former  commanded  a  brijiade,  and  the  latter 
a  battalion,  when  the  i-everse  was  true.  His  letteis  were  cojiied 
in  the  newspai)ers  tliroujiliout  the  U.  S.,  as  authentic  news,  and  iu 
a  number  of  (lities  it  was  asserted  that  Dodye  was  the  ])rincipal 
eoiiiniandei' of  the  war,  and  the  names  of  Ileniy,  Atkinson  and 
Taylor,  if  mentioned  at  all,  wei'C!  only  in  connection  with  subordi- 
nate ])ositioiis.  This  delusion  was  afterward  (d'  immense  advan- 
tage to  .Major  Dodfic,  but  independent  of  the  pr«'stige  thus 
accpiired,  he  was  a  man  of  j^reat  poitularity  and  iiiHuenee. 

On  the  27th  of  Auj>ust,  Deeori  and  t'lieaters,  after  an  absence 
of  20  days,  returiuHl  with  lUack  Hawk,  the  prophet,  and  a  number 
of  other  prisoners.  On  handin;;'  them  over  to  (leu.  Slicet,  l)e«;ori 
said:  *'I''atlier,  we  deliver  these  men  int(>  your  custody.  We  do 
not  entrust  them  even  to  your  brother,  the  chief  of  the  warriors, 


BLACK  HAWK  WAR. 


409 


luit  to  you,  bcciui.se  ^ve  know  you,  and  \v(^  believe  you  are  our 
IVieiid.  We  want  you  to  keep  tlieiii  safe;  iltliey  are  to  siitt'er  wo 
do  not  want  to  .see  it.  Wait  until  we  are  j;()ne  i)erore  it  i.s  done. 
Fatlier,  many  little  birds  liave  been  ttyinj;  about  oiu"  ear.s  of  late, 
and  we  tliouj;Iit  they  wliisjiered  to  us  tiiat  there  was  evil  intended 
for  us,  and  \\v  now  lioj)*'  tlu'y  will  let  us  alone.""  Gen.  Stnu't 
rei»lie(l  :  "My  ehildren,  you  have  don(!  well.  1  told  you  to  brinj;' 
these  men  to  me,  and  you  have  done  so.  i  assured  (len.  Atkin- 
son that  if  these  men  were  in  your  eouidry,  you  would  lind  them 
and  brinj;'  them  to  me,  and  now  I  can  say  mu(!h  for  your  j^ood.  I 
will  }4«)  down  to  Koek  Island  with  the  prisoners,  and  I  wish  you  as 
you  hav«'  brought  them,  esix'cially  to  j^o  with  me,  with  sueh  other 
chiefs  and  warriors  as  you  may  select." 

In  pursuance  of  the  treaty  to  be  entered  into,  on  the  lOth  ui' 
Sei)tember  JJIack  Hawk,  his  two  sons,  Wishiek,  Xaopope,  the 
proi»het,  and  a  nundter  of  Winnebajio  chiefs,  were  sent  down  to 
Itoek  Island,  where  Iveokuk  and  his  wairiors  were  to  meet  tiieiii. 
Likewise  the  remnant  of  Hlack  Hawk's  band  also  followed  him  to 
to  tln^  same  jtlace.  Hiwh  was  their  utter  destitution  that  tin'y 
excited  the  c(niipassion  of  all  who  saw  them,  and  (ien.  8cott,  who 
was  as  sympathetic  as  brave,  kindly  bestowed  on  them  everythinji 
that  could  su|>ply  their  waids  oi'  relieve  their  suliferin}^'.  On  the 
ir)th  a  treaty  was  made  with  the  Winnebajioes,  whereby  they  sold 
to  the  United  States  all  their  lands  east  of  the  ^Iississipi>i  and 
west  of  Green  bay.  As  a  consideration,  the  jictxcinment  a^^iced 
to  ji'ive  them  a.  Iar<;'e  region  of  country  west  of  the  river,  to  ])ay 
them  ^7(1,000  in  ten  annual  installments,  to  maintain  schools  for 
the  education  of  tlu-ir  children  for  a  period  of  !'(»  years,  and  to  in- 
struct them  in  agriculture  ami  furnish  them  with  cattle  and 
implenu'iits  for  its  practical  introduction  amon,n  theii'i. 

To  escape  from  the  cholera,  which  was  still  rayin;;'  at  Koek  Is- 
land among  the  Indians  and  eastern  tnuijjs,  Gen.  Scott  and  Gov. 
lieynolds,  with  the  i)riiicipal  chiefs  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  fell 
down  the  river  to  -lelferson  IJarracks,  where  they  entere<l  into  a. 
treaty  with  them  also.  They  c«'ded  to  the  j;»»vernmeid  the  tract 
of  land  embraced  in  the  ]»resent  linuts  of  Iowa  and  a  part  of  Wis- 
consin, and  I'eceived  in  retin'u,  besides  some  minor  considerations, 
an  annuity  of  $1'(),()((((  for  a  ])eriod  of  ;!(>  years.  As  a  reward  to 
Keokuk  and  his  friendly  band,  a  r<'servati(iu  of  40  miles  stpiarc 
Mas  made  to  them  in  I<»wa,  includinji  their  jtrincipa!  village.  It 
was  also  ])roposcd  to  Keokuk  to  establish  schools  for  the  itenelit 
of  his  tribe,  but  he  rejected  the  proposition,  allej^inj;'  that  it  iin<iht 
do  well  enouyli  for  the  whites,  but  he  had  (tbserved  that  it  made 
Indians  worse  to  educate  them.  By  these  treaties  the  I  iiite<l 
States  obtained  ,'J(),0()( ),()()()  acres  of  land,  at  a  c(»st  trrdy  insii^nili- 
cant  compared  with  their  real  value.  Such,  however,  is  the 
nu'asures  usually  meted  by  the  stroniicrto  the  weaker  power,  and 
such  is  the  fate  of  sava«;(^  ra(*es  when  l)rou;.;ht  in  contact  with  the 
di)>lomacy  of  civilized  men.  Vi<'wed  in  the  li^ht  of  a  commercial 
transaction,  such  a  disparity  of  values  seems  monstrous;  but  when 
we  consider  the  Earth  is  the  common  herila^^e  of  the  humau 
family,  and  that  an  advanced  state  of  the  arts  and  sciences  is 
esseidial  toitsdeveloinnent,  we  become  reconciled  to  it  as  aneccssity 
in  the  ouwani  march  of  civilization. 

The  Indian  piisoners  who  weie  to  be  retained  during'  the  pleasure 
of  the  i*resident,  were  coniineil  in  the  barracks  till  the  following 


410  HISTORY  OF   ILLINOIS. 

sjniiif''.    Of  till!  liuiulreds  who  visited  tbciii  dariiis'  the  winter,  oue 
of  tlieiii  writes: 

"  We  were  Immediately  struck  with  admiratiou  at  the  gigantic  and 
Hymnictrical  figures  of  most  of  tlie  warriors,  who  seemed  as  tliey  re- 
clined in  their  native  ease  and  gracefulness,  with  their  half  naked  i)odie8 
ex})osc(i  to  view,  ratlier  like  statues  from  some  nuister  hand  than  beinga 
of  a  race  whom  we  hud  heard  diaracterized  as  degenerate  and  debased." 

Keokuk  visited  tliem  tiie  following;'  spriiij;',  and  nnide  ^fjreat  ex- 
eitioiis  foi'  tlieir  release,  ottering-  to  become  resi>onsib]e  for  tlu'ir 
future  conduct,  but  a  message  was  received  by  (ien.  Atkins<ni 
from  llie  Secretary  of  War,  ordering  them  to  be  sent  to  the 
national  capital.  Under  tin;  escuirt  of  an  ollicer  of  the  army  on 
tlui  2lM  of  A]>ril,  1833,  tiu'y  reaclu'd  Wasliington,  an«l  had  an 
interview  witii  tlie  President.  IJIack  Hawk  (closed  his  speecli, 
delivered  on  tliis  oc(;asion,  in  the  following  words:  "We  did  not 
expect  to  con(juer  the  whites — they  have  too  nmny  houses,  too 
many  men.  I  took  up  the  hatcliet  for  my  part,  to  revenge  injuries 
wliich  my  people  could  no  longer  endure.  Had  1  borne  thciu 
longer  without  striking,  my  i)eople  would  have  said  lllaek  Hawk 
is  a  woman;  he  is  too  old  to  be  a  chief;  lu;  is  no  Sac.  These  retiec- 
tions  caused  me  to  raise  tlu'  warwiioop.  1  say  no  more,  it  is 
known  to  you.  Keokuk  once  was  here ;  you  took  him  by  the 
hand,  and  when  he  Avished  to  return  to  liis  home,  you  wer«i  willing. 
IJIack  Hawk  exi»ects,  like  Keokuk,  we  shall  be  j)erniittcd  to  return, 
too."  The  jnesident  informed  them  that  they  must  go  to  Fortress 
IMonroe  and  remain  there  till  the  (conduct  of  their  people  satislicd 
him  tinit  they  intench'd  to  comply  with  the  stipulations  of  the 
treaty.  Jle  also  assured  them  that  their  wonuMi  and  children, 
for  whom  they  exjjressed  solicitude,  should  bej)rotected  from  their 
enemies.  On  the  UtJth  of  A])ril,  they  set  oft'  for  the  Fortress, 
where  they  renniined  until  the  4th  of  duly  following,  when  an  order 
was  received  from  the  president  directing  their  release  and  retain 
home.  The  kind  treatuu'iit  of  ('olonel  Eustice,  in  (!onnnan<l  of  the 
piisoM,  had  so  won  the  friendship  of  the  captives,  that  when  about 
to  leave  IJIack  Hawk  waited  on  the  colonel  and  said:  "•The 
nieuKuy  of  your  fiiendshii)  will  remain  till  the  (Jreat  Spirit  says 
it  is  time  for  IMack  Hawk  to  sing  his  death  song.''  I'resenting 
him  hith  a  Inuding  shirt  and  some  eagh^'s  feathers,  he  added : 
"Accei)t  these,  my  brother;  1  have  given  sonu'  like  them  to  the 
AVliite  Heaver;  accei)t  them  as  a  mennuial  of  IMack  Hawk.  When 
lie  is  faraway  they  will  serve  to  remind  you  of  him." 

From  Fortress  ^Monroe  they  wert^  taken  to  l>altinn»re,  where  th"y 
had  another  interview  with  the  I'resident,  who  informed  them  that 
(Jen.  Atkinson  ami  Keokuk  their  principal  chief  were  anxious  for 
their  icturn  lionu'.  and  that  he  had  ordeied  !MiiJor  (larland,  who 
would  accom])any  them  tliithei',  lirst  to  conduct  them  through 
some  of  the  principal  cities,  that  they  might  witness  the  i»ower  ot 
the  United  States  and  learn  their  own  inability  to  co]»e  with  them 
in  war.  "(Jo  back,"  said  he,  "and  listen  to  tlu^  counsel  of  Keo- 
kuk :ind  other  chiefs;  bury  the  tonmhawk  and  live  in  jteace  with 
the  iiontiers,  and  1  ])iay  the  Great  Spirit  to  give  a  snuxdh  path 
and  a>  fair  sky  for  your  return." 

Leaving  IJaltimoie  they  reached  l'liiladcl])hia  onthelOth  of 
June,  and  renniined  long  enough  to  see  the  jtrincipal  objects  of  in- 
terest in  the  city  and  exhibited   themselves  to   the  curious  thou- 


BLACK  HAWK  WAK.  411 


Siiiids  \vIm»  llofkcd  to  see  them.  IJIiiclc  Hawk  in  rct'crriny  to  Iiis 
coiMliict  witli  tlu'  rnitcd  Stales,  said  to  the  iiiidtitudc  about  iiiiii: 
"  My  Jicait  };r('\v  bitter  iiyaiiist  tlie  wiiites  and  my  hands  stron,y. 
]  dnji  np  tiie  tonialiawk  and  led  my  waniors  on  to  battle.  I 
foiijilit  hard  and  much  blood  was  shed,  but  the  white  men  were 
iniiihty;  tin-y  wen'inany  and  my  i)eo|»le  failed,"  On  the  morninj;' 
oi'llie  1  Mil  they  started  for  N»'\v  Voik  and  aiiivcd  at  the  IJalleiy, 
in  the  midst  of  a  vast  assembla;;'e  of  people  who  had  been  drawn 
tojii'ther  to  witness  Die  ascent  of  a  balloon.  This  novel  .s])ec- 
tacle  <:reatly  astonished  the  Indians,  and  one  of  them  asked 
the  prophet  if  the  a'ronaut  was  ^^oinji'  to  the  (Ireat  Spirit.  On 
landing,  the  press  of  the  midtitnde  wiiich  crowded  to  see  them  was 
so  ureat  that  they  could  not  reach  the  liotel  till  they  were  jdaced 
in  carria^ics  and  committed  to  tlu^  care  of  the  ])olice.  Wiiile  in 
the  (;ity  they  were  treated  with  marked  civility,  bein<'-  condncted 
Avith  ceremony  to  theatres,  public  gardens,  and  other  phu;es  of  in- 
terest, and  receivinji'  many  hamlsoiue  presents. 

.Major  (iarland  had  Iteeii  directed  to  conduct  the  ])risoners  us 
far  north  as  r>()ston,  but  while  in  New  York  he  was  ordered  to  as- 
cend the  Hudson  and  pro(M'ed  with  them  directly  to  their  iiome  iii 
the  West.  In  ]>ursMance  of  the  ari-anjicments,  on  the  L*2d  of -lune 
the  party  started  w<'stward,  to  the  j^reat  disajtpointment  of  the 
])Ostonians,  who  wanted  an  opjiortunity  to  see  and  lionize  the  sav- 
aLic  disturbers  of  the  Northwest.  At  Albany,  JJnttalo,  Detroit, 
and  other  ]>laces  alonj;'  the  route,  the  attentions  ]>aid  them  ren- 
dered theii-  progress  tliroujih  the  country  a  triumphal  procession, 
instead  of  tli"  custody  of  prisoners  in  the  hands  of  an  otticer.  In 
Itassini;  the  site  of  the  old  Sac  villaj>e  at  the  mouth  of  Kock  river, 
Jtlack  Hawk  l)ecanie  melancholy  and  ex])ressed  nniny  rej^rets  at 
the  causes  which  compelled  him  as  an  exile  to  leave  it.  The  host 
of  warriors  whom  he  delighted  to  h'ad  to  battle  were  now  no  more  ; 
liis  villa;;e  was  r«'duced  to  aslu's,  his  family  was  disi)ersed  amon<4' 
stianj^ers.  and  he  a  suppliant  foi'  a  home  in  a  foreign  country. 
J'inaliy,  alM»ut  the  1st  of  Aujiust,  the  i>arty  reached  JJock  Island, 
wiiicii  had  l>een  selected  by  .Major  (larlaiid  as  a  suitable  [)lace  for 
the  libeiai  <n  ot  the  capli\ cs.  The  river  at  this  jdace  is  a  beau- 
tiiid  sheet  of  clear,  swift  innnin^i'  water,  a  mile  wide  and  divided 
near  the  «'entre  i»y  iJock  Island,  which  lises  to  a  considerable 
lici^ht  abov«'  tin'  surface  and  stretches  s(iveral  miles  u])  and  down 
the  river.  It  ori;;inally  |trodu<'ed  nuts  and  a  variety  of  othci' wild 
fruits.  an<l  beiny  in  tlie  rapids,  it  was  u  favoritt'  resort  for  Jndiaii 
lislieiinan  wiio  <'au,uht  lar^e  ([uantities  of  excellent  fish  in  the 
swift,  pure  waters  that  wasli  its  i-ockybase.  There  was  an  Indian 
tradition  that  the  island  was  inhabited  l)y  a  ^(tod  si)irit  which 
dwelt  ill  a  cave  amoii^'  the  rocks.  It  hud  a  plumage  white  as 
snow,  Willi's  much  larjicr  than  those  of  the  swan,  and  its  vctice  in 
the  Sac  laiij;uaj;<'  was  thi^  sweetest  music.  The  j^ood  spirit  had 
sent  it  to  tcacii  the  Sues  and  Foxes  w  isdom  and  <ioodness  and  as 
a  guardian  divinity  to  preside  over  the  destinies  of  the  nation.  In 
former  times  it  had  ficiinently  been  seen,  but  alarmed  at  the 
bnildiiijn-  of  Fort  Armstroiifi'  and  the  wickechiess  of  the  w  liite  men, 
it  spread  its  snowy  i)inions  and  was  seen  no  more. 

The  white-washed  walls  of  the  fort  loomed  up  from  the  hijih 
bhiHs  at  the  lower  extremity  of  tlie  island,  jiiviiiji  to  the  fortress 
the  ai»pearance  of  an  enchanted  castle  when  seen  from  a  distance 


412  insTouv  OF  Illinois. 

in  llic  Itciiiity  ol'  till'  siirrouiidiiiju'  scenery.  From  its  towers  could 
be  seen  the  i>lne  iiills,  wiiicli  risinj;  by  ii  ;;('ntle  ;iccli\  ity  I'roni  IIkj 
river  follow  its  niciinderin^  course  jind  bound  the  valley  ttii'ou<;li 
which  it  Hows.  Tiie  valley  is  se\«'ral  miles  in  width,  and  at  that 
time  was  interspersed  with  ;>roves  of  timber,  which  <x;i\v  it  a  ver- 
luil  sweetness  and  beauty  rarely  equalled.  IvocU  river  could  bo 
seen  in  the  distance,  forciuj;'  its  puic  wateis  rxcr  a  rocky  rapid 
into  the  Hoods  of  the  i\Iississi|>pi.  On  the  north  baid<  of  the  for- 
mer was  the  site  <»f  the  Sac  villa;i'e,  and  directly  opposite,  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  latter,  that  of  tlie  i-'oxes,  whicii  time  ha<l  con- 
secrated as  the  Jerusalem  of  these!  tribes.  No  other  locality  could 
have  awakened  in  the  mind  of  ISlack  Ilawk  so  many  ])aiiiful 
nu'mories.  Here  he  had  j;ainboled  away  his  youth  in  its  wooded 
Iniunts;  for  half  a  century  it  had  witnessed  his  power  and  iuHu- 
ence,  and  now  it  was  to  be<!()me  the  scene  of  his  submission  to  a 
hal»'d  rival. 

Imnu'diately  alter  his  arrival,  .Ala.jor  (Jailand  sent  out  runners 
to  summon  the  nei<;hl)orin^' (Indians  to  meet  him  in  council.  Keo- 
kuk and  his  braves  had  been  out  on  a  buffalo  hunt,  ami  were  about 
LM»  mih's  below  on  their  way  to  the  tort  in  anticipation  of  meeting' 
the  captives.  Jle  infornu'd  the  messenj^crs  that  he  woidd  l»e  at 
]{ock  Islaml  at  jkhui  the  followinj;  day,  and  accordingly,  at  the 
appointed  time  his  fleet  was  seen  ascendin;^  the  river,  the  wild 
.son;;s  and  shouts  of  his  men  echoin*;'  from  slioi'c  to  shore.  A  lar;;(! 
craft,  covered  with  a  spacious  can(»])y  and  bearinj;  the  American 
flan',  moved  in  the  van,  carryinj''  Keokuk  and  his  three  wi\<'s. 
About  20  more  canoes  in  the  rear,  each  containing'  several  war- 
vioi's.  comi»leted  the  imposinji'  ijajicaiit  which  j^allantly  moved 
()\-er  the  still  waters.  After  ascendinj;- the  stream  some  distance 
ai»<»vc  the  fort  and  returninji,  a  landinji'  was  effected  on  the  east- 
ern baidt  opposite  the  encampment  of  Mlack  Ilawk,  where  the 
Avari'iors  spent  scveial  hours  in  paintinj;'  their  faces  and  eipiipiny 
themselves  with  implements  of  wai'.  These  preparations  bein;;- 
completed,  the  party  passed  directly  across  the  river,  and  Keokuk 
landing  tirst  turnecl  to  his  warriors  and  said:  '•The  (ireat  Spiiit 
has  sent  our  brother  back  to  us,  let  us  shake  hands  with  him  in 
friendship.  Then  fully  armed  he  slowly  approached  and  saluted 
JUack  Ilawk,  who  was  leanin.y'  on  his  stalf  in  iVoiit  of  his  hxljic 
His  followers,  in  like  nninner,  havin<>'  taken  the  old  man  by  the 
liaiid.  thei»ii)e  was  introduced,  and  after  an  hour  of  pleasant  civ- 
iltics.  Keokidi  and  his  liraxes  arose  and  took  leave  of  the  captixcs, 
]»roniisin<i-  to  set!  them  ajiain  at  the  council.  The  fort  in  the  mean- 
time had  been  fitted  u^)  for  this  purpose.  A  jirand  convocation  of 
Indians  assendded  the  m*xt  day  to  witness  the-  lilteratiou  (»f  the 
prisoners.  At  ten  o'clock  in  the  morninji  Keokuk  and  1(M»  war- 
liois  pi'oceeded  to  the  fort  and  were  shown  seats  in  the  coun- 
cil looms.  Not  loiift'  after  the  captives  nuide  their  ai)]U'arance,  and 
as  they  ent<'red  the  loom  tin'  chiefs  who  had  ])recede(l  them  jia\c 
them  a  cordial  fiicetiny'.  IJlack  Ilawk  and  his  son,  who  had  pre- 
Aiously  objected  to  the  council  as  unnecessary  and  painful  to  tlieir 
feeliiijis,  seemed  much  dejected.  In  the  midst  oi'  the  profound 
silence,  which  for  a  time  i>revailed  in  the  hall,  .Major  (larland  arose 
and  said  to  the  assembled  chiefs  that  he  was  much  ]>leased  at  the 
fralcriiiil  feelinji'  which  they  had  extemU'd  to  the  ]uisoiiers  since 
their  arrival,  and  he  trusted  that  this  woidd  continue,  and  there- 


BLACK  HAWK  W\ll.  41J 


aflor  tlicy  would  dwell  <(»<>(Mli('r  in  liaiiiMHiy  iind  peace,  lie  llieii 
Ciiiised  ji  letter  I'roiii  tlie  I'lesideiit  to  l»e  icad,  admoiiisliiii;;  the 
captives  to  cultivate  tiie  frieiidsiiip  of  tlieir  iiei;;hl»oi'.s,  to  Imiit  and 
Hiippoit  llieir  laniiiies,  and  tiiieateiiinji'  tiie  seveiest  penalties  if 
tliev  a;iain  distuihed  the  fiontieis.  Keokuk  replied:  "  \\'e  re- 
ceive our  lu'otliers  in  fri<'ndslii]».  Our  liearts  are  ;;(»od  towiTids 
tiieni.  Tli**y  liave  listened  to  l)ad  counsel;  now  tlieir  ears  are 
closed.  I  };ive  my  hand  to  tln-ni;  wiien  they  shake  it  they  shake 
the  hands  of  all.  J  will  shake  hands  with  th(;ni  and  then  I  am 
done." 

iMaJor  (larland,  to  be  morc^  explicit,  ajuain  arose  Jind  stated  ihal 
it  must  be  (lisliiiclly  understood  that  the  two  bands  of  the  Sacs 
and  Foxes  must  now  be.nierji'cd  into  one;  that  l>lack  Hawk  must 
listen  to  the  council  of  Keokuk,  and  that  the  President  woidd 
hereafter  recognise  the  latter  as  the  ]>rin»'ipal  chief  of  the  nation. 
When  lilack  Hawk  understood  that  he  was  required  to  conform  to 
the  advice  of  his  rival,  he  becairu-  deej^ly  aj;itated  and  his  excitetl 
]>assions  burst  forthwith  uncontrollable  \  ioience.  With  intense  in- 
dij;nation  of  countenancte  and  the  vchenu'iict^  which  characterizes 
the  savaji'c  when  roused  to  action,  as  soon  as  he  could  control  his 
feeliii;;s  sullicieiit  to  articulate,  he  exclainu'd  :  "1  am  a  man;  I  will 
iu)t  conform  to  the  counsel  of  any  one.  1  will  a(!t  for  myself;  no 
one  shall  jioxcrn  me.  1  am  old  ;  my  hair  is  '^Vi\\.  I  once  i^ave 
counsel  to  my  youn;^  men;  am  I  now  to  conform  to  others?  1  will 
soon  iio  the  ilreat  Spirit  where  I  shall  be  at  rest.  What  1  said  to 
our  ^i'leat  father  in  Washinjitoii  I  say  aj^ain.  I  will  always  listen 
tt)  him.  J  am  done."  Keokuk  apoloj^ized  for  his  indiscretion,  say- 
ing: "Our  brother  who  has  conu'  to  us  has  spoken,  but  he  did  it 
in  wrath;  his  toujiue  was  double  and  his  words  were  not  like  ii 
Sac.  11(!  knew  they  were  bad.  He  trend)led  like  the  oak  whose 
roots  have  been  wasted  by  many  rains.  lie  is  old  ;  what  he  said 
let  us  forji'et.  lie  says  he  did  not  nu'an  it;  h(^  wishes  it  forgot- 
ten.  1  have  spoken  for  him.  What  1  have  said  are  his  own  words." 

Major  (Jarlaml  ih)W  iidbrnu'd  the  humbled  chieftain  that  he  was 
satislied  that  his  condiu't  in  the  future  would  be  acceptable  to  the 
]>eople  of  the  United  States,  and  that  lie  and  his  fellow  ]>risom'rs 
might  now  consider  themselves  at  liberty.  Tin;  council  then  ad- 
journed, and  early  tin;  next  morning  the  Indians  crossed  the  Mis- 
sissijipi  and  dispersed  to  their  respective  homes  in  the  forest. 

A  violent  war  having  snbse<pieutly  broken  out  \)etween  the 
Sacs  ami  Foxes  and  Sioux,  in  the  autumn  of  ltS;i7  Black  Hawk 
again  visited  Washington  with  a  dei)utati()n  of  chiefs  who  liad 
been  invited  thither  by  the  President,  for  the  purpose  of  adjusting 
their  diiliculties.  After  their  r»'turn  he  settled  in  what  is  iu)W  Lee 
county,  Iowa,  where  he  spent  the;  wintei'.  Intliesi>ring  of  ls;{S 
he  moved  his  family  to  the  Des  31oiiu>s,  and  built  him  a  dwelling- 
near  the  village  of  his  tribe,  20  miles  above  the  month  of  the  river. 
lie  furnished  his  new  wigwam  after  the  manner  of  the  whites,  cul- 
tivated a  few  acres  in  corn,  melons  and  other  vegetables,  ami 
"when  visited  by  the  Americans  entertained  them  with  true  Indian 
hospitality.  The  following  autumn  he  visited  an  Indian  trader, 
near  liurlington,  and  as  the  result  of  exposure,  on  his  return  he 
contracted  a  disease  which  terminated  his  life.  His  countrymen 
Avitb  the  reverential  respect  which  tJiey  had  for  the  dead,  assem- 


414 


niSTOUY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


1)lc(l  to  biir.v  tlio  iiiortiil  rciiiiiins  of  their  (h-partcd  vA\Utt'.  Tiio 
Ixxly  dressed  in  a  niiilonii  wliicli  iiad  been  presented  toliini  in  oiiu 
ol"  iiis  eastern  tonrs  l»_v  tiie  Seer<'(ary  of  War,  was  horn  to  ils  last 
restin^i'  place  by  Ibnr  of  iiis  wairiors.  The  yra\»'  was  an  excavation 
()  leet  deep,  and  into  (ids  tiie  body  was (U'iM)sited  in  an  nini^tiit  pos- 
tnre,  with  the  ri^ilit  hand  icslin;;'  on  a  cane  which  lia<l  lu-en  pre- 
sente<l  to  iiini  by  Jleiiry  ("hiy.  A  nionnd  several  I'ce^  Iii;;h  was 
tlirow  n  np  over  the  <ira\e,  at  the  head  «»f  wiiicli  was  i)ianted  a 
stall'  bearinj;  tin*  Ha;;  of  tlu'  ['nited  States,  and  at  the  foot  a  post 
on  which  was  carved  in  Indian  characters,  the  a;;('  of  the  <leceased. 
Those  ill  attendance  at  the  funeral  expressi-d  tiieir  s(uro\v  alter 
tiie  nsiial  manner  of  the  tribe,  by  shaking;'  hands  and  uttering 
prayers  that  the  spirit  of  the  chief  niiglit  have  ii  s;ife  entrance 
into  tlie  lainl  prepared  for  tiie  rece]>t ion  of  souls. 

Tluis,  aftei  an  acheiitunais  and  sliiftin;;  life  of  72  years,  JMack 
Hawk  Avas  <;atliered  to  his  fathers.  The  banner  of  war  fell  ner\e- 
less  from  his  <;ias]);  his  voice  at  the  conneil  tire  was  heard  no 
nMtre,  and  ids  restless  ambiti<»n  was  stilled  in  the  sleep  of  death. 
^\■hile  the  instlin^' October  leaves,  moved  by  the  sighing  winds, 
chanted  a  re([niem  over  his  ashes,  the  bberated  shade  sjied  to 
tlu'  liai)py  hiinlin;;  gronnds  bey(»nd  the  settinji'  snii,  which,  ac- 
cording to  Indian  theolojiy,  only  the  };'ood  and  the  brave  are  per- 
mitted to  enter. 

rerliai>s  no  one  of  his  race  excelled  IJlack  Hawk  in  humanity 
and  lo\e  of  c(»iintry.  He  always  repelled  with  indij-nation  the 
charj^e  that  he  mnidered  women  and  childivn,  or  mistreated  his 
inisonei's.  His  ])aa'iotism  is  seen  in  rhe  last  si»eech  he  ever  nnule 
in  the  presence  of  the  Americans,  who  had  driven  him  from  the 
ancestral  seat  of  his  tribe:  "Ilock  river  was  a  beautiful  country. 
I  like  my  towns,  my  cornfields,  and  the  home  of  my  people.  1 
Ibnglit  for  it ;  it  is  now  yours;  it  will  i)ro(lnce  you  fi'ood  crops." 
These  sentiments  were  not  only  creilitable  to  the  heart  of  the 
speaker,  but  essential  in  forming  a  Just  estimate  of  his  motives 
in  contesting  the  removal  of  his  people  lr(»in  their  nativtt  land. 
In  his  domestic;  relations,  luMvas  kind  and  effect  ion  ate,  and  unlike 
other  chiefs,  never  had  but  one  wife.*  After  his  campaign  in  the 
British  army,  liis  first  act  was  to  visit  his  family.  '•!  have 
started,"  says  he,  "to  visit  my  wife  and  children.  I  found  them 
well,  and  my  boys  growing  finely.  It  is  not  customary  for  us  to 
say  much  about  our  women,  as  they  generally  perform  their  ]>art 
dieerfully,  and  never  interfere  with  the  business  belonging  to  the 
men.  This  is  the  only  wife  I  ever  had,  or  ever  will  have;  she  is  a 
good  woman,  and  teaches  my  boys  to  be  brave."  In  liis  ]uivate 
relations  his  integrity  was  not  <pu'stioned,  and  when  in  a  i»ublic 
capacity   he    disregarded   treaties,   he   was   actuated  rather    by 


•It  Is  said,  however,  upon  Kood  auttiority,  that  on  a  certain  occasion,  his  vow  of 
exclusive  devotion  to  one  wile  hail  well  nltrh  lioen  broken.  While  visitinga  respee- 
tnltle  frontier  settler,  many  years  sinife.  he  became  pleased  with  the  comely  daugiiter 
of  his  host,  and  having  seriously  contemplated  the  matter,  decided  in  favor  of  the 
expeiliency  of  adding  the  i)ale-faced  beauty  to  the  domesticcirole  of  his  wigwam.  Ho 
aci'oi'<lln(rl.v  expressed  his  wishes  to  the  father  of  tiie  young  lady,  and  profiCered  to 
(five  him  a  horse  in  exchange  for  his  daughter,  but  to  his  surprise,  the  olfer  was  declin- 
ed. Some  days  afterward,  lie  returned  and  tendered  two  fine  horses,  but  still  the 
father  refused  to  make  the  arrangement.  The  old  chief's  love  for  the  young  lady, 
growing  stronger,  in  i)ronortion  t()  the  difflciilty  of  gaining  her  father's  consent,  sub- 
se(|uently  ht;  offered  six  iiorses  for  her,  but  even  this  mnnifleent  price  was  rejecteii  by 
the  mercenary  father.  Black  Hawk  now  gave  up  the  negotiation,  nut  a  llttio 
surprised  at  the  high  value  which  the  white  men  placed  upon  their  daughters 


HLACK  HAWK  WAR. 


415 


wroiifjs  wliich  ho  liiul  suft'crod,  tliiui  wiiiit  of  rcsitcct  for  his  ohlijja- 
ioiis.  A  dispiissioiiak' view  (»{■  t lie  wai' and  its  ('mis«'s,  will  sliow 
that  he  had  {^'liovanccs,  and  Avhcii  it  was  iiiipossihh^  to  icdn-ss 
tht'iii  ill  a  peaceable  inaimer,  aitpealed  to  ariiis  as  the  only  arbi- 
tiaiJieiit. 


ciiAPTKu  xxxvr. 

]S;U-18;]S— ADMINISTK'ATION   OK    (!()VHI{N()Il  Dl'XCAN. 

The  <'(nn})(ii<in  —  Life  and  ClKO'dcfcr  of  Duncan — .][<nr  Sfiilc  lltiiikx 
anil  idhat  hvatine  <>/  tliein — Slarrry  Atjilution  by  Jjuccjoy — His 
Jhnth. 


At.  the  j,'('ii(>ral  election  of  Aii^iiist  IS.!4.  .Joseph  Diiiiciin  was 
elected  <>(»veiiiof  oC  the  State.  His  |iriiicipal  opponent  was  ex- 
liieiil.  (lov.  KiniM'y,  who  was  a;;ain  an  as|)irant  I'oi'  ^uhcrnaloiial 
Immkms.  Dnncan  was  elected  li.v  a  hainlsonu^  niaj<nitv:  17,.'i.'i(>  votes 
to  Kinney's  l(>,l!l'4;  Itobeit  Mclian^lilin  received  t,.')l,M>  and  .lanie.s 
Adams  SST  votes  lor  the  sanicollice.  Tin'  candidates  for  lienlenant- 
ji(»vernor  were  Alexander  M.  .lenlcins,  whi>  received  l.'{,7i(r>  votes; 
.lann's  Evans,  .S.(i()!» ;  Wi  ii  ]{.  Archei',  S,.")?'),  ami  Samuel  Web- 
ster. (li>. 

(iov.  Duncan  was  born  at  i*aris,  Kentucky,  Februar\  L'.'Jd.  17!(4. 
We  inivc  already  noted  his  ser\  ices  in  the;  war  of  ISIU,  under  l"ol. 
(^rofihan  at  Fort  Ste]»henson,  when  he  was  yet  (|uite  youufi'.  In 
Illinois  he  first  apjiearcd  in  a  [uiblic  capacity  as  nnijor-^icncral  of 
the  militia,  a  position  which  his  military  fame  i>rotaired  him.  Sub- 
scipiently  he  became  a  State  senator  from  .Jackson  <!ounty,  and  is 
Inniorably  mentioned  for  introdncinj^  (he  first  bill  pntvidinj;'  for  a 
free  school  system.  \\\  ISlMi,  as  we  havi;  seen,  he  gained  ;;reat 
eclat  by  beatinj-'  Daniel  P.  Cook  for  C<  ""ss,  when  in  previous 
contests  with  the  latter,  such   men  ;  i  3Ic'Lean,  Elias   K. 

Kane,   ami   (io\-.   I>ond   had   im't  "  .ster.     From  that  time 

down  to  his  election  asyoverno'  .etained  his  seat  in  Con- 

gress.    The  first  and  bloodies.-  ,i  the   IMack  Hawk  war  ho 

was  appointed  by  (lov.  Jteynolo.  irigadier-general  of  the  volun- 
iintccrs,  and  conducted  his  brijiade  t(»  !{ock  Island.  Duncan  was 
a  man  of  limited  education,  but  with  naturally  tine  abilities  he 
prolited  greatly  by  his  various  public  services,  and  gathered  a  .store 
of  knowledge  regarding  i)ublic  affaii's  which  served  him  a  ready 
purpose.  lie  ]>ossessed  a  clear  JudgenuMit,  decision,  contidemu^  in 
himself  ami  moral  cour.ige  to  vAVvy  out  his  convictions  of  light. 
In  his  deportment  he  wfis  Avell  adapted  to  gain  the  admiiation  of 
the  people,  llis  intercomse  with  them  was  attable, courteous  and 
dignified.  lie  inspired  confidence  and  attached  to  himself  un- 
swerving friends.* 

During  the  gubernatorial  campaign  Bunc.in  was  absent  in  Wash- 
ington attending  congress,  and  did  not  personally  participate  in 

"His  pnrtrnltat  the  Governor's  intinsion  presents  him  with  swarthy  complexion,  high 
chei'k  bones,  broud  I'oreheuU,  piercing  blacli  eyes  und  straight  blacli  liair. 

41G 


DUNCAN'S  ADMIXIHTllATKiV. 


417 


it,  Wilt  ixlilrcsst'd  circiiliirs  In  liis  constitiifiits.  His  chM'lKiii  was 
iitliilHitctI  to  tlic  cirniiiistaiK-t'  of  his  altsi'iicf,  liccaiisc  liis  «'strMMy- 
iiiciit  iVoiii  .lacksDii — erst  liis  political  i<lol — ami  llif  DrinociiK'y, 
lar;icl,v  in  ascrriKlcncy  in  the  State,  was  rcall.\  I'oiiiplctt';  Imt  wliiNi 
liis  (Iclt'ctioii  was  well  known  lo  his  Whiy:  riiciiils.  and  also  to 
llic  Icatliiiju 'lai-Usoii  men  of  this  State,  the  latter  wen-  iiiiaMe  to 
carry  conviction  of  tin*  fa<'f  to  liie  iiiass«',s.  The  (lisseniiiiatioii  of 
]>iil>lie  events  was  not  then  facilitated  by  means  of  the  tele;:rapli 
ami  press,  as  now.  I'resideiil  Jackson  had  criished  the  T.  S.  liank 
with  an  arbitrary  if  not  lyranical  hand;  he  had  vetoed  Itills  con- 
taining' appropriations  for  improving  the  channel  of  the  ;:reat 
\\aitash  river  and  for  the  hail)or  at  ('liiea<;(t.  'I'liese  wi're  West- 
em  measures  which  Diiiicaii  had  greatly  at  heart,  and  hence  he 
refii  .ed  lo  lon;^er  follow  the  dictatorial  ctairse  of  the  "Military 
Chietlain."  Ills  personal  admiration  (;f  the  old  hero  was  ehaiificd 
tit  haired  of  his  acts.  This  course,  so  far  as  ids  politica  for- 
tune was  rniicerncd,  was  an  error;  but  no  one  could  say  iliat 
tlic  step  thus  taken  was  iM»t  sincere.  Jle  iiad  prefeniieiit  to  fiaiii 
liy  reniainin;:'  attached  to  the  dominant  i»arty,  and  nothing  but 
disappointnient  to  look  fo)'war<l  to  in  breaking' with  it.  He  com- 
iiiifted  the  iiiipardoiialtle  sin  in  politics,  and  was  charjicd  witli  in- 
<',oiisisteiicy  and   lietraxai  of  Ids    former  supporters.* 

'I'liese  will  cner  lie  the  the  lossilized  views  of  men  rojiiinlinj;" 
])arty  ties  or  allliliations.  I'lider  siicli  circumstances  no  concession 
is  made  by  old  pinty  associates  for  tlici  chan>;ed  <-ondition  of  tlic 
limes;  for  the  death  of  former  issues  or  the  obtrusion  of  liviMines, 
iiiMiicountered  in  past  strifes.  >i'o  ienieiicy  for  new  public  (pies- 
tioMs  is  extended  iietwceii  violent  partizans;  every  man  isj;ua>ied 
liy  a  paity  standard,  irresp<'ctiv('  of  tlie  principles  lie  advocates. 
J)iiiican  st(»od  bravely  to  his  new  colors  and  never  ref;T(^tt«'d,  it  is 
said,  his  clianj;<',  niade  upon  careful  and  candid  examination  of  the 
•lacksoii  measur<'s. 

In  his  inauj^ural  inessafie,  Aviiicli  was  iarfjcly  devoted  to  tlie  dis- 
cussion of  national  jtolitics,  Duncan  threw  oflf  the  mask  and  took 
a  bold  stand  ayaiiist  the  course  of  the  President.  [Notwithstand- 
iiiii;  liis  defection,  and  tlie  fact  of  a  larj^c^  majority  in  the  le;iisla- 
tiM'e  bein^j^  oi>i)osed  to  liiin,  liis  I'eeoiiiineiidations  relatiii};'  to  State 
atfaiis  were  most  fully  seconded  and  carried  out.  The  laying'  out 
of  [tublic.  liifi  iv.iiys  while  the  State  was  unsettled  and  tliey  could 
be  made  strai.iiht  between  most  of  the  important  points  witli  little 
ex]»eiise<)r  diiliciilty,  as  nrji'ed  by  liim,  was  res])onded  to  by  the 
emictment  of  laws  not  only  yiviiij^  authority  to  county  commis- 
sioners for  tlu'se  purposes,  but  by  f>raiitin{;  42  State  roads  be- 
sides, and  at  the  si)e(;ial  session  of  the  year  followiiif;  40  more 
were  added.  Equally  liberal  were  tliey  with  reference  to  the  canal 
and  charters  for  railroads. 

To  the  subject  of  bankinf>-  he  called  attention  as  folknvs: 
"r.auks  may  be  made  exceedin<;ly  useful  in  society,  not  only  by 
attbidin^  an  opportunity  to  the  widow,  the  orphan  and  ajj^ed,  who 
possess  cai)ital  without  the  cai)acity  of  employing  it  in  (mlinary 

*  It  is  relntetl  that  tin  old  ponstftncnt  rebuked  him  ns  follows:  "Now  Oov.  Duncnn, 
wi'  Jiicks^on  men  took  you  up  when  you  wn8  poor  nnd  friendless;  we  i)ut  you  In  IiIkIi 
oflice  und  ennbleii  you  to  make  a  fortune,  nnd  for  all  this  you  have  aesei-tcd  us  nntl 
iroiie  to  the  Adiiins  men ,  You  was  like  ii  poor  colt ;  we  eauffht  you  up  out  nf  ii  thicket, 
fed  you  on  the  best,  eoinbed  the  burrs  out  of  your  mane  and  tall,  and  made  n  fine  horse 
of  you  ;  uud  now  you  have  strayed  away  from  your  owners."— Ford's  History. 

27 


11 


41S  IIISTOUY   or    ILLINOIS. 


biisiiit'ss,  to  invest  it  in  siu-Ii  stocks;  hut  by  its  n.^c  (lie  vouii,ii!iii(l 
oiitcipi'isiii;;  iiM'ciianic,  nici'ciiaiil  nmi  ti'ii<l(-siii:iii  niav  he  ciialtlt'd 
imnv.  success t'lilly  to  ciinv  on  liis  business  aiid  iniin'oxc  tiic  cotiu- 
try." 

To  lliis  tlic  willin.i;  liCjiislatiirc.  taking'  no  lesson  of  tiii'  disas- 
trous past,  also  responded  iiy  eiiarlerini;  a  new  Slate  hank  witli  ii 
caiiitai  ol'  !:<1,,")0(>,()(K»,  and  liie  jjrivili'uc  to  increase'  its  stock 
$1.(>0(».(I()(»  more.  Six  hranclies  weie  antliorized;  and  tin'  old  ter- 
ritorial \);\uk  of  Illinois,  at  Shawneetown.  wliicli  had  siis|)ended 
business  loi  upwards  ol'  IL'  years,  was  revived  witli  a  cajiital  of 
$;)(IO,(IO(>.  In  lieu  of  all  taxes  whatsoever  the  State  hank  was 
to  pay  .\  of  1  percent,  on  capital  actually  ,     .d  in. 

The  le^islatiu-e  was  not  elected  with  reference  t(»  the  creation  <d' 
a  new  haidv.  It  was  in)i  dreamed  of  hy  the  people,  who  with  much 
iiiuminnty  were  averse  to  local  hanks,  since  the  signal  failure  of 
the  hank  of  ISiM,  the  windinj;'  up  of  wiiich,  at  a  heavy  loss  to  the 
State,  had  hut  four  years  before  been  provided  for  hy  the  unpo|m- 
lar  W'ifijiiiis'  loan.  The  charterin;^'  of  these  hanks  was  the  open- 
ing' of  a  Pandora's  box  out  of  which  inshed  that  multitude  of 
evil  legislation  which  followed  with  a  promi>t  step  in  the  next  few 
years,  and  which  overwhelmed  the  Slate  with  deht  and  almost 
financial  ruin.  President  Jackson  had  vetoed  the  hill  to  re-char- 
ter the  r.  S.  \\;\'\]i  ^vhicli  he  re.narded  as  "a  permanent  eleclion- 
eeriuii machine."  Its  old  charter  was  ahout  to  ex[>ir('  :nid  an  in- 
adecpiate  supply  of  currency  was  dreadi'd ;  to  uieet  which  the 
SecretaiT  of  tlu' Treasury  '-had  encoiira.ui'd  the  State  and  local 
hanks  liherally."  This  alforded  to  Democrats  the  |>retext  that  Presi- 
dent -Jackson,  while  he  op])osed  a  ('oiic<'rn  of  such  ma^iuitude  and 
" elect ioneeriii;;'  iidlnence"  as  t he  U.  S.  hank,  was  really  in  favor  of 
innltipJN  in;;'  local  hanks.  P.ut  the  baidc  jiarty  was  intt  without 
other  arts  and  plots  t(»  i>ass  this  measure.  lOxcry  string'  of  the 
liiinntn  heart  was  i)layc(l  upon.  A  hitter  I'celin^'  existed  amonj;' 
the  peoi>le  in  some  portions  of  the  State  toward  nou-resideut  land 
ow  iH'rs,  who  held  their  lands  at  exliorbitant  i)rices,  while  I'very 
imjnoN cnu'nt   made  in  the  vicinity  added   to  their  value. 

The  desire  w^as  to  huiden  these  lands  with  taxes  and  force  tliein 
into  the  market  at  purchasalde  jnices.  The  vote  of  an  honoiahle 
seiKitor,  \iolentIy  opposed  to  hanks  from  [)rinei])Ie,  was  ohtaini'd 
in  consideration  of  the  passage  of  a  law  to  levy  a  tax  for  road 
jnirposes,  in  th»^  militai,\  tract,  where  the  ^^reat  body  of  non  resi- 
dent lands  were  located.*  In  the  house,  where  the  bank  hill 
passed  hy  a  hare  majority — -7  yeas  to  I'd  miys — a  vote  is  said  to 
have  heeii  obtained  from  a  niend»er  opposed,  in  consideration  of 
Li.'^  election  to  the  oiiice  of  State's  attoiiicy.t  Thus,  says  (Jov. 
Ford,  the  making'  of  a  State's  attorney  niade  a  State  bank,  and  it 

•[NOTK  —Tile  fcclinp  of  hostility  toward  non-residents  found  vent  also,  it  is  said,  in 
trespasses  ui)ontlieir  lands  lor  tinil'jr,  wliieli  was  talieii  as  if  ooumion  property.  'I'lie 
mreiits  of  tlie  owners  (tlie  most  unpopular  men  ol  tlie  eountrj)  I'otind  no  redress  in  tlie 
iaw.  liec  luse  witli  witiKsses.iorors,  and  the  syinpatliy  of  the  eoiiit  all  on  tlie  same  side, 
tlie  tilind- folded  yrod  less  of  Justice,  in  thi^se  eases  blimletl  with  prejudiee.  was  (I  eon  i  so 
with  tlieiii.  In  this  strait  llie  distant  land  owners  adopted  tlu'  missionary  plan,  and 
Soujiht  to  (.radicate  the  sin  of  timber  thieving',  and  to  coiuiliate  the  favor  ol  tlie  peo- 
ple, throiiirh  the  (fcntle  ministrations  cd'  the  trospel,  for  which  purpose  preachers  were 
sent  out,  the  c  untiv  divided  into  circuits  iiiul  duly  assiyned  Hut  the  inhaliitunls  were 
Incorria-iide  their  lecdinjrs  olidiirutc,  and  if  tliey  did  not  reject  the  gospel,  they  never- 
theless continued  to  take  the  timlier.  'I'ollie  land  owners  the  trosjiel  proved  as  inelt'ec- 
tual  a  pr.jtection  as  the  law.   — Ko-d's  Ilisl.] 

+The  .louriml  shows  that  our  late  lieutenant  (rnvernor,  John  Dougherty,  wns  chosen 
to  that  ollico  on  the  foUowuig  day. 


DUNOA^''S   AllMTNISTR  ATIOX 


410 


may  bo  added,  tlio  bank  Avas  the.  incipient  nieasme  whicli  led 
to  others,  and  bronylit  uiinmiibered  woes  njxai  tlie  people  of  the 
State.     The  banks  were  not  oiiuinally  pai'ly  nieasnres. 

One  million  Ibur  hundred  tiiousand  rjoiliirs  of  tiie  ea]>ital  sto(;k 
of  tiie  State  bank  were  to  be  subscribed  by  in<li\  idiials,  and  .*1(»0,- 
(100  were  reserved  lor  the  State  to  tal<e  in  sucii  ani(»nnts  ;is  th<» 
leuisliitnre  siionld  at  any  time  (U'cni  i)ropei'.  Siiares  were  8HH) 
eacli.  The  biini<  inui  tiie  nsual  power  to  receive  deposits.  (U-mI  ill 
bills,  jjfold,  and  silvci-,  et<'..  but  was  ]»roliibite(l  from  deaiinj;'  in  real 
estate  or  jK'rsonal  pro]»erty,  other  than  to  dispose  of  such  as  it 
nii,t;iit  be  coMipelled  to  buy  or  bid  in  at  sales  upon  Jnd.ijinents. 
Ibit  it  had  ]»i>wer  to  borrow  a  million  <lollais  to  loan  out  on  real 
estate  mort;;ayes  for  live  yeai's.  This  pi'ovision  w;,s  to  conciliate 
farmers,  ;ind  extend  to  tln'in  lon;^'  time  accommodations.  Tln^ 
]ii-im'ipal  iiank  was  located  ;it  Spriiijili<'ld,  with  a  branch  at  A'an- 
dalia:  other  brandies  miuljt  be  established  and  discontiimod  as 
tiie  olliccrs  should  d<'t<'rmiiie.  Ibisiness  was  not  to  be  commenced 
until  •'r'<><l(».(l(MI  \v;(s  paid  in  in  specie,  ("ommissioiiers  to  open  siib- 
sci'iptioii  books  for  the  capital  stock,  were  ai>i>ointed  all  over  the 
State.  Nine  diicctors,  one  of  whom  was  to  be  chosen  president, 
were  to  niaiiaii'e  the  alfairs  of  the  corporation.  The  circulafiou 
was  not  to  excec<l  two  and  a  half  times  the  paid  up  <'apital  stock. 
No  bills  were  to  i>''  issued  of  a  less  denomination  than  >*•"».  If  the 
bank  refused  to  I'edeem  tor  ten  days  alter  demand,  it  was  to  be 
dosed  and  wound  up.  Siwli  were  some  of  the  i>rovisions  of  its 
chart<'r,  which,  i'i.i;hlly  carried  out.  were   not  so  ba<I. 

The  stock  was  eujicrly  taken,  tin'  subscriptions  greatly  exceed- 
in;;-  the  limits  of  tlie  ciiarter.  Shortly  after  the  passa.i^'e  of  the 
bank  act.  'IMiomas  Mather.of  Kaskaskia.  .b)hii  Tillson.  of  Ilillsboro, 
vSaiimd  Wijxyi us,  of  ("inciniiali,  T.  W.  Smith,  associate  jud^'e  of  the 
siipreiiie  court,  and  (Jodfrcy,  (iilman  «!v:  Co.,  of  Alton,  iK'ii'otiated 
for  laryc  sums  of  money  in  the  east  to  invest  in  the  stock.  The 
chaitcr  provided  fcr  the  o|)*'iiiii;L;' of  the  books  in  this  Stale  for  L'O 
days  before  elsewhere,  and  to  li'uard  against  undue  intliience  from 
larire  stockholdei's.  as  their  numl>er  of  shares  increased,  it  i)ropor- 
tioiialdy  lessened  theii'  votes  foi'  directors.  To  ]iresei've  the  lull 
vole  of  the  stocks,  therefore,  it  became  desirable  to  obtain  small 
subscriptions  by  cilizens  of  this  State,  while  they  had  the  exclusive 
opportunity.  With  the  view  to  euiiross-enouuh  stock  to  direct  the 
bank,  liiese  i)arti<>s  procureil.  t  liroiij^h  numlterless  a.u'cuts  scat  tercel 
over  the  State,  powei's  of  attoiney.  from  any  person  disposed  to 
make  them,  emi»owerin,u'  them  respect i\ely  to  subscribe  bank 
stock  for  them  and  to  absoliildy  mana^-e  it  siibse(|ueiitly.  Thus 
there  were  many  thousands  of  such  subscri]»tioiis  made  by  persons 
wiioiii  it  never  cost  ;  cent  to  own  bank  stock,  and  who  remained, 
ju'ihaps,  ignorant  of  the  fact  they  ever  were  l)ankei's.  The  stock 
ran  up  to  a  ])remium  of  i;>  i)ei'  centum  alioxe  ])ar  value.* 

When  the  commissioners  convened  to  award  the  stock,  it  was 
iiioxed  that  subsciiplions  made  for  residents  sluatld  have  jirece- 
(leiice  over  those,  of  non-residents,  and  that  holders  of  jiroxies  be 
rei|iiired  to  make  oath  as  to  the  actual  residence  of  the  luincipals. 
This  ]u'o])ositioii  was  sui>p<»rt<'d  by  .Fud.tic  T.  W.  Smith,  between 
wlioiti  upon  the  one  hand,  and  the  rest  of  the  parties  named  n])on 
llie  other,  the  contcsl  for  the   control  of  the  institution   obtained. 


*l)imt'!in"s  Mi'S>siitrc,  IS.in 


420 


HISTORY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


It  is  >iai(l  tliiit  lie,  of  iiiiix'iiclmu'iit  tiimc,  was  i)i('piuv(l  to  take 
isufli  oatli,  and  tliat  lie.  liad  in  jiood  laitli  paid  lor  all  his  proxies 
out  of  his  own  money;  hut  the  others  e<»idd  not  thus  swear.  The 
resolntion  therefoie  did  not  prevail;  and  Mather,  Tillsoii,  (lodfn'y, 
Gihnan  &  ( o.,  and  Wijiuiiis  united  ajiainst  Smith,  contn^lled  the 
bank,  and  elected  a.  directory  in  ti;eir  interest,  with  Mather  as  the 
president.  The  bank  was  in  N^'hi^j;  control — ^^just  enough  demo- 
crats were  elioseu  us  directors  to  give  a  semblance  of  fairness  to 
the  i»roce('din<;s. 

At  that  time  nearly  the  entire  trade  of  the  Upper  ^Mississippi, 
includii!;;'  that  of  the  lead  mines  of  Illinois,  was  ct)ntrolled  by  St. 
Loui,  .  The  ami;!tio!i  prevailed  to  binld  up  Alton,  within  our 
own  State,  as  the  commercial  ri\al  (.f  St.  Louis.  Alton,  in  18;}4, 
Lad  been  elected  as  the  seat  of  government  after  the  liO  years 
lim  ation  at  Vandalia  should  expire;  but  this  honor  she  now 
reaaily  yielded  in  consideration  of  beeoming  the  great  emporium 
of  the  valley  of  the  ^Mississippi.  The  Alton  interest  in  the  new 
bank  was  so  large  that,  without  a  cond)ination  of  all  the  residue 
of  the  st«u;k,  it  possessed  a  controlling  iidiuenee.  The  bank 
therefore  loaned  its  ai<l  to  the  building  up  of  Alton,  and  to  the 
diversion  of  the  trade  of  the  west  to  it.  Godfrey,  (Jilman  &  (Jo., 
merchants,  were  accommodated  to  the  amount  of  4s(>(»,(HK>  to  con- 
trol and  divert  to  Alton  the  imnu'use  lead  trade  of  the  mines  on 
1\'\  er  river.  The  price  of  that  <H)mmodity  advanced  directly  50 
to  lii  i»er  cent.,  by  reason  of  local  competition  alone.  To  exclude 
further  competition  several  hundred  thousand  dollars  were  prodi- 
gally invested  in  mines  and  smelting  establishments.  The  agent 
of  the  firm  did  not  stoo  'vitli  this,  but  as  if  furnished  with  the 
puise  of  Fortunatus,  recKlessly  extended  Ins  investments  to  Galena 
lots,  which  under  the  enchantment  advanced  in  a  short  time,  it  is 
said,  L'(l(M>  per  cent.  But  this  lavish  enterprise  to  secure  the  lead 
trade  for  Alton  failed  to  have  a  corresponibng  effect  upon  easteru 
markets.  After  holding  the  lead  a  long  time  in  store  in  the  east 
for  an  advance,  sale  had  timdly  to  be  made  under  accumulated 
chaiges  at  a  ruinous  sacrilict'.  To  Stone,  Planning  «&  Co.,  of 
Alton,  several  hundred  thousand  (hillars  were  advanced  to  oi)erate 
in  pr<Hluce;  and  Sloo  &  Co.  received  acconnuo<l;Ui«)ns  for  like  pur- 
l»oses,  all  proving  equally  disastrous.  It  was  estimated  that  the 
l)ank  lost  by  the  Alton  oi)eratious  ij(l,0(M),OOU;  but  these  reverses 
Avere  not  generally  known. 

The  legislature  was  convened  in  extraordinary  session,  Dec.  7, 
18.'5r»,  and  sat  till  Jan.  iJSth,  following.  In  his  message,  among 
other  measures,  Gov.  Duncan  calle<l  attention  to  the  subject  of 
the  banks,  and  reconnnended  the  subscription,  by  the  State,  of  one 
million  dollars  ])rovi(hMl  for  in  the  seconil  section  of  the  bank  act, 
for  which  no  steps  had  as  yet  been  taken  by  the  i)resident  and 
directors,  and  no  vestcMl  right  had  yet  accrued  to  any  one.  Dis 
Excellency,  in  his  sanguine  expectations,  stated  that  by  so  doing 
tJie  State  treasury  woidd  realize  l^;}((0,000  in  premiums  on  the 
is  1,(100,000;  that  the  stock  of  the  batdv  was  then  at  a  ])remium  of 
13  per  centum  and  that  it  would  speedily  rise  to  30.  The  legisla- 
ture did  not  fully  fall  in  with  liis  extraordinary  expectations,  but 
by  act  of  Jan.  1(),  1830,  the  $100,000  of  the  cap'ital  stock  reserved 
for  the  State  was  authorized  to  be  sohl;  additional  branches 
of  discount  and  deposit,  not  more  than  three,  were  also  authorized; 


DUNCAN'S   ADMINISTUATION.  421 

and  .■)(>  <l;ivs  in  atldition  to  tlu'  10  were,  iillowed  lor  tlic  icdcniijtion 
<-f  not<'s,  Tlicsc  provisions  were,  not  to  taiu^  eltV'ct  until  tlu'  bank 
liist  (contracted  witii  tlic  <;<)vernor  to  rrdccni  tiu'  AVi^i^iiis'  loan, 
iiy  anotlici'  act  of  tiic  .same  date,  the  haidc  paper  was  autiiorized  to 
be  received  in  payment  of  the  rcveiuie  of  the  State,  ( oileyc,  scliool 
and  seniinaiy  debts. 

!>nt  \\h'  following;-  year  the  leiiislature  did  not  licsitate.  At  this 
session  were  auliioiized  ail  those  extravaj;unt  measures  of  internal 
i:ai>rovemeiit,  which  in  a  few  yeiirs  en  tailed  upon  the  youn^'  State  a 
debt  so  vast  as  nearly  lo  )>aidv-ruj>t  it.  Hut  of  tiiis  iarther  aloiifi'. 
i>y  act  of  ]\Iarch  4,  1.S37,  the  (•a[)ital  stock  of  the  .State  bank  was  in- 
(•reas'Ml  •'!(i;,(>(»(»,(MK),  the  wliole  to  be  isid)scribed  for  the  State  by 
the  fund  cominissioners,  au  executive  body  of  the  internal  im- 
)»ro\enieiit  system.  Tilt;  t;apital  sl^)ck  of  the  liaidv  of  Illinois, 
located  at  Sha wn('et(»wji,  was  in  liUe  manner  authorized  to  be 
iitt-reas<'(l  sjl.ftMI.OOO,  ■jSl.0(>O,(M)()  beinj;-  reserved  for  the  Slate,  and 
.-?!()(),(>•)()  for  private  siibs(;j'iption.  The  (-onsent  of  tiie  banks 
was  lirsf  to  be  obtiiined,  but  either  ini.yht  aecepl  tlie  State 
siibscrijtiion,  to  the  amount  authorized,  lu  sultscribin;.;,  the  State 
was  to  advance  tiie  .same  jwr  centum — •*<.■)  a  share — as  ori<;iiially 
p;iid  l>y  private  stockholders.  The  fund  comndssioners  were 
autlKH'ized  to  sell  the  State's  certili(cate  of  stock,  ami  to  use  the 
surplus  levenues  of  tiie  IJniled  States  from  the  sah^  of  lauds,  as 
iiionev  mi^ht  be  needed  from  time  to  time  for  sid>scriptions.  Five 
additional  dire(ctors  for  the  Stat«;  baidc  were  also  pro\  i<led,  on  be- 
half of  tlie  State,  to  be  eh^eted  by  the  Ie<:islature,  which  still  left 
a  majoiity  to  private stockhohlers,  althou<;h  the  State  owned  a 
uiajority  of  the  stock  by  cx(U'edin<i'  1*0  per  centum.  The  same 
was  iriM'  of  the  Shawueetown  bank,  which  was  to  have  iniui 
directors.  This  bank  was  also  authorized  to  establish  three 
luam-ites,  one  at  Jacksonville,  at  Alton  and  at.  Lawreiiceville, 
\vitl)  each  such  amount  of  caj)ilal  as  the  mother  bank  could  safely 
supply.  'J"]ie  ))auks  wi'iv  desijiiiated  as  the  places  of  deposit  <»f 
all  the  public  rev<'niies,  and  the  moneys  borrowed  by  the  fuml 
commissioners  to  carry  oji  the  internal  improvenu-nts  of  tlu'  State. 
They  we)-e  to  render  rpiarterly  staleiueiits  of  their  linaiicial  condi- 
tion to  the  comndssioners,  ami  )h<'  lej;isiature  miinht  institute  such 
examinations  into  tlieii'  atl'airs,  froin  time  to  time,  as  mij;ht  be 
<Ieemed  re<piisite.  Xo  charges  for  disbnrsenu'uts  were  to  be  made 
by  the  Slate  banks.  'I'he  dividends  accndnu  upon  the  State's 
stock,  weri'  lirst  lo  be  applied  in  ]taynK'nt  of  the  interest  ui»on 
loans:  and  the  premium  from  State  lutnds,  fondly  expected  to  be 
at  least  10  per  centum,  was  to  constitute  a  I'mid  to  be  held  inviola- 
ble lor  the  payim'ut  of  interest  on  loans  <'lfected  to  carry  on  the 
intermil  inii)rov<Mnent.s.  .Many  were  the  iiiueiuous  aruunuMits, 
ileduced  from  the  fact  that  r\\o  first  .*l,ri(»().()(IO  had  with  ^leat 
avidity  b'''H  taken  in  the  sprinji' of  IS;».") — the  premium  risiu.;;'  to 
1.'5  per  centum — that  the  ])resenl  stock  would  readily  command  ten 
per  centum,  and  that  the  State's  bank  stock  would  yi«'ld  a  sulli- 
cient  dividend  lo  ]iay  all  interest  on  the  bank  b(»nds  and  leave  a 
niar;:iu  besid<'s.  W  hen  the  State  bonds  were  exposed  in  market 
by  tlje  <'omiMissioners,  i(  was  i'ound  that  they  uould  not  oidy  iu)t 
brinjj  a  iu<'miuni.  but  «'ould  not  be  ne<i()tiate<l  evi'uat  far.  In  this 
strait  the  l»aiiks  tlienisel\-es  came  to  the  rescue,  ami,  r:,ther  than  (he 
sclieme  s))ouldfail,  took  the  bonds  at  par,  amounting' to  i?l',tt»i."),l)(H). 


1IIS'J(»UV  OF  I1,LL\()I8. 


The  Sliiiwiicclowii  bank  ctrcctcd  u  sale  of  its  slinic  (SOOO.OOO).  hut 
tli(5  Italaiii'c  .":«1,7(m,(I(M»  lakcii  l>,v  tlic  Slate  hank,  was  not  (hsimsi'd 
ol';  they  iiuwcvcr  seixed  \hv  pnrposc  of  a  capital  lui  tlic  hank,  and 
its  hnsincss  was  aniplilicd  corrcspondinuiy. 

The  hanks,  lliionulioiit  tlicir  career,  met  willi  jtersi-stent  opposi- 
tion from  intlinMilial  pai  t\  niana^cis,  Tiiis  was  greatly  augmen- 
ted hy  tin'  fact  tiiat  their  ot'licers,  liie  presitU-nt,  cashiers,  and  a 
larj;'c  majority  «>t  tiie  directors,  wen;  widjis,  which  anuised  tii<' 
jealousy  of  democrats,  cansinjL;  tln-m  to  char,ue  that  the  hanks 
were  [lolitical  com-erns,  operated  lor  tin'  adxancenu'nt  ot  parly 
all'airs.  .Jackson's  expression  respei-tin;;  the  I'niled  States  lianiv 
— that  it  was  a  ''jiijianti*'  electioiu'crin^- nnu'hine" — was  not  tori^nt- 
toil.  .Indjic  T.  \V.  Smith,  who  had  dral'ted  the  eliarterot  the  Slaie 
bank,  and  worked  earnest ly  wilii  democrats  lor  its  passaj;*'  in  ilie 
lejiislatnre,  had  e\er  since  his  deh-at  I'or  its  c«)ntrol,  aninnited  hy 
thai  spirit  which  if  it  cannitt  iide  is  bent  npon  inin,made  wai'  up- 
on it,  and  now  hesitared  not  \o  prononncc  its  cliarler  nnconsiitu- 
tional.     He  was  joined  hy  many  other  sore  parly  leaders. 

My  an  act  of  congress,  [>asse(l  at  the  itrccedinji  session,  it  was 
]>rovided  that  the  surjihis  revenne  of  tin'  I'nited  Stales,  arising 
from  the  sale  of  public  lands,  ».S:c.,  iniiiid  be  deixtsited  with  tiie 
dillercnt  States.  The  baidc  accordin<ily  solicited  the  treasury 
<lepartment  at  Washin^^ton  to  heeonu'  ihe  depository  of  the  jnib- 
lic  nH»ncys,  but  the  <'redit  of  the  State  had  bi'cn  stahlu'd  in  the 
back,  hy  its  own  disappi>inled  eiti/ens  furnishinji  statenn-nts  so 
derogatory,  that  the  secretary  declined  the  re»piest.  Auu)nj;  I  Ik- 
nn)rc  inlluential  opponents  ot'  the  banks  was  .hidjic  MclvoUerts, 
then  receiver  of  llie  ]niblic  nntm^ys  at  Danville.  l*arty  malice 
an<l  ])rivate  resentments  outweighed  the  public  ^idod.  Tin.'  bills 
hll  bel(»w  i>ar  and  from  that  tinu'  steadily  depreciated.  The  notes 
of  tin'  bank  were  j:athered  nj*  and  presented  h>r  specie  to  enti'r 
land.  Had  the  specie  been  re  deposited  by  the  j;t>veriinn'nl,  1  he 
relief  from  this  annoyance  would  have  been  very  jireat.  l>nl 
this,  throuj^h  the  M-np'tul  machinations  of  disaitpoinletl  parti 
fsans,  was  not  to  be.  'Ihe  bank,  lo  retard  tlic  constant  elih  of 
sjiecie  from  its  vaults,  had  iccourse  to  the  |ilan  ol'  e.\clian};in>; 
issues  between  the  respectixc  branches,  and  thus  throw  inj;  tlu'cir- 
culali(m  as  far  i'lom  the  place  of  redemption  as  j)ossible. 

Hardly  were  the  banks  in  operation,  with  their  en<n'nM)Usly 
au^nnn-nted  capital  slocks,  when  the  disastrous  linancial  re\  ulsiou 
of  IS,')!  occurred.  Jn  .May  the  hauk.s  of  Jlliuois  suspi'uded  specie 
paynu'Uts.  They  were  solvent.  l>nt  the  drain  ol'  specie  at  that 
tinn- could  not  he  borne.  Tln^  charters  provided  that  if  redemp- 
tion ill  s])t'cie  was  refused  for  (l(t  days  tojicther,  they  were  to  be- 
conu'  forfeited  and  the  banks  slntnld  m*  into  litpiidation.  Tin^y 
were  the  dept»sitories  (»f  the  moneys  raised  by  the  sale  of  Stale 
bonds:  of  tin'  State  revenue;  in  a  word  the  tiseal  ajicuts  of  the 
Stale,  and  their  suspension  would  involve  the  Slate  and  all  its 
s|)lendid  scheme  of  inteinal  impro\(-ments  in  common  ruin.  In 
this  dilemiKi,  the  iLi(>vernor  was  ur^cd  hy  the  canal  commissioners 
to  coiivcm'  Ihe  legislature  t<»  lc};aliz('  an  indeliniti'  suspension  of 
specie  jtaynM'Uts  hy  th«^  baidis.  A  s]»ecial  session  was  called 
tluly  lOlh,  ls;;7,  and  the  bank  suspensions  w<'r«'  leiiali/ed.  I»ut  to 
hifj  excellency's  urgent  apjieal  to  repeal  tlic  periiieioiiis  system  of 


DUNCAN'S   ADMINISTUATION. 


423 


lioiiiidcd  pell  iiH'll  out  (>[  tlic  w  iiKtows,  l)iit  witlioiit  aviiil — ciioiin'li 
Mere  licld  in  (liiraiicc  (o  iiiako  :i  qtioniiii,  and  tlu'  sine  f//t' adjoiini- 
liiciil  was  canit'd.  Amoii.^  tlic  iiiciiihci's  of  tlic  House  we  liiiil 
llic  iiaiiK's  of  soiiicoC  tlic  most  iittlabli'  iiicii  in  the  annals  of  Illin- 
ois: John  J,  Hardin,  Ahraliani  Lincoln,  Josiali  Francis,  «S:c.,  hut 
w  iictlicr  f  licsc  wliijis  ]»artici|»at«'d  in  tlic  window  csca]»adc  is  not 
dcliiiilclv  known.     The   session  was  the   (irst    in  Siirinjilit'ld,  and 


...ji,.-.    ,......<  .|>.. .. ..  ...  ....    ,,..... ..,,..,,..   ..,  ... 

dcliiiilcly  known.     The   session  was  the   (irst    in  S|»rin^li«'ld,  an 
the  house  occii]>icd  what  is  now  the  <»ld  2iid  IM'cshytcrian  clinrcdi, 
iiurlli  ol'  the  now  edifice  occiijiii'd  by  the  lejiislatiirc  in  1S71. 

The    hank.s  were  now  thoniiht   to   be  deat!,  and  that  nothing 
remained   to  be  done  but  to  wind  ul) their  uttairs.    J'.ut  their  cue- 


424 


HISTORY  OF   ILLINOIS. 


lilies  it'ckoiicd  without  tlit'ir  lii»st.  Tli«'  s])I('ii(li(l  triiiiiiiili  of  tlio 
deiiutcnits  proved  ii  bancii  victory.  The  le^iilar  .se.ssi«>ii  henaii 
on  tlie  1st  ]M()iiday  in  Deeeinber,  with  the  same  nieinlu'rs,  and 
lu'i'ore  the  close  ol"  tlie  niontii  Ihe  banks  obtained  not  onlv  a 
fiirtiier  h-ase  of  life,  and  license  (o  suspend  s[»eei»'  pa,vim'iit,  but 
were  mithorizcd  to  issue  one,  two,  and  three  dollar  bills  besides,  to 
ett'eet  ehanjiC — silver  haviiij;  been  dri\fn  out  of  eiiculatioii  by  the 
dejjreciated  jKiper.  The  debtors  of  the  bank  were  a^ain  ahowed 
to  ;^ive  new  notes  b\  payin,;;  ten  per  cent,  interest  on  their  indel)t- 
edness.  Uy  what  potency  these  additional  ]iiivileji'es  were  pro- 
cured must  be  left  to  conjecture.  The  State  bank  was  the 
custodian  of  the  public  moneys  and  revenues  of  the  State,  as  it 
Merc,  a  substitute  for  the  treasury.  Auditor's  warrants,  at  a  dis- 
count of  oO  percent,  were  diawn  upon  tln^  bank  and  paid  in  its 
currency,  worth  a  ^i'ood  deal  mori'  than  the  warrants,  both  in  and 
outside  of  the  State.  All  the  State  oflicers,  iiu'lmlin^-  the  mem- 
bers of  the  iissjMiibly,  were  for  their  pay  in  the  power  of  the  bank, 
and  if  these  would  do  nothiiiji'  to  ui>iiold  the  credit  of  that  insti- 
tution—  their  own  creature — the  honorable  ^icntlemen  niii^ht 
return  to  their  constituents  without  other  in  their  pockets  than 
auditor's  warrants  !  This,  tojicther  with  such  Jndicioiisand  timely 
acciimmodations  to  inii»ecnnions  party  h-aders  as  the  exiii;t'ncy 
dictated,  enabled  tlu'  bank  to  render  tlu'  glorious  democratic 
victory  barren  of  results, 

r>ut  the  new  lease  of  jiower  did  not  la.st  lonji'.  There  weie  other 
inliuences  arisin.u'  from  the  inevitaiile  laws  of  linance,  more  jtotcnt 
in  their  etfeets  than  acts  of  the  lej;islature.  When  inom'y  is 
abundant  eiedit  is  extended  without  stint.  With  the  vast  system 
of  internal  inii»roveiiients  and  the  lar<ii'  circulation  of  the  baid<s, 
this  was  the  condition  of  Illinois.  The  i>e(»i>le  were  lar,>;,«'ly  in  debt 
on  account  of  siieculations  which  juoNcd  delusiims,  and  also  to 
the  merchants;  the  latter  in  turn  had  recei\<'d  either  a<"<'ommoda- 
tions  at  the  banks  or  ow«'d  for  >ioods  abroad;  contracts  matured 
but  nobody  paid.  The  State  revenues  bein<;'  ina(le(|natt'  to  im'ct 
its  expenditures — the  jieople  averse  to  hijilior  taxati<»n,  and  the 
lejiislators,  with  a  tender  rei^ard  to  jtcrsonal  conse(pieiices,  disin- 
cliiu'd  to  impose  them — the  bank,  to  j;ain  the  faxor  of  the  lej;isla- 
ture,  taxed  its  resources  to  redeem  the  outstandinji'  auditoi's 
warrants,  amoiintiiifi'  to  near  .*;>()( ),(KK».  Its  bills  had  <;radiially 
declined  to  lU  and  1.1  per  cent,  discount.  Now  came  the  bank 
directors  themselves,  as  contractors  to  build  the  Northern  (.'ros.s 
railroad,  and  added  the  last  feather  to  the  canu'l's  back.  For  the 
buildiiiji  of  the  iailroa<l  they  were  to  receive  in  i>ayment  canal 
bonds,  which  were  at  that  Juncture  not  in'j;(>tiable.  To  obtain 
accommodations  from  the  banks,  these  directors  defeated  a  pio- 
jiosed  order  against  expansion  durinji'  the  suspension.*  Keceiv- 
in;>  loans  for  themselves  to  carry  forward  the  i)iiblic  wcuks  on 
their  contracts,  they,  to  be  consistent,  voted  like  favors  to  others. 
The  credit  of  the  bank  was  put  to  its  utmost  tension.  Its  volume 
of  money,  further  swollen,  sank  to  a  lower  discount.  And  in 
Febuary  IS4L',  the  monster  institution,  with  a  circulation  exceed- 
inj4  .'?.'>,()(tO.(K>(»,  snapjK'd  its  thread  of  life  and  jiassed  into  dissolu- 
tion, spreadiiifi  devastation  upon  every  hand,  far  and  wide. 

'See  Gov.  ForU'8  mistuko  as  to  tliisiu  his  History  of  Illiuois,2:.'3-l. 


DUNCANS  ADMIXISTIJATION. 


425 


Tlic  r.iiiik  of  Illinois,  iit  Sliiiwiu'ctowii,  was  siiiiili'.rly  involved. 
It  loiiiM'd  1o  tilt'  Stilt*',  ill  the  first  pliicc,  .'r'SO.tMtO  to  co'iiiidclc  llio 
new  Stat*'  House  at  Spriiijilield  ;  early  in  the  aiitiiinii  oi"  l.s;}!>,  upon 
tlio  earnest  solicitation  of  (io\,  railiii  and  his  enua^einent  to  de- 
jiosit  as  a  ]»ledy('  ><•")< •(»,(»(  10  in  internal  iiiipioveiuent  bonds,  the 
liaiili  advanced  the  (Joiniiiissin.u'rs  oi'  ruhlic  Works  siiOdjdOO. 
The  collateral  dei)osit  was,  liowever,  never  made  nor  the  sniii  bor- 
rowed ever  rei)aid.  In  .June  following;',  with  a  circulation  of  some, 
.*<I.7(M>,()()(),  it  also  collapsed.  The  people  weie  left  destitute  ol'  an 
addipiati^  circiilatinj;-  niediuin,  and  were  not  supplied  until  the  or- 
dinary processes  of  their  limited  (commerce  broii;.ilit  in  j^old  and 
silver,  and  the  bills  of  solvent  banks  from  neighboring  Slates, 
which  was  tardy  enouj;h,  there  beiii^'  but  little  eiuij;ration  to  Illi- 
nois at  that  time.  The  banks  and  the  State  had  been  partuei.s 
in  speculation  and  they  w<'re  now  partners  in  embarrassment. 
The  revenues  wei'e  jjayable  in  the  notes  of  these  broken  banks; 
the  State  pai'l  no  interest  on  her  bonds,  of  wlii(;li  the  banks  lii'hl 
a  larj^e  amount,  iviul  they  were  worth  in  market  but  J-i  cents  on  the 
dollar. 

Ibit  the  old  tirm  of  Hanks  and  State  was  to  be  speedily  dissolved, 
r.y  act  of  .January  L'4,  1S4.'{,*  to  "diminish  the  State  debt  and  jnit 
the  State  Mank  inio  liquidation,"  the  bank  was  j^iven  4  years  to 
wind  up  its  business,  but  it  was  re((uircd  to  j^o  into  immediate 
li;piidatioii  and  i»ay  out  all  its  specie  /)ro  rata  to  its  bill  hohler.s 
and  depositors,  and  issue  to  them  certiticates  of  indebtedness  for 
the  unpaid  balances;  8b"),()(H)  in  specie,  beinj;'  however  first  re- 
seixcd  to  the  bank  to  pay  the  expenses  of  windini:'  up  its 
alfaii's.  The  new  certiticates  weie  to  be  re;;istered  by  the  com- 
niissi(»ner  and  made  receivable  in  jiayment  of  any  debt  due  tlie 
bank,  or  for  the  re<leni]»tion  <»f  lands  purchased  by  the  bank  under 
e\('cuti(tn.  The  delitors  of  the  bank  upon  i»ayin<i'  instalments  of 
l-."*  iiiin<"ii)al  and  interest,  were  authorized  to  execute  new  notes 
from  time  to  time  for  their  indebtedness.  The  bank  was  to  deliver 
within  tivedays  to  the  (iovernor,  State  bonds,  scriji  and  other  evi- 
dences of  debt  equal  to  ><L',().')(».()(H>,  he  to  siiiieiider  to  the  baidc  a 
like  amount  of  State  IJaiik  stock,  !:i<.")(M)Ob  beiiiji  reserved  for  the 
liiial  windinj;'  np  of  the  alfairs  of  the  bank.  All  its  baidvin<4' 
l)ri\ile,<;es,  (»ther  than  those  necessary  to  wind  ui»  itsbiisiness,  were 
to  immediately  eeas«' ;  no  property  of  the  bank  was  to  be  sold  oil 
execution  or  otherwise,  except  for  two-thirds  of  its  appraised 
value.  The  bank  mi,nlit  reserve  from  its  sale  such  real  estate  as 
il  deemed  proi>er.  Three  days  were  allowed  to  file  its  acceptance 
with  the  Secretary  of  State.  It  was  a  very  favorable  'M't  for  the 
bank  and  an  administration  measure  stronuly  seconded  by  a  few 
leading'  Democrats,  wliii-h  caused  it  to  prevail,  as   we  shall  see. 

A  somewhat  similar  bill,  under  the  lii.yli  soundinj^' title  of  •' An 
act  to  reduce  (he  public  deltt  one  million  dollars  and  put  tiie  iJank 
of  Illinois  into  licpiidation,"  jiassed  at  the  same  session,  in  relation 
to  I  lie  Shawne<'towii  bank.  It  was  to  surrender  State  stocks  or  other 
lial»ilities  of  the  State  e(pial  on  their  faces  to  «l,(KH>,(»0(>,lialf  in  five 
days  and  half  in  12  months,  when  the  <;()vernor  was  to  assis'ii 
to  it  an  eipiivaleiit  of  State  l!ank  stock.  The  charter  of  the  Cairo 
bank  was  repealed.  IJy  these  acts  the  immediate  extin.ituislimeiit 
of  8-*,2(KI,000  was  provided.     I>ut  these  acts  wer(^  not  passed  with- 


*  Sou  Houae  Ucport.8,  1842-3,  203-4-5. 


420 


IIISTOUY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


out  coiisidcriiblt'  ((pposition.  Tlio  disposition  on  tlio  i)iut  of  many 
WHS  to  ciiisli  tilt'  Itiinks,  to  wliicii  ail  tlu'  woe  oi"  the  slniji^lin;n' 
coiiiitiy  was  asciiiifd,  with  ttnc  fell  l»low  l)y  a  dirt'ct  repeal  (»l  their 
charter,  whicth  they  had  frtMpientl.v  forfeited,  ln)wev«'r  it  uii<;lit  in- 
volvti  till)  best  interests  of  the  State  in  their  disaster. 

I'rior  to  this,  and  in  anticipation  of  this  coinpi'oniis«>  le<;'islation 
and  the  surrender  by  the  Stale  of  her  baid;  stock  in  exclian^*'  for 
her  bonds,  after  the  failnre  of  the  liank  of  Illinois  in  1842,  tiio 
Avliole  concern  was  jmrchased  as  a  specniation  by  a  c(»nii)any  of 
sharpers,  who  elected  theinselxcs  its  ollicers.  Some  of  the  direc;- 
tors  then  secretly  Ixirrowed  iVom  the  Itaidc  ><1  (»(>,(  100  in  specie, 
which  was  tiansinitted  to  New  York  and  purchased  State  scrip 
and  ?i<;!.;;i.(l()Oof  thc!*S(lU)00  »»f  intei'cst  bonds  hypothecated  with 
]Macallister  and  Ste.>bins  in  ISll  by  l''nnd  Coniniissioner  White- 
.sides,  for  ."jlilil,.")!***,  contrary  to  law.  I'nder  the  law  these  bonds 
Avcro  to  be  solcl  for  what  tiiey  would  brinji,  but  could  not  be  hy- 
]»()thecated.  as  the  rcci]iients  well  kiM'W.  The  favored  dirrctors, 
l)y  connivance  of  the  l)oard,  first  paid  the  sjiecie  borrowed  from 
the  baidv  with  s  100.000  (d'  these  bonds,  which  cost  them  .'50  cents 
on  the  dollar.  Their  nn]>ai<l  stock  inttes  were  similarly  <liscliar<i('d. 
.V  member  of  the  le^^islature.  lit'ice  in  his  denunciation  of  bank 
coirupti<»n,  availeil  himself  of  these  bonds  and  i»aid  a  ^iKMiOO 
note  to  the  bank.  After  the  bonds  and  scrip  had  passed  into  the 
control  of  the  baidi,  they  were,  in  1.S44.  tendered  to  (ioxernor  Ford 
in  ])ayiiient  of  the  half  ndllion  dollars  of  the  State's  baidi  stock, 
which  was  to  be  surrendered  in  II!  monthsafter  the  passa}^!'  of  the 
]»ank  Ijicpudation  law  of  l<S4."i.  The  f;(>verin)r  refused  at  lirst  to 
receive  these  bonds;  a  law  had  been  passed  to  settle  with  Macal- 
listcr  and  Stcbbins  by  ])iiyinj;-  intt-rest  on  the  sum  actually  a(b 
vanced  by  them,  and  their  surrender  of  tlu^  hypothecated  biuuls, 
makini!'  alxtut  I'S  cents  on  the  dollar;  to  have  received  a  lariie 
share  of  tiu'se  bonds  at  their  face  \  alue  would  have  defeated  the 
law  for  tliis  adjustment.  Later  it  became  patent,  however,  that 
3Iacallist<'r  and  Stebi>ins  had  jjarted  with  many  nu)n'  of  the  bonds 
than  the  Bank  of  Illinois  had  receiv('<l.  and  that  they  were  unable 
to  ('(Muply  with  the  law  if  they  had  the  will,  and  as  the  conditi(Ui 
of  the  l»ank  became  constantly  more  hopeless  aiul  the  jiresident 
intended  to  return  these  bonds  to  Mew  York,  the  ^i'overnor,  in  the 
fall  of  1S44.  received  them  conditiomdly.  subject  to  the  ai»proval 
of  the  legislature.  That  body,  unwillin,n' to coiudeiiance  the  kna- 
very of  the  bank  ofiicers,  at  lirst  refused  to  ratify  the  contract  of 
the  li'overnor.  but  at  the  succeedinji'  session,  bS4(i-47,  com[»ro- 
mised  l)y  receivinji'  the  bonds  at  4S  cents  on  tin'  dollar.* 

Snlisequeiitly  the  State  IJank  of  Missouii,  jointly  with  several 
other  creditors,  broujiht  a  chancery  suit  in  the  United  States' 
court  for  the  district  of  Illinois  against  the  Hank  of  Illinois,  its 
otiicersand  ayenls.  JJy  the  decree  in  the  cause,  three  receivers  were 
appointed  to  take  charf^c  of  the  bank's  assets,  make  sab'  and  api»ly 
the  proceeds  in  paynu'Ut  of  the  debts,  the  redemption  of  its  issues, 
and  to  settle  its  at^'airs  jiciu'rally.  JJy  ajiivemeid  but  one  ui'  tlu'se 
trustees.  Albert  (1.  Calwell.  (piaiilied.  r])on  his  death,  soon  after, 
Jud{;e  W.  Thonms  of  Jacksonville,  was  appoiided  in  his  ]>laee, 
who  acted  in  that  capacity  sonu'  UO  years.  lOarly  in  the  fall  of 
1871  he  remitted  to  W.  II.  Uradly,  cleik  of  the  U.  S.  district  court 

•  This  cliapter  has  in  great  part  beun  gatliereil  from  Ford's  History. 


BrNCAN't^  ADMIMSrUATloX. 


42; 


iit  Cliiciijio.  tlic  spcciiil  ;iii(lil<»r,  ii  Itiitt-li  of  notes  miiiI  ('('I'tidcatt'sof 
><7(Mt  lur  ciiiicclliitiuii.  This  it  \v;is  sii|i|h»s('(1.  would  l»c  iihoiit  the 
lust  to  \h'  |»i('s('iit('<l  lor  n'(l»'iii|>ti(»ii,  and  tiial  the  trust  v  ;,idd  be 
linall.v  closed  shortly  a  Iter. 

SLAVKKV    A(iI'l'A'l'I().\ — DKAllI    ( )K  LOVK.JOV. 


Tlie  year  IS.'!?  is  iiieiiioralile  lor  the  death  of  Illinois' first  martyr 
I0  lilierly.  iOlijah  I',  l-ovcjoy.  I !<•  w as  liorn  at  Alliioii.  Keneitee 
county,  .\laine,  No\-.  !»,  isoi'.  At  the  aye  of  I'l  he  entered  Watei'- 
ville  college,  and  after  jLiiadnatiiiji'  with  the  first  honors  of  ins 
class.  renioNcd  to  S|.  Louis  and  eoMiiiM'iieed  leaeliin;n.  A  \ear  or 
two  a  tier  ward  he  e\elian,ucd  the  oeenpatioii  of  a  teacher  tor  that 
of  the  Jonrnalisl.  l)e<'aine  the  editor  of  tiie  St.  Ltiiiis  Tiiiiat,  and 
ad\(>eatcd  the  eleeiioii  of  Henry  <'Iay  as  jiresideiil  of  the  United 
kSlales.  Not  lon^  after  he  had  entere(l  this  new  field  of  lal>or.  he 
united  with  the  I'lesityterian  ehiireh.  and  tleternuned  to  altandoii 
it  also  for  tin'  eler.uieal  i)rol'essioii.  Aeeordin^ily  at  the  a.^c  of  .'iO 
lie  repaired  to  the  1  iieolo,i;ical  sehool  at  IMineeiowii,  N.  ,1..  entered 
■with  .^'i-eat  ardor  upon  his  studies,  and  in  is.'!.!  was  licensed  to 
jtreaeh  by  the  i'resbytery  of  l'hiiailel|iliia.  'i'lie  following;  sninnier 
was  spent  '1  preacliiii,^' ill  Newport.  Wiiode  Island,  and  at  S]»i'in;;" 
('liiirch,  N.  v.,  after  which  he  returned  to  St.  Louis.  Here  he 
a.uain  assniiied  the  editorial  cliairand  isMied  the  first  iiuiuiier  of  the 
*>7.  Lduis  Oh.scrrcr.  a  reli.i:'ioiis  news|iaper.  Now  L'l'd.  ls,'l;l.  Soou 
after  he  incurred  the  ill-will  of  the  Catholic  ('iiiireli.  by  eliaracter- 
\'/A\\'^  llieir  proceedings  in  iayiii;;'  the  corner  stone  of  a  <'alliedial 
(Ml  tlie  Sabi)alli  as  a  desecration  of  the  day.  and  cliai',uin.U' that 
the  use  of"  the  ''iiited  States  artillery  and  ea\aliy,  which  were 
br(iii::ht  in  reipiisition  to^ive  presti'^c  to  the  occasion,  was  a  ]>ros- 
titiilion  of  the  purposes  for  which  they  weic  intended,  i-'roni  the 
clerical  I'ancor  excited  by  this  ont-spokeii  e\i»i'essi(»n  of  opinion, 
)ie  thought  ]M'ocee<led  the  perseentittiis  which  be  snbstMpieiitly 
ciMMUiiilered,  though  masked  in  the  ;;iiise  of  aliolifiou.  'J'he  <ines- 
tion  of  slavi'ry  e\en  at  that  early  day  was  one  of  absorbing' 
interest,  and  it  was  iiii]»ossible  for  a  jierson  with  Lovejoy's  vigorous 
int<'l!ect  and  fearless  manner  of  speaUinu',  not  to  bec(»me  involved 
in  its  discussion  and  not  incur  flic  hatred  of  its  ad\ocal<'s.  The 
siiltject  having'  arrested  his  attention  he  wrote  an  editorial  on  it, 
and  left  the  city  to  attend  a  Presbyterian  synod.  Diiring'  iris 
absence  it  made  its  apjx'arance  in  tiie  columns  of  the  Ohscrrcr, 
and  siK'h  was  the  coiiimoti<m  it  excited,  lliat  the  owneis  of  the 
]»ress  were  ('ompelled  to  publish  a  card  to  allay  tlu' excitement  and 
]H'eveiit  a  nioi)  from  destroying' their  ])i'o]»erty.  On  Iiis  I'eturn  a 
]>aper  was  presented  him  by  a  number  (tf  leading  <'iti/,eiis  and  the 
minister  who  I'cceix'cd  him  into  the  church,  in  which  they  expressed 
the  opinion  that  slaveiy  is  sanctione<l  i)y  the  bible,  and  asked  him 
to  desist  1'rom  its  further  discussion.  Though  the  authors  of  this 
reipiest  rciireseiited  tiie  intelligence  and  morality  of  St.  Louis,  if 
lionest.  how  little  they  iui<!erst<»od  the  ])ers(nial  rights  of  mankind, 
and  how  little  they  supposed  this  (piesti(»u  was  destined  in  less 
than  half  a  century  to  shake  the  continent  witli  civil  commotion. 
'^I'liis  paper  was  inserted  in  the  O'.wrrcr  and  also  a  reply  from  31r. 
Lovejoy.  ill  which  he  claimed  the  right  to  i>ublisli  his  honest  (con- 
victions.    In  answer  to  the  biblical  view   given   of  shivery,  he 


428 


III.STOHY  OF  ir.I.INOIS. 


iciiiiiids  Ilis  censors  (»f  tilt'  ^joldcii  rule — iiiiikc  not  slsncs  of  otiicrs 
if  von  do  n(»t  wisli  to  he  uiiidt' slaves  of  yonrschcs.  llisshilc- 
nicnts.  idtlioiitjli  coiiclicd  in  Ilic  inosi  inotVcnsixc  hm^inii;;*'.  ii;L;;iin 
(xciti'd  the  ire  of  liit'  cili/cns,  :ind  tiir  piopiictois  <if  the  press 
took  |»ossession  of  it  to  pii'vcnt  a  reenirenee  of  tlie  distniininee. 
A  fiieiid,  liowevci',  interposed  iind  a^rt'ed  to  I'cstore  tiie  picss  to 
liini,  pro\  ided  he  woidd  rein(»\('  it  l(»  Alton,  where  he  niij;lil  nse  it 
safely.  The  oU'ei'  was  ju'coptt'd,  Imt  after  he  had  yoiie  tidllier  to 
make  arranj;('nients  for  pnl)lishin;;  the  paper,  he  was  invited  to 
retnrn  to  St.  Lonis.  On  ^'•>iii^  back  he  resnnied  his  editorial  laltors 
and  eontiniied  them  indil  tlie  summer  of  lKi'>,  when  he  a;;ain  l»e- 
(•anie  involved  in  dillienlties. 

On  the  L'.'id  of  April,  the  police  arrested  a  nej^ro  l»y  the  name  of 
IVlclntosh,  who,  while  on  the  wa.v  to  piison,  di<'W  his  knife  and 
killed  one  and  hadly  wonnded  another  of  the  otliceis  having'  him 
in  chari^c.  In  conse(pienc('i  of  the  murderous  assault,  a  larj^o 
crowd  surrounded  the  Jail  in  which  he  was  imi)i'isoned,  and  takiuii; 
liim  thence  they  bound  him  to  a  stake  and  burnt  him  to  death. 
The  community  beinji'  larjicls  in  sympathy  with  the  i)erpetrator.s 
of  this  unlawful  and  liendish  act,  it  was  a  lon;^'  time  before  they 
wen-  brouiiht  to  tiial.  When  at  leiijith  the  matter  \ias  presenti'd 
to  a  ^rand  Jury,  tlu^  Jud^'c,  by  the  most  ^ross  ]terversion  of  facts, 
infornu'd  them  that  the  O/Ascrrr/' had  caused  the  nej;ro  to  murder 
the  p(»liceman,  and  that  there  was  no  law  for  i»unishinj;'  them  who 
burnt  him  at  the  stake.  A  succeedin;;'  luunber  of  this  sheet 
repelled  the  tlaj;rant  cliaryc  nnule  by  the  JudjiC,  alliuled  to  the 
fact  that  he  was  a  ("atholic,  and  intinnited  tliat  his  views  res]»ect- 
inu'  the  eid'orcement  ol"  the  law  could  only  result  from  .Jesuitical 
teaching;'.  The  editor,  awaic  that  the  statement  wotdd  be  folhtwctl 
by  anolhei'  outburst  of  indijiiiation  and  an  attem]>t  to  destroy  the 
jtress,  immedialely  caused  it  to  be  shii>ped  to  Alton,  wliitlier  it 
arrived  -July  L'lst,  ISl'tJ.  The  day  bein^i  the  Sabl>ath,  .Mr.  Lovcjoy 
proi)ose<l  to  let  it  remain  on  the  wharf  till  Monday,  but  tho 
ensuinj^'  ni^lit  it  was  secretly  visited  by  a  nnndx'r  of  persons,  who 
bioke  it  into  i)ieces  and  tliiew  it  into  the  river.  When  this 
dastardly  act  becauie  known  the  next  day,  the  peoi»le  became 
excited  and  the  eiisiiinji'  evt'iiin*;'  a  lar;;e  meetin<i- assembled  in  the 
l*resbyteriaii  church,  to  listen  to  addresses  by  Mr.  Lovejoy  and 
other  speakers.  The  former  stated  that  he  had  conu'  to  Alton  to 
establish  a  relij;ions  newsi)aper,  that  he  was  i)leasedwith  the  town, 
and  as  most  of  his  subscribers  resided  in  Illinois,  it  would  be  best 
for  him  to  make  it  his  future  home;  that  he  re;:;retted  his  presence 
had  caused  so  much  t'Xcitemeiit,  and  the  people  must  have  a 
wi'oiii;  appreciation  of  liis  oltject;  that  lie  was  not  an  abolitionist, 
and  liad  been  freipiently  deiiounc<'d  by  (Jairison  and  others  as 
bein;;'  pr<»-slavei\  because  h(^  was  not  in  favor  of  their  iiH-asiires; 
that  he.  was  opposed  to  slavery,  ever  had  been  and  hoped  he 
always  would  be.  This  statement  (corresponds  w  itli  his  previous 
declarations  and  jtosition  in  reji'ard  to  slavery.  lie  always  mani- 
fested a  strong'  sympathy  for  the  oi»i)i('ssed,  and  in  common  with 
a  iar,u-e  and  iiiteilincnt  class  of  ])e'sons  at  that  time,  in  both  the 
north  and  south,  repirded  colonization  as  the  best  meaii.s  of  free- 
\\\iX  the  country  from  the  curse  of  slavery.  With  the  pid.i;ress  of 
events,  this  scheme,  tliou<ih  it  had  enlisted  the  repird  of  statesmen 
and  philanthropists,  Avas  abandoned  for  more  practieal  views.  Mr. 


DUNCAN'S^  ADMIMSTllATIOX. 


429 


LoNcjo.v,  who  never  peiriiitted  liiiiiseH'  to  l;ill  lieliind  tlie  iiiiireli  of 
i(le:is,  iil.so  tool;  a  more  :Mi\iiiieetl  |iosilioii.  in  tliesanie  iiieeliii;;' 
lie  also  said  that  "lie  was  now  removed  iVom  slavery  and  t-oidd 
])idilisli  a  newspaper  without  disciissin;^  it,  and  tinit  it  iooUed  like 
cowardice  to  lice  from  tiie  place  where  the  e\  il  existed  and  come 
to  a  place  where  it  did  M(»t  exist  to  oppose  il."  \\  itii  these  decla- 
rations, extorted  to  a  j;ieat  extent  i>v  the  t.vranicai  censorship  of 
t!ie  slave  powei',  lie  no  doidtt  after  ins  arrival  at  Alton  intended 
to  eomplv.  Indeed  he  mi]Lilit  jnslly  have  coiiclinlcd  that  it  was  wsv- 
less  to  waste  his  time  and  ener^iv  in  endeavoring;  to  Itenelit  a 
{■omMMinity  which  was  endeav oiin;;  to  exercise  over  him  a  hon(la;;o 
•worse  than  that  wliicii  fettered  the  l)ody  of  a  slave.  Yet,  as  the 
contest  between  freedom  and  slavery  uicvv  warmer  and  earnest 
champions  were  nt'cdcd  to  contend  lor  the  ri;;ht,  INlr.  Lovejoy 
(■oncindcd  tiiat  duty  required  him  to  a;;ain  enter  the  aicna  of 
discussion. 

As  the  result  of  tlie  meetinj;',  funds  were  raised,  another  press 
was  sent  for,  and  tlu-  lirst  nundteritf  tiu'  Alton  Ohserrer  was  issued 
Sei)t.  S,  ls;i(l.  its  editor,  jiifled  witli  nioretlmn  ordinary  ability, 
soon  e.xt<'n(led  its  circulation,  its  discussions  at  lirst  Ix'in;;'  mostly 
conlined  to  sul)jects  of  it  moral  and  literary  chaiacter.  i>y  and 
by  the  (juestion  of  slaveiy  was  also  l)roached.  Mr.  T.ovejoy.  no 
doul)t  smarting;  und«'r  the  unjust  surveillance  to  wliicli  lu'  was 
subjected  at  the  starting;'  of  his  paper,  seemed  now  deteiinined  t(» 
exercise  liis  constitulioiud  rij;lits  to  free  speech,  lu'inji  willing' 
that  tiie  laws  of  Ids  country,  not  the  dictation  of  rutlians,  should 
decide  as  to  wliether  he  abused  this  priv  ilej^e. 

in  tlu^  issue  of  . I  line  !!!>,  IS;>7,  at  the  instances  of  the  American 
Anti-shivery  Society,  he  favored  the  circulation  of  a  i)«'titioii  for  tlio 
abolition  of  slavery  in  the  District  of  ('olumbia.  and  in  the  suc- 
cecdinj;  number  lie  si»eaks  of  the  iiiii)ortaiice  of  or^iauiziny  an  anti- 
slavery  society  for  the  State  of  Illinois.  In  tlie  same  paper  he  also 
indiilned  the  followin;;'  leliections,  sujij^csted  by  the  4tli  of  .Inly: 
'•  This  day  i('iu'oaches  us  foroiirslotli  and  inactivity.  It  is  tlio 
day  of  our  nation's  birth.  lOven  as  we  write  crowds  are  hurryin.i;' 
past  our  window  in  ea;;'er  anticipation  to  the  api>ointed  bower,  to 
listen  to  the  declaration  that  '  AH  men  are  created  ecpnd  ;'  to  hear 
tht^  elo(|uent  orator  deiiounce,  in  strains  of  manly  iiidi^iiiiatioii.  the, 
attempt  of  i'Jijiland  to  lay  a  yoke  on  the  shoulders  of  our  fathers 
Avliicii  neitlier  they  nor  their  cliildreii  could  bear.  Alas  what  bit- 
ter mockei'y  is  this.  We  assemble  to  thank  (lod  for  our  own  free- 
dom, and  to  eat  with  joy  and  j;iadiiess  of  heart  vvliili^  our  feet  arc 
on  the  ]ie<'ks  of  nearly  ;i,()(KI,(l()(>  of  our  fellow-men.  Not  all  <»iir 
shouts  of  seIf-c()n<;ratuIatiou  can  drown  tlieir  jiioans;  even  that 
veiy  daji'  which  waves  over  our  head  is  formed  from  material  cul- 
tivated by  slaves,  on  a  soil  moistened  by  their  blood,  drawn  from 
them  by  tlie  whip  of  a  re]»ublicau  task-master."  As  soon  as  this 
was  lesid,  the  pro-slavery  men  asseiubled  in  the  market  house  and 
passed  a  number  of  resolutions,  in  wliicIi,  with  strange  inconjiiuity, 
they  claim  tlie  right  of  free  speecli  foi'  tlieuiselves,  while  they 
])lot  to  dei)rive  another  of  tlio,  same  ])rivile<>e.  A  coinniittee  was 
appointed  to  iiif(uin  jMr.  Lovejoy  that  lie  must  cease  ayitatiiiji"  tho 
question  of  slavery,  and  they  accordingly  dropi)e(l  a  letter  in  tho 
post-offlce,  containing  a  douiaud  to  that  eti'ect.  The  editor  re]>lie«l 
to  the  coininuiiication,  by  denying  their  right  to  dictate  to  him 


430 


IIISTOUY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


uliiit  if  \viis  proper  tiMli.sciis.s,  iiimI  nt  thosiiiiK^  time  t(>ii<1(>nMl  tliciii 
till' use  of  his  piipcr  lo  r'-l'iitc  liis  o|iiiiioiis  if  IIm'.v  were  wioiih;. 
Tlit'V,  however,  chose  :i  iiioie  siiiiiiiiiiiv  iiiiiliiiei'  Uty  ei  'liny  the  eoii- 
li'ovcisy.  On  the  ni;;lil  of  the  LTd  h  of  Aii;^iist  ii  molt  niiide  sin  iis- 
siiiiM  on  Ihe  ((Mice  of  lln-  Ohncrrcr,  with  stones  nnd  l»rieUl»;its,  nml 
iitter  »lii\  in;.;  ont  the  employes  entered  iiiid  eompletelv  demolished 
the  press.  .Mr.  I.ovejov  himself  wns  iifleiwiird  snrroiinded  in  the. 
street  1»\  il  nnmlieiof  infliiins,  it  was  believed,  tor  the  pnipeNC  of 
otVeriiij;  him  violence,  'i'hese  ontiiij^cs  were  Itoldiv  eommitted, 
withonl  any  atti'mpt  hein;;  made  Wythe  city  ollieials  to  liriny  the 
I'ioters  lo  justice.  'I'lie  ani  i  sla\ cry  parly  oi  the  town,  of  course, 
were  justly  incensed  at  tliis  wanton  outra^^'cand  willlid  disre^ai'd 
of  indi\  idnal  riuhts,  hut  heiiij;-  largely  in  the  unnority.  all  they 
could  do  was  to  (pnetly  suhnnt  and  send  for  ii  new  press.  This, 
liowe\er.  the  prctsciihed  <'diloi  was  never  to  see.  LciiN  iiiy  .\itou 
sh(»rtly  after  to  atteml  a  preshytery,  the  press  arrived  Septem- 
ber L'lst.  and  in  ids  absence  it  was  demolished  and.  like  its  piede- 
cessor.  thrown  into  the  Mississippi.  These  iiulawl'nl  proceed in;'S 
ha<l  n(»w  iM'cn  perpclratcd  so  ol'icu  in  St.  liouis  and  Alton  with 
impuuily,  that  not  (udy  these  localities  but  other  places  were  rap- 
idly beconnn.u  demorali/ed.  Not  Ion ji' after  the  destriM-tion  oftluj 
third  pri'ss  Mi'.  Lox cjny  \  isittMl  his  mother  in-law  at  St.  Chailes, 
Mi).  Here  he  was  \  ioleully  assailed  by  a  crowd  of  rufiians,  with 
tlic  iivowi'd  object  of  takiii<>'  ids  life,  and  it  wiis  only  at  tiie  iuter- 
Itosition  of  his  heroic  and  dexctted  wife  tiuit  lie  escaped  Iheii-  mur- 
derous intent. 

In  the  meantime  tile  friends  of  .Mi-.  lovejoy  sent  for  a  fourth 
jiress.  and  it  was  in  connection  with  this  thai  the  traj^cdy  occiiired 
A\liich  cost  him  his  life,  in  aiitieipatioii  of  its  arrival  a  series  of 
mecliiius  were  lu'ld  in  which  boih  the  friends  (tf  freedom  and  sla- 
very wei'e  represented.  The  object  of  the  latter  was  to  ellcct  ii 
compromise,  but  it  was  one  in  wliicli  liberty  was  to  make  conces- 
sions to  oppression  ;  in  which  the  proju'letors  of  the  Ohscrrcr  wero 
to  Ibi'cyo  the  le;^itimate  use  of  liieir  jtroperly  to  ai»pease  an  ijn'iio- 
rant  mob,  and  in  wiiicli  rij^ht  and  modern  proyi-ess  were  n-qidred  to 
submit  to  injustice  and  the  exploded  ideas  of  the  ))ast.  Mr.  Iloyan, 
the  Metlio<list  minister,  eiideaxored  to  jtrove  from  tiie  I'dbic  tlio 
inexjK'diency  of  tiie  coiuse  itnrsiied  l»y  Mr.  liovejoyand  liisfriemls, 
in  which  he  remarked:  "• 'I'lie  jirear  ajtostle  had  said  all  thinji's 
are  lawful  for  him.  but  all  thinj:sare  not  expedient;  if  l*aul  yielded 
to  the  law  of  expediency  would  it  be  wrouu'  foi'  Mr.  Lovejoy  to  fol- 
low his  example  '  The  spirit  of  (iod  did  not  jtnrsue  I'aul  to  Ids 
destruction  for  thus  actiiii;',  but  on  tiie  conti'ary  commended  his 
eoui'se ;  I'aul  had  never  taken  np  arms  to  ]»ro]>ajiate  tlie  re- 
lijiiion  of  his  master,  nor  to  defend  himself  from  tiie  attacks  oflii.s 
enemies;  the  peojile  of  Damascus  wer(M)pposed  to  Paul,  lint  did 
lie  arjiue  with  the  populace  the  (pnvstion  of  his  lej>al  riylit ;  did  he 
say  I  am  a  minister  of  Christ  and  must  not  leave  tiie  work  of  my 
master  to  Hee  before  tiie  face  of  a  mob." 

Tills  was  strange  a<lviee  to  eonie  from  the  abettor  of  a  faction, 
lirst  to  inan.mirate  violence,  and  at  tiiat  very  time  conspirinj;' 
a.yainst  the  life  of  one  who  was  legally  void  of  olteiise.  The  rev- 
erend gentleman  seemed  to  think  the  a,tijirieved  .should  exercise 
Ibrbearaiiee,  while  the  mob  mijilit  insult  and  destroy  with 
impunity.      Mr.    lieecher,    iiresident    of     Illinois    College,    was 


DUNCAN'S  ADMIMSTKATION.  431 


41)2 


IIISTOliY    or    ILLINOIS. 


Miioiii  was  i\Ir.  Lovcjoy,  n'tiinicd  tlio  lire,  by  wliicli  one  of 
llic  iiMtlt  Wiis  killed  and  sevcial  ollici-s  woiiiidt'd.  'I'liis  warm 
i'c('c|ili(»ii  <'ans(<l  flioin  1(»  retire,  s(»iiie,  !<»  Itear  away  \\\v  dyiiif^ 
man,  (itliers  to  siiiiiiiioii  reinroreenients,  i)iit  tlie  most  of  tlieiii 
visited  the  adjacent  ;;r();;sli(»]»s  t«tr  Hie  ]»iii|n)S(!  of  i-evivinj^  llieii' 
eoiiiauc.  Soon  altei,  tiie  bells  of  the  (!ity  were  rnn<,%  liorns  were 
blown,  and  an  excited  niiititnde  came  rnsliin^'  to  tin-  warehouse, 
some  ni';;in;;'  on  the  drunken  and  ind)iiite<l  mob,  and  others  per- 
snadinjn'  them  to  desist,  liadders  were  placed  a;;ainst  the  side  of 
the  bnildin;;',  without  windows,  where,  there  was  no  danj:er  Irian 
within,  and  sexcral  persons  ascended  lo  lire  the  roof.  Mr.  Lovcjoy 
and  some  others  on    learnin;;' their  dan^^er,    rnshed    (inland   lirin^ 

lilkitli      tint        lli«*itlii1!<ll*iittJ<ll*ik\-itlliiilkl       tllt-iil-  .\rfiil>iwtflll>lliliif       ilk       tliii 


mob,  who  broke  it  into  I'ra^nients  and  threw   them   into  the  river. 

The  Ibllowinj"'  day  a  j^rave  was  dn;;'  on  a  liij;h  blnlf,  in  the 
sonlliern  pait  of  the  city,  and  the  body,  w  ithont  ceremony,  was 
thrown  into  it  and  covered  np.  Some  years  afterward,  the  same 
eh'xation  was  chosen  as  the  site  of  a  cemetery,  and  in  layin;^  ont 
the  uronnds,  the  main  axcnne  chanced  to  pass  o\'er  the  j^iaxe  of 
Lo\ejoy.  'J'oobsiate  1  he  diflicidly,  his  ashes  were  interrcil  in  a 
new  locality,  and  within  a  few  years  past,  a  simple  nntnnment  was 
erected  ovei-  the  s])ot,  bearing;'  the  inscription:  Jlicjaccl  Lorcjojj^ 
jam  jKirci'  scjhiKo. 

or  those  wli(»  jiaiticipated  in  this  infaiiMMis  crime,  it  may  be 
mentioned  that  the  leader  of  the  ontlaws  tinally  became  a  prisoner 
in  the  Ohio  ))enitentiary ;  the  person  most  instrnmental  in  com- 
mit tin^H'  the  murder  was  killed  in  a  brawl  in  New  Orleans,  while 
many  others,  it  is  said,  ended  their  lives  in  violence  and  dis- 
cnice. 


he  anthors  of  its  ])ro.uress,  and  it  is  not  stran<;e  that  he  lost  his 
lie.  iCvery  consideiable  advance  in  theology  has  had  its  (a-rsei-'i- 
lions  and  martyrs.  The  iiutijiKt  rh(ntin>\'  Mnj;lish  liberty  was  wrnn^ 
from  the  j;rasp  of  tyranny  by  the  (hath  of  patriots.  France  has 
battled  and  bled  Ibr  re[iublican  pivernment,  yet  her  object  is  only 
half  attained.  TIk^  <'ause  for  whi(;h  Love  joy  di(Ml  finally 
triinnphed,  yet  it  cost  (»ne  of  tin-  most  bloody  civil  wars  known  to 
history.     Such  has  been  in  general  the  past  history  of  reform. 


ciiAi'TER  XXXVI  r. 

STATE    INTEIiNAL   LMIMIOVEMKNT  SYSTEM. 


Ill  liis  ini^HSiif^c  to  tliD  Icfijislatiirc  iit  I  lie  spcciiil  sosision  bcfjnn. 
Dcccmlx'r  7,  IS,')."),  (Jov.  I)iiii<riiii  siiid:  "Wlu'ii  we  look  abroad 
sunl  s».'<^  flic,  extensive  lines  of  iiiter-eoiiinmiiieation  peiK'tiwtiiif; 
filniost  every  section  of  our  sister  StJiles — when  we  see  tlie  ciinal- 
boiit  iiiid  the,  locomotive  bcjiriiij;',  with  seeniinjf  ti'iiini]ili,  the  rich 
jModiictions  of  the  interior  to  the  I'ivers,  hikes  and  ocean,  niniost 
iiiiniliiliitiii<>'  time,  burthen  and  spnee,  wlmt  patriot  bosom  does  not 
Itciit  hi;;h  with  a  hiiidiible  iimliitioii  to  ;;ive  to  Illinois  her  lull 
sliiire  of  those  adviintajit's  which  are  adoriiiii;^  ]u'r  sister  States, 
and  wl(i<',Ii  a  iiiii;(iiilieent  Providence  seems  to  invite  by  tlii^  woii- 
derfiil  ii(l;i|)tiitioii  of  our  whole  country  to  such  im|trovemeiits." 
J'eiinsylviiiiia  and  other  States  were  at  the  time  en<;a;;(Ml  in  exten- 
sive works  of  internal  imi»rove,nieiit.  Tlic^  lef;islatiire  responded 
to  the  ardent  words  of  the  governor  in  a,  liberal  manner,  by  char- 
tcrin;^  a  ;;reat  number  of  railroads,  alimtst  clieckeriii};'  the  map  of 
the  State,  and  jdedj^inji;  its  faith  for  $."((((),(I(K»  of  the  canal  loan; 
but  further  than  this  they  did  iiotf^d;  the  siijueme  folly  of  the 
]»eiiod  beiny'  left  for  their  siu'cessors  to  enact.  After  the  adjoiini- 
iiieiit,  when  the  ])eo])le  coiilemi)lat«'d  the  project  of  a  vast  system 
of  intei'iial  improvements,  as  ]»ortrayed  by  Ills  Ivxcelleiiey,  they 
W'i'W  fired  with  an  inordinate  desire  to  have  itsiieedily  in  successful 
o)>cratioii. 

They  were  already  inoculate*!  with  the  fever  of  speculation, 
then  rife  tliroiij^hout  the  west,  ('hiciiyo,  a  Tnere  trading  post  in  l.S.'{(), 
had  in  a,  few  years  ^rown  into  a  city  of  several  the  •^and  inhabi- 
tants. This  remarkable  city  had  now  started  upon  her  woixleifnl 
career  of  improvement,  iiiisiirpassed  by  individual  effort  in  the 
annals  of  tln^  world,  steadily  niaintaiiied  to  this  day;  and  at 
])reseiit,  after  her  lerribh^  visitation  by  the  lire  (lend,  also  niisiir- 
]»assed  in  the  annals  of  the;  w  rid  for  tin'  nia;;iiitiide  of  its 
destrueliveness,  since  the  (hiys  of  Sodom  and  (loniorrah,  she  bids 
fair  to  eclipse  all  her  Ibrnier  lapidity  of  growth.  'I'lie  st<My  of 
speedy  fortunes  made  in  ('hicajfo,  which  excited  w(Uideraiid  adven- 
ture 'Mi  years  ajjo,  is  still  fraii;;ht  with  marvels.  lOa*'-  rej)orts 
of  tlie  rajiid  advan<!(^  of  luojicrty  in  (Jlii(raf;<),  spread  .(»  kk;  east. 
Every  vess<'l  came  crowded  with  immi^'rants,  briiifjinj;'  their 
iiioiiey,  enterprise  iiid  iiubistry  to  the  eiu'lianted  spot  of  suddeii 
o|»ulenc.e.  They  have  not  been  disappointed.  The  rapid  develoi>- 
iiit'iit  of  (lie  town  iiis]»ired  einiilation.  'I1irou};liout  the  State, 
towns,  and  additions  wer<^  plotfetl  with  the  liojie  of  jirofitinj;' by 
the  influx  of  eniijirants.  In  some  eases  maps  of  splendidly  sitn;ited 
towns  would  be  taken  to  Chicago,  to  attract  the  attention  of  tho 
li8  4:y6 


4;m 


IIISTOUV   or  ILLINOIS. 


eiiiii;i!iiil,  :iim1  Miictioii  sjilcs  dI'  lots  would  be  niii(l(^  fill'  (Voiii  tin*. 
j)I;icc  ol'  l((c;itioii.  Othci's  were  sent,  cast.  It  was  sjii<l  at  tiui 
time  lliat  llic  staple  articles  of  Illinois  (export  \v<'re  town  jdots, and 
that  tiieie  was  danuiT  ol'  ci'owdini;'  the  State  with  towns  to  llie, 
exeliisioM  ol"  land  for  a;;ri(Mill  inc.*  I  )niinj;  t  lie  vtar  1S.'>(!,  lands 
tollie  ainonnt  of  !!!."),(MIO.(IO(»  w<'re  eiileied  in  Illinois.  h'roMilhis 
it  was  not  nni-eas<aialtiy  dedneed  that  an  extraordinary  tide  of 
ennuialion  W(»nld  sp(M-dily  set  into  this  State,  liven  thesohei- 
JMd^^nn'nt  of  earefid  Inisiness  men  and  staid  fainieis  llnetnated, 
and  they  heeanie  liied  with  the  i<lea  of  leapin.^;  intosndden  lorlnne. 
The  j;<'nins  (W  speenlation  oNcispread  the  State  with  her  j;oldeii 
win,L;s,  east  inji' da/.zlin.u  beams  of  brijiht  prondse  a<'ross  the  paths 
of  (»ni'  people,  beyond  which  it  was  ditlienit  to  see.  They  invested 
to  the  ntmosi  of  their  ei'(Mlit,  which  at  that  lime  of  bank  expan- 
sion, was  almost  nnlimited.  To  prevent  their  e\lensi\-e  imrchases 
from  becoming'  a  diiij;  npon  their  hands,  and  to  fni'lhei'  invite 
imndiiralion  and  place  tlic^  pr<)s[)erity  of  the  Slat<^  npon  a  lirni 
basis,  by  de\ <'lopin,ii'  it*^  "esonrees  -biinjiinj;'  its  int<'rior  within  the. 
I'an^^'e  of  markets;  settling;'  it  np  ;  bnildin^'  np  its  towns  and  cities; 
lia\  inn  the  mnscle  to  wrinj;'  from  its  vij;(»r((ns  .soil  the  prodncts  of 
wealth,  and  enhance  tin;  price  of  jtroperty,  was  a  <ireat,  a  ^rand 
<lisi<leialnm.  All  this  conld  be  aceomplislied,  it  was  inj^cnionsly 
iiryned,  and  doubtless  <lemonslrated  to  many,  by  a  j^cneial  system 
of  internal  improvements,  ba.>ed  on  the  faith  and  credit  of  the: 
Stale.  A  new  le<;islafnre  was  to  be  (deeted  in  An^Mstof  that 
year,  IS,;*;.  The  da/./.lin^'  scheme  was  now  \  ij;'oronsly  ajiilated. 
The  press  es|>onsed  the  project.  I'nblie  meetinj;s  were  held  all 
o\cr  the  State,  and  icsolnlions,  as  (Ik;  exjtressions  of  the  peoples 
ill  la\()i'  of  the  scheme,  wcic  adopted,  'i'lie  subject  was  kept 
alive.  The  j;reat  natural  siuface  ad\antaj;('S  of  tlie  State  for  the 
biiildinj;' of  railioads  weni  dilated  upon;  the  State;  which  alr«'ady 
j»ossessed  every  element  of  yi'eatness — extent  (d'  territory,  ii(di- 
iiess  of  soil,  variety  of  climate,  almost  bounded  by  iiaviiiabU^ 
waters — lacked  only  these  iniprox cmeiits  to  reach  and  develope  its 
vast  and  inaccessible  inferior.  Its  broad  and  fertih'  prairies  lay 
ready  pre|)ared,  awaitiii};' only  population  and  the  hand  of  industry 
to  respond  with  abumhint  products,  (o  freight  these  avenues  of 
commerce  connect  in;;' them  with  the  markets  of  the  world.  That 
these  \iews  were  in  the  main  correct  has  by  this  time,  with  our 
7(MI0  miles  of  completed  I'ailroads,  been  demonstrated;  but  that 
the  State  should  carry  Ibi'wardthe  herciileaii  project  was  most 
vissionaiy,  and  proved  most  disastrous. 

'ilie  leuislatiire  (dected  Anjiust  IS.'UI,  was  supitlemeiited  by  an 
inlernal  iiiipro\emenl  convention,  composed  of  many  of  the  ablest 
men  <d"  the  Stale,  which  was  to  meet  at  the  seat  of  j;(»\eriiment 
simnltaiieoiisly  with  the  leyislaliire.  It  is  probai)lt!  that  the  more 
zealous  advocates  of  the  judjeet  ('iitertained  doubts  re^ardiiij;  the 
slamina  of  the  honorable  members  of  the  le^^islature,  when  the 
vast  |»i()je(;t  should  Ik;  fully  broiijiilit  Ibrward  foraction.  The  coi - 
vent  ion  devi.sed  a  jjeneral  .system  of  internal  iiniwovements,  tlio 
leailiiin' charaeteristies  of  which  was  ••that  it  should  be  commeii- 
siirate  with  the  wants  of  the  people."  It  was  an  iiresponsilde 
body,  det«'rmined  to  succ<m'(I  in  its  om',  obj(!e,t,  re;;ardless  of  eoii- 
.se(iueiices.     'I'Ik;  wildest  niasoning  was  in(liilj;e.d.     Every  theory 

•Ford's  History. 


DUNCAN'S   AinriNrSTKATION. 


435 


that  tlio  tcciniirji'  briiiii  of  ii);iii  could  siiy'^^cst  was  l)i(>ii;;lil    into 
r<'(|iiisi(ion   to  fiirtln'r   llic  success   of  tlic  scliciiic.      I'ossildlilics 
were  ai'^^iied  into  prohaMlitics,  iiiid   tlie  latter  into  iiil'alihilities. 
I)()id>ts  rej^ardiiin"  the  advaiilaj^es  of  tlie,  system    wci'e  scouted; 
the  res(»urces  of  tlie  State  uiaiiiiilu'd  a  liiiiidred  fold,  and  tlie  ulti- 
mate aoility  of  the  works  to  meet   all  their  liabilities  without  det- 
riment to  the  State,  i>redicled    with   a  jiosif iveness  as  if  ins|)ire(l 
by  the  .nift  of  projiliecy.     (loNcriior  Duiiean  in  his  iiiessa^^c  reil«'r- 
ateil   his  reeuiiimeiidatioii  toestaltlish   a   ^^ciiei'al  aiul  uniform  sys- 
tei  1  of  internal  inipi'oNcments,   in    which  the  State  iiii;;lit  take  :i 
lliii'd  or  half  interest  to  hasten  the  woiks  to  eom|i!etion,  which 
would  secure  to  her  a,   laslin;;'  and    abundant    revenue,  to  be  aj*- 
plied   upon   the  principles  of  the  |)laii   profjosed,   "  until  the  whole 
coiintiT  shall  be    iulersect<'d    by  canals   and  railroads,  and  our 
beautiful   prairies  enlivened  by  thousands  of  steam  en^^iiies,  draw- 
ing;' after  theiii   len.utheiie(|   trains,    frei^iited    with   the  abundant 
prodiictiiuis  of  our   fertile  soil."     The   |troductioii   of  the  conveii- 
tiou  was  conlided  to  t  he  hands  of  lOdward  Smith,  of  \\'aba.sli,  chair- 
man of  IIk'  committee  on  inleinal  impioxements  in  the  le;;islat  ure, 
who,  after  the  inli'oduction  of  a  set  of  rest  il  lit  ions  coxcriii;^  the  same 
^^round,  on  theJMli  olMauuary,  IS.'JT,  made  a  report  on  the  memo- 
rial   and    the   j;dveriior's    iiiessaj^e  relatinii'   to   the  same  siii)ject, 
which    it  may  safely  be  asserted  is  one    of  the  most  assiirinj;',  ex- 
|)ectaiit,  and  hopeful  papers   to  be    found   amon;;the  archives  of 
Illinois.     It  occupies  some  IL' i»a,n('s,  and   is  replete  with  specious 
rcasuiiinj;'.     'i'he  commiltec  ai'jiiicd   that    puidic  ex])ectation,  both 
sitli  >meaiid  abroad,  would  lie  .^reat  ly  disa|ip(iiiited  if  some  system 
of  ihteriial    iiiipi(»\  «'meiit    was   not   adopted    at-  the    pi'cscnt    ses- 
si<Mi  ;    that   the    internal   trade  of    a  country  was    the  ;4reatest 
lever  of  its  prosperity  ;  that  it  was  the  Ic^islaloi's  duty,  by  his  ex- 
ample, to    calm   the   apprehension  ot   the   timorous  and   meet  the 
attacks  of  calculatinjj;  o])posers  of  measures  which  would   multi- 
ply the  population  and  wealth   of  the  State;  that   the  surface  of 
the  Slate  was  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  construction  <d'  railroads, 
and  that  (he  practicability  of  remox  in^   obstructions  to  the  navi- 
;;ati(Ui  of  oui-  fixers  <'ould  not  be  (loul)ted;  that  a  ;iencral  system 
of  internal  inipiox  eiiieiits   was  then  within  the  policy  and  means 
of  the  State,  «h'iiianded  by  t  he  people  as  expressed  l)y  their  highly 
laleiitetl  dele;nates,  lately  assembled  iii  <'onveiitioii,  and  also  looked 
forward  to  by  the  peoples  abroad    who  had    piiicliased  lands  here 
with  a  \iew  to  sett  lenient,  and  whose  expectations  ou;::lil  not  to  be 
disappointed  by  ox'ci' cautious  h'j;islatiou,  which  wonlil  <li\('rt ciui- 
yi'atioii  to  other  States  ;  that  the  (!ost  of  buildinji'  railroads,  from 
the  iiniforinity  of  the  country,  and  by  analogy  with  similar  works 
ill   other  States,  could    be   calculated   with    the   ntniosi  pr*'cisioii 
without  pre\  ions   surveys,  (.*S,(MI(>  pei'  mile  beinj;'  the  estimate); 
than  an  iiitc'-nal  ini|)rove!nent  fund  should    be  ctmstituted  of  all 
moneys ari.^iii^'  from  loans,  sale  of  stocks,  tolls,  rents  <>['  land  and 
hydraulic  jiowcrs,  interest  oii  stocks,  sale  of  Stale  lands  entered  for 
the  works,  a  portion  of  thedeposits   received    from  the    national 
treasury,  and  portions  of  tlu^  annual   land  lax;  that  with  the  ex- 
piratiiui  of  the  j;()\erniiieiil    exemption   in    (i\e  ycai's  I  iiiie.  there 
Would  he  IL',IMM».(I00  acresof  land  to  lax;  that  by  rhedisbiirsi'ineiilH 
of  larjfe  sums  of  money,  means  would  speedily  be  placed  in  the 
hands  of  (he  jieople  to  enable    (hem   (o  purchase  (heii-  iioiries ; 


4;i(!  niSTOIlY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


tliiit  tlic  iiiilioads  its  fast  as  coiiiplctcil  liotli  wavs  iVoiii  tlic  cross- 
iii;;s  of  livers  and  important  towns,  would  yield  tlH^  interests  on 
tlit'ir  costs;  that  in  the  advance  (if  tlie  routes  of  inii»roveineiits  the 
State  should  enter  lauds  to  re-sell  at  an  enhanced  price;  that  a 
board  of  fund  eoniniissiouers  should  be  elected,  to  consist  of  such 
euiiueiit  tiuanciers  as  to  retlect  j;ri'at  credit  upon  the  State,  and 
thus  achl  to  its  tinancial  resources  ;  aiul  that  witli  these  active 
rcsoun'cs  at  comuuiud  no  yreat  financial  skill  was  recjuired  of  fu- 
ture lej;islatures  to  ])rovide  the  ways  and  means  t«)  carry  to  com- 
l)letiou  the  public  works  without  hart heniu";- the  people  with  taxa- 
tion. The  works  rccoin mended,  together  with  the  estinuited  costs, 
"were  as  follows: 

1st.  Ini])rovemeut-of  the  Great  Wabash  river        -  -  fl(K),0(H) 

2d.  "                 "         Illinois  river        -            -  -  l(H»,(l(M) 

3d.  "                "         Hock  river           -            -  -  l(Mi,(M»o 

4tli.  "                 "         Kaska><kia  river             -  -  oU.OOO 

5tli.  "                 "         Little  Wabash  river       -  -  oO,()(»0 

(itli.  "                 "         (Jreat  Western  Mail  Route  -  100,0(10 

7tli.  "                "         Central  liailroad  from  mouth  of  the 

Ohio  to  (Jaleua           -  -  a.oOO.OOO 

8t}i.  "                 "         Soutliern  Cross  railroad  -  l,{iOO,()00 

yth.  "                "         ^'ortllern  Cross  railroad  -  1,^")0,0()0 


?7,4o0.(K)0 

A  bill  coverinj>-  these  provisions  was  submitted  by  the  couunit- 
tee,  who  concluded: 

"The  maxim  is  well  understood  by  political  economists,  that  the 
wealth  of  a  country  does  not  consist  so  much  in  the  abundance  of  its 
coffers  as  in  the  numl)er  and  {lenoral  prosperity  of  its  citizens.  In  tlie 
present  situation  of  tiie  country,  tlie  products  of  tlie  interior  l>y  reason 
of  tlieir  remoteness  from  uuirkct,  are  left  upon  the  luiuds  of  tla  produ- 
cer, or  sold  barely  at  the  price  of  the  lal)or  necessary  to  raise  autl  prepare 
them  for  sale.  IJut  if  tlie  coutemjilated  system  should  lie  carried  into 
effect,  these  fertile  and  lieulthy  districts  which  now  hingiiisli  for  the 
want  of  ready  markets  for  their  productions,  would  tiuti  a  tlemand  at 
home  for  them  during  the  progress  of  the  works,  and  after  their  comple- 
tion woukl  have  the  advantage  of  a  cheap  transit  to  a  choice  of  markets 
on  the  various  navlgal)le  streams.  These  would  inevitably  tend  to  build 
towns  and  cities  along  the  routes  and  at  the  terminal  points  of  the  re- 
spective railroads." 

The  Icfiislatitre,  in  adopting  "An  act  to  establish  and  maintaiu 
a  general  system  of  internal  iini»rovemeut,"  ai»pi'oved  February 
27,  IS,')",  not  (udy  came  fully  up  to  the  rciiuiieiueuts  «)f  the  con- 
ventioM  as  reported  by  the  committee,  but  went  over  two  uiilliou 
and  a  »i!  arter  beyond — $1(»,1!;50,(HI(>,  as  follows:  Toward  the  im- 
pi'oveinent  of  the  (Tieat  AVabash,  )i«l(l().(KK»;  the  Illinois  river, 
$l(l(>,(l(»0;  Kock  river,  $1()(»,000;  Kaskaskia,  .*r>(),(KK);  Little  Wa- 
bash, 8"><t.<><l(> ;  ('it'it  AVestern  3Iail  lioute  from  Vincennes  to  8t. 
Louis,  82.")().(KMI,  as  follows:  on  the  I'urgatory  swaiiip',  o]»posite 
Vincennes,  8o(»,(M)0,  Little  "Wabash  river  bottoms,  $15,000.  on  the 
American  bottom  opitosite  !St.  Louis,  8;>0,000,  the  balance  on 
bridges  and  rcp;>.irs ;  for  the  Central  railroad  from  Cairo  to  the 
Illinois  and  Michigan  canal  and  railroads  from  Alton  toMt.  Car- 
mel  (Southern  cross-road)  and  Alton  to  .Shawueetown,  ,'jl,(iOO,000; 
Northern  cross-railroad  from  (>>niiicy  to  Indiana  State  line  (present 
T.  W.  i*c  W.),  Ml.SO0,OO0;  a  branch"of  the  Central  from  llillsboro' 
via  Shelhyville  and  Charleston  to  Terre  Haute.  !?(i.")0,()00;  from 
Peoria  via  iMcCoiub   and  Carthage   to  Warsaw,  $700,000;  from 


DUNCAN'S   ADMINISTRATION. 


437 


Alton  to  Ilillshoio,  and  the  (Vntnil  lailioiul,  $()(»(t,(K»0;  from 
])('11('\  illc  vi;i  Lebanon  to  intersect  tlie  Sontliern  cross-railioad, 
,*l,"")(l,(l(l(>;  from  l>looniin<>ton  to  Mackinaw  in  Ta/e\vill  county, 
llience  a,  hrancli  to  I'ekin,  ."?.')r)(>,()()0;  and  tinally,  of  the  tirst 
moneys  oI»tain<'d.  .*l.'(l(),(K)(»  \v«'i'e  t<»  be  distributed  anioni;-  tliose 
comities  tIiron;;ii  w  iiicii  no  roads  or  iiniuovenients  were  projected. 

A  boanl  of  fund  <*oininissi()neis  was  })rovi(h'd  to  consi.^t  of  three 
nieniliers,  wlio  siiould  "  be  practical  and  experienced  linanciers," 
'•  wlio  wei'c  to  i'ontract  for  and  nej;otiate  all  loans  anthori/cd  by 
the  legislature  on  the  faith  ami  credit  of  the  State  f<>r  objects  of 
internal  iini»rovements  on  the  best  and  most  favoi;tble  terms," 
si^ii  and  execute  bonds  or  certificates  of  stocks,  I'cceive,  manaj^e, 
deposit  and  aj)ply  all  moiu'ys  aiisiuyfroni  said  loans;  make  <juar- 
terly  reports,  &c.,  and  keep  a  conijdete  record  of  all  theii'  fiscal 
transactions.  'J'he  conimissicuuMs  ciiosen  at  this  session  by  joint 
vote  of  both  houses,  were:  Charles  Oakley,  M.  .M.  I{awlinj;s,  and 
Thomas  .Mather.  Their  tinst  was  en()rnn>us,  and  while  they  han- 
dled millions  of  the  i»eople's  money,  a  bond  was  exacted  of  onlj'' 
^.lO.dOO.  'I'hey  wei'<'  allowed  a  secictary  and  a  per  diem  compen- 
sation «»f  ?<■">.  I'or  the  puipost^  of  jiromotiny  and  unitin;^  the  va- 
rious branches  t)f  impi'ovenu'ut,  a  board  of  *'C(unmissionens  of 
Public  Works"  was  created,  consisting  of  seven  meinbeis,  one 
from  each  judicial  <listrict,  to  l>e  elected  biennially  by  joint  vote  of 
the  General  Assembly,  and  to  contiiuu' in  office  foi-  two  years. 
An  oath  of  otlice  and  a  i)oinl  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  was  re- 
tpiired  of  each;  no  coniniissioner  was  permitted  to  ivtain  in  his 
liauds  moie  than  ><1.'(»,(I00  at  any  one  tinu".  l5oth  commis- 
sioners and  cuineers  were  reijnircd  to  take  an  oath  to  keep 
secret,  for  tlie  ben<fit  of  Ihe  State,  all  infoinuition  they  mijiht  le- 
c;'i\ (' I'clatinu' to  lauds  or  clioi<'e  town  sites,  that  other  jiersons 
mi^ii;  not  enter  ())•  i)urcliase  them  to  the  detriment  of  the  State. 
A  violation  of  this  provision  was  to  be  deemed  a  mis('  'ineanor, 
l>unishabl(' by  tine  not  ex<'eedin^' $."».((()()  and  incapacity  of  hold- 
iu.u'  office.  The  commissioners  were  aiitlioii/ed  to  locate,  su- 
IH'iintend,  and  construct  all  the  jiublic  works  for  the  State,  except 
thecanal.  They  weit*  to  organize  and  un-et  semi-annually  at  the 
seatof  .tiovernmcnt,  at  which  times  the  ficneral  outlines  of  the 
operations  were  to  be  deteriniiu'd;  examine  and  audit  the  ex- 
penditures of  moneys  on  the  works;  make  estimates  of  jirobable 
costs;  serve Jiuthenticated  coi>ies  on  the  fund  commissioners,  and 
make  out  a  report  of  their  procee(liu,;;s  for  the  ji'overuor  to  lay  be- 
fore the  le;,nshiture.  C'eitaiii  duties  or  <li\isions  of  the  work  mij:iit 
be  assigned  junong  themselves  ;  they  were  to  cause  examimitions 
and  sni'veys  of  rivers  to  be  made,  and  licnerally  t(»  let  the  works  to 
the  lowest  bidders,  for  which  due  notice  was  to  be  published  and 
sealed  j)roposals  received  ;  c<»ntracts  were  to  i)rovide  for  foifeiture 
in  case  of  non-compliance,  abandonment,  &e.,  by  contractors;  no 
sub-lettinji  was  jtcii'mitted. 

Any  vacant  lands  lyinj;  within  .")  miles  of  any  probable  routes  of 
the  works  were  to  be  entered  for  the  State.  The  railroads  were  to 
be  built  (»n  the  m<»st  direct  ami  elijiible  rcmtes  between  their  speci- 
fied termini.  Individuals  or  ]uivate  compani;  s  miuht  connect 
any  railr()a<ls  or  branches  with  Ihe  Stat«^  works.  Finally  ihe 
board  of  public  m oiks  were  empowered  to  adopt  ami   enforce  all 


4;ks 


HISTORY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


iSncli   rules  mid   rc^iiihitioiis  ;is  tlicy  iiiiylit   dcciii   iicccssiiry   ;ui<l 
c.\|)('<li('iit,  to  ciiiry  into  full  cll't'ct  rlu-  oltjccls  <»!'  the  iict. 

The  Norllicni  Cross  railroiul,  lioiii  .liirUsoiix  illc  tt»  Siniiijilicld, 
AViis  to  Itc  iimiicdiiitcl.v  coiistnictcd  ;  hid  willi  r»';;iird  to  tlic  otiicr 
ridlroiids,  it  wiis  |)i'o\idt'd  in  .section  'S>  ol'  the  iicl,  tliiit  fin'  work 
t>lioid(l  bi'  coiiiiiifiiccd  siiiiultMiK'oMsly  at  rarii  end,  at  iiiii)orlant 
tradiii};-  towns,  and  at  tii<'ir  iiitcrscc'tioiis  willi  )iavi<;al)l<'  .sticaiiis, 
to  1)(!  tliciice  l)uill  ill  botli  diicctions.  Tliis  provision,  wliicli  lias 
Ix'cii  calU'd  tlic  crowniiin'  lolly  of  tlic  cntiic  system,  was  tlie  result 
of  those  jealous  eoiiihinatioiis,  eiiiaiiat  iiii;  iVoiii  the  tear  that 
a<lvaiitayc's  iiiij^lit  aeeriie  to  one  section  over  another  in  the  <'oiii 
meneenieiit  and  eoin|iIelioii  of  the  works,  which  evince,  both  the 
ueakness  and  shoit-si^htedness  of  hiiiiian  nalnre.  \\'«'  can  appre- 
ciate the  niajinitiide  and  eiioiiiiity  of  the  "'^rand  system"  better 
]H'rha])s,  by  ajiplyin^'  lacls  and  li<:iires  to  it.  The  census  taken  in 
is;;,"),  returned  the  ]ioj)ulation  of  the  State  L'71.71'7 ;  in  IS7«>  it  is 
LJ,.");)!>,S!)I,  or  nearly  leu  tiiiu's  greater.  The  ratio  of  increase  iu 
the  wealth  of  the  State  as  fully  as  jiicat.'*  The  debt  authori/ed 
for  these  improvements  iu  the  tiist  instance  was  $l(»,l!;)(),(l(((>. 
But  it  was  shortly  found,  that  the  estimates  of  the  <*ost  of  tla; 
uorks  were  too  low  by  half.  \Ve  may  with  certainty  assert,  there- 
lore,  that  the  State  "was  committed  to  a  liability  of  $LM»,()0(M»"«», 
<'(piivalent  to  !?20I),(>()().(MK>  at  the  present  time,  w'itli  ten  times  the 
]>oi»ulatioii,  and  more  than  ten  times  the  wealth.  Yet  what  wiiiiid 
be  the  iiidij;natiou  of  the  ]»eo])le,  if  any  lejiislalure  should  now- 
dare  to  impose  the  enormous  lial>ility  of  .'i<L'(>(),(>()l),0()(),  or  «'\('U 
luilf  ihat  sum,  u])on  the  State,  not wilhstainlin;;'  its  j^reat  wealth 
and  resources  '! 

Tlu!  bill  did  not  meet  the  ajijirobation  of  the  council  of  revision. 
It  was  assigned  as  a  reason,  "that  such  works  can  only  be  made 
safely  and  economically  iu  a  free  ;io\  eminent,  by  citizens  or  by 
iudeix'udent  corjtorations,  aided  or  authorized  by  •iovcinmcnt." 
Allusions  was  also  made  to  the  undue  inHiicnce  over  legislation  that 
such  vast  jiublic  works  would  exercise.  Not wiihstandinj;  these 
objections  the  bill  was  aj^ain  [lasscd  by  the  coiisiitulional  major- 
ity and  became  a  law.  JMessis.  E.  IJ.  AVebb  and  .)ohn  McCowu, 
luendx'rs  of  the  House  from  White  county,  eutei'e<l  their  solemn 
]>rotest  aj;aiut  its  ])assa,ue,  settiii.i;'  forth  their  reasons  at  lariic, 
which  were  spicad  upon  the  journal. 

\'arions  combinations,  or  what  is  in  modern  pailcnc(^  teiiiied 
''riu;;s,"  were  formed  in  the  lejiii^liiture  to  effect  the  i)assaj.',«'  of 
the  act.  Prexious  to  this  all  estimates  of  the  cost  of  the  canal, 
then  in  (,'ourse  of  construction,  were  upon  too  low  a  scale,  its 
completioj.  was  very  much  <lesired  by  a  larjic  jtoitiou  of  the  peo- 
])le,  and  it  had  been  iciuarded  as  a  w<irk  of  ,ureat  public  utility 
with  much  unanimity  amon,i;  public  men,  but  now  farthcraid  was 
meuaeed  to  be  withheld  if  othei'  ])oitions  of  the  State  were  refused 
the  improvements  which  tlieii'  situations  deni7inded.  The  canal 
Avas  tlierefoi'e  connected  with  the  jicncial  system,  and  a  provision 
made  pled^iii<i-  the  faith  oi'  the  State  for  a  loan  of  !#.")(»(),(  100  toward 
it.  The  canal  is  not  yet  done  j»layin;.;au  important  part  iu  obtain- 
ing appro[iriations  Itom  the  State  treasury.  To  enlist  thereiiiiis- 
ite  number  of  members  for  its  jtassa^-e  of  the  bill,  provision  was 

•The  tiixiible  wcultli  (if  tlio  ^^t;itc  in  1S;J1)  was  only  Srj8,,S8»,rc'r),  now  it  exceeds  ^ulKstOO,- 
OOC. 


DUNCAN'S  AmilNISTRATION.  439 


iiiiulc  lor  iiiiprovciiuiifs  in  iilni(»,sl  every  part  of  the  Stato,  and 
tliosc  oiit-of  tlic  way  coinitics  wliicli  could  not  Ix-  icaclicil,  were  to 
sliarc  in  a  I'nnd  ol'  .'i<2(MI,(l(H>,  fiist  to  bi'  laiscd.  Alton,  tiicn  ninni- 
ficcnlly  siipitlicil  with  millions  by  the  State  bank  to  buiM  liei'  up 
as  tlie  mercantile  center  and  metropolis  ol'tlie  west,  would  no!  be 
salisiied  with  h'ss  than  the  termini  ol"  three  lai  I  roads,  in  ls;U, 
she  Inid  recei\ed  the  ]iij;hest  number  of  votes  as  the  seat  of 
j;(»vernmeiit,  al'tei'  the  LM)  years  limitation  at  Vandalia  should  ex- 
piic  ;  but  upon  this  she  did  not  now  insist — she  inefericd  rail- 
roads. Several  ellorts  were  made  to  cut  down  the  s<'iM'me  to  less 
dinuMisions,  with  failures  each  time,  an<l  not  unfr(>(pu'ntly  more 
works  added.  Althou;;li  the  internal  imj)rovement  convention 
had  lon.u' since  adjourned,  there  was  still  a  powerlul  loblty  l)M.^ily 
en  j;aj;(Ml  applying;  the  pressure  to  [diant  mendiersof  the  Iej;i  slat  are. 
Th((  lobbies  witnessed  nmny  oiatorical  eltbrts  of  in^^cnious  and 
lofi'ieal  arjiumcJit.  The  manifest  destiny  of  j;'overnment  was  ])r()- 
trayed  in  jiiowiui;' colors;  dedin-tions  from  similai' systems  in  pro 
j-ress  in  other  States  \\<'re  madi'  applicable  to  Illinois,  and  tln^r 
certain  success  driven  Lome  and  clinched  with  jticdictions;  and 
who  can  arj^ue  aj^ainst  '',tro|»hecy  ?  Tlu'  sui»se(|ueiit  fads  of  si^^nal 
and  <lisastrous  I'ailure,  wei(^  then  hidden  in  the  womb  of  lime. 
What  ai)pears  ridiculous  and  absurd  now,  was  then  by  many 
conlidently  believed,  because  there  were  no  facets  tojiainsay  it,  but 
nnich  ]»ositive  asseivation  that  it  would  be  a  success. 

Thecinestion  of  rem<tvin;.;  the  seat  of  •;'overnment  from  Vandalia, 
the  20  years  limitation  under  the  constitution  haviuj;'  nearly  ex- 
]tired,  played  no  inconsiih-rable  part  in  the  passage  of  tliis 
measure.  San,namon  county,  then  the  nu>st  populous  in  the  Slate, 
was  rei)resent<!d  by  two  senators  and  seven  I'cpresenlatives, 
fandliarlv  known  as  the  ''lon<^'  inne,"  all  whiys  but  one.  Savs 
(biv.  Ford: 

"Amoufrst  tlieni  were  some  dexterous  juji^lt'i's  and  nianii^ers  in 
polilics,  wliose  wliole  (ibject  was  to  olitain  tlie  scat  of  ,ii;()V('rMnu'iit  for 
J^priiiflfield.  Tins  (lelcfiation,  t'rom  the  iie^iiniiii};;  of  the  session,  tlirew 
itself  as  ii  unit  in  support  of,  or  oj>positi()n  to,  eveiy  local  measure  of 
interest,  l>ut  never  witliont  a  Itarj^ain  lor  votes  in  return  on  the  seal  of 
frovernnient  (piestif)U.  Most  of  the  other  counties  were  small,  tuning 
but  v)ne  representative,  and  many  of  them  with  l)ut  one  for  the  whole 
district  ;  and  this  jiave  San<j;um()n  c(;L.ntya  decided  pri'iiouderance  iiitiie 
loji-rolliuf;  system  of  those  days.  Ft  is  worthy  of  examinalion  whether 
any  Just  and  e(pia]  lef:islalion  can  <'ver  he  sustaiiu'd  where  somi' of  the 
counties  arej^reatand  powerful  and  otliers  feeble.  15ut  by  such  means 
'the  \ou^  nine'  rolled  alonji;  like  a  siuiw  hall,  j;atherin^  accessions  of 
streufith  at  eviT.,- turn,  until  they  swelled  up  Ji  considerable  party  for 
H|)riMj;field,  which  party  they  maiuiyed  to  take  almest  as  a  unit  in  favor 
of  the  internal  improvement  system,  in  return  for  which  the  active  siij)- 
porteis  of  that  system  were  to  vote  for  Sprin^liehl  to  bi'  the  seal  of  ^ov- 
ermuent.  Tluisit  was  maile  to  cost  the  State  about  ?li,(l(iO, (Kin,  to  remove 
the  seatof  f!;<)vernnieiit  from  Vandalia  to  8i)riuKliold,  half  of  whicli  sum 
would  have  purchased  all  the  real  istatein  that  town  at  three  ju'lrts;  ami 
thus  by  lo,ii;-rollinK  on  the  canal  measure,  l)y  multiplyim^  railroads,  by 
terminating  three  railroads  at  Alton,  that  Alton  nugiit  l)ec()nii'  a  j-'i'eat 
(iity  in  opposition  to  St.  I^ouis,  by  distrilaiting  money  to  some  ol  the 
counties,  to  be  wasted  by  the  county  connnissioners,  and  l)y  giving  the 
.seal  of  government  to  Sjjringlield,  was  the  whole  State  liouglil  u|)  and 
hrilied,  to  a|ii»ro»'e  the  most  senseless  aiul  disastrous  policy  which  ever 
cri])nled  the  energies  of  a  growing  country." 

The  tirst  board  of  coinmissiom'rs  of  public,  works,  consisted  of 
Murray   JNIcConnell,  AVilliam   Kinney,  Elijah   Willard,  .Milton  K. 


440  HISTOKY  OF   ILLINOIS. 

Alcxiiiidcr,  rlocl  A\  rij;lit,  .lames  W.  ISti'itliciison,  and  Ehcnczcr 
J\'('k.  All  I'llbit  was  luailc  lo  eloct  lut'iubcis  of  tlie  l«'>;i.sIatiUT  to 
tliis  imixtrlaiit  placi'  of  tiiust.  To  evade  tlie  provision  of  tlii'  eon- 
^titiitioii,  lliat  'Mio  sfiiator  or  representative  siiall,  durin^i'  tiie  linio 
lor  wiiifli  lie  shall  have  been  elected,  be  a]»itoiiited  to  any  eivil 
oHlee  nnder  this  State,"  and  also  the  determination  of  (Jovernor 
Duncan  n(»t  lo  commission  any  member  \vh(»  niij;ht  be  chosen,  a 
hiw  was  endeavored  to  be  passed  to  (»ver-ride  the  constittilion  and 
do  away  with  a  commission,  notwithstanding;  the  iccpiirement 
that  ail  civil  otlicers  shall  lie  commissioned.  In  the  li^^ht  of  a  late 
decision  of  the  snpreme  conrt,  howcNcr,  a  commissioner  is  not  an 
othcer.  Still,  at  the  Joint  nieetin;;  of  the  two  houses  an  etfoit  was 
made  to  elect  members  as  commissioners,  but  tlu're  were  some 
scruples  in  the  way  ;  an  adjournment  for  a  day  was  had,  when 
men  w«'re  chosen,  not  mend>ers  of  either  house. 

It  was  now  fondly  hoped  by  those  whose  heads  were  not  entirely 
turned  that  the  fund  commissioners  would  be  unable  to  nejiotiato 
the  bonds  of  the  State.  Jlut  this  was  soon  swe])t  away.  Throuj^h 
the  aid  of  the  I'nited  States  baidv,  then  tradinj;'  in  State  stocks, 
which  served  to  bankrui»t  it,  loans  were  elfectt'd  in  the  summer 
of  IS.'iT;  work  was  commence<l  at  nniny  ditferent  points  before 
the  end  of  the  year.  Throuj;hout  the  State  public  expectation 
■was  wi'oujiht  to  the  highest  i»ilch  over  the  scheme,  ^loney  became 
abundant  by  reason  of  local  e.xitenditures  and  in  payments  for 
estinnites  upon  woiks.  It  had  been  confidently  belie\ed  that  the 
bonds  of  the  Slati;  would  brinj;'  ten  per  centum  premium  in 
market.  Gov.  J)uncan  had  disposed  of  $1(K>,(M)()  in  canal  bonils 
the  summer  preceding"  at  5  per  centum  premium,  which  lie  cou- 
sidi'ied  too  low  and  declined  a  larj^cr  sum  at  that  rate.  JUit  now 
the  commissioners  (;oiild  elfect  loans  in  this  country  only  at  par; 
London  was  tried  with  worse  eliect,  "those  in  Europe  were  at  9 
l)er  cent  discount.  The  bankers  paid  IK)  cents  on  the  dollar  to  the 
State,  and,  as  is  alleged,  1  per  cent,  to  the  fund  commissioners, 
lor  brokeraj^e.''*  Besides  which  a  heavy  contract  was  yivt'ii  for 
railroad  iion  at  a  most  exorbitant  price.  Labor  progressed 
meanwhile  njion  all  the  works. 

♦Ford's  History. 


cnAi'TEu  xxxvirr. 

]S;1S-1S42— Al)>riNISTlJATI()N    OF    (lOVEKXOll    CAKLIN. 

Continuation  of  the  Siiltjcct  of  Internal  Imin-ovcmi'nt — VoHup.sc  of 
the  Grand  ISystem — Hard  Timen — lieoryanizatioti  of  the  Judiciary 
in  1841. 


While  the  unwichl.v  intcnial  iiii])i()venu'iit  system  of  the  State 
was  ill  full  opeiatidii,  witii  all  its  cxpciisivt'  iiiaciiiiiciy,  amidst 
bank  siispt'iisi(»iis  tiiroiijihoiit  the  I'liitcd  States,  a  j^icat  stiiiiyciiey 
ill  tiie  money  market  everywiiere.  ami  Illinois  bonds  forced  to  sale 
at  a  heavy  diseoiint,  the  ;4eiieral  election  of  IS.'JS  was  appioach- 
iiiji'.  Discreet  men  who  had  (•herished  the  hope  of  a  speedy  siih- 
sideuce  of  the  public  infatuation,  met  with  disai»poiiitmeiit.  A 
.liovernor  and  legislature  wei'e  to  be  elected,  and  these  were  now 
looked  forward  to  for  a  icpcal  <»f  the  ruinous  State  policy.  Hut 
the  firand  scheme  had  not  yet  lost  its  da/./liu,y  iullueiiee  ui»oii  the 
minds  of  the  people.  Time  and  experience  had  not  demonstrated 
its  utter  absurdity.  Hence  the  (piestion  of  airestinj;'  its  career 
of  protli<4ate  expenditures  did  not  become  a  leadiu;;  one  with  the 
dominant  party  duriuy  the  cami)ai<in,  and  most  of  the  old  members 
of  the  legislature  were  returned  at  fiiis  election. 

Of  the  <;uberiiatorial  candidates,  Cyius  ImI  wards  (i)rotlier  of  the 
late  <>()vern(U',)  whij:',  came  out  stronjily  for  the  system;  while 
Thomas  Carliii,  the  democratic  nominee,  well  a]»prised  of  the  public 
infatuation  not  yet  sobered,  failed  to  declare  an  emphatic  o])iuiou 
either  for  or  aj^ainst.  This  was  tiie  lirst  time  timt  the  two  ])olitical 
parties  had  the  tield  to  themselves  in  a  <iiibeniatorial  canii»aijiii, 
unembavrasse<l  by  other  tickets,  in  December  piccediiii:,  the 
Democratic  State  convention  had  nominated  -lames  W.  Stephen- 
son for  {governor,  and  .John  S.  Hacker  for  lieutenant  j:<»vernor.  In 
April  followiiifi',  Hacker  withdrew  from  the  contest,  and  Stephen- 
son, who  was  eharj^ed  witii  \h'\ujj:  a  defaultei'.  also  withdrew, 
a  sacrifice  to  the  demands  of  party  interests.  The  convention  was 
recalled  and  met  June  4tli,  when  Thomas  Carlin  was  nominated 
for  j4()vernor,  and  S.  H.  Amlerson  for  lieutenant  fiovernor.  Carliu 
was  elected,  receiving;'  3i>^ii7'.i  vot«'s  to  Edwards  L".»,(l-!).  Anderson 
received  ;}0,.'{;{r)  votes,  to  W.  H.  Davidson,  the  wliiy  nominee  for 
lieutenant  governor,  2S,7l(>. 

(lov.  Carlin  was  born  in  Kentucky,  near  Frankfort,  July  18th, 
178!).  His  father  was  an  Irishman.  The  education  of  young 
Carlin  was  meagre.  In  early  manhood  he  ai>plied  himself  to 
remedy  this  delicieney,  being  his  own  tutor.  He  was  fond  of 
reading  through  life.  In  18(K)  his  father  removed  to  Missouri, 
then  Si)anish,  where  he  died  in  1810.     In  ISll!  the  subject  ot  our 

441 


442 


IIISTOUY  ()1<"  ILLINOIS. 


skftcli  ciiiiM'  to  Illiiipis  and  ]>arti('i|»at<'(l  in  all  the  "raiij^in^i"  scr- 
\  ice  incident  to  llic  uaiul'  that  |Mri(id,  i>r<»\in;;  liiins<'ll'  a  soldier 
of  iindaiinte(i  luaNcrv.  lie  was  married  to  Keiieea  Miiitt  in  ISM, 
uixl  lived  on  the  l)anU  of  liie  .Mississippi  opposite  tlie  month  of  ihv. 
JMissonri  1  years,  u  lien  he  remo\ed  to  (ireene  count  v.  lie  located 
the  town  site  of  Carrollion,  and  nnide  a  lilteral  donation  of  land 
Ibi' counl.v  hniidin;;  piiiposes  in  ISl!."),  He  was  the  lirst  sherilV  of 
(Ireene  connt.v,  and  afterwai-d  was  twice  elected  a  senator  to  the 
le.i;islalnre.  In  the  lllacU  llawU  war  he  commanded  a  si»_v 
Itatlalion,  a  [Ktst  of  «'onsid<'rai»l«' dan;;er.  In  is;;i  he  was  appoinleil 
b.V  President  Jackson  receiver  of  puWIic  moneys  and  renntved  to 
Qnincy.  After  the'  clos(«  of  his  unUei  iiatorial  term  he  remo\('d 
back  to  his  old  home  at  ('arntlllou.  where  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  as  ho^'ori^  his  elevation  to  ollice,  in  aj;iicultiiral  piiisuits. 
In  184!>  he  served  out  the  niu-xpired  term  of  ,1.  1).  I'vy  in  the 
lower  house  of  tlu'  lej^islature.  lie  died  I'eh.  11,  ISol',  leavinji' 
isurvix  in;;  idm  his  wife  and  seven  chihlren,  out  of  tliirteen  born  to 
them.* 

Clov.  Carlin  was  a  man  of  remaikable  physical  ener^^y  ami 
capacity.  In  stature  he  wasal»o\('  the  medium  height  ;  li^ht  coni- 
jtlexioucd,  a  spare  looking'  face,  hi;nli  forelicad,  Ion;;' nose,  and  thin 
li[)s,  ^iviny  to  his  nK>utli  a  compressed  apj>fc'arance.  lie  was  un- 
yielding if  not  obstinate  in  disposition,  possessed  in  j)rivate  life 
an  nnhlendslu'd  characler,  and  was  a  democrat  of  the  strai^htest 
sect.  While  he  did  not  seek  i)rcfcrinent,  he  <lid  not  nj(rct  ollice. 
iM«'Utally  he  was  not  without  vi^i'or.  His  messa^nes  are  smo(»tldy 
and  rather  well  wiitteii,  l»ut  he  did  not  attempt  public  speakin;;'. 

The  'ientenant  governor  elect,  Amlersoii,  was  a  initive  of 
Tennessee,  lie  proved  an  ellicieiit  oflicer,  ami  attached  to  himself 
many  warm  triends  through  life,  lie  resided  in  .lelferson  county. 
After  the  e.\])iralion  of  his  term  of  oftice.  he  received  tVom  Trest- 
dent  i*olk  the  olli(;e  of  l'nite(l  States  .Marsli.d.  In  jiolitics,  it  is 
iieedles.s  to  mU\,  liti  was  a  di'niocrat. 

Tpon  the  meeting'  of  the  legislature.  IS,')!),  the  retiring'  ^overno)', 
J)uncan,  in  his  message  spoke  in  emphatic  terms  of  the.  im]iolicy 
of  the  internal  imi)rovemeiit  system  l>y  the  State;  ])resa^tMl  theevi.s 
threatened  by  that  measure,  which  experience  liad  already  suflici- 
ently  shown  woidil  have  a  m(tst  del<'terioiis  etfect  upon  tiie  pr<ii)erty 
of  the  State;  and  ur^ed  that  to  correct  the  ndstake,  without  too 
{^reat  a  saerilice  of  i)id)iic  or  prisate  interests,  should  occujty  the 
most  Serious  and  i)atriolic  deliljcration  of  the  legislature.  l>ut  the 
iiH'omitijLi' ^(tvernor,  contrary  to  the  hope  of  many  wise  and  discrete 
men,  while  lu'  strongly  assailed,  in  trni'  iJacksonian  style,  the 
baidcs  and  their  susi)ensions,  which  had  been  le;;alized,  lield  the 
followinj4'  lan^ua^e  on  the  sul>j«'et  of  internal  improvements: 

.  "The  signal  success  which  htis  attenilctl  our  sister  States  in  tlie  con- 
struction of  tliiiir  oxtcnsivc  systiius  of  iniiirovenieuts  can  leave  no  doulit 
of  tlie  wise  policy  aiul  utility  of  such  works.  They  open  new  chiiunels 
of  commerce  and  trade,  furnish  the  farmer  iind  mechanic  the  means  of 
transijortin^'  the  products  of  their  lali'ir  to  market,  develoj)e  the  uiitural 
and  hidden  resources,  of  the  country,  and  stinndate  the  enterprise  and 
industry  of  the  pe()i)le.  *  *  In  the  principles  and  jjolicy  of  this  plan, 
contrasted  with  that  of  joini  stock  companies  and  jjrivate  corporations,  I 
entirely  concur.    Had  1  oci^upied  my  present  situation  at  tlie  estublisli- 


♦From  a  memoir  by  his  diiugliter,  Mrs.  E,  C.  Woodward. 


OABLIN'h  administration.  443 


DUMit  of  till' syHti-iu,  I  would  have  ivcoinnu'iiikd  its  adoption  on  u  Ichh 
I'Xtciisivc scale,  and  tiic  ('onstnictioii  of  llicniost  iniiiortant  woiks  llist. 
rntlcr  tlif  prcsiMil  plan  of  piocccdlM^r,  howi'vcr,  near  two  million  dollars 
have  lifcn  expended,  and  whatever  diversity  of  opinion  nniy  now  exist 
as  to  tlie  exju'ilieney  of  the  system  as  oiiVdnally  projeeled,  all  must 
admit  tluU  llieeliai'ucterund(;redilof  tlie  ."-^tate  forljid  its  abandonment." 

It  was,  tln-iclolt',  to  he  expected  linil  tinise  who  saw  tin'  lolly  of 
the  State  in  tiie  prosecution  ol'  this  system,  and  hail  (dierisln-d  the, 
ln)pe  of  a  (dninjie,  would  he  disappointed.  The  new  lej^islaturc. 
not  only  did  not  repeal  or  nn)diry  the  expensive  project,  Init  made 
I'uriher  specilic  appropriations  and  anllnni/ed  additional  works, 
in\ol\in,u'  an  (»id  lay  (d'  m'ar  a  million  dollars:  m.')(»,(I(IO  for  tiie  im- 
]»r(»venM'nt  (d'  |{o<di  river;  Ml.'jIMtOO  to  im|»r(»ve  the  na\  i.iialion  of 
the  Little  Wahash;  .-"(L'OJHMt  (»n  the  western  nmil  r(Uite; '."iHMMl.OOl) 
lor  a  new  railroad  from  li'nshx  ille  to  I'jie,  on  the  hank  (d'  the  Illinois 
river;  ><l;o,(MIO  to  improxc  'he  na\  i.ualion  of  the  I'lmharias  ri\ cr; 
lj(lJ(l,(HK»  lor  th(^  \V]<i  Minidy;  and  .'!i<l().(Mt(l  for  a  road  from  ('ain)kia 
Crccdv  to  l\askaskia.  Uesides  these  specilic  amounts,  the  improves 
inent    of  the   na\  i,i;atioii   of  the    Illinois   river  was   directed    to  ho 

cxteiuled  to  Ottawa  (whicli  accord  in, u  to  i lern  exia-riem-e  would 

have  taken  nniiiy  uiilliims  more)  and  a  lateral  hr-anch  railroad  tVoui 
some  eli.uihlc  point  on  the  Alton  and  Shell»y\ille  railroad  lictween 
llillshoro  and  Alton  to  run  to  Carlinville.  The  governor  was  aUo 
authori/ed  to  m'j;(diate  a  loan  of  !;<  f,(H)0.(id(l  to  pi'osecute  the  work 
on  thecamil.  The  hiiuls  ami  pithlic  woiksof  tln^  State  were  ex- 
empted fr(»m  taxation.  So  thoroughly  was  the  lenislatnre  still 
iiiilHH'd  with  the  idea ofthe  State  exclusi\ely  owning  all  the  pnhlic; 
works,  that  the  chairnnin  of  the-  Coniinittee  on  Interiuil  linprovc- 
ineid,  .Mr.  Smith,  of  Wahash,  in  reporting'  adveisidy  n]»ou  a  hill 
tor  "an  act  to  im'(Uporate  the  Alhitm  ami  (iiay\ille  Kailroad 
("ompany,"''  at  this  session,  said:  "In  the  o])iiiiou  (d"  the  eoui- 
luitlee,  it  is  inexpedient  lor  the  legislature  to  authorize  corporation* 
or  individuals  to  constrnct  railroads  or  canals  calculated  to  como 
in  comiietilion  with  similar  woiks  now  in  course  of  constructioil 
xiinlcr  tln^  State  system  of  internal  improvements." 

Here  let  us  sto]>  and  sjx'culate  over  the  ])rohahle  future  o\'  our 
State,  had  this  remarkahle  Mr.  Ivlward  Snuth  liscd.  As  chairmau 
of  the  committee  on  internal  improvcmeuts,  hedral'ted  that  j;low- 
iii};'  report  of  the  committee  whicli  so  lired  the  liom)rable  uuMuhers 
U])ou  th(^  stihject  of  developiuji'  the  resources  of  the  State  as  to 
cause  them  to  vie  with  eacdi  other  in  actually  doin,n-  nn)re  tiiaii 
that  not  very  modest  (htcument  asked;  and  who,  apparently, 
possessed  the  um};ni'tie  i»ow»'r  to  hriiii;'  the  memhers  s(]uarely  up 
to  the  su])port  of  these  improvemeut  uu-asures,  like  a  skillful 
ji'cneral  marshalinj;'  his  hosts  for  victory,  lie  seenu'd  t(»  he  horu  to 
ooininuiul  in  this  ])iirticulai'  field  of  eiiteriuise.  rnl'ortuuately, 
before  the  next  session,  Mr.  Smith  died,  when  the  splendid  .system 
collai»sed.  IIa<l  he  renuiined  in  life,  with  the  jteculiar  force  that 
characterized  him  in  ])ushinj,;'  tlii'ouj;li  these  measures,  the  final 
result  of  this  lien'ulean  nndertiikinji'  of  the  State  becomes  u  sub- 
ject of  curiotis  contemplation.  It  must  have  either  bankrii])te(l 
the  State  beyond  all  hope  of  redemption,  or  made  her  treasury  the 
recipient  of  all  the  many  millions  of  annual  earniujis  of  the  \  ast 
net-woi'k  of  nearly  7, (MX)  nules  of  completed  railroads  at  the  present 
time,  wdiich  now  liiul  their  way  into  the  coffers  of  private  corjiora- 


444 


UI8TOUV    OJ"   ILLINOIS. 


tioiis,  ciiiicliiii;;'  tliciii  to  iiii  tili1iiiiit<Ml  iitid  illiciMilrnlliiltlc  rxiriit. 
Willi  siu-li  iiii  ciioi'iiKiiis  iiiciiiiif  l>,v  llic  Stii  «■,  lilt'  Imii'IIii'Ii  of  l:i\ii- 
tioii  Wiiiiltl  l>t>  niliirly  icniovt'd;  wi-  would  hv.  Mialiicd  doiilitlcss 
to  sliipoiii'  produce  to  iiiiirkct  t'oi'  liiilf  of  the  pi'csciit  liitcs,  wliicii 
voiild  ddiiltic  tiu'  value  of  crops  iiiid  laniis,  and  iiicidciitalix  all 
otlicl  real  and  pei'soiial  piopei'l,\  ;  tlie  clieapeiiiii;; ol  tiax el  in  a. 
(■one.vptindiri;;  ratio  uoiild  double  the  ainoiiiil  of  it;  we  would 
visit  our  distant  t'rieiids  ot'leiier,  ciilti\  ate  an  «-\teiisiv(>  social  inler- 
coiiise  l)y  rail — indeed  tlie  whole  eoniitiy  wonld  l»e  iniich  as  a  city 
now  is  with  its  streel  lailroads  ;  promote  harinony  and  ;;(iod  fellow - 
ship  tliroii<>lioiit  the  len;;th  and  breadth  of  the  State — in  a  word, 
ha\('  a  very  niilleninni  in  Illinois! 

We  ha\t'  nolcd  the  fact  that  of  the  ;;o\ crnor  bein;:'  authorized 
at  the  session  of  IS.IS  it  to  ne<;otiate  a  further  loan  of  !j«4,(MtO,(H)0 
for  the  canal.  Money  was  strin^icnt  at  the  time  both  in  lMiro|»o 
and  Ami'rica.  The  liscai  ne^otialions  of  the  fund  conimissittners, 
niaile  in  Mnrope  prior  t(»  this,  were  anylhin;;  but  satisfactory. 
(io\.  Carliii,  therefore,  unwillin;^'  to  pii*  the  new  canal  loan  in  the 
hands  of  these  agents,  and  and li I  ions  doubtless  for  I  lie  juloiy  of  his 
administration,  coiiiiiiissioiicd  ex-(ioveriior  ife.N  iiolds.  the  \cry  last, 
liublic  man  in  the  Stale,  perhaps,  for  a  duty  so  responsilde  and 
di'lieate,  recpiirin;:'  an  extensive  and  accurate  kiiowlod;;!'  of 
domestic  and  foieiiiii  fiscal  atl'airs.  'I'lie  latter  urycd  the  associa- 
tion with  liiniself  of  1{.  M.  Voniij;.  then  a  senator  in  ctui^ress.  to 
which  the  jiovernor  ultimately  acceded.  In  their  over-wceiiiiij;' 
desire  to  raise  money  to  carry  t'orward  the  public  works,  both  the 
fund  commissioners  and  (i(»\.  Carlin's  tinancial  a;.ieiits  made  some, 
very  ill-advised  and  bun^iluiy  loans,  attended  with  heavy  losses  to 
the' State. 

Keynolds  Imrried  immediately  forward  to  New  York,  where  ho 
met  and  obtained  the  ad\ice  and  assistance  i>\'  Mr.  I{awlin.us,  oiui 
of  the  fund  commissioners.  'I'hey  sold  to  Mr.  Delalieid,  ot' N.  V., 
April  L'.),  IS.)!).  ;;o(»  bonds  of  ."!<l,(tOt»  each,  bearing;-  (»  per  ci-nt. 
interest,  jtayable  half. \ early  at  I'hiladelphia  and  New  Yoik — the 
jtrinci[)al  becominj;'  diu'  in  iSdO.  In  this  the  law  was  exceeded, 
liecaiise  it  provided  only  for  annual  niterest.  The  whole  of  the  ,'{(10 
bonds  were  deli\ered.  Mid  iiaynieiit  was  sti|»ulatcd  as  follows: 
$."■•(),()(  10  within  1.")  days  into  the  bank  of  the  New  York  iJankinj;' 
Company,  thence  to  be  drawn  out  on  not  less  than  ten  days  si};ht 
drafts,  in  forty  dilfereiit  installments;  the  next  payment  of  *.")(>,- 
000  was  not  to  be  made  till  the  Jst  of  Au^iiist,  bS.'!!),  in  the  notes 
of  SOUK'  liank  itv  iiankin;:^'  association  of  New  York  <'ity,  of  a 
denomination  not  exceeding'  t^lO;  and  in  like  mannerthe  remainder, 
comineneiiig  Octobt-r  Ist,  in  monthly  installents  of  !itr)0,000  each. 
Here  was  a  sale  <»f  interest-bearin<i'  bonds  made  in  Ai>ril.  the 
bonds  all  immediately  delivered,  ami  yet  they  were  not  tinally  to 
be  paid  for  until  the  follow in}^' .January,  1840. 

A])ril  20,  1<S;5!>,  the  same  geutlemen  contracted  with  Thomas 
Dnnlaj)  (whose  performance  was  guaranteed  by  the  I'liited  States 
bank  of  rennsylvania,)  to  sell  him  10  00  bonds  due  in  ISTOof 
£L*1'.">  each,  annual  interest  ({percent.;  and  both  principal  ami 
interest  jtayable  in  London,  ''at  tlu'  rate  of  4s.  Od.  sterling  to  the 
dollar."'  rayment  tor  the  bonds  sold  was  to  be  made  in  ten  equal 
monthly  installments  of  !!*100,00(»  each,  without  interest,  in  810 
notes.     This  luilliou  dollars    it  was  estimated  by  the  Louse  com- 


CAItLlN'H   AUMINIHTUATION.  445 

iiiittcc  of  tilt'  Illinois  nsscmhly,  ctmld  he  itMlcfiiH'd  with  L.'."t(»,isr» 
sov»'i»'i;;ii.s,  lis.  lM.,  iiislt'iHl  of  L"J'_'">.0(»0,  n-ali/iii};  11  ^iiiiii  of  IS,- 
;{!  (  SON t'lriKiiMf  ^i^'  H*<l.  to  the  piiicliiiscrs,  ('(|Mal  to  a  loss  of 
ijiillilTiO.."!!  to  llu>  Stale  of  Illinois,  'riic  contiact  was,  Ix-sidcs.  a 
^lai'in;;'  dcpaiinic  of  llic  law,  hccanst*  the  coniniissionfis  hmind 
t\w  Htiitr  to  pay  in  Mrilisli  coin  .i"Ji.'.'»,()(»0,  instead  of  >i(|,()(M>.(HMl ; 
and  while  tin'  State  was  pa,\in<^'  interest  on  hei-  Ixnids  she  not  only 
did  witliiint  the  inone\  for  leii  months  Itnt  ;iot  no  inleres*  for  lliat 
time.  The  nnniey  was  to  l>e  piiid  in  idlls  of  the  I'niti  Slates 
Itank,  l>nt  liefore  the  Slate  aetnally  received  it,  it  heeanu'  depre- 
ciated 10  pel-  cent.,  making'  a  hiHs  of  >(|||(),imM)  on  tlu'  ainonnt. 
The  total  loss  of  this  one  transaction  was  neai'  )!(1.'(K),I)00.  The 
law  rc(piin'(l  ready  pa\  nn>nl  in  cash  for  all  bonds  sold. 

These  transactions  wilh  Delalield  and  Dnidap,  ann)nntin<;'  to 
!!<1.'»0<>,(HH>  in  Illinois  bonds,  liecame  in  part  the  ba-sis  for  start- 
in;;'  into  operation  the  New  VoiU  free  bankinj;'  system,  abont  that 
time  authorized,  which  n'(|nired  a  deposit  of  Stato  stocks,  in 
doable  value  of  the  circulation,  |o;;ellier  witli  a  small  i>ercenta,!i<' 
of  specie  in  the  bank  vaults.  Our  tinancieis  ihus  enalde  sevcial 
of  the  "wildcal"  instil utions  to  start  business,  by  furiMshin;;  them 
Illinois  bonds  on  credit,  and  receiving;'  in  payment  the  nnuiey — 
after  pi'oper  exchan;;(^  with  other  banks  d(»ublless — issued  in 
l»uisinin<e  of  the  charters,  Illinois  meanwhile  payinj;'  interest  for 
the  pi'i\  ile;;(>  of  advancinjL;' their  boiideil  capital! 

After  the  nej;'otiations  in  New  York  and  I'hiladeli)hia,  tlio  ^i'ov- 
crnor's  a^i'ents,  «'x-(iov.  K'eynolds,  and  tw(»  (»f  the  iiind  comnds- 
sioners,  (Jen.  IIawlin;>s  an*l  C(d.  Oakley,  in  May.  1S;;!».  repaired  to 
Europe  to  ctlect  fnitlu'r  loans  for  the  State.  ,hid;ic  If.  M.  Yoiin;;-, 
the  other  a^ncnt  of  (Jov.  Cailin,  in  custody  of  the  boiuls,  subse- 
quently Joined  them  in  London.  The  money  nmiket  in  lOui'ope 
Avas  ti^;ht,  but  the  c(Hninissi(»ners,  whom  the  law  retpdred  to  Ixi 
''cxpciienced  and  skilled  in  tinance,"  were  not  to  be  batlled.  *  Iter 
considerable  delay,  Messrs.  Vounj;aml  hN-ynoIds,  on  October  JJOtli, 
IS,'!!),  (lei)osited  with  .lolin  Wrij^iit  <S:  ("o.,  of  London,  1,(MK)  bonds, 
representiiiji  !!*I.<><*t».0(M>,  to  be  a};aiii  reckoned  in  Hritish  coin  of 
i'L'lT)  each,  anthoiizinj;'  them  to  sell  or  nejiotiate  the  bonds  at  a 
rate  of  not  less  than  I'tH  for  the  £1(M>.  If  uunv  than  1)1  per  cent, 
couhl  be  ol)lained  foi-  them,  the  sur]»lus,  iu>t  exce«'diny  4  per  cent, 
was  to  be  retained  by  Wrijiiit  »S:  Co.  as  commissioners;  any  excess 
beyond  !).">  percent,  for  said  bonds,  was  to  be  ctpudly  divi(h'(l  ho- 
tween  the  State  and  the  said  brokers.  On  this  contract  the 
brokers  a ;i reed  to  advance  i'.'{(>,(MM). 

The,  law  under  which  the  linancial  agents  acted,  we  will  reiterate, 
expressly  retpured  ready  ])aym«'iit  in  cash  for  all  bonds  ne<;-otiated, 
and  that  uone  s! ould  he  sold  for  less  than  par.  Althou^^h  the 
biMids  miffht  be  hypothecated,  yet  when  the  a<;eiits  autlunized 
Messrs.  \Vrif>ht  &  (!o.  to  sell  them  at  01  per  cent.,  they  acted 
without  warrant  of  lav'.  The  brok<'rs  sold  about  half  a  ndllion 
dollars  worth  of  the  bonds,  when  they  failed,  with  both  the  pro- 
ceeds of  these  sales  and  the  remainder  of  the  bonds  in  tlieir 
liands.  The  unsold  bonds,  bein^  the  property  of  the  State,  were 
afterward  returned  by  the  receivers,  but  the  money  received  on 
those  sold  was  adjudfjed  as  assets  of  tin*  firm,  in  which  the  State 
was  compelled  to  share  prorata  with  other  creditors,  amounting  to 
a  few  shillings  on  the  i)oninl. 


440 


IHSTOUY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


Tli(^  Ilitn.  E.  r».  Webb,  Worn  tlu;  liotusc  Jiidiciary  t'oiiunittcc,  to 
wlioiii  tlic  iiccoiiiits  i'or  tlic  sales  of  bonds  wen;  rcfcncd,  r('|)ort('(l 
.liiii.  1!{I,  ISIO,  saviiiji:  "Tlic  anxiety  of  the  ai-cnts  to  i)i'(»(iiro 
money  for  t lie  State,  oi'  their  ea^ciiiess  to  siieceed  in  eti'eetinjj 
sales  where  others  had  tailed,  induced  tlieiii  to  enter  into  eonlraets 
injiiiioiis  to  the  lu'st  iiitcrests  of  tlie  State,  derogatory  to  liei'  di;ii'- 
iiity.  and  in  every  way  ealeidated  to  depreeiate  liei  securities." 
IJe  solutions  wcK-  adopted  by  the  house,  disaiiprovini;'  of  tlicso 
transactions,  wiiereby  the  State  was  recjuired  to  r«'ceive  in  ]»ay- 
iiient  local  bank  bills,  as  nnder  the  contracts  with  Dclatield  and 
Dnnlap,  and  tlu'  sales  made  on  credit ;  c(tiideniniii,i:'.  as  in  contra- 
V(  ntion  of  law,  the  hy|»o)li<'catioii  of  bonds  with  .loiiii  Wi'i^ht  »& 
(Jo.,  to  be  sold  at  !M  per  cent.:  declaring  that  the  a.ycnts  had  tran- 
scended the  powers  vested  in  theiii,  and  that  tlii'ir  liOndon  iie,i;()- 
tiation  was  void,  copies  wei'c  to  be  tiaiisinitted  to  .1.  \Vri,iilit.  &  (!o., 
*  'oveiit  (iardeii.  London.  l\\  this  time  it  had  iteconie  jiatent  that 
■,io  more  loans  could  b(^  eifected  at  i>ar,  as  the  law  recinired. 
The  dark  clond  of  infatuation  which  obscured  the  vision  of  the 
jx'ople  beiiaii  also  to  be  dissipate<l.  and  as  glimmers  of  liLjlit  sliono 
throii^ii  they  became  clamorous  a,i;aiiist  t he  larj;e  exteii!  in  which 
the  works    were    feeltly  pi'osecutcd    siinultaneously  at  all  points. 


a  total  I'evohition  with  reiiard  to  the  ;.;rand  system  of  internal  im- 
})ro\emeiit,  !le  now  found  from  coi'i'cct  data,  that  the  State  would 
speedily  imjiose  u])(iii  herself  a  debt  of  not  less  than  .^LM,74(i,444, 
at  an  annual  interest  (»f  iii'l.olO.TTO,  with  a  revenue  of  less  than 
one  sixth  that  amount  — S-'(K>,(»(IO  ;  that  the  then  debt  of  the  State 
exceeded  already  !j  11,(100,000,  which  rested  u])on  a  cu  imuiiity  of 
less  than  half  million  souls,  remote  from  markets,  and  with  little 
com  men  e  to  brill  <4'  in  money.  'J'lie  jiiddy  majiiiitude  of  the  idea 
became  appailiiij;'  to  his  excellency,  ;ind  he  convok«>d  the  legisla- 
ture in  extraordinary  session  for  December  Utli,  J(S;i9. 

Ill  his  messa.yc,  after  alludinji'  to  the  s]»irit  of  speculation  so 
rife  in  hS.'tO.  whereby  not  only  individuals  but  deliberative  bodies 
were  lured  from  the  paths  of  prudence  and  economy  by  this  over- 
weening delusion,  he  says: 

"At  tills  critical  and  most  important  crislH,  a  bill  was  introduced  into 
the  icfiislaturo,  providiiiff  for  u  },a'ueral  f.ysteni  of  internal  improve- 
ments l)y  the  coiistnictiou  of  nearly  1,;U)()  miles  of  railroad,  ami  the 
iinpiovenieiit  of  various  rivers  ;  and  such  was  tiie  zeal  with  wliicii  it 
was  arfjed,  and  so  luimerousaiul  powerful  were  its  friends,  that  it  passed 
tlir()U,!ili  liotli  houses  l)y  large  majorities.  No  fear  seemed  to  be  enter- 
tained by  its  advocates. 'l)ut  tJie  ability  and  resources  of  the  State  would 
prove  eijual  to  tlie  accomplishment  of  sueli  a  herculean  task,  and  'ley 
pointed  with  pride  and  exultation  to  that  high  ran':  in  the  scale  of 
we.dth  to  wliicli  the  measure  would  finally  eleViJe  ua." 

His  excellency,  now  discoveriiif?  imi>endin<;"  ruin  ami  dishoiu)r, 
inxokcc  the  le<;islattire  to  the  exercise  of  wisdom  and  unity  of 
action  in  the  adoi>tiou  of  such  measures  of  reform  as  would  best 
subserve  the  ]uiblie  welfare  and  save  the  Stat(;  I'rom  bankruptcy 
and  defiradation. 

The  lejiislatiire,  whose  ruthless  hand  was  destined  to  destroy 
the  sttipendo'is  system,  was  composed  in  the  main  of  the  same 
members  who  had  ori,i;inally  ])assed  it;  who  had  but  one  short  year 
before  snpi>leineiited  and  eudors«'<l  it  by  the  a<ldition  of  works  in- 
volving a  further  expend iture  of  $1,00U,».>00,  now  by  their  delib- 


OARLIN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


447 


ei'iito  action  to  })\nv,o  tlio  soul  of  coiidcnniiitioii  upon  their  olicr- 
islu'd  oflsitiiiij;-,  was  ecrtiiinly  most  liiiiniliiitiii^',  and  tlicy  licsitatcd 
in  llicir  couisc.  If  tlicy  could  lunc  wiped  tiic  system  out,  leaving 
no  debt  or  memory  of  it  Ix'liind,  it  would  not  Imve  lieen  so  disa- 
gTceable,  but  wlieii  they  reflected  that  their  folly  would  cost  the 
peojtle  $1.")0,(»(»P  for  every  member,  tbe  politicians  Mere  smitten 
with  fear  rej^a rd i n ,n'  the  future  of  tiu'ir  prefennents.  J5ut  thanks, 
tiie  uni)alatabk' task  was  jieiibruied,  l>y  the  two  acts  of  February 
liSK),  it  was  inovided  that  the  board  of  fund  commissioners  and 
<'oiinnissioners  of  pultlic  woiics  be  abolisiied;  oiu^  fund  (com- 
missioner was  provided  to  ])eitorm  the  same  duties  as  before  re- 
(piired  of  the  board,  "excei»t  that  he  shall  not  be  authorized  to 
sell  State  bonds  or  borrow  money  on  behalf  of  the  State.''  lie 
was  to  receixe  an<l  lake  cluirjic  of  the  railroad  iron  ])urchased  in 
Europe  and  i)ay  tlu'  duty  on  it-  receive  back  all  l)onds  from  per- 
sons failing  to  comply  with  their  contra(cts,  and  register  and  burn 
the  same;  to  audit  and  settle  the  accounts  of  the  late  boai'd  of 
fund  '.:oniinissioiiers  and  the  late  l»oar(l  of  ])ublic  works,  and  bring 
suit  against  each  njendx'r  in  arrears  in  liu'  Sanganuui  cinaiit  court, 
for  which  ])ui'pose  Jurisdiction  was  given  it  to  any  county.  Three 
instead  of  se\cn  commissioners  of  jmblic  works  were  mnv  ])rovi- 
ded  who  were  to  settle  and  adjust  all  liabilities  under  the  internal 
im]>rovt'nu'nt  system,  and  give  drafts  for  the  amounts  due  con- 
tractors on  tiie  Fund  (Commissioners,  wliereui»on  such  contracts 
were  to  be,  regarded  as  cancelled.  If  the  drafts  could  not  bo 
wholly  cashed,  the  amount  paid  was  to  be  emlorsed,  and  the  lesi- 
due  to  draw  interest.  All  engineers  and  agents  whose  services 
were  not  indispensible  to  ascei-tain  the  amounts  due  c(»ntractors, 
were  to  be  immediately  discharged.  Tlu;  board  was  to  secure  and 
operate  sucii  roads  or  i)arts  of  roads  as  were  eoit)pleted,  lix  and 


establish  tolls,  and  provide  for  their  collection  and  payment  over 
to  the  fund  connnissioners. 

The  ])rogress  of  the  work  on  the  canal  was  not  arrested ;  but 
of  tlie  reimiimler  of  the  wtn'ks  of  the  grand  syst"in  (with  the 
exception  of  a  ])art  of  the  Northern  Cross  railroad)  sinndtaneous- 
ly  begun  in  various  parts  of  tlu;  State,  nothing  was  ever  done, 
except  in  detached  parcels  on  every  road,  \vliere  excavations  ami 
endtankments  inay  even  yet  be  seen — memorials  of  supreme  legis- 
lative folly.  That  portion  of  the  Xortlu'rn  C)'<>ss  Eailroad  from 
?ieredosia  to  Springfield,  was  afterwards  finished  at  a  cost  to  the 
State  of  $1,0(K),()()() ;  its  income  ])i'oved  insufficient  to  keep  it  iii 
rejiair  anil  it  was  subsequently  sold  for  $100,(l()()  in  State  indebt- 
edness. Of  this  road  some  8  nnles  of  track  was  h-rd  in  1S.'{.S,  Jroiu 
IMcredosia  east,  the  first  rail  being  laid  May  Oth.  The  first 
locomotive  that  ever  turned  a  wheel  in  the  great  valley  of  the 
jVIississippi  was  i)nt  on  the  track  of  this  road  at  Mcredosia,  Nov. 
8th,  18.38.  George  W.  IMant,  afterward  a  prondnent  business 
man  of  St.  Louis,  was  the  engineer.  The  locomotive  ran  over 
the  track  8  miles  and  ba<!k,  carrying  Gov.  DuncrT'  Murray  Mc- 
Connel,  one  of  the  commissioners  of  th(^  ni  ic  works,  Janu^s 
Dunlap  and  Thos.  T.  .Tainiary,  contractor!  '  arles  Collins  and 
Miron  Leslie  of  St.  Louis,  and  the  chief  eng...eer,  Geo.  P.  JMant. 
Twelve  years  before  only,  182(5,  the  first  railroad  in  the  United 
States  was  built,  connectiiig  Albany  and  Schenectady,  in  New 
York.    Her  eager  desire  in  the  race  of  empire  now  gave  to  Illinois 


448  IIISTOKV    OF   ILLINOIS. 


a  clHM'k  for  lii  yciirs  before  aiiollier  railnKul  was  Imilt.  Tliis 
was  tlie  Cliicaiio  and  (laleiia,  tiiiislicd  as  far  as  Elj;iii  in  ISoO. 
Tlien  dawned  ii|m)1i  lln-  State  tlie  ^ieat  railroai]  era  whieli  lias 
since  covered  lier  sMrlace  witli  a  network  of  iiiese  iron  arteiiesof 
coninierce,  alVordinj;  ia]>i(l  and  easy  communication  witii  almost 
every  connty. 

'riiMs.  in  ISIO,  alter  a  sliort  but  eventfni  life  of  loss  tlian  three 
years,  fell  by  the  hands  of  its  creator  the;  nu)st  slnitendons, 
e.\tra\a,iiant  and  almost  ruinous  folly  of  a  j;rand  system  of  inter- 
nal improvements,  that  any  <'i\ilcommunity,  |terha})s,  ever  enjiaj;'- 
ed  in,  lea\inj^  a  debt  of  .*l-t,L'.")7,.!IS.  NNJiiU-  i;i'eat  disai»|)ointment 
pervaded  theiieoplejit  the  failure  of  the  spienclid  scheme,  they  were 
not  sui'priscul  nor  crushed  with  the  news  of  its  repeal.  Indeed, 
their  s(»l»ered  senses  had  for  some  time  tanj;Iit  them  that  to  this 
extremiry  it  must  come  at  last,  and  tliey  I'elt  that  sort  of  reli  '.'  a 
nuin  feels  at  the  loss  of  Iialf  his  fortune! — he  luis  learned  Ins  fate 
and  is  thankful  it  is  no  worse;  possibly  he  leaiiis  a  profitable 
lesson  at  the  same  time,  ^^'llile  they  felt  chajirined,  there  was  no 
one  to  blame  in  f^reat  pait  l>ut  themselves,  for  in  many  cases  their 
re])resentatives  had  but  obeyetl  the  voice  of  the  people,  as  the 
voice  of  (iod.  .Many  names  since  prominent,  honored  and  great, 
are  recoi'ded  in  favor  of  the  oiiyinal  passaj^c  of  the  measure,  as 
may  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  Journal  of  the  assend)ly  of  l.s;57. 

llliin>is  was  not  the  only  8tate  which  end»arl<ed  in  these  wild 
■schemes  of  Stace  undeitakiii,ns.  Indiana,  in  1<S,'{7,  juirsued  the 
same  <'ourf<e.  Iler  bonds  to  upward  $1 1,(M)(),(H>0  were  disposed  of, 
and  sifter  expemliny'  the  proeeeels  iinprovidently,  e>fraAa}iantly, 
and  doubtless  fraudulently,  there  renmined  nothinji'  to  show  for  it 
but  40  miles  of  railroad,  pieces  of  canal,  and  some  untinished 
turnpikes.  Pennsylvania  liad  taken  the  lead  in  like  si^hemes  of 
develoi»iii;;'  the  Slate,  for  which  she  at  one  tiini^  owed  a  debt  of 
$4(»,(M)(I,(I()(>,  part  of  which  was  paid  by  the  sale  of  the  works. 
The  sauH'  held  gciod  with  Ohio;  and  Missiuiri,  more  recently,  for 
the  i)urj)ose  of  buildinj;'  railroads  and  other  works  of  internal 
iin]»rovement,  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  found  herself 
loaded  Avith  a  debt  exeeedinij  a  score  of  millions  of  dollars. 


'!-> 


Hard  Times. — With  the  eolla])se  of  the  great  internal  ini])rove- 
ment  system,  the  suspension  of  banks  and  a  de[»reeiated  currency, 
hard  times  obtaine(l.  The  total  debt  of  the  State  was  as 
follows : 

For  bank  stock,             .....  $.5,614,190  94 

On  account  of  internal  improvements,            -            -  5, 014, 19(5  94 

Canal  debt,            ......  4,338,907  71 

State  house,           ......  110,(KK»  00 

School,  college  and  seminary  fund  (borrowed)            -  808,0H.'i  00 

Due  State  bank  for  auditor's  warrants,             -              -  294,190  (MJ 

Auuualintereat  upon  this  amount  ($13,836,377,65)      -  830,188  77 

Total,  $14,606,502  42 

To  meet  this  debt,  outside  of  taxation,  the  State  owned  42,000 
acres  of  land,  bouj-ht  under  refpiirenients  of  the  internal  improve- 
ment law  ;  li.'JO,4(»7  acn's  of  eanal  donation  remained  undisposed  of, 
besides  3,491  town  lots  in  Ottawa,  Chicago,  and  other  places 
along  the  line  of  the  canal ;  tho  State  obtained  shortly  alter  by 
the  distribution  act  of  congTess  of  1841,  210,000  acres  of  land 


caultn's  administration.  449 

Dion*  IVoin  tli;it  soui'cc.  Tlicsc,  loncllicr  ''ili  tli<^  ill-udvised 
KiiroiM'iiii  piircliiisc  of  I'iiilioiid  iron,  "::-  rlic  Viirioiis  jticccs  of 
uiiliiiislicd  riiilroiids  in  dilVt'iciit  piii'ls  of  the  Sliitc,  idiiiosf  worth- 
less, constituted  tilt'  rcsoniccs  of  liic  StJtto  to  discliiirj^tr  ii  debt, 
whicii,  ("oiisidcrinj;'  onr  popnhition  (4SS.!»i,'!»  in  ISKt),  sis  oiicsixth 
of  wiiiit  it  is  now,  our  wcallli,  (."if'^S,?."*!', KJS  in  ISKI),  as  one ci.iilitli 
of  wiiiif  it  is  now,  and  liii'  valnV  of  money  tiien  and  now  at  si 
dilferenee  of  KM)  per  cent,  w  ImcIi,  owin;i  to  the  iar;;e  yields  from 
the  C'aUfornia,  Australia,  and  other  nones  since,  is  an  estimate 
perhaps  not  out  of  the  way,  was  etpnil  to  a  debt  upon  the  Slate 
at  the  present  of  at  least  .'il<  1. ■)(»,(»( M»  (»()(».  This  was  indeed  a  heavy 
l»unlen.  The  annual  icxt'iiues — 8117,SL»1,  iii  1S4() — were;  no  more 
than  w'oidd  nu'et  the  ordinary  e.\pens(^  of  the  Slat(>  ,i;overnment, 
leaxin;;'  a,  delicil  annually  to  the  amount  of  llu;  interest  (m  the 
debt  — •'j5S;;(»,!Sl',  —  to  further  yearly  an;:nient  the  deltt.  The 
State  had  sold  and  hypotlieeate<l  its  itonds  initil  its  credit  was 
well  ni^h  exhausted;  the  people  were  both  unable  and  unwillinj;' 
to  ]tay  iMjxher  taxes,  and  they  were  besides  larji'cly  indebted  t<»  the 
merchants;  the  nu'rchantslo  the  l>aidis,  or  for  yoods  ])urchased 
abroad;  while  the  l>anks,  on  accouuf  of  siispendinji'  sj)ecie  pay- 
iiuMit,  owed  every  body  who  carrie<l  one  of  their  laji's  in  his  pocket. 
None  could  i»ay  in  par  funds,  for  they  were  not  to  be  Imd. 

In  this  (Muidition  of  the  iState,  it  retpiired  jireat  iiiianiniity 
of  atrtion  and  harmony  in  ciounsel  to  carry  it  safely  ov(M'  the 
tinancial  crisis.  This  did  not  wholly  obtain.  The  character  ami 
ji'einous  of  tiie  jx'ople  weie  very  inconj;ruous.  Wide  difi'crences, 
social  and  jiolitical,  of  the  two  ;:reat  ;iOojirai»hical  sections 
of  the  .State,  have  jirevailed  even  down  to  this  day.  Thedisjiarity 
in  wealth  between  llu^  north  and  south,  the  rajad  settlement  of 
the  former  after  the  (;lose  of  the  HlacU  Ibiwk  war,  wei(»  not  with 
',iithont  Jealousy,  of  which  [uiblic  men  ])artook  and  carried  into 
th(^  counsels  of  the  State,  'J'his  mutual  misunderstandinjjf  of 
character  and  ]>urposes  was  a  stumbling  block  in  the  way  of 
lunted  and  liarmonious  action  in  the  adoption  of  the  wisest  meas- 
ures for  ])ubli(!  relief.  The  canal,  as  it  afterward  proved,  afforded 
the  best  and  only  avenue  leadinj;  <)Ut  of  the  timmcial  embarra.s- 
nu'iits,  and  toward  restorinj:^  tlie  credit  of  the  State.  It  .stood 
iudepeiuh'nt,  to  a,  certain  extent,  of  tlie  otlier  wtuks  of  internal 
improvement,  upon  a  lauded  capital  of  its  own,  the  {jitt  of  the 
iiati(Mi,  and  when  «^he  latter  ,vere  abamloned,  the  work  n[»on  it 
was  still  nu)re  or  less  prosecuted.  l»ut  tlu^-anal,  from  tlui  want 
of  unity  in  the  sentinuMits  of  the  people,  iu)w  became  the  .sub- 
ject of  bitter  attack,  for  no  other  reason  that  it  was  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  State. 

Besides,  there  did  not  obtain  with  the  people  a  clear  conception 
of  State  ])olicy.  Men  were  elected  to  tlie  legislature  with  refer- 
en(!e  to  their  national  iiolities,  f>reatly  iiitensilied  by  the  excit- 
iujj  contest  of  1840,  and  not  with  re<jard  to  the  affairs,  of  the 
Stat*',  then  of  deept^st  concern  to  the  w«'lfare  of  the  peojilv. 
Politicians  were  better  acquainted  with  the  devious  ways  of 
olttainin;i;  ofrhre  than  (pialitied  to  dischar};e  its  duties  in  accord- 
ance^ with  enlar^jfcd  lu-iiu-iples  of  statesmanship.  This  is  too  much 
the  case  at  the])resent  time;  jieople  in  the  i'lection  of  olhccrs  are 
a(;luated  by  a  desire  to  <'(Uifer  favor  ujion  the  man,  rather  than 
choosing  a  ?ervant  who  is  to  perform  a  service  for  them  and  tiie 
21) 


450 


IIISI'OIM'    OF    ILLINOIS. 


piibli(!  at  liii'j^c  with  wisdom  iiii<l  inipiiitiality.  It  was  liicicloro 
(litliciilt  to  make  tiic  <|ii4's|ioiis  of  iiicscnt  niihai  rassinciit  ainl 
I'atiirc  Siiiic  |tros|»('rily  iiaraiiioiiiil,  in  a  liroail  view,  to  all  otiicr 
coii^idt'ialioiis. 

I)V  \aiioiis  expedients,  laeaiis  were  provided  to  meet  t  lie  a<'eiii- 
iii;;  iiiteiesi  ol"  LSI  I,  on  (Miiiil  loans  in  New  York  and  liondon.  Init 
not  s(t  with  re;;ard  Iti  the  inleiVsl  on  tile  Stale  deWl  tieneially. 
The  t'nnd  eommissioner.  in  his  lepoit,  stated  the  dii'lienlly  oT 
moelini;  that  which  woidd  tall  dne  daniiaiv  1st,  is  II  ;  the  le^isia- 
tnie,  eleeled  in  Aiijinsi  pw\  ions,  was  convoked  some  weeks  eaiiicr 
tiian  the  time  of  the  re^idar  session,  for  the  express  ]Mirpose  of 
dexisin^'  means  to  this  end.  This  was  the  session  by  the  .sine  tlie 
adjoni'nment  of  winch  it  was  attempted  to  cnisli  the  State  hanks, 
or  compei  tliem  to  resnme  s|»ecie  payments — a  tliinj;  impossihh; 
for  them  to  do.  .Mnch  eoiillict  of  ojtinion  oUtaiiicd  annui^  mem- 
bers and  tbund  expression  in  a  llood  (»f  resolutions,  as  usual  at  (he 
outset  of  ;i  session.  The  (piest  ions  of  ditVci'ence  were  as  lo  not 
jiayin.i;'  interest  at  all,  or  w  ilhiioldini;'  it  only  on  bonds  for  which, 
by  the  mismana^incnl  of  the  linaneial  aucnls,  tin-  State  had  either 
receivtMl  less  than  par,  or,  as  in  some  cases,  nothiiiji'.  To  tluj 
(•rc(lit  of  the  State  it  is  to  be  recordetl,  that  no  itlea  of  icpmlia- 
tion  obtained  amoiij;-  a  lar.uc  majoiily  of  the  members,  (hi  tlni 
contrary,  the  desperate  remedy  was  pro!)osed  of  issuiii;;'  more 
bonds  ami  hypothecating'  them  for  what  they  would  fetch  ill 
market.  Tin' course  pursued  by  the  tinancial  agents  of  the  State 
ill  disposing  of  bonds  contrary  to  law.  at  less  than  par  \alue  iiii 
credit,  was  severely  animadverted,  and  that  the  Stale  should  pay 
interest  only  on  what  money  she  iiad  actuallx  received  on  her 
bonds  was  slreiiu(»usly  insisted  upon.  The  opiionents  «if  this  view 
conti'nded  that  ixuids  were  articles  of  commerce,  against  which  m> 
e(piities  could  arise  winle  in  the  hands  of  inmtceiit  purchasers; 
that  the  Slate  must  l»e  held  rcspitiisible  for  tli<'  comluct  of  its 
a^^ents;  that  the  legislature  in  the  selection  of  the  fund  commis- 
sioners, and  the  <i'ov«'rm)r  in  the  appointment  of  Messrs.  Voiiii^' 
ami  Ikcyiiolds,  had  fully  committed  the  credit  of  the  State  to  their 
hands,  and  if  they  blnnd'-red,  the  State  wab  bound  nevcrtheh'ss 
by  their  acts — she  shoidd  have  chosen  aj^'ents  more  ''skilled  ill 
limiuee."  In  this  (Mudlict  of  views,  Ic^iislation  was  well  iiij;h  de- 
leated  alto;;et her.  Alfred  W.  ('a\arly,  of  (Ireeii,  now  discovered 
the  liai»i»y  expetlient  by  which  to  extricate  the  le;iisiature  fr«uu  il.s 
dilemiia.  lie  prepared  a  bill  of  two  sections,  which  became  a  law 
J)ec.  KJth,  ISKI,  empowcrin;^'  the  fund  commissiom'r  to  hypotluv 
cat»^  ii<»t  exc<'edin<;-  iJ«.">(M»,(HIO  of  (he  Slate  internal  improvement 
bonds,  to  raise  a  sulllcieiit  suuief  money  to  pay  theiiderest  which 
would  IcH'ilhf  fall  <lue  on  the  internal  improvemeid  debt  in 
.January  IStl  ;  the  Ixnids  were  to  be  redeemed  any  time  belbre 
lSt.'»,  and  not  to  draw  interest  unless  forfeited.  Thus  was  (he 
(piestion  of  contention  taken  out  of  tin'  halls  of  legislation,  and 
tlu'  decision  of  the  IcijaliUj  (»f  the  loans  imp(»sed  njton  the  commis- 
si(uiers — not  an  nid're(|ueid  expedient  of  deliberative  bodies.  The 
le};islatnre  further  autliorizeil  (he  issuance  of  S(ate  interest  bonds, 
to  be  sold  in  nnirket  for  what  (liey  would  brinj;:,  the  proceed.s  to 
be  ap|>lied  t(»  the  payment  of  interesf  and  the  r<'(lemp(ion  of  hypo- 
the(;a(ed  bonds — a  nios(  ex«'crable  measure.  ]>yano(hei  act.  I'd). 
27tli,    1S41,  an  additional  tax  of  10  cents  on  tlie  *1(H)  worth  of 


OAllLTN'S  APMINTSTUATION. 


451 


]»i'o|K'i'ty  was  iiiiiM)S('<l,  to  be,  set  apait  «'X('lii.sivt'Iy  as  an  ''interest 
I'nnd,''  plcfl^cd  to  pay  the  interest  on  fliese  Itonds;  and  tiie  niini- 
niuin  assessment  of  all  lands  was  to  he  >«■'>  per  aeie.  The  fund 
eoiiiinissioner,  Mr.  IJarrett,  hy  liyp(ttlieeiitini;'  iiilernal  inipr'ove- 
iiient  ImhiiIs,  paid  oil'  tliedaiinary  inlerest,  tStI;  hut  h,\  the  linio 
tile  .Inly  intei'cst  was  to  he  raised,  Illinois  stoeks  had  depiceiated 
ill  niarliet  so  that  Mr.  d.  1).  W'liitesides,  the  new  t'liiid  eoiniiiis- 
sioiier.  liypotliecated  witli  .Maeallisler  and  Sleidiiiis,  of  New  \dili, 
.sS(H.(l(M»  in  inteiest  bonds  for  >!.{L'l. «»(!(►,  as  was  promised  liini,  but 
of  which  amoiinl  only  >(-<»I.l<>h  was  e\-er  by  them  pjiid.  'I'hiswas 
the  oiiuiii  of  the  notorious '-.Maeallisler  and  Slelibins  iioiids."'  of 
wliicli  more  iiereafler.  Another  law,  showiiiiL;'  the  cNtreiiiity  to 
which  this  le;;isl;ition  went,  was  that  of  l''el»,  L'Ttli,  JSH.  rcmila- 
tiii^i'  the  sale  of  property  under  execution.  This  serves  to  illus- 
trate both  the  liiirti  tiiiint  and  the  incoiisiderale  and  unjust 
leiiisiatioii  to  alford  iclief  to  t!ie,  debtor  class  at  the  expense  of 
the  creditor.  It  piMivided  that  property  levied  upon  slioiild  be. 
xalni'd  as  in  '•ordinary  times,"  to  lie  made  ity  three  hoiiseholdei'S 
siimnioned  by  tiie  ollieers,  id'  whom  the  creditor,  debtor,  and 
ofiieer  should  e;icli  choose  one — placiliu'  it  in  the  power  of  tliO 
ol'lirer  lo  ia\ or  eillier  p;iily  at  his  option  ;  the  i>roperty  was  not  to 
sell  unless  it  bioiiL^ht  t  wo  I  liirds  of  i  heir  \;iiiial  ion  ;  no  way  was 
provided  by  which  ihe  cicililor.  if  two  thirds  of  the  valuation  was 
not  bid,  could  hold  his  lien — forcin,!;'  him  to  stay  collection  or  siilfer 
a  discount  of  .'!.'!.',  percent.  The  la  w  was  made  appliciiblc  to  all 
Jiidiziiieiits  rendered  and  coniiaets  aecrniiiii-  jirior  to  tin'  1st  of 
May,  without  reference  to  the  lejial  oiiliiintions  of  the  time  when 
coiitraets  were  i'litered  into — bein^  in  violiitioii  of  that  clauses  of 
til"  constitution  of  the  I'liitefl  Stiiirs,  declaring  tliiit  '-no  liiw  shall 
III'  passed  impar.'i,':  til'' oblii;al ions  ot'  contracts.''  In  the  case  of 
Met'iackeii  \  s.  I'nvard.  the  supreme  court  of  the  United  States 
Mil'scfjiiently  Ik'Ii  the  law  to  ite  iiiicoiist  it  111  ioiial.*  The  law  in  tlio 
iiieiinlime  had  been  instrii  menial.  Ity  \  aiiousarian.ncments  between 
j»iirties,  in  extin-iuishiiij;-  many  debts.  lint  this  species  of  lej^^ishi- 
tion  seldom  elfecis  the  iteiielits  intended.  It  is  apt  to  lie  liarrass- 
iiii,' and  vexations  to  i)otii  (lel»ti>r  and  creditor,  while  (-xperience 
teaches  it  to  be  distriictiv c  of  all  conlideiice  hetv/eeii  men  in  busi- 
ness, i'e(|uirin^'  prompt  compliam-c  with  cdiilracts ;  and  it  tends 
fiirlher  to  alfeet  iniinieally  the  trade  and  eomnieree  of  the  Slate. 
'I  liese  views  were  enlar.ii'ed  upon  in  a  solemn  proiest  ajiainst  its 
p;issa.;;e,  si;;iied  by  such  names  as  .loliii  ,1.  Hardin,  J).  .M.  Wood- 
son, Lyman  Trumliiill,  and  many  others.! 

After  .Inly.  ISll,  no  fnrllier  elfoit  was  made  to  Jiax  interest  oil 
tlic  dehl  of  the  Slate.  Ib-r  bonds  declined  ra]ii<IIy  in  market  to 
1 1  cents  on  the  dollar.  In  a  few  months,  l-'eb.  1.S42,  from  pi'ox- 
iiiiiile  causes  alread.N  staled,  the  Stale  biiiik.  with  a  circulation 
excecdinii  A;i.tMI(»,0(l(>,  linally  went  down  ;  in.luiiethe  Illinois  bank 
ill  Sliawneelown,  with  a,  circulation  exceedin;;'  .'?l.."»(>(».(l(M(.  also 
broke,  thus  reiiderin;.;  worthless  about  the  only  money  there  had 
lieeii  for  sometime  in  the  country,  and  added  materially  to  the 
liiessiire.  of  the  times.  The  banks  had  mami.yed  to  keep  up  tin- 
\;iliie  of  their  circulation  far  above  lli<'  bonds  of  the  Slate,  but  to 
coiieiliiite  an   mifiieiidlv  lenislatiire  l»v  advances  on  auditor's  war- 


•S(!c;M,  IIowiird.iKW. 
+Sfc  House  .loiiriml,  1841, 


452  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


rants,  foitlit'  State  liousc  tlicii  laiildiiiy',  and  to  cairv  I'orward  tlio 
public  woiks,  ail  iiiiwananted  t-xpansioii  .snapped  tlu'ii  ilireads  of 
life,  spreadiiifi' disastt'i' roiiiul  about,  tlieiu.  Tlin  condition  of  tills 
fair  State,  with  her  eahimities  lliiis  anyincnted,  was  tinly  distress- 
u\<X.  Ainoad,  iier  name  was  IVeely  associated  witii  disiionor;  em- 
igrants, drcadinj;'  hij;ii  taxation,  <4a\'c  it  a  wide  bertii,  uidess  it 
were  those  wlio.  liavin^'  no  charactei"  of  tiieir  own,  cart'd  little 
for  that  of  the  State  of  tlieii'  adoption;  while  the  i»eopl(!  here 
Avitli  rare  e.\<'e|t|i()iis  were,  anxious  to  sell  out  and  lice  a  country 
which  i)resenled  no  alternative  but  disholuu' (tr  t'xhorbitant  taxa- 
tion. The  dianees  to  sell  were,  however,  in  inverse  ratio  to  tiui 
desii'e.  and  while  impending;'  linancial  ruin,  distirace,  and  the  fear 
of  taxation  kept  the  Slate  from  ^aininj;'  population  as  rapidly  as 
had  been  her  wont,  the  impracticability  of  elfet'tin;^'  sales  saved  her 
against  loss.  In  the  meaMtime,  an  utter  deai'th  and  stagnation  in 
all  Ivinds  of  business  prevailed.  Tli</  notes  of  the  banks  were 
receivable  in  payment  of  taxes  for  which  purpose  they  had  been 
to  a  small  extent  hoarded  by  the  people ;  but  now  the  ;i(>vernor, 
auditor  and  treasurer,  forbade  their  leceijjt  by  the  collectors  of 
the  State  revenue,  except  at  s|»ecie  rates — 50  cents  on  the  dollar. 
This  stej)  was  unwarranted  l)y  tins  law,  and  condennu'd  by  the 
press  and  jK'oiile  in  pid)lic  meetin<.;s,  irrespective  of  jiarty  until 
such  a  breeze  was  raised  about  the  ears  of  the  "olUcers  of  State" 
that  they  were  fain  to  retract  their  pn^tentious  proclamation,  ami 
takiu};-  the  other  extreme,  susi)ended  the  collection  of  the  taxes 
till  the  nu'etiniidf  the  lr<;islature. 

At  this  crisis  in  the  fair  fame  of  our  State,  there  were  not  want- 
inj;'  men,  in  ])osition  to  aid  in  moulding-  iniblie  opinion,  who 
favored  repudiation,  both  by  the  plan  of  omission  an(l  by  directly 
declarin;;'  this  jturpose,  and  "setting  the  moral  sense  of  mankind 
at  deiiance."    Gov.  Ford  says : 

"It  is  my  solemn  belief  that  when  I  came  into  office,  I  had  the  power 
to  make  Illinois  a  repudiating  State.  It  is  true  I  was  not  the  leader  of 
any  party  ;  but  my  position  as  governor  would  have  ;j'iveu  me  leader- 
sliip  enougli  to  liave  carried  the  democratic  party,  except  in  a  few  coun- 
ties in  tlie  uortli,  in  fiwor  of  repudiation.  If  I  had  merely  stood  still 
and  done  notliing,  the  result  would  have  been  the  same.  In  tliat  case  a 
majority  of  both  parties  would  liave  led  to  either  active  or  passive  repu- 
diation. The  politicians  on  neither  side,  without  a  bold  lead  to  the 
contrary,  by  some  higli  in  otiice,  would  never  have  dared  to  rislt  their 

Eopularity  by  being  the  fii-st  to  advocate  an  increase  of  taxes  to  be  paid 
y  a  tax-liating  people." 

Again  he  says : 

"The  people  of  Bond  county,  as  soon  as  the  internal  improve- 
ment system  passed,  had  declared  in  a  public  meeting  that  tlie 
system  must  lead  to  taxation  and  utter  ruin  ;  that  tlie  people  were  not 
bound  to  pay  any  of  the  debt  to  be  contracted  for  it ;  and  that  Bond 
county  would  never  assist  in  paying  a  cent  of  it.  Accordingly,  tiiey  re- 
fused to  pay  taxes  for  several  years.  Wlien  the  system  went  down,  and 
had  left  the  State  in  the  ruinous  condition  predicted  by  the  Bond  county 
meeting,  many  people  remembered  that  there  might  be  a  question 
raised  as  to  tlie  obligation  of  payment.  Public  men  everywhere,  of  all 
parties,  stood  in  awe  of  this  question  ;  there  was  a  kind  of  general  silence 
as  to  wlia„  would  be  popular  or  unpopular.  The  two  great  political 
parties  wfre  watching  each  other  witli  eagle  eyes,  to  see  that  no  one 
should  gft  the  advantage  of  the  other.  The  whigs,  driven  to  despe- 
ration by  repeated  ill-succcKs  in  elections,  were  many  of  them  in  favor  of 
repudiating,  as  a  means  of  bettering  their  party.    Tlie  Sangamon  Journal 


carlin's  admtntstuation.  453 


aii<l  tlie  Alton  T<:l'<irimfi,  the  two  leatliii^'  wliij,'  nowspjipers  of  tlio  State, 
liolilly  took  uroiiiHl  that  tilt' (l('t)t  iu'Vt>r  could  and  never  would  l)e  paid, 
and  Unit  there  waw  no  use  to  say  anylhinn"  ahout  it.*  Very  nnmy  deiuo- 
enils  were  in  luvorof  the  same  eitiirse,  lor  fear  of  losing  the  power  the 
demoei'atif  party  ahiady  possessed. 

It  was  thought  to  lie  11  very  daiiL^erous  suhjeet  to  meddle  with.  At  a 
denioeralie  convention  winch  nominated  Mr.  Snyder  for  y;overnor,  u 
resolution  against  rei)udiation  oflered  hy  Mr.  Arnold  of  Chicago,  was 
laid  on  the  tal)le  by  an  overwhelming  vote  of  the  convention,  so  as  not 
toconiniit  the  party  one  way  or  the  other.  It  was  evident  that  this  was 
to  Ik.'  a  trouhle;>ome  (|uestion,  and  a  great  many  of  the  politicians  on 
hot h  sides  were  as  ready  to  take  om'  side  of  it  as  the  other,  and  their 
choice  depended  u|K)n  which  might  finally  a|)pear  to  he  most  jiowerful 
'J'he  whigs  wei'e  afraid,  if  they  advocated  the  deht-paying  polAL'y,  tlie 
democrats  would  t;ii<i'  the  other  side,  and  leave  the  whigs  no  chance  of 
evi'i'  coming  into  a  imijority;  and  the  democrats  fcan-d  lliat  if  tlwy 
adv(»caled  a  correct  p(>licy,  the  other  side  might  he  nn)rc  i)oi)ular,  and 
might  Ite  taken  hy  the  whigs.  I  speak  only  of  tlu' leatk-rs  of  parties, 
amongst  whom  on  all  sides  there  was  a  strong  HUS])icion  that  repudiation 
uiiglit  be  morei>opular  than  luxation." 

KEORaANIZATION  OF  THE  JUDICIARY. 

Pariimn  MaJice  <tn<J  KeroJutioiuinj  Conduct. — liy  net  of  Feb,  10, 
lS41,tlie  '  •gisl;iliiie  i('[>e;ile(I  oiil  ofollice  tlie  tlieti  0  ciiciiit  jiidj^es, 
incrciisiMi  tlie  niiinher  <»i'  s(ii>reim'  jini;;('s  t'loin  4  to  !t,  ami,  iii 
juldition  to  tlieir  duties  as  a  sii[>ieine  couitaiultiieiitiim'tionsastlie 
f'oiiiicil  of  revision,  ini])o.se(l  iijion  tluMu  all  tlie  eiiciiit  eoiiit  Ini.^i- 
jiess  ill  I  he  Htate.  Since  IS.!.")  ilie  supreme  jiid^cs,  iclieved  of 
rirciiit  iliity,  had  iiefed  s(tlel\  ii.s  a  court  of  nppenis,  errois  and 
revision.  'J^lie  jiresent  (•lnni,i,'e  was  a  bitter  i)ai'tisaii  ineastire,  in 
tlie  hnigiia^^e  of  Gov.  Fold,  ''confessedly  \  ioleiit  and  soniewliat 
revolutjonary." 

I'liree  of  the,  four  su])reiiie  Jiid;j;es  weie  of  the  wbitj'  jtarty — the 
iiiiiiority  party  of  the  .State — while  .Iud<;<>  8milii  was  a  democrat. 
<iov.  I'ortl  says:  ''It  is  due  to  truth  here  to  say.  that  \\'ils,>n  ami 
Lock  wood  were  in  every  res|>eet  amiable  and  accomplished  ;ieiitle- 
Jiien  ill  jirivate  life,  ami  coniniaiided  the  esteem  and  I'e.speet  <d"  all 
i^ood  men  for  the  i»urity  of  their  conduct  and  their  lU'obity  in 
olf'cial  station.  Wilson  was  a  Vir;>iiiiaii  of  tiie  old  .sort,  a  man 
of  good  education,  sound  Jiidgineiit,  and  an  elegant  writer,  as  his 
imblished  ojiiiiions  will  show.  Lockwood  was  a  New  Yorker.  lie 
was  an  excellent  lawy<'r,  a  man  of  soiijid  jiidgmeiit.  and  his  face 
iiidicat<'<l  uiiconinioii  ]>ii)ity,  modesty,  and  intelligence,  together 
with  energy  and  stronjj;  determinatioii.  Ilis  face  was  the  true 
index  of  his  character.  IJrowii  was  a  line,  large,  attable,  and  good 
htokiiig-  mail,  had  a  tolerable,  share  of  ta«!t  and  good  si'iise,  a  eoiii- 
Itliiiieiitary,  smiling  and  laughing  a<l(lress  to  all  men,  and  had 
lieeu  elected  and  eontiiiued  in  olliee  upon  the  ground  that  he  was 
believed  to  be  a  (;Iever  fellow." 

Tlie  State,  iu  the  ext'iling  i>arty  struggle  of  1840,  had  gone  for 
Van  JJiiren  and  both  Innises  of  the  legislature  were  largely  demo- 
eratie.     I'lie  sui>reme  eourt  had   two  years  before  otteiided   the 


•AlttT  the  t)i  Iiiiciition  of  Cov.  FdicIm  history,  in  ln:il.  iiinro  tliiiri  thrro  y<>nrH  iiftor 
lii<  il-'iith,  liotli  tlic  Alton  Telr' ini i)h  awil  lUimiix  Sliilf  .Jnurnnl,  I'uriiicrl.v  tlie  SinujnmDii 
■  iiiiiruni,  ilctiiiMl  l\!iviii!.'-  fiivdic'il  icpudiiitioii.  citticr  fliriH'tly  <ir  in  liivctly  ;  tliiit  tlicy 
iiiiilKniily  opiKwKl  it  with  zpiil.  iiii'l  iilwiiys  iidvociitcMl  tlic  llci'iildiitiDii  ol'thi'  ciitin^  pub- 
lic ilobt  at  us  emly  i»  (lay  us  the  means  ol:  the  State  would  justify.— See  Illinois  State 
Journal,  March  7, 1855. 


454  HTSTOnY  OF  IIJJNOIS. 


sense  ol"  siipreiiiiify  ol'  I  lie  tloiiiiiijiil  piiily,  in  deeidiiii;  a  ease  of 
Sippoiiiliiiciit  l(»  olliee  l»v  llie  ,i;ii\  eriioi'.  I'ciMliiiL;  lielore  liiesaiiio 
trilMiiial  lliere  was  slill  aiinl  liercasc  tVaii;;lil  Willi  polilical  eniisc- 
(pieiiees  lar  yiiiver,  wliicli  it  was  llieiiee  surmised  would  also  Ixf 
decided  against  tile  |»ait.\  in  power.  When  men  ar«'  tlienisrlxcs 
aetiialed  1  \  party  t'eeliiiys  and  piejiidifcs  in  e\i'r\  tliiiii;-,  lliev  art; 
apt  totliink  others  are  similarlv  iiilluenced,  no  matti-r  what  their 
'ixtsition  oi'  how  exalted  in  piiblic  lite. 

Alexander  I*.  I''ield  was  and  had  heeii  seeretai'V  of  8ta(e,  siiieci 
Lis  a|)pointnietit  by  (iov.  iOdwards.  ha\  in;;  si'rved  throii;;h  both 
the  adniiinstiations  of  (iovs.  ikcyiiolds  and  Diineaii.  In  polities  he 
"was  a|>\hi;n.  thoii;.;h  ori;::inally,  like  Duneaii,  he  had  been  a  vioh'Ul 
flacUsoii  man.  NVheii  (i(»\-.  Cail'ii  came  into  olliee  in  1S;!S.  he 
claimed  the  power  of  appoint  in;;  a  m-w  secretary  of  State  willioiit 
a  vacancy  exist iiii;  in  that  <»nice.  Thi'  claim  was  based  upon  the 
idea  that  a  secretary  of  State  iimh'i' our  liist  eoiistitntioii,  like  <i 
ealiiiiet  ol'licer  in  the  national  ;;overiimeid,  was  a  contldt'utial 
adviser  of  the  ;;()vernoi',  and  Ibr  purposes  of  harmony  in  sucli 
relation,  should  be  (»f  the  same  political  paity  with  his  exeelleney. 
The  governor  nominat<'d  •lohii  A.  .Mc( 'Icriiand,  then  of  (tallalin, 
to  tli(r  senate  for  that  olliee.  Hut  tlu'  senate,  altlmu^jii  deiuocrai  ie, 
l)y  a  vote  of  L'L'  to  bs  passed  a  resolution,  "-That  the  exicutivt^ 
<loes  not  i)ossess  the  i»ower  to  nominate  to  Ihesenalea  secretary  of 
State,  except  in  case  of  vacancy  in  that  office,  and  that,  inasmncli 
as  the  senati'  has  not  been  advised  of  any  vacancy  in  that  olliee, 
the  nomination  of  .lohn  A.Mc(Mernand  be  not  advi.sed  and  consented 
to  by  the  senate."  They  were  further  of  o}»iiiiou  that  the 
tenure  of  oflice  nn^ht  be  limited  by  the  lc^isla.tnre;  which  had  not 
be<'n  done,  however.  Dining'  the  session,  tiie  governor  sent  te 
the  senate  several  other  names  lor  that  olliee,  but  all  wero 
rejected. 

Afte  '  ;1k'  adjoiiiiiment,  lie  again  a])i)ointe(l  ^b-Clernaiid  secre- 
tary ol  State,  w  ho  thereui»(»ii  demamh'd  possession  of  tlu'  oflice 
from  the  wliig  incumbent,  Mr.  Field,  Imt  was  refused.  McCler- 
iiand  then  laid  an  information  in  tiu^  nature  of  a  (iiio  trurraiilo 
before  .ludge  JJreesc,  in  the  circuit  court  of  J'^iyette  county,  an»I 
upon  hearing,  that  court  decided  in  favor  of  the  comidainant. 
Field  took  an  appeal  to  the  sui>reme  court,  where  tlu^  cause  was 
reversed.  The  ((Uestion  decided  by  the  court,  aside  fr»»inthe  jiolit- 
ical  or  i)artisan  bent  given  to  it,  derived  imixtrtance  from  the  fun- 
damental ])rincij»le  of  go\'eninient  involved,  (^uite  an  array  of 
able  (;ounscl  appeared  on  either  side.  For  tlu;  api>ellant  Field, 
there  were  Cyrus  Walker,  Justin  IJntterHeld  and  Levi  Davis;  an(l 
foi-  the  a|>pellee  McClernand,  S.  A.  Douglas,  ,Ias.  Shields  and 
AVickliffe  Kitcheli,  attorney  general.  Three  separate;  opinions 
were  written  by  the  judges,  Wilson  and  Lockwood  concurring, 
Smith  dissenting,  and  JJrown,  being  connected  by  atlinity,  with 
the  relator,  declined  sitting  in  the  cause.*  Chief  .lustice  Wilson 
rendered  the  decision  of  the  court  in  language  clear,  cogent  and 
i'lcgant,  which  is  both  exhaustive  of  the  subject  and  convincing 
in  its  conclusions.  The  court  decided  that  the  governor  had  not 
the  constitutional  power  at  his  will  and  pleasure,  to  remove  from 
oflice  the;  Secretary  of  State;  that  when  that  functionary  wiis 
oiico  ai)pointed,  the  ])ower  of  ai)p<'iiitment  was  suspended  until  a 

'See  )JU  Sci\iu.,  HI.  reports,  p  70. 


carlin'w  administration.  456 

ViU'iiiic.v  ()C(riirnMl ;  tliiit  wlicii  the  coiistiliitioii  ('rcatcd  an  oflico, 
aii<l  ici't  tli(;  tciiiii'c  iiiKlfHiifd,  till'  otVict'i'  lii'ld  diiiiii.i;  <nn>(\  ho- 
liii\  ior,  or  until  tlit-  Ic.^islatiirc  l»,v  law  limitfd  tlic  tcmiic  or  author- 
i/cd  .sonu'  I'liiictioiiar^v  of  tlic  j;o\  (■riiiiiciit  to  rciiiovc  tlic  ()Hic«'r  at 
will.  The  coiistitiitioii  was  the  charter  of  tlic  jiovcrnoi'saiitliority. 
All  llic  |H)Wcrs  d<'lc<;atcd  to  liiiii,  <n'  in  accordance  witli  tliat  in- 
s'riiMicnl,  lie  was  entitled  to  exercise  and  no  other.  While  it  was 
a  limitation  upon  tln^  powers  of  tint  legislative  department,  it  was 
to  be  r<';^arded  as  a  urant  of  powers  to  the  others.  Neither  the 
executive  nor  the  Judiciary,  theicfore,  conid  excicise  any  authoiily 
or  powej',  except  such  as  was  cl(>arl.v  ;^ranted  i»\  the  constitution. 
In  ICnj;lai><l  tlu' Uinj;  was  the  source  of  power,  and  all  rights  and 
prcro^nalivi'S  not  j;rant<'d  were  adjiidjicd  jo  him,  lait  heie  the 
theorv  is  that  the  people  are  soxcici^^n  and  the  source  of  jxtwer, 
and  tiiat  the  executive,  could  exercise  onl.y  those  powers  s[»ecially 
delcjuati'd  to  him  ;  and  as  it  was  not  even  pretended  that  any  ex- 
\tvfss  jxiant  of  this  charact<'r  was  to  he  loun<l  in  the  constitution, 
it  must  he  denied.  A  ^lant  by  ini])lication  could  not  lie  main- 
tained, iM'cause  the  eninneration  of  the  ])owersof  a  <lepartinent  of 
ji'ov  crniiu'nt  operated  as  a  restriction  and  limifati<»n  of  a  general 
jii'aiil.  " '1'Im' «'xecuti\<' jtower  of  the  State  shall  he  \esited  in  a 
jiovi'rnor,"  was  a  mere  <leclarat ion  of  a  ^'eneral  rule.  I!esid«'s,  the 
jiowei-  of  appointment  in  <"ase  a  vacancy  existed,  was  j>iven  to 
the  !4«*\«'inor  conjointly  with  llu' senate;  and  a  noniiiialion  would 
not  confer  ollice  without  a]iiti'o\al  by  the  senate. 

TIk'  (U'<;ision  <'^iMs<'d  a  lireat  partisan  outcry  aj^ainst  the  "  wldg 
I'ouit,"  as  it  was  calU'd.  'I'he  ilemocrats,  laij;ely  in  the.  ascend- 
ancy in  the  State,  weie  yet  <h'barred  from  ex«'rcisiiiji'  uncontrolled 
j)o\\erand  the  enjoyment  of  all  the  beiielits  an<l  emoluments  of 
ofliw*  to  which  their  ascendancy  i'lititlcd  tlu'in,  by  this  (U'cision, 
which  proclaimed  in  their  te«'th,  asit  were,  the  existence  of  oftiee 
for  li/e  incinnbents. 

IJut  the  other  (juesf  ion,  still  ])endinjj;  and  far  more  im])ort ant, 
was  frau<»ht  in)t  only  with  preclusion  fi'om  the  secretaiy's  ollice, 
but  with  tlie  dan>;<'r  of  losinu' political  control  of  tlie  State,  and 
ecMiscipu'ntly  all  jiower  and  ]»atrona<ie.  This  was  the  celebrated 
(ialena  alien  case.  Tiie  alien  vote  was  nine-tentlis  <leinocrati(!, 
and  su(!ieiont  in  stren/^th — about.  10,(((K) — that  if  j, secluded  from 
the  polls  to  det<'rinin«^  the  election  in  favor  of  tlic  whiys  at  the 
api>roachinj;'  i)resid<'ntial  «'Iection  of  bS4(K  As  the  McCIeinand- 
Field  ease  wa.s  by  the  unscrupulous  boldly  eharf;e<l  to  be])artisaii, 
it  was  now  doubth'ss  beli<'ve<l  by  many  that  the  court  in  this  case 
was  i)repared  to  violate  a  plain  pro\  ision  of  the  constitution.  The 
constitution  ]>rovide<l  that  ''in  all  elections,  all  white  inale  inhabi- 
tants above  the  ajue  of  lil  years.  ha\  inj>  resided  in  the  State  six 
months  next  precciiinjj:  the  election,  shall  enjoy  the  rij^lit  of  an 
elector." 

The  idea  had  jiained  curreiu'y  that  suf[Va<'e  and  citizenship  were 
eonc(»mitant  and  indisi)ensable  cpialitications  to  constitute  a  num 
an  elector,  and  therefore,  the  ]>rovision  above  (pioted,  if  broujiht 
to  the  test  beftae  tlie  i)roi)er  tribunal,  would  be  declared  null  and 
void.  All  ajjTeed  case  had  been  made  atCJalena,  wliere there  was 
a  larjie  alien  vote  conceidrated  in  and  about  the  inininj>'  lenion, 
betw<-en  twowbifjs,  one  of  whom  sued  tlie  other,  who  had  acted 
as  judge  at  the  August  election  of  1838,  and  iu  that  capacity  re- 


450  HISTORY  OF  IIJJNOIS. 

Ct'ivcd  the  vole  (iT  iiii  ii'icii,  to  ircovcr  ><l(((t  iiikU'I' tlic  cli'clioii  law 
«it"  ISiMt.  lor  tlic  list'  of  llic  coiiiilN .  wliicli  it  was  supposed  would 
])i'<'S('iil  tlic  coiistiliilioiial  i|ii(-stioii  liiiri.v.  'I'lic  suit  was  lM'oii;:lit 
in  1  lie  (Mrciiit  court  lit  (iaifiia,  .liid^^c  Dan.  Klonc,  picsidin}; ;  and 
as  tlic  ras«^  was  admitted,  lie.  w  itlioul  licariii;;  armiiiicnt,  or  |nol)- 
1>I\  j^'ivin^' the  (|ii('stion  niiicli  cxaiiiiiiatioii,  decided  that  an  alien, 
unlike  a  citi/cn,  was  not  entitled  to  exer(!is«'  tluM'leetion  iVan- 
cliis«'.  Tlio  decision,  w  lien  it  Iteeaine  piihlic,  produced  jjicat  ai»- 
Iti'eliensioii  in  tlie  ranks  of  tlie  deiiioeiacv,  and  steps  were  iiiinic- 
tliately  taken  to  hriii^  tlie,  case  heioic  the  siipreiiu'  court. 

In  view  (»f  the  decision  in  the  McClcriiand-l'ield  case,  It  was 
further  iiiia^ined  that  that  tribunal  would  atliriii  the  decision  bit- 
low,  and  that  the  remedy  was  the  re\  oliitioiiary  one  to  relorni  tlio 
supreme  court  b.v  addiii;;  a  siillicieiit  number  of  deiimcratic  mem- 
bers to  chan;;!'  its  political  complexion,  and  thus  either  avoid  the 
fearful  conlin;;eiiey  of  such  a  decision,  or,  if  too  late  for  that,  to 
lia\(i  it  ov«'rrulcd.  This  precediMit  is  not  without  a  tolerably  close 
inoderii  parallel  in  national  atl'airs. 

The  case  was  alily  argued  in  the  siipiciiie  court  at  the  Deceui- 
ber  term,  1<S.'I1),  upon  its  merits  and  eoiitiniied  to  the  .lime  term, 
iStO.  This  was  dnrinji'  the  heat  of  the  pr«'sidential  canvass  of 
that  y«'ai'.  If  the  case,  was  now  dicided  adv«'rsely  to  the  aliens 
the  State  nii;:lit  be  lost  to  tin-  (U'liiocracy.  Tlu'ie  was  a  jicneral 
apprehension  that  such  would  be  the  decisimi.  And  now  ,Iiidj;e 
Smith,  the  only  demociat  (Ui  the  supreme  bench,  sharinj;  in  the 
apiuchen.siou,  clandestinely  pointed  out  to  counsi'l  a  delect  in  the 
recMtrd,  cousistinji  in  a  clerical  error.  A  motion  to  dismiss  was 
thereiipim  fouii'led,  because  it  appeared  by  the  rec»»rd  that  the  ease 
arj^ued  was  alie;^ed  to  have  occurred  at  a  time,  when  by  the  laws 
of  the  State,  as  the  court  must  judicially  take  notice,  no  general 
election  could  be  held.lo-wit,  on  the  (ith  of  Aiijiust,  ISoi),  tlie  ycivr 
meant  beinj;'  IS.'J.S.  For  the  purpose  of  correct inj:!'  the  reccrd  a 
continuance  was  j^ranted  to  the  December  teini.  which  put  it  be- 
yond the  ]>residential  election  in  >io\cmlier,  bS-10.  Ilie  achieve- 
ment of  discovciin^'  the  Haw  in  the  record  was  aceounte«l  a  re- 
markable stroke  of  lej^al  acumen. 

When  the  case  came  nj)  finally  for  decision  at  tlie  December 
term,  1S40,  it  was  found  that  the  (Muistitutional  (iiiestion  up«)U 
which  it  was  exi>ected  the  case  should  turn,  was  not  really  before 
the  court,  but  simply  ii  question  under  the  election  law  of  lHli!»: 
If  any  jndjie  of  election  shall  knowinjily  admit  any  jierson  to 
vote,  not  ([ualitied  accordinj.;  to  law,  he  shall  forfeit  and  ]>ay  to  the 
county  the  sum  of  5!l(K);  and  any  person  lueseiitiu'V  himself  to 
vote,  and  his  (jualitieation  be  snspeitted,  he  shall  swear  that  lie  is 
a  resident  of  the  county;  has  resided  in  the  Stat«^  six  months  next 
precediu};' the  election ;  is  lil  years  old  and  has  not  before  voted 
at  that  election.  Tiie  court  held  that,  as  it  was  adiiiitte<l  that  one 
Kyle,  upon  the  reception  of  whose  vote  the  <piestion  was  made, 
possesseil  all  the  <pialilications  recpiired  by  tlieal1ida\it,  under  the 
law  of  181i!>,  it  would  have  simi»ly  been  supero<:at(H'y  either  to 
clialh  U}i,e  him  or  to  have  administered  the  oath  to  him  ;  and  there- 
fore the  court  below,  in  liniii};'  the  Jud};es  of  election,  erred,  and 
the  (!ase  was  reversed.  The  broad  and  imiMutant  (piestion  of  alien 
sutt'raji'e  under  the  c<uistitution,  di<l  not  arise  in  the  case,  and  no 
opiuiou  of  the  court  was  expressed  upon  it.    Judge  Smith,  how- 


fAUMN'S  ADMINISTIUTION.  4iil 


(>v('r,  not  to  (lisii|>p(>int  partismi  cxix'ctiitioii,  took  occiisioii,  in  a 
st'|);iriitt'  opinion  cliihoiiitcd  :i!  livv.W  lt'n;;tli.  lo  iiij^nc  llit-  consti- 
tutioiiiil  ipicstion,  (pioliii;;  iVrcIv  iVoni  ii  spfcrli  ol'.liinH's  itnclianiin 
iiiiitl*'  in  ( '(»nj;it'ss  on  liic  atlniission  <>r  .Miciii^^iin  as  a  State* 

.Mcaiiwliil*' tlic  Itill  lo  rcorjiani/.f  liic  Sapicnic  conil  was  pcnd- 
in<^°  Ik-Ioi-c  tlic  lc;^islatnr«',  an<i  willi  tin-  icndit  iin  oi'  tliis  decision 
In  the  court,  it  was  circnlatcd  altont  l),v  liic  politicians,  and  boldly 
ciiarjicd  l»y  Donj^las,  in  a  spcccli  made  in  tlic  lolihv  ol'  tiic  lions<', 
tlial  iIm'  main  (picstion  liad  been  |»mposcl\  evaded  Ity  IIk'  conrt 
to  allay  tlic  appreiiensions  «>f'  ileniocrats  as  to  tlic  ali<'n  vot<-,  and 
to  conciliate  their  lavor,  with  the  object  (»f  defeating'  the  bill. 

"  J)<)iigla.s,"  says  (Jov.  ]'\ini,  "  liad  been  one  of  the  counsel  for  the 
aliens,  and  it  appeared  from  his  speech,  that  he  and  .Judge  Smith  had 
iteen  in  eonstant communication  in  relation  to  the  |)rogress  of  the  ease. 
Judge  Smith,  (I  regret  to  say  it  of  a  man  wiio  is  no  more),  was  an  ao 
tivt',  Itustliug,  amldtious  and  tinl)ulent  mendierof  tlu'  Democratic  party. 
He  liad  foi'  a  long  time  ainu'd  to  l)e  elected  to  the  I'.  S.  Si'uate:  hi>  de- 
vices and  intrigues  to  this  emi  had  been  inmnnerahle.  In  fact  he  never 
hicked  a  plot  to  advance  idmself,  or  blow  up  some  other  jjcrsoM.  He 
vasa  laborious  and  ingenious  schemer  in  politics,  l)ut  his  jilaiis  were 
always  t<M)  complex  and  ramified  for  his  power  to  execute  thi'm.  Jieing 
always  unsuccessful  himself,  he  was  delighted  witli  the  mishaps  alike 
of  friends  aiideiienues,  and  was  ever  chuckling  over  the  defeator  Idasted 
hopes  of  someone.  In  this  ease  besought  to  gain  credit  with  the  lead- 
ing demoeiats,  by  the  part  be  took,  and  atfected  to  take,  in  tlu'  alien  case 
as  lie  liad  before  in  the  case  of  the  secretary  of  State.  He  it  was  who 
l)rivatcly  suggested  to  counsel  the  defect  in  the  record  which  resulted  in 
the  continuance  in  .June  1H40,  and  during  tlie  whole  time  tlu' case  was 
pending,  with  the  same  view,  be  was  giving  out  to  Douglas  and  others, 
the  probable  opinion  of  the  court.  He  attirmed  that  the  judges  at  one 
tim<'  all  ha<l  their  opinions  written  ready  to  deliver,  and  all  but  liimself 
decided  against  the  aliens;  and  that  the  case  Mould  liave  been  decided  if 
he  had  not  discovered  the  afori'said  defect  in  tlie  record.  Upon  his 
autliority  Douglas  denoun<'ed  the  court  and  brought  all  these  charges 
against  the  whig  judges,  and  endeavored  to  make  it  appear  that  lliey 
had  now  onlyevaded  a  decision  for  the  time  l>eing,  in  tlie  vain  hope  of 
stopjiing  the  career  of  the  legislature.  The  judges  on  their  part,  denied 
all  tliese  cliarges;  and  Judge  Smith  uniting  with  the  Wbi^  judges,  pub- 
lislietl  tlieir  denial  in  the  Saiifianuiu  Joicmat  newspaper,  j)ublislied  at 
Si)ringtield."  (Jov.  Ford  further  adds,  "  uud  there  is  now  uo  doubt  that 
tlie  wliole  of  it  wa«  falwe." 

Ill  this  coiinoctiou  wc  .subjoin  the  followinj''  coiTo.spori deuce: 

"  House  of  Uephese.ntatives,  Si'itiNOi'iEi.D,  .Iiuiuiiry  -'C,  1841. 
"To  IVi/liain  Wilson,  Titeophilns  1 1'.  /Smith,  'J'hniitax  C.  JJrown  and  iSaiiiud  JJ.  Lock- 
wood,  Judge*  of  t/te  Siipreme  Court  of  the  State  of  Jllinoin: 

"  Mr.  McClemand,  a  member  of  this  house,  (wlio  is  now  speaking) 
has  made  the  following  statements,  in  substance,  in  his  speech  in  favor 
of  the  l)ill  to  reorganize  tlie  ju<liciary  of  this  State.  'I  am  authorized  to 
say,  mill  I  do  say  on  my  own  responsibility,  if  any  sudi  responsibility  is 
needed,  that  the  judges  of  tlie  supreme  court  prepared  an  opinion  against 
the  right  of  foreigners  to  vote  at  the  last  June  term  of  tliat  court;  but 
oil  account  of  objections  made  by  counsel  to  a  mistake  iu  tlie  record, 
tlicy  witliheld  their  opinions,  but  did  so  most  reluctantly. 

"  I'lie  opinion  lias  gone  abroad  that  tiiese  judges  have  made  tlie decisiou 
recently  delivered  on  the  subject  of  the  right  of  foreiguers  to  vote,  in 
order  to  defeat  the  bill  under  consideration  and  to  prevent  these  judges 
from  going  on  the  circuit. 

"  This  communication  is  made  to  call  your  attention  to  the  statements, 
and  1  think  it  but  due  to  yourselves  that  an  answer  should  he  made  to 


*  See  ciise  of  Tbomtis  JSpragius  v.  H.  H.  Hougluoii  in  ihe  111.  S.  (.'.  rci  oris. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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458  '  HISTORY  OF  Illinois. 

thost'  [statements],  as  dcdintioiis  nmy  and  will  be  made  from  HJIence 
wliieh  would  seem  to  imply  an  ac(iiiieseent'e  in  the  truth  of  these  state- 
ments. 

"Desiring  to  know  whether  these  allegations  are  true,  I  trust  au 
answer  will  be  given.  Yours, 

"JOHN  J.  HAIIDIN." 

"Springfikld,  January  2G,  1841. 
"t/o/oi  /,  Iliirdin,  Esq. 

"Dkaii  Sir:  Your  letter  of  to-day  has  just  been  received, and  wepro 
ceed  to  answer  it  without  hesitation. 

"Ill  doinf;  so,  we  cannot,  however,  but  express  our  great  astonishment 
at  tiie  ciiarai^lerof  tlie  staleuK'nt  to  whieh  you  refer.  You  say  tiiat  .Mr. 
MeClernand,  a  member  of  tiie  house  of  representatives,  has  asserted  in 
debate,  in  sustance  [here  follows  a  quotation  of  the  language  as  given  by 
Hardin.] 

"To  tliis  statement  we  give  the  most  unc(ualilied  deni.il  in  all  its  parts; 
neither  of  the  memi)ers  of  the  eourt  having  ever  prepared  or  written 
any  opinion  against  the  I'ight  of  aliens  to  vote  at  elections. 

'■Jm  reference  to  the  mistake  in  the  reeoni,  the  error  alluded  to  was 
discovered  by  one  of  the  judges,  and  suggested  to  the  counsel  in  the  cause, 
as  interposing  a  supposeil  dilliculty  in  coming  to  a  decision,  which,  with 
a  subseijuent  motion  made  by  counsel  for  tlie  iilaintiff  in  error  to  dismiss 
the  cause  for  that  reason,  and  for  tiie  further  reason,  that  the  cause  wasa 
feigned  and  not  a  real  one,  produced  the  continuance  oi  the  cause,  as 
will  be  seen  by  a  copy  of  tlie  motion  herewith  enclosed. 

"As  to  the  insinuation  that  the  decision  was  made  at  this  time  to  defeat 
the  judiciary  bill,  we  rejily  that  it  is  in  all  its  parts  equally  unjust,  and 
without  a  pretence  for  its  justilicatiou.  Having  been  repeatedly  ursred 
to  come  to  a  decision  of  the  cause,  and  haviug  been  moreover  assured 
that  individuals  were  industriously  engaged  in  circulating  reports  that 
the  judges  had  opinions  writtt'ii  against  the  right  of  aliens  to  vote,  and 
that  as  soon  as  the  judiciary  bill  before  the  legislature  was  tlefeated,  these 
t)j)iiiioiis  would  be  delivered.  To  ri'fute  these  groundless  assertions,  on 
this  subject,  we  concluded  to  decide  the  case  without  further  delay, 
having  no  other  means  of  refuting  these  asjiersions. 

"We  have  thus  jiromptly  com])lied  with  your  recjuest,  and   we  cannot 
close  this  communication  witliout  remarking  on  the  great  injusiice  done 
to  ourselves,  not  only  by  the  statements  referred  to,  but  numerous  other 
slanders  which,  in  our  situation,  we  have  no  means  of  repelling. 
We  have  the  honor  to  lie,  resi>ectfully, 
Y'our  obedient  servants, 

TIIOS.  W.  SMITH, 
HAMUEI,  D.    LOCKWOOD, 
WM.  WILSON, 
TllOMAJS  C.  BKOWX." 

"WitJi  tliis  oontriHh'ctioii,  jMcClcrninid.  under  (lute  of  January 
29,  called  upon  his  inroiiiKint,  Mr.  I )(iu<;las,  to  sustain  liini — in- 
vitinjn'  iiiiinediatf  attention  to  the  subject.  ISesides  Doujihis,  si.v 
otlier  ^(  iitienien,  viz:  A.  IJ.  l)o(l<;c,  V.  Jlickox,  .1.  H.  IJiiistoii, 
John  iViMS(in,  ^I.  Mc'ConneJi,  ami  J.  A.  McDougal,  all  of  Mlioni 
(leri\('(l  their  inl'ormalion  IVom  Judge  Smith  alone,  I'urnisbcd 
Ictter.s.  some  of  wiiicli  state  posit iv«'ly  that  Smith  had  infoiined 
tliein  distinctly  tliat  all  the  Judjics  luid  their  opinions  written  out 
and  ready  to  d('li\ cr  at  tin'  June  term,  and  others  that  they  under- 
stood from  liim  tiiat  lie  (Smith)  was  thus  pn']»ared.*  There  is  now 
]n)  doiihi  tiiat  Smith  made  tlie  lormer  statement,  nor  is  there  uiiy 
doubt  that  it  was  fal.se. 

'iAs  to  Judge  Smith,"  says  (Jov.  Ford,  "lie  made  iiotliiii}>'  by  all 
Lis  intrigues.     I5y  opiiosinj^'  the   reform  hill,  lie  fell  out  and  <|uar- 

•See  Illinois  State  Kctfister,  Feb.  h.  1841. 


CARIJN'S  ADMINIS'IKATION. 


459 


ivllcd  witli  tlic  li'Jidcis  <»r  liis  juirty.  lie  lost  tlic  credit  he  liad 
<:iiiii('d  li.v  liciii^i  tlif  dciiMiciiitic  clijiiiipioii  (iii  tlic  bciicli,  niid  Ijiilcd 
to  ))('  elected  to  tlie  I'liited  Slntes  SciiiUe;  iilid  was  put  hack  to 
tlie  laUoiioiis  duty  of  lioldiii.u'  eireiiit  eoiiits." 

The  Jiidieiaiy  oill  produced  umeli  exeiteineut  and  party 
animosity  at  llie  capital,  both  anions  iiieinhers  an<l  the  ^i'oadiny, 
insatiate  lobby  ^idtiires.  It  was  no  easy  task  for  the  dominant 
jiaity  to  rally  its  I'oree  to  the  blintl  support  ot  a  nieasur<'  so  purely 
one  of  reveii};('.  A  j^reat  deal  of  opposition  came  from  the  friends 
and  interests  of  the  !•  circuit  courl  judges,  every  one  of  whom 
would  Ik-  i('j)ealed  out  of  oflicc  and  liie  majarity  of  whom  wert! 
democrats.  However,  the  bill  finally  passed  both  lioubes.  The 
<'ouncil  of  I'evision  I'eturned  it  with  their  oitjections,  ui'.i^ed  at 
]eu,utli. 

The  council  re.yarded  the  re(piirement  tliat  tlie  su]»reine  court, 
uitli  li\(' additional  judjies.  hold  ciicuit  courts  in  all  the  countiv'b 
of  the  State;  attend  at  the  seat  of  j^ox eminent,  and  act  as  coun- 
cil of  if'\isi()n  durini:' the  sessions  of  the  Ie,iiislature,  and  i)resid(^ 
in  the  snj)reinc  courl  until  all  the  business  of  tfat  trd)unal  was 
tlisposed  of,  as  ]»hysically  impossible.  Owin.i;'  to  the  niajiuitiide 
<d'  the  «'ii'cuit  courl  business,  the  nine  circuit  judp's,  for  no  fault 
of  tlu'iis,  had  been  unable  to  attend  to  it  and  fully  subserxc  the 
interests  of  the  jtublic.  To  thiust  all  this  business  upon  the  hands 
of  the  supreme  juducs,  in  atldilion  to  their  other  duties,  would 
result  in  such  delay  in  the  administration  of  justice  as  to  l>e  equiv- 
alent to  adenial  of  it.  'Jlie  law  would  jirejudice  the  ii;;hts  of 
citi/ens  and  the  character  of  the  State. 

'I'iie  bill,  howexcr,  was  re  passed,  notwithstandinji' tlieobjeetioii.s 
of  the  council,  in  the  senate,  by  a  lariie  majority,  but  in  the  house 
by  barely  one.  A  solemn  jtrotest  liy  tiie  undersijiiied  members, 
many  of  whom  haxc  since  attaiiM'd  imperishable  renown,  was 
spread  ujion  the  journal.  I"<'bjuary  l!(;.  1,S4!.  After  statinj^-  their 
objections  at  len.utli.   lliey  sum  up  as  follows: 

1st.  The  l)ill  viohites  tlie  jri-cat  jirineiples  of  government  by  suhject- 
in>r  the  Judieiiiry  to  tiie  h'uisliUurc. 

l2il.  It  is  ii  t'ulal  blow  at  tiie  iiidepemlence  of  the  judges,  and  the  cou- 
stitiitieiial  ti'ini  of  their  oflicc. 

;{(].     It  is  11  measure  not  at-Ued  for,  or  wislicd  liy  the  people. 

till.  It  will  j:really  iucreufeelhe  expenses  of  our  courts  or  greatly  di- 
Hiiiiisii  their  utility. 

•"jtli.  It  will  yive  thecourts  a  political  and  ])artisan  character,  thereby 
inipairiuK'  public  eonlidenee  in  tluir  di'cisions. 

<>tli.  It  will  impair  our  standing  iu  the  opinion  of  other  States  and 
the  world. 

Till.  It  is  a  party  measure  for  party  purposis,  from  which  no  ja'acti- 
cal  Kood  to  the  people  can  possibly  arise,  hut  wliieli  may  lie  the  source  of 
iiiiuimerable  evils.  *  *  The  tilnw  bad  alieady  fallen,  but  they  felt  im- 
pelled to  point  out  the  danger  of  the  measure,  its  impolicy  and'  its  nsnr- 
pation,  in  order  at  least  tliat  the  desjjotism  of  a  momentary  majority 
may  not  become  a  iireeiMleiit  for  su<'ceeding  enormities,  or  future  crimes. 
We  have  struggled  ineflectually  to  guard  the  principles  of  our  govern- 
ment from  unhallowed  innovation,  and  contended  for  the  siimemacy  of 
the  constitution. 

(Signed):  .Joseph  Gillespie,  .John  J.  ]5rowu,  LeaJider  ^tunsell,  Wil- 
liam ii.  Archer,  .John  F.Charles,  Isaac  Funk,  Aldeii  Hull,  .John  J)ar- 
nielle,  (Jeo.  W.  Waters,  Cyrus  Kdwards,  James  T.  Cunningham  John 
IJennett,  Thos.  Threlkeld.'A.  liincoln,  J.  M.  yicLean,H.  W.  Thornton, 
Wm.  A.  yiaishal,  James  M.  Hiadford.  John  J.  Hardin,  Jeremiali  Cox, 
Peter  Menard,  jr.,  W.  H.  Henderson,  James  ileyuoUls,  W.   W.   Bailey, 


400  HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


1).  ]M.  Woodson,  K.  li.  \\\'l)l»,  Joliu  Denny,  Isji..^f  Fioman,  Jas.  A.  Koal, 
Josiiili  Fiiini-is,  Dimit'l  (imy,  James  rurki'uson,  John  Canady,  Alexan- 
der I'liillips,  James  N.  lirown. 

Tlic  five  iulditional  sujuonie  judfiX's  elected  by  the  lejjjislatnre 
niider  this  hiw  were,  Tlionuis  Foril,  (siib.se»ii;enlly  j;<»v.)  tSidney 
IJi'cese,  Walter  15.  Heates,  Samuel  II.  Treat,  and  !Stei)hen  A. 
Doiiulas,*  ail  democrats,  liy  this  nutans  all  ai)prehensi()n  was 
allayed  in  the  democratic  breast  re,iiardiii.n  the  continued  sujjport 
oT  the  alien  vot( ,  so  I'ar  as  any  interlerence  from  the  suj»ieme 
court  was  concerned.  Kor  did  the  majority  of  that  court  now 
<|Ucstioii  tlie  ri<;ht  of  the  executiv<'  to  appoint  his  own  secretary  (tf 
StaU' ;  and  had  the  (juestion  been  now  presented  to  the  court,  the 
]\lcCleniand- Field  decision  would  have  been  overruled.  iSuch  is 
party  inllnenc(^  upon  the,  Judiciaiy.  One  of  the  newly  api>ointed 
jud;4('s,  writinj^-of  this  n'orjianization  of  thecourt  says:  The  hijih 
est  c(y.irtsare  but  inditierent  tribunals  for  the  settlement  of  j^ieat 
political  (juestion;  *  *  when  any  yreat  political  (juestion  ou 
which  parties  aie  are  arrayed  comes  up  lor  decision,  the  utmost 
which  can  be  expected  of  them  is,  an  able  and  learned  ar<4U- 
nu'nt  in  favor  of  their  own  party,  whose  views  they  must 
naturally  favor.t  The  court,  however,  as  newly  orj;anized,  i>roved 
not  eiitiiely  acc«'i>table  to  the  dominant  i)arty ;  the  Judges  •gener- 
ally enjoyed  f^reat  peisonal  [)o]mlarity,  but  the  bench  became  Ihe 
subject  of  tmpu'ut  malevolent  assaults  by  the  lej^islaturc.  That 
body,  fresh  from  an  exultant  constituency,  iudmed  often  with  ex- 
treme partisan  views,  could  illy  brook  any  independence  in  the 
other  departments  of  fi()verniiient.| 

At  this  session  of  1844-5,  the  lejiislalure,  ostensibly  as  a  nu'as- 
ure  of  retrenchiiicnt,  passed  resolutions  drafted  by  Mr.  Trumbull, 
Avlio  Mas  not  a  member  though  au  aspirant  for  the  ermine,  callinj^- 

*Thc  Inst  named  Kontlcinnn  hiul  been  of  oiinscl  for  the  iilicns,  liad  ilerived  his  inl'nr- 
nmtioii  of  how  the  ease  was  uoiiifr  to  be  Uecidetl  in  June  (irecediiijr  from  JiidKO  Smith, 
liad  obtained  the  eontiiuianfe  then  on  the  defect  in  llie  record  as  pointed  out  by  liiin, 
had  made  a  violent  attack  upon  the  old  jud|?es  by  a  characteristic  si>"eeh  in  the  lobby, 
and  had  furnished  McClernand  the  data  upon  which  the  latter  dcnoiuiced  the  court; 
in  view  of  all  of  whieli,  it  seems  stranjre  that  lie  had  soiiytht  and  obtained  a  position 
side  by  side  with  the  (fcntleman  he  had  traduced  and  attempted  so  much  to  briiiK  in- 
to ilisrcpute.  Partisan  scheming  and  the  cravings  of  oltice  could  not  well  go 
further, 

The  new  judROS  were  charpred  witu  partisan  conduct,  by  the  whijr  press  of  the 
period,  iu  the  secret  ai>j)ointnient  of  a  clerk  of  the  sujirenie  court.  Ebenezer  Peck, 
It  seems,  as  a  member  ol  the  letrislature  hat'  orij/inally  opjiosed  the  judiciary  bill;  but 
his])osition  became  suddenly  changed,  and  the  bill  i>a88ed  the  House  by  one  ina.jority 
over  the  objections  of  the  council.  After  takmg  tlieir  seats,  the  new  members  of  the 
court  had  no  consultation  with  the  old  judges  on  the  subject  of  the  clerkship,  and  not 
a  word  was  said  iu  open  court  about  removing  the  incmntiant,  Duncan.  Indeed,  one 
of  them  had  given  out  that  to  avoid  the  imputation  of  being  a  partisan  court,  the 
clerkship  was  not  to  be  disturbed.  Tt)e  pul)lic  astonishment  was  not  inconsiderable, 
therefore,  when  shortly  after  its  ndjourement.  Peck  annoiuiced  himself  as  the  clerk 
by  a))i)ointnientof  the  majority  of  the  court.— SoTit/flmon  Journal. 

+Kord'8  History. 

tAt  the  session  of  1843-43.  there  was  an  effort  made  to  remove  Judge  Brown,  on  the 
ground  of  Incompetency.  This  gentleman,  whose  home  was  at  Shnwneetown,  upun 
the  reoruanization  of  that  court,  had  been  assigned  to  the  remote  Galena  circuit,  with 
the  view  to  render  his  position  uncomfortable  and  irksoire,  and  worry  lii'r.  i'lto  a 
resignation.  This  failing,  foin-  lawyers  from  Ills  circuit,  viz  :  V.  P.  Hempstead, Thoiii.is 
Druniiiioud.  Thompson  Campbell,  ana  A .  L.  Holmes,  filed  their  speoitlcation.'^  chargir.g 
that  lie  had  not  that  natural  strength  of  Intelicct,  and  lacked  the  legal  and  literary 
learning,  refitiisite  anil  indispensable  to  n  proper  discharge  of  tlie  high  an<l  responsilile 
duties  devolvinif  upon  him  as  a  judge  of  the  supreme  court ;  that  his  opinions  deliv- 
ered in  that  court  were  M'litten  and  revised  by  others, and  that  his  decisions  upon  tlie 
circuit  laid  been  the  mere  echoof  some  favorite  attorney  :  and  that  by  nature,  educa- 
tion and  habit,  he  was  wholly  untlt  for  his  high  position.  Their  stinging  langiiiige 
Indicated  something  more  than  a  purpose  to  solely  subserve  tlie  public  good.  The 
B' nate  declined  to  participate  in  the  e.xan.ination  of  the  charges.  The  house  in  coiii- 
niitteeof  the  wh'  le  went  several  times  into  the  investigation  of  them,  btit  linally  ask- 
ed to  be  discharged  from  their  further  considerati.>n  and  so  the  matter  ended  and 
Judge    Brown  retained  his  seat.— House  Journal,  session  1842-43. 


carlin's  administration. 


401 


on  tlie  judges  and  governor  to  reliiiquisli  a  portion  of  tlicir  sala- 
rios.  Tliis  was  refused,  on  tlu'  fjroiuid  of  tlie  priiieijtle  involved 
as  to  tlie  ri<ilit  of  tiie  le^iishiture  to  make  sueli  a  re<|uest.  It  im- 
plied a  control  to  a  eeitain  extent,  of  a  eo-ordiiiiite department  of 
jioveriimeut,  liowexcr  tlie  recpiest  eoui>led  with  it  the  eoitsent  of 
tlie  incumbents.  Althouiih  their  salaiies  were  tixe<l,  coercion  was 
in  tliis  manner  sought  thioujih  the  fear  of  losin<i"  [)ub]ic  favoi-, 
interest,  and  jjoitularity.  It  was  an  unwortliy  means,  and  des- 
tructive of  the  first  f^reat  ])rin(!iple  of  free  constitutional  jiovern- 
nient  — the  iiHl<'i)en<lence  of  the  co-ordinate  iuanches  to  each  otli- 
ov.  The  sui>jeme  (!ouit,  as  c()nstitut<'d  under  the  act  of  Feb.  lOth, 
]S41,  was  finally  <lissolve(l  by  oi)eration  of  the  constitution  of 
1848,  the  judges  g()ins>-  out  of  office  December  4th,  that  year. 


Hi 


CnAPTER  XXXIX. 
1S42— i84r)— ai)mini8ti;ati()n  of  (JOVKHNOU  fokd. 

The  (Utmpn'Kjn — Life  and  Charavtcr  of  (k'\  Ford — Lifiit.  (ror. 
Moore— M('(t lis  of  l{e(iej'  from  the  Fi.Kiiieiitl  Emh<trr<tsNmentn — 
The  State  at  the  Turniny  Point — Restoration  of  her  Credit. 


As  rnvly  ns  Tlccciiibcr,  ISll.  tlic  Sfiito  (Icinoci'ntic  roiivciitiou 
met  ;tt  S|)riii;;lit'ltl.  iiiid  iKtiiiiiuitcd  Adaiii  W.  Siivdvr.  of  Si.  Chiir, 
aii<l  tloliii  ,M()(»i(',  of  .McLc.'ii,  as  their  <'aii(li<latcs  Inr  ;;()\rrii(ii  aiid 
liciitciiiiiit  ju'ovcnior  at  t lie  election  o''  August  1S4L'.  In  tiie  spriii;;' 
lollow  injn',  e.\-(i(»v.  .I(>se]»li  Duncan  and  \\  .  11.  Ilendeison  hecauio 
tlie  candidates  (if  |1h'  wliii;  pai'ty  lor  tlie  same  onices.  Charles 
W.  Ilnnter  and  Frederick  Collins  w«'re  also,  resjiect i\ c'!,y,  candi- 
dates lor  the  same  jiositions.  .Mr.  8iiyder  was  an  ettective  si)eaker 
and  possessed  an  ostentations  and  plansaltle  adth«'ss.  lie  had 
been  a  nn'mber  ol'  coni^ress  and  state  senator,  and  in  the  latter 
capacity,  to  finiii  the  favor  of  the  Mormons,  who  ere  loomin.u  np 
in  the  State  as  a  consideralile  political  power  l>y  reason  of  their 
unity,  lia<l  been  laryely  iiistruniental  in  t' e  passage  of  the 
obnoxious  ''  ;\Ioiinon  charters."  by  wliicii  that  iiindern  sect  wei'c; 
l)laced  J'.bove  and  beyond  (he  law.s  of  the  State — c(»nstitiited  a 
j»etty  soverei,niity  within  their  corporate  limits,  wlu'iice  they  issned 
ibrtli,  committed  their  (iei)redations  npoii  the  iiei,i;liborhoods  out- 
si<le,  retired  to  their  le,i;al  citadel  of  Nanxoo,  an<'.  delied  the  ]»rocess 
of  any  court  of  the  county  to  follow  them. 

The  Mormons,  driven  from  Missouri  i»y  a  democratic  <iovernor, 
denied  [trotcction  Ity  a  democi'atic  i»resident,  but  in  con^^ress  coun- 
tenanced by  Messrs.  Clay  and  John  T.  Stiiait,  in  1S1(>  had  ^iveii 
their  sujjport  to  the  wlii/is.  Ibit  intw  Joe  Smith,  their  prophet, 
issued  his  pro(;l«imation  exhortinj;'  his  followers  in  favor  (tf  Mr. 
Snyder,  and  '•  declaring  .Indue  I)on,iilas  to  be  a  master  spirit." 
This  mandate  showed  the  wliij;s  that  the  democracy  had,  by  the 
extension  of  these  very  liberal  charters,  woed  the  Mormons  with 
success.  Hut  the  odium  of  this  sect  was  already  rapidly  spread- 
in;;'  oxer  the  entire  State  ;  and  of  this  circumstaiuH',  (Jlov.  Duncan 
as  the  whiji'  candidate,  who  was  not  concerned  in  the  i)assa<i<'  of 
the  obnoxious  charters,  soii,yht  to  take  advantajie,  and  more  than 
retrieve  frcnn  the  jii'ople  tin'  whi^'  loss  by  the  .Mormon  defection. 
Indeed  tiiin,i;s  bore  a  very  promising;-  look  in  that  direction.  IJtit 
at  this  juncture  Mr.  Snydersickened  and  died,  and  the  newclioico 
as  the  standard  bearer  of  the  democracy  for  <ioveriior,  fell  upon 
the  Hon.  Thomas  Ford,  who,  althon«;h  well  known  as  a 
jurist,  wass    iu    no   wise  prominently     connected   with    politics, 


FORD'S   ADMINISTIIATION. 


463 


i\\u\  ('('rtiiiiily  ii(»t  witli  the  jKi.^Siij^c  of  tlic  dltiioxioiis  ^loniiou 
cliiii'tt'i's.  'riic<i«>iii*)ci':i('y  ii))|)i'clicii<liii!;'tlic  drill  oi'  piiiilic  opinion, 
]ii!H'tMl  .ludjic  l-'oid  in  tlit-  position  niiidt'  \;iciint  li,v  by  tlic  dcidli 
of  Mr.  Sn.vd<'i',  Itccnnsc  of  liis  ii\iiil;il»ility.  Il  is  doid>tful  wlit'llicr 
any  t)f  tin-  dcniocralic  li'iidcis,  in  liic  tiicn  tcuipcr  of  tlu'  pcopio 
toward  tlie  Mormons,  conld  Iiavc  \h'vu  clcctt'd  over  so  adroit  and 
(•oniii,i:»'otis  a  conipctilor  as  Dnncan.  Tlicdcalli  «/f  Snyder  jtrovcd 
til*'  tiininpii  of  tJH-  democracy. 

IJesides  the  (»diou.>  ."\Iormon  cliarters  and  tlie  allejicd  intrijiiies 
and  coirnpt  itar^iains  Itetweeii  certain  politicians  aixl  tlie  prophet, 
the  otiier  piddic  (piestions  of  the  day  were,  a  revival  »»!'  tlie  work 
on  tiie  canal,  repeal  of  tiie  hank  ehartei's,  and  the  claim  (»f  Wis- 
eonsin  to  1  A  of  onr  northern  counties.  The  position  of  the  new 
democratic  candidate  upon  tho  questions  was  variously  and 
oi>positely  icpoited  in  tlie  pnltlic  press  of  dilfeienl  sections  of 
the  Stale,  to  he  ev«'rywliere  in  iiariiiony  with  the  varyiiifi.  hut  jue- 
vailin;;,  scnliments  of  the  peoi)le.  .Much  allowance  ou^ht  to  he 
made,  however,  for  tlie  statements  of  the  ]»ress  (hiring  a  heated 
})oIilical  campaign.  DuiK'an  charged  l''(a'(l  during'  the  caii\ass 
with  <'oncealiiij;-  his  opinions  on  all  these  cpiestioiis. 

The  foUowiii};'  are  the  number  of  votes  cast  for  j^'overiior  in  1.S42: 
For  Thomas  I"or<l,  -1(),!I01 ;  Joseph  Duncan,  .'JS.riSf:  Charles  W. 
Hiinlei-,  !)!>!>.  l''or  lieutenant  .u'overiKU':  .loliii  Moore,  4."), 507  ;  W. 
11.  Henderson,  ;)S,42();  Frederick  ('tdlins,  <.»().""». 

Tlumias  Ford  was  born  at  LIuiout(twn,  Fa.,  in  tlie  year  iSdO.  ITo 
was  a  half-bi'olher  to  (leoi-jic  l*'or(pier,  his  senior  by  six  years. 
Their  mother,  after  tlie  death  of  her  lirst  husband,  niarrietl  IJobt. 
FoJ'd,  who,  in  I.SOL'  was  killed  in  the  mountains  of  IVnnsylvauia 
by  Indians.  She  was  left  in  indiju'eiit  circiiiiTstaiices,  with  a  lai'ye 
family,  mostly  j^ii'ls.  With  a  view  to  better  her  condition,  she,  in 
ISOt,  r<'mo\('d  to  .Missvuri,  where  it  had  been  ciistoniiiiy  by  tht 
Si>anish  <io\<'rnment  to  ,i;i\i  ^'.id  to  actual  settlers,  but  upon  lier 
arrival  at  St.  Louis  she  found  the  eountiy  ceded  to  the  Inited 
Stat<'s,  and  this  liberal  policy,  luilike  as  at  ]iresent,  chan.iicd  by  tho 
new  ownership.  Alter  some  sickness  to  herself  and  i'amily  she 
finally  removed  to  Illinois,  and  settled  some  three  miles  south  of 
Wati-rloo,  but  the  followin.y  year  moved  closer  to  the  ^Nlississijipi 
blulfs.  Ileie  the  boys  received  their  first  sclioolinj;'  under  the 
instructions  of  Mr.  llumi)hrey,  for  which  they  walked  three 
miles. 

Their  mother,  tliou<>h  lackiufi"  in  a  thoroujili  education,  was  a 
woman  of  superior  mental  endownu'Uts,  joined  to  enerjiy  and 
determinalion  of  character.  She  inculcated  in  her  children  those 
lii<;li-toned  m<»ral  juiiiciiiles  which  distiii,iiuislied  her  sons  in  i)id)lic 
life.  She  exercised  a  ri<iid  economy  to  ])r<)\i(le  her  children  an 
education,  but  Cleor^'e  Fonpu-r,  her  oldest  son,  at  an  early  ajic  had 
to  quit  s<'hool,  to  aid  by  his  labor  in  the  su])i)ort  of  tlie  family. 
He  ac(|uired  the  trade  of  a  house  Joiner,  afteiwards  became  a 
merchant,  failed,  an<l  studied  law,  which  his  vijiorous  intelh'ct 
enabled  him  to  readily  master  in  spite  (»f  a-  detective  early  eduea- 
lion.  Hv  was  determined  and  ambitious,  had  a  jjood  voice  and 
beeame  a  fluent  and  elejiunt  s])eaker.  lie  filled  many  ])ul)lio 
ofHces;  was  a  member. of  the  lejjislature  from  Monroes  secretaiy 
of  state  under  (iov.  Coles,  attorney  ycneial,  senatoi'  from  Saiigil- 
rnou,  subsequently  register  of  the  land  ol!ict-  at  Si>ringtield,  and 


*l 


404  IIISTOUY   OF    ILLINOIS. 


but  lor  liis  early  dt'uth  would  pvohably  have  been  t'h'ctcd  to  tlie 
United  States  senate.  .Joined  to  liis  other  intelleetnal  qualities 
■was  rare  merit  as  a  wiiter.  He  was  ot  an  amiable  and  ^ienerous 
dis|)osition,  and  was  snciiesslul  in  aeeumulatinj;-  u  eonsiderablo 
estate.* 

The  younper  brother,  Thomas  Ford,  with  sonunvhat  better  oit]>or- 
tunities,  rec^'ived  a  better,  thou;;h  limited  eonnnoii  school,  ednea- 
tion.  liis  mind  t;ave  early  ]»idmise  of  superior  ('udowmenls,  with 
an  inclination  lor  mathematics.  His  |)roticiency  attracted  the 
attention  «)tthe  II(»n.  Daniel  i'.  Cook,  in  whom  yctun;;  Kord  found 
an  etlicient  patron  and  friend.  Tht^  jiratefid  heart  of  the  pyotct/e 
(lid  not  forjict  its  benefactor.  On  pajic  7.">  of  his  History  of 
Illinois,  Kord  pays  that  <:«'ntlennin  such  unwonted  compliin«'nrs 
as  no  other  of  all  his  ]»ublic  cotemi>oraries  receives  at  his  hand. 
Throuji'h  (!ook,  youny  Ford  turned  his  attention  to  the  law,  but 
For(pier,  then  merchandising',  rejiardinj;'  his  education  defective, 
sent  liim  to  the  Transylvania  University,  wln-re  he  remained, 
however,  but  one  term,  owiu};'  to  Fonpu'i's  failure  in  business. 
On  his  return  he  alternated  his  law  reading  with  teacliinj>  school 
for  sui)port.  Jn  l.SL'K  (lov.  iMlwiU'ds  appointed  him  prosci-utin}? 
attorney;  in  LSol  he  was  reai)pointed  by  (lov.  Reynolds;  after  tliat 
be  was  four  tinies  elected  a  judaic,  by  the  lej;islatnre,  without  oi)po- 
sition;  twice  as  circuit  Jiidjic,  ju(l}ie  of  Chica^io,  and  as  associate 
judyc  of  the  suprenu'  court,  when,  in  1.S41,  that  tribunal  lhron<;li 
l)artisau  nndice  was  reorganized  by  the  addition  of  live  judjics,  all 
democrats.  Ford  was  assi<>ned  to  the  Uth  Judicial  cin-uit,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  nonnnatiou  for  governor  was  holdiuf;  (!ourt  in  Oj^Ie 
county.  Jle  immediately  resif;iied  hisotliiH",  accopted  the  nomina- 
tion and  entered  ui)ou  the  canvass.  In  Aujiust  he  was  elected 
governor.  The  oftices  which  he  held,  althouj>h  perhajis  lu;  Avas 
vvilliuf;'  enongh  to  have  them,  wei'e  unsolicited.  He  received  them 
upon  the  true  Jefterson  principle,  never  to  ask  and  never  to  refuse 
office. 

As  a  lawyer.  Gov.  Ford  stood  deservedly  high,  but  liis  cast  of 
intelh'  't  tittcd  him  rather  fiu-  a  writer  ui)on  law  than  a  ])racticing; 
advocate  in  the  courts.  In  the  latter  cai)acity  he  was  void  of  the 
moving  i)ower  of  eloquence,  so  necessary  to  success.  As  a  judge 
his  written  opinions  are  sound,  lucid  and  able  exi)ositions  of  the 
law.  He  was  a  stranger,  in  practice,  to  the  tact,  skill  and  insinu- 
ating address  of  the  politician  ;  but,  as  we  may  mcU  infer  from  his 
history,  no  man  of  his  time  had  a  clearer  perception  of  the  wiles 
and  sinuosities  of  that  devious  class  than  he.  Yet  desi)ite  this 
ai)ineciation,  his  contidence  in  the  honest  ]>urposes  of  others, 
joined  to  indecision  or  hesitation  perhaps,  enabled  the  unscrupu- 
lous to  deceive  him,  and  in  the  nondescrij)!  Mormon  war  cause 
him  unwonted  trouble  and  vexation. 

As  a  nmn,  Governor  Ford  was  plain  in  his  demeanor.t  He 
lacked  that  sanguine  and  determined  boldness  and  decision  of 
character  retpiisite  to  tit  one  for  a  great  political  leader.    For 

•Reynolil's  Pioneer  History. 

t+  It  l8  relnteil  thut  after  the  explrntlc'ii  of  his  term  of  office,  upon  the  occasion  of 
the  nsseniblinK  of  the  leirlsliiture,  which  Rlwnys  collected  a  horde  of  frreedy  seekers 
for  siibonilmilc  positionsat  the  caplto),  ii  wajr  pointed  him  out  to  a  ceitMio  "rint<"  us  a 
formlilable  iisplrnnt  fop  dnor-koeper  of  the  house.  He'wos  hunted  up  in  his  room  at 
the  hotel,  in  the  small  hoursof  the  night,  and  approached  fora  bargain  or  combination. 
On  discovery  the  "ring"  felt  mortified  aud  the  ex-governor  perhaps  not  highly  tlat- 
te:ed.J 


ford's  ADMINTSTUATTON. 


405 


money  {jfottiiif;  li«  cared  little  more  tliiiii  would  alloid  liiiii  a  decent 
support,  and  scarcely  tliat.  lie  accnniMlatcd  no  wealth  and  upon 
his  retirement  IVom  the  .^iibeinaloiial  chair  he  re>nme(l  the  piaclice 
oi'  tin'  law.  (iiov.  l''oi<l  was  small  of  stature,  slender,  dark  coni- 
plexioned,  with  a  prolusion  <tt'  l)lack  hair,  sharp  features,  deep  set 
eyes,  a  pointed,  accpiiline  nose,  with  a  decided  twist  to  one  side, 
and  had  a  small  month.  His  appeai'ance  was  said  to  he  somewhat 
cynical  and  he  was,  peihaps,  uol  without  vindictivenes;*;.  lie  was 
Ity  natiirt^  a  student,  ami  I  he  traits  of  his  mind  litted  him  for  close 
thought  ;  thon^ih  he  lacked  in  ima.L;ei'y,the  .liift  of  /.jcnius.  lie 
had  his  weak  trail;  (Uie  hescltin.L;  sin  into  which  ids  <-ou\  i\  iai  in<- 
tnre  i>etraye(l  him,  ami  which  contributed  to  his  early  death. 

As  an  antlnn'  he  deserves  oni-  si»e<'ial  consideration.  lie  has 
lefti  to  the  State  in  whi<-h  he  wasicared,  trusted  and  honoi'cd  with 
the  hi^ihesl  oflice  in  the<;ift  of  the  peoj)le,  ami  which  he  dearly 
loved,  a  legacy  in  the  form  of  a  history,  which,  thon^^h  ind  a  fiaj-;- 
inent  compiisiii^- his  own  tinu",  and  not  topically  arran^fd,  will  he 
moi'c  and  more  appreciate<l  with  the  advance  oi"  years. 

Jlis  wi'itinus  show  a  natural  flow  of  com]tact  and  forcible  thouj^ht, 
never  failinj;  to  convey  the  incest  sense.  Jn  tracing' with  his  trench- 
ant j»en  the  devious  operations  of  the  i)rofessionaI  politician, 
in  which  he  is  inindlable,  his  text  is  open  ])erhaps  lo  the  ol>jec- 
tion.s  that  all  his  eotemporaries,  many  of  whom  have  since  Inid 
their  nanu'S  written  hijuii  on  the  scioll  of  national  fame,  vvereniero 
politicians,  and  that  he  fails  to  discover  little  else  iu  all  their  acts 
ami  deeds  than  the  sellish  i)romi>tin;^s  for  ]>lace,  power,  or  some 
local  benelit.  It  lias  been  infi-rrcd — indeed  his  hook  is  somewhat 
calculated  to  to  leave  such  an  imjuession  ni)on  the  nnnd  of  the 
I'cadei — that  it  was  dictated  by  sjileeii.  and  his  enenues  have 
charjicd  it  to  be  the  jealous  bile  of  dis  opointed  ambition.  lUit 
excejit,  ])erhaps,  as  to  his  own  adnnnistration  this  is  si  mistaken 
view.  That  he  was  an  accurate  observer  of  his  own  times,  and 
that  he  relates  events  truly  and  describes  men  coriectly,  may  aside 
from  the  internal  conviction  which  his  book  produces,  be  infeired 
from  the  fact  that  he  wrote  concernin.ii' those  who  survived  him, 
bni  who  have  never  contradicted  him. 

The  lieutenant-j^overnor  elect,  .b>hn  INFoore,  was  born  Se])lem- 
ber  (S,  ITiK),  in  liincoinshire,  Knjiland.  JJereft  of  ]>arents  at  the 
ag<^  of  -!()  he  emijirated  to  America.  Sojournin};'  lor  a  while  in  Vir- 
ji'inia,  In;  located  in  Ilamilttm  county,  Ohio,  and  about  IS.'.n  re- 
nn)v»'d  to  Illinois,  settlinj;'  penmnn'ntly  at  Randolph  (Irov*-, 
McLean  <!Ounty,  where  he  pursued  his  vocation  ui'  wheelrifiht,  ;i 
trade  which  he  had  learned  in  Knjilaml.  His  force  of  cliaracter 
"was  such  that  he  sju'cdily  rose  from  obscurity.  Jn  l.S.'Jl  he  was 
elected  a  justice  of  the  peace;;  twice  afterward  to  the  lower  house 
of  the  lej^islatnre  ami  in  IS.S!)  to  the  State  senate.  His  sterlinji' 
qualities  of  head  and  heart  gained  him  distinction  thronjiliont  the 
State,  causing  his  party  to  designate  him  as  its  standard  bearer 
for  lieutemmt-governor  in  LS4-.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  ^lexi- 
can  war,  aninnited  by  an  ardent  patriotism  for  the  cause  of  his 
adoi)ted  conidry,  he  volunteered  in  the  ranks,  was  chosen  lient. 
colonel  of  the  4th  regiment,  and  particijjated  in  all  its  active  ser- 
vices. After  that,  by  the  partiality  of  the  i)eoi)le,  he  was  twice 
elected  State  treasurer,  and  in  that  cai)a(!ity  earned  the  honored 
soubriquet  of  "  Honest  John  Moore."  He  was  long  and  favora- 
30 


400 


IIISTOUY   Ol'    ILMiNOIS. 


bly  known  ill  tlic  Stiite  sis  a  coiiHi.stciit  lender  of  flie  dciiioeriiev, 
iiiid  (lied   Scj.t.  2;i<l,  ISO,}. 

\Nilli  llir  iidvciit  of  (lovcriior  Ford's  adiiiiiiistnitioii,  lie  sums 
up  llif  coiiditioii  of  llii' Stair  as  lollows: 

" 'riu' (loiuoHtic  tronnury  of  the  State  wnn  iudehted  for  tlie  onliimry 
I'-xpciises  of  governnu'iit  to  tlie  iiiiiount  of  alioiit  .■?;{].'!, 0()(».  Audilor'H 
wjuruiits  on  tlif  ti't'iisury  wero  Hellion Jit  •"'"  per  eeiit.  (iiseouiit,  aiitl  lliere 
was  IK)  iiioMcy  ill  the  treasury  wiiatever;  not  even  to  pay  postage  oii 
h'llcrs.  'I'lie  aiiiiiial  n'Vciiues  a|)pliealile  to  tiie  payment  of  ordinary 
expenses  aiiKniiited  to  aliout  Sl.'ill.liuo.  'I'lu'  treasury  was  liaiikriipl  ;  the 
revenues  were  insutlicii'iit  ;  the  people  were  uiialile  and  unwilliiitc  to 
pay  hiph  taxes;  and  the  State  liad  horrowed  Itself  out  of  all  credit  ;  u 
delit  of  near  ^10,000,(10(1  had  heeii  contracted  for  the  caiuil,  railroads  and 
other  purposes.  The  currency  of  the  State  had  hi'i  ii  annihilated;  there 
was  not  over  $:ioo,(l(io  or  S;!00,(i0(»  in  Kood  money  in  the  pockets  of  the 
whoh'  peo|>le,  which  occa.<ioned  a  j;eneral  inahil'ity  L'>  pay  taxes.  The 
whole  peopK'  were  indelitetl  to  the  merchants,  nearly  ai'  of  whom  were 
indehted  to  the  hanks  or  foreign  merchants;  and  thehanus  owed  every- 
hody,  and  none  were  ahle  to  pay." 

In  liis  iiu'ssaj;'e,  the  jiovenior  says: 

"We  have  suflered  all  the  evils  of  a  depreciated  pajter  ciriailition  ; 
the  lirst  of  which  is  a  ^''eat  and  sudden  scarcity  of  money.  Tl.'.  specie, 
which  ought  to  he  in  circulation,  is  locked  up  in  the  banks,  a  largo 
•Miiountof  the  depreciated  paper  has  been  ])urchased  up  and  held  on 
sp  ••ulation,  and  the  residue  has  Just  been  sullicient  to  keep  money  of  a 
hettei  character  from  coming  among  us.  C'oiise((Uently,  we  have  been 
lelt  without  money,  i)roperty  has  fallen  unusually  low  in  price,  and  the 
products  of  the  farmer  have  l)een  almost  unsaleable.  Two  courses  have 
operated  to  prevent  an  increase  of  poi)ulation  for  a  year  or  two  past;  one 
is  the  prevalent  fear  of  exorbitant  taxes;  the  other  the  reproach  to 
which  we  are  subject  abroad.  The  remedy  for  this  is  obvious.  Let 
it  be  known  in  the  tirst  place  that  no  oppiessive  and  exterminating  taxa- 
tion is  to  be  resorted  to;  in  the  second,  we  must  convince  our  d'eilitom 
and  the  world  that  the  disgrace  of  repudiation  is  not  countenanced 
among  us — that  we  are  iionest  and  mean  to  pay  as  soon  as  we  are  able." 

Ill  the  h'^islatiiie,  Avliieli  eaiiie  into  i)ower  siimiltaneously  with 
floxcnior  Ford,  there  was  no  party  in  favor  of  taxation  to  })ay 
interest  on  tlie  public  (hd»t.  Some  wanted  to  make  no  effort  for 
live  or  ton  years,  but  await  lie  intliix  of  iiiiini^rants,  trusting'  that 
the  future  nii^Iit  develope  soiiietiiin,y  fa\'orab!e;  ail  would  j^ladly 
yield  nj)  to  the  holders  of  the  internal  iin]>roveineut  bonds  the 
public  works  as  far  as  eoinideted,  and  the  lands,  railroad  iron  and 
other  i»roperty  purchased  to  carry  I'orward  the  .system,  in  licpiida- 
tioii  of  the  indebtedness,  if  they  would  liiiish  the  canal,  but  this 
was  imi>racticable  for  obvious  reasons.  Tln^  }>reat  majority  Avere 
neither  willing'  to  tax  nor  yet  to  reiuidiate.  (iovernor  J'\)r<l,  in  liis 
niessa<;e,  .saiil:  "  Altliouj^li  the  eleittions  in  August  last  were  eon- 
ducted  with  warmth  on  the  part  of  the  candidates  and  ])eop]e,  not 
more  than  one  or  two  individuals  were  found  willinji!,'  to  offer  their 
services  upon  princijiles  of  repudiation,  and  they  were  unsuccess- 
ful." The  majority  quieted  their  (;onsciences  by  the  adoption  of 
resolutions  recognizing  both  the  moral  and  legal  obligations  to 
l»ay  interest  and  principal,  but  that  the  present  ability  to  do  so 
was  out  of  the  «juestion.  Outside  there  were  not  wanting  many 
who  were  outspoken  in  favor  of  lepudiatioii.  eouteiiding  that 
neither  the  legislature  nor  the  State  financial  i. gents  jiossessed  the 
power  to  legally  obligate  the  people  to  the  payment  of  debts  in- 
curred in  a  scheme  of  such  gross  and  reckless  infatuation  as  that 
of  the  internal  improvement  .system  of  the  State. 


roiID'S    ADMINISTRATION. 


407 


Aiiotlicr  soiiicc  ol"  Miixicty  iiiid  tioiiltlc  t<i  llioiijililfiil  iiiid  coii- 
s('i\!tli\  <•  iiini.  Wiis  tlic  prosHiitc  Itiiiiks.  Tlicv  li:i(l  Itccii  lorn  long 
time  (xlidiis  to  llic  people  on  iiceoiiiit  of  tliciroft  iiiliiiiiities.  Any 
t'xtn'iiiit.v  iMirsiu'd  toward  tliein  woidd  meet  tlie  lienit.v  iipprohu- 
tioii  of  tlic  people,  li(»\vevei' siieli  eoillse  liiiyiit  l»e  (leiiiliieiitid  to 
tile  eoiiiitrv.  Ileiiee  polit  iciitiis,  w  lio  looked  oid.v  lo  popidiiiity 
with  tlieir  eoiisl  itiieiits,  w.  le  cI^vmu'ous  for  the  repeal  of  the  hiiiik 
cliiulers.  Illinois  lioiids  ill  iiiarUet  weic  worth  <nil,v  14  eeiits  on 
the  dollar  at  the  time.  The  State  owned  hank  stock  lo  the  anionnt} 
of  m;I.I(I(I.<iO(>.  whieh  it  was  ni';L;('d  l»v  the  lepndiatinj;- party  should 
lie  I'etiirned  to  the  hanks  in  exehan;;('  for  State  lionds  held  as  col- 
lateral :  that  tin'  latter  should  he  forced  upon  the  market  as  assets, 
and  with  the  proceeds  ]iay  the  dehts  of  the  hanks.  This  woiihl 
ha\c  fiiiliiei'  depressed  Illinois  honds.  'i'hehank  stock  was  much 
more  \alnahle  than  Slate  honds, the  hills  of  the  hank  heiii";'  worth 
ahoiit  oO  (M'lits  oil  the  dollar,  yet  the  madness  of  the  honr  de- 
manded a  surrender  and  even  exclian;;!'. 

These  were  some  of  the  ohstacles  in  the  way  of  hannonious  do- 
liheratioii  for  the  hest  interests  of  the  State.  Uiit  fertile  itiains 
Mere  iinnwrsed  in  thonnht  to  (h'vise  ways  out  of  the  ein- 
hai'iassinj;'  circnmstaiices  nnder  which  the  Slate  lahored.  Tho 
canal,  upon  which  work  had  been  longer  c(»ntinne<l  than  tlieotli(>r 
jiultlic  works,  was  <>reatly  advanee'.l,  recinirinj;'  only  soiim-  S-'KOttO,- 
OIKMiioic  t«»  finish  it  upon  the  first  ma;4iiitieeiit  i>ian.  It  was  now 
jn'oposed  to  iiiiike  of  this  woik  a  fnlcriim  hy  which  to  raise  the 
credit  of  the  State  out  of  its  sloiij^h  of  despond.  And  as  some 
soit  (»f  canal  was  better  than  none,  it  was  fnrlher  pro]»ose(l  to  liii- 
isli  the  remainder  of  it  1).\  aliandoninji' the  deep  cut  for  the  shallow, 
Mliicli  could  Im' accomplished  at  abcnt  half  the  price,  or  !!<1,(I(K>,- 
0(10.  The  completion  of  thecanal  would  inspire  confidence  abroad, 
invite  emigration,  and  revive  the  droopin;;'  enei.i^ies  of  the  peojilo 
at  home.  The  plan  was  to  induce  the  canal  bondholdeis  to  ad- 
vance this  amount  on  the  pledj;-e  of  tlu'  canal,  its  lands  and  reve- 
nues, as  a  first  mortjiaj;<',  ])ostpouin}:f  all  creditors  who  should 
r(>fnse  to  contribut<>  until  the  former  were  reimbursed.  It  seems 
that  Justin  Ilutteifield,  an  eminent  lawyer  of  ("hicauo,  was  entitled 
to  tluu'redit  of  suji^estiuj;'  this  plan,  which,  after  a  biief  delay, 
])r(>ved  successful.  He  first  mentioned  it  to  Arthur  Uronson,  a 
iieavy  ofierator  in  Illinois  stocks,  and  a  lar.nc  landholder  in  the 
noi'thern  jtart  of  the  State,  who  was  on  a  visit  to  ("hica;;(),  in  tlui 
summer  of  IS-t'J,  lookinj;-  after  his  interests.  Mr.  Ihitterfield  fur- 
ther imbued  Mr.  iMiehael  Kyaii  with  this  i(U'a,  and  the  latter,  when 
shortly  after  in  New  York,  enlisted  Mr.  David  Leavitt,  JMr.  Ilron- 
son,  and  other  ojierators  in  Illinois  stocks,  both  in  London  and 
Xow"  York,  ill  the  scheme.  The  jilaii  received  drfiiiite  shape  from 
these  financiers,  and  ujxui  tlu^  ineetinj>'  of  the  lejuislaf  ure,  J)e(!em- 
ber,  1S4L',  awaited  the  sanction  <»f  that  body. 

Ihit  the  more  absorbiii<^  question  of  repealing  the  bank  charters 
and  Avindinjx  uj)  those  institutions,  boded  evil  to  the  success  of 
the  new  canal  loan,  even  if  the  bill  to  convey  the  canal  in  trust 
for  the  advance  of  $l,<i(l().0(IO,  did  become  a  law.  The  financial 
embarrassments  of  the  State  would  ])robably  become  involved  in 
an  inextricable  coil,  to  disentanj;le  which  would  (!onsinne  years  of 
time.  There  was  a  question  of  law  as  t<»  the  vested  rij;hts  of  the 
banks  under  their  charters,  which  they  asserted  their  determiua- 


4(;s 


IIISTOUV   Ol-'   II.MNOIH. 


tioii  to  coiitcMfM  Willi  till  liic  liiw's  tU'la.N  tiiiit  tlic  I'liittMl  Htativs 
(■(lints  iiltoMlnl.  if  run-iltif  li(|iii)liitit)ii  wii.s  iitit'iii|itt'tl.  In  tlic 
IiiciilitiiiM-,  tlii'ii' iissrsi  \ oiilil  1m>  iihsuilxMl  in  ]ili;;iilin!i  oi' s<|iiiiii- 
(Ini-d  li,v  \  iil;iiii(iiis  oirn-iiils.  It  would,  Itcsiilcs.  pioiliicc  inislnist 
and  ii  w:inl  of  ronliilfiin'  in  tlic  iiiin<ls  of  capitiilists  abroad,  upon 
ulioin  wt'  dtpciidcd  I'or  tlic  new  loan  to  roiiiph'lc  tlic  canal.  If 
til)'  iianU  cliaitcis  could  lie  rcpcalc.  and  liankin;^  corporations 
ailiiliaiil.v  cnislicd,  what  jiuanaiitcc  was  there  that  a  siiccet'din;; 
Ici^islatiire  would  not  treat  the  new  canal  coinpan.v  the  same 
way  '! 

(io\'.  I'ord,  tor  the  liest  interests  of  the  State,  <letcrinincd  upon 
a  just  coinproinise  with  the  hanks,  and  lahoit'd  earnestly  t»)  that 
♦Mid.  Hut  Avitli  tlie  eoiivenin;;-  of  the  lej;islalure,  llu;  retiiinj; 
e\cciiti\(',  (!ov  ("arliii,  (say.'  l''ord),  ••recoinniended  repeal  in  his 
Aaledictory  inessa;;!'.  When  he  liist  «'ainc  to  the  seat  of  };o\eni 
ineiit  he  showed  nie  his  nu'ssayc,  recoiniiiendin}j'  wise,  Just,  an<l 
lionoralile  nicasiires  to  the  hanks,  lie  also  showed  me  what  he 
had  pi'i'parcd  on  thesiiliject  of  repeal.  assiiriii<;  m«-  that  he  had 
decided  not  to  put  it  in.  I'.ut  shortly  afterwards,  some  of  the 
iiltiaists  <;*)t  a  hold  of  him,  and  induced  him  to  alter  U\s  messa^^e, 
by  leeominendin;;  repeal.  This  recoinniendatioii  embarrassed  me 
then,  anil  has  embarrassed  me  ever  since.  Here  was  a  n'specta- 
lile  recommendation  of  somelhiii;;  more  ultra  than  i  thought  was 
warranted  by  the  b«'st  interests  of  the  State,  It  j^ave  countenant;e 
to  the  nltraists;  tiiey  cmild  rally  around  it,  win  a  character  for 
stern  and  iiith-xable  item>>crats.  It  al  once  (iiit  them  alii'ad  of  the 
new  udveriior  and  his  friends,"  As  a  further  source  of  ojiposition 
to  the  banks,  (iov.  Ford  continnes:  "There  was  (piite  a  paity 
out  of  tin-  legislature,  expectants  of  otlice  and  others,  win* 
hoped  that  if  lln'  banks  were  repealed  out  of  existeiue  and 
]Hit  into  forcibU'  li(|iiidalioii,  some  of  them  inij^ht  lie  appoint- 
ed comniissioners  and  put  in  chartie  of  their  sjiecic^  and  elTeets. 
Jt  was  known  that  if  the  liank  debts  were  paid  pro  rata,  a  lar<>c 
amount  of  specie  would  remain  on  hand  for  a  year  or  more,  the 
use  of  which  epiild  he  uiade  profitable  iu  the  lueantime.  Then 
there  were  to  be  liank  attorneys  and  agents  iu  collect  iu;;  and 
securing' debts;  and  the  whole  would  furnish  a  handsome  picking 
for  the  biiz/ards  and  vultures  who  h a n;;' about  lobbies  and  sur- 
round legislatures.  As  for  myself,  I  decided  at  once  in  favor  of  a 
eompioinise  ;  and  T  gave  notice  t<i  all  these  greedy  exjiectauts  of 
otlice,  who  were  hanging  ai'ound  with  eyes  straining  to  devour 
their  substance,  that  if  the  hanks  were  repealed,  and  theappoint- 
iiieiit  of  eouimissioners  was  vested  in  uie,  iioue  of  them  could 
expect  an  appointment.     This  I  know  cooled  some  <if  them." 

The  governor,  who  labored  under  a  greater  apprehension  in  re- 
gard to  the  jiower  of  the  ultia  anti-bank  ])arty  than  there  was 
jierhajis  any  call  for,  drafted  the  bank  liill  himself,  giving  it 
rather  a  higher  sounding  title  than  its  provisions  deseived  or  its 
effects  would  warrant,  namely  "an  act  to  diminish  the  Stale  debt 
and  put  the  State  hank  into  li(piidation.''  The  oHicers  of  the  bank 
Avere  Avell  ap])rised  of  its  provisions  and  had  agreed  to  them.  "It 
Avas  then,"  says  the  goveriuu',  "shown  to  ]Mr.  JMcClernand,  chair- 
mail  of  the  tinanee  eommittee.  CJeii.  Shields, .Judge  J)ouglas,  and 
myself,  were  invited  to  be  jiresent  at  the  meeting,  I  Avas  desirous 
of    liaving  the   bill    introduced  as   a  democratic    measure,  and 


FOKD'S   AI):\IINIsrKATION.  4<JJ) 


for  fliis  rc;is(Mi  tlic  wliiju's  ol"  lln'  cniiiniiltc*'  wcic  not  iii\it(Ml 
tt)  lie  picsciil.  'I'lic  piojcct  wiis  stilted  tu  llic  ctmiiiiittfc,  and  nil 
till'  nu'iMltcrs  iiyn'i'd  to  it  hid  one,  and  lie  was  soon  ai'^fiicd  out  of 
Ids  (dtjcclioiis  l»y  .lnd;;('  I)oiij;las.  'I'lir  iirxl  ila\  it  was  iiitrodiircil 
into  till-  lowi'i'  lioiisi'  as  a  rf|Mii't  IVoiii  tlii>  linanct'  coiiiniitttT. 
'I'liis  I'irciiiiistaiir)' put  Mr.  Mt'( 'Icniand  in  tln^  ]iosition  of  Ix-in;^ 
its  p)-iiH'i|»al  adx'ocatt' ;  and  it  was  soon  known  to  he  a  t'avoiitc. 
nicasiin>  ol'  tlu-  ii<-w  adniinislratioii.'''  It  nii-t  with  ;;ciin'al  l'a\or 
unions'  tilt'  iikmiiImts. 

TIk' oppositiiiii  to  it  <-anir  niainlv  Iroiii  the  oiitsidt'  )-\|M>('tant.s 
of  tdlicc  ill  winding;  up  tiic  concern.  Sa.vs  l-'ord  :  "li.vinan 'i'riini- 
lillli,  serretary  of  Slate,  piil  liiiiiself  at  liie  liead  of  I  liisoppositioii. 
In  ti.'kiiiL;  this  ;;roiiiid.  Air.  'i'l  iiiiiImiII  was  pioUaltiy  less  inlliieiiced 
]iy  a  liopc  of  pecuniary  advanta;;csto  liiniself,  than  hy  ii  desire  to 
serve  Ins  fiieiids,  to  he  considered  a  tlioroii,i;li  ;;oiii;;'  party  man, 
and  liy  a  hatred  of  .Mc( 'leriiaiid  and  Shields,  who  hotli  lavored 
(he  nieasiire.* 

^'As  soon  as  .M<'<  'lernaiid  took  Ids  jxtsition  on  tin'  hank  ipiestion, 
Triiitiliull  arrayed  hiiiisejf  in  op|M>sitioii.  He  preleiided  that 
Ali-f 'h'rnamrs  measure  was  not  siillicienlly  democratic;  in  fact, 
that  iiotliiii^ could  he  dcinocralic  in  relation  to  the  hanks  hut  to 
tear  llieiii  up  and  destroy  them  root  and  hranch,  a*  '  he  hoped  to 
Casteii  upon  Mc<'lernand  tlie  impiilatioii  of  heini;  -'milk  and 
water  democrat/  and  thus  lower  him  in  the  eslimatioa  -,>!'  the  party. 
At  the  instance  of  IOi»ene/er  i'eck,  clerk  of  the  suprenu' court,  and 
others,  lie  put  up  a  notice  that  he  would  address  the  loldty  on  the 
siil»jec,r,  in  the  evcidii;;'  after  the  ic^^islatnie  had  ad  join  ncd.  .Most 
of  till*  niemhers  att4-ndc<l  to  hear  his  discourse. 
"The  next  day  .Mc( 'lernand,  who  possessed  a  kind  of  hold  and 
«lciiiiii«tiat<M'y  elo()iience,  came  down  upon  TriiinlMill  and  his  con- 
federates in  a  speech  in  the  house,  which  for  aijiumcnt,  eloiiueiico, 
and  stiiti'smanship  was  far  siiperi(»r  to  'I'rumhiiil's.  This  speech 
silenced  all  o))p<»sition  thereafter  to  the  hill  in  the  house.  The  oiit- 
<lo<tr  opp(»siti<»ii,  after  this,  fors<'ein,n'  signal  <lcfeat  in  the  house, 
tiiriiiid  their  attention  to  the  s'eiiate.  *  *  *  TriinihuU  took  his 
.stand  in  the  l(d>hy  uiid  sent  in  amendments  of  every  sort,  to  l)e, 
jM'oposed  hy  <  'rain,  of  \Vashiii;;loii.  {,'atliii,  of  St.  ( 'lair,  and  otheis, 
'i'iic  inod(^  ol'  attack  was  to  load  it  <lo\\ii  with  ohiioxioiis  aiiiend- 
iiienls,  .so  as  to  make  it  odious  to  its  aiit  h'  >i's  ;  and  'i'riimhiill  openly 
hoas(e<l  that  tiie  i)ill  would  he  .so  altered  and  aim-ndcd  in  the  sen- 
ate that  the  frainers  in  the  house  w<»iild  not  know  their  own  hant- 
liiii''  wliea  it  cuiiie  hack  to  them.     From  this  inonieiit  i  detcnnined 


r  •'His  (luiirri'i  with  .McClernurKl  Kpniiii.' (iiit  of  his  iip)u)iiitiMi.|it  totlii!  otrn'c  ot  sec- 
rcliiry  (if  State  twd  yi'iiis  bi'lori,'.  .NlcfClci-tiand  was  ii  mi'iiilicr  iil'  1 1)(  l(vlslat\ii-u  in 
I.SIH,  iiiit  not  iR'ilitr  Mil  iip|ili<'ant  ilii'ii,  .III  .(."(■  Il(>i|i;las  was  apiioiiitc  I  at  the  licfriiiiiin); 
of  the  scHsioii  without  opposirioii  Hut  wlicii  Oouirlas  was  olcctcil  a  Jiuiuc  of  tlic  .su- 
preme court,  toward  the  end  of  I  lie  session,  .VtcClernand  ineited  his  f  riend.s  to  jret  up 
III  Ills  faviir  a  stroiiti:  re<;oiiiMiendation  from  the  iiiemlMis  of  I  lie  !■  uislatiire  for  t  he  vu- 
eaiit  olliee.  •  •  •  (iov.  Carliii  liad  already  allo>\ed  tlie  iiienilieisof  the  li'^fislii- 
tiireand  his  political  friends  to  dictate  to  hini  the  appointnieiit  of  McCleriiaiid  on  a 
former  occasion  He  hail  lately  yiiilded  to  similar  dictation  in  the  ainiointinent  of 
OouKlaK  in  opposition  to  his  own  wishvs,  for  lie  hiiii  previously  inoinisid  t  he  olliee  to 
Isaac  \  Morris,  id  tJiiincv  |HeJ  suliseipienlly  used  his  inlluencc  with  the  letrislature 
to  irct  Morris  elected  to  the  olHce  ol  president  of  the  board  of  canal  coinmissioiiera. 
Uiit  tills  ('(Jiitest  lictween  McC!ler;iaiid  and  Triindiull  took  placeat  the  close  id' the  aes- 
Pioii.  wlien  the  sroveriior  had  iiotliiiiur  more  to  liopi'  or  fear  from  tual  leifislatiire.  *  ♦ 
Truiiiluill  was  iioiiiinatetl  to  the  setiate  ;  and  .McClernand  iind  Sldelilstis  iiiijiie(liiitely 
went  to  work  in  that  liody  to  procure  the  reject ioii  of  his  appoint  meiit.  Tliey  camb 
within  a  xote  or  two  of  defeat  insr  his  nomination.  Ever  since  then  t  lie  re  has  bleu  uo 
good  leelinsf  between  McCleriiaiiU  and  Triiinbull,"— Ford's  Hi.story. 


470  IIISTOP.Y    Ol'    ILLINOIS. 


to  icmovc  Triiiiilmll  IVoin  the  oDU'v  of  jsccrctaiy  ol'  State,  [which 
■\vas  (h)iH'J.  Tiic  obnoxious  ainciMliiiciils  were  icjcctcd,  aixl  tlie 
l)ill  passed  by  a  hirii'e  majority,  and  \v;is  approved  l>y  the  eoiiiieil 
of  i'e\  isioii.  Iiid^c  Doii.uias,  not \viliislaiidiii,i:  lie  had  advised  the? 
ineasnve  before  the  llnanee  eoiiuiiitlee.  voted  aj^aiiist  it  in  eouiieil. 
[TIk^  bill  i)assed  the  lionse  by  107  foi-  to  4  a,i;aii:st.1  A  bill 
somewhat  similar,  passed  ii.  iclation  to  the  Sliawneetown  Irnnk. 
]'.y  these  two  bills  tin;  domestic  treasnry  of  the  Slate  v  as  'it  oneo 
relieved,  and  another  debt  of  !i!L!,.")0(i,()(l(>  was  extinj^uished  imme- 
diately. 

'•The  le.uislalure  at  this  session  also  jiassed  laws  for  the  sale  of 
State  lands  and  properi\  ;  for  the  reception  of  the  distribntiv(^ 
share  of  the  Stat;  in  liie  inoceeds  of  the  sales  of  the  i)nblic  lands  ; 
foi-  the  re(h'mptio.i  of  interest  bonds  liypotheeated  to  IMacalister 
and  Stel)l)ins,  and  for  a,  loan  of  >'l.(i(l(),()0()  to  complete  the  Illinois 
and  Michij^an  canal.  I»y  these  vaiions  laws  provision  was  made 
for  the  I'cdnction  of  the  State  debt  to  the  anioniit  of  eijjht  oi  nine 
inillions  of  dollars.  *  *  From  this  moment  the  affairs  of  the 
State  be,i;an  to  bii^hten  and  improve.  Anditor's  warrants  rose  to 
S3  and  !MI  per  cent,  "tate  boinis  rose  from  It  to  I'd,  ;;(►  and  40 
I)er  cent.  Tlu' l>anks  bejian  to  jtay  out  tlieir  sju'cie.  and  within 
thre«'  iiKnilhs  time  the  cnrreiu-y  was  restored,  conlidenc*'  was  in- 
creased in  the  prosj)ccts  of  the  Stale,  and  the  tide  of  emij^ratiou 
was  once  more  directed  to  Illinois"* 

lint  the  new  canal  loan  ol'  .*1.()()0,000  v.wt  v\itli  delay  in  its  ne- 
j;()tiati(»n.  ICnropean  capitalists  \\«'re  well  dispos«'d  toward  if.  but 
tliei'e  was  no  reliable  evidence  placed  before  them  as  to  the  vahut 
of  the  canal;  nor  wcic  they  willin.u'  to  take  the  loan  without 
S(»me  evidence  of  public  fnilh  and  icconiiition  of  tli:  c.»lij;a.!on  of 
the  State,  and  some  le<;isIalion  I'oi'  taxation  to  make  at  least  a  be- 
};iiinin<>'  to  i)ay  interest  on  the  public  debt. 

In  liis  messajic  to  the  lcj;islature  of  lS44-r),  tlx-refoie,  (!ov. 
jM)rd  rccomnu'ndcd  taxation.  In  Septcinbei'  pr<'ccdin^,  however, 
]\Ir.  \\'illiam  S.  AN'ait,  of  Kond  connly,  thion^li  his  puldished  let- 
ter to  the  f>'overnor  against  taxation,  had  already  afforded  him  aii 
opportunity  to  make  known  Ids  views  in  a  j>u!tlic  letter  written  in 
reply,  which  did  ui'eat  <"redit  to  his  sentiments  of  honcU'  and  ca- 
])acity  as  a  sagacious  slalesniiin.  It  j^ained  a  w  idcciicul.ition  and 
])rodnced  so  favorable  an  ctfect  in  Kurope  as  to  immediately  cans(^ 
the  comi)letiou  of  the  subs<Miption  to  the  loan,  'the  State  revenue 
was  derived  from  a  land  lax,  a  poition  of  which  had  been  in  l,Sl,'7 
diverted  to  the  counties  then  j;cnerally  in  debt,  to  aid  them  toward 
the  ere(!tion  of  conit-houses  and  Jails,  which  luul  lun^  sine*'  Iteen 
built,  and  tin;  .governor  in  his  inessa,u(^  says  : 

"  This  land  tax  on^ht  to  bo  rosunied  to  the  State  treasury.  Fre(|uent 
attempts  have  Ix'cn  made  to  eircct  this,  liut  witliout  ^access.  Theohjee- 
tion  Juis  always  licen  that  there  was  nioie  land  ta.valilc  in  the  old  tiian 
in  tlie  new  i)artof  tlie  State,  and  tliat  tlu'  nu'asnri'  would  l)e  iiiK'(piaI. 
[I'nder  the  ('onijiact  with  couKresH  in  tlie  enaliliiiK  act  of  ISIK,  lauds 
were  uot  to  he  taxed  till  live  _>eais  al'tei'  their  entry.]  I  would  rt'ciiui- 
ineud  that  the  additioiud  revenui-  thus  derivi'd.  anil  such  additional 
tax  as  the  legislature  in  its  wisdoui  will  jirovidc  lor,  ho  lornu'd  into  a 
fund,  the  proceoils  and  iu('roaso  oi  whicli  shall  he  sacred  and  dotiieated 
to  the  extinction  of  si  i)ortion.  however  small  at  lirst,  of  Ihi'  interest  on 
the  puhlie  dehl.     Wluitever  we  do  in  this  way,  ought  to  have  the  greut- 

♦Ford's  History. 


ford's  administration.  471 

est  |)iTiimn('iicy.  *  *  Ami  tlius  hy  settiiij^  a  limit  to  the  fears  and 
imaKiiiatii)iiH  of  men  in  rt'lation  to  the  Inifjc  idianloni  of  expected  taxes, 
we  nii^lit  reasonably  calculate  to  restore  ourselves  in  the  estimation  of 
mankind,  turn  the  tide  of  em  iff  ration  again  into  our  country,  acconi- 
l)anied  by  wealth  and  intelligence." 

But  from  various  causes  (piite  iiu  o])])ositi(Hi  hud  been  raised  to 
llie  a<lniinistralioii.  Tlii,-'  j^rcw  out  of  tlie  "  .Morinan  war,''  ami 
llic  Jealousies  of  [)olitieal  aspiiants.  Two  hank  coniiuissioiiers,  a 
secretary  of  state,  three  ju(lj>es  of  the  sui)reine  eouit,  and  a,  IJ.  8. 
sena'oi'  had  been  ai>|iointed.  I''or  tli(>se  olliees  there  were  uiany 
applicants,  and  tlie  disa[)])ointed  ones  Joined  tiieir  inllnence  too]>- 
])ose  the  adiniiiistiation  measures,  i^lally  eliai'^cs  were  bionj^Iit 
a;nainst  tli<'  a<lministi'atiou  and  an  iiivestij;atin<;'  committee  was 
appointed,  which,  wiiiie  it  made  a  tiioronj;ii  in(piisitiou  of  tlie  (!X- 
eeutive  olliees  and  found  uolidn};'  amiss,  still  di<l  not  possess  the 
majiiianimity  to  make  any  report  at  all — "tlie  newest  way  cd'dis- 
ereditinj;'  an  adnuiiistratiou,"  which  oufj;ht  to  be  patented,  says  his 
eoveelk'uey. 

The  main  a<bninistration  measure  at  this  session  was  a  sup]»le- 
uuMital  (!aual  bill,  and  to]»)'o\ide  for])ayin}>'  a  ]>ortion  of  the  inter- 
est on  the  State  debt,  it  piovided  for  a  transfer  of  1  mill  from 
the  county  to  tlx' State  tax,  so  as  to  make  the  State  tax  ."i  mills, 
the  latter  to  remain  pernninent,  and  toj^'ether  with  all  suiplus 
money.'  in  tlu' treasury  constitute  an  "interest  Fuml,"  to  be  sa- 
credly set  ai)art  for  tln^  ])aynM'iit  of  interest  on  tlie  ])ublie,  debt. 
'J'he  bill  jiiviiiji"  to  the  foreijiu  bondhohleis  two  canal  trustees  and 
to  the  State  but  one,  afterwaids  divided  and  ]»assed  in  two  laws, 
was  jirepared  in  aeeordance  witli  tlie  proiiositions  of  tlie  foreijuir 
<'reditors,  as  made  by  the  JJoston  eommittee,  (loverior  Davis,  of. 
Massachusetts,  and  JMi*.  Leavitt,  (d"  Is'ew  York,  beinj;  present 
duriiij;'  the  latter  part  of  the  session. 

JU'sides  disaffected  democrats,  a  strenuous  eifort  vas  made 
to  array  the  wlii<;'  paity  in  oitjxisition  to  this  measnic.  To  this 
end  a  secret  meetiiif;'  of  the  \\lii>;'  leach'rs  was  called  <o  form  a 
coalition  with  the  soiithein  democrats,  JJiit  to  tlies«  intri,iiiies, 
fraii.uht  witli  mischief  to  the  eicdit  and  i)rosperity  of  the  Slate, 
.liidjic  Stephen  T.  Lo;;an,  of  Sjuin^ntield,  N.  I).  Stronj;,  of  Alton, 
and  other  whi^i's,  set  their  faces  as  steel  ;  and  in  the  liouse  these 
machinations  met  with  si<>iial  <lefeat,  the  bill  passinji'  by  some  L'O 
majority.  Jn  the  senate,  altera  siibstitue  olfercd  by  Ivlwards  and 
aineiidments  by  \Vorthiii.yloii  and  Constable,  (whijus,)  all  teiidin};- 
toits  defeat,  were  voted  down,  that  body  refused  to  order  the  bill 
to  a  third  icadiiii;' — 1!>  to  22.  Now  followed  much  ])arliameiitary 
maniieveriiiy,  and  cliarj;es  of  bribery  and  coirupt ion  were  IVcely 
made. 

"The  vote  on  the  bill  in  the  senate  beinji  reeonsideicd.  it  was 
referred  to  a  select  committee,  tojicther  with  another  iiill  of  an 
important  character,  which  had  already  ]»assed  the  lioiise  of  rep- 
resentatives. It  was  known  that  one  senator  would  not  vote  for 
the  taxand  the  canal  both  in  the  same  bill.  J>y  their  connect  ion 
the  tax  was  made  to  appear  as  a  local  im'asure.  intended  only  for 
the  beiielit  of  the  north.  The  committee,  therefore,  divided  tin; 
bill.  They  struck  out  of  tluM*anal  bill  all  that  related  to  a  tax, 
and  they  struck  out  all  of  tlie  bill  nderred  with  it,  aiid  inserted 
the  taxing  part  in  that.    And  these  two  bills  being  now  rexiorted 


472  IIISTOUY   OF  ILLINOIS. 

IdjicU  to  the  soiiiilc,  the  senate  eoiicuiTeil  in  tlii'ir  passage  as  thus 
anieiuk'd.  Tlicy  were  sent  back  to  the  house  the  same  hour  for 
concurrciice.  wliich  was  jiiven  ;  and  thus  lliese  important  meas- 
ures j)asse(l  into  laws;  or  jalliei'  tlu'y  wahbled  throuyli  the  U'j;is- 
hiture.  To  Tiionuis  ^1.  Kili>atriek,  senator  from  Seott,  is  due  the 
]n)nor  of  tlie.  <;(M)d  imiiiaficnu-nt  in  tlie  senate,  in  dividiu<i'  and 
anieiidiM^  tlie  measure,  and  thus  securiiij;'  its  passa;;('.  J  j^ive  the 
facts,  curious  as  tiu'V  mav  ajqiear,  to  illustrate  the  fertile  j^cuius  of 
Avestern  men.  ami  as  a  specimen  of  the  nu)dcs  of  le<;islatiou  in  a 
new  country.'"* 

Thus  \\as  shown  a  recoj^iiitiou  of  our  oltlijiatiou  to  i)ay  t)  ■  ^tub- 
lie  debt,  and  a  wiliiugness  to  contribute  to  do  so  as  far  a.  .tv  in 
our  ]»ower.  This,  too,  at  a  i)eriod  of  sore  trial  to  the  i»eople  of  the 
tStale.  For  the  two  precedinu'  seasons  the  crops  had  been  a  jiar- 
tial  I'ailure;  th«'  u  ijaccedented  freshets  of  the  ^lississipj)],  the 
Illinois  and  many  oilier  streams  in  the  JState,  in  1S44,  had  de- 
stroyed a  l.iriic  auHiunt  of  ])ro|ierty.  and  laid  waste  many  a  home- 
stead ;  and  an  unusual  amount  of  sickne>s  had  not  only  Ibllowcd 
in  the  wake  of  the  thtods,  but  jii'iicrally  pervaded  the  country. 

Anothei  "Hard  Times'*  measure,  adopted  at  this  session,  was 
the  reduction  of  interest  to  (>  ]»er  cent.  Duriuj;  the  tlush  times, 
juior  to  bS4((,  when  money  was  abundant  and  niilimiled,  the  peo- 
ple overtraded  tlii'iiiselves,  and,  liiially,  on  settlement,  jiavc  their 
])romissory  notes,  bearing-  lli  ])er  cent,  interest,  which  they  did 
ral  her  than  be  sued  and  have  their  i)ro))crty  sohl  undei  I'xeculioii. 
The  reader  will  Innc  iiotici'd  thai  lor  Iweuty-live  yi'ars  the  ten- 
dency of  legislation  in  Illinois,  and  indeed  all  western  states,  u 
leiideiicy  not  yet  arrested,  was  to  favor  the  debtor  classes. 
.  At  the  close  of  (iov.  l'\u(rs  admiiiislratioii.t  we  liiid  the  domes- 
tic debt  tbi'  the  ordinary  e.\|ieiises  of  the  8tale  government  to  be 
only  !J.'>l,L'lL',  instead  of  .•?);) lo.UdO  as  when  he  came  into  oflice  ; 
now,  without  the  sum  diu'  from  the  general  government  to  the 
school  fund  being  paid,  there  was  in  the  treasury  s^iM'liO,  when  at 
that  lime  ii  did  notcontain  enough  to  jtay  [lostageon  a  letter;  now, 
auditor's  warrants  were  worth  over  DO  cents  on  the  dollar,  then, 
not  .")(> ;  now,  people  were  in  the  main  out  of  debt,  then  they  were 
overwhelmed  with  luivate  liabilities.  The  banks  luul  been  put 
into  li<iui(latioii  ami  gradually  wound  U]),  their  depreciated  circu- 
lation retired  and  replaced  by  a  reasonable  aluindance  of  specie 
and  the  issiu's  of  solvent  banks  from  other  IStates.  J>y  exchang- 
ing the  bank  stock  of  tlu'  State  for  the  bonds,  and  tli<^  sale  of 
public  jiroperty,  about  $;),(l()0.(l(H)  of  the  jiublic  deb.t  had  been 
extinguished  ;  and  by  the  canal,  then  i)romising  to  be  complete«l 
within  the  next  year,  some  .*',"»,(I(MI,(I(»(»  more  were  etfectually  pro- 
vided for  in  the  enhanced  value  of  the  canal  ])roperty,  and  the 
fact  of  its  conveyance  in  trust  to  the  tbreign  canal  bond  holders  : 
being  a  redact i<ni  of  some  .*S,()()(>,(»()(),  extinguished  and  juovided 
for,  during'  (iov.  Fords'  adiuinistratiou,  notwithstanding  itsbegin- 
ing  under  circumstances  tlie  most  adverse  and  unpromising.  T)  3 
State,  which  lor  years  before  had  been  overwhelmed  with  debt; 
■which  had  not  lor  4  y<'ars  ])aid  even  interest  on  its  bonds,  and 
loth  to  even  recognize  its  jmblic  debt;  which  was  on  the  brink  of 
repudiation — discredited  throughout  the  civilized  world,  had  dur- 

♦1  Ford's  History. 

*See  Ills  iiiessugo,  Dec.  1848. 


FORD'S  ADMINISTRATION.  473 

iii<>liis  iKliiiiiiistiiition  its  credit  jiiciitly  restored,  and  wtib  enabled 
t(t  borrow  .'r'l.OiMMKtO  (<>  eoiiiplete  file  canal.  It  now  liad  a  jiopu- 
lalion  of  altont  7(10,0(10,  and  tlie  1.^  mill  tax  to  be  e.\clu- 
sively  ajiplied  as  intei'cst  on  tlie  i)ublic  debt,  would  yield  ibi  tlio 
year"  ISKI,  !j'lL'.">,(iOO.  ^\"\\]\  llie  <lissi])at ion  ol"  llie  clouds  of 
tlireateninji'  dislionor,  einiiiiation,  with  an  increasing;'  tide,  a^aiu 
sought  onr  lands  for  lionies,  and  i»oi)nlation  was  auj;ineiitinj>' 
faster  than  any  jirevious  time.  Tlie  list  of  taxable  projierty,  and 
tlie  aj'<iTef;ate  wealth  of  the  State,  was  rajtidly  on  the  increase. 
From  the  people  here,  erst  so  anxious  to  sell  out  and  de]»art  the 
State,  the  terrors  of  lii^li  taxation  had  been  I'cmoved,  and  now 
when  o])i>ortunity  to  sell  and  leave  was  almost  daily  i)reseiited, 
they  were  content  to  remain.  'I'lie  reputation  of  Illinois  before 
the  ci\  ilized  W(nld,  now  stood  forth  almost  without  spot  or  blem- 
ish, the  jH'er  in  honor  and  credit  of  any  in  the  sisterhood  of 
States.  The  year  184.")  was  the  turning;'  ])oint  in  her  linaneial  em- 
barrassments, and  marks  the  l»e;;inninj;  of  her  since  unabated 
pros]»ei'ity  and  march  to  .lireatness. 

•'•Wv  may  date  tins  commencement  of  our  returning:'  jirospciity 
to  tlio  passage  of  that  law" — the  law  re(piiring  the  banks  of  this 
Stale  to  ])ut  their  ali'aii's  in  process  of  uiadiial  li<|uidation — says 
(iov.  French  in  his  inaugural  message.  This  law,  we  have  seen, 
wa.s  conceived  by  the  brain  and  drafted  by  the  liand  of  Ciov. 
Ford  himself;  tlirough  his  admirable  letter  in  reply  to  W.  S. 
\Vait.  of  1)011(1  county,  onr  foreign  creditors  took  heart  and  siib- 
.scribed  the  money  for  the  completion  of  the  canal  ;  he  had  the 
courage  to  recommend  taxation,  and  suggested  the  ])ermaiiant 
tax  or  "interest  fund"  bill,  which  after  a  severe  struggle  became  a 
law.  We  see  thus  the  directing  linger  of  (lo\-.  Ford  in  every  im- 
)>ortant  measure  which  aided  in  restoiing  the  cicdit  of  the  State, 
and  snatching  it  from  the  jaws  of  rejuuliation  and  dishoncu'. 
z\nd  this  was  done,  not  with  the  united  sii])])ort  of  his  own  i>ai'ty 
friends,  but  in  the  face  of  their  many  iiitiigues.  Jealousies  and 
party  nmchinatioMs.  Illinois  was  most  fortunat<^  in  securing  his 
services  for  its  helm  of  State  at  this  ciilical  Juncture  of  her  linan- 
eial career;  and  i)osterity  will  ever  ow(^  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  liim 
for  his  clear  insight  into  the  comlition  other  affairs,  the  meas- 
ures which  his  genius  brought  forward  for  her  extrication,  and  the 
fidelity  with  which  he  discharged  the  high  trust  rei)osed  in  him  at 
this  crisis  in  her  history.  In  his  valedictoiT  message  he  says: 
"Without  having  indulged  in  wasteful  or  extraxagant  habits  of 
living,  I  retire  from  oflice  ])oorer  than  1  canu'  in  ;  and  go  to  pii- 
vate  lite  with  a  full  deteiniination  not  to  seek  again  any  ])lace  in 
tlu^  government."  (Jov.  I'\)i'd  died,  Nov.  I'd,  Lsr)0,  at  i*eoria,  in 
very  indigent  (;ircumstances. 


ClIAPTEK  XL. 
TnE  ILLINOIS  ANJ)  i^IlCniGAN  CANAL. 
Trials  and  Troublca  Incident  to  its  Construction, 


Tlu'  iini)()i"tiiii('('  of  a  ciuial  coniiccting  tluMvaters  of  Lake  Mi<!h- 
i^aii  and  those  of  ilic  Illinois  livcr,  and  tlu-ncc  by  otlicr  iiaA'i^ablo 
Htieauis  liuiidit'd  miles  in  extent  to  the  (lulf  of  iMexiito,  was  at  a 
very  early  tinieapiJiceiated.  and  its  eoiisnniniation  A/iidlyeherislied. 
The  I'reneh  traders  and  voya,i;('iirs  in  their  explorations  of  the 
Avest,  between  one  and  two  eentnries  since,  i)assed  with  their  boats 
from  Ijake  jNliehi^an  into  the  l)es  Plaines  at  some  seasons  of  tlie 
year,  via  the  Calumet  river  and  lake.  The  ])ortajie  between  thv 
south  branch  ol'  the  Chica.^o  river  and  the  Des  IMaines  was  only 
some  live  or  six  miles.  Cntil  the  artiticial  connection  between  thi^ 
waters  of  Lake  i\Iichij;a!i  and  the  Illinois  river  \\ as  ])raetically 
essayeil,  it  was  reyurded  as  of  easy  accomplishment;  but  the  facts 
lia\t  shown  the  contrary.  The  camil,  which  in  ISLM  and])rior  was 
estimated  at  $04(),()()().  has  lirst  and  last,  in(;ludinj;'  the  Chica<;() 
deepening-  for  sanitary  puriK)ses,  cost  near  twenty  times  that 
sum. 

During  the  war  of  1S12,  with  the  massacre  at  the  n)outh  of  the 
Chicago,  and  the  reti'cat  of  the  savages  westward,  initional  atten- 
tion was  first  directed  to  the  importance  of  this  work,  and  the 
]>rcsidcnt  in  his  message  in  ISM  brought  the  subject  to  the  atten- 
of  congress,  and  a  select  committee  rejtorteil  it  as  "tlu'  great  work 
of  the  age,"  for  both  military  and  commercial  purposes.  "Jn 
18H>,"  says  (lov.  Ivlwards.  who  was  one  of  the  commissioneis,  "a 
tract  of  laiul  bounded  on  Lake  Mi(;liigan,  iiu-luding  Chicago  and 
extending'  to  the  Illinois  river,  was  obtained  from  the  Lulians,  for 
the  ])urpose  of  opening  a  canal  communication  between  the  lake 
and  the  river.  *  *  I  ]>ersona1ly  know  that  the  Indians  were 
induced  to  believe  that  the  opening  of  the  canal  would  be  very 
advantageous  to  them,  and  that,  under  authorized  ex])eetations 
that  this  would  be  done,  they  ceded  the  land  fo'' a  tritle.' *  In 
1817,  Major  liong  nuide  a  report  to  congress  that  "a  canal,  uniting 
the  waters  of  the  Illinois  river  with  those  of  Lake  IMichigan,  nniy 
be  considered  the  lirst  in  importance  of  any  in  this  quarter  of  the 
country,  ami  the  construction  Avonld  be  attended  with  vei-y  little 
exiteuse  comi)ai'ed  with  the  magiutude  of  the  object."  Another 
rejiort  favorable  to  the  canal  was  at  that  time  nuide  by  IJichard 
Graham  and  Chief  .histice  Phillips,  of  this  Stafe.t  In' l.Sl!>,  ]\lr. 
Calhoun,  secretary  of  war,  diiccted  the  atteiitior'  of  congress  lo  the 


'EdwnrAs'  Life  of  Edwiirds. 
+:bi<l 


474 


ILLINOIS  AND  MICHIGAN  CANAL. 


475 


Ciiiiiil  on  Jiccoiiiif  of  its  importuiH'c  for  militiiry  j)iiri)o.s('s,*  In 
ISL'L'  coii^in'ss  iuitlioriz»'(l  tliis  State  to constnui  the  ciinal  tliroii;;li 
tli<  ;»iil)lir  lands,  ;;iantin<;'  for  tlie  purjjose  a  strip  of  };ronn(l  \H) 
feet  in  width  on  hotii  sides  of  it,  and  rcscivinj;'  tlic  lands  tlironiuli 
uliicli  it  nii;;iil  i>ass  from  sale  until  furtlicr  direction.  It  \vastol»«! 
cttinineneed  witiiin  three  and  eonijdeted  witliin  twelve  .years.  To 
the  State  was  iiiven  the  prixilej-c  of  takiii;:;  Ironi  tlu^  i^overMiiient 
l!;nd,  material  for  its  eonstrnetion.  I'pon  this  slender  bej;inninj;' 
conji'ress  suhseipiently  enlarjicd  eonsideialily. 

in  ISIS,  (iov.  IJoncl,  in  his  messa<i<',  stronj;l.v  rceomineiided  the 
eonstrnetion  of  tin;  eanal;  (lovernor  ('oles,  tbnr  years  later,  did  the 
same,  and  every  ^i'overnor  of  the  State  espoused  its  cause.  No 
sectional  ((uestion  was  nnule  of  it  lor  many  years.  The  lej;islatui'e, 
at  the  session  of  JSl'1'-;J,  appointed  a  hoard  of  eanal  eommissoners 
"to  make  or  cause  to  Ix'  made,  estimates,  etc.,  for  com plelinj;  said 
eanal,"  and  report  to  the  next  general.  assend)ly.  Emanuel  ,1. 
West,  Kiiistus  IJrown,  Theoi»ilus  \V.  Snntli,  'J'homas  Sloe,  jr.,  and 
Samuel  Alexander  were  ajtpointed  comnnssioners.  The  board 
employed  Jfene  Paul,  of  St.  Lous,  and  .lustine  Post,  as  enuineers 
to  survey  the  loute  and  make  out  the  estimates.  They  rei»orte<l 
the  r(»nte  hi;.ihly  practicable  and  estimated  the  (!osl  of  the  work  at 
from  .^(JIO.OOO  to  not  exceediii.u  $7!(!,1 10.71,  wliicli  lias  proven  to 
be  \ery  wide  of  tin'  mark.  The  examination  was  superficial  and 
no  i<lea  was  foiined  of  the  amount  of  rock  excavation  which 
afterwards  ]>rovod  so  tbnnidable.  These  preliminary  stei).s  cost  the 
State  !ii<l(),r)Sl>.S7.t 

J'>y  act  of  ,Ian.  19,  lS2r),  the  "Illinois  and  Michijian  Canal  Asso- 
(tiation.''  with  a  capital  of  .'!*l,000,(H»b  was  incoi'porated.  The  com- 
]>;;ny  was  \^:  build  and  eomi)let(^  the  canal  within  10  year's  tinui; 
to  receive  for  its  own  use  and  beiietitall  the  public  lands  which  the 
L'lii'ed  States,  St.;tes,  oi'  individuals  ini,iiht  donate  in  aid  of  the 
undertakin.i;,  and  the  tt)lls  lor  oO  years  after  its  completion;  at  the 
exi)iratioii  of  Avhich  time  the  canal  and  all  its  unsold  lands  were  to 
be  tnined  oxer  to  the  State  ami  the  total  sum  ex]»en(ledin  its  con- 
struction, with  (i  i>er  cent  int«'rest.  was  to  be  i)aid. 

TJK'  act,  alter  its  ])assa}ii',  incurred  the  strenuous  opposition  of 
the  lion.  Daniel  1*.  Cook,  (uir  only  mend)er  in  conyri'ss.  A  <:rant 
of  land  for  the  consti'uction  of  the  eanal,  n])on  the  .ground  of  its 
national  <'haracter,  was  then  with  some  def;ree  of  eonlideuce  look- 
ed Ibrward  to  duiinji'  tln^  administration  of  Mr.  Adams.  The 
House  eomnnttee,  thronjih  Mr.  Cook,  had  made  a  favorable  re- 
l)oit  upon  it.  l>iit  the  act  of  tliP  leyislature,  by  which  any  bonus 
to  aid  the  work,  was  in  advaiu-e  turned  over  to  a  <'oii)oration  of 
private  individuals,  would  i)rol)ably  defeat  the  nieasuie  in  con- 
gress. Mr.  ('ook  pul)lished  a  lonj;'  address  to  his  constituents, 
under  date  of  Oct.  I'S,  ISL','),  forcibly  attacking;'  the  canal  ])olicy  of 
the  State;  urgiujH'  the  Icfiislatuie  to  resume  its  ])ossession  and  re- 
peal the  charter  befoic  any  work  was  commenced,  and  the  claim 
of  vested  rights  should  be  set  up.  He  demanded  "that  the  rich 
harvest  wliich  it  was  <lestined  to  yield,  should  f;o  into  the  treas- 
uie  of  the  State;"  and  declared  "that  in  less  than  .'50  years  it 
would  relieve  ilie  peoi)le  from  the  paynu'ut  of  taxi-r,,  and  even 
leave  a  surplus  to  be  api)lied  to  other  works  of  jmblitt  utility." 


■.■;i 


•Vol.  4  Put),  line.  15  (Numri'ss. 3(1  session. 

tSee  Ueport  ot  George  Foi(iiiei',Seiiute  Journal,  session  1834-5. 


470 


IIISTOKV    OK   ILLINOIS. 


Tlii'so  lioitcl'iil  ])i('(li('tioiis  liiive  not  hccii  riillillcd.  So  <!iii;;iiiiio 
Av;i.s  lu',  tliiit  to  liii.sc  caitit;!!  to  Itiiild  tlic  caiuil,  lie  was  ivudy  to 
sell  or  |(l('(l;n«'  a  niillioii  acres  of  the  sclictol  lands  to  carry  I'orward 
llic  work.  r>ut  no  stock  was  cvci'  snbscrilicd  l>,v  tlic"<"anal  asso- 
ciation;'' tlic  incorporators  \oIuntarily  .siirrcudt'it'd  their  cliartcr 
and  tiie  act  was  repealed. 

Tlds  obstacle  out  of  the  vay,  tlie  lefiislatnre,  at  tlic  sjieeial  ses- 
sion of  .January,  IHUd,  called  l>y  actin;^'  (lov.  lluhbard,  transmitted 
to  con;i;ress  a  \ cry  able  memorial,  diafted  by  Mr.  Kussell,  of  Hond, 
prayinj;'  aid  for  tlie  caiud.  We  (piote  two  sentences:  '-TIh'  cou- 
strnction  of  the  canal,  unitin,ti'  the  waters  <d'  Lake  iMiclii,i;an  with 
the  lllin(»is  ri\'er,  will  foiin  an  important  addition  to  the  .ureal  con- 
necting- linkb  in  the  chain  of  internal  na\a,nation.  which  will 
ell'ectually  >5ecure  the  indissoluble  union  of  the  confederate  mem- 
bers of  this  ,i;reat  and  powerful  republic.  I>y  the  completion  of 
this  i^i'cat  and  \alual>le  work,  the  connection  between  the  north 
and  ^iouth,  the  east  and  west,  would  be  stren,ulheiu'd  by  the  ties 
uf  commercial  intercourse  and  social  neighborhood,  and  the  union 
of  States  bid  defiance  to  internal  commotion,  sectituial  Jealousy, 
and  I'oieij;!!  in\asion."' 

The  memorial,  toj;t'ther  witli  the  cilbrts  of  our  delej;ati(tn  in 
oon.L;rcss,  ("ook  (in  tlic  house.)  and  i\aiu'  and  'I'homas  (in  the  sen- 
ate), but  notably  tlielirst  named,  whose  ^enial  inliuence  and  un- 
tiling; labors  in  this  l»ehalf  lia\e  placed  the  State,  and  ]iailiculary 
(-'liica.uo,  under  lastin;u'  obli,i;ation  to  his  memory,  ]»ro(lm-ed  a 
favorable  eti'ect,  and  coiijiress  by  act  of  .March  I'd,  ISL'T,  ;:;rant- 
ed  to  the  Slate  ot  Illinois  "for  the  purpose  of  aiding'  lier  in 
openin,n' a  canal  to  connect  the  waters  of  the  Illinois  ri\er  with 
those  of  Lake  i\Iichij;an,"  the  alternate  sections  of  the  public 
lands  on  either  side  of  the  canal  for  i  'miles,  aloniu  its  entire 
route,  which  when  set  aj»art  by  the  president  were  fouiul  to  contain 
l.'l!l,.'»l'l!  acres.  The  lands  were  subject  to  the  disposal  of  the  lej^is- 
lature  '-for  the  ]»urposes  afoi'csaid,  and  no  other."  The  canal  was 
regarded  as  of  national  utility;  it  was  to  be  coiiiinenced  within  o 
years  tlierealter  and  com[)leled  within  lid;  and  if  not  so  comjile- 
ted,  the  State  was  to  pay  the  {general  j;o\eiiimeiit  for  all  lands 
sold  up  to  that  tiiiu',  and  the  remaimler  were  to  re\er1.  This 
,i;rant  was  the  bejiinninji'  of  those  entuiiious  landed  subsidies  to 
western  railroads  which  have  become  so  frecpu'iit  of  late.  i)ut  it 
will  be  noticed  that  this  and  the  next,  also  in  Illinois,  for  the  con- 
struction of  the  Central  railroad,  were  made  to  the  State,  wheie- 
as  latterly  the  j;raiits  are  to  ])rivnte  corporations  directly,  it  is  ji 
curious  fact  that  the  lar,y('ly  democratic  State  of  Illinois  obtained 
both  these  j;rants,  by  which  she  was  more  materially  beiietited 
than  all  else  ever  done  ibr  her,  fi'om  whin'  administrations. 

In  !SL'!)  the  le^islatuie  oi'<;ani/ed  a  new  board  of  canal  comnds- 
sioners,  "  to  exjilore,  examine,  fix  and  <Ieteriuiiie  the  route  <tf  the 
canal,"  dispose  by  sale  of  the  lauds  and  lots  and  coniinence  the 
W(uk.  (iov<'riior  Edwards  a])pointed  Charles  Dunn,  afterwards 
V.  S.  Jiidjic  of  Wisconsin  Territory,  Dr.  (iersham  .layiie  and  lOd- 
nioiid  Roberts,  both  of  Springfield,  as  cominissioiiers.  ¥ov  lack 
of  funds  little  or  nothing;-  was  doiu' ;  times  were  rather  hard, 
ow  in;i  to  the  financial  embarrassments  caused  by  the  old  State 
bank  of  1-S21.  Im'I).  L"),  bS.il,  an  act  amendat(»ry  'of  that  j*"  iSliO, 
was  [lassed.     Under  the  provisions  of  these  two  acts,    he  i  <;ard 


ILLINOIS  AND  MIC'IlIGAN  CANAL. 


47' 


liiid  outtlic  towns  of  Cliic'a^o  and  Ottawa,  tlic  map  of  tlic  foiinc  r, 
])n'pai('(l  h.v  .lames  Tliomjison,  wlio  made  the  s'.uveys,  beariii;; 
date  Aii<;ii,st  4,  ISiU).  W'lieii  'riiomi»soii  be^iaii  liis  siiixcvs  of 
('liica;;'o,  ill  ISl'O,  onl\  7  families  iixcd  oiitsicle  of  I''ort  Deailtorii. 
Town  lots  and  <'aiial  lands  were  sold  to  the  amount  of  .i!lS,l>Ll  l.s;!, 
and  a  re-examination  and  re-sinvey  of  the  entire  route  of  the  canal 
uere  made,  the  eiijiineer  tiiis  lime  heinjj;  Mr.  ihieklin,  whose  esti- 
mate ran  the  Avork  into  millions  instead  of  hundreds  of  thousands. 
The  (|nestion  of  bnildinj;  a  railroad  over  tJie  roide,  instead  ol  llie 
canal  was  also  considered.  'ihe  <-oininissioiiers  rejioited  their 
estimate  to  the  lejiislatnie  at  the  session  of  IS,'},'?,  the  cost  of  the 
canal  at  $4,(>4.">,.'{.St ;,.")( I — still  too  low  by  about  half — and  the  cost 
of  a  railroad  at  !5<I,().')i;,4SS,l!l.  The  cxjxtiises  of  these  examina- 
tions and  surveys  was  .*H),!>74,S;>.  The  board  of  canal  commis- 
sioiici's,  by  act  of  ]\Iar<'li  1,  IS,'!;;,  was  abolished.  1'lie  incumbents 
Avere  recpiired  to  ])ay  over  all  moneys,  and  deliver  up  all  papers, 
vouchers,  iScc,  of  their  transactions,  to  tlii'  (State  treasurer,  and 
if  ui)on  examination  any  of  the  ollicers  aforesaid  had  not  taitli- 
fidly  andl'airly  accounted  for  all  moneys  &c.,  suit  was  directed  to 
l)e  commenced  upon  their  oilicial  bonds,"  for  which  purpose,  jniis- 
diction  was  jL;i veil  to  the  Fayette  circuit  court,  its  process  rnnniny 
to  any  county  in  the  State. 

INleanwhile  there  were  various  ])roJectK  of  tnininji'  the  construe- 
tioii  of  the  canal  and  all  its  i)i()](erty  j;ifts  o\<.'r  to  a  comi)aiiy,aiid 
of  bnildinj;'  a  lailroad  instead  between  Cliica^^o  and  reiii.  Ihe 
distance  was  about  100  miles  and  the  <'ost  of  a  railroad  was  esti- 
mated at  about  $10,000  pw  mile.  At  the  time,  considerin.u  the 
exi)e(liti<)ii  with  which  railroads  are  built,  and  the  delay  which  has 
attended  the  <'r>mpletion  of  the  canal,  the  foiiner  would  doubthfss 
liav(^  served  the  country  more  acce]>tably.  A  railroad  would  have 
been  fully  adequate  to  all  the  wants  of  the  country  and  Ibr  pas- 
sen  j^cr  travel  it  is  lar  preferable,  while  for  the  transportation  of 
freijiht  it  offers  the  advantajie  of  canyinj;'  in  winter  as  well  as 
summer.  The  consent  of  con<.;ress  to  divert  so  much  of  the  avails 
oi"  the  canal  lands  as  mifilit  be  needed  for  this  object  was  readily 
obtained.  I>y  act  of  Marc-h  2d,  1<S;>3,  the  State  was  aJdhori/.ed  to 
use  the  lands  f;ianted  for  the  canal,  in  buildiiiji'  either  a  railroad 
or  canal,  as  tlie  legislature  mi^ht  electt;  and  the  time  for  coin- 
inencing-  cither  was  extended  live  years. 

In  1<S;35  the  governor  was  authorized  to  negotiate  a  loan  not  ex- 
ceei'- ■i'-"'>.w>->   <....,  I..    ..   ....    .  1  ,, x- ., I  1 1 

toll,> 

calk.     _ ^ 

sold  for  less  than  par.  (ioveiiior  Duncan  told  the  h'gislature  such 
was  the  univeisal  estimate^  of  the  importanc(^  of  the  canal  by  all 
men  of  intelligen(H',  that  he  had  no  hesitation  in  believing  ample 
funds  could  be  pro<;ured  for  its  si»eedy  comidetion.  ISut  tlie  «'IVort 
to  obtain  the  le;.n  i)roved  a  failure.  Kx-Gov.  ("oles,  residing  at 
Philadelphia,  vvas  deputed  to  negotiate  the  loan  for  the  full  sum 
authorized,  tinder  date  of  April  L'8,  1S;}5,  he  wrote  tliat  capital- 
ists wore  unwilling  to  take  it  because  the  bonds  were  not  based  up- 
on the  faith  of  the  State.  Nor  were  any  funds  for  the  payment  ot 
either  principal  or  interest  provided,  excei)t  su<!U  as  might  arise 
from  the  lands  and  net  revenues  of  the  canal. 


In  1<S;35  the  governor  was  authorized  to  negotiate  a  loan  not  ex- 
ceeding $000,000,  "solely  on  the  pledge  of  the  canal  lands  and 
tolls,"  for  the  construction  of  the  canal.  The  stock  was  to  be 
called  ''  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal  stock,"  and  in  no  case  to  be 


478 


mSTOIlY  OF   ILLINOIS. 


To  iiKM't  tlicsc  objections,  tlie  act  of  .Iiiii.  1),  IH'M'.,  wa.s  pufssed, 
Aviiicli  icpt-iilcd  tlic  roi'iiicr  net  :iii<l  Miitliori/cd  tlic  siiiiic  lo.iii  of 
iis."iO(>,()0((  oil  tlic  nvdit  uimI  I'liitli  of  the  Slate,  iirevoeaMy  i»le(l<;('(l 
for  tlie  payiMeiit.  oi'  tlie.  eaiial  stoek  and  its  aceruiii;^-  interest. 
.James  .M.  Strode,  a  senator  I  lien  i(']»reseiitin;i  all  the  eoiiiitiy  iioith 
of  and  inelinlin;;'  I'eoriii,  iiitrodiieed  this  Itill,  wiiicli  served  as  an 
enterin;;'  wedj^e  to  llie  Stale  treasury,  and  became  the  inoiU'l  for 
siil»se(jiient  liUi'  le;;islalioii.  Tlie  money  boi'i'owed,  lacininms  on 
sales  ol  sloek.  tlie  proceeds  of  the  canal  lands  and  lots,  and  all 
other  moneys  arisini;  from  the  canal,  were  to  constitute  a  fiiiul 
sacred  to  the  canal  till  il  was  completed,  except  to  pay  interest  on 
the  stocks.  The  board  of  canal  eoiiiiiiissioncrs  was  constituted  ii 
body  politic  and  corporate,  subject  to  the  control  of  the  j;o\»'riioi", 
one  was  to  be  the  acting;'  commissioner  and  general  s\ijicrinten- 
deiit  of  the  work,  who  was  to  report  to  the  board.  They  were  to 
hoi<l  till  .binnary  Ibllowiii;^:.  when  commissioners  were,  made  elec- 
tive biennially.  The  salaiy  <»!'  the  aclinji'  coimiiissioiier  was 
$1,1.'()(>,  and  the  compensation  of  tin'  otlier  tw(»  -i!;)  per  day  when 
employed,  .\baieys  from  sale  of  sf»»ck  or  other  sources  were  to  be 
deposited  in  the  Slat<'  banks,  to  be  thence  diawn  as  needed  by 
wariaiits  on  the  treasurer.  Imniediate  steps  were  to  be  taken  for 
the  constrnction  of  the  canal,  the  contracts  to  l>e  let  to  the  lowest 
Itidder.  .Materials  for  the  canal  were  exemitted  from  execution. 
''Town  sites  were  to  be  located  and  lots  sold  at  auction.  A  sale  of 
Ottawa  lots,  and  the  fractional  section  No.  15,  atljoininj;-  Chicaj^'o, 
Avas  made  .June  I'O,  bSKJ;  the  latter  under  the  extraordinary  iiiania 
of  speculation  liieii  rile  ic^ardinji  ("hicajno,*  is  said  to  liavc 
b;ou<;ht  f?I,.")t)3,4'.l.").  Tlie  dimensions  of  the  canal  were  to  be  not 
less  tlian  45  feet  at  the  suilace,  35  at  the  base,  and  a  navij^able 
dei)tli  of  at  least  4  feet  of  water.  (^)uarterly  reports  were  to  be 
made  to  the  <;()\('rnor.  The  commissioners  appointed  by  (Jov. 
J)uncan  were  William  I'\  Thornton  (act  iii,ii' commissioner),  Gurdoii 
S.  Hubbard  an<l  W  illiani  15.  Archer,  all  wliij;s.  The  v-aiial  was  to 
extend  from  Chieaj;()  to  the  moiilli  of  the  Little  V'eriiiilion,  work 
to  be  bc;L;i"M  at  its  northern  terminus.  Of  the  loan  now  aulhor- 
i/ed,  (btvernor  J)uncan  iiej^otiated  §1(K>,(MH»  in  2S'ew  York  at  a  jire- 
mium  of  5  jjcr  ceiit.,  which  he  deemed  too  lo"'  .tiid  declined  ;i 
laij^cr  amount  at  that  rate.  Subscciuent  exiierieiice  showed  that 
he  should  lane  taken  more.  The  survey  and  estimate  made  at  this 
time  by  chief  engineer  (loodwin,  was  §S,(il)4,.');5.51 — ahundied  per 
cent  hi{>her  than  that  of  Jbicklin — $«(»,(((•()  per  mile,  beinj;-  4  times 
the  cost  of  the  I'^ru'  canal.  The  estimate  was  based  ui»on  a  sur- 
face width  of  00  fe"t,  40  at  the  bottom,  and  dejttli  of  water  (to 
ilow  from  the  lake)  of  0  feet.  These  dimensions  were  larjicr  than 
the  Krie,  and  would  Ikivc  made  it  one  of  the  most  splendid  works 
of  internal  imi»rovement  anywhere  to  be  Ibuiid.  JJut  lor  such  a 
work  the  estimate  was  yet  too  low.  Contiacts  were  let,  and  on  the 
4th  of  July,  J8.30,  j^round  was  first  broken  for  the  canal.  The 
occasion  was  publicly  celebrated  at  Chieafi'o,  by  readin<>-  the 
Declaiation  of  Indepeiidem;e,  and  the  delivery  of  an  able  and 
ai)propriafe  address  l)y  ])r.  Kj;an,  ]Mcturin}i'  in  j^lowiii;;-  colors  the 
future  of  Chicajio  and  of  the  State  of  Illinois.  Those  glowing 
colors  have  been  already  dimmed  bv  the  realitv. 


See  Tirowu'8  History  Illinois,  p.  417.    Note— Evidently  a  inistnlie. 


II-I.INOIS   AM)   .■MlCIIUiAi'  r;AXAL. 


47'J 


IVJucli  of  llic  route  «>l"  tlic  ciiiuil  liiy  tliioii^li  iiiiirsliy  yioiind, 
iiiuiidatcd  ill  tlic  spring'  :iiiil  t'lili,  I't-iKlciiii;;  it  •lilliciiit  oi'  iiccrss. 
Forty  tliousuiid  dollars  was  ('X|M'ii<lcd  tiic  tirst  year  iiiioii  roads 
l('adiii<j:  to  tlic  work.  Tlic  coiiiitry  Itordciiiiji'  upon  its  route  was 
but  scatleriii.Liiy  settled, atlordiiij;  iieillier  provisions  nor  slielttH' lor 
laiiorers.  Supplies  liad  to  l»e  ;;atliered  Ironi  alnoad.  Tlie  work 
preceded  the  local  demands  of  tiie  country,  otiier  tliaii  those,  (-on- 
eeived  in  tlie,  brilliant  iiiiauinations  of  "corner"  or  "water  lot" 
speculators  in  C'hicano.  Laltor  and  ]>ro\isioiis  were  hijiii.  The 
I'oinier  iVoiii  •*!-<•  to  .*■>()  per  iiioiitli  and   board.     i'orU   at  Chicago 

was  iV $1M)  to  )j<.'50  per  barrel;  rtour$!»  to^l'i;  salt  $Ili  to  $1."); 

oats  and  potatoes  T"*  cents  per  busliel ;  and  other  articles  of  con- 
suniption  in  ratio. 

'I'o  liive  a  further  idea  of  tbe  dilliculty  of  this  <;reat  woik,  we 
rei)rodii('e  from  an  exhaustive  legislative  report,  made  by  the  lion. 
Newton  Cloud  in  is;>7,  the  IbllowiiijH'.  The  canal  is  treated  in  three 
<livisioiis:  The  th'st,  j'omprisin^-  a  liii^Ii  le\-el  from  Chicaino  to 
where  itj  runs  out  (Loclqxirt)  distaiUH'  L'S  miles.  On  this,  from 
(.'liica;;'o  river  to  I'oiiit  of  Oaks,  a  cut  of  18  feet  was  recjuired,  to 
allow  the  waters  of  Lake  ]Micliij;aii  to  tlow  throuj;]i.  Half  ol  the 
excavation  for  the  cut ir<'  L'S  miles  consisted  of  stratiiied  and  solid 
r()(!k.  The  whole  of  this  summit  division  was  described  as  a  sunken 
plain,  hu<;'ely  underlaid  with  rock,  the  waters  of  the  Des  I'h'.iiies, 
rorta,ne  Lake,  and  tlie  Saj^aiiaskee  swaiii]>  exteiidinj;'  over  it  and 
forminu:  at  times  a contiiiuous  lak<';  IT)  or  10  feet  of  the  canal  cut, 
on  this  division,  lay  below  tlie  surface  of  the  Des  I'lainesand  con- 
tiji'iioiis  to  it;  and  as  draiiiaj^i!  was  imprac^ticable,  tlie  ditliciilties 
and  ex])ense  to  be,  encountered  fiom  this  oliject  alone  baflled  tlio 
power  of  calculation.  Ik'siih's,  as  the  line  was  many  feet  below 
the  river  and  the  surface  of  the  lake,  subterrane<ms  veins  or  foun- 
tains of  water  miyht  bc^exjiected.  In  the  rock  cnttinu',  much  would 
de[K'iid  iijion  tli(!  comi)actness  of  the  rock  and  its  (rai)acity  to  ex- 
clude the  snberincumlx'iit  water  from  the  prism  of  the  canal.  If 
tissiires,  peculiar  to  lime  stone  rejiions,  should  hv,  met  with  the 
work  would  be  exceedingly  slow,  eiioriiiously  expensive  at  any 
time  of  the  year,  and  impracticable  durinj;'  rainy  seasons.  An 
ahstract  of  the  engineers  estimate  put  the  total  cost  of  this 
division  at  $5,81)7, 701.1.'?;  but  the  legislative  committee,  by 
referriiif;-  to  contracts  already  let,  (which  Miey  cite)  found  tliat 
solid  rock  exttiivation  per  cubic  yard  would  cost  $2..5(),  instead  of 
$l.r»4;  earth  excavation  40  cents,  instead  of  3.'};  continj^encies 
and  superinteiidance  15  ])er  cent,  instead  of  .'3,  &e.,  &(•,;  whence 
they  deduced  that  the  summit  level  would  cost  $10,ll>2,4(il,  a 
dilference  ajjjainst  the  en<j;ineer's  estimate  exceedin<i'  Sf«4,L'r)0,0()(). 
These  obstacles  led  to  the  coiisideiation  of  the  hi.iili  li'vcl  or 
shallow  cut  plan,  as  run  by  engineer  Bucklin,  ten  feet  abov(^  Lake 
Mi(;liijj;an,  nsiny'  the  Calumet  or  Des  Plaiiies  rivers  for  feeders. 
They  estimated  that  upon  this  plan  the  summit  division,  including 
the  necessary  feeders,  might  be  constructed  for  ojie-fonith  the  cost, 
or  $2,r)00,00().  The  ( ■aluniet  was  prefernMl  for  a  feeder,  because 
of  its  connecting  80  miles  of  navigation  with  tlu!  canal  from  the  then 
contemplated  internal  improvements  of  the  State  of  Indiana  in  that 
region.  Theniiddledivision  of  37  miles Avas estimated  at$l,510,957; 
and  the  western  division  at  $1,272,055— total  $5,283,012.  They 
further  reported  that  bj^  connecting  the  canal  with  the  river  at  lake 


480 


IIISTOKV    (»!•'    Il.l.INolS. 


tliilicf, (!(»  miles  would  lie  sii\('(l;  tliiil  llic  liviT (^ould  1)0  locked  and 
da  II I  Died  tlieiiee  In  Terii  ill  ae«i:;t  (i1'.*.")7<I.(;(m,  redileiiiii  I  lie  cusl  olllio 
I'litiic  work  looiil_v!i<.'l,rMl,(l(M — llie  iiii|»ro\  eiiieiils  olllie  i  i\  ei  ;^i\  iiiy; 
to  the  Stale,  iieside.s,  a  li.\diaiilie  jiowci'  eapalde  of  niiiiiiiij;  7(K>  Jiair 
of  mill  stones,  vieldiii;^  an  aiiiiiial  rental  of  i](L' Id, ()()().  iS'oiie  ol' 
these  sn^ucslions  were  adopted;  llioii;;li  the  State  was,  IVoin 
linaiicial  emhariassineiits,  ai'leiwards  I'oieed  into  the  adoption  of 
the  sliallow  eiil  plan. 

Ii.v  act  of  March  I'd,  IS;57,  sMi»pleiiieiital  lo  the  law  of  ,Iaii.  !», 
].h;U'»,  the  canal  <'ommissioiieis  were  rendered  independent  (d'  the 
p»\ernor.  IJesides  an  actiny  coinmissioiier,  one  was  to  lie  presi- 
dent of  the  board  and  the  other  treasurer,  tin'  hitler  lo  ;;ivo 
additional  bond  for  I  lie  sale  keeping  and  dishiirsemeiit  of  the  I'm  ids. 
]ii  llie  alisence  of  the  actiiij;'  commissioner,  the  others  were  to 
]»erfoiin  his  duties.  They  were  lo,  without  delay,  prosecute  the 
canal  to  final  comiiletion  upon  tlie  plan  of  1S;{(>.  A  new  survey 
and  estimates,  on  the  eslahlished  route,  were  to  lie  made  under 
•latli.  with  the  \  lew  to  ascertain  if  sullicient  water  coidd  be 
obtained  to  \\'i'*\  the  canal  on  the  siimiiiit  level.  A  route  diver;;iiiji' 
from  the  main  trunk  wa«  to  be  surv<'ye<l  throu^i'h  tlie  Aiij^-sa;;- 
liasli  y-e-ke  swam]>  and  (irassy  lake  to  i  tersect  the  ("aluiiiel  river, 
ostimates  to  be  made,  and  the  canal  built  whenever  the  Slate  of 
Indiana  .should  iinderiake  a  coirespondiii;i  work  couiu'ctin;;' 
thercwitli.  A  iiavij;able  feeder,  from  the  best  practii'able  point  on 
Fox  river  to  Ottawa,  was  to  be  (•(•iistriicted,  and  at  the  latter 
jilace,  basins  or  ii  lateral  canal  coiiuectin,ti  witji  the  Illinois  river 
vere  also  to  be  built.  Sales  of  Chicago  lots  to  the  aiiMaint  of 
$1,()(I0,0(K)  were  ordered;  the  <;ovenior  was  to  borrow  $.-)00,(K)0 
upon  tli(!  credit  of  the  State,  to  be  expended  on  the  canal  in  IS.J.S; 
to  jiromote  competition  between  conlractois,  no  bond  sliould  b« 
re(piii'ed,  but  ii  certain  jiprcentage  on  estimates  reserved  until  tlie 
liiial  completion  of  tlieir  jobs.  Notwillistandinj;'  coiij>ress  had 
many  years  before  <;iven  license  to  the  State  to  take  materials  from 
the  imblic  lands  for  the  construction  of  the  canal,  the  lej;islature 
now  authorized  the  circuit  courts  to  ajijioint  men  to  ajipraise  all 
damages  arising  to  settlei's  ni»on  tlM'iii  from  the  construction  of  the 
canal.  Many  daim.s  were  ])resented  and  allowed,  costing  the 
State  many  thousands  of  dollais.  ]>ut  at  this  time  the  "anal  had 
become  connected  with  the  great  internal  improvement  system, 
and  with  the  then  iiiHated  notions  pervadir.g  the  public  miml 
nobody  doubted  either  the  credit  or  ability  of  he  State  to  coiiipas.s 
all  these  grand  works,  and  such  a  power  c<mld  not  attbrd  to  be 
niggard  to  individuals  with  claims. 

Up  to  .Tannary  1,  1839,  the  gross  expenditures  on  the  canal, 
derived  from  the  variou.s  sources  cf  loans,  lot  and  land,  amountecl 
to  81,400,000.  All  of  it,  but  about  -3  miles  between  Dresden  and 
Marseilles,  was  contracted,  and  the  job.s  let  were  roughly  estimated 
at  $7,50(>,000.  The  legislature,  still  infatuated  with  the  huge 
State  internal  imi»rovenient  .system,  at  the  .session  of  1838-9, 
encouraged  tlie  canal  by  directing  tlu;  fund  commissioners  to  loan 
to  its  fund  $300,000,  and  authorizing  the  governor  to  make  a 
further  loan  for  it  by  the  sale  of  $4,000,000  of  State  bonds.  This 
was  the  canal  loan,  to  negotiate  which.  Gov.  Carlin,  unwilling  to 
put  it  into  the  hands  of  the  fund  commissioners,  employed  INIessrs. 
Young  and  lleynolds,  who  made  a  very  bungling  job  of  it,  entail- 


ILLINOIS  AND  MICHIGAN  CANAL.  481 

in;;  ii])on  the  Htiitt'  ii  loss  of  .m'vcnil  Imndrcd  tlioiisiind  dollars,  by 
tlu-ir  various  ti'aiisa<-tioiis  witli  Diinlap,  ol'  JMiiladi-lpliia,  Dclalicld, 
of  N<'\v  Voik,  and  \\'ii;;Iit  ^S:  ('(».,  of  liondon.  Tlic  latter,  lorn 
luillioii  dollai's,  except  the  advance  of  L';{(),(MK>,  proved  almost  a 
total  failure;  Dclalicld  hccanie  nnalilcto  pay  liis  installments,  and 
was  unwillin;;'  to  surrender  tlic  lM»n<ls;  and  that  of  Diiidap  was 
]iaid  in  siu-li  dribs  (»f  depreciated  ciiironcy  as  to  be  of  little  avail 
in  carrying'  f()r\vard  the  work. 

In  the  meantime  it  became  apparent  that  no  nior«^  loans  could 
be  ellected  for  the  State  without  iieavy  sacrifice;  the  yreat  system 
of  interuid  impr(»vements  showed  symptoms  of  a  sju'edy  e(»IIaj»se, 
and  in  I"'ebruarv,  1SK»,  the  le^jislatnre  put  a  period  t(»  its  wil  and 
n'ckless  career.  Tlu^  W(»ik  upon  the  canal  was  not  interrupted  by 
le;;islativ(^  action;  provision  was  made  to  meet  the  liabilities  or 
the  State  to  contractors  by  issuing-  to  them  checks  for  the  amounts 
found  due  on  estimates,  to  bear  interest  at  the  rate  of  (5  ]>er  cent. 
The  (MUitraetors  had  taken  their  Jobs  duiin;;  the  flush  times 
(foi'  Illinois)  of  IcS.'W!-7,  when  pri(M's  ruled  much  hi^'her  than  in 
1840.  They  (Mudd  afford  to  lose  !!■'»  per  cent,  on  them  and  still  do 
well ;  and  as  the  State  hesitated  to  sell  her  bonds  much  below  par, 
they  en^a^ed  to  receive  them  on  their  estimates  at  i)ar.  $1,()(M>,()(J0 
were  in  that  nuiiiner  paid  to  them.  (ien.  Thorntou,  canal  com- 
inissi«Mier,  was  deputed  to  f;()  to  London  witii  the  bonds,  where 
lie  em'(!ted  a  sale  of  )?1, ()(»(),(»(•(>  at  «.">  cents  on  the  dollar,  the  con- 
tractors sntfcriii^  the  disctount — bein^'  ten  i>er  cent.  Ix'ttcr  than 
liis  instriKitions.  By  this  exi>e(lient  lite  was  kept  in  the  canal, 
thoujuh  work  on  every  other  internal  imju-ovenient  had  lon^'  since 
been  abamloned.  With  the  completion  of  their  jobs  some  of  the 
contractors  proposed  tor«>ceive,  in  like  manner,  thei'esidue  of  their 
estimates,  and  $li>7,0(K>  more  was  paid  to  them,  when,  with  the 
final  breaking' of  the  State  bank  in  Febrnaiy,  LS-12,  an  extraor- 
dinary depreciation  of  Illinois  stocks  in  nuirket  took  place,  which 
put  a  period  to  this  character  of  i)ayineiits.  After  that  no  fnr- 
tluT  payment  was  made  to  (•ontractors  for  over  two  years,  when 
the  canal  passed  into  the  haiuls  of  the  foreign  bondholders,  though 
W(»rk  was  not  wholly  intermitted  upon  many  of  the  jobs  during 
this  time.  The  new  hoard  of  canal  commissioners,  elected  by  the 
legislatnre  at  the  session  of  lS-11,  were:  Isaac  N.  Morris,  presi- 
dent; Jacob  Fry,  acting  commissioner,  and  Newton  Cloud,  treas- 
urer. 

After  July,  1841,  no  further  eftbrts  were  made  to  pay  interest  on 
the  public  debt.  The  financial  end)aiTassments  of  the  State  be- 
came alaninng.  To  add  to  the  di, stress  of  the  peoi)le,  the  State 
banks,  early  iu  1842,  broke  down  conijiletely.  The  governor, 
auditor,  and  treasurer  issued  their  cinadar,  stating  that  the  notes 
of  these  institutions  would  not  be  received  in  i)aymontof  taxes — 
nothing  but  gold  and  silver.  The  treasury  was  empty.  There 
prevailed  a  dearth  in  trade  and  business  amounting  to  stagnation; 
values  declined;  many  desi)aired  of  the  State's  abilitj*  to  everi)ay 
oif  its  enormous  debt,  exceeding  $14,()00,()00,  and  equal  to  a  pres- 
ent debt  of  at  least  $150,000,000,  counting  the  lessened  value  of 
money  and  increased  population,  resources  and  capacity  of  the 
State.  The  people  were  unwilling  to  submit  to  higher  taxatiou. 
Eepudiatiou  was  openly  agitated  by  not  a  few  at  borne  and  abroad, 
and  the  fair  name  of  Illinois  became  freely  associated  with  dishonor. 
31 


482 


111MT(»RY  OV   lI,I,IN()l^^. 


u 


III  tliis  crisiH, bcsitics  tlio  coiiiproiiii.sc  l(><;'isl!ititiii  with  the  baiiUs, 
till'  caiiiil  atVui'drd  llii-  oiilv  |>r:i<-li(Mlilr  :i\  t'liiic  out  (if  iIm- diHi- 
t'ull.v;  its  rum|ij('iioii,  it  Wiis  liioii;;lit,  wtnild  ^ivc  a  new  aiiti  pow- 
I'l'lul  iiiipiilsc  to  vwvy  (It'parliiiriit  nf  imsiiicss  and  industry 
tliionulnait  tin'  Slate;  and  tin'  advaiil. '^rs  and  larilitics  to  Im< 
iitVordt'd  i)v  it  wiaild  cansf  tides  ol'  *'iiii;^i'aiits  and  lloDds  <»!' 
uraltli  to  pour  into  tlie  Stat*'.  'I'lic  want  of  inonc.v  and  anxiety 
to  iiavc  any  sort  of  canal,  now  caused  an  advocacy  of  tlie  lii.uli 
level  or  sjudlow  cut,  wliicli  could  lie  coinpleted  at  liall'  llie  cost  of 
tlie  deep  cut.  Tlic  idea  was  to  iinliiee  tlie  iioldei's  of  canal  bonds 
to  advance  tlie  inoiiey  for  its  com  piet  ion,  upon  a  pled;;e  of  the  canal, 
its  li'iids  and  revenues  in  the  natinc  u\'  a  lirst  iiiort;;a;;«',  and  thus 
infuse  life  into  a  work  now  dorinaiit,  which  would  tpiickeii  every- 
thing else.  .Insliii  Kntterheld.  (»f  <  'liica;;(>,  lirst  sii;i';;esl»Ml  this  idea; 
Michael  Ifyaii,  a  canal  eii;iiiieer  and  Slate  sciiattir,  in  tlu'  sniiiiiicr 
«)f  is  III.  111(1  .Messrs.  l>r(aisoii.  Lea'  itt  and  other  lar;;*'  canal  hoiid- 
liolders  in  New  VorU.  and  devised  ii  plan  for  raisin;^  .'t«I,(i()(MMK)  to 
linisli  Ihe  canal  on  the  shallow  cut ;  and  (iov.  Fortl  n-coinincndcd 
it  in  his  lirst  nicssa;;*', 

III  accordance  with  the  above  ])laii,  the  act  of  I'ebrnary  21,  184'{, 
was  passed  aiilhori/inji' the  ji<»vcriior  to  ne;i(»liatca  loan  of  ><i,(!(HI, 
UOO,  solely  on  the  "it'dil  and  pledjic  of  the  canal  properly,  its 
revenues  and  tolls  for  a  term  <»f  (»  years  at  (i  per  c»'iit.  interest. 
])ayable  out  ol'  the  lirst  moneys  reali/cd.  The  holders  of  the  canal 
bonds  and  other  evidences  of  canal  indebtedness,  were  lirst  enti- 
tled to  subscribe  the  loan.  A  bonrd  of  .'>  trustees  was  established, 
1  to  be  apjioiiited  by  the  ;;overiior  and  2  by  the  snbscril»eis  of  tlio 
loan — one  vote  for  every  !*l.(M)0  of  stock.  The  former  vver«'  to  ap- 
jtortion  their  diiiies  anion;;'  t liemseh cs.  The  canal  ]>roi)erly  was 
to  be  coiiv«'yed  by  the  jn-overnor  in  trust,  and  to  be  nianaincd  by 
the  trustees  much  in  the  iiianiier  of  forinei'  i>roeeedin;;s.  They 
iiiiiiht  adopt  siicli  alterations  (»f  the  oii;L;iiial  jilan  as  they  deemed 
■,'dvisable,  vv  iiltop.l  nmterially  <'haii;iin;;  the  location,  haviii^diu! 
regard  to  economy,  permanancy  of  tluMVork  and  an  ade(juate  sup- 
ply of  water.  It  was  to  be  coiiipleted  in  a  yood,  substantial,  woik- 
inaiilike  manner,  ready  for  use,  if  practicable,  in  two  and  a  half 
years  lime.  On  ])ayiiient  of  all  debts  the  canal  was  to  revert  to 
the  State.  In  the  interest  of  econom.v,  by  another  act,  the  num- 
ber of  canal  ollicers  were  ;nreally  reduced. 

And  now,  when  there  app«  ared  every  favorable  jirospcct  for  the 
spi'cdy  compleli(Ui  of  the  canal,  it  became  invidved  in  the  meshes 
of  national  jiolitics.  Col.  Charles  Oakley  and  senator  Michael 
livan  wer(^  by  the  governor  app<tiiited  ajucnts  to  nej^cttiate  the  new 
loan  of  81, <»<•<>,<>(•'►.  The  treasury  was  einjity  ;  to  ^ive  them  an 
out  tit  8;5,0()0  of  the  school  fund  was  borrowed,  wliicli  became  the 
stdijcct  of  attack  u])on  (iov.  Im»i<1  by  Mr.  Trumbull,*  the  lately  re- 
moved secretary  of  State.  The  agents  proceeded  to  New  York;  but 
with  a  view  to  the  making'  of  jiolitical  capital,  letter  writers  at  homo 
and  partisan  editor.s  abntad  attacked  the  canal  ixdicy  of  the  State, 
ill  the  liop(^  that  a  measure  so  fraught  with  good  should  not  re- 
dound to  the  credit  of  the  <lomiiiant  i)aity.  The  action  of  the 
le,t;islature  was  misre])r<'sented,  the  party  in  power  charged  with 
disre^ai'dingthe  interests  of  the  ])eople,  and  the  State  creditors 
advised  that  if  they  advanced  further  funds,  the  succeeding  legis- 

•ford's  History. 


nJ.INOIS   AM)  MTCIIKIAN  CANAL.  4S3 


latiii'*'  wiiiild  hrciik  t'siitli  with  tliciii  iiiid  n'lical  tlicii-  ri-iiiH'liis«;. 
ISiil  tlicsf  piililiciitioiis  ihimIihmmI  the  ii|i|iosit*' ctlt'ct  iiilcinlftl.  'I'liu 
liiiiilirial  :i;;('iits,  will)  tnilli  dm  I  licii'  side,  niiplo.Nril  llic  |iiil)li(i 
pri'ss  ill  ii  sciics  of  iirliflcs  ill  icpiv.  'I'ii«'  rciil  <'tni(iitinii  ol"  Ijm 
Slatf,  tiir  IcjL^'isliilinii  iidoplt'd  In  reduce  its  deitts,  iiiid  its  I'litlirei 
prospects,  were  ciiiididl.v  iiiid  aids  ladii^lit  Itcl'ore  tiie  piildic,  and 
tile  lesiiit  \v;is  tliat  llie  Slate  stociis  ;ii|\aiiced  ill  a  wcelc  lloiii  I  t 
to -tl  cents  oil  the  (hillar.  and  in  a  slioii  time  (htiildcd  on  tliat. 
'i'iii'(aiji;li  the  aid  (d'  David  Leavilt,  presitleiit  of  the  Aineiicaii 
IC\ciiaii;;c  liaiiU  (  New  Voil;,  wliieh  owned  ."i«L.'."i(tJtOO  caiini  iioiids, 
the  American  creditors  weie  caMed  to;;etln'r,  \\li(»  iesolv«'d  to 
siiliscriia'  their  ratio  of  the  new  htan. 

'I'hiis  assured.  Messrs.  ( )akiev  and  li.vaii  hastened  to  Kiiropo 
with  h'ttersof  tliese  proceed iii;;s  to  I'.jiin;;  IW'others,  of  Ijondoli, 
I  lope  tS:  Co.,  of  Anister(hiiii,  and  to  .Ma<:iiiac,  .lardine  iS:  Co.,  ail 
weiiltli.v  Itanlicrs  and  cicdiltMs  (d"  the  St  .le.  lint  tliese  iioiises 
disiippointcd  the  ardent  hopes  of  the  State  agents,  'i'iie.v  de- 
manded soiiK'thinu  morcsiiltslantial  than  iiewspap«-r  articles,  which 
liiid  raised  tiie  spirits  of  the  New  York  lionddiolders.  They 
wanted  aeciirat*'  data  of  the  siillicieiicy  of  the  canal  property  as 
seciiritv  foi'  hotii  the  preseiir  loan,  and  iilfimat(d.\  the  pa\meiil  of 
thtfiitire  canal  dei»t.  some  M."».(Ki(>,0(Mt  hioic;  and  fiirtiier,  some 
lejiislative  etfort  at  taxation  and  submission  of  the  people  thereto, 
in  pa.vmciit  (d'  interest  on  the  ]iiildic  delit.  It  was  linally  ar- 
ran;i(*d  tiial  .Mdiott  Lawrence.  Thomas  \V.  Ward,  and  William 
Stiirjiis,  of  r>ostoii,  should  dcsiiiiuite  two  c<iiiipeteiit  men  to  exam- 
ine the  canal  and  its  prop«'rty,  estimate  the  value  thereof,  ascer- 
tain tiie  total  deld  and  report  the  wiiole;  that  !i:<KM>,(»(»(»  should  bo 
siiitscribed  in  America  toward  |irose<'Utiii;i'  the  W(»rk;  and  that  tlio 
governor  recoiimieiid  taxation  in  his  next  inessiijic  to  the  lejiisla- 
Itire;  whereupon  theajicnts  retiiined  home  in  Novmiber,  IS^.'J. 
Iv\  <lov.  ,I(din  Davis,  of  Mass..  and  W.  II.  Swift,  a  reputable  eii- 
jiiiieer  and  a  ca|)taiii  in  the  C.  S.  aiiiiy,  were  sele(  ted  by  tia^  I'.os- 
toii  e<»mmittee  to  i-xamine  the  canal,  its  ]»ropeity  and  debts.  This 
excite<l  the  politic  al  Jealousy  of  the  eastern  ])rcss  to  a  renewed  in- 
terference with  the  doiiiesiic  atfairs  of  Illinois. 

(iov.  Davis'  name  was  at  the  time  ii-entioned  in  coiinectioii  with 
the  viee-i»resi»U'iicy  on  the  wlii;;-  ticket  in  I.S44.  The  (ilobe  news- 
paper jit  AVashiiifiton,  the  f:reat  orj^aii  (d'  the  demoeraey,  boldly 
charji<'d  that  Gov.  Davis  had  been  sclectetl  for  this  work  with  tho 
view  to  iiitliienee  the  iieople  of  Illinois  toward  the  siipj)ort  of  the 
whi^'  ticket,  and  in  favor  of  the  jiolicy  of  the  j^eneral  novernineiit 
assuming-  tiie  State  debts.  Senator  K'yan  came  afiain  to  tlie  res- 
cue and  [>til»lislie(l  a  merited  and  vigorous  reply,  in  which  (Jov. 
Davis,  tiie  foreign  bond  holders,  and  the  i)eoide  of  Illinois,  were 
al)ly  defended,  and  tlie  editor  of  the  Globe  deservedly  relaiked  for 
liis  inipertineiieo. 

The  careful  examination  of  the  canal  and  elaborate  lejxtrt  of 
^lessrs.  Davis  and  Swift,  confirmed  substantially  tlu;  representa- 
tions of  Messr.s.  Eyan  and  Oakley,  and  they  roconimeiided  the 
loan  as  a  safe  iiiv<'stiiieiit.  (Iov.  Ford  jiromised  to  recoiiinieiid  to 
tiie  legislature  increased  taxation  toward  ]>aying- interest  on  the 
public  debt.  Thus  armed,  the  sanguine  iiiiancial  agents  again  re- 
liaired  to  Europe,  only  to  meet  again  with  failure.  The  subscrip- 
tion of  $4:00,000  was  wuutiug.    The  foreign  bond  holders  refused 


484  IIIS'I'ORY    (»!■'    II-MN(ilS. 


to  lici-rci't  the.  new  loiiii,  allr;;iii;;  lli:tt  tli<-  Ic^isliitillo  and  pcoplt; 
sliitiild  t:iki'  soiiif  stfpH  ill  ;;oim1  I'liitli  l(»\v:ir(l  ii  i'cco;>iiil,i<)iM)t' t licit' 
(»I»li;^ii(i(.iis  to  llicir  cicdildrs.  (Idv.  I);ivi,s  \\;i.s  si-iil  for  in  Hie 
liMsiiil  iiiic,  to  |iid('i'<'i|  to  liOiidoii  lor  liillt'i'  <'\|tl:iii;itioiis  ol'  the  d*-- 
t:iils  oi'  llif  work  mid  iii.s|iit'f  ^iciilci' (^oiilidtiici-  lor  IIk;  Nulis(;ri|i- 
lioiis.  'riiiis  t  he  siliiiliiiT  ol'  I'SI  I  piissfd  ;  in  I  >«'c<'IiiIm-I',  llic  llli- 
iKiis  Ic^isliiliiir  would  iiKM-l,  :iiid  t'iirtli<'i'  cilort  u:is  siispciidi-d  to 
:i\\:iit  tlH'  iiclioii  ol'  tliiil  liodv,  ol'  wliicli  Ifvuii  was  u  Miiiitor. 
J{.\aii,  (•liii;^riii<'d  at  this  lailiirc,  now  .\  icldt-d  to  IIm^  ninvoitii.v 
wcaUiicss  of  alli'iiiptin;;  lo  cast  tlic  hlaiiK^  upon  (iov.  l>a,vis,  IVoiii 
)»olitical  iiioti\c.s.  'I'liioiij^li  the  piililic  press  of  new  N<w  ^'o^ii,  lie 
lrit<'ratc(|  tin-  caliimiiifs  ol'  t  lie  \\  asliiii;;loii  ^/7«/yr,  a;;aiiist,  thai 
P'litlciiiaii,  which  he  hiiiiscH'  had  roniici ly  so  alii.v  icl'iitcd ;  and 
riiilhei  ('liai';4('i|  him  with  causing;  t  he  delay  ol'  the  loan  pending 
llie  piesideiil  iai  cleelion.  Messrs.  Kai'ili^  I'li'os.  of  London,  took 
occasion,  in  an  open  letter  addressed  to  Mr.  It'yaii,  in  a  very  plain 
liiaiiiicr  lo  deny  the  cliar;ies.* 

In  the  fall  oi'  ISI  I,  alter  the  election  of  the  ineniliers  of  the. 
le;;islatiire,  l»iit  prior  to  I  heir  iiieel  in;^,  Wiiliani  S.  Wait,  ol'  l'>ond, 
iidtiressed  a  Ion;;  letter  to  (iov.  I'Ord  through  llie.  public  press, 
l'cvi<;w'iii;;  the  ille;;al  action  of  the  Htutc's  linancial  a;;ciits  in  dis- 
]iosiii;4  1)1'  hoiids,  and  iiiltcrly  iii\  ei;;hiii<{  a<4ainst  taxation  to  piiy 
the  piil)li(t  d(  III.  The  ohject  was  to  elicit  an  expression  i'roni  the 
t{()\('i'iioi'  as  lo  repudiation  or  taxation.  Now  this  waHllu;  v(!ry 
])retext  the  };()\  ei  nor  waiite(|,  and  he  enilH'a<;ed  it  with  alacrity. 
i\ltlioii;;li  his  ex<'ellency  well  Knew  the  iin|to|Milarily  (d'an  advitca- 
<ry  of  increased  taxation,  he  re|ilied  in  a  vciyalile  letter,  remarka- 
ble not  only  as  a.  literary  |iroduction  of  rare  merit,  lint  for  its 
clear  <-xpositioii  oi'  the  einliarrassed  condilion  ol'  the  State,  i'roin 
vhieli  there  was  no  hope  ol'  hoiiorahly  escapin;",  <'xcept  l»y  taxii- 
tioii  ;  and  while  it  was  replete  with  hroad,  comiiion  Ncnse,  and 
Ka;;acious  views,  it,  «;haractcrized  in  littinj;  teiiiiH  lli(Mlisj.;iii(;e  of 
repudiation,  lirealhin;;  a  iiohic  spirit  of  sell' ahiie;:al  ion  and 
]iatriotism.  'Ihi- ;;o\  ei  nor's  reply  was  extensively  ic  piildished  in 
newspapers,  and  elicited  ;;('iieral  coinmcndatioii  for  its  hi};'li  lone. 
l\lr.  licavilt,  ol'the  American  lOxchan^ic  i'>aiik  ol'Ncw  York,  \viii('li 
Iield  Iai;;cl\  ('''the  canal  slock,  was  yreally  eiiconra;;ed,  and  alter 
])rocuiiii;;  sultscriplions  to  the,  new  loan  in  New  V'ork,  Joined  (Jol. 
Oakley,  who  was  still  in  tiiat  city,  and  early  in  the  winteiol'  IMII- 
4.">  they  ret  III  lied  to.  I'liiroiie.  The  jioveniois  letter  iiad  piccedcd 
them,  and  caused  a  marked  clian};c  in  the  views  of  our  London 
crcditois,  who  now,  wilhotit  hesitation,  siil)scrilie<l  liheially  to  the, 
new  loan,  each  more  than  oi'i|;iiially  intended.  Thus,  al'tci'  many 
delays,  (such  are  the  vexations  incident  to  a  ruined  credit)  di<l  the 
new  loan  of  8 1, ♦><•<*,"•"'  heeoine  an  accomplished  i'actt,  and  tlie,<;om- 
])letioli  of  the  eaiial   assiiied. 

Mr.  Leaxiit  and  Col.  Oakley,  on  their  return  home,  Joined  hy 
(!o\.  I>a\is,  hastened  to  Illinois  hel'ore  the.  adjournment  of  the 
le;;islatiiie.  'i'liey  arriv*^!  in  Spiiii;;lield  IIk;  miildh^  ol'  i'"el(riiary, 
LSI."),  wlieie  they  hecaiue  diieetly  IIh;  curious  olije<;ts  ol  attraction 
as  the  eiivoyH(d'  Illinois'  creditors,  A  pifjudice  was  attempted  to 
])(•  excited  a;;ainst  the  atlministratioii  jiolicy  of  taxation,  and  thcHc 
gciitleiiien   wen;    sl,>  ly    denounced  us  moneyed  kiii^s,  aristocrals, 


•lA,'ttorof  lliiiliiK  lii'os  toMluliuiil  Uyiiii,  In  Fi)ril"s  Hlntory. 


IM.lNOrH   AND  >ir('irr(!AN   CANAL. 


485 


i'\r,.*  Hut  l».v  llidi'  kindly  iiiid  pIciiNiml,  iiitcrcoiirKc,  witli  Ww. 
iii('inl)f'r,s,  :ill  pi_]^Bdi«M'  ;i^;iiiisl,  tlit-iii  \v;i.s  spiM'dily  dissipiilid. 
'I'lu'.v  r<'|M»rt(d  I  Wl>i<»|><i.siliiiii  (»r  'lie  lurci^iii  liond  liolflcis  tliit)ii;^li 
the  <'\<'<-iit  ivi',  iiiid  IIm-  riiiiiiicf  roiiiiiiillcc  lii'<iii;;lil  in  ii  hill,  to 
wliicii  \vc  Inivc  ni:id('  nlln.sion  in  tlit-  piiTt-din;;  ('li;i|it(r,  wliicli 
]»r(tvidcd  for  inisin;;'  hy  liixiition  :in  "interest,  rnnd"  to  Itc  .siicrcdly 
set  iipiii'l  I'di-  llic  |)iiyni('nf  ni'  inlrrrst  on  tlicSUitc  drlit  ;  ;ind  ;in 
snplt-nHMilnl  lo  tlir  <-iin:d  ;i('l  ol'  isi.t,  licit  the  ^^ov cinoi' .siioidd 
«!X('c,ii)(',  and  dclivri',  nndcr  tlic  sen!  <»1'  tin'  .Slntf,  a  (U't'(\  oC  trust  to 
the  canal  Inislrcs,  (d"  all  tlic  canal  pid|(city  liotli  real  and  person- 
al, as  the  llrst  niort;^a'ie,  the  snhscrihers  oi'tlii'  new  loan  lo  hav(^ 
jiriority  in  the  jtaynieid  <d'  their  ailvances  lor  liolh  interi-st  and 
principal,  out  ol'  the  proceeds  ol'  said  trust  propeity.  'i'lie  l)ill  in 
its  present  roiin,  met  with  decided  opposition;  it  passed  the 
jiouse,  hut  was  dereated  in  the  senal«-. 

"he  «',\pedient  was  now  lesorled  to  of  dividinj;  the  measure, 
piiitin;;  the.  provision  for  tiixut ion  ami  that  relatin;^  lo  the  canal 
jjilo  two  separate  hills.  It  was  takiii;^  tw(»  hites  at  one  cherry, 
loi'l)otli  hills  hecame  laws.  'I'he  opponents,  alter  Iheadjourn- 
nienl,  took  their  depaiture  in  ill  humor,  threatening^  that  tin; 
.southern  jtart  ol"  the  State  shoidd  he  tlior(»u;;hly  canvassed  to 
arouse  the  people  a;;ainst  the  emtrniity  ol'  lhe.se  measures.  Itut. 
when  they  I'onud  the  liiends  of  the  measures  as  ri-ady  as  t  hem- 
selves  to  entei  the  field,  lo  expose  their  maehiualions  and  dema- 
yo;;uery,  the  purpose  was  ahondoned.  I)urin<i  the  summer  lol- 
lo\\in;4,  two  c(m\entions  in  that  portion  of  the  Stale,  one  at, 
Marion  ami  one  at  I'^airlield,  passed  lesolntions  holh  in  I'axor  of 
the  canal  and  <d'  taxation  to  pay  th<^  pultlic  deht.  In  these 
measures  of  the  le;;islatui'e,  tin-  h\(lra  of  repudiation  nu't  its  linal 
ijuicln.s. 

The  canal,  its  lands  and  appurtenances  were  conveyed  l»y  the 
yoNcrnor  to  the  trustees,  the  bond  holders  under  Iheact  of  I.SI.'J, 
lia\  iu}^  eleel«(l  two,  -Messrs.  William  II.  Swill  and  l)a\id  Leaxitt, 
I  lie  Slal<' I  riislee  liein^  .lacoh  l'"iy ;  the  m-w  loan  was  perfected  in 
.liine.  I.s|,") ;  the  new  hoaid  w as «M';.;anized,  the  canal  was  accurately 
examined  and  carel'id  esliimdes  of  its  cost  made;  jol»s  weie  let, 
and  work  was  r^sunu'd  in  Septendter,  ISITt.  Thus,  much  of  the, 
woi'kin;;  st'ason  was  ^one,  the  autumn  proving;  unpropilious  on 
acconiMof  sickness  in  the  \alle,\  of  the  Illinois,  and  hut  little, 
inriyress  was  nmde.  The  jteople  were  iuipalient  at  this  tar- 
diness. The\  were  n<'Xl  promised  that  the  canal  should  he  in 
na\i;iahle  order  hy  .Inly  llli,  ISI7,  only  to  he  aj^ain  disap- 
pointed. .Meanwhih-,  a  host  of  canal  olVu-ials  wim<-  drawing' 
their  lar^-c  salaries  with  iinerriny  fidelity.  The  foreign  (jiisteeH 
received  ML',.'*"*  each,  the  eiijiineer  the  same,  secretary  >«lf.(l(M>, 
tVc.  There  were  a  do/en  or  more  snliordinate  ollicials.  These 
were  la r^e  salaries  for  the  period,  exceeding,'  th<».s«'  of  our  Stale 
ollicials  at  the  I inie  i>y  neai'ly  KM)  per  ceid.  Ivstimales  of  woik 
were  made  (piarterly,  hut  hy  the  time  they  were  approved  l»,v  the. 
foreii.;ri  tiiistees,  residing  in  \\'asliin;;ton  and  New  N'ork,  and  the, 
money  sent  on  and  paid  out  to  t  he  eontractois  and  hands,  <i  weeks 
were  eoirsunn-d.  Mm-h  dissatisfactioii  and  puhlic  clamor  pie- 
vailed.  Mvcn  the  eastern  piess  <omim-nted  willi  severity  upon 
the   delay,    while   the    money   on   deposit    was  drawin;;   iiit<rest. 

*I''urU'H  iliittory. 


> 


4S6  HTSTOKY   OF  ILLINOIS. 

I'iiiiilly,  by  tlic  oi)t'iiiiig  season  of  1.S48,  tlic  Illinois  iuul  ^licliiiian 
Canal,  a  stniH-ndoiis  ])ul»li('  work,  uijicd  \'w  .!(>  years,  and  in 
course  of  actual  eonstruetiou  loi-  11',  alter  niawy  slruiz^Ies  with 
adverse  eiicunistanees.  was  completed.  Il  was  liuislied  on  the 
sliallow  cur  jilan,  tlie  datum  line  on  the  summit  level  being  12 
feet  above  liake  .Michigan.  On  this  level,  exten<linj;'  fioni  tlic 
Cliicajio  river  to  Lockiiort.  the  water  was  supplied  liy  jtumpin;;-.* 

The  success  attending;'  its  (irst  season's  operations,  yieldinji',  as 
it  did  durinj:'  that  of  LSl.s,  ^sST,. Sl,'(»  .S7  in  tolls,  seemed  an  earnest 
to  tlie  ho]ies  of  its  warmest  friends.  For  the  iirst  season  its 
C'ai)acity  for  business  was  com])arativeiy  but  slightly  taxed,  and 
its  promises  of  rcvejiues  for  the  future  trom  a  largely  iinTeased 
business  were  undoubted.  The  law  reqniied  that  the  lands  and 
lots,  constituting  jiart  of  the  canal  fund,  siiould  within  a  very 
short  time  alter  its  completion,  be  appraised  and  otfcred  for  sale, 
A  sale  Avas  accordingly  had  in  September,  bS-IS.  at  Chicago  and 
other  towns,  which  yielded  ,*7S(»,7."').S  ST,  less  !<ll,(M;(t,  on  which 
payment  was  n<tt  made  ;  which  sum  exceeded  the  oiiginal  a alu;*- 
tion  of  all  the  canal  lands  by  L'  pel'  cent.,  and  was  ;in  excess  oxer 
the  ap|)raisal  of  ^KKTl'-i  <S7.  'I'iie  appraisal  of  all  the  canal  lands 
and  lots,  before  the  sale,  was -^l',!!.'*;,;),").")  {)[)•  but  if  the  remainder 
bi'ought  as  great  an  advance  o\er  the  api)raisenient  as  this  sale, 
$;],.-)0(>,bOO  would  be  obtained  from  this  source;  a  most  ('ucourag- 
ing  ]»rosi)ect,  as  thisi»ro[»erty  would  go  far  toward  li(iuidating  the 
canal  debt,  aside  from  its  tolls. 

The  aggregate  amount  ultinnitely  realized  iVom  the  congres- 
sional grant  of  land  to  tlH>  canal,  from  is.to  to  lS«il»,  when  the 
selling  ceased,  was  4'.'),r);)7,.">."")4.  The  total  r(cei[)ts  for  tolls,  from 
the  opening  of  the  canal,  in  1848.  to  the  close  of  lH{if>,  21  :^'asons, 
vere  $;i,0i»7.28l  22.  The  total  expenditures  on  the  canab  under 
the  act  of  18a(),  were  !?4,'.»7!»,!lo;) ;  under  the  act  of  LSI.;},  .*S  1.421),- 
(HH)— total  cost  $(),4(HI,.')(M).  The  entire  canal  debt  at  this  time 
(1848)  AVrts  some  ^'•^OOO.OdO.t 


*We  have  set'ii  tliiit  Mr.  LcMvilt,  I'iirly  ill  tlif  wiiitfi- (if  lS44-r>,  lolurncrt  to  Kun)|H', 
and  till-  Go\  enim-'s  letter  u>  Wiiit  li:i\  in;.;  jireeedeil  liiin,  tlii.'  l(neij;ii  eniiiil  Imiirl  Imlilers 
readily  sub.sci-iheil  t  Ik  new  luiiii  ol  iiSl.CliO.i  Wi.  'lli:s  ayeiie.v  ot  Mr.  Ijmv  itt,  (iov.  Kurd 
suiil, '•  was  entirely  \i)lmitiir.\,  anil  Ihe  wasi  not  iui\  ised  that  any  eoMi|ieii.sutiiMi  um-j 
expeeteil."  Uiit  in  If'41<Mr.  Learitt -In  u.iilit 'forward  a  elaiiii  ol  iili.lKiu  lor  iieyoi  iatiiiji 
the  loan.  As  the  toreifin  'loiulladders  were  (IImiuIImi  il  loallow  it,  Mr.  L  leliouneed  his 
(leiiumd  and  was  re  electeu  trustee  Snlisi  ([Uenl  ly  ilie  elaiiii  was  variously  relerred, 
but  not  deeided.  In  l>-r>4  he  (diiained  ilie  eeriilleales  ol  a  iiuii]l)er  of  linnkers  ami 
proniinent  eiti/cns  ol  I  his  State,  statinu' that  the;. '.j  per  cent,  was  a  reasonable  ehai  ye. 
Gov.  Matteson,  alt»'r  some  hesilaliun.  approxed  tlu'  elaini,  and  eertilled  it  to  the  canal 
trustees,  .losiali  .^lcltol]erls.  Slate  tiustee,  drew  a  eliei  k  lor  t he  iiinount,  l>uf  with- 
held it  till  the  claim  was  Iirst  approved  li.\  the  linarii,  whah  lii'.d  lo  be  done  by  mail,  as 
the  members  resided  apart.  Capt  Swilt,  tlie  olhi  )■  member  besides  l.eavitt,  objeele'l 
to  the  allowanee,  and  McUolierls  dill  not  aet  luil'u:.  'Ilius  the  naittir  rested  until 
theadministration  ot  (!ov.  Ilis.-ell,  wh^  n  ('.  li  Way.ol  the  Cliieaio '1  ribiine.  relieveil 
>l('l;oberts.  The  (iovernor  approved  Ihe  <•!  lim  and  Hay  paid  II  oiil  (d  tlie  canal  fund. 
Swift  entoi'ind  a  viuorous  protest  ajjainsi  it ,  Itay  was  furiousl.v  assailed  lor  his  m-\  ion 
by  tlie  press  ot  Illinois. and  suit  was  iinaifihf  asiiiinsl  liiin  and  l.eavitl  to  recover  tlic 
ninoiint.  IJy  atireement  the  matter  was  referred  to  Hon.  II.  !•'.  'J'honias,  of  lioston,  ami 
Edwin  llartiett.  New  A'otk,  as  arbitrators.  In  \K>'.i,  the  matter  became  the  subject  of 
invcsti^iation  by  our  legislature,  which  reported  aiiiilnst  the  allowance.  An  award 
Wiistinallv  niiiiie  by  the  arbiti-alins  by  uhicli  Lcavilt  wasallowed  i^b  ,IMI,  and  after  eii- 
joyiiiK  the  money  for  I!  years,  he  dlsnoifeed  ti;):.',!'!)^  HO,  the  costs  ol  suit  und  Jjl.UOO  US 
eompcnsatinn  to  the  arbitrators. 

+  lt  isii  eurionsfact  that  the  eai  ly  growth  of  ChlcHffO  was  greatly  inuceord  with  the 
protiress  of  thecanal  The  canal  may  be  said  to  have  made  ChicaKo.  When  thesnr- 
vcy  of  the  site  was  commenced  and  platttd,  by  onk'r  of  the  canal  comniis.sioiiers,  in 
lH-^.\  there  resided  upon  its  site  only  about  a  half  dozen  families  outside  the  palisades 
ot  Kort  Dearborn  ;  but  with  the  prospect  of  the  inauuiiration  of  thistrrcat  work,  |iop- 
ulalloii  bejran  to  pour  in  Ireely.  The  lllack  Hawk  war  p(  rhiips  checked  it  a  little,  but 
with  the  removal  of  tlu  Indians,  tlie  l  ide  ol  in; mivrrti  ii  was  resumed.  Wlien,  in  IKt."), 
the  Iirst  canal  loan  ol  ?r.'i(:o.<  l.li  was  aulhorizt  d.  a  new  inipulsc  was  >:i  veil  to  the  settle- 
ment of  the  town,  and  with  t  he  additional  icri  slat  Ion  of  .laniiary,  IStii,  her  population, 
swollen  to  about  4,000,  the  ext  raoi  (Unary  lever  lor  speculating  in  town  lots  still  rile, 


ILLINOIS  AND  MICIIIflAN  CANAL.  487 

111  l.S,")7tlic  aiTeiUiif^cs  of  interest  on  tlie  ])nl>li(!  debt,  iiicliidiii.y 
tliiit  of  the  canal,  weic  fmided  l».v  the  act  of  that  vear.  '\']\v  new 
loan  of  $l.(iO(l,(t()()  and  interest  were  linally  ])ai(l  off  in  LS.^ilS,  jiiid 
tilt;  same  yeai'  the  trnstees  coinnieneed  payiiij;  niY  the  principal  of 
the  registered  canal  debt,  the  Htate  aidin;^  to  the  amoiiiit  of  .*<(iO(),- 
0(10.  J>iit  the  incninbrances  Avere  not  hnally  removed  until  Auji'., 
](S71,  when  the  trustees,  after  u  faithful  service  of  1'.")  yearx,  turned 
over  the  canal  to  the  State  with  a  sur]»lus  of  8'.t-,0!)!».(il. 

Thele.!L;islatnre,  by  act  of  1805,  sui»i»lemented  in  J.S07,  authorized 
the  city  of  Chicaj;<»  to  deeiien  that  jiortion  of  the  canal  known  as 
tile  summit  level,  a  hereuiean  feat  which  has  been  accom|»lished. 
The  city  was  inii)elle(l  by  sanitary  reasons  toeut  down  the  channel, 
turn  the  i»m'e  waters  of  the  lake  into  the  disease  breeding  ('liica;;o 
river,  reverse  its  curi'ent,  allow  it  to  course  through  the  deeiK'iied 
canal  into  the  Illinois  in  order  to  cleanse  it.  Foi'  this  most  necessary 
work  to  the  city  the  State  j;ave  heia  lien  ni>on  the  canal  revenues, 
after  its  old  indebtedness  was  dischaijued,  for  a  sum  not exceedinjf 
$l*.r)00,(IOO,  from  which  redemption  mijiht  however  at  any  time  b'j 
made.  The  annual  net  ie\  enues  of  the  canal  averajicd  only  about 
811(\0(K),  not  near  payinji'  tlie  interest  on  tlie  outlay  of  tiie  city. 
The  canal,  contrary  to  the  ardent  hojies  of  its  early  friends,  who 
incdieted  for  it  a  source  of  unfailin^ti'  revenue  Millicient  fodefiay 
the  exjienses  of  the  State  j;()vernment,  utterly  disappointed  these 
fond  expectations.  The  more  there  was  exjiended  upon  it  the 
nioK'  wa^  demanded,  and  neithci'Chica<;'o  nor  the  State  wanted  it  as 
a  financial  investment.  Ibit  when  on  the'.lth  of  October,  ISTl.  the 
j;Teat  nu'tropolis  was  overwhelmed  by  the  lire  lieiid  and  prostrated 
in  ashes  and  want,  the  State,  unable  by  the  terms  of  the  constitu- 
tion to  directly  render  the  aid  and  succor  that  charity  and  the 
exijieuey  demanch'd,  tlirouj;li  her  le<;islatiire  at  the  extraoidinary 
session  of  October  l.'Hh,  indirectly  extended  a  noble  bounty 
bv  redeeming  the  non-paying  canal  from  her  lien  of  some  $.'},0()0,- 
000. 

There  is  a  further  history  of  the  canal,  as  <'onnected  with  the 
various  efforts  to  obtain  government  aid  to  enlarge  it  to  the 
diiiM'nsions  of  a  ship-canal;  the  river  imin'ovements;  the  lock  at 
Henry  ;  and  the  rejicated  struggles  in  the  legislature  to  jtrocure 
a])])roi)riations;  but  the  details  would  bo  voluminous,  and  unin- 
teresting. AVe  will  only  add  that  the  year  IHiili  was  the  lirst  to 
obtriule  npon  ])ublie,  lecognitioii  the  disagreeable  fact  that  the 
Illinois  river  reijuired  artificial  aid  to  riMidcr  it  navigable  tiirough 
the  boating  season.  That  of  bSo.'J  lasted  from  iMarch  to  December, 
9  months;  but  Irom  the  first  of  July  on,  the  river  for  its  greater 
length  was  useless  for  craft  of  any  considei'able  tonnagi',  curtailing 
the  through  carrying  trade  of  the  canal  very  greatly. 

niid  tlu'  iictiial  ooiiiiiiencciiiciit  ol'  the  work,  wo  lind  the  prospcilty  of  thnt  lu'iiod  to 
ciilniiiiato.  Shortly  iittcr  (imie  I  lie  ff  rent  revulsion  ol'  IKiT,  whleh,  with  the  eolhiiise 
of  the  visionury  interim  1  improvement  system  of  the  States  two  ivl  a  linll  veins  Inter, 
W(>\il(l  have  iitterl.v  prostrated  Chieajro  but  lorthe  persis  eiK  >  with  .vhielitiie  work  on 
the  eaniil  was  sustained.  As  it  was  her  ]iros|)erity  was  eh  <'k"ed  miiterinlly  toi-  T  venrs. 
ni  1S;17  the  taxniili' VHliiatioii  of  her  real  estate  was  $X';W,;'4:i.  luit  in  1H4(l' it  lapseil  to 
§!U.4;i7  ;  and  in  the  course  of  the  next  two  years  real  estate  was  otTered  at  less  than  5 
per  eent  of  the  price  paid  iliirin^'  the  perioil  of  inflation  in  ISlMl  Bv  IWt  the  work  on 
tl'e  eaiial.  not  havintr  lieen  eiitirely  suspended,  the  population  had  slowly  Inei'eascd 
til  7,5S>)  hut  with  the  resumpf  i(i'i  of  work,  in  1845,  we  fiial  her  inhaliltaiits  in  tiiat  year 
speedily  swollen  to  the  number  of  of  ll'.OSK,  an<t  a  eorrespondiuM  increase  in  the  A-'alue 
of  taxable  real  estate  ;  and  in  1H48,  witli  the  completion  of  the  canal,  they  hutl  reiicbed 
the  number  of  20,923  bouIs.— His.  Chicago. 


488  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

Had  llic  lunijiiition  of  the  river  duriiin'  that  hmj;'  season  not 
been  int<'rriii)te(l,  the  tolls  of  the  eanal,  it  was  estimated,  would 
have  reached  ,*;5(I(>,01K>  instead  of  $1 7;},;)L'7.  The  faet  is  reeoj^uized 
all  over  the  State,  that  as  the  country  becomes  settled  many  tribu- 
taries of  the  laifjcr  rivers  beconu^  almost  dry  every  season,  aiul  iu 
all,  by  tlu'  removal  of  obstructions,  the  water  runs  spee<lily  to  a  low 
staye.  iSurfaee  water  ftvi't'i'iilly  has  fallen  many  feet  in  the  past 
few  years.  Wells,  whi(!li  formerly  atforded  a  bounttums  supply  at 
a  depth  of  10  to  20  feet,  have  gone  dry  and  -'5  to  40  feet  are  now 
re(|uired  to  reach  water.  Splines  that  have  become  histoiic  and 
lakes  that  dotted  our  maps  liave  disa])i)eared,  and  while  the  health 
of  the  country  has  been  materially  improved,  the  scarcity  of  water 
is  a  very  g«  neral  com[>laint.  To  render  the  Illinois  river  lu-rnui- 
nently  navi<;able  during-  the  forwarding  season,  there  is  no 
alternative  out  to  thoroughly  improve  it  by  dredging  and  by  locks 
ami  ilams. 


Chapter  XLI.  !l|||| 

1840-4— MOEMONS  OR  LATTER  DAY  SAINTS. 

Joe  Smith — Prophetic  Mimon — Followers  Remove  to  Missouri — Ex- 
'pulsion  from  the  State — Settlement  in  Illinois — Obnoxious  Xaui'oo 
Charter  and  Ordinances — Arrest  and  Acquittal  of  Smith — His  U 

Assassination. 


In  the  spriiij?  of  1840,  a  relif^ioiis  sect  styled  ]Moniioiis  or  Latter  !ij|l  |; 

Day  Saints,  made  its  advent  in  Illinois,  and  kx'ated  on  tlie  east  '^  '*J: 

bank  of  the  Mississip])i,  in  the  county  of  Hancock.    This  stranj^e  # 

people  had  previously  resided  in  Missouri,  but  haviuf-,'  been  j;uilty  'jt' 

of  larceny  and  other  crimes,  they  souj^ht  refujje  in  Illinois  to 
escai)e  the  indiyiiati<ni  of  the  inhabitants  and  the  penalties  of 
outraged  law.  Tiiey  purchased  a  considerable  tract  of  land 
and  conunenced  bnUdiii};"  a  city,  which  they  called  Xauvoo,  a  ' 
name  signifying  peaceable  orjdeasant.  Joseph  Smith,  the  founder 
and  pretended  prophet  of  the  religion,  was  born  at  Sharon,  Wind- 
sor county,  Vermont,  Dec.  23(1, 1805.  His  parents  being  in  hundde 
circumstances,  the  proi)het's  oi)i)ortunities  for  accpuring  knowl- 
edge in  early  life  were  limited,  and  when  to  the  want  mwans  is  ad- 
ded the  want  of  capacity,  it  is  lujt  strange  that  he  lived  and  died  a 
person  of  ordinary  attainments. 

In  1815  his  father  left  Vermont,  and  settled  on  a  farm  near 
Palmyra,  Wayne  county,  New  York,  where  young  Smith  began  to 
exhibit  the  traits  whicli  distinguished  his  sul)se(iuent  life.  Both 
be  and  his  father  became  famous  as  water  wizzards,  professing  to 
discover  the  presence  of  water  in  the  earth  from  the  movements 
of  a  green  rod,  and  ottering  their  services  to  point  out  sni'ablo 
localities  for  the  digging  of  weils.  Many  anecdotes  foi/nerly 
existed,  respecting  the  vagrant  habits  of  the  son,  who  si)ent  most 
of  his  time  wandering  in  the  woods,  dreaming  of  hidden  treasures, 
and  endeavoring  to  tind  theju  by  the  use  of  charms.  Such 
was  the  character  of  the  young  i)rotligate  when  he  nnide  the 
acquaintance  of  Sidney  Rigdon,  a  person  of  some  intelligence  and 
natural  ability,  who  had  conceivcid  the  design  of  starting  a  new 
religion.  A  religious  r<mnince,  written  by  a  Presbyterian  clergy- 
man of  Ohio,  who  was  then  dead,  falling  into  the  hands  of  Rig- 
don, suggested  this  idea,  and  tinding  in  Smith  the  re(pusite  <lui)li- 
city  and  cunning  to  reduce  it  to  practice,  it  was  agreed  that  he 
should  act  in  the  capaiiity  of  proi)het.  They  then  devised  the 
Story  th.it  Smith  had  discovered  golden  plates  buried  in  the 
earth,  near  Palmyra,  containing  a  record  engraved  in  uid<nowu 
characters,  and  that  this  romance  was  a  translation  of  the 
iuscrii)tiou. 

489 


490 


HlSTOllT  OF  ILLINOIS. 


The  lictioii  inirports  to  be  a  history  of  the  t«Mi  lost  tribes  of 
Isnu'l,  K'viiiji  iiii  account  of  (heir  \vaiuU'riii<is  in  Asia  and  snbse- 
<lut'Ml  ciiiij;rali(»n  to  Aiiiciica,  wlicrc  th«'\  tlonrishcd  as  a  nation, 
and  \vh<  re  C'luisl  in  dnc  time  appeared  and  establishi-d  his  relig- 
ion as  he  had  done  anion;'  the  .Jews.  It  also  containe«l  the  histo- 
ry of  the  Anieiican  christians  for  several  hnn<ired  years  after- 
ward, w  lien  in  conseciiience  of  their  wicUedness,  jiidgineiits  were 
visited  upon  them  and  (hey  were  destro.vi'd.  According'  to  the 
account  sewral  powerful  nations  inhabiting  the  continent  were  en- 
gaged in  war,  and  at  last  a  decisixc  battle  was  foiigiit,  between  the 
Lamaiiites  or  heathen,  and  tiie  Nephites  or  Ciirisiiaii,  and  tlie  lat- 
ter wert^  defeated.  1'his  mighty  contest,  calit'd  tlie  battle  of  {'iiiii- 
orah,  was  fongiit  at  ralm,\ra,  ]S'ew  York;  hundreds  of  thousands 
Avere  kiih'd  on  l)otii  sides,  and  all  the  >('e])hites,  excejtt  a  few  who 
lied  to  the  southern  part  of  the  continent,  were  exteriiiiiiated. 
Among  the  survivors  were  IMormon  and  hissoii  JMoroni,  who  were 
righteous  men,  and  who  were  directed  i»y  (iod  toengraxc  the  his- 
tory of  these  important  events  on  plates  of  gold  anil  depttsit  them 
in  tlie  earth  lor  the  beiietit  of  future  generations. 

Smith  pretends  tiiat  when  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  lifteeii  he 
began  (o  rellect  on  the  necessity  of  ]>rei>ariiig  for  a  future  state 
of  existence,  bur  the  nature  of  tlie  prei)aration  was  an  unsettled 
question  in  his  mind.  Jle  regarded  (his  a  coiisidei-ation  of  inii- 
nite  importance,  for  if  he  did  not  understand  the  way  it  was  im- 
jiossible  to  walk  in  it,  and  the  thought  of  resdiig  his  scad's  salva- 
tion on  nnceilaiiities  was  mon*  than  he  could  endure.  If  he  sought 
information  of  the  diiferent  sects  of  religion,  they  all  claimed  to  be 
right,  but  as  their  doctrines  wen;  in  many  resjiects  in  direct  con- 
tiict,  it  i.<  impossible  for  most  of  them  to  be  true.  The  vital  issue 
to  be  determined  was,  ii"  any  of  the  ('(Uitlicting  systems  of  theolo- 
gy ini'valeiit  in  the  world  are  correct,  which  one  is  it;  and  until 
this  (piestion  was  dt'cided  he  could  not  rest  content,  ruder  these 
circumstances  he  concluded  t(»  study  the  scrijitures,  and  soon  be- 
eame  coin  inced  that  if  he  sought  wisdom  of  Ciod  he  would  be 
enabled  to  judge  which  of  the  opposing  creeds  coidbrmed  (o  the 
teachings  of  Christ.  Jle  theretbre  retired  to  a  grove,  in  the 
vicinity  of  his  father's  house,  and  kneeling  down,  commem-ed  call- 
ing on  the  Jiord.  At  first  the  jxiwers  of  darkness  endeavored  to 
overcome  him,  bat  continuing  in  ])rayer  the  darkness  Hed  away, 
and  he  was  enabled  to  ask  ibr  knowledge  with  great  faith  ami 
fervency  of  spirit.  While  thus  ])ouriiig  out  his  soul  in  supplica- 
tion, there  api)eare(l  in  the  heavens  above  a  blight  and  gloiions 
light,  which,  as  it  drew  near  the  to])s  of  the  trees  increased  in 
splendor  and  magiiitiide.  the  whole  wildeiness  glowi'd  with  the 
most  Itrilliant  illumination.  JJe  ex[)ected  to  s«'e  the  tbliage  of  the 
trees  consumed,  but  not  perceiving  any  effect  produced,  he  was 
encouraged  to  ho])e  that  he  also  would  lu^  able  to  abide  its  ])res- 
ence,and<juickly  he  was  enveloi>ed  in  the  midst  of  it  widiout  sus- 
taiinng  any  injury.  The  nadiral  objects  about  him  soon  vanished 
and  he  was  caught  away  in  a  heavenly  vision,  in  which  two  glori- 
ous personages  a[ti)eared  and  inlbinied  him  that  his  sins  were 
forgiven,  and  that  none  of  the  existing  e<;lesiastical  organi/ation.s 
were  accepted  by  (iod  as  his  church  and  kingdom.  After  being 
especially  informed  not  to  go  after  them,  and  promised  that  in 


THE  MORMONS. 


401 


tlic  I'liIliicsH  of  time  tlu'  triii'  j^ospol  .should  be  iiiadc  known  to 
him,  iIk^  vision  disappciircd. 

Notwitiistiindinj;  tliis  jilorions  iinnoniwcini-nt,  lie  iii'tcrwjird  lic- 
cinnc  <'ntiMi;4l('d  in  tlic  \;initit's  of  tlic  world,  hnt  sccinj:' llic  crroi' 
of  his  wiiy,  and  tinl,v  rcpfntin,!.;-,  it  pleased  (iod  to  aj;ain  hear  his 
l)rayers.  On  the  L'lsl  of  Sept.,  ISH."),  he  retiied  to  rest  as  usnal, 
Avhen  Ins  soni  was  lilleil  with  a  desiie  to  eonininne  with  some  nies- 
sen;;('!'  whuconid  make  known  the  princiides  of  the  tine  ehurcli 
and  his  aceeptanee  with  (Jod  as  promised  in  the  foiiner  vision. 
AVliile  in  this  state  of  mind,  suddenly  a  splendor,  ]»ni('r  and  more 
.uioi'ioMs  tiian  the  ii^lil  of  day.  hnist  into  the  room  and  tiie  entire 
bniidinu'  was  illnminaled  as  if  filled  with  a  eonsnmiuy  lire.  The 
nnexpeeted  appearance  of  a  lijilit  so  brilliant,  caused  in  hiswiniU' 
system  a  shock  which  was  soon  followed  by  ])eace  of  nund  and 
overwhelinin;;' raptnr<'s  of  Joy.  In  the  nndst  of  this  hai»piness  ii 
l)ersona;ie  stood  before  him,  whose  stature  was  above  theordinary 
heiji'ht  of  nnin,  whose  ^arnieids  were  perleetly  white  and  without 
8eam.  Xotwithslandinj;-  the  j;lare  which  Idled  the  room,  Iheiilory 
which  accom[)anied  him  enhaiM'ed  its  bri^'htn(>ss,  and  though  his 
countenance  was  as  lijihtninj;',  thebenij;nity  of  its  exitression  ban- 
ished all  fear.  This  >ilorions  bein^'  inlbrmed  him  that  he  was  an 
anycl  sent  tVoni  (Iod  to  declare  the  Joyful  tidin^ns  that  the  cove- 
nant which  had  been  made  with  ancient  Israel  concerninji'  their 
jiosterity,  was  about  to  be  fnllilled,and  that  the  second  ccMniuji' of 
the  ^b'ssiah  was  at  hand,  when  the  (lospel  would  be  jneached  in 
its  purity  and  a  people  i>re]>ared  tor  the  nnllennial  reijiin  of  uni- 
versal i»eace  and  Joy.  Jle  was  als(»  informed  that  the  American 
Imlians  were  a  reinnantof  the  aneient  Hebrews,  who  had  come 
to  the<'ountry;  that  for  several  hundred  years  after  their  aiTi- 
val  they  enjoyed  a  knowh-dj^-e  of  the  true  (Iod.  and  that  their 
sacred  writinj;s  contain  an  acconnt  of  the  ]»rincipal  events  that 
transpired  anionj^'  them  dnrinji'  this  interval.  \\  hen,  however, 
they  ne.nk'ctcfl  tln^  r«'li,iiion  of  their  fathers  most  of  them  jierished 
in  battle,  but  at  the  comnmnd  of  (Iod,  their  sacred  oracles  were 
entrusted  to  a,  survivinjj'  proidier  who  buried  them  in  the  earth  to 
prevent  their  fallinj;'  into  the  hands  of  the  w  icked,  who  sou<;ht  to 
destroy  them.  He  was  then  told  if  he  continued  faithful  he  would 
be  the  hij;hly  favored  instrument  of  brinj;in<^'  these  important 
documents  to  lij;ht.  but  it  must  be  done  for  the  ji'lory  of  God  and 
iM)m'  could  be  entrusted  Avith  them  who  would  use  them  for  sel- 
fish purjtoses.  ^M'ter  <iivin<;'  him  many  instructions  concerning- 
the  past  aiid  i'luure,  the  heavenly  messenger  disappeared  and  the 
glory  of  (Iod  withdiew,  leaving  the  nnnd  of  the  i)rophet  in  per- 
fect jx'aco.  Not  nmny  days  thereafter,  the  vision  was  renewed  and 
the  angel  appearing,  pointed  out  the  place  where  the  records  were 
dei)oslted,  and  directed  him  to  go  immediately  and  view  them. 

A('(;or<ling' to  the  Ah>rmon  account  they  were  tlepo.-iled  in  a  stone 
box,  buried  in  the  side  of  a  hill,  ;>  nnles  from  the  village  of  Man- 
chestei',  New  York.  When  Snuth  first  visited  the  depository, 
September  -5-d,  J.S2;?,  the  crow  aing  stone  was  visible  above  the 
surface  and  a  slight  ettbrt  brouglit  the  eontents  to  view.  The 
words  wen^  beautifully  «'ngraved  in  Egy]>tian  characteis,  on  both 
sides  of  i)lates,  eight  inches  long  and  seven  inches  wide,  having 
the  thickness  of  tin  ami  the  appearance  of  gold.  Three  rings 
pas>-ing  through  the  edges  of  the  plates  united  them  iu  the  form 


41): 


IllsroUV    OK    ILLINOIS. 


«)!'  ii  lidok  iilntiit  six  iiiclu's  in  tliickiicss.  Jit'sitU's  tlio  iiliitcs  llio 
1)()X  <()iitjiiiic(i  two  tiiiiis]»iii('iit  st(»iu'.s,  ck'iii' iLs  it.n stal,  tlu'  rriui 
iiiiil  'i'lmiiiiiiiin  of  iiiu'iciit  seers,  by  wiiicli  tliey  obtiiiiietl  revela- 
tions of  tliiii;;s  i»iis(  and  liilnn-. 

Wliile  <'t)ntenii»latin};'  the  sacred  treasnre  tlic  heavens  were 
opened,  the  <>;Uny  ot(iod  slione  about  him,  and  he  was  Idled  with 
tiie  Holy  (ihost.  The  heaveidy  niessen<ier  who  had  visited  liiiu 
on  previous  occasions,  aj^ain  stood  in  his  ])resence  aiul  said,  look; 
and  as  he  si)ake  he  beheld  the  power  of  darkness  with  an  im- 
mense retinue  ot  associates  tiee  away.  The  anncl  iiistruetin;;  him 
declared  that  it  was  then  impossible  to  possess  the  records,  that 
they  could  (»nly  be  obtirined  by  i>ra\er  and  faithfulness  in  servnij^' 
(jod  who  liad  preserved  them,  not  for  the  temi)oiiil  but  the  spirit- 
ual welfaiv  of  the  world.  In  them  is  contained  the  (los[»el  of 
Christ  as  it  was  deliven-d  to  his  i»eo])le  <»f  this  land,  and  when 
broujiht  forth  by  the  powi'r  of  (Jod  it  shall  be  preached  to  the 
nations;  the  Clentiles  receiving;  will  be  saved  and  Israel  obeyiny; 
it  will  be  brou;:ht  into  the  foldof  the  Kedei'mer.  After  it  is  known 
that  the  Lonl  Inis  shown  you  these  things  the  wicked  will  en- 
dea\  or  by  falsehoods  to  <lestroy  your  reputation  ;  nay,  they  will 
even  attempt  y(mr  life,  but  you  observe  the  commandments,  and 
in  due  time  you  shall  brinjj'  them  forth.  AVhen  interpreted  the 
Lord  will  appoint  a  holy  jjriesthood,  who  will  i»roclaim  the  (ios- 
pel,  baptize  with  water,  and  Jiave  i>ower  to  confer  the  ll(»ly 
(ihost  by  the  layinj>-  on  of  hands.  In  due  time  the  ten  tribes  of 
Israel  shall  be  revealed  in  the  north  country,  where  they  for  a 
loii^'  time  have  resided.  The  knowledj^e  of  the  Lord  shall  be 
P'catly  extended,  and  your  name  shall  be  known  amonj;  the  na- 
tions Ity  the  works  which  shall  Ix;  wroufilit  by  your  Inind. 

On  the  liUd  of  Septendu'r,  ISl'T,  altera  i)r(»bation  of  four  years, 
dnrinj;'  wliii'h  he  was  fre(piently  counseled  by  the  an;;el,  tlie  re- 
cords were  delivered  into  his  hands.  When  it  was  known  anmng' 
the  iidnibitants  of  the  'surrounding;-  (!ountiy  that  the  pro]>het 
had  seen  visions  and  discovered  the  records,  he  was  not  oidy 
ridiculed  and  slandered  but  waylaid  and  assaidted,  for  the  puf- 
])ose  of  destroying  tlie  i)lates.  These  i)ersecutit)ns  increased  to 
such  an  extent  that  the  house  in  which  \w  lived  was  fre(iuently 
beset  by  mobs,  and  tindinj;  his  life  thus  exi>ose<|  to  constant  dan- 
ger he  (HHicluded  to  leave  tlie  place  and  go  to  Pennsylvania.  Dur- 
ing' the  journey  thither  he  was  twice  overtaken  by  ottlcers  Avith 
search-warrants  for  the  i)lates,  but  they  failed  in  the  accomjtlish- 
ment  of  their  desipis.  Alter  arriving'  in  the  northern  i)art  of  I'enu- 
sylvania,  where  his  father-in-law  resided,  by  the  aid  of  the  Urim 
and  Thummim,  he  made  the  translation  of  the  i)lates  known  as  tlie 
book  of  JNIormon.  This  translation  is  from  an  abridgnuMit  c(nn- 
posed  bylMormon  from  the  sacred  Avritings  of  his  forefathers,  with 
ad<litions  subsequently  made  by  his  son  Maioni.  who  suivived 
]iim.  The  lattei',  in  his  continuation  of  the  narrative,  informs  us 
that  the  Lamonites  destroyed  all  the  Nei»hites  who  escajied  tlie 
battle  of  Curniorah,  except  such  as  foi'sook  their  religion,  and  that 
he,  for  the  preservation  of  his  own  life,  was  compelleil  to  hide  him- 
self. 

This  story,  in  its  pretended  miracles,  visions  and  ])ropheei<  s,  is 
like  other  forgeries  of  tlie  kind,  which  at  dittei'cnt  times  have  been 
imposed  on  the  credulity  of  mankind.    As  dishonesty  and  iguo- 


TIIE   MOUMONS.  493 


raiit'c  will  :ihvays  exist,  it  iiiiiy  yet  tlonrisli  jiiid  exert  upon  tlie  fu- 
ture of  tlie  race!  an  intluence  as  contiitlin^'  as  tliat  of  other  sys- 
teniH  which  have  ])rece<Ie(l  it  in  the  i)ast.  While  the  holiest  atl'ee- 
tinns  of  the  iieart  cluster  about  the  relifjious  element  of  nian's 
nature,  there  is  also  ii  weakness  eonneeted  Mitli  it  which  in  all 
{i<;es  of  the  world  has  sulijected  him  to  the  jjrossest  inipositiont;. 
In  his  soi'ial  and  ])oliti('al  relations  he  exhibits  a  saj^aeity  which, 
if  it  does  not  always  j)rotect  Iiim  aj^ainst  abuse,  is  at  least  divested 
of  the  superstition  wliich  beclouds  his  reli;iious  aspirations  and 
so  fretjuently  makes  him  the  dupe  of  falsehood,  lb'  insists  in  his 
S(MMdar  investiji'ations  ui»on  the  most  rij^id  inductions,  theoiies  are 
subjei^ted  to  the  most  st'aichin^i'  analysis,  and  no  doctrine  can  ob- 
t.iin  credence  unless  sustained  by  indubitable  lacts;  but  in  tlicol- 
og,y  A'aj'ue  conjecture  is  substituted  for  jiositive  know  led;;*',  and 
errors  which  outrage  the  character  of  Deity  and  imhruit  the  intel- 
lect of  nuin  are  a<'ce]»tcd  without  even  (juestioninu  their  auliien- 
ticity.  To  this  infirmity  of  human  nature,  and  thecnjiidity  of  de- 
signing men,  Mormonism  and  otlu  l-  similar  d«'lusions  owe  their 
oripn.  If  the  i»arti«'s  who  ori^iriate  and  manage  them  are  intel- 
ligent tlicy  give  them  plausibility,  but  this  is  not  important,  for 
no  system  can  be  devised  so  absurd  that  fools  will  not  believe  it, 
and  that  knaves  will  iH)t  be  found  to  profit  by  their  ignorance. 

According  to  the  statements  of  the  saints,  after  the  book  of 
Mormon  was  translated,  the  Lord  raised  uj)  witnesses  totestify  lo  its 
truth.  Oliver  Cowdry,  Daniel  Whitmoieand  ]\lartin  Harris  thus 
attiiiu:  "We  certify  that  we  have  seen  thei)lates  which  iiontain  the 
records  ;  tliat  they  were  translated  by  the  gift  and  ])ower  of  (lod, 
for  his  voice  hath  declared  it  unto  us,  -.vheretbre  we  know  that  the 
work  is  true,  and  declare  with  words  of  soberness  that  an  angel 
of  God  came  down  from  heaven  and  laid  the  plates  before  our 
eyes,  and  we  saw  the  engravings  on  them."  Eight  other  witnesses 
also  declare :  "Josei>h  JSmith,  the  translator  of  this  work,  hath 
shown  us  the  plates  herein  spoken  of,  wliich  have  the  appearance 
of  gold,  and  as  many  of  the  leaves  as  the  said  Smith  hath  trans- 
lated we  have  handled  with  our  hands,  and  we  also  saw  the  en- 
gravings thereon,  all  of  which  had  the  appearance  of  ancient  and 
curious  workmanship."  The  parties  connected  with  these  certili- 
eates  were  no  doubt  accomplices  in  the  fraud,  for  if  humanity 
coidd  furnish  a  spawn  base  enough  to  originate  the  decei»tit)n, 
plenty  of  men  could  be  found  sufficiently  degraded  to  assist  in  its 
promulgation. 

Another  statement  is  given  respecting  the  plates,  by  those  in 
the  confidence  of  the  prophet,  which  does  not  coincide  with  the 
above  certificates.  It  is  sr'.d  that  the  early  followers  of  the 
prophet  were  desirous  of  seeing  the  plates,  and  importuning  him 
for  the  iirivilege,  he  told  theui  that  they  could  not  be  seen  by  the 
carnal  eye,  that  they  nuist  obtain  a  lively  faith  by  fasting  and 
prayer  if  they  Avouhl  have  their  holy  curiosity  gratified.  Acting 
upon  his  suggestion,  they  engaged  in  continuous  supi>lica- 
tions  that  the  hidden  things  of  God  might  be  made  manifest,  and 
when  finally  becoming  imi)atient,  Smith  produced  the  box  con- 
taining the  treasure  and  opened  it  iu  their  midst.  Not  seeing 
anything  in  it,  they  said,  "Brother  Joseph,  we  do  not  see  the 
plates."  The  prophet  answering  said  "Oh  ye  of  little  faith,  how 
long  will  God  bear  w'itli  a  wicked  and  perverse  generation  ?  Dowu 


494 


IILSTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Oil  your  kiit'j'M,  bivtliicii,  cvory  one  of  yon,  and  pray  Oo«l  for  the 

for;:i\('iM'.ss  of  Noiii' sins  :umI  for  tin-  li>  inj;  fiiitli  wliicli  conies 
(low  M  fi'oni  licaxcn."  As  coniniiiiKU-d  they  fell  npon  their  knees, 
iind  lu'sceeliin;;-  (Jod  with  ;;re;it  eiinu'slness  for  inor«i  than  two 
hoiii's  I'orfiiitli  iind  s|iii'ilM:d  diseernnient,  they  ii<;ain  looked  iind 
tlie  pliiles  weie  \  isihie.  I n  t liis  ease  it  lias  Iteeii  sn;;';;('Sted  tliat 
tlie  parlies,  operated  upon  iiy  a  fanatieal  enthusiasm,  may  |)er- 
liapsha\e  iiiiayiiied  they  saw  tlie  phites,  Init  it  is  far  moi<'  proha- 
l)l('  thai  they  liad  sctlish  ends  lu  aeeoiiiplish  and  wiifnily  niisrep- 
reseiilcd  to  impose  on  llie  iyiioiaiit. 

On  tlie  (itii  of  April,  IS.IO,  the  ehiireh  of  the  Latter  Day  Saints 
was  ur;L;anized  al  .Manchester,  New  York.  Their  numbers  now 
rapidly  incieased,  and  with  a  \  iew  to  securing' a  iiernianeiit  Idea- 
tion, in  is;;;;,  they  moNcd  to  .Missouri,  inirchased  land  in  .lackson 
eonnty,  and  c(niinienee<l  linildin;.:'  the  town  of  Independence. 
'I'lu'ie  the  coiiiniissi(ni  cd'  petty  erinies,  and  their  ariojiaiit  pre- 
sii'iii  lions  tiiat  as  saints  of  the  Lord  lliey  had  a  ri;;lit  to  the  whole 
eoiintry,  incensed  the  neijililioriii;^'  people  a]nainst  them.  After 
some  of  their  nnnihcr  had  iiecn  ducked  in  the  river,  s(niie  tarred 
and  feathered,  and  otiiers  killed,  the  whole  community  removed  to 
(lay  county,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  .Missouri  river.  IJemainin;;' 
in  this  jilace  only  a  slnnt  time,  most  of  them  went  eastward,  ami 
located  at  Kirtland,  Oiiio,  twenty  miles  from  Cleveland,  and  c(»m- 
mciiccd  hnildiiiii  a  temple.  In  is;i(la  laiji'e  c(nivo(;ati<ui  of  their 
elders  met,  and  acccn'diny  to  their  ri'ports,  the  work  of  the  Lord 
had  yreatly  iiu;reased  in  America,  Enroi)e  and  the  islands  of  the 
sea. 

About  tills  time  a  financial  institntiini,  styled  the  Kirtland  Sav- 
in,us  Lank,  was  orjianized,  and  Smith  a)>poinle<l  president.  For 
the  want  (d'  capital  and  intejirily  aimni;;'  the  manaj^ers,  it  soon 
failed,  niider  circnmslanccs  of  more  than  ordinary  depravity. 
I'lopcrty  to  a  Iai,^e  amount  was  itnichased  with  the  bills,  andalter 
the  title  became  \ested  in  the  saints,  the  bank  failed  and  its  notes 
were  never  redeemed.  Thus  swindled,  the  peoi)le  of  the  adja- 
cent conntry,  as  at  other  places,  became  exasperated  ami  a 
third  hej;ira  became  necessary.  Aecordin^ily  the]»ropliet,  ajiostles, 
eldeis  and  a  yn'at  body  of  tlie  saints,  shakinj«'  the  dnst  from  their 
teet  as  a  testimony  ajjainst  Ohio,  started  !br  Missonri,  and  this 
time  settle<l  in  Davisand  ("alhonn  comities.  There  they  also  pur- 
chased land  of  the  Lnited  States,  and  built  the  town  of  Far  ^Vesfc 
and  other  small  villages.  Still  c.\hibitin,n'  the  same  eondnct  that 
at  oiliei'  places  had  involved  them  in  ditlienlties,  it  was  not  long 
till  they  were  acctised  of  every  ]u»ssible  (trinie.  The  breach  thns 
ojx'iied  between  the  saints  and  <;entiles  eontinned  to  widen,  and 
in  a  few  years  both  parties  became  so  embittered  that  a  resort  to 
jihysical  foice  was  the  only  alternative  by  which  the  qnarrel  could 
be  adjusted.  The  ^Iwiinon  leaders  declared  that  they  would  no 
louficr  submit  to  to  the  j>-overnment  of  Missouri.  Joe  Smith,  as 
he  was  <j;enerally  called,  cndered  the  circuit  clerk,  who  was  a  disci- 
I>Ie,  not  to  issue  any  more  writs  apaints  the  saints,  and  one  of  the 
elders,  in  a  sermon,  informed  his  i)eoi>le  that  henee'orth  they  were 
not  amenable  to  the  laws  of  the  State.  Armed  ])arties  of  Mor- 
mons eomnu'iiced  ]»atrolinf;' the  country  and  ])lunderinf>- the  pro- 
jierty  of  the  inhabitants,  who  assembled  in  arms  to  protect  them- 
selves and  drive  the  felons  from  the  State.    A  comi)auy,  under 


niE  MOUMONS.  496 


Major  Mo^rnrt,  wlioliiid  rniiiicily  coniiiiinKlcil  ii  Itiittnlioii  of  ran^jcrs 
in  tltc  lUack  Hawk  wai,  iiit't  one  of  tlit-sc  iiiaraialiii^  pailirs,  and 
a  Itattic  cnsnin;;',  lli*>  iMornions  wnc  rontcd  after  llit-.v  liad  laiint 
two  towns  and  ia\aj;cd  a  lar;;*'  extent,  of  eoimlry.  (lov.  l)o;;^s 
called  out  the  militia  foi'  the  pin  pose  of  either  externiinat- 
iuj;'  the  phindeieis  (»r  driving'  thern  IVoin  the  eountry.  A 
lai'j;e  loici',  eoninianded  lt,v  (ien.  Liieas  and  l>iij;adiei'  (len.  Doni- 
phan, sui'i'onnd<-d  tlieni  in  the  town  of  Far  West,  and  althon};h 
armed  with  the  deteiinination  of  I'esistin-;'  to  the  last  extiMinity, 
they  snirendered  without  an  eu;:aj;ement.  A  laryc  part  of  tho 
stolen  property  was  iceoven-d,  and,  with  the  exeeptittu  of  the, 
leadeis,  the  Mormons  wen^  dismissed  under  promise  to  h-ave 
tin'  State.  Smitli  and  other  principal  men  were  tried  hetoie  a 
eoui't  martial  and  si-nteneed  to  he  shot.  The  eiiminals  would 
ih>ul)lless  ha\('  been  executed  had  not  (ien.  J>oniphan,  who  con- 
sidered the  proc<'edin;;s  aj^ainst  them  illegal,  interfered  and  savi'd 
their  lives.  They  weic  next  arraij;n<'d  hefore  a  ci\  il  trilmnal,  and 
indictments  heinj;'  found  a^^ainst  them  tor  muider,  tieason,  rob- 
bery and  other  crimes,  they  wen^  committed  to  jail,  but  before 
their  trials  canu'  on  they  escaped  from  prison,  and  lied  the  State. 

In  tlie  years  lS;t!>-40  tlie  w  hob'  body  of  saints  arrived  in  Illinois, 
and,  accoi'dinj;  to  their  own  account,  the  cruel  treatment  (»f  their 
enemies,  and  their  perils  by  field  and  Hood,  would  make  a  st<»rv 
without  a  ])arallel  in  the  ainials  of  sutierin<;',  IkCpresentinji  that 
they  had  been  persecuted  in  ^Missouri  on  account  of  theii- reli/^ion, 
and  bein^'  tho  vamiuished  jiarty,  they  soon  excited  the  sympathy 
of  our  people.  The  inhabitants  of  Illinois  have  always  been 
Justly  <'steenied  for  their  enlij;htcned  sjtirit  of  tolcrati<»u,  and  the 
.Alormons  were  kindly  received  as  sulfeiers  in  the  cause  of  reli- 
jiion.  Several  conimnnities  e\('n  vied  with  each  other  in  offers  of 
hospitality  and  efforts  to  induce  the  persecuted  stranj^crs  to  settle 
amonji'  them.  As  already  stated,  they  linally  located  on  the  east 
bank  of  the  ^lississippi,  in  the  county  (»f  Hancock,  where  they 
comni<'nce<l  building-  the  city  of  ^'anvoo,  which  they  tlesij^ned 
should  I)e  the  center  of  their  future  oi»eration.s  in  the  conversion 
of  the  world  to  the  lU'W  reli«;ion. 

On  their  arrival  in  the  State  the  effort  of  politicians  to  get  their 
patroinij^e  soon  brouf^ht  them  into  notice.  As  they  were  already 
numerous  and  rapidly  increasin<i-  in  nund)ers,  it  was  su])]»osed 
that  at  no  distant  day  they  would  exert  a  controlii^-  influence  in 
the  elections.  Knowin<;'  their  jiower  in  this  icspcct,  and  iiitimat- 
in^i;'  that  they  would  supi)ort  the  men  ami  measures  nu)st  likely  to 
promote  their  own  welfare,  both  jtarties  by  acts  of  kindness  and 
l»roniises  of  lu'lp  endeav(»r<'(l  to  win  their  s1ij»port.  In  .Alissouri 
they  had  always  sustained  the  democratic  party,  but  havinji' been 
expelled  from  the  State  by  a  denio(rratie  governor,  and  having 
afterwards  been  refused  relief  by  Van  Bnren,  a  democratic  presi- 
dent, in  a  spirit  of  nitaliation,  they  voted  for  a  time  with  the 
Avliigs.  When,  liowevei',  the  legislature  met  in  ].S4(),  Avishing  to 
obtain  the  passage  of  seveial  bills  for  the  incorporation  of  Js'au- 
voo  and  otlier  i)urposes,  they  flattered  both  ])arties  in  order  to 
secure  their  joint  influence.  With  these  objects  in  view  Dr.  John 
C.Bennett,  a  Mormon  by  profession  and  one  of  the  most  profligate 
men  in  the  State,  was  sent  as  their  agent  to  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment to  operate  as  a  lobbyist.    Arriving  in  Springfield,  he  api)lied 


400 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


I 


to  Ml'.  I.iHIc,  the  wlii;;  st-iiiitor  tVoiii  IliinrocU,  iiiid  to  Mr.  DitixrlaH, 
the  <l*'iii*ici'iitic  si'CK'tiiiA  ol'  stiitc,  wlio  hotli  proiiiiscil  liiiii  tli*>ir 
inlliM'iirf,  Mild  wlicii  ill)  act  iiiforiHtratiii;^  tlic  cit.v  of  NaiiNou  was 
]>r*-.s<'iitc(l  to  llic  lt';>islatiirc,  alllioii;ili  in  iiiaiiy  i'i'N|)trtN  in  tliu 
lii;:lu'st  firjiirc  <»l)j('ctioiialtl(',  siicii  was  tlHMlcxtcrit.v  witii  wliicli 
tiM'sc  politicians  iiiana;;c(l  tlicir  rcs|iccti\c  parties  tliat  it  passed 
both  houses  witluait  discnssion  or  opposition.  In  tiie  lower  lioiise 
it  is  uaid  it  w  as  not  ev«'n  read,  each  party  lieiii^  al'raid  to  oppose 
it  tor  tear  of  losin;;  tlie  Moiiiioii  vote,  and  each  in  sustaining  it 
veiily  believed  it   woidd  secure  their  fa\(»r. 

Tliis  act,  which  is  a  ))ei  feet  aiHtinal.v  in  legislation,  made  the 
ori^iinal  Itoundaries  of  Nauvoo  not  only  e<|iial  to  the  limits  of  some 
of  the  lar<;er  cities.  Itiit  also  jtrovided  for  their  indelinite  exten- 
sion. It  reads:  "^\'hellevel•  any  tract  of  land  adjoininj:  Naiivoo 
shall  liav<'  lu'cn  laid  (ait  into  town  lots,  and  duly  recorded  accord- 
inj;  to  law,  the  samc^  shall  form  a  pait  of  the  city."  The 
coiporatioii  was  also  empowered  to  deal  in  real  and  jtersonal 
IMdpeity  for  s])eciilative  ]tiirposes,  a  privilege  not  at  that 
time  conferred  njton  any  other  cities  of  the  Htate  by  le;;isla- 
tive  enactment.  One  He<'tion  of  the  law  pive  to  the  city  coiimril 
the  extraordinary  power  to  enact  any  ordinance  not  re|>u(;iiaiit  to 
the  State  and  national  c<»nstitiitions,  whereby  they  coiihl  nullify 
nt  ])leasiire  the  statutes  of  the  Stati'  within  the  corporate  limits 
of  the  city  and  over  as  much  of  flie  adjacent  c(Minty  as  they  could 
extend  them.  A  mayor's  court  was  established,  with  t'xclusive 
jurisdiction  ot  all  cases  arisinji'  under  the  city  ordinaiie<'s,  but  sub- 
ject to  the  rifiht  of  apixal  to  the  municipal  coiiit.  Tlnunayorand 
tour  ahlermeii  as  associates  coni]»osed  the  muni<-ipal  court,  w  hich 
■was  elotlicd  with  power  to  issue  writs  of  habeas  coipns,  and  had 
jurisdiction  of  apjieals  from  the  mayor's  court,  subject  a;;ain  to 
appeal  to  the  circuit  court  of  Hancock  county.  It  made  the  iS'auvoo 
legion.  M'itli  the  excei)tion  of  beinj;'  subject  to  the  ^-overnor, 
inde])endent  of  the  military  organization  of  tlie  State,  and 
its  c(»mniissioned  oflicers  a  i>eri)etual  court  martial,  liaving 
authority  to  enact  such  ref-ulations  as  should  be  considered  neces- 
sary for  its  Avelfare.  The  lejiion  was  made  subservient  to  the 
mayor  in  exccntiiif;'  the  laws  of  the  city,  was  entitled  to  its  propor- 
tion of  the  State  arms,  and  by  subsequent  enactments  of  the 
]ej;islatnre  any  citiz<'n  of  Hancock  county  miyht  unite  with  it, 
viietlier  he  med  in  the  city  or  out  of  it.  A  bill  was  also  passed 
in('or])orating  the  >Ianvoo  House,  in  whicli  Joe  Smith  and  his 
heirs  were  to  liave  a  suite  of  rooms  in  periietual  succession.  By 
this  unusual  le<iislation  the  courts  had  little  dei»enden<;e  on  the 
constitutional  judiciary,  and  the  military  establishment,  empow- 
ered to  re'gulate  itself,  was  indejiendent  of  the  laws  of  the  State. 
The  ditlerent  departments  of  the  city  ;;oA'ernment  weie  blended 
into  one,  whereby  the  same  public  functionary  could  be  entrusted 
with  the  disdiarge  of  legislative,  executive,  judicial  and  military 
duties  at  the  same  tinu>,  and  such  instances  frequently  occurred 
as  the  events  which  immediately  foUoM'ed  jirove. 

In  tlie  year  1841,  the  Mormons  organized  a  city  government  and 
Smith  was  elected  mayor;  presidijig  in  the  council  as  a  legislator 
lie  assisted  in  making  laws  for  the  government  of  the  city,  and  as 
mayor  it  was  his  duty  to  see  that  the  laws  were  faithfully  executed. 
By  virtue  of  his  oftice  he  was  judge  of  the  mayor's  court  and  chief 


THE  MOUM0N8. 


w: 


Jiisficc  (tf  llic  nnniicipiil  <'(tiir(,  in  wliicli  sitiinliim  lie  wiis  IIk-cx- 
]i*iiiimI«'I'  jiihI  mroicfr  i>\'  \\\v  laws  \^lli*■ll  lit>  Initl  :issi,st<'<|  In  iiiiiUc. 
Jii  the  oi';;'aiii/iitinn  of  tli*'  Niiinoo  li'^ititi  it  wii.s  iiia(l<'  t(^  consist 
of  divisions,  Itiiu^iidcs,  iind  <'oliorls,  imcIi  of  wliicli  lisnl  ii  ^icncial 
iind  ov«T  tlu>  wliolr  as  coniniand*  r  in  eld*  I'  Sndtli  prt-sidtd  as 
licntcnant  ^tMM-ial.  If  to  tlnsr  ninltilurni  dutirs  \\i>  ad<l  Ids  call- 
in;;  as  a  leal  estate  a;>'eid  anil  Ids  anticipated  position  as  tavern 
keeper,  tlie  list  of  Ids  \oealions  will  lie  complete. 

Il  lias  already  been  said  llial  Sniitli  and  oilier  lea'iin;;  Mornioiis 
('scap«'d  from  jail  in  Missouri,  and  lieiice  in  llie  autumn  of  l<S41, 
tlie  ^{dveriior  of  tinit  State  made  a  demand  on  (Soveriior  (.'arliii  of 
Illinois  for  llie  arrest  and  delixerv  of  llie  fn;iilives.  A  warrant 
was  a<*cor<linnly  issued  1»\  wliicli  Sniilli  wasanested  and  hion^ilit 
befon^  .Iud;;e  J)ou;ilas,  who,  at  that  time  was  lioldin;;'  <'ouit  in 
Hancock  am'  ndjoinin;; countii's.  In  the  trial  which  ensued.  Smith 
was  (liscliar^"d  on  the  plea  that  the  writ  b\  which  In-  had  been 
niresled  was  <lefeeti\«'.  TIm'  projihet,  not  bein,",  ue||  eii(»u<;h 
versed  in  law  *■'.  uiiderstaiKl  llie  leyal  nal'ire  of  the  fpu'stioii, 
re^iai'ded  his  ac»|uiMal  as  a  ;;reat  fa\oi'  from  the  democrati<' parly. 
In  <'oiiseqiience  of  this  decision  the  Mormons  once  more  renewed 
their  alle;>iaiiec  with  that  political  or;;ani/ation  and  to  stren;;tlieli 
the  alliance,  liennett,  who  was  tiien  an  alderman  in  Nauvoo  aixl 
the  major  ^icm-ral  of  the  lejiion,  was  made  master  in  chancery  and 
adjutant  jicneral  of  the  State  militia.  At  these  si^iiial  marks  of 
iavor,  Smith  issued  a  ]»roclaiiialion  exlnntiii;;-  his  followers  to  unite 
with  the  deniociatic  party,  and  the  wlii^is  on  seeing'  themselves 
out  ;;eiieral<'d  in  this  manner,  commenced  a  tirade  of  dennnciationH 
Jl^jainst  the  Mormons,  their  jiapers  teeniin;;'  with  the  eiiormilies  of 
INaiivoo  and  the  wickedness  of  the  jiarty  which  wouhl  consent  to 
receive  the  support  of  siu'h  miscreants. 

As  soon  as  the  machinery  id'  the  ^overninent  <if  !N"anvoo  was 
projierly  put  in  motion,  oi'dinances  were  ena<'tcd  in  (umiiict  with 
the  laws  of  the  State.  The  Mormons,  believin<;  that  another 
uttein]»t  would  be  made  by  the  pivei'iior  of  IMissoui  i  for  the  arrest 
of  their  leaders,  declared  that  the  piildie  mind  in  that  State  was 
so  pnjudiced  apiinst  them  that  a,  fair  trial  there  was  imjiossible, 
and  should  any  of  their  fraternity  be  taken  tliitlu'r,  if  they  could 
not  be  legally  convicted  and  punished,  they  would  be  niur<h'red  by 
a  mob  before  they  could  get  out  of  the  State.  ])etermined  to 
guard  againstany  futur(Mleinandsof  this  kind,  they  commenced  de- 
vising a  scheme  whereby  they  could  protect  themselves  through 
the  instrumentality  of  the  city  ordinances.  A  law  was  therefore 
passed  by  the  conunon  council  virtually  declaring  that  the,  muni- 
cipal court  should  have  jurisdiction  whatever  might  b(^  the  nature 
of  ilic  offense,  thus  giving  a  latitiidinarian  construction  to  the 
charter,  wliicli  was  only  intench'd  to  grant  the  right  of  adniinks- 
tering  justice  in  cases  where  imprisonment  resulted  from  a  breach 
of  the  city  ordinances.  Smith  was  aftcvard  arrested  by  a  writ 
from  tlie  governor,  but  it  is  unknown  whether  he  was  rescued  by 
his  followers  or  discharged  in  consequence  of  this  ordinance. 

A  combination  of  circumstances  now  concurred  in  rendering  the 
Mormons  uni)opular.  Besides  impolitic  enactments,  they  were 
furnished  by  the  State  with  three  i)ieces  of  cannon  and  25()  stands 
of  small  sirms,  which  jealousy  and  popular  rumor  increased  to  30 
cannons  and  5,000  or  0,000  muskets.    Many  thought  they  enter- 


32 


-198  HISTORY   OF   ILLINOIS. 

tiiiiicd  tli(>  troasonablo  <li'sij>ii  of  ovcrtuniiii;;'  flic  yovcniiiiciit, 
diiviii;;'  out  tlic  oriyiiiiil  iiilialtitiiiits  iuid  siihstitntiiiji'  tlicii'  own 
]»oiiiiliitioii  .11  their  stead,  as  tlie  eliildreii  of  Israel  luuldoni.'  in  the 
land  of  Canaan. 

Jii  1S41*,  the  Mormon  )»o])nlatit»ii  of  Hancock  county  had  in- 
crea.u'd  to  about  Ki.OdO.  and  several  thousand  more  were  scattered 
over  various  |»arts  of  tiu'  I'nited  States  and  Murojie.  "S\v.  Henry 
Caswel,  an  lOnjilisli  <;'en(leman  of  talent  and  i'esi)ectal)ility, 
aseendiii.n'  the  ^Mississippi  in  a  steamboat,  <;ives  tlie  followin.;;' 
ji'rapliic  account  of  his  observations  respecting;'  the  Saints  at  that 
i"  time: 


"  Iliivhifr  licon  told  that  tliroe  Inindrcd  En^rlish  emigrants  were  on 
I  board  to  join  tlie  prophet  at  Xaiivoo,  I  walked  to  that  ])art  of  the  vessel 

f|  ap|)ropriated  to  the  poorer  classes  of  travi'lers,  and  beheld  n»y  eoinitryiiien 

crowded  to^'ether  in  a  conifortlesH  manner.    I  addressed  them  and  iound 
they  were  from  the  neighborhood  of  Preston,  in  Lancaster;  they  were 
decent  lookiiifr  i)e()])le  and  by  no  means  of  the  lower  class.     I  took  the 
:5.  liberty  of  (inestioninjftheni  concerning  their  jilans,  and  found  they  were 

','  the  dupes  of  Mormon  missionaries.      Karly  on  Sunday  moridnfi;  I  was 

landed  opposite  Nauvoo,  and  erossinj;  the  river  in  a  larjje  canoe,  filled 
'I  ■with  Mormons  ^oinj;'  to  cluireb,  in  a  few  minutes  I  found  myself  in  tbis 

s;  extraordinary  city.  It  is  built  on  a  ijjrand  plan,  accommodated  to  the  site 

'.i  of  the   temj)le  and   the  bend   of  the   river.     The  view  of  the  winding 

Ct  Mississii)pi  from  the  elevation  where  the  temple  stands  is  truly  niajrnili- 

%_  cent.     Tbe  temple   being  uutinished,  about   half  past  ten  o'clock  a  con- 

Vli'  gregation  of  perhaps  J, (HIU  persons  assembled  in  a  grove,  within  a  short 

'v"  distance  from  the  sanctuary.     Their  appearance  was  quite  respectable 

rj-  and  fully  eciual  to  that  exhitiited  at  the  nu'ctings  of  other  denomin»tioiis 

■^  in  the  \vestern  country.     Many  gray-headed  old   men   were  there  and 

:  many  vvcll  dressed  females.     Their  sturdy  forms,  clear  complexions,  and 

aeavy  movements,  strongly  contrasted  with  the  slight  tigure,  the 
sallow  visage,  ami  the  elastic  ste))  of  the  Americans.  There,  to(;,  were  the 
bright  aiul  unconscious  looks  of  little  children,  who  born  among  the 
privileges  of  England's  churches  liaptized  with  her  consecrated  waters 
'  and  taught  to  lisp  her  prayers  and  repeat  iier  catechisms,  had  now  been 

'••  led  into  this  clan  of  heresy,  to  listen  to  the  ravings  of  a  false   prophet 

I:  and   to   iud)ibe  the   priiu'iples  of  a  semi-pagan  delusion.     Two  elders 

shortly  came  forward  and  one  of  them  having  made  a  tew  coiemou-place 
remarks  on  the  nature  of  prayer,  and  dwelt  for  a  considerable  time  on 
the  character  and  perfections  of  the  Almighty,  proceeded  in  the  follow- 
ing strain  :  'We  thank  tlu-e,  ()  I^ord,  that  thou  luist  in  ihese  latter  days 
restored  the  gifts  of  i)rophecy  of  revelation,  and  of  great  signs  and 
(  wonders  as  in  the  days  of  old.     We  thank  thee  that  thou  didst  tormerly 

raise  up  thy  servant  Joseph  to  deliver  his  brethren  in  Egypt,  so  hast 
thou  raised  up  another  .Iosei)h  to  save  his  brethrei\  from  bondage  of 
sectarian  delusion,  and  to  bring  them  into  this  great  and  good  land, 
flowing  with  milk  and  honey,  which  is  the  glory  of  all  lands,  and  which 
thou  didst  promise  to  be  an  inheritance  for  the  seed  of  .Jacob  for  ever- 
more. We  pray  for  this  servant  and  prophet,  Joseph,  that  thou  wouldst 
prosper  ami  bless  him  ;  that  although  the  archers  have  sorely  grieved 
,  him,  and  shot  at  him,  and  hated  him,  his  bow  may  abide  in  strength, 

and   the  arms  of  his  hands  may  lie  ma'iL>  strong  by  the  hand  of  the 
Ahuighty  (Jod  of  Jacob.     We  pray,  also,  for  thy  temple  that  the  nations 
JJ  of  the  earth  may  Itringgold  and  incense,  that  the  sons  of  strangers  U'ay 

build  up  its  walls  and  tly  to  it  as  a  cloud  and  as  doves  to  their  windows, 
•  AVe  iiray  thee,  also,  to  hasten  the  ingathering  of  thy  people,  every  nuui 

to  his  heritage  and  every  man  to  his  land.     We  pray   that  as  thou  hast 
set  up  this  i)laceas  an  ensign  for  the  nations,  so  thou  wouldst  continue  to 
i;  assendile   here  the  outcasts,  and  irather  together  the  dispersed  fnmi  the 

;.  four  coi'iiersof  the  earth.     May  every  valley  he  exidted  and  every  moun- 

tain and  hill  be  made   low  and  crooked  places  be  made  straight  and  the 
,;  rough   jilaces   plain,  and  ma,y  the  glory  of  the  Lord  be  revealed  and  all 

the  tlesh  iu  it  together.    Bring   thy  sons  from  afar  and  thy  daughters 


THE  MOHMONS. 


409 


from  the  endsof  tlie  earth,  and  let  tliem  bring  then*  gold  juid  silver  witii 
them.' 

"  After  prayer  Uic  other  elder  commenced  a  discourse  on  tlie  necessity 
of  a  revelation  for  America  as  well  as  Asia,  and  on  llie  i)rol>aiiility  of 
continued  revelations.  At  its  close  a  liymn  was  sung,  and  a  tliirti 
elder  canu'  forwai'd  and  observed  that  his  ollice  reiiuired  liim  to  speak 
of  l)usiness,  and  esi)cci,diy  of  thi-  N.muvoo  House,  and  among  other 
tilings  said,  'the  Lord  had  commanded  this  work  and  it  must  i)e  done; 
yes  it  shall  lie  done,  it  will  lie  done;  tliata  small  amount  of  the  stock 
l:ad  hitlierlo  licen  taken,  tliat  the  committee  liad  gone  on  borrowing  and 
liorrowing  till  Ihey  could  borrow  no  longer;  that  nieclnmies  liad  lieen 
employed  on  the  house,  that  they  wanted  tlieir  jiay  and  tlu'  committee 
are  not  able  to  pay  them;  tlnit  lie  came  theiv  with  seven  tliousand 
dollars  iind  now  had  but  two  tliousand,  liaving  exjjended  five  thousand 
on  the  work  of  the  Lord;'  that  tie  therefore  called  upon  the  brethren  to 
oliey  Ooii's  command  and  take  stock.  The  address  being  concluded, 
otiiers  followed  in  tlie  same  strain,  and  ajipeared  as  familiar  witli  wordly 
business  and  operations  of  finance  as  witli  jtropiiecies  and  tlie  book  of 
Mormon.  None,  however,  came  forward  to  take  stock,  and  one  of  the 
elders  thereupon  remarked,  that  as  they  liad  not  made  uji  tiieir  minds  as 
to  tlie  amount  of  stock  they  would  take,  he  wished  tliem  to  come  to  his 
house  on  the  next  day  for  that  pnrinise.  Tlie  j)ublic  exercises  being  closed, 
accompanied  liy  a  i)roniinent  member  of  the  churcli,  I  next  visited  the 
temple.  Its  position  is  eommandiiig,  and  desiirned  to  be  one  of  the  best 
edifices  in  tlie  country,  it  is  one  liundred  and  twenty  feet  l)y  one  liuu- 
dred,  and  wlien  eomiileted  will  be  fifty  feet  up  to  the  eaves.  Its  expense 
is  estimated  at  three  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  liajitismal  fount  is 
finished.  It  is  a  capacious  laver,  above  twenty  feet  s(iuare,  rests  on  the 
liaoks  of  twelve  oxen,  well  st'iilptured,  and  a,s  large  as  life.  Tlie  laver 
and  oxeu  are  of  wood  painted,  hut  ai'e  to  be  gilded.  Here  baptisms 
for  the  dead  are  celebrated  as  well  as  baptisms  for  the  healint'  of  disease. 
Baptisms  for  tlie  remiss'  .n  of  sins  are  iierlbrmed  in  the  .Mississippi.  I 
was  next  introduced  to  the  jiropliet,  and  liad  tlie  honor  of  an  interview 
wi*h  him.  He  is  a  coarse,  pleiieian  person  in  aspect,  and  his  countenance 
exhibits  a  <'urious  mixture  of  tlie  knave  and  clown.  His  iiands  are  large 
and  fat,  and  on  one  of  his  fingers  h"!  wears  a  massive  gold  ring^vitll  some 
inscription  u))on  it.  His  (h'l'ss  was  of  coarse  country  manufacture,  and 
his  wliite  liat  was  envelojied  in  a  piece  of  black  crape,  lieing  in  mourning 
for  a  brother.  I  liad  no  opportunity  of  observing  the  eyes  of  Smith,  he 
ainiearing  deficient  in  tliat  ojn'ii,  staid-fixed  look  wliich  chara(!teri/es  an 
honest  man.  Tlie  Mormon  system,  mad  as  it  is,  liad  method  in  its 
madness,  and  many  shrewd  hands  are  at  work  in  its  maintainance  and 
propagation,  and  wlialever  may  l)efall  itsorigiiiators,  it  has  tlie  elements 
of  increase  and  endurance.  Mormon  missionarii's  liave  been  sent  forth 
and  are  now  at  work  in  almost  every  country  in  Christendom.  They 
have  recently  gone  to  Uussia  with  letters  of  credence  from  the  Mormon 
projihet.  Tlieir  numbers  in  England,  we  have  no  doubt,  are  increasing 
rapidly,  and  it  remains  for  ehristains  of  the  present  day  to  determine 
whetlier  Mormonism  shall  work  to  the  level  of  those  famitical  sects, 
which  like  new  stars  have  bla/,e<i  for  a  little  while  and  then  sunk  into 
obscurity,  or  whether  like asecoiid  Maliumedanisin  it  siiall  extend  it.elf, 
sword  in  hand,  till  Christianity  is  leveled  in  the  dust." 

Til  IS  12.  Dr.  .loliii  C.  IJemictt  was  expelled  from  tlie  ^rdniioix 
enmcii,  iiiid  tbereat'tcr  tiaveled  tliroiiuli  ditlereiit  part.s  nf  tlie 
('ouiitry,  avowiiifi;,  in  lecttires  and  inihlication.s,  that  tlie  ^loriiioiis 
entertained  treasonahlc  desi<>ii.s  ajiaiiist  the  ,ii(i\eriiiiieiit.  One  oi" 
lii'iMM'tt's  principiil  dhjects  was  to  indnce  tiie  anthorilies  (if  Missouri 
to  hiing  aiiotlier  iii(li(;tiiieiit  ayainst  Siiiitii  tor  an  alleged  attem[»t 
to  imirderdov.  I'oggs.  I>eiiig'  siicees.sfiil  in  liis  endeavors.  .Iiiiie 
.">.  ISl."),  an  iinlietineiit  was  found  against  the  jnopliet  and  anotiu'r 
]>roiniiient  .Mormon,  and  shortly  afterwards  a  messiMiger  jiresen- 
ted  himself  to  (Jov.  I'Vird  with  a  new  demand  for  tlieir  arrest.  In 
pursuance  of  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  the  writ  was  given  to 


600  mSTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

a  coiistiililc  in  IIaii(;ock  coimty  Coroxeciitioii.  Tlie  ]\Iissoni'i  iifjcnt 
svikI  ii  coiistahlc  liastciicd  t(»  Naiivoo  lor  llic  i)iiii»(>.sc  of  sfivinj; 
it,  but  liiidiii}^  on  their  iiirival  that  Smith  was  on  a  visit  to  Kock 
river,  thev  repaired  thither,  and  made  the  arrest  in  Palestine 
j^rove,  in  tlic  county  of  Lee.  Tii(>  prisoner  was  then  h^ft  in  th(^ 
custody  ol'  the  af^cnt,  Avho  set  oil'  with  him  to  JMissouri,  but  had 
not  proceeded  I'ar,  when  he  was  met  and  eai)tured  hy  an  armed 
body  of  ]\Iormons,  who  released  tlie  ]»rophet  an<l  conducted  liim 
in  triumi»li  to  Nauvoo.  A  writ  t)f  liabeas  corpus  was  sued  out  in 
tlie  municipal  coiirt  of  that  city,  and  Cyrus  Walker,  tiie  whiy  can- 
didate for  conj^ress,  a])peared  as  attorney  for  the  accused.  In  a 
labored  eifort  of  j;reat  h'njith,  he  endeavored  to  show  that  this 
court,  which  was  composed  of  Smith  and  his  frieiuls,  bad  juris- 
diction to  issue  the  writ,  and  proceed  in  the  defense  of  the  ])risou- 
er,  under  the  ordiimm-es  of  the  city,  and  he  aecordiii};ly  was 
ac<iuitt<'d.  Mr.  llod^c,  tlie  denutci-atic  candidate,  was  visitiuji' 
Is^auvoo  at  the  tiuu'  of  the  trial,  and  both  he  ancl  Walker  were 
called  on  in  a  political  convention  to  j;ive  their  opinion  relative  to 
tlu'  city  ordinance,  empoweriuj;'  the  municipal  court  to  issuer  writs 
of  habeas  corpus  in  all  cases  of  ii'ii)risonuu'nt,  and  \)oth  solemnly 
declared  that  they  considerc"  L  >alid.  it  is  haidly  necessary  to 
state  that  this  advice  was  jiiven  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining 
votes,  as  both  candidates  knew  it  was  false.  Instead  of  beiny 
actuated  by  that  intejiiity  which  combats  and  corrects  jiublic 
oi)inion  when  wrou}^'  ,the  only  true  passport  to  ollicial  i»osition, 
both  willfully  sanctioned  an  error  for  the  accimiplishment  of  sellish 
ends. 

The  IMormons,  on  the  other  liand,  in  consequence  of  stupidity 
and  ijiuorauce,  were  ever  ready  to  be  duped  and  brouj;ht  in 
antaji'onism  to  the  laws  of  the  State,  by  the  chicanery  of  )>arty. 
]f  the  action  of  the  {i'overnment  l)ore  luird  upon  them,  however 
justly  it  mijiht  be  administered,  they  reganled  it  as  wantonly 
oppressive,  or  if  judicious  advice  was  given  them,  it  was  rejected 
with  scorn  whenever  op])osed  to  their  favorite  schemes.  Un- 
scrui»ulous  i>oliticians  becoming  aware  of  this  (characteristic, 
would  first  learn  their  ])redelictions  and  advise  them  accordingly, 
whereby  they  becanu»  the  sport  of  party  and  the  victims  of  the 
DHist  corrupt  men  in  the  country. 

On  the  release  of  Smith,  the  ^lissouri  agent  api>lied  to  Gov. 
Ford  for  a  military  force  to  assist  in  ariestiug  him,  but  the 
application  was  refused.  Smith  having  once  been  arrested,  and 
the  writ  returned  as  fully  executed,  the  governor  had  no  further 
cognizances  of  the  case  except  to  issue  anew  warrant,  jirovided 
another  re(piisition  should  be  nutde  for  liis  re-arrest  by  the  execu- 
tive of  ^Missouri.  "While  it  was  readily  admitted  that  Smith  had 
been  forcibly  rescue<l  and  sutlered  to  go  unpunished  by  a  court 
trans(;ending  its  authority,  yet  it  wouhl  have  been  an  illegal  and 
perhaps  dangerous  exjxHlient  to  attempt  to  call  out  the  militia  to 
correct  or  reverse  the  decision. 

The  Mormons,  emboldened  by  success  in  this  trial,  in  the  winter 
of  1843-1,  ])assed  another  ordinance  to  further  pi-otect  their 
leaders.  They  enacted  a  law  providing  that  uo  writ  issued  from 
any  other  place  except  Nauvoo  for  the  arrest  of  any  i)erson  in  the 
city,  should  be  executed  \\itliout  an  approval  <'udorse<l  thereon 
bjr  the  uuiyor;  that  if  any  x)ublic  ollicer,  by  virtue  of  any  foreign 


THE  MORMONS.  501 


writ,  shoiiM  iitteiiii>t  to  niiikc  iiii  iirrcjst  in  the  city  witlioiit  sucii  an 
approval  of  liis  j)ro(.'('ss,  he  shoiihl  Ix;  subject  to  iiiipri.soiiineiit  for 
life,  and  the  governor  of  the  State  shouhl  not  liave  the  power  of 
panloninj"'  tlie  offender  >vithont  tlie  consent  of  the  mayor. 

Tlie[»assa<;eof  tiiisordinan(!e  created  great  astonisli men t,  and  in- 
duced mauy  to  believe  that  there  was  a  reality  in  the  cic(;usations 
which  had  been  made  against  them,  respe(;ting  the  establishment 
of  an  independent  government.  After  this  law  went  into  o])era- 
ti()n,  if  robberies  were  committed  in  the  adjoining  country, 
the  thieves  would  tlce  into  ZS'auvoo,  and  if  the  i)lundered 
parties  followed  them,  they  wen^  tined  by  the  ^lormon  courts  for 
daring  to  seek  after  their  ]>ro})erty  in  the  holy  city.  The 
INIormons  themselves  were  fre<juently  the  guilty  jiarties,  and  by 
this  means  sought  both  to  retain  the  stolen  goods  and  escape 
the  just  punishment  of  their  crimes. 

Tlie  UKtst  [K)sitive  evidence  that  they  contenii>lated  rhe  organi- 
zati(ni  of  a  se[»arate  gt>vernment,  was  based  on  the  fact  that  about 
this  time  they  sent  a.  ])etition  to  congress,  asking  for  the  estab- 
lislnnent  of  a  teriitoiial  government,  of  which  Nauvoo  was  to  be 
the  center.  Another  act  cliaiiutteristic  of  their  vanity,  was  the 
announcement  of  Saiith,  in  the  spring  of  LS44,  as  a  candidate  for 
the  presidency  ot  the  LTnited  States.  His  followers,  sanguine  of  suc- 
cess, sent  fiom  two  to  thi'ce  thousand  missionaries  into  the  field 
t()«'onvert  the  jK'ople,  and  labor  for  the  election  of  the  prophet.  It 
was  stated  by  <lisseiiters  in  the  Mormon  chiu-ch,  that  Smith 
also  entertained  the  idea  of  making  liijnself  the  tempoial  as  well 
as  the  si>iritua!  leader  of  his  jteopje,  and  that,  for  this  purpose,  he 
instituted  a  new  order  of  church  dignitaries,  the  mend)ers  of 
which  w<'re  to  be  both  kings  aiul  ]>riests. 

He  next  caused  him.self  to  be  annointe<l  king  and  ])riest,  but  of  a 
higher  order  than  theotheis,  who  were  to  be  his  nobility,  and  to 
whom  as  the  u{)lu»lders  of  liis  throne  he  administered  the  oath  of 
allegiance.  To  give  chara<'ter  to  his  [)r<'tensions  he  declai'e<l  hi.s 
lin<'!!ge  in  an  uid>r()ken  line  from  -Joseph  the  son  of  Jacob,  and 
that  of  his  wife  from  some  other  important  personage  <»f  the 
ancient  Hebrews.  To  strengthen  his  jiolitical  ])ower  lie  also  in- 
stituted a  Itodyof  police  styh'd  the  Danite  ban<l,  who  were  sworn 
to  proteiit  his  i»erson  and  to  obey  his  oi'ilers  as  the  commands  of 
(iod.  A  female  order  i»reviously  existing  in  Hie  church,  called 
sjiiritjial  wives,  was  modified  so  as  to  suit  the  licentiousness  of 
the  proi»het.  A  doctrine  was  revealed  that  it  was  impossible  lor 
a  woman  to  get  to  heaven  <'xce]>t  as  the  wife  of  a  .Mormon  elder; 
that  each  elder  might  marry  as  many  women  as  he  (;ould  main- 
tain, and  that  any  female  might  be  sealed  to  eteinal  life  by 
becoming  their  concubine.  This  licentiousness,  the  origin  of 
])olygamy  in  the  eliiirch,  they  endea\(»r«'(l  to  justify  liy  an  appeal 
to  A iuaham,  Jacob  and  otlier  favorites  of  Ciod  in  a  former  age 
of  the  world. 

After  th(^  establishment  of  these  institutions,  Smith  began  to 
]>lay  the  tyrant  over  his  i>eo]»le,  as  all  persons  of  inferior  intel- 
lect and  unduly  developed  jKissicais  always  do  when  others 
become  subjeet  to  their  will.  One  of  his  tii'st  att<'mpts  to  abuse 
the  power  with  which  he  was  intrusted,  was  an  etVort  to  talce  the 
Mile  of  William  Law,  one  of  his  most  talented  and  respectaiile 
followers,  and  make  her  a  spiritual  wife.     ^Villlout  the  sanctiou 


502  HISTORY  0"F   ILLINOIS, 

of  law  li(!  I'.stablislu'd  ollk'o.s  in  Naiivoo  forrccordinji'  inojti'itv  titles 
and  issuiii};'  niaiiia<;o  lii^cnccs,  whcivhy  he  .sought  to  ninnopolize 
tin'  tiallic  in  real  estate*  and  control  tiie  nniritai  relations  of  Ins 
l)eo)»le.  Tlu'  despotism  tlins  jtractieed  soon  eansed  a  spirit  of  in- 
snhoi'dination  and  disatt'ection  in  the  .Moiiinin  ehiireh  and  (toni- 
ninnity.  Law  and  the  other  leaders  determined  to  resist  the  en- 
ei'oaehnients  of  Siiutli.  and  for  the  pnrijose  of  exposiiij;  the  aliases 
<ii'owin^ ont  of  the  new  inst it nl ions,  they  proenred  a  press  and 
eonimeiieed  the  i)nl»lieation  of  a  newspajier.  Tlie  appearance  of 
the  i»aper  was  the  siunal  for  opi)osition,  and  before  tin*  second 
jHindter  conld  l)e  issned,  by  an  orderof  the  council,  the  heretical 
press  was  denu)lished,  and  the  pnblishers  ejected  troni  iheehiircli. 
It  is  ditlicnlt  to  decide  whether  this  trial,  which  is  one  of  the 
]in)st  sinjinlar  instances  of  adjudication  to  be  Ibund  on  re«'ord, 
Avas  the  result  of  insanity  or  dejirax  ity.  The  proi-eediuys  were 
instituted  aji'ainst  the  ])ress  instead  of  the  owners,  who  were  in)t 
iM»tilied  to  attend.  No  Jury  was  called,  the  witin'sses  were  not 
re(piired  to  testify  under  (lath,  and  the  evideuj-e  was  all  furnished 
by  the  plaintitfs  in  the  absence  of  tin'  defendants.  It  was  not 
dinicult,  under  these  circumstances,  to  prt>ve  that  the  publish- 
ers of  the  ]taper  were  the  vilest  of  sinners,  andthat  the  press  was 
the  <;reatest  nuisance,  hence  theordei' to  have  it  abated. 

The  holy  city  beconiin>;  a  dan^t-rons  place  of  resi«lence  for  tlie 
seceding-  Mormons,  they  retired  to  ("artliaj'-e,  the  county  seat,  and 
obtained  warrants  I'or  the  arrest  of  Smith  and  the  mt'Uibers  of 
the  city  council  and  others  <'ouuect»'d  with  tin-  destruction  of  the 
press.  Sonu'  of  the  ])arties  having  been  arrested  and  diseharj;cd 
by  the  authorities  in  Nauvoo.  a  con\('ntion  of  citizens  assembled 
at  Carthaiii',  and  appointed  a  committee  to  wait  on  the  <;overnoi 
for  the  purpose  of  jirocurinj:'  military  assistance  to  enforce  the  ex- 
eeuticni  of  the  law  in  the  city.  The  jiovernor,  on  learning  the 
posit. ./n  of  affairs,  deteiiuined  to  visit  the  county  an<l  in([uiri'  into 
the  nature  of  the  complaints  before  he  i;ave  his  otlicial  saut-tiou  to 
any  jiarticnlar  conise  of  action.  When  he  arrived  a  messa<;('  was 
isent  to  the  nniyor  and  c«innnon  council  inibrniin*;' them  of  tlu*  com- 
plaints nnide  against  them,  and  r<'(piirinji-  that  a  committei'  mi^ht 
\»e  sent  to  answer  the  chaij^c.  A  uumlier  of  jiersons  were  accord- 
injl'ly  sent,  and  in  the  examination  which  ensut'd,  it  became  evi- 
dent that  the  whole  i>rocee(iiu^s  of  the  ma\or  and  comnuiu 
council  were  irrejiular  and  illc.iial.  Thoujihsuch  pr*iceedin^s  coidd 
not  be  tolerated  in  a  country  claiminij  to  be  f;t>verned  by  law  and 
order,  yet  they  were  excnsabh'  to  some  extent  in  consecinence  ot 
undue    statements    frecpK-ntly  nnule  to  the  Nauvoo  otlieials  by 


THE  MORMONS.  503 


some  of  tlic  best  lawyers  in  tlu^  Htate  who,  as  caiulidatt's  for 
ollico,  soujilit  tlii'ir  support  by  purposely  exa^yenitinj;  tlie  extent 
of  tiieir authority. 

Tile  (lestruetioii  of  the  i)ress  was  a  blow  dealt  a<;ainst  eivil  lib- 
erty, and  hence  anion*;  a  republican  people  Ji-alous  of  their  rij^lits, 
it  was  well  calculated  to  raise  a  llanu'  of  excitement.  The 
JVlonnon  leaders,  if  honest,  little  unih-rstood  the  fact  that  a  well 
('on<lu<'ted  press  is  essential  to  a  free  {government,  and  that  a 
]»roHi^ate  one,  by  venality  and  falsehood,  is  sure  to  h)se  its  inliu- 
enc*<'  and  thus  deteat  the  improper  object  it  seeks  to  acc»»ni|.lisli. 
Attempts  to  iiiteilere  with  tiie  freedom  of  the  press  causes  the 
sujipression  of  information  which  should  lu'  dessiininated  amoMj;' 
the  j»eoi>le,  and  are  always  attended  with  a  j^Tcater  loss  to  civil 
lilierty  than  can  possildy  result  irom  the  temporary  indiscretions 
of  a  few  inii)rudent  publishers.  JJesides,  when  calumnies  arc  ci)- 
oulated  in  this  nnmner  theauthois  aie  amenable  to  the  law,  which 
is  the  projier  means  of  redress,  and  not  the  wanton  destruction  of 
pro])erty. 

Ju  the  investijjations  made  by  the  f,M)vernor  while  at  Carthaye, 
it  was  proved  that  Smith  sent  a  number  of  his  followers  to  ]\lis- 
.souri  for  the  purpose  of  kidnappiuy  two  witnesses  a.iiainst  a  mciii- 
Ijei' of  the  church,  soon  to  be  tried  for  larceny;  that  he  had  as- 
sailed and  brutally  Ix'aten  an  (Sllicer  of  the  county  for  an  alU'jicd 
non-[»erformanc(^  of  duty,  when  in  conse(iuence  of  sickiu'ss  iie 
was  not  able  t«)  attend  to  it;  that  he  stood  indicted  for  ]»erjury,  liav- 
iu<x  i'alsely  sworn  to  an  accusation  of  nuu'der  aj;ainst  a  real  estate 
aycnt,  thai  he  mi<;lit  be  expelled  Irom  the  city,  and  not  interfere 
with  his  ]non(:poly  as  aland  speculator;  and  timt  the  municipal 
court  of  whifli  he  was  chi«'f  justice,  had  frccpu'utly  discharged 
Mormons  accused  of  crimes  committed  in  various  ])arts  of  the 
i'ounty,  thus  obslrnctin.ii' the  administration  of  Justice  and  makin<;' 
the  commoii  council  of  Nai  oo  indei»endent  of  the  State  jiovern- 
nu'nt. 

In  addition  to  tlieso  actual  infrinjicmejits  of  law,  other  causes 
.served  to  increase  the  tide  of  opposition  now  turned  aj;ainst  the 
saint.s.  The  ext)ava<;ance  of  tlu'ir  theoloj^ical  ]»retensions  had 
inciUTcd  the  ill  will  of  other  denominations  of  relijiion,  while  the 
elf<irt  lo  eh'ct  tlu'ir  jtrojihet  to  the  i»residency  bioujiht  them  in  con- 
tlict  with  the  zealots  and  bi<;(»ts  of  both  political  jtarties  and  cov- 
ered them  with  ridicule.  A  fruitful  cause  of  hostile  feeliny  jircw 
out  of  the  fact  that  at  several  juecedinfi  elections  they  cast  their 
vot<' as  a  unit,  whereby  it  was  e\id<'nt  that  no  one  in  the  country 
i'ould  ol)tain  official  [losition  without  fiist  seeming'  iheir  snppnit. 
It  was  believed  that  Smith  instructed  the  Danite  band,  which  he 
had  chosen  as  the  ministeis  of  his  Nenj^cance.  and  the  instiiimciits 
of  the  intolerable  tyianny  which  he  i'xercised  over  his  i»eoph',  that 
no  blo(»d,  except  that  of  the  idiunth,  was  to  be  regai'ded  sacred  if 
it  contravi'iu'd  the  accomi)lishment  of  his  ol)Ject.  It  was  asserted 
ihat  he  inculcated  the  legality  of  jwijuiy  and  other  crimes,  if  com- 
mitted to  advaiuie  the  cause  of  the  true  believers;  that  (loil  had 
j;i\('n  the  world  ami  all  that  it  contained  to  his  saints,  and  since 
they  were  kei>t  out  of  their  ri<ihtful  inheritance  by  force,  it  was  no 
nioial  ofi'ense  tt)  j;«'t  jMissession  of  it  by  stealinji.  It  was  reported 
that  an  establishment  exist«'d  in  >«auvo<»  for  the  manuiacture  of 
counterfeit  money,  ami  that  a  set  of  outlaws  were  nudntained 

V    7 


504 


ni  STORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


tlu'iv  tor  tlic  luiipose  of  ]>uttiiig  it  in  ('insulation.  Stutcnicnts 
vere  cinMilatcd  to  llic  cncct  that  a  reward  liad  hciMi  otfcicd  lor  tlie 
dcstinclion  of  tlic  Warsaw  Si(/ii<il,  a  newsjtajx'r  puhlislicd  at 
>Var.saw,  in  opposition  to  Mormon  interests,  and  tiiat  3loiinon.s 
dispersed  over  Die  eonntry  threatened  all  jtersons  wlio  ottered  to 
assist  tlie  eonstal)U'  in  I  lie  i^xecntion  of  the  law,  with  the  destruc- 
tion of  their  property  and  the  murder  of  their  faudlies.  There 
weic  rumors  also  alloat  thai  an  alliance  had  been  fornie<l  with  the 
Western  Indians,  and  in  case  of  war  they  would  be  used  in  mur- 
derinji'  their  enemies.  In  short,  if  oidy  one-half  of  these  rei)ort.s 
vere  true  the  JMoinions  must  have  been  the  most  infamous  }>eo))le 
that  ever  existed,  ami  if  one  half  of  them  were  false  they  must 
Lave  been  the  worst  slandered. 

Previous  to  the  arrival  of  the  }»()vernor  the  whole  body  of  the 
unlilia  in  Schuyler  and  .McI)onou<;h  counties  had  be«'n  (-ailed 
out,  and  armed  forces  commenced  assembling  in  Carthajic  and 
Waisaw  to  enforce  the  seivice  of  civil  ]»r(»cess.  Alter  the  forces 
liad  ai)pointed  their  ollicers,  the  governor,  apprehensive  that  the 
Rlormon  leaders  mijiht  be  made  the  victims  of  ixijudar  fury,  ex- 
acted a  pledjic  from  both  ollicers  and  men  that  in  the  disclnirye 
of  their  duties  they  would,  under  all  circinustanees,  keep  witlnii 
the  ]);iU'  of  the  law.  All  sijiidlied  their  wiliinj;ness  to  ('((-operate 
with  him  in  prcseiviii};-  order,  promised  to  ])ursue  a  strictly  lejj;al 
course  and  protect  the  persons  oi'  the  accused  in  case  of  violence. 
The  constable  and  ten  men  were  then  sent  to  nndce  the  arrest, 
beinji'  instructed  to  inform  the  accused  that  if  they  jjcaceably 
submitted  they  would  be  i»rotected,  but  if  m)t,  they  m\ist  rect  ive 
the  ('oiise(iuences,  as  tin;  whole  force  of  the  State,  if  necessary, 
would  be  called  out  to  entbrce  submission. 

Jn  the  meanlime.  Smith  had  declared  martial  law;  his  f<»llowers 
residing'  the  coiintrv,  were  snMnnon(sd  to  his  assistance;  the 
legion  was  assembled  and  under  arms,  and  the  ( ntire  city  was  one 
SiTcat  military  en('ami»ment,  no  in^iicss  or  ej;ress  being'  permitted 
L'xcept  on  the  strictest  examination.  However,  on  the  arrival  of 
the  constalde  and  his  escort,  the  mayor  and  mendters  of  the  com- 
uion  council  at  on(;e  signili(!d  their  williiigiu'ss  to  snrrender,  and 
accompany  tju'in  on  the  following  morning  to  Carthage.  Failing 
to  make  their  ai»])earance  at  the  appointed  time,  the  constu;.,ro 
hastened  away  without  attempting  to  make  the  arrest.  It  was 
subse(juently  ascertained  that  the  cause  of  the  hurried  dei)arture 
was  the  fear  that  the  ]\Iornn)ns  woidd  subnut  and  thus  entitle 
themselves  to  the  pnttection  of  the  law.  There  were  daring  and 
active  men  traversing  the  country  and  making  intlamatory  speeclies, 
with  the  lio}>e  that  a  jiopidar  movemcjit  might  be  inaugurated  for 
the  expulsion  of  the  .^iormons  from  the  State.  The  constable 
and  those  who  accompanied  him  were  in  the  conspiracy,  and  en- 
deavored, by  the  partial  ])erforina)ice  of  their  duty,  to  create  a 
lUM'cssity  lor  calling  out  an  overwhelmning  Ibrce  to  eflect  this 
object.  The  artitice  was,  however,  soon  detected  by  the  governor, 
and  another  opportunity  given  the  accused  to  surrender.  A  re(jui- 
sition  was  also  made  on  them  tor  the  return  of  the  State  arms,  be- 
cause the  legion  to  wliich  they  had  been  entrusted  had  used  them 
illegally  in  the  destruction  of  the  jness,  and  the  enforcenu'nt  of 
martial  law  as  a  means  of  ]>reventing  civil  jjrocess.  On  thel'4th  of 
June,  1845,  iu  obedience  to  the  last  summons,  Joe  Suuth,  bis  brotlier 


THE  :mobmons.  505 


Ilirani,  the  iiicinlx'is  of  tli(^  city  (umiicil  and  otlicis,  went  to 
Caitliayc,  and  suncndt'icd  tlii-nist'lvt'.s  piisoncr.s  to  the  constaltle, 
on  the  cliarj>e  of  riot.  All  cntcivd  into  ivcof-nizance  before  ii 
jn.stice  of  the  ]>euee  to  apjx'ar  at  eonrt,  and  were  diseharjied.  A 
new  writ  was,  however,  ininiediatel.v  issued  and  ser\  ed  on  the  two 
Smiths,  and  both  were  arrested  and  thrown  into  ])rison.  The 
prophet,  it  is  said,  wiiether  desinuis  of  courtinj^  martyrdom  or 
alarmed  at  the  popular  stoini  whirh  threatened  him,  seemed  to 
have  a  pn'sentiment  tiiat  he  never  would  return  to  Nauvoo  alive. 
Aeeordinji'  to  the  statenu'iit  at  Carthaj-e,  he  remarked,  "1  am 
goiufi'  like  .'i  land)  to  the  slaiijihter,  but  1  have  a  conscience  void 
of  offence  toward  (lod  and  man." 

The  Jail  in  wliieii  the  prisoners  were  confined,  was  a  stone 
buildinji'  of  considerable  size,  furnished  with  a  suite  of  rooms  for 
the  jailer,  cells  for  the  close  contiiienient  of  convicts,  and  a  larfje 
apartment  not  so  stronj-'  but  more  comfortable  than  the  ceils.  Tlie 
l)risoncrs  were  lirst  confined  in  tlu^  cells  by  the  Jailor,  but  at  the 
remonstrance  of  the  Mormons,  and  the  advice  of  the  ji'overnor, 
they  were  afterwards  transferred  to  the  lar^e  ai)artnient,  where 
they  were  more  pleasantly  situated,  and  where  they  icmained  till 
the  occurrence  of  the  tra<;edy  in  which  they  lost  their  lives.  No 
seriou8  apprehensions  weie  entertained  of  an  attack  on  the  jail, 
nor  was  it  sni»posed  that  the  Smiths  would  nndic  an  eliort  to  es- 
cape. At  tjie  time  the  prisoners  were  incarcerated,  the  forces  at 
Cartha<;e  an<l  Warsaw,  amounted  to  17(»()  men,  most  of  whom  were 
anxious  to  be  led  into  Nauvoo  to  destroy  the  ajtparatus  with 
wliich  it  was  said  the  jMormons  maniifactuaed  counterfeit  money. 
It  was  also  believed  by  the  jiovernor,  that  if  an  imposinj;  demon- 
stration of  the  State  forces  should  be  made,  it  mi^ht  overaw  the 
]\lormons  and  exert  a  salutary  intliien<;e  in  preventiiij;' the  murders, 
robberies  and  biirninjis  ai>prehende(l  as  tlu^  residt  of  the  proceed- 
ings aga'{i.-<t  their  prophet.  In  accordance  with  this  view,  ar- 
rangements were  made  for  the  maichiny'  of  the  troops  on  the  L'7, 
of  June,  and  (lolden's  I'oint  near  the  Mississippi,  aiul  midway 
between  Warsaw  and  Xauvoo,was  selected  as  the  ])lace  of  ren- 
dezvous. IJefore,  however,  the  movi'uu'Ut  was  fully  inaugurated, 
the  jiovernor  discovi'ied  his  mistake,  and  immediately  counter- 
niaiided  his  previous  orders  for  the  assend>lin{>  of  the  forces. 

It  was  observed,  as  the  preparations  for  marcliiu};'  advanced, 
the  excitement  prevadinji'  the  public  miiul  coriesiK»ndin<;ly 
increase<l,  and  threats  were  occassioiudly  made  to  destroy  the  <!ity 
and  exi)el  the  inhabitants  from  the  State.  Subse(pient  de\elop- 
ments  rendered  it  evident  that  an  aj^reement  had  been  made  by 
some  of  the  most  darin;;'  and  reckless  spirits,  to  tire  on  the  forces 
of  the  State  when  they  arrived  in  Nauvoo,  and  afterwards  attiib 
ute  it  to  the  Mormons,  as  a  means  of  brin<iinf>  on  a  j;eneral 
enjia<>ement.  The  city  at  that  time  contained  a  i)oj»ulatii»n  of 
12,()(M)  to  1.1,000  inhabitants,  many  of  whom  were  helpless  women 
and  children,  and  humanity  shudders  at  the  wanton  destruction 
of  life  and  ]»ro])erty  that  must  have  resulted  from  such  blind  and 
obdurate  fury.  IJesides,  if  the  disposition  had  existed  to  preci]»i- 
tate  upon  the  city  a  calamity  of  this  kiml,  the  forces  of  the  State 
were  inadcfpiate  to  afford  such  ])rotection  to  the  adjacent  country 
as  would  have  been  necessary.  After  the  surrender  of  the 
Suutlis,  at  their  request,  Captain  Singleton  with  a  company  from 


50(5  mSTOUY  OF   ILLINOIS. 

IJrowii  coiiiity,  was  .sent  totak*^  coiiiinaiidoftlH^  Xiiiivoo  N'^ioiiiiiid 
f>iiiii(l  tlic  citv.  Acconlin^  to  liis  ivjioil,  wlicii  Uu;  Irjiioii  wasi-allcd 
out  lor  iii.s|i{'clioii,  llicv  asscnihlcd  2(I(MI  stroiiji  and  were  tally  ('«inii»- 
\)V{\  with  anas.  Tlus  was  after  tlu'  i»nhlic  arms  had  luni  taken 
away,  and  now  they  Mere  prepared  witii  w»'a])oiis  of  their  own  for 
any  enierjjcncy.  The  State  forees  had  thre«'  pieces  ofeannon,  IL'OK 
mnskets  ancl  rations  for  two  thiys,  alter  which  they  woidd 
Lave  been  coniiH'ih'd  to  discoiitinue  o]»eiations  lor  the  want  of 
subsistence.  Jt  was  tiierefore  deemed  ad\  isable  to  abaiulon  the 
enteiprise  as  impracticable,  and  the  forces  with  the  exception 
of  three  companies  were  accor<lin^ly  disbanded.  Two  of  these 
Mere  selected  to  {;nar(l  the  Jail,  and  tlie  remaiidn^'  one  was  r^'tain- 
ed  as  an  escort  for  the  jiovernor,  who  proposed  to  visit  xs'auvoo 
Ibi-  tlie  i)nrpos(^  of  in(niiriii<i'  into  the  cliarjics  preferred  aj:ainst 
the  inhabitants,  and  to  warn  them  that  if  any  secret  violence 
should  be  counnitted  by  them  on  the  persons  or  ju'operty  of 
those  who  had  assisted  in  the  execution  of  the  law,  it  would 
ine\  itably  be  followed  by  the  most  summary  retribution. 

Leaviny  (Jen.  Demninji'in  command  of  the  j;uards,  on  tlie  27th, 
of  .June,  the  jiovernor  accompanied  by  Col.  iJnckmasti'r,  and 
("aplain  ])aviN'  drajioons,  dejiarted  for  Nanvoo,  eighteen  miles 
distant.  Jlefore  proceedinj;'  iar.  Col.  Huckmaster  informed  tla^ 
f>o\eiiior  that  while  at  Cartha,u(i  souu^  ciicumstances  of  a  susj)ic- 
ions  character  induced  him  to  believe  that  an  attack  upon  the  jail 
uas  meditated.  The  latter,  however  was  in«'redidous.  It  was 
notorious  that  he  had  j^oiu'  to  >«'auvoo,  and  it  was  not  ]>robable 
that  while  then-  any  outrage  would  be  connnitted  on  the  Sndth.s, 
Avliich  would  eiidan^ci  his  own  safety  and  that  of  his  I'ompan- 
ions.  Nexertheless,  to  j;uard  aj^ainst  all  jtossible  contiujicncies,  a 
messenger  was  sent  bac^k  to  iidbrm  the  jiuard  of  danj^cr,  and  to 
insist  on  their  defendinji  the  jail  at  the  peril  of  their  lives,  till 
the  "governor  retuiiied.  It  was  also  deci<led,  to  defer  to  some 
future  time  the  examination  of  the  misdemeanors  allej;ed  aji'ainst 
the  Mormons,  that  the  com]tany  mijuht  immediately  return  ami 
render  assistance,  in  case  the  jail  shouldbe  assaulted. 

The  ])arties  ariivcd  in  Mau\(io  about  4  o'clock  on  th(^  27th  of 
June,  and  as  s<»on  as  iu)tice  could  be  j;iven,  a  larj;e  number  of  the 
inhabitants  convened  to  hear  a  discourse  fiom  the  ^overnoi-.  In 
the  address  delivered,  the  illegal  action  of  their  i)ublic  tuiu'tiona- 
ries  was  explained  ;  they  were  advised  of  the  infamous  reports 
rife  in  all  the  countiy  i'esi»ectin<i-  their  conduct,  and  tlu^  conse- 
(pU'Ut  prejudice  and  hostility  enj^cndered  in  the  })ublic  ndnd,  and 
admonished  that  in  future  they  would  have  to  act  with  ^reat  cir- 
cumspection, or  their  lives  and  the  safety  of  their  city  would  fall 
a  sacrilice  to  popular  indij;nation.  Durinji  the  deliveiy  of  the 
speech,  .some  impatience  and  excitement  was  cxhibiteil  by  the 
auditors  at  the  various  alle<^ations  made  a<iainst  them,  which  they 
])ersistently  denied  as  untrue.  They  claimed  to  be  a  law  abidiii}^- 
l»eople,  and  carelully  observed  its  provisions,  that  they  mifiht  in 
turn  liave  the  benefitof  its  i)rotection.  After  the  conclusion  of 
theaddress,  the  (pu'stioii,  as  to  whether  they  would  coidbiin  to  the 
laws  of  the  State,  in  ojijiosition  to  the  advice  of  their  leaders,  was 
.submitted  to  a  vote,  which  resulted  Tinanimously  in  lavor  of  the 
l)rox)osition.     Their  subsequent  condvict,   however,   proved    that 


THK  MOltMONS.  /)()< 


Avlicii  j;iiilty  of  the  jiiciitcst  ('\tnivii;;iiiic('s,  tlicy  would  liiiikc  tlic 
loiitlcsl  professions  of  iittiicliiiiciit  to  law  iiiid  older. 

'I'lic  piirty  left  the citx  a  sli(»rt  tiiiic  before^  siiiidow  ii.  and  liad 
iidl  uiinc  fai'  Itflbic  llicy  met  t\v«»  ni('ss('nj;('i's.  wlio  infoiMicd  llicni 
lliat  llu'Sinillis  liad  Ween  assassinali'd  aliont  live  o'clock  that 
afternoon.  All  were  astounded  at  tlie  reception  of  tins  intelli- 
«:ence,  and  feaiful  aitpreliensions  weic  entertained  respectin;^  tlie 
consiMpUMices  likely  to  ensue  IVoni  tlie  niassacie.  'I'he  .Aloiinons 
were  an  infatuated,  fanatical  jK'opIe,  not  likely  to  he  inllueiu'ed  by 
the  iuoti\('s  which  ordinarily  iioxcin  the  conduct  of  men,  and  a 
desidloiy  war  nii.uiil  be  llieresiill.  'l"o  prevent  t  he  lu'ws  reacliini; 
Xauxoo  the  niessen.ycrs  were  ordered  into  custody,  and  the  ;;(iv- 
ernor  hastened  lo  ( 'artliaj;<'  to  lie  in  rea<liness  for  the  outiturst  oi'  e.\- 
citenu'Ut  and  lawlessness  that  nd.uht  foilowthedisseniination  of  the 
iidelli,i;«'nce.  A  couiier  was  also  despiitched  to  (yarlha^^c  to  iiH'orni 
the  citizens  of  the  trajicdy.  'I'hey,  howe\  er,  a]»pcMrt'd  to  undei'- 
stand  tlu'  nuttter  better  than  the  inesseu;:>er,  and  befoic  hisai-rival 
Inul  eonnnenced  renioxinj;  their  families  across  the  river  to  ^iimid 
aj^ainst  imiieiidiiijidaiiiit'i".  The  ensuin;^;' ni,i;ht  they  sent  a  com- 
mit tee  to  (^>uincy  for  lielp,  and  at  an  early  iioiir  (Ui  the  following; 
mcuninj^'  a  larj^c  concourse  of  the  citi/eus  assend)Ied  to  devise 
means  of  defense.  At  the  ine<'tin^'  it  was  reported  that  the  Mor- 
jnons  had  attempted  to  i«'scue  the  Smiths;  that  a  party  of  Mis- 
sourians  and  others  had  killed  them  toi)r;'\ent  their  escajie  ;  that 
the  {governor  and  liis  cortej;*',  wh(»  wen^  in  Nauvoo  at  th<'  time, 
had  been  attacked  by  the  leyion  and  forced  to  take  refu^i'e  in  a 
liousc,  and  that  if  assistance  was  not  fiiridshcd  within  two  days 
he  would  fall  II  victim  to  Mormon  venjicancc.  A  force  of  some 
i-'aO  men  was  imme<liately  I'aised,  and  by  ten  o'clock  the  sanu3 
morning  they  emiiarked  on  a  lioat  and  steanu'd  down  to  Xauvoo 
to  assist  in  rescuing  the  tiovernor.  On  arrixiny  at  the  city  the 
whole  story  proved  a  fabrication  ori;;inated  to  intensify  the  excite- 
ment and  cause  a  collision  between  the,Morim)Us  and  Stale  forces. 
Snbse»pient  evidence  also  I'cudered  it  hijihiy  ]»robable  that  the 
cons])irators  connected  with  the;  assassination  conteniphit(?(l 
invohinin'  the.  jiovi-rnor  in  the  same  nnsfortune.  ("intumstan- 
ces  warranted  the  conclusion  that  the  assassins  had  arian^ii-d 
that  the  muider  should  occur  wliih^  the  j;'overnor  was  in 
Nnuvoo ;  that  the  ]\Ioiinons  on  hearing;'  the  catastroplu' would 
suspect  him  as  an  accomjilice,  ami  at  the  (irst  outburst  of  indij;-- 
nation  i)Ut  him  tctdeath  as  a  nu'ans  of  rt'taliation.  The  motive 
for  this  treacherous  attemi»t  aj;ainst  the  executive  oflicer  of  the 
State  was  to  arouse  a  sjtiiit  of  opposition,  and  cause  the  exter- 
mination of  tlu'  i\lormons. 

The  noxcinor  arii\ cd  in  ("ai'tha;;'  about  ten  o'clock,  and  found 
the  citizens  in  a  state  of  const«'rnation,  some  havin.u'  left  and 
others  i)repariin'- to  follow.  One  of  tlie  companies  which  had 
been  h-ft  to  fiiiard  the  Jail,  departed  before  the  attack  was  made, 
and  many  of  the  otlu'is  leftslMutly  atterward.  (leneral  Deminj.;', 
who  was  absent  when  tlu^  niurder  occurred,  voliiuteen'd  to  remain 
and  fiuard  the  town  with  the  small  force  which  remained,  unless 
compelled  to  n^tire  before  suiierior  numbers.  The  <i()\  eriior  retired 
to  (^)iiincy  and  immediately  issued  orders  for  i)rovisi«)nally  raising 
and  equipping  an  inii>osiiiy  force,  in  case  they  should  bt  needed. 


lu 


'<  '• 


Chapteu  XLII. 

1814-0— MO HMON  WAK. 

MiODicr  of  Smith's  Jkath — Vhuractcr  of  the  Mormom — Apontles 
Asmime  the  Goveniniciit  tf  the  Church — TrUd  ami  Avquittul  of 
the  Assassins— iStiints  J>rii'in  from  the  Vieinitij  of  lAma  and 
Green  Vluins — Lealinj/  Mormons  L'etire  Across  the  Mississijtpi — 
Battle  at  ]S\(ui'oo — Exindsion  of  the  Inhabitants, 


W-' 


AVIhmi  tlio  assiussiiiation  of  tlic  jMoriiioiis  bcciuiic  known,  it  ap 
pcaicd  that  tlii'  lor<'('  at  Naiivoo,  afi'rccabl.v  to  orders,  had  niaiched 
on  tin-  nioininj^ of  tlic  L'Ttli  in  the  direction  of  (iohU'n's  Point  to 
forma  connection  witii  ti'o<»i>s  at  tiiat  phice,  bnt  after  they  liad 
advanced  about  H  miles  tiie.y  \vei(!  nu-t  by  a  messenjicr  from 
Carthaji'C  with  an  order  to  disltand  and  retnrn  ln)me  ;  the  jjover- 
nor,  who  issued  it,  fearinji' lie  coidd  not  eontiol  the  intlammable 
material  he  was  collectiM<i',  determined  to  scatter  it.  About  loO 
of  the  men,  nistead  of  complyinj;'  with  the  onler,  blackened 
their  faces  with  ])owder,  hurriedly  started  for  Carthajix^  and  en- 
camj)ed  sonu' distance  from  the  villaj;e.  Here  they  learned  that 
one  of  the  companies  left  to  {iiiard  the  Smiths,  had  j;(»iie  liome 
and  that  the  other,  the  Carthaj^e  (irays,  was  stationed  in  the 
s«pnire,  lot)  yards  distant,  and  that  Serjicant  Franklin  A.  AVorrel, 
with  ouly  S  nu'U,  was  detailed  to  watch  the  j)risoiiers.  As  soon 
as  messages  could  be  interchanged  it  was  agreed  among  tlu^  con- 
spirators tlnit  the  guns  of  the  gnard  shoidd  bo  charged  with 
blank  cartridges  and  fired  on  the  assailants,  when  they  should 
attempt    to   enter  the  jail. 

Lien.  J)eming,  who  had  been  left  in  command,  discovering  the 
plot  toassassiuatetheSmiths,  and  having  been  deseited  by  the  prin- 
cipal i>art  of  tlie  troo[)s,  retired  from  the  village,  lest  an  attem|»t 
slnaild  be  made  on  his  own  life.  After  perfecting  their  scheme  of 
niunh'i',  the  assailants  scaled  the  slight  fence  eiutlosing  the  jail, 
and  immediately  disarming  the  guards,  w!io  according  to  agree- 
ment discharged  their  pieces,  they  ascended  the  tlight  of 
stairs  leading  to  the  room  containing  the  prisoiu'is.  At  the  time 
the  assault  was  made,  two  other  jMormons,  liichards  and  Tailor 
as  visit(»rs,  were  in  the  large  apartment  with  the  Smiths.  Hearing 
the  rush  on  the  stairs,  the  imperilled  men  instinctively  held  the 
door  by  pressing  their  weight  against  it.  The  attacking  party 
thus  denied  entrance,  tired  upon  the  door,  and  the  bullets  i)assing 
through  it,  killed  Hiram  Smith,  who  falling,  exclaimed  "lama 
dead  man."  Tailor  receiving  4  wounds,  retreated  nnder  the 
bed,  and  Kichards,  after  the  door  was  burst  open,  secreted  himself 

508 


Mf»UMON   WAll. 


noo 


boliiiid  it,  tIioii{;li  uftcnvanl  in  n'liitiiij;'  tlic  iininlcr,  lie  cliiiiiicil 
tiiat  lii>  stood  ill  Uw  midst  of  diiii^ci',  \\:ir<iiii^'  oil'  tiu'  Itidib  wilii 
a  consecrated  wand.  Tiic  proplict.  armed  witiiasix  barrelled  pii^- 
tol  wliicli  liad  been  Iniiiislied  by  iiis  friends,  foii;;iit  Itraxeiv  in 
defence  of  liis  life,  and  wonnded  foui'  of  ids  anta;;onists  before  lie 
■was  killed.  At  lenj;tli  when  Ids  pistol  was  exiiansted,  se\(  rely 
Monnded,  he  ran  to  the  window,  and  {tartly  leaped  an<l  partly  fell 
into  the  yard  behnv ;  tlieie  witii  his  last  dyinj;-  em'r}>iefi  he  yalli- 
ered  himself  np  in  a  sittin<>'  postine,  lint  his  disabled  condition 
and  vayiU',  wandering;' <;lances  excited  no  compassion  in  the  in- 
fnriated  mob,  thirsting;  for  his  blood.  'J'he  broils  which  had  so 
Ion;;- distracted  the  (country,  infused  into  the  avenjit'is  tin' spirit 
of  demons,  and  the  shootinj;'  of  ISmitli  was  not  consideicd  any 
more  crinnnal  tlian  takinj;  the  life  of  a  wolf  or  tiper.  \Nhile  in 
this  ])osition  a  party  of  Missonrians  dischar^icd  their  ;>nns  at  liim, 
and  lie  fell  cryinj;'  out  "Oh  Lord  my  (lod."  Fonr  balls  iiad 
pierced  Ids  body  and  before  the  smoke  cleared  away  the  ^Mormon 
prophet  was  no  inore.* 

When  the  tragedy  was  over  horror  sn<!(!e<'de(l  tlie  frenzied  lajnc 
which  had  possessed  the  assassins,  and  in  silence  they  hurried 
across  the  dnsty  ]irairies  to  Warsaw,  18  nnles  distant. 
The  mnrder  occmrred  at  half-past  live,  and  at  a  qnaiter  before 
eight  the  fugitives  dragged  their  weary  limbs  along  the  streets 
of  Warsaw,  at  snch  an  astonnding  rate  had  the  lash  of  a  guilty 
conscience  driven  them.  An  ontbiirst  of  vengeance  on  the  jiart  of 
the  jMoinions  was  anticipated,  bnt  n<ithing  of  the  kind  oecnned. 
The  ajipalling  disaster  which  had  thus  befallen  the  chur(;h  was 
not  followed  liy  revenge,  and  it  was  a  long  time  before  they  re- 
covered from  the  stupor  and  desjiair  attending  it.  A  delegation 
repaired  to  Carthage  for  their  dead,  and  on  leturning  to  2s'auvoo 
they  were  buried  with  the  honors  belonging  to  the  general  of  the 
legion. 

"Thus  fell  Joe  Smith,  tlie  most  successful  im[>ost()r  of  modern 
tinu's.  A  man  who,  though  ignorant  and  coarse,  had  some  great 
natural  parts  which  lifted  him  for  temporary  success,  bnt  which 
were  so  obscured  and  (;ounteracted  by  the  inherent  corruptioi'  and 
vices  of  Lis  nature  that  he  could  never  succeed  in  establishing  a 
system  of  policy  which  looked  to  ])ermanent  success  in  the  future. 
His  lusts,  Ins  Jove  of  money  and  power,  always  set  him  to  study- 
ing present  gratificaticui  and  convenience,  rather  than  the  reunite 
consequences  of  his  plans.  It  seems  that  no  ])ower  of  intelle(!t 
can  save  a  corrupt  man  from  this  error.  The  strong  cravings  of 
the  animal  nature  will  never  give  fair  jilay  to  a  tine  nn<leistanding; 
the  judgment  is  never  allowed  to  choose  that  good  which  is  far 
away,  in  preference  to  enticing  evil  near  at  hand.  And  this  nniy 
be  considered  a  wise  ordinance  of  Providenc^e,  by  which  the  coun- 
sels of  talented  but  corrupt  men  are  defeated  iu  the  very  act  which 
jiromised  success. 

"  It  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  pretended  prophet  pra<;ticed 
the  tricks  of  a  common  impostor;  that  he  was  a  dark  and  gloomy 
person,  with  a  long  beard  and  graAe  and  severe  aspect,  and  a  re- 
served and  saintly  carriage;  on  the  contrary  he  was  full  of  levity, 
even  to  boyish  romping,  dressed  like  a  dandy  and  at  times  drank 


*  John  Hay  In  the  Atlantic  Monthly  of  December,  1869 


nio 


HISTOIIY   OK    IM.IM'ls. 


lii 


liUf  ii  sailor  iiiitl  swurv  likt*  a  piiatc.  Il<>  t-oiild,  as  (Mrasiuii  ri>- 
(|nii'<'(l.  I)t>  t'\c*'i'iliii;4lv  iiiiM'U  ill  Ills  (U'liorliiM'iit,  ami  liifii  a;:aiii, 
loii^li  and  boistcidiis  as  a  iii;nli\\a,v  rohlici',  liciii;;  al\\a\M  aiiic  lo 
salisiy  lii.H  Ibllowfis  di'  tlir  propiicly  of  liin  coiKlnrt.  He  alwa.va 
(|iiail('(l  itcrorc  pi>\\t-r.  aiMJ  was  ai'i'(i;;aiit  to  wraiiiifss.  At  times 
lie  could  put  on  the  air  ol'  a  pcnilciil.  as  it'  Iridiii;;  tin*  dccpcsi  Im- 
miliaiioii  lor  liis  sins,  Mililci'iii;i;  iinuttcraitlc  an^iiisli  and  tin-  most 
julooiiiv  toi<'l)odin;^s  of  I'Icinal  woe.  At  such  times  he  would  ciil! 
Ibr  the  pi  a  vers  of  the  i>retiii'eii  in  his  helialf  with  a  wild  and  fear- 
ful eiierjiA  and  eaiiiesiiiess.  lie  was  full  six  feet  hi^ih,  stnuiyly 
liiiilt  ami  uneoiiiiiioiilv  well  muscled.  No  (hiiiitt  he  was  as  mucli 
indeliied  Ibr  liis  iiitiiience  over  an  i;;norant  peo|>l(>  to  the  siiperi- 
oril  V  of  his  phvsiciil  \  inor  as  to  his  cuiininf;'  and  intellect.*" 

The  Alonnoii  ehiirch  at  this  lime,  eonsisled  of  two  classes,  the 
rulers  and  tlie  ruled,  knaxcrv  in  the  «ine  and  credulity  in  thu 
other  lu'iny  the  hcleio^cne*  us  characteristics  wliieli  kept  theiti 
touetheii.  The  Ibiiner  c(Hisisled  of  unprincipled  men  of  talent, 
w'  ).  abandoned  in  character  and  hankiupt  in  fortune,  es|iouse(l 
the  cause  of  .Mormoiiism  for  s|ieciihiti\c  pni)M»ses,  Unowiiij;  it  was 
iiii  adventure  in  wiii<'h  they  had  nolhin^v  to  lose,  while  it  mi^ht  he 
the  means  of  rclriev  in,:;'  their  Ibrtiines.  Having'  neither  respect 
for  (b)d  nor  man,  and  not  rexcreiicinj;  any  reli;4ioii,  they  proposed, 
like  Mahomet  and  <»tliers,  to  tbiind  a  new  .syst«'m  of  theolo;;y,  juhI 
if  they  could  impose  it  on  the  credulity  of  mankiixl  and  liv(>  t)ii 
the  lalior  of  their  dupes,  they  had  no  hi;; her  object  to  aecomplish. 
They  IbriiK'd  a  nucleus  which  attracted  to  >«auvoo  adventurers 
and  adepts  in  every  species  of  criiiie,  while  the  extraordinary 
jiowers  which  had  been  conferred  on  the  city  authorities  enabled 
them  to  screen  the  guilty  from  the  iieiialties  of  the  laws  they  habit- 
ually violated.  At  theiisocial  «'hterlainiiieiits,  wiiere  ninsie,  and 
daiiciii;;;'  eoiistitnted  the  ]»riiicipal  jiastime,  {ireat  attention  was 
]iaid  to  dress,  while  little  prudence  was  exercised  in  the  selection 
of  their  comiiany.  There  were  in  the  same  juay  assemblage  the 
brazen-faced  desperado  who  despised  the  law,  and  the  venal  inaj;- 
istrate  who  iiroteeted  him  in  his  crimes,  the  wanton  wife  and  the 
truant  hiisitand  on  an  c(|iial  Ibotiiiji;'  with  those  who  respected  the 
saiu  tity  <  '•'iajie.  the  reckless  adventurer  in  search  of  fortune, 

and  tin  till  impostor  in   ]tossessioii  of  ecclesiastical  emolii- 

mer  nors.       l)iseordant  and  incoiifiriious  in  nature,  they 

II  .o  keep  time  to  the  same  niusie,  and  to  lbr};et  minor  dit- 

t«  .,  |»rovided  their  i)riiici[)al    objects,  sensual   pleasure  and 

l»ui....-  jiliinder,  were  snbserxcd. 

The  lay  members  of  the  church,  on  the  otliei"  hand,  were  f^ener- 
ally  honest  and  imhistrious  but  ijiiioraiit,  and  the  dupes  of  aii 
artful  <lelusion.  In  devotion  to  the  jninciples  which  they  jiro- 
I'essed.  they  were  not  surpassed  by  the  lu'lievers  of  other  cieeds, 
for  humanity  exhibits  little  difl'erence  in  this  resjiecf,  whatever 
may  be  the  system  of  relij^iicm.  Jf  the  system  is  crude,  the  intel- 
lijivnt  devotee  rejects  it,  but  if  his  want  of  knowledge  allows  him 
to  beliexc  it  he  will  adhere  to  its  do<;nias  with  a  tenacity  equal  to 
that  exhibited  by  the  eiili<ihleiied  advocate  of  a  rational  tlieolofiy. 
With  the  fireat  majority  of  tne  ^lormons  their  ndiyious  belief 
sunounted  almost  to  infatuation,  and  they    were,  therefore,  more 


•Ford's  History. 


MOUMON    WAK. 


r.ii 


l)ro|(('rly  ohjectH  of  cnmpafiHinn  tlitiii  pi'iwi-iition.  ('rrtniiily  no 
^n-iit<>rciiiaiiiit,v  «'iiii  hctail  ii  iiiniilicr  of  tlic  liiiiiian  I'linil.N  lliuii 
to  liiivr  tlic  iKloiatioii  wliicli  lie  otVt'is  the  I)»'il.v  |m'I  \  crtt'tl  lt.\  (Iio 
vayaiics  of  siicli  a  iiioiislroiis  .sii|i('i'.stilioii. 

.Mniiiioiiisi!!,  insti-ad  nf  pcrisliiii;;  l(\  tlx-  dcalli  ofSiiiitli,  icccivcd 
a  new  iiii|M>tiis  IVoin  lijs  iiiai't.vrtloiii.  His  tullowcrs  now  r<>;>:aril(>(l 
liiiii  as  a  saint;  liis  words  on  ^oin^;'  to  ('aitliajL:t-  \V('<".  ::<l<lnrc(l 
as  IVcsli  proof  of  liis  piopliflic  cliaiactci',  anil  a  tlioiisand'sloiicd 
wri'c  circiilatrd  icspcclin;:  llir  nic«-kiirss  with  wliii;!  In-  met  tlt-alli. 
rroplifcii-s  vci'c  pnltlislird  that  in  imitation  ol'Clin.t  he  wonhi 
raise  I'loHi  thrdi-ad.  Manv  <'onlid('ntlv  <-\|M'('tnl  thr  I'idlillnicnt 
of  tlifsi'  |ii'('di('tions,  anti  indue  linn-  it  was  icportcd  he  was  seen, 
ath'niled  b.v  a  ceh'stialarniy,  conrsiii};  his  way  tUronj;htlie  heiiveiitt 
on  a  <;r«'at  wliite  liorse. 

'l"he  principh'  tiiat  tlie  death  of  the  inartvr  is  tlie  s^ed  of  the 
cliiMv'li,  proxcd  triu'  in  regard  to  .Morni(»nisni.  Snnth,  th(»n<:h  well 
qnalith'd  to  ori;;inate  a  nio\enient  of  this  kind,  was  n^jahle  to 
safely  direct  it  throujih  tiie  '  'nij>lieation  of  perils  which  always 
besets  n'li;;ions  innoxation.  I!y  dyin;:  he  made  room  foi'  l)ii};hani 
Youn;;',  the  ]»resent  head  oi"  the  chnich,  who,  liy  his  snperior  ad- 
ministrative ability,  periiaps,  sa\(><l  the  Mormon  theocracy  Irom 
disor'^ani/ation  and  its  subjects  from  dispersion,  ('iinnin,:;  and 
duplicity  may  be  used  by  the  founders  of  a  sect,  but  j^rcal  piii- 
di'uce  and  jud;;nienf  best  betits  Inm  \vIh»  woidd  afterwards  iiar- 
nionize  its  jarrin;;  elements  and  slia]»e  its  fut'ire  <'areer. 

The  church,  as  originally  or^^anized,  contained  .'{  iiresiib'nts, 
Jos<-ph  Smith.  Hiram  Smith  and  Sidney  Ki^doii,  an(l  IL!  apos- 
tles. The  latter  were  abioad,and  till  they  could  return  home  the 
saints  were  in  d<Md)t  as  to  the  future  fioxcrnnuMit  of  the  church. 
Kiydon,  beiny  the  only  surviving;  member  of  the  jiresid*  iicy, 
claime<l  the  government,  and  fortilied  his  i>retensions  l»y  declaring' 
that  the  will  of  tlie  i>ro]»lu't  was  in  his  favor,  and  that  he  had  re- 
ceived s<'veral  new  revelations  to  the  sameetlcct  One  of  his  rev- 
elations, r«'(iuirinji  the  wealthy  to  dis]»oseof  their i)ossessioiis  and 
follow  him  to  Pennsylvania,  rendered  him  unpopular,  the  rich 
beiufi'  reluctant  to  ]iart  with  their  propeity,  and  the  ])oor  un- 
willinj;  to  be  deserted  by  those  whose,  patronage  enabled  them  to 
live.  When  the  aposth's  returned  a  tierce  contlict  arose  between 
them  and  Kijidon  for  supremacy,  which  resulteil  in  the  expulsion 
of  the  latter  from  the  ('hnrch. 

lie  afterwards  retired  with  a  small  frafiinent  of  the  s;i:ii!s,  and 
established  a  little  delusion  of  his  own  near  l'ittsburj;h,  while  the 
larjicr  part  submitted  to  the  aiK>stles,  with  15rij;hain  Younji,  a 
talented  but  (Tishon<'st  ami  licentious  man,  as  their  leader. 

.Missionaries  to  the  iiundier  of  liMK)  were  now  sent  abroad 
to  itrea(!h  in  the  name  of  the  martyred  .Joseph,  and  Mor- 
moiiism  in(!reased  moie  rajtidly  than  it  had  at  an.\  time  in  its  past 
history.  In  their  wild  eiitlinsiasm  they  were  willinj'  to  compas.s 
sea  and  land  to  nndve  a  sinjile  convcit,  and  everywhere  they  went 
they  found  the  iynorant  and  credulous  rea<ly  to  become  infatuated 
with  their  stranjie  fanaticism.  Ko  other  reli/^ion  prondsed  sneli 
great  spiritnal  and  temimral  advantage  with  such  little  selfdeinal, 
and  not  only  dupes  but  sharpers  nidted  w  itL  the  church,  and  it 
is  said  that  within  14  years  after  it.s  organization  it  numbered  200,- 
000  members.    The  missionaries  always  informed  theii-  wondering 


512  ni.sTOUY  or  Illinois. 

and  (U'ludcd  coiivcits  that  it  was  iiceossary  to  ro])air  to  the  place  of 
jiatlicriiiji'  wlu'iv  tlie  snhliiiic  rnlliicss  of  tlic  jiosjx'l  alone  eonld  be 
inlly  i('\('iil"(l  and  enjoved.  AVlieii  removed  thither,  b.v  seein*;' 
and  liearinj;  nothing;'  lint  ^lornionisni.  and  associating'  with  those 
viioi»hi(U'd  implicit  conlidence  in  its  do<iinas,  they  nltimately  be- 
came so  delinled  as  to  believe  the  jireatest  extravajiiinces  and 
siii»niit  to  the  most  intolerable  despotism.  iMaiiy  by  this  system 
of  trainin,n  became  de\()ted  discijiles.  who  would  have  spurn<'«l 
the  empty  pi'clensions  ai.d  iicj-ntiousness  of  tiieir  religion,  had  it 
at  first  been  presented  to  them  in  its  real  deformity. 

About  a  year  aftei'  the  ajtostles  had  assumed  the  reins  of  gov- 
ernment, they  CO  'liided  to  sus]»end  for  a  time  their  eflbrts  to 
convert  the  \V(-..,i,  and  accordingly  their  missionaries  and  all 
others  connected  with  the  ch'uich  were  called  home,  lu  a  short 
time  ^loinions  commenced  pouring  inio  >.'auv(»(»  from  all  parts  of 
the  W(»rld.  and  the  infuriated  elders,  instead  of  expounding  the 
gospel  t«»  the  congregations  which  wcie  regularly  calU'd  together,, 
indulged  in  a  tirade  of  abuse  against  the  gentiles,  curses  on  the 
goveinment  and  all  who  were  not  of  the  ^loiiiuui  church  or  its 
tools.  Noi-  were  the  anti  ^Mormons  or  those  who  opposed  theui 
idle.  The  death  of  the  ISmiths  had  not  ajipcased  their  desire 
for  vengeance,  and  laore  determined  tluin  ever  to  cxjiel  their 
adveisaries  from  the  country,  they  fiecpu'iitly  called  on  the  gov- 
ernor (or  aid.  The  ^Mormons  also  invoked  tlie  assistance  of  the 
executixc  in  jmnishing  the  mnrdereis  t.i"  their  ]>i(t]iliet.  and  both 
]»aities\vei('  thoroughly  disgusted  with  the  constitutional  i)ro\  isons 
uliich  imjxised  restraint  on  the  snniii:ary  attainment  of  tlieir 
unlaw  tul  designs.  The  elections  comingoif  in  August,  1S44,  for 
members  of  the  legislatui'c  and  congress,  and  anotlu-r  iteiiding 
for  the  presidency  of  the  United  iSlate,  further  complicated  the 
dilliculties  and  enmities  of  the  i)arties.  The  Avliig  politicians, 
■who  were  nimble  to  secure  their  su]iport,  uniting  with  tlie  anti- 
jMormons.  sent  imitations  to  the  militia  ca])tainsof  llaiicock  ami 
all  the  adjoining  counties  of  Illinois,  j\Iissouii  and  Iowa  to  ren- 
dezvous with  their  com})anies  in  the  vicinity  of  ^'auvoo,  jncpara- 
toiy  to  engaging  in  a  wolf  Imnt,  it  being  iindeistood  that  tlie 
INIormons  were  the  game  to  be  hunted.  J'lcpaiations  were  made 
for  raising  several  thousand  men;  the  antiivioiiiions  commenced 
anew  the  most  exaggerated  accounts  of  ^lormon  outiages,  the 
whig  i)ress  in  every  pint  of  the  United  States  came  to  their  assist- 
ance, and  the  ])ubIi<'ations  of  the  o])])osite  ]>arty,  which  liad  hith- 
erty  bi-en  friendly,  now  quailed  under  the  temjx'st  which  followed, 
leaving  the  denunciatt'd  and  discredited  sheet  at  !Nauvoo  alone  to 
collect  public  o]iinion.  J'rominent  ])oliticians  who  had  received 
thcMormon  \<)te,  were  now  unwilling  to  risk  their  re]tutati()ii  in 
defending  them,  so  great  was  the  cowardice  of  the  one  and  the 
odious  character  of  the  other. 

In  the  meantime,  the  aiiti-IMormon  force,  which  liad  been  suni- 
riioned  to  meet  in  the  guise  of  hunters,  conuiienced  ass«'inbling  Ibr 
the  puri)ose  of  assaulting  Nauvoo,  and  driving  its  inhabitants  out 
of  the  ('(aintry.  To  avert  the  blow,  the  governor,  assisted  by  Cen. 
J.  .1.  llai'din,  and  Cols.  ]>akt'r  and  iMcrriman,  raised  a  force  of  aOO 
men  ami  marched  to  the  si'ene  of  tlie  threatened  outbreak.  "When 
lie  arriviKl  a  large  itart  of  the  malcontents  tied  across  the  river  into 
Missouri.    Flight,  however,  was  unnecessary,  for  the  State  forces 


MORMON  WAR. 


513 


liiul  iiotltccii  loiijiiii  tli<Mlisaff"<'ctf(I  district  Itclorc  tlicy  espoused  tlie 
Ciiiise  of  tlie  lioteis,  uJid  instead  of  driviii;;  tlieiii  out  as  eueinies, 
vere  disi)osed  to  recfive  them  as  friends.  J)espite  liis  denior- 
al  i/ed  forces,  tlie  goveiiior,  Avliosesens<' of  Justice  seems  to  liave  been 
in  jjart  sliarjiened  by  jiolitical  motives,  deteiuiined  to  follow  tlio 
fnj;itives  and  arrest  tliree  of  tlieir  leaders,  a,iiainst  wlunn  writs  liad 
be<'n  issued  for  the  murder  of  tlie  Smiths.  l!oats  were  procured 
and  se<!retl,v  landed  a  mile  above  Waisaw.  and  the  troo]>K  marelied 
to  the  same  place,  prejtaratory  to  crossing;'  the  river  and  seizinytlie 
accused. 

In  the  meantime,  liowever,  Colonel  llaker  visited  the  encamp- 
ment and  effected  arranjLiemeiits  for  tlie  surrender  of  tlie  alle<^('d 
assassins,  and  tlie  fuither  prosecution  of  the  exitedition  was 
abandoned.  Two  of  the  susjiected  persons  accordinjily  recrossed 
tlie  rixcr  '.ind  surrendei«'d  themselves  jirisonei's,  it  havinj^'  been 
a.yn'ed  that  tliey  sliould  be  talcen  to  (,)uin<'y  for  examin  itioii ;  that 
tiie  attorney  for  the  i)eople  should  be  advised  to  admit  thiiii  to 
bail,  and  that  they  should  be  ti'ied  at  the  next  teiin  of  the  Oaitha^e 
court.  The  faith  of  tiiegovernorhadbeen  pledjicdforthe  inotectiou 
of  the  Smiths,  and  he  deemed  it  especially  inipoitant  that  their 
assassijis  should  be  j»iinished  as  a  means  of  vindicatin;i'  the  honor 
of  the  State,  restori)i<i-  the  supremacy  of  the  law  and  preventinj^- 
tlie  recurrence  of  such  infamous  crimes  in  the  future.  Able 
lawyei's  weic  therefore  secured  to  ])rosecute  th<'  prisoneis,  and  the, 
trial  came  oil'  in  tlie  summer  of  1845.  'J'lie  i)anel  of  Jurors 
selected  by  th<>  3Iormon  ollitnals  of  the  county  was  rejected,  in  con- 
se(pience  of  beinii  etl'ected  by  ])r(Jiidice,  and  two  elisors  were 
chosen,  one  a  Mormon  and  the  other  an  anti Mormon,  to  select  ii 
new  one.  Ninety-six  persons  were  ]»reseiitcd,  before  any 
could  be  foun<l  sulliciently  i,iinorant  and  indiiferent  to  administer 
Justice,  They  all  swore  they  liad  never  formed  nor  expressed  an 
opinion  as  to  the  guilt  or  innocence  of  the  i)risoners,  aithoi|i;li 
at  the  same  time  they  belonficd  to  a  military  mob,  which  to  the 
}iumber  of  1,()()0  men  was  in  attendance  with  arms  to  overawe  the 
[Mormons  and  extort  from  the  court  the  verdict  in  favor  of  the 
accused.  The  ]trincipal  ]Mornion  witiK'sses  Avere  15rackeiibury, 
]>aniels,  ami  a  ]Miss  (iraliam.  The  iirst  two  had  accom]»anied  the 
expedition  from  Warsaw  to  Cartliaf>e,  had  witnessed  the  kiiliiiy; 
of  the  Smiths,  and  were  able  to  identify  the  murderers.  From 
('arthayc  they  went  to  Naiivoo,  where  they  united  witli  the 
cliuich  and  were  boarded  by  the  jMormons  to  secure  their  evidence 
at  the  trial.  \\'hile  here  JJi'ackenbury  secure<l  the  servi<'es  of  ;i 
siyii  painter  wlio  executed  tlie  (h'ath  and  ascension  of  Smith, 
which  he  exhibited  osteiisibility  for  tlie  si)iritual  editication  of  the 
saints,  but  more  for  the  i'Ufinientation  of  his  own  i»rivate  resources, 
Daniels,  not  to  be  out<lone  by  his  associate,  wrote  an  account  of 
the  death  of  Smith,  in  which,  amonji  a  jireat  many  other  absurd- 
ities, he  says  he  lu'iield  descending'  from  lieaven  and  restinjion  the 
liead  of  Smith,  a  bright  light,  which  struck  some  of  his  murderers 
Avith  blindness,  and  that  lie  heard  celestial  voices  contirining  his 
mission  asaprojthet.  Owing  to  these  lictions,  the  evidence  both  of 
the  showman  and  sciibbler  was  rejected  as  invalid.  Miss  (irahani 
vas  ])resent  and  assisted  in  feeding  the  hungry  mob  at  tlu'  War- 
saw ilouse,  after  it  came  straggling  in  from  Carthage.  Her 
nervous  and  sensitive  organization,  however,  had  been  so  wrought 
33 


514  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

\\\u)U  by  tlK'^Monnoii  dclusioii,  tliatsliowas  unable  to  (listiiiijnisli  her 
siisjiicioiis  iuid  I'iiiuMcs  iVoiii  nctiiiil  t'iicts,  ii;i(l  so  hlcmlcd  llicin  in 
licr  t'vidciH'o  tlmt  il  \v;is  coiitciKlfd  slic  proved  notliiiiji'  cxfcpt 
her  own  lunii'st  bnt  insiinc  zeal.  Oilier  wiiiiessess  wt'ic  examined 
wlio  knew  all  the  facts,  bnt  under  tlie  doniinalinf>-  intinenee  of  a 
faelion  tliey  refused  to  divulji'e  tlieni.  Tlie  jndjic  was  lield  in 
duress  !>v  an  armed  mob,  wliieli  fdled  tliecourt  house,  and  stanijied 
ai>i)l;iiise  or  iiissed  detiiuiee,  aceoi'din;^'  iis  tliey  a|>]>roved  or  disaj)- 
]>roved  tlie  proceedings.  Tlie  trial  closed  and  tliou,uli  there  was 
not  a  man  in  the  .jury,  court  iiouse,  or  coiuily,  tii;it  (lid  not  know 
the  piisoners  bad  committed  the  murder,  yet  nolhiuj;'  could  l)e 
proved  and  they  were  accordingly  actpiitted. 

At  i>  ,'^;ubsequejit  term  of  tliecourt  the  Mormons  were  tried  for 
the  dcsfn'ctit)n  of  tlie  heretical  press.  The  tribunal  in  this  c;ise 
consisted  of  a  ^lornion  court,  a  Mormon  slieriff  and  a  Mormon 
jury,  selected  on  account  of  their  ]»artiality  for  the  accused,  as  iu 
tlie  previous  trial,  yet  all  swore  that  they  knew  nothiuj;'  of  the 
j^nilt  oi'  innocence  of  the  dei'endaiits.  wli(»  of  course  were  ae- 
«piitted.  No  leadiii,!.;'  man  of  eitiier  faction  could  now  be  arrested 
Avithtmt  the  lud  of  an  army,  and  when  thus  •  'Cured,  neither  i)arty 
Avould  permit  an  imiiartial  trial  in  their  owi  ^-ounty,  and  since  a 
chanjic  of  venue  to  a  disinterested  locality  could  n<it  be  elVected 
■without  the  consent  of  the  accused,  it  was  impossible  to  convict 
any  one  of  a  partisan  crime.  The  administration  of  tlii'  criminal 
law  was  impossible,  civil  ,i:(>\eiiiiiient  was  at  an  end,  and  the  en- 
tire commuiiity  was  in  a  frightful  state  of  anarchy. 

l)uriii<i'  the  summer  and  fall  of  ;s4o,  several  occurreiHH'is  trans- 
]»iri'd.  calculated  to  increase  tlie  irritation  existiuji'  between  tiio 
Mormons  and  their  neijihbors.  A  suit  was  institntetl  in  the  cir- 
cuit court  of  the  riiittd  States  ayainst  one  of  the  apostles  to  re- 
cover a  note  ^iveii  in  v)liio.  and  a  marshal  was  sent  to  summon 
the  defendants,  but  they  refused  to  be  served  with  the  process. 
Indignation  meetin<;s  were  held  by  the  saints,  intlamatory  s]»eech- 
es  delivered  by  their  principal  men,  and  the  marshal  threatened 
lor  attemi>tin,s;'  to  serve  the  wiits,  while  it  was  ajireed  that  no 
further  attempts  of  that  kind  should  be  made  iu  Nauvoo.  About 
the  same  tinu^  an  anti-Mormon  made  an  assault  upon  (ieii. 
J)emin;;'  the  sherilV of  the  court,  and  was  killed  by  the  lattt-r  in 
n'ltelliii.u'  the  attack.  The  vampiished  jiarty  had  many  friends, 
and  his  death  occasione<l  a  fresh  outburst  of  jiassion.  To  allay 
the  storm,  the  ollicer  who  was  believed  to  be  friendly  to  the  31or- 
iiions  was  held  to  bail,  althon^iih  he  had  ai'ted  strictly  in  self- 
defence,  and  was  therefoie  not  jiuilty.  Jt  was  also  discovered  iu 
trying  the  rijilit  of  property  at  Lima,  in  Adams  county,  that  the 
Alormons  had  an  institution  (Connected  with  their  eliurch  to  secure 
their  effects  from  execution.  It  was  an  association  of  five  i)ersons, 
any  of  whom  was  to  own  all  the  ]>roperty.  and  in  the  avent  of  its 
beiii;i'  levied  on  for  debt,  they  could  I'efer  tlu^  owiH'rship  to  such  a 
meiiilter  of  the  liiin  as  would  defeat  the  execution.  Incensed  at 
this  action,  the  anti-Mormons  of  Lima  and  (Ireeu  Plains,  held  a 
meeting  to  devise  means  for  the  expulsion  of  the  .Mormons  from 
tliat  part  of  the  country.  Jt  was  accordiufi'ly  ai'ianiicd  thai  a 
number  of  their  own  party  should  lire  on  the  buildiiij;  in  which 
they  were  assembled,  in  such  a  manner  as  not  to  injure  any  on«', 
and   then  report  that  tlie  Mormons  had  comiueneed  the  work  of 


MOIJMON  WAR. 


515 


l)lnii(loi'  and  (Icjitli.  Tliis  ])l()f  *\viis  duly  cxcciitiMl,  iind  1  lie  start- 
ling' iiilclli^ciicc  N(»oii  called  tttji'ctlicr  a  iiKih,  wldcli  tliifatciicd  the 
]M(iiiii()iis  with  lire  and  sword  if  they  did  not  inmicdiatciy  leave 
the  nei,iild)()iii<)od.  'I'lie  ."Monnons  of  this  loeality  lia<l  pi'cx  ionslj' 
anii(»,vi'd  the  iniial>itants  by  petty  larcenies,  and  now  reriisin;;'  to 
de]tait,  the  mob  at  (»nee  executed  their  threats  by  burning'  IL'5 
houses  and  forcing-  the  inniales  to  tiee  loi-  tiieir  lives.  The  i'ii.!4itive.s 
aiii\ed  in  Namoo  in  the  midst  ol'  tiie  sickly  season,  carrying;' with 
them  the  inlirm,  whos*' piliable  condition  excited  tiie  utmost  indij;- 
iiation  amoni;  tlie  inhabitants. 

As  soon  as  the  intelligence  of  these  events  reached  Sprinjitield, 
the  uoxciiior  ordered  (Icn.  Hardin  to  raisea  body  ol' men  snllicient 
to  enl'orce  the  law,  but  i)el'ore  it  was  leady  to  march,  the  shei'itt' 
oi' tlie  county  took  the  matter  in  his  own  hands,  (len.  I)er..n<jr, 
tiie  'brmei'  slierilV.  was  dead,  and  .1.  15.  l>ackinstos,  his  successor 
and  a  i)rominent  Mormon,  owiii.u  to  unpopularity  was  unable  to 
.yet  assistance  IVom  the  anti -Mormons,  althon^uh  many  ol'  them 
were  strongly  opposed  to  the  riotous  ]irocee(linj;s.  He,  therefore, 
liaslened  to  Nauvoo  and  armed  sc\cral  hundred  ]\!ormons,  estab- 
lished a  j)ermanent  .i^uaid  at  t'arthauc.  and  swept  over  other 
l)arts  ol"  the  county  in  search  of  the  incendiaries.  The  jiuiity 
parlies  lleein,^'  to  the  ncij^idiorinj;'  c((unties  of  Illinois,  Iowa  and 
jMissoiiri,  he  was  unaide  to  brinj^-  them  to  battle  or  make  any 
aricsts.  One  man,  however,  was  killed  without  provocation, 
another  attemi>tinj>' to  escape  was  shot,  and  afterwards  hacked  and 
mutilated  as  if  he  had  been  murdered  by  Indians,  and  I-'iaiddin  A. 
'\V(»rrel,  who  had  command  of  the  jail,  and  betrayed  his  liiist  iu 
consent inji' to  the  assassination  of  the  Smiths,  lost  his  life  from 
the  cfl'cct  of  a  I'iHe  ball  discharj^cd  by  sonu'  uidcnown  person  con- 
cealed foi'  that  purpose  in  a  thicket.  The  anti-.Mormons  also  com- 
milte<l  one  muider,  A  ]n\y\\  of  them  set  lire  to  a  (juantity  of 
.straw  n<'ar  the  bain  of  an  old  Moiinon  ninety  years  of  a<ie,  and 
when  he  appeare<l  to  extinuuish  the  liames,  he  was  shot  and 
kille<l.  The  perpetrators  of  this  cold  Idooded  inurdei'  w»'re  after- 
wards examined  before  an  anti-JMormon  justice  of  the  peace  and 
dis(;har};ed,  thonnh  their  jiiiilt  was  snllicieutly  ap])arent. 

TIm'  .\nti-]MornM>ns  ha\  int;  left  their  proi»eity  exposed  iu  their 
precipitati'  I'etriat  from  tin-  county,  those  who  had  been  burnt  out 
of  tlieir  honu's  sallied  forth  from  Nauvoo  and  i)Uindered  the  whole 
country,  takiny  wliate\('r  they  could  eairy  or  diive  away.  (ieii. 
Ilai'din  tinally  succeeded  in  raising' a  force  of  .■».")(>  men,  and  marcjli- 
iuii  to  Carthajic  disi»ersed  the  "^uartl  which  had  been  stationed  at 
that  jilace  by  the  sheritl',  checked  the  Mormon  raxaj^fs,  and  re- 
called the  fuj^itive  anti-Mormons  luune. 

While  he  was  here  a  convention,  consistiiij;"  of  <lele.iiates  from 
ei;:ht  of  the  adjoiuinj;' counties,  assembled  to  concert  measures  for 
the  exjuilsion  of  the  Mornums  from  the  State.  The  ])eople  of  these 
counties  becauu'  fearfid  that  Hancock  would  be  deserted  by  the 
oiiyinal  inhabitants,  an<l  that  their  own  homes  and  properly  would 
thereby  become  exposed  to  th(^  dei»redations  of  the  (ommoii 
en«'my.  The  Mormons,  on  the  other  hand,  belii'v'uin  the  times 
forboded  a  series  of  IVcsli  disasters,  seri(»usly  contem|)lated  e:.M- 
^ratioii  westward,  ha\  inji' tlispaired  of  establisliin,ti'  their  reliuiou 
in  the  nndst  of  a  peo]>le  whose  oi)inions  and  prejudices  were  hos- 
tile to  its  teachings.     At  ihin  juncture  they  were  a<l vised  by  the 


51 G  HISTORY  OF   ILLINOIS. 

;i(>\('iii()i' iuul  (»lli<'i' proiiiiiK'iit  incii  tliiit  ii  witlidrawul  fnnii  the 
JState  was  the  only  ])()ssihl(' altcniativc  loi('sca|»in;'i  the  iiiiitciiding 
cahunitic's  aiuKlcii.  Hardin  Ucin^isciit  with  iiistnictioiis  (uvctfcctiny 
this  jMiiposc,  was  succi'sst'nl  in  ncjiotiatinj;  anan^cnu'iits  for  tlicir 
removal.  It  was  aj^reed  that  tiie  },nealer  part  of  the  .Mormons 
slioidd  retire  from  the  State  dnrin{>-  the  foilowinj^  sprinji';  that  no 
arrests  shonld  he  «ia«le  by  either  hostile  party  for  crimes  pie- 
vionsly  committed,  and  tliata  military  foice  shonld  remain  in  the 
comity  to  preserve  the  peace.  A  small  force  was  accordinj-ly  left 
in  command  of  Major  Warren,  who  discharged  hi.s  dnties  witli 
such  elticieiicy  that  the  turbulent  spirit  of  faction  was  kejit  in 
subjection. 

J)iirinj;  the  v  inter  of  184.")-({,  the  most  stupendous  iireparatioiis 
Mere  made  by  the  Mormons  for  removal ;  all  the  principal  dwellin<;s 
and  even  the  temi)le  was  converted  into  workshoiis,  and  before 
spriii<>'  12,(KK»  wajioiis  were  in  readiness,  rrevions  to  the  depar- 
ture indictments  had  bi'en  found  a<;aiiist  mosfcof  the  apostles  for 
counterfeit in<;'  the  coin  of  the  Unite<l  States,  ami  an  ajiplication 
was  made  to  the  <;(>vernor  for  a  sulliiMcnt  force  to  arrest  them, 
but  in  i»nisuaiice  of  the  amnesty  aj;recd  on  for  ohl  offences,  the 
application  was  dismissed,  it  was  deemed  impolitic  to  arrest  the 
leaders  aiMl  thus  terminate  the  preparations  for  removal  when  it 
was  notorious  that  they  could  conimand  witnesses  and  evidence 
sutlicieiit  to  render  conviction  iiuiiossible.  >Vitli  a  view,  however, 
to  hasten  their  dej»arture,  the  iiiii»ression  was  made  that  a  jiortiou 
of  the  rejiular  army  would  be  ordered  to  Nauvoo  as  soon  as  navi- 
gation o]>ened,  to  enforce  the  writs,  and  hence  the  leaders,  on  the 
loth  of  February,  with  l.',()()0  of  their  followers,  cros.sed  the  river 
on  the  ice  and  startetl  westward  in  advance  of  the  others,  liy  the 
middle  of  Slay  it  was  estimated  l,4(Kt  more,  w  ith  their  flocks,  their 
wives  and  little  ones,  followed  tlie  former  band,  to  seek  a  new 
home  in  the  mountain  fastnesses  of  the  western  wilderness. 

Xauvoo,  before  the  Mormon  exodus,  contained  a  population  of 
17,0(10  souls.  Jts  bnildin^is,  commeiicin<;-  at  the  maifiiu  of  the 
river  and  s])readinj;-over  the  nitland,  sparsely  covered  an  area  of 
('»  s(iuare  miles.  The  temple,  risiiij;-  hiffh  above  the  adjacent  ob- 
jects, was  built  of  comjiact  polished  limestone,  obtained  in  the 
limits  of  (he  city.  !No  order  of  architecture  was  obseived  in  its 
erection,  and  the  ]\I(uinons  claimed  that  it  was  commenced  with- 
out a  jihiii  and  built  in  accordance  with  instructions  received 
directly  from  heaven  as  the  work  advanced.  It  was  VJS  feet 
lony,  .SS  feet  wide,  (io  feet  to  the  toi)  of  the  cornice,  and  105  to  the 
top  of  the  <'U])ola.  The  basement  was  a  larj-e,  imperfectly  venti- 
lated room,  coiitainin{>  a  baptistry,  supported  by  ]2  oxen,  hewn 
out  of  liiiK.'stoiie.  In  the  main  story  was  the  audience  room  used 
for  i»ublic  woishij).  At  the  end  of  this  larj^e  apartment  were  4 
seats,  rejiularly  elevated  one  above  the  other,  on  which  were  sta- 
tioned, according;-  to  their  resjiective  rank,  the  elders  Avho  ad- 
dressed the  ]>eoi»le,  Tiie  second  story  also  contained  an  audience 
room,  and  the  third  a  larj;e  hall  for  etlncational  purpose-'. 
Besides  the  larjie  apartments  there  were  in  all  the  stories  rooms 
connected  with  the  ecitlesiastical  and  jjovernmental  interests  of 
the  ])eople.  l-'iom  the  top  of  the  cupola  a  scene  of  enchanting 
beauty  met  the  eye,  from  which  few  could  turn  away  with  indiffer- 
ence.    Woodlands  and  prairies,  diversitied  with  gentle  undula- 


MORMON  AVAU.  517 


tions  iiud  <'()V(M'e<l  \villi  iiinii  lioiisos,  licnls  of  <'iittl('.  Hi'lds  of 
ujiviiij;  ^niiii  uihI  otiicr  t'\  idt'iunvs  of  iijiiicultiiral  tliiift,  could  he 
Kct'ii  for  u  distnucc  of  20  iiiiU's.  Tlironjili  tliis  extensive  liiiid- 
scjipe.  f,dided  the  Fatlier  of  Waters,  in  wliose  floods  repose  a  ;^reiit 
laiinher  of  islands,  all  in  tlie  ranjit^  of  vision,  and  captivating  the 
eye  of  the  l)e]iolder  Ity  tlieirsnipassinj;'  loveliness, 

A  small  remnant  of  about  1,(K)(>,  nmible  todisjtose  o*'  their  ])ro- 
IH'rty,  remained  behind.  These  were  ,snni('i<'nt,  ]io\ve\er,  to  con- 
trol Die  vot4'  of  the  connty,  and  lest  they  slionld  endeavor  to 
make  the  attempt,  tlieir  o]>i)onents  discovered  a  pretext  for  new 
broils.  Fortiiis  pnrjtose  a  i)arty  of  JMormons  who  had  been  sent 
to  harvest  some  Avheatti<'lds  in  the  vicinity  of  Nanvoo,  w<'re 
severely  whipped,  tlie  jterpetrators  declarinj;'  that  they  liad  dis- 
tur])ed  tin'  neijild»orhoo<l  by  tlu'ir  boisterons  condnct.  Writs 
vere  sworn  ont  in  the  city  against  those  wiio  had  inflicted  the 
t'a.stigation,  and  they  were  arrested  an<l  k<'pt  nnder  strict  <;nard 
until  tiiey  conld  uive  bail.  The  anti. Mormons  in  tnrn  jtrocnreil 
writs  for  the  arr<'st  of  the  constable  and  )»osse  who  had  served 
the  first  writs.  Tlu'  IMoijnons,  believin.i;'  that  instea<l  of  beini;' 
tried  tliey  would  be  murdered,  i-efnsed  to  be  taken,  wliereniton 
several  linndied  anti-^Mormons  assend>led  to  enfoice  the  ])rocess. 
The  difiieulty  Ava.s,  however,  adjust<'d  without  niakin<;'  tiu'  arrest. 
A  committee  havinj;'  be<'n  sent  to  >«auvoo  reported  the  ."Nrormons 
liad  a.yriH'd  not  to  voti'  in  the  ensuing  elect  ion,  ami  that  they  were 
inakin<;'  eveiy  ])<»ssible  j)rei»aiation  for  reino\al,  and  i)rocee<lin;;s 
n^ainst  tlu'm  weie  suspended.  Xotwithstandinii'  this  a;:;reement, 
V lien  tlie  <'lection  cam«' off  tiiey  all  voted  the  demociatic  ticket, 
iind  so  deti'rmined  were  they  that  their  support  should  be  efficient, 
Jill  voted  three  or  four  times  for  each  mend)erof  con<4ress.  Their 
excuse  for  violatin;^'  their  ])le4l«ie  was  that  the  jtresident  of 
the  Tnited  .States  had  jtermitted  theii'  friends  to  temporarily  oc- 
eujty  the  liidijin  lands  on  the  .Missouri  river,  and  for  this  favor 
they  felt  under  obliiiatious  to  sui)port  Ins  administiation.  The 
want  of  .yood  faith  in  this  resjiect  greatly  incensed  the  whins, 
juid  the  certainty  that  manydesiynin^' men  were  einleavoriui;  to 
induce  them  to  remain  permanently  in  the  country,  revived  the 
•jcneral  opi)osition  which  pre\  iousiy  prevailed  ai^ainst  them. 
Writs  were  ajiain  issued  for  tlu^  anest  of  i)rominent  Mormons, 
and  to  create  a  pretext  for  assendtlin;;  a  lar.i;e  force  t<» execute  them, 
it  wa.s  asserted  by  the  constable  tliat  if  the  accused  were  taken 
iind  carried  out  of  tlie  city  they  would  l)e  murdered.  Umler  these 
<'ir('nmstances  they  refused  to  be  arrested,  and  the  ]»osse  sum- 
nioui'd  to  enforce  the  law  soon  amoinited  to  several  hundred  men. 
The  .'Mormons  in  like  mannerobtained  writs  foi' the  arrest  of  prom- 
inent anti-.'Mormons,  and  under  the  pretense  of  execntinj;-  them 
<*alledouta  posse  of  their  own  ])eoi)le,  and  hence  constable  was 
ariayed  against  constable,  law  ayaiiist  law  and  posse  against 
posse. 

While  the  hostile  j)artie8  were  a.sseudtling  their  for<;es,  the  new 
citizens  of  Naux'oo,  who  liad  purchased  proj)erty  of  the  Mormons 
at  llie  time  of  their  exodus,  applied  to  the  governoi' for  suflieient 
force  to  restore  order  and  confiilence.  Major  Parker,  a  whig,  was 
accordingly  sent,  it  being  supposed,  in  <'onse(pienee  of  liis  poli- 
'"  -s,  he  would  have  more  intlnenci^  with  tlu' malcontents,  wli<i\vere 

ostly  of  liis  party.     When,  however,  he  arrived  the  anti-Mor- 


tii 
mos 


518  IIISTOltV    01-'   ILLINOIS. 

jiKiii  constiihic  icriiscd  to  l)t'  siipcrscdod  by  liiiii,iiiHl  dcclnrcd  that 
he  ciirfd  little  loi'  tlu'  ancsts,  iii»'i<'lty  .cvidciiciiij:'  that  liis  tai'ti«)ii 
vas  only  iisiiiji  the  junccss  oi'  tiit'law  a.sa  pretext  lor  ace<>iM|»lish- 
iii^i  tlieir  leal  object,  the  expulsion  of  tiie  ^b»l■lll(»lls.  Tlieaiiti- 
]\loriiioii  I'aetioii  eoiiliiiiied  to  increase  till  il  nnnibeied  SOO  men,  and 
uliih'  Ihey  were  picpai'in^'  to  nnircli  on  Nan\oo  tlie  inlialtitant.s 
were  |>ieparinj;  lor  a  vij;t>ron.s  delense.  a  i»oitioii  of  the  new  eiti- 
zen.s  iniitin;;  with  them,  and  some  assistinj;' their  enemies.  At 
this  sta<;e  of  the  ])rocei'diiij;sMason  iWaynian.  a  citi/eii  (►!'  Spiin.y- 
lield,  was  sent  l>y  the  j;()vernor  to  in(piire  into  and  lepoit  th(^ 
mUiire  of  tho  diflicnlties.  When  he  ariived  an  attempt  was  made 
to  cHeet  a  reconciliation.  It  was  agreed  l>y  tin?  leadeis  of  l)otIi 
factions  that  the  .Mormons  shoidd  remove  from  the  Siatt-  in  two 
months,  and  that  tlieii'  arms  in  the  meantime  should  be  placed  i?i 
the  custody  of  a  ])crson  apitoinled  to  receivf  and  rcdelivci'  them 
to  the  owners  at  the  time  of  their  departure.  When  this 
agreement  was  submitted  for  ratilicali<»n  to  the  antiMormon 
f(»rces  it  was  rejected,  (len.  Sinj^leton  and  Col.  Chittenden,  their 
C'ommamU'r.s,  then  withdrew  and  the  j;overnor  was  informed  by 
^Ir.  IJraymaii  that  tlu'  belter  porti(Ui  of  the  antiMormons  would 
abandon  theeiilerpiise  and  ret  n  in  home.  !Snbs»'tjUent  CN  cuts,  how- 
ever, jtroved  that  JMr.  lUaymaii  wa.s  mistaken  in  his  conJectiir«'s. 
AVheii  (ieii.  Singleton  retired,  Thomas  S.  Ibockman,  a  dishonest 
and  vulj;ar  man,  bij^otcd  and  bitter  in  his  prejudices  against  t  lie. Mor- 
mons, was  ])ut  in  command.  Ibockman  immediately  marched 
his  forces  to  >iaiivooan(l  commenced  skir?iiisliiii^\viili  the  inhabi- 
tants, while  .Mr.  l'>ra\niiiii.  owin^'  to  the  thieateiiiiit;  aspect  of 
affairs,  hasleiied  to  Siu'iii,i;tield  to  obtain  fiiither  assistance  for 
"the  delense  of  the  city.  in  Ibis  emerj^ency.  troops  «'ould  not  be 
called  from  a  distance  in  time  to  be  made  availal)le,  ami  hence  an 
elVort  was  made  to  procure  liiem  in  the  nci^hlioiliond  of  the  coii- 
tlict.  Orders  were  issued  to  Major  William  '1'.  Mood,  cominaiidiT 
of  the  militia  of  the  adjoining;  populous  county  of  Adams,  anthor- 
izinji'  him  to  raise  a  v(»lnnteer  tbice  siitlicieiit  to  restore  the  ol»- 
ser\auce  of  law.  The  excitement  by  ihistiiiie  had  spread  tliroui^h 
Adams  and  all  thi'  adjoinin.n-  counties,  and  it  was  e\  ident  that  if 
tile  iState  attempled  to  raise  a  force  a  much  hirjicr  «Mie  woiiUt 
march  to  the  assistance  of  the  iiisur>ieiits,  and  hence  this  otlicer 
(lecbned  makinu  any  efibrt. 

To  meet  this  contingency  he  had  [ucsioiisly  liccn  instructed,  in 
case  he  failed  to  raise  the  re(piired  force,  to  hand  over  liis  coiii- 
inaiid  to  some  one  who  would  properly  execute  it.  ^lajor  Flood, 
]ioweve.r,  without  immediately  aiitiioiizin,t4-  any  one  to  act  in  his 
stead,  hastened  to  Nanvoo  to  use  his  inlliieiice  with  tin*  antajio- 
iiistic  factions  for  the  restora4ion  of  peace,  l-'ailiii};'  in  his  media- 
tion, he  enti'iisted  liis  authority  to  the  3h)rmons,  who  .selected 
Jlajor  Clifford  to  command  them. 

The  forces  under  IJrockman  numbered  SOO,  and  were  armed 
Avith  nmsket.s  and  live  pieces  oi'  small  cannon,  belonjiinj;-  to 
tlie  State,  ;;iven  them  by  indepeiulent  militia  companies  in  the  ad- 
jacent counties.  The  M<trmoii  forces,  includi::^;'  a  portion  of  the 
new  citizens,  at  first  amounted  to  L'.-)0  men,  but  before 
any  decisive  (ij;litinj>'  commenced,  were  diminislu'd  by  de- 
.sertion  to  b^O.  Their  weapons  consisted  of  sixteen-shoot- 
iiig     rifles,     common     muskets,    ami     live     pieces    ol"    caimoii, 


MORMON  WAK. 


519 


hastily  and  iiulcly  coiistnictt'd  by  tliciii.si'lvi'fs  t'roiii  tlir  sliaft  of  a 
istcamhoat.  Actin^i' on  the,  (k'lcnsivi' tlicy  t(tok  a  ]>o.sitioii  in  the 
Hninirhs  of  the  city,  a  mile  cast  of  tlu'  Icniplc,  and  tlircw  np  Idcasfc 
uorks  lor  tiic  jtrolcction  of  tlicir  ailillcry.  Tiic  atlackiiij;'  loico 
was  snllicicntly  niinicrons  to  liavc  siniiiltancousiy  niarclicd  on 
both  Hanks  of  tlic  bcsit'^^cd,  beyond  llic  ranj;c  of  their  battery, 
and  Ihns  iiavc  taken  tiie  city  witiiout  lirin,:;  a  sinjile  j;iin.  Uroek- 
•nian,  however,  ai>i>roaciiin^-  directly  in  front,  i<lationcd  his  men 
jdiont  half  a  mile  from  the  battery,  and  each  party  commenced  a 
tire  from  their  cannon,  while  some  of  the  cond)atants  with  snndl 
urins  occasionally  ai)i»roachcd  closer,  bnt  never  snllicicntly  near 
to  <1<»  any  damajic 

The conli'st  was  thns  cont inned  at  a  j;reat  distance,  with  little 
skill  till  the  ammnnition  of  the  besiejicrs  was  exhansted,  Mhen 
they  relircd  to  their  camp  to  await  a  fresh  snpitly.  Jn  a  lew  days 
ammninlion  was  broiij^ht  from  (^nincy,  and  the  contlict  a^ain  jc- 
sum<'<l,  and  kept  nj)  several  <lays,  dnrinj;  which  the  3Iormons  ad- 
mitted a  loss  of  on<>  man  killed  and  U  wonndcd,  and  the  anti  .Alor- 
irions  of  'A  killed  and  4  wounded.  It  was  estimated  that  some  S(M) 
cannon  balls  were  lired  on  each  side,  ami  the  snndl  number  killed 
<*an  (»iily  be  accounted  fttr  on  the  siii»position  that  the  belli;.;('rciits 
either  kept  at  a  safe  distance,  or  wcr*'  very  unskillful  in  the  use  of 
arms.  'I'lie  contest  was  linally  ended  by  the  interposition  of  an 
aidi-.Mormon  committee  from  (^)iiiiicv.  Accordin^i'  to  the  terms  of 
cai)ilnlation  dictated  by  the  superior  force  of  the  besiejicrs,  the 
i\lormons  were  to  surrcmler  their  iirms  to  the  committee.  All, 
witii  the  exception  of  trustees  for  the  sale  of  their  property,  were 
to  remove  out  of  tlie  city,  and  the  aidi^Iormon  ](osse  was  to  march 
ill  and  have  a  suHicient  force  thcic  to  j;iiaraiitee  the  performance 
of  the  stii»iilations.  The  i)osse  with  IJi'ockman  at  its  head,  ac- 
c»)rdin,i>ly  started  on  its  mission,  followed  by  several  hundred 
spectators,  who  had  come  from  all  the  surroundinji'  country  to  see 
the  once  proud  city  of  iS'auvoo  humbled  and  delivered  into  the 
hands  of  its  enemies. 

As  soon  as  they  got  ]>()sscssion  of  the  city  Jb'ockman,  whose 
vulji'ar  soul  became  intoxicated  with  success,  commenced  a<tiiij;- 
the  ]»artof  a  tyraid.  Arrogatiiiji'  to  himself  the  rijiht  to  decith; 
wlioslionid  renniin  and  who  should  iic  driven  away,  lie  summoned 
tlu' iidmbitants  to  Ins  i)resencc,  and  at  his  dictum  most  of  them 
were  compelled  to  leave  their  homes  in  a  few  hours  in  a  destitide 
condition.  It  was  sti]>ulate<l  that  only  .^lormons  were  to  be  ex- 
]iatriated,  yet  at  his  behests  armed  rultians  commi'iu'cd  e.\pellin<;' 
the  new  citizens,  dnckinn'  some  of  them  in  the  ri\«'r,  and  ibr<'in<4- 
others  to  cross  it  at  the  poiid  of  the  bayonet.  In  a  few  days  the 
entire  IMormon  ])opuiation  and  the  new  citizens  who  had  co-(»p- 
crated  with  them  in  icsisting  the  mob,  were  exi)elled.  The  latter 
class  had  stron<>'  claims  to  be  treat<'d  with  more  generosity  by  the 
coiKpierors.  Having  been  attracted  to  Xauvoo  from  vaii(»us  jiarts 
of  tli«'  I'nited  States  by  the  low  price  of  i>ro])erty,  and  knowing 
but  littU'  of  the  previous  dilllcnlties,  it  was  bnt  natural  that  they 
should  offer  their  services  to  delend  the  town  from  mob  a  iolence 
and  their  ]»roperty  from  «iestrnction.  They  saw  that  the3Iormons 
were  industriously  preparing  to  h'ave,  and  therefore  considered 
the  effort  to  expel  them  not  only  unnecessary  but  unjust  ami  cruel. 


620  HISTORY  or   ILLINOIS. 

Tlic  iiiol),  liowt'vci',  uiidfr  tlic  inlliiciic*'  of  ])iissi»)ii,  could  sec  no 
iiKiit  ill  tliis  porlitMi  ol  tlicir  advcrsiiiics,  iiiid  in  the  lliisli  »»f  vic- 
toiy  dealt  out  iiidiscriiiiiiiiitf  hiiitiilily  to  all. 

lii'ockiiiaii  iiavinj;  siiniciciilly  jiiiittcd  liis  vciijioaiicc,  vcliiniod 
liomc,  Icaviiij;'  !(»(»  of  the  lowest  and  most  violent  of  liis  followers 
to  i>ie\ciit  tlie  letiirii  of  those  who  had  been  driven  into  exile. 
This  reninaiit  of  tln^  mob  eontiiiiied  its  acts  of  violeiH'c  and 
oppression  till  they  heard  that  a  force  was  uioviii<;'  aj^ainst  them 
from  the  seat  of  jiovernmeiit,  when  they  also  departed. 

Jn  the  nu'antiiiie,  the  iMoniions  were  thrown  houseless  on  th(> 
Iowa  shore,  witliout  jirovisions  and  means  to  inocure  tliem,  and 
Mere  in  a  starvinj;  condition.  It  was  also  the  lieif;lit  of  the  sickly 
Kcasoii,  and  many  ha<l  been  hurried  away  while  sulVeriiij;  with 
disease  to  die  from  e.\p(»sure  and  privation.  Without  food,  med- 
iciiie  or  elotliin}4,  the  mother  matched  her  sick  babe  till  it  died,  and 
then  became  herself  a  victim  to  the  epidemic,  liiidiiiji  the  {^rave  a 
refiijif  from  ])ersecution  and  a  balm  for  her  sulferiiij;s.  After  this 
distress  became  known  all  parties  hastenetl  to  their  assistance,  tho 
antiMormons  vieinji'  w  ith  the  JMoriiions  in  furiiishin;i  relief.  Tho 
people  of  the  State  at  first  looked  with  inditference  ii|miii  tlieso 
outrajies,  but  the  hardships  attendin;;  them  at  leiijith  bejian  to 
cause  reflection.  They  had  seen  a  lar<i[e  tract  of  country  com- 
IX'lled  to  submit  tt»  the  domination  of  a  self-constituted  power, 
the  lejiitimate  j;(>veriiiiient  trampled  under  foot  aJid  a  reign  of 
terror  substituted  in  its  ]»lace. 

With  this  change  of  sentiment,  a  force  Avas  raised  in  and  near 
Springfield,  of  IL'O  men,  and  the  governor  procee«led  with  it  to  the 
scene  of  the  disturbance.  The  pi  iiicii)al  oi>Ject  the  expedition  was 
to  restore  tlie  <'xiled  *  ii  izeiis  to  their  new  homes  and  i»roj)erty,  a 
large  part  of  the  latter  having  been  stolen  in  their  absence.  ^Vhen 
the  force  arrived  the  riotous  population  was  greatly  incensed  at 
the  governor  and  could  hardly  find  language  siiniciently  strong  to 
exi)ress  their  astonishment  that  he  and  the  i)eoj)Ie  of  other 
conutie.s  should  interfere  in  the  domestic  attairs  of  Hancock. 
IMiblic  meetings  were  held  in  ><'anvoo  and  Carthage,  at  which  it 
uas  iest)lved  to  again  drive  out  the  citizens  as  soon  as  the  State 
I'orces  should  be  w  itlidrawn. 

Writs  were  also  again  sworn  out  against  some  otlicers  of  the 
State  forces,  with  a  view  to  calling  out  a  posse  and  expelling  them 
from  the  county,  but  the  mob  failed  to  enlist  inori'  than  "JbO  or  ."idO 
men,  and  these  hesitated  and  linally  abandoned  their  design  of 
making  the  arri'sts  or  resorting  to  vioh'iice.  To  i»reveiit  further 
outbreaks  a  small  forces  was  left  in  tln^  county  till  the  assembling 
of  the  legislature  on  the  loth  of  December,  i(S4(»,  when  the  cohl 
weather  jtut  an  end  to  the  agitation  and  they  were  withdrawn. 
The  westeiu  march  of  the  ^Mormons  who  left  the  State  the  pre- 
ceding s]>ring,  was  attended  with  greater  snifering  than  had  been 
endured  in  their  banishment  from  ^lissouri.  On  the  Jotli  of  Feb., 
l.S4(>,  the  leaders  crossed  the  ^Mississippi  and  sojourned  at 
]\Ioiitrose,  Iowa,  till  the  latter  i)art  of  i\larch,  in  couse(]uence 
of  the  <leep  snow  which  obstructed  the  way. 

When  linally  the  journey  Avas  resumed,  the  fugitives  taking  the 
road  thi'ougli  JVlissouri,  were  forcibly  ejected  from  the  State  and 
comi)elled  to  move  indirectly  through  Iowa.  After  innumerablo 
haKlships,  the  advance  guard  of  emigration  reached  the  Missouri 


MOllMON  WAR. 


r)21 


river,  lit  ('<  micil  r.liitts,  wlicii  u  I'nitcd  States  ofliccr  pri'smtcd  ii 
i'('(|iiisiti(»ii  for  .'i(l(l  nicii  1(»  scixc  in  tlic  Wiiiajiaiiist  .Mexico.  Coiii- 
jiliance  witli  lliis  (iniei'  so  diiiiiiiislied  tiie  iiiiiiil»er  of  ell'cclive 
men,  that  the  exju'dition  wa.s  aj;ain  dehi.ved  and  {hv  reinainder, 
eoMsistin;^'  mostly  of  old  me!i.  women  and  ehildreii,  liastily  pre- 
jiared  liabitations  t'oi'  winte/.  Tiieii'  rudely  coiistiiicted  tenis  were 
liardly  eom|ileted  iteloic  wilder  set  in  willi  f;reat  severity,  tho 
bleak  prairies  liein^'  incessantly  swept  by  pierein;;-  winds. 
^Vllile  lieie  cholera,  lever  and  other  diseases,  a^ij^ravaled  l)y  the, 
previous  liardships  wliicli  they  had  endured,  the  want  ol'cond'ort- 
able  quaiters  and  medical  ticatmenl,  hurried  many  of  tliem  to 
]>remaliire  j^raves  Yet,  un(ier  the  inlluenee  of  relitjious  fervor  and 
i'anaticisni,  they  looked  dentil  in  the  lace  with  i('sij;nati(»n  an<l 
eheerfidness,  and  even  exhibited  a  j^ayety  which  luanifesled  itself 
ill  music  and  dancniyduriii};  t lie  saddest  hours  of  this  sad  winter. 
At  length  welcome  sj>riii;;niade  its  iip]»eaiance ;  by  April,  the  peo- 
ple were  a^^ain  organized  for  the  Journey,  iind  a  |>ioneer  party, 
coiisistiii<;  of  l>rij;hani  Voniij;'  and  1  10  others,  wus  sent  in  advance 
to  locat<'  a  honu!  for  the  colonists.  On  tlu'l'lst  of  .luly,  l.S47,a  day 
memorable  in  Moiinon  annals,  the  vanguard  reached  tlie  valley  of 
(Ireat  Salt  Lake,  liaxinu  been  directed  thither,  according:'  to  their 
accounts,  by  the  hand  of  the  Almijihty.  Here,  in  a  destitute  wil- 
derness, midway  between  th(^  settlements  of  tlie  east  and  the 
]'a<*i(ic,  and  at  that  lime  a  thousand  miles  from  the  utmost  vei\i;e 
of  civilization,  they  comiiieiiced  preparations  foi'  foi  iidiuy  a 
colony.  Those  who  were  lelt  behind  arrived  al  dilteieiit  limes 
afterward,  in  companies  sulli<'iently  larj;*'  t(»  preserve  disci]»linc 
aial  jiuard  against  the  attacks  of  the  Indians  who  continuously 
liovered  about  them  for  pnii»oses  of  jilunder.  At  lirst  they  endur- 
ed ;ireat  .sntleriiijis  for  the  want  of  food;  iinmeiisc  numbers  of 
j;Tasshoi)[»ers  iiavin;;'  come  down  from  the  mountains  and  coiisnm- 
ed  a  lireat  portion  of  llieir  crops.  According  to  the  ]\Iormon 
liislorian,  the  whole  would  have  been  (h'stroyed  had  not  the 
Almi.iihty  sent  great  tl<»cks  of  gulls  w  liicli  devoured  the  grassh(»p- 
pers  and  thus  saved  the  peo]»le  from  famine  and  (hath.  The 
lands,  as  soon  as  they  were  ]»i-operly  inigated,  procbiced  abund- 
antly all  tlie  necessaries  of  life;  ami  at  length  iilenty  alle\  iated 
the  privations  of  huiigei',  and  jteace  followed  the  lierce persecutions 
which  had  atteiide<l  them  in  their  former  place  of  residence.  New 
settlements  were  made  as  fresh  ('omitanies  of  emigrants  arrixcd, 
and  in  a  short  tinu'  the  space  occupied  by  the  colonists  extended 
nearly  a  hundred  miles  north  and  south,  and  Salt  Lake  City,  the 
present  cajtital  of  the  territory,  became  a  i)oi)ulous  city.  Nestled 
in  a  sea  of  verdure,  at  tlie  base  of  tli(^  surrounding  mountains, 
washed  on  the  west  by  the  .loidan,  and  commanding  a  \  iew  I'/i 
miles  soutliward,  over  a  luxuriant  i)lain  silvered  with  fertilizing 
streams,  it  is  now  one  of  the  most  ntmantically  situated  cities  (Ui 
the  continent.  So  jdcturescpie  is  the  valley,  and  its  metroi>olis 
especiuUy,  when  decked  in  the  l)eauty  of  s])ring,  that  the 
traveler  when  lie  crosses  the  desert,  imitating  the  enthusiasin  of 
the  saints,  is  wont  to  liken  it  to  the  New  .Jerusalem,  surrounded 
by  green  pastures,  and  fonntiiins  of  li\  iiig  water. 


i' 


ClIAPTEllXLIII. 
1810.— ILLINOIS  IN  THE  MEXICAN  ^VAK. 


"We  ciuiiiot  ('nl«'i'  iiitt»  dctiiils  icjiiirdin;^' all  tlic  Ciiiisrs  of  tin's 
Wiir.  I'roxiinatcly.  it  urcw  out  of  llic  annexation  of  Texas.  In 
is.'iti  tiie  Anieriean  seltieisin  that  eoiniti  v  del'eated  tiie  Mexican 
t'oires  at  San  .lacinlo,  ea|)tiii'e(l  Santa  Anna,  tiie  (li<-lator  of  all 
[Mexico,  and  under  dnress  wiiinj;'  from  Inni  a  treaty  acknow  led^-- 
in;^  tile  independence  of  Texas.  J5ut  tins  ti'eaty  the  rei>nhlic  of 
Mexico  ever  repudiated.  I-'roni  ls;!(i  on,  (»\crt ures  were  fre(|nent- 
Iv  uukU' to  the  L'!iite<l  States  by  the '•  Lone  Stai','' tor  adnnssion 
into  tlio  Union.  ^lexico  to(»k  occasion  several  times  to  inform  the 
p»vernnieut  of  the  I'nited  States  that  the  annexation  of  Texas 
would  l>e  rei;arded  as  a  cdsiiN  hrlli.  'I'lic  ((uestion  enlei'ed  into  the 
l»residential  contest  of  lS4t,  and  the  election  of  I'olk  was  construed 
into  a  ]»opular  approval  of  the  ste|».  Conj^ress  no  lon;i'ei"  hesitated, 
and  on  the  1st  of  .March,  lSi,~»,  j^avc  its  assent  to  the  admission  of 
Texas  into  the  I'nion.  Mexico  immediately  broke  off  diplomatic 
intercourse  with  tlu,'  V.  S.  In  fhdy  tin-  army  of  occupation,  under 
(ieii.  Zachariah  Taylor,  was  ordered  to  (,'or])Us  Christ i.  l>uriuj; 
the  folIowin>j'  winter,  while  ]\Iexico  was  in  the  thioes  of  rcNolu- 
tioii,  durinji  which  I'arades  came  to  the  surface  as  president,  and 
while  the  adnnidstration  soujiht  an  adjustment  of  tlieipiestious  of 
bouuda'y,  throu;L;h  an  envoy  (]\Ir.  Slidell).  it  oi'dei'cd  the  army  of 
occuiiatiou  to  a  i)oiiit  opposite  .Matamoias,  to  take  i>ossessiou  of 
the  teiritory  lonj;-  in  dispute,  lyinj;  between  the  Nuees  and  the  Kio 
(Jrande.  This  was  a  repetition  of  the  diplomacy  of  Kredeiick  the 
(ireat  in  Silesia.  The  .Mexicans  occupied  the  territory  at  the  time 
Avitli  a  uiilitaiy  foice  stationed  at  Ui'azos  Sautiaj^d,  whicli,  on  the 
ai)i)i()ach  of  Taylor  to  INtint  isabel,  withdrew  west  of  the  Kio 
ilraude.  [Many  outrajies  and  robberies  upon  our  citizens  residing 
in  [Mexico  had  also  been  ]terpetrated  throuj^li  ollicial  sanction, 
Avitli  losses  amountiuji  to  sexcral  million  dollars,  which  our  jiovt'i'u- 
meut  had  labored  to  have  adjusted,  but  with  veiy  tardy  proures.s. 

On  the  2Sth  of  [March,  iNld.  Taylor's  army  of  s<»me  j(l(l(l  t'rooi).s 
took  ])osition  on  the  left  baidv  of  the  iJio  (iraude  within  cainu)n 
shot  of  Matamoras,  op]»osite.  On  the  L'ttli  of  April  (Jen.  Arista 
assunu'd  connuand  of  the  [Mexican  forces.  On  the  same  dayCen. 
Taylor,  havinji'  leariu'd  that  a  lar;.;('  body  of  [Mexicans  had  crossed 
the  Ikio  (Iraude  I'O  nnles  above,  detached  a  forct' of  (10  men,  under 
Cai>tains  Thom])son  ami  Hardee,  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy.  They 
fell  ill  with  what  they  supposed  was  a  scoutinjj'  ]»aity,  but  which 
proved  to  be  the  advance  'fiuard  of  a  stronji  bctdy  of  theeiu'iny 
posted  in  thechapparal.  The  Ameiican  (;oiinnanders,  contrary  to 
the  advice   of  their  jNlexicuu   guide,  charged   and   pursued  the 

522 


MEXICAN  WAH.  523 


jiiiiird  iici'oss  ;i  clciiiiii;;,  iiiid  in  an  instiint  tlicir  forces  wciv  siir- 
niiMnlcd  l»y  tin'  main  iMxIynf  tlic  .McNicans,  wlio  liifd  upon  tlicni, 
killing  I'i  and  takin;^  prisont'i's  tlif  rniiaindci'.  A  wnnndcd  .soldifi' 
was  .sent  iMt(»  Ta.N  loi's  camp  l»v  llic  Mexican  coniniandci,  w  itii  ii 
nn'ssa;;c  tliat  he  iiad  no  tiaxclin;;  hospital  to  icmh'i'  iiini  the  needed 
mcciical  aid. 

'I'lins  were  hostilities  actnally  coMinicneed.  Not  withstanding;  it 
was  leasonahl.v  well  known  that  war  was  almost  ine\ilal>le  IVoni 
Ihe  advance  of  the  aiiny  of  occupation,  which  was  ahont  all  tiie 
army  the  country  had.  all  military  preparation  to  meet  Mich  a  ca- 
lamity was  ealndy  a\  «)i<led.  'I'his  ;;a\e  il  Ihe  appearance  of  a  sur- 
l»rise,  Heports  of  this  disastifuis  en^a,i;('nH'nt  reached  \\ashin;;- 
ton  May  !»lii,  to;;ether  with  many  painful  rumors  that  Taylor  was 
suridunded  and  cut  olf  fiom  his  base  of  supplies  at  I'oint  Isabel. 
Consternation  was  rife;  the  iiresideni  sent  into  cou;;ress  an  ex- 
traordinary messaj^c,  declaiin;;  that  Mexico  had  "at  last  invaded 
our  territoiy,  and  siud  the  hlood  of  our  fellow  citizens  on  our  own 
soil."  ("oiiuress,  with  an  alacrity  unusual,  two  days  after,  passed 
an  act  declarinj;'  that  "liy  the  acl  of  the  rcpid>lic  of  Mexico  a  state 
of  war  exists  between  that  jnctvernnu'nt  and  Ihe  Inited  Stales;" 
aulhiui/.ed  the  president  to  accept  the  services  of  ."iO.IIDI)  volunteers, 
and  appropriatetl  .*!( »,(»()(»,( 1(10  to  carr\  on  the  war.  The  intent 
was  to  (MUKpM'r  a  peace  in  short  order  with  an  overpowcriuj;  force. 

All  this  was  in  tlu'  midst  of  the  public  excitcnuMit  incident  to 
the  ()rej;<in  bonndai'y  <pU'stiou  —  '•'r)4  40  or  ti;;ht."  bein<;- 
onr  motto.  Mr.  Polk  had  been  <-lectid  with  t  he  understanding;' 
that  he  would  insist  upon  the  line.  'I'he  notice  terminating-  tlu^ 
Joint  occupation  of  ()re;i;'on  had  passed  con;;ress,  Apiil  L'-'id.  l>ut 
now  happily  with  one  war  «ui  our  hands  a  collision  with  (ireat 
I'.rilaiu  was  a\oided  b.\  adoptinj;  the  UMii  paiallel  of  north  lati- 
tude, and  sacriliciuj;  all  that  vast  re;;ion  of  the  northwest,  otpial 
to  s<'\-eral  States;  but  we  <;ained  lar;L;('ly  in  the  southwest. 

'I'lie  <'all  for  volunte<'i's  was  apjtortioned  naistly  to  the  western 
and  southern  States.  The  icquisilion  upon  Illinois  was  for  ••three 
ie<;iments  ot  infantry  or  ritleuieu."  The  pay  was  ."riS  per  nutnth, 
but  with  counnntations  it  amounted  to  )!<lfj..")0.  The  enlistnuMits 
Avere  for  1-  months  from  the  time  of  musterinj;' into  ser\  ice  at  the 
]»lace  ol'  icmlezvous.  The  men  were  to  uniform  themselves,  for 
which  they  wt»uld  be  allowed.  The  selection  of  ollicers  was  left 
to  the  \(ilunteers,  ill  accordaiwe  with  the  militia  laws  of  the  State 
whence  they  were  taken.  The  nund>er  of  privates  were  linutetl 
to  SO  men  in  each  company.  I'mler  date  of  May  I'otli,  (Jov.  Ford, 
commander-in-chief  of  the  militia  of  the  State,  issiu'd  his  j;-em'ral 
oidei'  callin,!;'  upon  the  major  and  bri;.;adier  j;('nerals  and  other 
militia  ollicers  to  aid  in  raisin,!;'  and  or;;anizin};'  the  three  re;;inu'nts. 
As  th«'  militia  had  for  a  lonj;'  time  been  in  a  disorj;anized  state,  it 
Avas  further  ordei'ed  that  the  sheriffs  convene  the  ie<;inH'nts  or  old 
biittalions  en  ina-ssc,  ami  enroll  such  volunteers  as  mi,i;lit  offer  in 
their  respective  counties.  The  jnovcruor  proposed  to  lec-eive  the 
first  full  comi)aiiies  that  otfered.  The  company  ofHcers  were  to 
act  umler  their  certificates  of  election  until  commissioned.  And 
now  many  portions  of  tin;  State  seeiued  alive  with  the  zeal  of 
])atriotism.  The  animating;'  strains  of  martial  music,  were  wafted 
upitii  the  air,  everywhere  inspiriiij;'  the  soldierly  imi)ulse.  Our 
public  men  rallied  the  people  with  spirited,  i)atriotic  and  etleclivo 


S24 


IIIMTOUY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


iippt'iils.  Tlic  iiiilitiii  ^iciicrals  issiu'd  tlicir  ordci.s  convniiiij;'  tlicir 
l)i'i;;iMlc.s,  iiiid  cxliortcd  tliciii  to  voliiiilfcr  iiiid '' iiiiiiiitiiiii  their 
lu)ii(iriil)l(>.  ]M).siti()ii  oil  tin'  |n«'.s<'iit  ((cciisioii."  \V«'  iiol«'  tlir  lirst  (»f 
tlirsr  ui'dtTS  iis  liy  tli<>  <:'illliilit  .1.  .1.  Iliii'dili,  wlit)  ^'fliiollfd  liiiiisflf 
as  iIh-  lirst  \  oliiiitccr  ti'oiii  Illinois."*  Tlic  icspoiiscs  to  the  dciiKiiids 
of  pMliiotisiii  were  prompt,  cii^icr,  niid  ovcrwlicliniii^i'.  It  wnn 
ctrtrciiicd  iiii  honor  to  be  pcrinittt'd  to  coiiti  ihiilc  to  the  iiiition's 
call.  In  10  dii.vs  time  .Ti  coinpiinirs  <liil,v  (M-iiinizcd  were  olliciiilly 
rcporti'd  to  the  ^iovciiior,  wiiilc  the  busy  notes  of  prcpiiriition  still 
I'csonndt'd  t'roni  all  parts  of  the  State.  Wy  the  middle  of  .Iniio 
the  ie(|nisitioii  was  ex<'eeded  b.v  more  than  10  eoinpanies.  'I'lio 
la<lies,  loo,  animated  Itv  the  patriotism  of  their  brothers,  with  a  free 
will  lormed  sewin;;'  soeieties  and  made  uniforms  and  garments  for 
the  volunteers. 

'I'lie  place  of  rendezvous  was  a|)pointed  at  Alton.  r>rij;adier 
(i«'iieral  dames  Shieldst  was  by  the  ^^overiior  desi^^nated  to  inspect 
and  muster  into  servici^  th(>  Illinois  volunteers;  this  was  not  his 
cxcelh-ney's  piovinee,  however,  and  the?  war  department  sent  out 
t'ol.  S.  Chnrchill,  Inspector  (icneral  of  the  I'nited  Slates  Army,  to 
supervise  (he  mnsteriii};  in.  This  ^icnlleinan  entertained  tlironj;li- 
ont  the  war  ar  atfectioiiate  rejiard  for  the  Illinois  troops,  l-'roni 
the  jioveinor's  oilie*'  the  ."iO  lull  companies  were  ordered,  by  letters 
addi<'ssed  to  their  respective  captains,  to  repair  to  the  |»!ace  of 
I'cnde/Noiis  as  fast  as  uniformed.  Of  course,  out  of  the  more  than 
7.")  companies,  some  fra^iim-ntary  and  others  rei»lele  tooverllow  inj;", 
more  than  half  were  disappointed.  Much  faidt  was  now  found 
A\ith  (ioNcrnor  Kord,  here  and  tlicic  oxer  the  Slate,  by  the  disai)- 
jioiutcd  ones,  who,  in  their  chagrin,  char^^cd  him  witli  partiality, 
hnorilism  and  dishonorable  conduct,  in  the  ac(M'ptanee  of  compa- 
nies, iisin^' laii;;ua.i.;('  anythinj;  but  tenii)erate.| 

Tiic  lirst  re;i;iment  of  Illinois  volunteers  was  oi'<iani/,ed  July  'Jd, 
as  follows:  The  first  battalion  consisted  of  companies  commandeil 
by  Captiiiiis  J.  I).  iMoryan,  of  Adams  ;  Klisha  Wells,  of  ("ook  ; 
>«oali  Fry,  of  (Irecne;  ,1.  S.  Kobcrts.  of  .Moi\nan  ;  and  \V.  A.  Hich- 
ardson,  of  Schuyler.  The  I'd  battalion  consisted  of  companies 
under  the  command  of  Captains  liyniau  Mowers, of  Cook  ;  T.  Lylo 
])ickey,  of  LaSalle  ;  A.  \V.  Crow,  of  ,Io  Daviess;  William  Weatli- 
erford.of  .Moif^an ;  and  Samuel  Montgomery,  of  Scott,  (ieii.  John 
.1.  Jlardin  was  elected  colonel  with  <ireat  unanimity;  Captain 
ANilliam  AN'eatherford  was  elected  lieutenant  colonel,  and  W.  I>. 
AVarren,  major — all  three  of  Morjian  county.  JJ.  M.  Prentiss  was 
appointed   adjutant,  .John    Scanlan    commissary,   S.  M.   rarsons 


•See  Illinois  RtatP  UctfiPtfi-,  Miiy  20, 184fi. 

+N(i'i  K.— .Jiulifi- SliioUls.  who  residud  at  Wushliijrton,  as  Coiiiinissioncr  of  tin:  (icncrnl 
T4\n<l  OIHct',  on  tlio  oiitlireakliiy  fif  the  war,  ever  lull  of  tUv  martial  spirit,  piomiitly 
rotmln  (I  to  Illinois  and  ialioriMlclIicicntl.v  to  rouse  the  patriotic  sentiments ol  t  lie  peo- 
l)le,  laiUfriuK  with  him  the  President's  promise  of  a  hriuadler-tfeneralslilp.  the  Illinois 
re';inienls  to  oonstitute  his  briiiade.  Humors  inadvanee  of  the  faet  of  Ins  appointment 
reaehed  Illinois  and  consideruhle  flissatisfaetion  (rrew  out  of  it  at  lionie.  lint  the  Presi- 
dent nominated  him  and  he  was  eonttrmed .  Criticisms  and  sneers  at  his  rnilitarj'  (pial- 
iticaticins  were  freely  indultred,  lint  when  hiSRallant  lielmvior  at  Cerro  Gordo,  and  his 
great  services  at  ('hurnlaiscoand('liepnltepe(  were  heralded  ovir  the  country,  toiiethor 
witli  the  Weil  deserved  praises  of  his  superior  comnuitiders,  it  aiipcared  that  a  lielter 
choice  from  civil  life  could  not  well  have  lieen  nuide,  and  his  own  State  rowanled  him 
with  th('  lii^fliest  ollice  a  foreiKUer  can  hold. 

ISee  ('ai)t.Ci.  W.  Aiken's  letter  dated  lienton,  .Tiulo  LOth,  in  Illinois  State  Kejristcr  of 
.Inly  HI,  1H4().  See  also  i>roceedin>rs  of  the  Clark  (^ounty  Ciaiipany  at  a  public  meeting 
iu  Marshall,  July  (ith,  published  In  Illinois  State  Ueglsier,  July  IT,  lS4t}. 


MEXICAN  WAR. 


523 


f]iiiirt«'iiiiiiNlcr,  I'j.  A.<5illcr  scrjjcniit  iiiiijor,  \.  W.  Fry  (Inimiii.ijni', 
IM.  White  siirjit'oii,  iiii<!  I>i'.  Zal»riskic»  asfsistaiit  hiirycon.  W.  J. 
W'viitt  was  also  a  captain  in  this  r«';:iiiu-iil. 

'I'lir 'J(l  rcniiiiciit  Wiis  <>ryaiii/('<l  on  IIh-  sanM'<lay.  It  ('(tnsiKird 
of  ronipanifs  iin<i«>r  the  coniinantl  of  (  aptains  I't-lti'  (iotV.  of  M:i<l- 
ison  county;  .1.  L.  1).  M((irison,  of  St.  Clair;  i'lraslns  Wht-cicr,  of 
Madison  ;  A.  l)o(l;;«>,  of  Kendall,  .lersev  and  Madison  eonnlies  ; 
AV.  II.  r.isseil,  of  St.  (lair;  H.  ('.  ('otree,(»f  \Vashinjit(»n  ;  II.  T. 
Trail,  of  Monroe  ;  John  S.  Ilaeker.  of  I' n  ion  ;  L.  (l. . I  ones,  of  Tcriy  ; 
nnd  II.  L.  Wehl>,  of  I'nlaski.  Captain  W  ni.  II.  Ilis»;ell  was  elected 
i'oionel  hy  SOT  votes  a;;ainst  (I,  one  of  t  lie  iattei'  hein;;  in  hitii  ounconi- 
jiany  and  ">  in  Captain  Morrison's,  ('apt.  .1.  I>.  I).  Morrison  was 
elected  lientenant  coioni'l,  and  Capt.  II.  I<\  Trail  iinijor.  liient.  A. 
AVhitesi(h>N  Wiis  appointed  adjutant,  an<l  Lewis  J.  Clawson  sutler, 
dulius  Kaitli,  Joseph  Lenntn  and  .Madison  Miller  were  also  captains 
in  this  i'e;>inM>id. 

The  ."{(l  rcj^inient  was  conipos«'(l  of  the  followin^i  companies  : 
Cai»tains  I'\'rris  I"'<»iinan,  of  I'\iyett«'  county;  .1.  C.  Mc.\dains.  (d" 
IJond  ;  .M.  K.  Lawler,  of  (lallatin  ;  Theo.iMcCinnis,  of  Pope  ;  \V. 
AV.  Wiley,  of  r.(nni  ;  d.  A.  Caniphell,  of  Wayne;  W.  W.  I'.isliop, 
of  Coh's;  S.  (1.  Hicks,  of  flelVerson  ;  .lames  Frecnnin,  of  Slieliiy  ; 
and  d.  V.  Hardy,  of  Ilandlton.  Capt.  F<uinan,  of  Fayette,  was 
elected  colonel  ;  W.  W.  Wiley,  of  llond,  lieutenant  c<tlonel,  and 
Samuel  I).  Marshall  of  (lallatin,  nnijor.  Lieut.  •!.  T.  I>.  Sta|»p  was 
appointed  adjutant.  Philip  Stoid  and- II.  S.  Sellers  were  also  cap- 
tains in  this  re;;inient.  Col.  (Jhurchill,of  the  l'.  S.  army,  inspected 
and  mustered  it  into  service.  The  Isl  innnbcred  S77  men,  rank 
and  lile;  the  lid  SlU',  ami  tln^  .'Jd  ".KMI.  The  inspect  in;;-  ollicer  i»ro- 
iiounced  them  as  tine  iv  body  of  mh'U  as  ever  he  saw  mustered.  It 
Mas  a  sul»Je(!t  of  remark  how  little  iidoxication  there  was  amoii^- 
the  V(tlunteers. 

In  tlu;  meantinio  the  IFon.  E.  D.  Baker,  then  a  nu'ndier  of  con- 
press  from  the  Sangamon  district,  Inul  received  authority  from  tlio 
secretary  of  war  to  raise  an  additional  regiment  of  Illinois  xoliin- 
toers.  (lov.  Ford  issued  his  onlei'of  ajtproval  undei'  date  of  .lune 
5th,  and  authorized  com)>aines  raised,  or  to  he  raised,  to  Join  this 
regiment  by  pernnssion  of  Mr,  IJaker.  He  also  authori/ed  him  to 
a]>point  the  time  and  i)hu'e  of  rendezvous  for  the  re;;iment,  and  to 
provide  for  its  sustenance,  e(jui]»ment  and  transi)ortation.  The 
foUowiuis;'  comi)anies  (uuistituted  this  re^iineid  :  Captains  J'uph, 
of  Macon  county ;  Klkin,  of  McLean  ;  Koberts,  of  Sangamon  ; 
Harris,  of  Menard;  Morris,  of  Sangamon  ;  Newcomb,  of  DeWitt; 
Hurt,  of  Lopan;  Jones,  (d  Tazewell;  McK<)id«'y.  (d"  Ed;;ar— 9 
companies.  The  lOth  company  did  not  Join  until  after  its  ariival 
atthejdaceof  rendezvous,  Alton.  It  was  at  first  exi)ected  that 
this  Avould  be  either  Captain  (iarrett's,  of  Chiira^o,  or  tlmt  of  Cap- 
tain lOajian,  of  LaSalle  ;  but  these  failing-  to  arrive  in  time,  Caj)- 
tain  Murphy's,  of  Terry,  formed  the  l(>th  company.  The  regimen- 
tal otlicers  elected  were:  E.  I).  Baker,  colonel;  ex-Lieut.  (Jov. 
John  Moore,  <  '  McLean,  lientenant  colonel ;  and  Capt.  T.  L. 
Harris,  of  Menard,  major.  The  regiment  lacked  a  few  privates  of 
being  full ;  but  Illinois  had  raised  a  larger  ]iund)er  of  volunteers 

'Capt.  Uoberts  resigned  nt  Alton,  and  the  brave  Zabriskic,  who  fell  by  the  side  of 
the  noble  Hardin  at  Uucna  Viata,  was  chosen  in  his  place. 


520  IIISTOUY   OF  ILLINOIS. 

tliiiii  any  otlicr  State   in   llu^  riiioii.      Lewis  W.  Ross  and  A.  W. 

AN'i'i.ulit  wcic  also  ciiptaiiis  in  liiis  rciiinient. 

IiniiMMJiately  al'ter  the  ai'iixal  of  tiie  ttli  i'e<>'iinent  at  Alton,  Ji 
(jnestion  ol'  rank  arose  lietween  its  colonel,  HaUer,  and  Col.  .loliu 
,1.  Hardin,  of  the  1st  refiiineiit.  Col.  IJaker  had  been  elected  at 
Si>rinjitield,  and  his  coninnssioii  ante-dated  that  of  tin;  other  col- 
onels, whence  he  claimed  seniority.  This  was  resisted  by  Colonel 
Hardin,  who  cliar;i('d  such  iri'cj^iilarity  in  IJaker's  choice  as  to  he 
no  election  at  all  by  the  re<;iuient,  first,  beeanse  the  s'ov<'i"in»r  had 
never  ordered  the  election:  second,  hecanse  there  were  bnt  seven 
e()ini>aiiies  present  to  particiiiate  in  the  election  ;  therefore  the  ini- 
]n(>|ter  issnance  of  the  coiinnission  eonid  not  <iive  prioiity  to  Col. 
JJaker.  TIm'  inattei- was  referred  to  a  conrt  of  in<|niry,  eonsistinj^ 
of  Captains  IJishop.  Dickey,  ('row,  .lones.  l''.lkin.  Hicks,  McAdanis, 
Wiley,  ColVce.  K'oherts  anil  .Aloryan.  with  (1.  T.  M.  l)a\is  aseleik. 
After  dne  inx'esliynlion  Col.  Hardin  was  declared  the  seniorotlieer* 
At  a  nieetinji' of  the  ollicers  of  the  .'i  first  r<';iinients,  subsecpuMitly, 
a  formal  piotest  was  sii;iH'd  and  forwarded  to  the  incsident 
a.'.;aiiisi  the  appoint nu'iit  of  otlicerson  the  rcconunendation  of  mem- 
lpcrs  of  coni^ress.t  The -tth  re<;inM'nl  passed  on  to  .lell'ersctn  15ar- 
lacks. 

Alter  the  disaster  to  Cajttain  Thoni])so->'s  reeonnoitf'rini;'  |)arty 
on  the  L'-ttli  of  April,  and  befoi'c  the  news  reached  ^\'ashin,uton, 
the  impoitant  battles  of  i'alo  Alto  and  IJesaca  de  la  I'alnia,  JNIay 
.sth  an<l  !Mli,  were  fonjuht  aifd  won  by  Taylor's  forces,  on  the  route 
between  his  camp  and  Point  Isaltel,  his  depot  of  snp]ilies,  which 
t he  ^Mexicans  sonjiht  to  cat  ofif.  They  had  also  bombarded  Tay- 
lor's camp  opjtosire  3Iatamoras,  called  Fort  llrown,  but  the  siej^e 
\vas  raised  by  the  ai'ri\al  of  the  \ictorions  army  on  the  lOth  ot" 
31ay,  and  ^latannaas  was  surrendered  without  a  further  stiii,i;<jle. 
'J'henceforward  the  Rio  (Jiande  wasassuiiu'd  as  the  base  oi  nnlitary 
operations,  and  the  Mexican  villa. yes  at  the  mouth  of  the  San  -liian 
haxinyalso  surrendered.  Connirji'o,  ISO  miles  above  the  mouth  of 
the  IJio  Crande,  was  selected  as  the  dcjiot  of  supplies  tor  (ieu. 
Taylor's  army.  Thither  the  vaiious  volunteer  regiments  which 
■were  to  reint'oice  Taylor's  army  were  to  be  sent. 

r>ut  V  Idle  (len.  Taylor  was  passing  the  IJio  (iramle  and  direct- 
in;^  his  coluninstowai-d  the  interior  of  Mexico,  the  cabinet  at  Wash- 
ington formed  the  i)lan  of  movinj>acor)ts  on  Santa  Fe,  and  another 
to  march  on  the  capital  of  Chihuahua,  believed  to  be  the  centre  of 
mu<-h  wealth  and  strength — a  gross  nnstake.  It  was  also  sup- 
]M).se(l  thai  the  northern  States  of  Mexico  were  ready  foi' I'cxolt. 
The  foiiner,  called  the  army  of  the  west,  was  assendtli'd  at  I-'ort 
Leavenworth  and  jtlaced  undei'  the  command  of  (len.  Keainey  ; 
and  the  lattei'.  under  llrig.  (Jen..Iolin  F.  Wool,  was  called  the 
army  of  the  centre,  the  fi'oops  for  which  weie  ordered  by  the  war 
depaitment  to  assemble  at  Antonio  de  llaxar,  on  the  San  Antoido 
river,  whence  they  were  to  pioceed  westwaid  to  Chihuahua.  The 
troops  for  these  expeditions  were  the  \(»lnnteers.  scattei'cd  at  the 
time  in  ditterent  ]>aits  of  the  F.  S.,  strangers  to  the  \  icissitudes 
of  war.  and  I'eniote  from  the  points  of  rendezvous.  I)Ut  the' celer- 
ity of  their  assendtling.  their  prodigious  marches  and  esprit  du 
carps  are  among  the  Avonderful  incidents  of  that  war. 

~*  Illinois  snu~K<(r  .riilylo,  \m\.  ~  ~~ 

T  i*fu  >I().  Hci'Ublic'iin  July,  It^lO. 


MEXICAN  WAR. 


527 


The  Illinois  rcf-iinciits  were  not  all  formed  into  one  briyiule,  as 
many  liiul  fondly  liojjed.  Tlie  1st  and  L'd  were  assijjncd  to  the 
army  of  the  centre,  and  the  destination  of  the  .'5d  and  4th  was 
ComaijiO.  Tliey  proceeded  hy  watei',  Tiie  1st  and  L'd  left  Alton, 
July  17th,  l<Stli  and  l!Mh,  on  hoard  the  steamers  Convoy,  lAlissonri 
ami  llannil)al;  weie  transhipjicd  at  New  Orlciins,  and  linally 
debarked  at  Levacca,  on  .Mntaj^orda  Hay,  July  liHth.  (!en.  Wool 
accompanied  them  from  Alton.  They  arrived  at  Pallida  creek,  12 
miles  from  Levacca,  A'.ijiMst  7tli.  and  commenci'd  their  march  4 
days  later.  The  loiitettt  tSan  Antonio  de  Hexar  was  over  an  arid 
]trairie  under  a  ti'opical  sun,  whose  rays  were  coole<l  hut  litth'  l)y 
the  frequent  showers.  At  the  crossin<;s  of  the  head  streams  of 
the  Antonio  and  the  (JnadaIon])e,  the  jtarched  ajid  weary  volun- 
teers of  the  north  found  the  only  yood  water  to  (juench  their 
thirst,  or  shade  for  rest.  An  Illinois  soldier  wrote:  "Heat— 
heat — heat:  rain — rain — i-ain;  mud — mud — nnid,  interminjiled 
with  spots  of  sand  .uravel.  form  the  ]>rincipal  fi'atur'es  of  the  route 
from  he\acca  to  San  Antonio.  Loaded  wa.uons,  of  course,  moved 
slowly  over  the  roads,  and  our  troo])s  moreover  were  scoin\!ied  on 
the  r(»ute  hy  the  mumps  and  measles."*  On  the  L'.'id,  the  1st  and 
2(1  Illinois  iciiiments  were  encami>ed  on  the  San  Antonio,  2  nnles 
below  the  Alamo,  at  Camp  Crocket. 

The  oil  regiment  (Col.  lM»rnian's)  took  its  dei)arture  IVom  Alton, 
July  22(1.  on  hoiird  the  steamers  Gleneoe  and  .John  Anil.  On  the 
lu'xt  (hiy  the  steamers  Sultana  and  Kclipse  took  on  hoard  the  4th 
re<;iment  (Col.  IJaker's)  at  defl'erson  Haiiacks.  It  came  lirst  to 
St.  Jjouis  and  made  a  ])ara(le  thron,<;h  some  of  the  streets,  and 
in  front  of  the  Planters'  Hotel  executed  with  nice  ])recision  its 
evolutions  and  diill.  It  was  handsomely  uniformed  and  was  much 
admired.  The  boats  jnot  off  the  same  e\eiiini:'.  and  the  troops, 
after  considerable,  detention  at  tlu;  mouth  of  the  Ifio  (irande  and 
Matamoras,  arrived  at  C()mar,n(»  toward  the  close  of  Se])tember. 

Our  northern  troo)»s  reached  the  enervatin.u'  southern  climate 
in  the  very  heat  of  summer;  they  were  used  to  a  nuue  bracin.u  air, 
a  variety  of  wholesome  foo(l,  well  cooked,  jjood  water,  cleanliness 
of  clotliin*''  and  body,  comfortable  bed(lin<>'  and  reiiularity  of 
Avork  and  I'cst.  All  this  was  changed  in  their  lU'w  life  of  the  sol- 
dier, with  its  iricjiidai'ities,  its  excitenu'nts,  its  unrest  and  its 
restraints.  The  food  was  new  and  untiied,  its  (puility  often  infe- 
rior, and  its  jucparati  ■•  unskillful.  The  result  was  a  i)ercenta,ije 
of  sickness  unprecedented,  and  a  death  rate  extraoi'dinary.  The 
sufferinj;'  of  our  once  hale,  yet  brave  young  men,  in  this  re- 
spect, was  fearful.  The  burden  of  niessafies  home  was  sickness — 
measles,  diarrluea,  ajiiu' — the  first  luimed  very  fatal. 

den.  Taylor's  army,  reinforced  by  volunteers,  had  f>radually 
eoneentrated  at  Comarno,  and  aooutthe  first  of  September  beji'au 
to  march  up  the  valley  of  tin  San  Juan,  towards  the  imixutant 
city  of  ."\l(»nlerey,  whither  the  INIexicans,  after  e\acuatin,n'  Mata- 
m')ras,  had  retreated.  '"'  'or's  three,  after  leavinj;  a  stronj,'  f>ar- 
rison  behind,  consisted  of  about  7,(KI(>  ettectiv"  men.  On  tin;  JUtli 
of  September,  IVlonterey  was  reached.  (Jen.  Ampudia  was  in 
command  of  the  city  with  an  ainiy  of  r»,()()0,  and  some  raw  re- 
cruits, tlionjih  up  to  the  time  of  attack  (ien.  Taylor  supposed  it 
to  consist  of  otdy    about   .■i,(((l(>.     The   defences  of  the  city,  both 

"•Uondennc"  to  Nnt.  Intel.    Nllus  Hcgis.  71-lX) 


528  IIISTOEY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


uatiiiiil  and  artificial,  were  very  .stroiij;';  and  GcMi.  Ainiaidia  for  3 
(lays  made  a  vijioroMs  resistance.  On  tin' L'ltli  lie  sent  a  tla<;'  to 
tlie  American  conunander  iccinestijij;'  a  cessation  of  tirinji'.  Alter 
negotiation,  teinis  of  caj)!! illation  weie  entered  into  by  which  the 
Mexicans  evacnated  and  snireiidered  the  city,  and  retired  ln-yond 
a  line  Cornied  by  the  i»ass  of  the  Ivinconada,  the  city  of  Linares 
and  San  Fernando  de  I'resas,  beyond  wiiich  the  Ibrces  of  the 
United  States  ^vere  not  t(»  advance  diirinji'  a  i)criod  cd'  S  \ve«'ks,  or 
until  the  orders  of  their  respective  fiovernnients  could  be  received. 
The  war  dei)artnient  disai)])roved  the  arniistice,  and  under  date 
of  October  l.'itli,  directed  (ien,  Taylor  lo^^ive  notice  that  it  should 
cease.  By  the  middle  of  November,  Saltillo  w  as  occupied  by  Gen. 
AA'orth's  cori»s. 

The  army  of  the  centre  under  Gen.  Wool,  some  3,000  strong', 
bejian  its  inarch  westward  September  liotli.  Its  declared  oliject 
was  t(»  aid  in  establishiii};' the  indepi'iKhMice  of  the  northein  States 
of  Mexico.  Its  route  lay  over  a  jireat  barren  ivf^ion  of  country, 
reiKlerin^'  its  subsistence  extraordinarily  ex]K'nsive.  AVith  it  were 
the  Isl  and  Ud  Illinois  re};inienfs.  The  ;>d  and  4th  rejiimeiits  on 
the  Kio  Grande,  did  not  reach  Comarj^o  in  time  to  parti«'i|)ate  in 
the  niovenients  (d'Taylor's  army  uj)  the  pleasant  valley  of  tlieSau 
diiaii  and  the  reduction  of  Monterey.  On  the  J!io  Grande  a  j;reat 
dearth  in  army  movements  jncvailed,  reiiderinj;- the  volunteer  otli- 
eers,  ea,n<'rly  seekinj;'  the  '•bubble  rei)utation  at  the  cannon's 
mouth,"'  extremely  impatient,  (ien.  Sliields  was  now,  however, 
detached  from  his  brigade,  coiisistinji'  of  the  .'Jd  and  4tli  Illinois 
rejiimenis,  and  ordered  to  join  the  moving-  column  under 
Gen.  Wool.  In  addition  to  his  stall',  (Jen.  Shiehls  called  upon 
Gen.  Patterson,  in  command  of  all  the  forces  at  Gonnirj;o,  f(,r  an 
escort,  for  which  he  received  from  the  1st  battalion  of  the  4th  Illi- 
nois, IS  privates,  a  lieutenant,  serf;eant  and  corporal.  They  were 
niouiited  and  had  (!  pack  mules.  Their  destination  was  the  I'resi- 
dio,  where  they  arrived  before  the  middle  of  Octobei',  the  1st  and 
2(1  Illinois  beinji'  now  assigned  to  Shields'  brijiade.  At  the  time  (Oct. 
14th)  Hissells'  re<;iment,  which  had  not  started  with  the  advance, 
was  a  week  behind.  Aftei-  the  detachment  of  Gen,  Shields  from 
liis  briji'ade  on  the  IJio  (iiaiide,  tin'  (piestion  of  rank  or  seniority, 
which,  as  we  have  before  noted,  had  its  origin  in  Illinois,  came  up 
between  Colonels  Formau  and  l>aker,  of  the.'{d  and  4th  regiments. 
The  Older  to  Gen.  Patterson  was  to  assign  the  senior  colonel  to 
th«'  command  of  the  biigade.  The  (pustion,  however,  was  left 
open  for  the  ])resent,  Baker,  taking  the  temporary  command.  (Jen. 
Shields  remained  in  his  new  i»osition  but  a  sliort  time,  when  he 
was  again  detached  and  retiirned  to  ^latamoras.  An  entire  change 
in  the  conduct  of  the  war  had  been  i)lanned  at  Washington.  This 
consisted  in  an  attack  on  Tanii)ico,  (which  invited  deliveraiico 
from  [Mexican  misrule),  the  invasion  of  Tamaulii)as,  and  most  im- 
portant, the  descent  on  Vera  Cruz.  Inls'ovember  (Jen.  Scott  was 
assigned  with  full  ]»ower  to  the  conduct  of  the  exju'dition  against 
Vera  Cruz.  Gen.  Taylor  had  been  itstrueted  to  organize  a  force 
in  accordance  w  ith  these  i»lans,  for  w  hich  luupose  Generals  Twiggs, 
(Quitman  and  I'illow  were  ordered  from  Monterey,  and  (Jen.  I'at- 
tcrson  from  ^latamoras,  to  march  by  way  of  Victoiia  and  conceu- 
tiate  at  Tampico.  This  was  a  hard  and  apparently  n«'edless  manth 
for  Gen.  I'atterson's  division,  to  which  the  3d  and  4th  Illinois  regi- 


MEXICAN   WAR. 


529 


iiioiits  l»«>l()ii<i('(l.  1 1  should  liavo  goiicbywiitcv,  a**  ^vi^s  first  iiittMidcd. 
Tlie  ti()<)i)s  did  not  <ivt  finally  staitcd  till  in  J)('<'<'nn)('r.  (icn. 
Shields  in  tlic  nicantinic  had  iticccdcd  liis  l)rij;ad('  by  water  ;ind 
on  Dcccinlu'r  lUlh  he  took  Ibrnial  ('((niiiiand  of  Tainpieo.  On  the 
L'Hd  lie  issued  his  ]iolice  regulations,  which  were  of  a  rigid  char- 
acter. Taini>ico  had  hei'ii  captured  by  CoinnuKJore  Terry,  but  was 
garrisoned  by  land  I'orces.* 

We  i)ro]iose  (irst  now  to  follow  and  sketch  the  career  of  the  1st 
and  lid  Illinois  regiments.  They  were  in  (ien.  Wool's  expedilion, 
j)lini:ied  by  the  cabinet  at  Wiishington,  tomai'ch  to  Chihuahua  and 
to  i>i'oui<»te  the  i'e\()it  of  the  northeiii  States  of  ^lexico.  'J"he 
army,  some  ;i,(i()(>  strctng,  broke  caiup  near  San  Aidonio,  Texas, 
Sei»tend>er  2(i,  IS-ifi.  Two  months  later  it  crossed  the  IJio  (iriiiide 
at  San  -luan.  l)ett<'r  known  as  the  Presidio,  an  old  Mexican  towu, 
containing  many  Jesuit  ruins,  distant  JS2  miles.  Thence  their 
route  lay  over  a  level  but  now  desohite  plain,  through  the  dilapi- 
date<l  town  of  Xava,  in  the  midst  of  it,  by  the  Grove  of  the  Angels, 
to  San  F«'rnan<lo  de  Ivosas.  This  phice  was  end)osomed  appa- 
jcMtly  in  an  aililicial  gioxc,  suridunded  on  3  sides  by  a  tine  stream 
of  «'lear  water,  an<l  stretching  oil'  in  every  direction  were  fertile 
plains.  It  contained  some  4,(Hi()  inhabitants,  was  neatly  built  up 
in  tlu'  Mexican  style  of  architectuic,  the  material  being  stone  and 
adol)e.  Jt  was  a  [terfect  oasis  in  the  long  and  weary  marches  of 
the  army.  The  army  thence  traversed  over  si)nrs  of  mountains, 
through  rugged  defiles,  to  the  valley  of  the  Saidarita,  and  emeiged 
by  a  tortuous  gorge  upon  the  broa<l  i)lain  of  San  Jose,  stretching' 
3(»  miles  away  before  them.  Through  it  flowed  two  rivers,  4  or  5 
feet  deep,  with  currents  so  swift  that  it  was  ditlieult  to  hold  a 
footing  in  f()r<ling'.  ]>ut  with  consideiably  delay,  by  the  aid  of 
i()]ies,  all  the  forces,  cannon,  ]»ro\  ision  tiains,  &c.,  were  passed 
over.  On  theL'4th  of  October,  the  army  entered  the  city  of  Santa 
Ivdsa.  The  inhabitants,  nnndiering  some  3.(M)(>,  offered  no  resis- 
tance, but  furid.shed  the  sui)plies  reipured.  This  i)lace  was  situ- 
ated at  the  base  of  the  Sierra  Ciorda,  a  range  of  nnaintains  rising 
4,(KK)  feet  above  the  level  of  the  plain.  Through  these  they  now- 
ascertained  there  were  no  defiles  westward  affording  ])assage  to  other 
than  mule  trains.  It  was  impossiltle  to  lead  an  army  over  them.  It 
became  api>iirent  that  the  martial  ambition  of  the  War  Depart- 
ment exceeded  its  geographical  knowledge,  which  hiul  thus  been 
obtained  at  a  cost  of  many  millions  to  the  treasury  of  the  nation. 
The  only  alternatixe  was  to  jiush  hundreds  of  nules  out  of  the  way 
south,  to  Monclova  and  Parras.  and  strike  tlu!  gr<'at  road  from 
Saltillo  to  Chiluuihua.  This  course  was  decided  u])on,  and  the 
army  again  took  up  its  weary  line  of  march  over  the  most  rug- 
ged, mountainous  and  sterile  country  it  had  yet  ])assed,  about 
the  only  vegetation  met  with  being  the  Mnf/uei/,  celebrated  as  the 
plant  from  which  an  intoxi<'iiting  Ii(pH)r,  called  mescal,  \s  distilled. 

After  a  short  halt  at  the  hiicienda  of  Senor  Miguel  ISlanco,  they 
finally  emerged  into  the  valley  of  Monclova;  crossing  which,  (Ien. 
AVool  encampe<l  his  column  before  the  city  of  that  name.  This 
Mas  ill  (;onse<|uence  of  the  formal  lU'otest  of  the  pn-feet,  the  first 
show  of  ojiposition  with  which  the  army  had  met  thus  far  on  the 
route.  Gen.  Wool  immediately  took  jjossession  of  the  town, 
^'(»vember  yd,  and  <lisplayed  the  American  flag  from  the  top  of  the 


•  See  letter  from  Secretary  ot  War  to  Gen.  Taylor,  Oct.  2:.',  1«46. 

34 


r/M  HISTORY   OF   ILLINOIS. 

ptvci'iior's  ]);i!iH'('  on  the  piiiicipMl  |)l;izii.  In  tlic  inciiiitiiiic.  (Icii. 
Ta\  l(»i'  liad  oiilcrcd  (It-n.  NN'ool.  willi  wlioiii  lie  had  ('oniniunicatcd 
sovfial  times,  not  to  advance  beyond  Monclova  until  tiie  tt'iinina- 
tion  of  Ills  ainiistiee  with  Anipiidia.  Heiiiji  now  some  TOO  miles  from 
Linacea.  (ien.  AVool  determined  to  estaltlisii  a  depot  of  snppliesat 
jNIonclova,  for  whi(;li  pnipose  lie  employed  ilie  time  to  collect  hiijic, 
(inantities  of  stoi'cs  and  provisions  and  in  veconnoiterin^i'  the  conn- 
try,  while  lie  also  pci'fccled  the  (lisci|»line  of  the  tidops.  After  llu^ 
delay  of  a  month,  the  '•Centre  Dixision."  e\cei)t  L'.">0  men  left  to 
{i'lnird  the  di'jtot  at  Monclova,  once  more  took  np  its  line  of  march 
lor  I'arras,  distant  ISO  miles.  Tlie  ront<'  was  south,  and  led 
tiironyh  a  nnnilier  of  towns  l)cfore  reachinj;'  i'arras,  <'ontaiiiiii,;i' 
about  (i.OOO  inhabitants,  located  near  the  centre  of  the  best  ,urain 
rejiiou  of  Mexico,  at  the  base  of  tlu'  Uolsoii  de  Malpami,  100  mile.s 
southwest  from  :  altillo  ami  'MW  miles  from  San  liUis  de  I'otosi. 

This  key  to  Cliihnaliua  (distant  4oO  miles)  was  reached  on  the 
othol'  December.  IJy  thistinu' the  coiKpiest  of  ( 'hihuahiia  had  been 
abaiuloned.and,  as  we  have  seen. other  i)laiis  of  prosecuting' the  war 
were  in  process  (»f  execution.  Scott  v  as  in  supreme  command  ; 
the  army  of  occupation  had  dispersed  from  .Monterey,  Taylor 
bein<;'  at  A'ictoria,  ami  Tatterson  ordered  from  C'onmrjio  to 
Tampico.  Santa  Anna  was  collectinj;  a  lar.ii('  force  at  San  Luis 
I'otosi,  thrcateuinji'  .Monterey,  the  IJio  (Irande,  and  all  the  con- 
(piests  of  Taylor's  army.  (ieii.  Wool  therefore  left  I'arras,  after 
12  days' stay,  to  throw  himself  across  the  jtrobable  route  of  Santii 
Anna's  advam-e,  and  on  the  I'lst  of  ])ecend)er  occupied  Aj^ini 
Isneva,  his  movement  culminatin,y  Just  two  months  later  in  the 
■severest  and  most  impoitant  battle  of  the  war,  that  of  Unena 
A'ista.  Thus  was  comi»leted  a  fatijiuinji'  nuirch  of  lu-ar  a  1.000 
miles,  imule  in  about  (i  w«'eks  time  (dednctinii  stoppaj;i's  at  Mon- 
clova and  I'arras),  over  a  barren  and  desolate  country,  throiiuh 
■which  supplies  were  transported  at  an  inlinite  exi)ensc';  which 
proved  utterly  fruitlejss  of  results;  and  viewed  at  this  day  seeni.s 
to  have  been  ])lanned  without  considerafion,  if  not  conceived  iu 
folly.  Throujihout  the  arduous  and  excessive  nuircht's  the  Illinois 
tr(K»ps  conducted  tliemselves  as  veterans. 

lialtle  of  Bucna  Vhta. — Tt  becojiiinf;;  more  and  more  ai)pareiit 
that  Santa  Anna  meditated  a  descent  npou  Saltillo,  and  i)robably 
the  entire  c<tuntry  over  which  the  army  of  occnj)ation  had  foujiht, 
Gen,  Taylor,  in  .lanimry,  1.S47,  left  Victoria  and  established  his 
heaibpiarters  at  ]\lonterey.  Directly,  further  infornmtiim  of  Santa 
Aniui's  purposes  were  discoveied  in  the  capture  of  ('.  INI.  (lay, 
and  Majors  Uorlaiul  and  Clains  at  Encarnacion.  Leavinj;-  l.oOO 
men  behind,  Taylor  now  advaiu-ed  with  all  his  available  force  to 
Saltillo,  distant  40  miles.  Altera  short  halt  he  pioceeded  forward 
to  the  cant]*  of  Gen.  Wool  at  Aj;ua  Nueva,  the  whole  eU'ectivc 
forces  com-entrated  there  now  beinj;  swollen  to  about  0,000  men, 
all  volunteers  excei)t  oOO. 

A;nna  Nneva  was  situated  at  the  south(>ast  coriu'r  of  the  elevated 
and  well  watered  valley  of  Encantada,  where  the  jireat  road  from 
San  Luis  Potosi  entered  it.  From  thence  north  to  Saltillo,  a  dis- 
tance of  !'(►  miles,  the  road  followed  the  ])ass  of  iliiemi  Vista, 
which  varied  in  width  from  1^  to  4  miles,  l)ut  ixi:  a  point  <»  miles 
south  of  Saltillo  contracted  to  the  "^'arrows" — La  Angosturea. 


JFEXIOAN  WAR. 


r»;}i 


]M('iin(I('riiij«'  tlii'()n<>Ii  tlic,  Pass  was  a  siiiull  sticam  of  watci',  wliicli 
liad  waslu'd  out  at  the  Narrows  a  net  work  ofjiullics  20  tcct  ilccp, 
^vitll  jnccipiloiis  hanks.  On  tlic  cast  side  of  the  stream  tlic  jiroiiiid 
Avas  elevated  to  tlie  lieiylit  of  (iO  uv  70  feet.  Into  this,  at  ri;4ht 
anti'les  from  the  Narrows,  extended  ii  /n'orji'es  of  iine(|nal  h-nytli, 
varying  fiom  perhaps  a  \  to  ^  mile,  the  sontliermost  bein.ii  tiie 
h)n;;('st  and  th'cpest.  Uetween  these  were  liij;h  ridges  riuiiiinj;' 
back  into  a  ]»hiteaii,  which  extended  to  tlie  monntain  liirtlici- east 
about  A  a  mih'.  IJetween  theyuilies  and  the  table  hind  thus  cut 
into  ridfi'cs  there  was  a  narrow  strip  of  uroiind  for  the  road,  down 
on  the  lower  level,  hsivinn'  hardly  room  for  two  wa^i'ons  to  i)iiss. 
r>ack  ol'  the  plateau  a  deci)  ravine  ran  up  to  the  mountain,  and  to 
the  south  of  it  ther<'  was  also  a  ravin<',  broad,  but  not  so  dillicnlt  to 
cross.  I'rcciscly  two  mouths  befoic  the  battle,  (len.  AVool.  on  a 
trip  to  Haltillo,  pointed  out  this  defile  as  the  s]>ot  of  all  others  for 
a  small  army  to  ti,iilit  a.  laru,e  one.  And  it  was  in  fact  a  perfect 
Thermoi>yhe. 

When,  tlK'refoi'c,  vSuiitiV  Anna  with  his  s])lendid  army  of  20,000, 
poured  into  the  valley  at  A<;ua  Nueva,  early  on  the  morniu.n'  of 
the  22d  ot  I"'ebruary.  hoi»inj;  to  surprise  Taylor,  he  found  iu)thinf;' 
but  destroyed  dwelliuj^s.  burning;'  stacks  of  f;rain,  and  a  small 
mounted  foi'ce.  which  .tiavehim  room  without  i)arloy.  Hvcrythinj'' 
indicate*!  a  hurried  dej)arture,  which  his  icady  imajiiiuition  con- 
strued into  a  precipitate  retreat.  Thus  (leliule<l,  after  a  bare 
lialt,  he  mad<'  jtursuit.  hopin.n'  to  overtake  the  Americans  and  con- 
vert their  rcireat  into  a  rout.  Jle  iirj^cd  forward  his  famished 
and  jade< I  forces  14  miles  faithei',  without  adecpiate  rest  or  nour- 
ishment. aii<l  when  he  did  oveitake  the  AnuMicans  it  was  at  theso 
very  "Nariows."  where  he  could  not  recede  without  defeat  or 
a\()i(l  battl«  without  dishonor. 

(ieu.  .Minou,  who  had  hovered  around  Gen.  AVool's  forces  for  a 
week,  had  been  disjwitclK'd  with  2,000  cavalry  by  a  circuitous 
route  to  the  east,  to  llireaten  Saltillo  ami  cut  off  their  n'treat; 
and  (Jen,  I'lica,  with  1,000  "ancheros,  had  been  sent  by  a  circuit- 
ous route  to  the  west  of  the  road. 

The  approach  of  the  Mexicans  tlirou<;li  the  Pass  was  made  visi- 
ble at  a  considerable  distance  by  tiie  clouds  of  dust  raised.  Our 
troops  had  halted  north  of  the  Narrows,  about  lA  Jiiiles,  at  the 
hamlet  of  IJuena  Vista.  After  refreshment  on  the  morniu^df  the 
22d.  they  were  marched  back  and  jilaced  in  ]»ositi<)U  on  the  held 
l»y  (ieu.  Wool.  (ieu.  Taylor  was  away  0  miles,  at  Sallillo,  direct- 
iu.i;'  the  defences  of  the  de[iot  of  supi>lies.  ('apt.  \\'asliiii_i; ton's 
battery  of  S  pieces  was  jdaced  to  occupy  the  road  at  the  Nari-ows, 
sujipoitcd  by  the  1st  Illinois  rejiimeut.  Col.  Ilaidin,  jiostcd  on  the 
hi,i;li  roa<l  to  the  east  of  it.  Still  farther  to  tlu-  east,  on  the  main 
jdateau,  was  the  2d  Illinois  rciiiment  and  one  company  of  Texans 
(('apt.  Conner's.)  under  Col.  IJissell.  Ca]»tains  Moi'jiini's  and 
i'rentiss'  companies  of  the  1st  Jlliuois,  and  Captains  Hacker's 
and  Wheeler'sof  the  2d  Illinois,  were  dcsitatched  under  command 
of  .\lajoi'  Warren  to  Saltillo,  to  jiuard  the  train  and  depot  ajiainst 
attack  from  (ieu.  Minon.  To  the  left  of  the  2d  Illinois,  near  the 
base  of  the  mountain,  were  the  niounled  Kentucky  and  Arkansas 
re.iiinu'uts,  Colonels  ^Marshall  and  Veil;  and  on  the  ridj;e  to  the 
rear  of  the  Illinois  troops,  as  a  reserve,  were  jtlaced  the  2d  and 
3d  Indiana  regiments  ((Jen.  Lane's  brigadi'),the  Mississippi  rilles, 


632  HISTORY  cv  Illinois. 

tlu'  Isl  iiinl  LM  (liiijiooiis,  iiiid  tlu'  lijilit  batti'iiesof  Ciii)tiiiii.s  Uniyg 
and  Slicriiiiiii.  'I'lic  iM  Kentucky  rrj;i"'*''d  (of  loot),  Col.  MrKt'c, 
ttcciiitifd  a  ii(l;;c.  aKMiiid  wliich  the  road  divided  to  the  rear  of 
AVasliiiinlon's  l)attei-v. 

As  tlie  Mexican  cavalry  came  clatterin};' down  llio  road,  llie  first 
intimation  lliey  received  ol'  an  enemy  in  tiie  way  was  to  behold 
liim  thus  stationed  in  battle  array.  l>etnn'  they  came  within 
ran;;(' their  bn^iles  sounded  a  luilt,  and  they  directly  wheeled  to 
the  iij;ht  behind  u  protectin.n'  elevation  of  "ground.  As  those  in 
the  rear  came  up,  the  whole  were  formed  into  three  columns,  one 
to  carry  \\'a.shinj;loM"s  battery  and  the  others  to  tiiin  our  left; 
Avith  still  a  larjic  reserve.  The  enemy  had  liO  ;^uns,  amonj;'  which 
there  were  three  L'l -poiiiiders,  three  H>,  live  12,  besides  a  7-inch 
liowilzer.  iJefore  attackiii^i',  iSanta  Aniui  sent  Cien.  Tayhtra  tlaj;' 
of  truce,  assiiriuin'  him  he  would  be  cut  in  pieces,  and  summoning" 
Inin  to  surrender,  which  was  juomptly  declined.  Jt  was  now  ;j 
1).  m.  In  the  meaidime  (ien.  Wool  had  passed  alonj;  the  lines, 
addressinji  a  few  spirited  words  to  our  troops,  lie  reminded  his 
own  column,  mostly  Illinoisans,  of  their  protracted  and  impatient 
inarches,  liiit  that  eveiy  one  would  now  have  an  oi»p<»rtunity  to 
Avin  all  the  dislinction  ch'sired.  In  honor  of  the  day  the  wateh- 
Avor<l  was  :  ••The  nu'inory  of  Washington." 

The  enemy  opened  with  a  brisk  cannonade  ni)on  our  rij^ht  and 
centre,  but  he  tbuj;ht  maiidy  to  jict  possession  of  the  two 
slopes  of  the  mountain  risiu};'  from  the  plateau  on  the  east,  to 
turn  oui'  tlak.  This  was  met  by  the  Kentucky  ami  Arkansas  rej;- 
inients  (disnu)Uiite(l),  and  a  jiortion  of  the  Indiana  brijiade,arnu'<l 
with  lilies.  A  movement  was  also  imide  on  the  west,  to  meet 
which  I!ra;4>i"s  battery  was  seid  across  the  stream  on  an  eminence 
opposite  the  Narrows,  supjiorled  by  McKee's  lid  Kentucky.  A  des- 
ultory i\ii]\[  was  kept  up  till  nij;htfall,  but  the  two  arndes  <lid  not 
bec(nne  fully  eiijiajicd.  (Ien.  Taylor,  who  had  returned,  dejiarted 
for  Saltillo  to  hxik  after  the  safety  of  the  stores  ami  the  protec- 
tion of  his  rear. 

J)urin<i  the  day  ( ol.  Hardin's  1st  Illinois  tliiCAV  up  a  parapet 
alon<4  his  whole  front,  cut  a  trench  across  the  road  to  the  brink 
of  the  jiiillies,  in  front  of  Washin;itoirs  battery,  ami  covered  his 
position  with  an  epaulmenl,  leaviu};  an  open  in;;' for  the  a(hance 
of  the  battery  choked  with  two  wa^ions  loaded  with  .stones,  their 
wheels  lockt'd  that  the  em-my  should  not  i»rolit  by  it.  The  troops 
bivouai'ked  on  the  tiehl  without  lires,  restinj;ui»on  their  arms.  The 
iii^-ht  was  cold  and  dreary,  with  rain  and  yusts  of  wind,  causing 
them  tosnil'er  with  cold.  iSanta  Anmimade  a  spirited  address  to  his 
troops,  reciting  in  burning  words  the  wrongs  heaped  upon  their 
country  by  the  barbarians  of  the  north,  their  rirax  being  distinctly 
heard  by  the  Americans.  The  delicious  strains  of  his  own  band 
till  late  in  the  night,  |»laying  the  excjuisite  airs  of  the  sunny 
south,  nu'llowcd  liy  distance,  were  fully  audible  to  our  troojKs. 
But  at  last  siieiu'c  lell  over  the  hosts  that  were  to  contend  unt(» 
death  in  that  narrow  jiass  on  the  morroAV. 

The  battle  was  resumed  early  on  the  monuiig  of  the  23d,  and  con- 
tinued without  inteiinission  uidil  the  shades  of  night  precludetl 
further  etVort.  2sever  did  armies  conteiul  iihuc  bravely,  determin- 
edly, stubbornly  and  aiduously  than  these  on  this  long  and  toil- 
someday.     Jt  was  again  opened  on  the  mountain  !sloi)e  to  the  east 


MEXICAN  WAR. 


533 


of  flic  ]>liit('iiu  by  (Jcii.  Aiiipiidiii's  division  of  li^lit  infant ly,  licav- 
ily  reinforced.  At  2  a.  in.  tliey  <rland)ered  up  tiie  nionntain  to 
Hank  onr  ritlenK'ii,  wlio  liad  kindled  fii'es,  and  at  dawn  tiie  en<;a<;e- 
inent  l)e(;anie  jicneral.  (len.  \VooI  sent  reinl'oreenients  toonrriHc- 
)iien,  under  the  eoniniand  of  Majoi'  Trail,  of  tiie  I'd  Illinois,  consist- 
inj;'  of  Captains  Lemon's  and  Woodward's  (•onij)anies,  and  Captain 
Connei's  Texans,  and  a  lli-poiiinl  liowilzei-  and  two  j;nns  nnder 
Lieut.  O'lJrien,  whieli  did  j^reat  execution  ui)on  the  .Mexicans,  as 
they  jxiuied  upon  our  nusn  in  the  number  of  ei^lit  to  one. 

About  <S  a.  m.  the  enemy  made  a  stronj;'  demonstration  aji'ainst 
our  centre,  doubtless  lor  a  feint.  His  forci^  was  soon  disjx'rsed  by 
llie  well  directt'd  shots  from  AVasliiuf^ton's  batteiy  ;  but  in  the 
meantime  he  was  collecting'  a  larji(;  force  in  the  bioad  ravine  south 
of  the  main  j)lateau,  under  (Jen.  I'aciieco,  while  (ien.  Lombardini's 
division  maivhed  u[)  the  rid<;e  (which  hid  the  former)  in  plain  view, 
supi>oiled  by  draji'ooiis  ;•  '  lancers,  the  whole  in  their  si)lendid 
iiniibinis  presenting'  a  beautiful  siulit.  The  object  was  to  form  a 
Juncti<»non  the  south  side  of  the  main  plateau,  and,  that  jiained, 
ovei'whelm  our  forces.  The  plateau  at  the  time  w;is  occui»ied  by 
the  L'd  Illinois,  Col.  Jiissell's,  and  the  L'd  Indiami,  Col.  Bowies', 
the  latter  of  (Jen.  Lane's  lnij;a(h'.  The  object  of  the  enemy  was 
))('rc4'ived ;  and  to  j)revent  tlie  Junction  of  his  two  divisions,  (Jen. 
Lane  ordeii'd  forward  Lieut.  ()'l>ii<'n  with  three  [>ieces  of  artillery 
an<l  the  L'd  Indiana  in  suj)j>ort.  Tlu'y  proceedeil  between  !.'()(( and 
;>(»()  yards  in  advance  of  all  other  troops,  turninj;  down  the  rid^e 
uj)  which  Lond>ardini's  division  was  advancing:.  No  sooner  had 
tiiey  formed  than  tlie  ]\Iexicans  o])ened  niton  them,  the  odds 
against  tlu-m  beinjj;-  as  ten  to  one.  There,  isolated,  they  stood  and 
lou^lit  thecohoits  of  Santa  Anna  with  tenibU^  effect.  J5iit  a  .Mex- 
ican battery,  south-east  of  them  and  somewhat  to  their  rear,  bejiau 
to  play  a  nuu'deroiis  cross  lire  of  ;;rai)e  and  cannister  upon  them. 
I'lie  uiu'ipial  contest  was  maintained  not  less  than  '2'>  minutes;  to 
<;('t  out  «»f  the  rani^e  of  this  battery  (Jen.  Lane  now  oidcred  liis 
force  still  forward  and  to  the  riyht,  oO  yards  faither,  wliicli  was 
]irom]>tIy  <lone ;  but  at  this  Juncturv,  perhaps  from  a  niisapjne- 
liension  of  (Jen.  Lamp's  order,  Col.Uowlescried  out  to  his  rejiinu'ut, 
''cease  lirinu',  an<l  retreat",  which  was  obeyed  not  only  with  alac- 
rity but  ]>reci[)itancy.  It  was  sought  to  rally  the  nu'U  back  to  their 
]>osition,  but  without  elfect.  The  battery,  Avith  the  loss  of  one 
piece,  u'ot  away. 

Pac]ie<'o's  division,  having  by  this  time  made  the  ravine,  Join«'d 
Lond>ai<lini's,  ami  the  two  ])oured  upon  the  main  jtlateau,  so  form- 
idable in  iMunbcrs  as  to  ,apj>ear  irresistible.  At  this  time  the  I'd 
Illinois,  Col.  Ilissell,  six  companies,  a  squadron  of  ca\iilry,  and 
Lieutenants  I>'r<'nch  and  Thomas  with  their  pieces  of  artillery,  the 
whole  having  alrea<ly  advanced  t(»  a  closer  point,  came  haiulsomely 
into  action  and  gallantly  receive<l  the  concentrated  lire  of  the  en- 
emy, wiiicli  they  returned  witii  delibeiate  aim  and  tenible  eifect ; 
t'\i'y\  <lischarge  of  the  artillery  seeming  to  tear  a  bloody  path 
ihi'ough  the  heavy  columns  of  the  enemy.  Ways  a  writer:  "The 
rn]»id  nuisketiy  of  the  gallant  troops  of  Illinois  jtoured  a  storm  of 
lca<l  into  their  seri'ied  ranks,  which  litcially  sticwcd  the  ground 
with  lh<'dea<l  and  dying."  Uut.  notwithstanding  his  losses,  the 
enemy  steadily  advanced,  throwing  a  large  body  lielween  the  left 
ol' the  illincjisans  and  Sherman's  battei'y,  which  had  come  uj),  so 


r).'54  lUSTOUV   OF    1  ILLINOIS. 


tliiit  4)111- •i'allaiit  iv^'iint'iit  n'Ci'ived  a  tire  from  Wnvv  sides,  trout, 
k't't  Hank  and  Ict't  ri-ar;  but  tlicy  niainlainrd  tlicir  position  tor  h 
linicwitii  nntlinriiin;;' firmness  a^^ainsl  tiial  immense  liost — loiiave 
(•iiarj;i'(l  wliieii  would  lia\«'  Iteen  speedv  and  conii'lel*' desliuelion. 
At  len^tii,  i>ereei\  iiiji'  tiie  danj;cr  of  Itein^  entirely  siii  voiimled,  it 
was  determined  to  lali  Itaeic  to  a  ravine.  Col.  Hissell,  willi  llie  eool- 
iH'ss  as  if  on  ordinary  drill,  ordered  the  sij^nal  "cease  tirinj;'"  to  liv 
made;  lie  tlien,  willi  tlie  same  delilieration,  <^ave  tlie  command, 
*' l*'acc  to  tlie  I'car  !  nattalion,  about  face;  forward  marcli !'" — wliicli 
AViis  t*xecute<l  l>y  tin-  lllinoisans  witli  the  rej;nlarity  of  veterans  to 
u  point  beyond  tlie  peril  of  Itein;;' ontfianked.  .\;;ain,in  olu'dienc*' 
to  command,  these  intrepid  and  snbonlinate  men  lialtcd,  faced 
abont,  and,  under  a  mnrderons  tempest  of  ballets  from  the  foe,  re- 
snmed  with  itromi>tness  and  precision  their  well-directed  lir«'  on 
his  left,  as  lie  essayed  to  cr«»sstlic  plateau  and^ain  iheirit-ar.  The 
coiidiicl  of  no  troops  any  where  conld  have  been  mor*' admiralile. 
AN'ill  it  add  any  cncominm  to  state  that  they  had  never  till  that  day 
been  nmh-r  lir*- ? — that  in  the  space  of  less  than  half  an  hourthey 
liad  seen  drop  by  their  sid<' their  fellows  to  the  number  of  SO — 
otiieers  and  men?  Jlow  dilfercnt  from  the  four  companies  i>f  the 
Arkansas  rcfiiinent,  wliii'li  (dismounted)  were  ordered  to  the  pla- 
tt'an,  but  <^a\e  way  and  (lisi»cised  after  deliverinj;  their  tirsl  tire! 

There  now  came  to  the  aid  of  our  stiu^jiiin;;'  and  shattered  rej;i- 
ment  four  conipaiiies  from  the  1st  Illinois  under  the  •gallant  Uardiii 
liimself,  the  I'd  Iventiicky,  Col.  McKee,  and  ('apt.  iha^ij;,  with  two 
j»ieces  of  artilkry.  Hereon  the  plateau  now  the  battle  loiii;  in  evtii 
l)alance  linii.n'.  In  the  meantime  the  enemy's  left,  l.CHUt  struii,ii-, 
was  repulsed  by  the  iron  tempest  from  Washington's  battery,  lint 
behind  his  Berried  ranks  on  the  plati-au,  next  to  the  base  of  the 
mountain,  his  cavalry  swi'pt  past,  driviiijj;-  the  Kentucky  and  Ar- 
kansas mounted  volunteers  back.  Seeing' this, our  ritlemen  altan- 
doned  theii- position  with  ^reat  loss  under  the  pursuit  of  Ampu- 
din's  li^lit  infantry,  who  iionr«'d  dovii  in  peat  masses  o)i  a  sec- 
tion of  the  plain  half  a  mile  north  «d' the  jtlateau,  completely  tnrii- 
in.i:  (Uir  left.  With  the  exct'ption  of  Col.  Hardin's  paiapet,  and 
AVashin};ton's  batteiy  at  the  narrows,  both  held  and  supporteil  l»y 
a  i>ortion  of  his  rejiinu'Ut,  our  forces  had  now  been  <lriveu  from 
evei'y  fii'st  i»osition  on  the  field,  and  our  loss  Mas  immense,  (ien. 
AVool  had  conducted  the  brilliant  achievements  of  onrarmy  up  to 
this  time;  but  thedemand  for  reinibrcemeiits  was  in»w  imperative. 
It  was  at  this  critical  jieriod  that  (W'U. Taylor  arrived  from  Saltillo, 
accompanied  b.\  the  .Mississippi  IJitlcs,  Col.  .letieison  Davis,  a 
S(pmdron  of  dra.y()ons,  I.ieut.  ('(»!.  Alay,  two  comjianies  of  infantry, 
Captains  I'ike  and  J'reston,  and  a  piece  of  artillery.  This  force, 
trie<l  in  the  stoiniin;^' oI'Monterey,  threw  themselves  with  intrepid 
•iiillantry  a<;ainst  Ampndia's  lioides  as  they  came  po\irin};'  down 
the  ]»lain  flushed  with  victory.  From  their  unerrin*;'  riHes  men 
di'opped  as  j^rass  before  the  scythe.  Tlic  tide  of  victo^ry  was 
checked  ;  and  the  .'?d  Indiana  comiii};-  to  their  suppoit,  the  Mexi- 
cans weie  driven  be>oiid  ranj;e. 

In  the  meantime  Santa  Anna  bad,  with  infinite  labor,  biou^^ht 
his  l(attali(»n  de  8an  Patricio  (deserted  liish  soldiers  from  our 
army)  forward  with  a  battery  of  IS  and  24-]>ounders,  enfilading' 
with  <ira|»e  and  cannister  the  whole  plateau.  J>ut  by  a  vigorous 
sortie  his  heavy  column  was  broken  near  its  centre,  ii portion  fly- 


MEXICAN  WAR.  635 


iiiy  iioitli  towiuds  AiiiiHidin  ;  tlic  otlicr,  with  Santa  Anna  in  tlicir 
midst,  (liis  lioisc  sliot,)  jncssin;;'  soiitliwaid,  and  Hardin,  I'.is- 
st'll  and  McKcc,  willi  tlicir  lorct's  dasiiin;;  in  pnisuit  tu  a  point 
witliin  close  mnskct  laiiyc.  wlicrc  tlic,\  j)oiii'C(l  a  rapid  and  most 
dcsti  iictivc  lire  into  his  lanks  till  lie  j^aincd  the  cover  of  the  la- 
vine.  His  Itatteiy,  however,  held  its  itosition.  I)irectl\  alter,  (ien. 
Ta\  lor  ordered  Ura^^u's  and  Sherman's  hatteiies  to anothei'  ]>art  of 
the  Held,  leaving;-  Itnt  1  i)ieces  on  tlu'  plateau.  The  Isl  and  iM  Illi- 
nois and  the  2(1  Kentucky  rej;im«'nts,  toj^ether  with  4  pieeesofar- 
tilleiy,  w<'i'e  now  stationed  near  the  lieads  of  tlie  Hist  and  second 
}:(>r.ues.  holdiuii  in  check  the  enemy's  Isl  and  I'd  attaekinj;' columns 
lillin;^  the  ravin*'  next  south  of  the  jdateau.  l''oi'  a  Ion;;  time  the 
contest  was  maintained  without  decided  advantage  to  either  side 
on  the  ])lateau,  the  main  theatre  of  the  battle. 

We  ha\('  not  si)ace  to  follow  in  <letail  all  the  ^iallaid  ti;;htiii<;' 
aiound  on  oiii'  left.  Snllice  it  to  say  that  the  pieces  of  iira;;^;', 
Slierman,  Keynolds,  and  Kilhurn,  the  ;\lississipj)i  l\illes,  tiie  .'{(I 
Indiana  and  a  Ira.Liincnt  of  the  L'd.  and  ]\Ia.jor  Trail  with  twocom- 
I)anies  of  the  I'd  Illinois,  and  ('apt.  Conner's  Texans,  the  1st  and 
L'd  drajioons,  ami  Colonels  ^Maishall's  and  Yell's  mounted  Ken- 
tiu'ky  and  Arkansas  volunteers,  and  others,  with  si;;iial  success, 
beat  hack  the  enemy,  ca\ airy  and  infantry,  from  the  hacienda  do 
liuena  Vista,  ai'ound  on  our  left  under  the  hase  of  the  mountain. 

Hut  now  we  luive  to  relate  the  saddest,  and  for  Illinois,  the  most 
moiind'ul  event  of  that  battle  I'ati.y ned  day.  As  tlu^  enemy  on  our 
left  was  moving'  in  retreat  alon^  the  head  of  the  ]»laleau.  our 
artillery  was  ad\  anced  well  within  lanyc,  and  oi)eued  a  heavy  tiro 
njion  him,  while 

"  ("dIoucIs  Hardin.  Bisscll  and  McKoe,  witli  tlieh-  Illinois  and  Ken- 
(uclxy  troops,  dasln'tl  f^ailiintly  forward  in  iiot  i(ursuit.  A  powerCul  re- 
serve of  the  Mexican  army  was  just  tlieu  eini'rfiiiif;  from  the  ravine, 
where  it  had  been  orjjani/.ed,  and  advanced  on  the  i>lateau  opposite  tlie 
head  of  the  southerniost  fjorj^e.  Those  who  wei'e  f^ivinji;  way  rallied 
qui<'kly  upon  it;  wlii'ii  tlie  whole  force,  thus  increased  to  over  1l', (»()(» 
men,  eame  forward  in  a  jierlVet  i)iaze  of  fire.  It  was  ii  single  eohimn, 
composed  <tf  the  l)est  soldiers  of  the  Kepuiilie,  having  for  its  advanced 
battalions  the  vetiTan  regiments,  'i'iie  Iveiitueky  and  Illinois  troojjs 
were  soon  oliliged  to  give  ground  ht'fore  it  and  set'k  shelter  of  the  L'd 
gorge,  [The  enemy  piessed  on,  and]  ariiving  opposite  the  heail  of  the 
2(1  gorge,  one  half  of  the  column  siwlileidy  enveloped  it,  while  the  other 
half  jiressed  on  across  the  plateau,  having  for  the  monu'iit  nothing  to 
resist  them  hut  the  .'5  guns  in  their  IVoiit.  'Plie  portion  that  was  inime- 
diately  opposed  to  the  Kentucky  and  Illinois  troops,  ran  down  along 
each  side  of  the  gorge  in  which  they  iiad  sought  shelter,  and  also  cir- 
cled ai'ound  its  ln'ad,  h-aving  no  j)ossil>le  way  of  t'Kcape  for  them  except 
l)y  its  mouth,  which  opened  upon  the  road.  Its  sides  [which]  were 
steep — at  least  an  angle  of  4")  degrees — wer<'  covered  with  loose  pel>liles 
and  stones,  and  went  to  a  ])oint  at  the  hottom.  Down  there  were  our 
poor  fellows,  nearly  ',i  regiments  of  them  [1st  and  L'd  Illinois  and  2d 
Kentui'ky,]  with  butlittle  opi)ortuuity  to  load  or  fire  a  gun,  Iteing  hardly 
able  to  keep  their  feet.  Ahove  the  whole  edge  of  the  gorge,  all  the  way 
uround,  wjt.s  darkened  by  the  .seried  masses  of  the  enemy,  aiul  was  brist- 
lii  g  with  muskets  diiected  upon  the  crowd  heneatb.  It  was  no  time  to 
pause;  those  who  were  not  immediately  shot  down,  rushed  on  toward 
the  i'()a<l,  their  numhers  growing  less  and  less  as  they  went ;  Kentuckian.s 
and  Jllinoksans,  ollieers  ami  men,  all  mixed  u})  in  eonfusion,  and  all 
pressing  on  over  the  the  loose  pebbles  and  rolling  stones  of  those  shelv- 
ing, precipitous  banks,  and  having  lines  and  lines  of  the  enemy  tiring 
down  from  eaeli  side  and  rear,  as  they  went.  Just  then,  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  which  bad  goue  to  the  left  of  the  reserve,  had  come  over  the 


530  HISTORY  OF   ILLINOIS. 

Hpiir  that  dividcH  till' mouth  of  the  2(1  fjr<»'RO  from  tlmt  of  the  .'td,  and 
wviv  now  (•h)siiif<  iijt  tht'  only  door  throii^jli  wliii'h  tht-it'  was  tlic  IcaMt 
shadow  of  a  i-haiue  lor  llicir  lives.  Many  of  tliosc  ahead  ondtavoit'd  to 
force  their  way  out ;  hut  (vw  sueeeeded ;  tiu'  hun-ers  were  fully  (i  to  1, 
and  their  lonu  weajjons  were  already  reeking  with  hlood.  It  wasat  this 
time  that  those  who  were  still  haek  in  that  dreadful  >;or^;t'  iieard,  ahovo 
the  din  of  the  musketry  and  the  shouts  of  the  enemy  around  them,  tiiu 
roar  ol'  \\'ashin).;ton's  Itatlery.  No  music  could  have  heen  more  j^rale- 
ful  to  their  ears.  A  moment  only,:ind  the  whole  o|ieninj;,  wherethe  lan- 
<'»'rs  were  husy,  ranjrwith  the  repi'ated  explosions  «)rspiu'rical-case  shot. 
They  nave  way.  'I'he  nate,  as  it  were,  was  clear,  and  out  upon  ihe  road 
«  stream  of  our  j)o()r  fellows  issued.  They  ran,  pantinj^  down  towards 
tlu'  liattery  and  dirt'ctiy  under  the  tlij-ht  ol  iron  then  jiassin^i  over  their 
lieads  into  the  retreatinfj;  cavalry.  JIardin,  M<Kee,  (lay,  Willis,  Za- 
hriskie,  Houghton — lull  why  go '•"'•'  't  would  ht-a  sad  task  indeed  to 
name  over  all  who  fell  ilurin^c  this  liO  minutes'  slau.tihter.  The  whole 
gor;;*',  from  the  plateau  to  its  mouth,  wasstrewed  with  ourdead;  all  dead  ; 
lu)  woundeil  there,  not  a  man;  for  the  infantry  had  rushed  down  the 
sides  and  < ompleted  the  work  with  the  bayonet. "*t 

On  the  ])];iteiiu  our  uitinciy  did  its  utmost  to  hold  at  buy  the 
lionU's  of  Mexicans  while  reinlbiceiiu'iits  pressed  l'()rwar<l  to  this 
the  center  of  coulliet.  The  enemy  toii<;lit  with  a  perfecl  aban- 
don of  life,  Tiie  heavy  battery  steadily  held  its  jirouiul.  'I'lie 
remnants  of  the  iM  and  1st  Illinois  re<;iuu'nts,  after  issuinj;'  lV«»ui 
the  fatal  }i()r<;«',  were  ridbiined  and  a/^ain  broujiht  into  action,  the 
Ibrnu'r  under  the  nnidest  but  intrepid  Uissell.  antl  the  latter,  after 
the  fall  of  tiie  nobU' JIardin,  under  the  eouiinand  id"  laeutenant 
Col(»nel  Weatlieribrd.  The  lid  refiiuieiit  to«)k  a  position  to  the 
riylit  of  our  batteries,  and  the  1st  somi'wliat  toward  the  left  of 
them.  The  enemy  also  brou<;ht  rciiiforeeuients  lo  tlii!  tielii.  A 
brisk  artilleiT  duel  was  now  steadily  maintained;  but  <iradnally. 
with  t lie  sett inji' ol'  the  orb  of  day,  the  cannoinule  and  rattlt'  of 
snuill  arms  slackened,  and  when  ni^lit  siiread  iiei'  pall  over  the 
tii'ld  of  carnage,  it  eeasi'd  alloycther,  and  the  {;lo(Uu  of  silence 
succeeded.  Jiolli  armies,  al'tei'  t  he  lonj;'  day's  stiu|.ij;le,  occupied 
liitieh  tin  sanu'  position  as  in  the  inorninj> ;  the  I'ueniy,  with  his 
overwhelniinii-  nnndt<'rs,  having'  ,t;ained  but  little  };roun(l.  Karly 
on  the  Ibilowini;-  nu»rninj^'  ihe  j:iad  tidin^^s  spread  rapidly  amouj;' 
our  {;aliaut  troojis  that  lie  liad,  under  the  cover  of  darkness,  re- 
treated ;  and  victory  oiiee  more  jierched  ui»on  the  banners  of  the 
Amei-icans. 

Our  total  loss  was  7l(i — killed,  LMJl;  that  of  the  enemy,  L',r)(i(K 
The  loss  of  the  1st  Illinois  rej;iinenl  was  4.")— killed,  I'll;  of  the  I'd, 
I'M — killed,  (L*.  This  battle,  as  it  was  the  heavii'st  and  most  stub- 
born, proved  also  to  be  the  turninji' jioiut  of  the  war — like  thai  t»f 
!Saratoj;a  in  the  war  of  the  revolution.  It  ended  the  eainpai};u  iu 
that  i)art  of  JNIexico. 

In  the  moveineiit  a;;ainst  Vera  Cruz,  the  .'5d  and  Itli  Illinois 
rejiiments.  Colonels  J''orman  and  Uaker,  loj:i'ther  with  a  Ni'W 
York  rej^imeiit,  (,'ol.  I'.urnett,  conslitiited  the  ltri^a>le  of  (ieneral 
81iields.  After  reeonnoiteiinji'  the  city  by  (leii.  Scott,  the  spot 
selected  for  the  landinji  place  of  the  army  was  the  main  shore  to 

•Coltoii's  HiBtoryot'  tlio  IJiittle  ot  Biifiin  Vista  ;  to  which,  with  Oeii.  Tuylor's  odluial 
report,  we  iii'c  lin-Kcly  liKlclitcd  tor  our  ut'coiitit  of  this  imttlc. 

+('oi.  Ilisscll  in  n  speech  siiliseiiiient  ly  nuule  at  .Iiic'l\Soii\  illc  (?).  suid  thiit  iieillior 
llnriliii  nor  liny  ot  tlie  thi-ei'  Colonels  liiid  oriU'TS  I'or  their  lust  ruriiuis  elnirse  nmilo 
upon  the  retreiitiiiu' iii-rny  iicross  the  plateiiii,  Crnylor  lieiiiji'  iiwuy):  timl  it  aiose  liy  a 
ppeeiesof  connnon  consent  between  tliiin.  lor  as  Hanliii  started,  ho  iHlssell)  followed, 
and  MeKee,  with  liis  Ki  ntuckliins,  tell  in  in  support  ot  the  movement.  Hu  stated 
turtlier  tliut  it  was  thai  terrllile  eiiurge  whieli  saved  the  lortunes  of  the  day. 


MEXICAN  WAR. 


537 


llic  west  (»r  tlic  Isliind  of  Siicrilicios,  iiiid  isoutli  of  tliP  rit.y.  Tlui 
liicii  wcic  l;iii»l»'(l  .Miir<*li  !>,  I.SI7,  l»,v  siii  riiiiiits,  coiiipilliics  A,  V 
iiiiil  (i  of  tilt-  till  Illinois, iindfr  till-  iiiiiiicdiiitt-  roiiiniiiiid  of  iiiciit. 
('i)l.  .loliii  .Moore,  itciii;;  :iiii(>ii}{  tin*  Vfiy  first  to  iiiii'iicipiitc  in  that 
iidniiniitlv  cxccnit'd  acliifvcint'nt  in  wliicii  not  a  nianwii^  lotit. 
On  landini:,  the  t loops  of  Slii<'lds'  and  Pillow's  l»ii;;ad('s  were  as- 
si;;nfd  to  tli<>  adxaiice,  and  tlu'v  clfaird  hill  ath'i'  hill  of  the  Mexi- 
cans, wno,  with  a  fecidc  elforl  at  icsistaiicc,  to,>U  it'fnjic  ii'  t!io 
chaparral.  Tln^  army,  after  experiencin;;  veiy  waiin  \v»'ather, 
alternated  with  a  "  noither" — a  <M»ld  and  Idindinj;'  sand  st(trin — 
and  slet'pin;;  on  sand  hanks  at  ni;;ht,  ;;radiially  gained  in  its  ap- 
]>roaches  npoii  the  city,  coiiipletin};"  the  iiivcsUnent  in  about  .'} 
days'  time. 

Nearly  two  weeks  later,  after  due  summons  and  refusal  to  sur- 
leiider,  our  artilleiy  opened  its  feirihie  lir(^  of  shot  and  shell  iipou 
the  city  and  the  far-famed  castle  of  San  Juan  de'  llloa,  reputed 
to  he  the  St roufiest  fortress  on  the  continent.  After  a  stid)l»(»rii 
I'esistance  to  the  dieadful  ell'ects  (»f  our  moitars,  howitzers  and 
Taixhau  <;iins  in  the  hatteiy  on  shore,  at  a  distance  of  .stl(»  yards, 
an<l  the  hroadsidesof  our  ships  of  war  for  5  days,  thecity  and  castlo 
hoth.  iinahle  to  eo|K>  with  the  advance  in  science  which  Americau 
artillei-y  ha<l  made,  sur;('iideit'd.  Our  loss  in  men  was  very  tri- 
tliii^'.  Durinj'-  the  bombanhneut  there  were  thrown  into  the 
walled  city  .'{,(>(»(>  ten  inch  shells  of  !M»  pounds  each,  l'(»(>  howitzer 
shells,  l.OOO  I'aixhan  shot  and  _,.'>()()  round  shot — a  half  niilliou 
weight  of  metal.  The  wreck  of  the  city  and  its  mourniny  attested 
botli  the  power  and  the  sadness (»f  war. 

On  theSthof  April  thearmy  bc>ian  its  forward  movement  on  the 
.T;ila]>a  road.  Four  dayslater  it  reached  the  Plan  del  i;i()at  the  Pass 
of  Ceiro  (lordo.  Here  a  deej)  river  breaks  throu;^li  the  mountain, 
whose  siiles  tower  aloft  1,0(10  feet.  ^ViudiuJ^  alonj^' throuj^h  this 
<;()r;;'e,  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  lan  tlu'  national  road,  the 
only  highway  by  which  our  army  could  j^ain  the  interior.  On 
these  ramparts  of  nature.  Santa  Anna,  by  a  si-ries  of  rapid 
marches,  after  his  defeat  at  IJueiia  \'ista,  had  concentrated  an  army 
(»f  l."».(M)()  uu'U,  and  had  further  fortitied  thu  i»ositioii  by  entrench- 
ments and  the  erection  of  batteries,  which,  one  above  auothei',  com- 
manded a  sweep  of  the  road  and  frowned  j;rimly  upon  our  aiiny 
below.  It  was  concluded,  after  a  thoroujjh  recounoisauite  by  (leii. 
Scott  himself,  that  the  position  was  imiire^iuable.  The  )»lan  was 
next  formed  of  cutting  a  new  road  throuj;h  the  chaparral  to  the 
noith  of  and  windiuji'  ai'ound  the  base  of  the  mountain,  thence 
to  ascend  and  unite  with  the  national  road  in  tlu^  rear  of  the 
enemy's  position.  The  ])lan  was  feasible  only  with  ^^reat  toil  and 
labor,  lint  our  brave  men  were  e(]ual  to  the  task.  So  well  was 
the  enemy's  attentitui  emi>loyed  by  movements  in  his  trout,  that 
for  .'{  days  he  was  iu)t  apprised  of  this  work,  when  he  assailed  the 
lalxu'ers  with  jurape  and  musket I'y.  Twi<:j;s'  division  was  there- 
upon a<l\aiic(Ml  alonj;'  the  new  route,  which  was  nearly  (,'omiileted, 
and  carried  theennuenee  oe<!upied  by  the  enemy  and  protecti'd 
the  workin.y  parties.  During'  the  darkness  of  theni^ht  followiiij;', 
by  almost  superhuman  exertion,  a  L'l-pounder  bnllery  was  silently 
liftr<l  hundreds  <»f  feet  to  the  top  of  this  height.  This  was  done 
by  (Jen.  Shields'  brijiade.  tlie.''>d  and  Itii  Illinois  and  the  Kew  York 
reyiment.     It  was  a  herculean  labor  gallantly  performed. 


638 


IIISTOIIY   (»K   ILLINOIS. 


Kvcr.v tiling  hvh\<f  n-udy,  in  lU'coidiiiicc  with  tlie  onitToriiatflc, 
T\vi;;j;,s' (li\  i.sioii,  l>.v  ii  soiiu'wliiit  rarllicr  route,  was  to  turn  aiitl 
assail  tilt'  position  ot"  tin- nu-ni.v  (lii<'<tl\  on  liisicar;  still  Im'voimI. 
luit  in  snitpoilin;;  disliincc  of  him,  wcic  ordcicd  ili«>  VMhinltcr 
l'(';;inicnts  nndt-r  (it-n.  Shields,  the  .'id  and  llii  Illinois  and  the 
IS'«'W  VoiU,  which  were  to  cairv  a  battery  of  (he  eneni.\'s  on 
Ins  extreme  left  (Santa  Anna's),  ^ain  the  national  road  and  eat  oil' 
his  retreat  liy  that  r<»nte;  rillow'.-;  hri^^ade  was  to  attaek  his  river 
batteries  in  front.  A\  a  ;;iven  si;:nal  the  j^cneral  attack  on  the 
enemy's  line  was  to  he;;in.  I'illow's  assault  was  repulsed  ; 
T\\  iyj^s' men  aihaiiced  from  the  rear  with  a  phinjiin;;  lire  in  their 
iV(ait  and  a  rolliniL:  one  on  either  think,  climbed  the  rocky  ascent, 
and  under  the  lead  of  Col.  Harney,  stormed  the  enemy's  center, 
(■allied  the  forlilicalions,  naited  his  main  itody,  and  turned  his 
jiiiiis  upon  the  fu;;itives  as  they  lied,  while  Shields'  brigade  as- 
saiilt<'d  and  carried  the  enemy's  battery  on  the  extreme  h'fl,  dis- 
jieised  its  siippoilin;;  iiiliintiy,  ;iaiin'd  the  .lalapa  road,  cut  oil" 
liis  retreat  in  that  direction  and  prevented  his  rallying  beyond. 
In  the  stormiiij;'  of  this  battery,  the  heroic  Sliields  received  a 
jjrape  shot  tlirou.uli  his  liiiij;s.  He  fell  apparently  morlally 
wounded;  his  obituary  was  published  in  many  newspapers 
Ihroujilioiit  the  country;  he  recovered,  however,  and  is  still  in 
life.  'I'lu' command  of  his  brigade  dcNolved  upon  < 'oloiiel  K.  I>. 
llaker,  of  the  Itli  Illinois,  I'roiii  whose  oHicial  report  we  extract 
the  following; ; 

"At  (Inyli^lit  on  tbe  morniiijj  of  the  istli  the  l)rljfatk'  was  under  arins, 
and  moved  iit  an  early  liour  to  turn  tlie  (Jcrro  (iordo  uiid  attack  the  ex- 
treme left  of  the  enemy's  po^iti<)n,  on  tlie  .Jaliipa  road.  Thiw  waseU'ected 
over  very  (liinciilt  fjjroiiiid,  throuKli  thick  ehaparal,  and  under  a  jjall- 
iiijj,'  lire  of  the  eiieniy'.s  ^^uiih  on  the  iieijihls.  I'jjon  ap])niaehiii}^  tlio 
main  road  the  enemy  was  found  upon  and  iiearif,  witlia  tietd  l)attery  of 
six  fiUiiH,  supported'  hy  a  larj^e  force  of  infantry  and  cavalry.  Wliilst 
formin^i  for  the  attack,  and  inider  a  heavy  tire  from  tlie  enemy's 
guns,  l'.l•i;,^  (Jen.  Sliields,  who  had  gallantly  led  his  command,  fell, 
Heverely,  if  not  mortally,  wounded.  I  then  directed  ii  company 
to  deploy  as  skirmishers  on  the  right  Hank,  and  ordered  u  charge 
upon  the  enemy's  line,  which  was  accomplished  with  spirit  ami  suocesa 
by  those  <'omi(anies,  which  were  enabled  l)y  the  nature  of  the  grouiul  to 
Diaketheadvance.  They  wereiiromptly  and  gallantly  sui)ported  liy  the 
remainder  of  the  tth  regiment  Illinois  volunteers,  under  Afajor  Il'arris. 
The  .id  regiment  iniderCol.  Forman,  and  the  New  York  regiment,  under 
Col  JUirnett,  being  ordered  by  me  to  move  to  the  right  and  left  ui)on  the 
enemy,  the  rout  hicame  lomplete  at  that  point,  and  the  enemy  tied  in 
great  confusion,  leaving  his  guns  and  liaggage,  a  large  amount  of  sj;ecie, 
provisions  and  camp  eqiiipjiage  in  our  hands.  Portions  of  the  M  ami 
4tli  Illinois  volunteers  and  several  companies  of  the  New  York  regi- 
ment, all  under  the  immediate  command  of  (Jen.  Twiggs,  pursued  the 
enemy  on  the  Jalapa  road  as  far  as  l-lncerro,  when  they  were  pabsed  by 
the  dragoons  and  halted  for  the  uiglit."* 

Col.  Ihiker  furl lier  ex]tressed  liis  obligalions  to  Cols.  Forman 
and  JJurnett,  and  to  ^lajor  Harris  lor  the  coolness,  i»r<»m]>tiliide 
and  {•allantry  with  which  they  (;ariicd  into  execution  the  several 
dis]>osilions  of  their  commands;  also  to  his  regimental  staff  (the 
4th),  ('apt.  Post.  A.  C.  S.,  and  Adjutant  I'ondey  ;  and  to  the  statl" 
of  the  brigade,  Jaents.  K.  I',  llaminond,  3(1  artillery  A.  A.  A.,  and 


*Col.  Kornmn  siiys  tluit  "  Riikcr's  report  in  the  iiiaiii  1b  correi't,  except  tlint  the  reffi- 
nicuts  louKht  under  their  own  eouiniuiKlers— we  liiiew  wliiit  we  liiiU  to  do  und  did  it." 


MKXH'AN   WAIl.  539 


<J.'r.   M.  I);ivis,  A.  I).  (".,   lor  llicir  a.HsiMtiiiicc  :iii(l  tlicir  in'oinpt- 
iifss  ill  iIm-  (liscliiirjir  ol'  llirir  iliilics. 

His  loss  was:  Itli  n'^jiiiiciil,  »»  oriiccis,  (L*  hciii};'  killed — Lit'iits. 
31iii|>ii,\  anil  Cowoi'tliii),  anil  i-  iioii  riiiiiniissiiincil  oHiri-i.saml  pii- 
vales  ;  .'til,  1  oIliiHTanil  !."•  nun  eiiiiiniissitined  ollieers  and  piivales; 
I  lie  New  York  re;;iiiieiil,  I  nlllicer  and  .">  privates — total  of  70  in 
the  l»ri;;ade.  The  loss  of  oiir  aiiii,\  was  117— killed,  (il,  and 
Avonniled,  ■'>.">,'{.  The  eiieinv's  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  is  not 
known  ;  Itiit  we  took  ;{,<)()<>  lu-iHoiuTH,  '),WM  istandu  ol'  anus  and  l.'S 
pieces  id'  aililleiA . 

(irii.  Twi^ijis  in  his  leport  speaks  in  ylowin;:'  and  enlhiisiastie 
terms  ol'lhe  eiiiidiiel  ol'llie  Illinois  le^iiiiciits,  hot li  in  llie'stotiniii;;' 
ol' Saiila  Anna's  hallery  and  in  Ihe  pnisiii)  of  the  ll\  in;;  eiiein.v, 
iiiidei'  his  iniinediate  eoniiiiaiid.  The  battle  of  Ceiro  (lordo,  as  it 
V  as  one  of  niisKipassed  dinieiilly,  |ii'o\  cil  also  one  of  I  he  most  liril- 
liaiil  and  imptilanl  in  Ihe  war.  lis  results  were  to  la,v  op«-ii  Ihe 
road  lo  the  eajiital,  and  place  the  empire  of  Mexico  under  the  feet 
of  the  coinpie  'or.  The  gallant  troops  of  illinoit;  shared  to  no  in- 
considerable extent  in  the  dangers,  toils  and  hardships,  as  their 
larjic  ratio  of  losses  allests  ;  and  Iheir  heroic  deeds  have  retlected 
imperishaltle  honor  and  miory  upon  oiir  Slate. 

The  hallleof  Cerro  (lordo  was  the  last  in  the  war  with  Mexico 
in  which  any  Illinois  imops  parlicipatcd.  At  rlalapa,  the  year's 
time  for  which  they  had  been  enlisted  Inniii;;  nearly  expired,  and 
il  lieiii^  ascertained  that  the  .'Sd  and  Itli  re;;iments  would  not  re- 
enlist,  (ieii.  Scott  disbanded  them  ;  the  campaijiii  on  the  IJio 
(i  ramie  having  been  \  irtually  ended  by  the  bat  tie  of  Ihieiia  N'ista, 
the  1st  and  L'd  rcjLiiniciiis  were  disbanded  at  Comaryo,  and  all  our 
troops  of  the  first  four  Illinois  re;:imeiits  returned  home  about  the 
same  time,  Jiieiit.Col.  Moore  with  companies  |>,(  i  and  ix,  of  the  llh, 
rcMcliin^-  Sprin.ulleld  .Iiine  ith,  and  '.'M)  men  of  the  1st  arriving;  at 
Si.  lionis  .May  .'list.  IN47.  The  latter  bioii;;lit  home  the  remains 
of  their  bel()ve<l  <'oloiicl,  llardiu  ;  and  Ihe  people  of  .Morr'n  eoiiiity 
iiniled  the  entire  regiment  lo  accompany  them  to  tiTT'ir  linal  rest- 
ing place  at  .lacksoin  ille.  The  funeral  (-Inly  iLMli.)  was  one  of 
the  larii«'st  and  most  iinposin;n  ever  held  in  the  State.* 

The  s(ddiers  j:;(»nerally  on  their  reliirn  home  were  received  witli 
mark  of  atfection,  and  tendered,  as  tliey  well  deserved,  the  t'litliu- 
siastic,  Avelconies  of  the  jn'ople.  Public  diiineis,  complimentary 
toasts.  Ilatteiin^'  addresses  and  fulsome  siiceclies  wen  profusely 
showered  iijioii  I  hem;  the  new  spaper  press  \iedwitli  111  orators  of 
the  period  in  praises  of  the  heroic  deeds  of  (uir  volniueer  soldierN, 
while,  as  aspirants  for  ollice.  all  mere  ci\  ilians  had  to  stand  aside 
and  leave  the  track  for  the  proud  patrons  of  Mars,  or  be  crushed 
in  the  icsult.  Mere  ci\  il  accomplishments  or  services  will  ever  as 
uothiii;;-  be  in  the  average  pophlar  mind  i-omparcd  with  the  deeds 
heralded  by  the  pomp  and  circumstance  of  i^lorious  war.  The 
JMexican  war  was  such  a  wonderful  level' to  oftice  and  political  jire- 
fermeiit  that  som(>  envious  Whiys,  whose  party  had  oi>posed  it, 
took  early  occasion,  it  was  .said,  to  declare  themselves  in  i'uvor  of 
the  next  w  ar,  w  hatever  it  might  be  for ! 

"Col.  Koniuin  broiirtlit  homo  and  prcsi'iitcd  to  the  Slate  a  I!  pound  jruni  now  in  the 
ni'sciinl  lit  Spfi?iiftlcl<l,  as  n  trophy  troni  the  Mexican  baltcry  in  tlie  liattle  of(\'i'ro 
<ioiMl(i,slationed  near  Santa  Anna's  hfttclciuurteis,  which  wast  alien  l>v  the  Illinois  troops 
shoitly  alter  the  talloftJen.  Shields. 


540  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS, 


Mine  \'(>linitms.^h\  the  niciintinn',  tlic  <i<)Vi'iiiiiM'iit  Inn  iiiji de- 
tcrmiiicd  t(t  raise  (»,(»(»(►  moic  troops,  a  <'all  ui».->ii  llliiidis  liad  \>i'vn 
made  for  ten  additional  companies  of  infantry,  oi'  one  rcjiinu'nt 
nioic.  and  one  ('oini)any  of  cavalry,  by  the  secretary  of  war,  W. 
Ji.  .Alarcy,  under  date  of  April  lUtii.  1S47.  Tlie  enlistments  wcio 
to  he  dnrinjj-  tlie  war;  tlie  other  vcii..s  were  the  same  as  under 
jnevious  calls  ;  Alton  was  aji'ain  desijiiiated  as  the  MJace  of  rende/- 
voiis.  Under  date  of  Ajtril  I'Tth,  tlie  commander-in-chief  ((iov. 
French  )*  hy  ^r.  K.Anderson,  adjutant  j^'eiieral  of  the  Illinois  militia, 
issued  his  jicneral  orders  caliinj"  for  volunteers.  In  lessthantwo 
weelis  had  not  only  the  11  companies  icported  and  been  accepted, 
but  S  more  wcjc  teiulered,  which  had  to  be  rejected.  Knnilation 
nevt'r  lau  hij^her;  e\i)i'esses  hurried  to  iSprinjilield  with  the  utmost 
dispatch  to  secure  places  on  the  list  before  it  should  be  tilled.  The 
disappointment  to  those  who  were  too  late  was  most  bittt<r. 

The  iollowinj;' wi're  the  acceitted  companies,  which,  under  date 
of  ^liiy  10th,  were  ordered  to  nnirch  to  the  place  of  rendezvous  : 

Coinpiiny  A,  Clinton  county,  Thomas  iJond,  captain, 
C()m])aiiy  li,  Williamson  county,  .r.  M.  Cunningham,  captain. 
C()m])any  C,  Marion  county,  Vantrump  Turner,  cai)tain. 
Comi)any  1>,  Hrown  eount.> ,  John  ('.  JNIoses,  captain, 
Conii)auy  K,  St.  ("lair  county,  (i.  \V.  Hook,  captain. 
Coinjiany  b\  Cook  county,  Tlios.  B.  Kinney,  captain. 
Company  (J,  LaSallecounty,  Henry  J.  Rood,  cajjtain. 
C^unpany  H.  Williamson  county,  James  Hampton,  captain. 
Company  I,  Shelby  county,  it.  Niadison,  captain. 
Company  K,  Pike  county,  \V.  Kinnum,  captain. 

The  cavalry  conii»any  was  from  iSchuyler  county,  Adams  Dun- 
la]*  beinn'  the  cajttain. 

Tlic  i')tlt  Jicjiiniott  of  Illinois  volunteers  was  orjianized  of  the 
forejioinj;-  comjianies,  at  Alton,  June  Sth,  1S47.  K.  AV.  15.  Newby 
of  Brown  county,  was  elected  colonel;  lleiHlerson  Boyakin.  of 
Marion,  lieutenant  colonel;  and  ,J.  U.  Donaldson,  of  Tike,  nuijor, 
excellent  selections.  The  iegiment  took  its  departure  by  steam- 
b(»at  <I  days  later  for  Fort  Leavenworth.  Its  destinaticm  was 
Santa  l'\',  whither  it  marclied  across  the  plains  from  l'\)rt  Leav- 
enworth in  the  hottest  i)art  of  the  summer,  the  consequeiu'e  being 
an  unusual  anu)unt  of  sickness,  traceable  in  yreat  i>art  to  tliis  ex- 
haustive nnuvh.  AVhile  the  «lays  were  extremely  w arm,  the  nijihts 
were  frecpuMitly  very  cold;  the  tioops  ^iU'atly  fatigued,  would  lie 
down  of  nights  with  their  blood  heated  beyoml  a  healtliy  staiul- 
ard  ;  ere  nH)rning  they  would  be  chilled  by  the  transi'.ion  of  the 
atnn»sj)here;  besides  seveial  tinu's  on  the  Journey  thi-y  were  over- 
taken by  severe  storms,  against  which  there  was  no  shelter;  thus 
the  seeds  of  disease  were  sown  .lUd  its  virulence  intensitied.  The 
measles  had  already  •  p])eared  anu)ng  them  at  Fort  Leavenworth. 
l>y  the  first  of  December  the  loss  of  the  battalion  stati(»ne(l  at 
Santa  I''e  was  reported  at  <)S,  of  which  42  were  by  death. 

In  October,  at  Santa  Fe,  tlu' regiment  was  divided  into  tw(»  bat- 
talions, the  lirst,  together  with  a  battalion  from  a  i\Iissouri  regi- 
ment, under  Col.  Newlty,  the  senior  ollicer,  being  ordered  to  move 
in  an  expeditiim  smith  t(»  Kl  I'aso.  The  I'd  battalion,  under  Lieut. 
Col.  l>oyakin,  renniined  as  a  garrison  at  Santa  Fe.  The  regiment 
saw  no  service  in  <'ontli<'t  with  the  i-iu'my,  the  war  by  that  time 
being  virtually  over.     We  will  note,  however,  that  these  Illinois- 


IVreXICAN  WAR.  54 1 


aiis  wi'W  the  first  to  oij^iiiiizc  a  l()(lj;e  of  the  Masonic  order  at  the 
rt'inotc  post  (»!'  Santa  Fc. 

iitli  Rcijiminit  of  Illinois  voliiiitt'crs.  We  lia\e  noted  th<^  fact 
tliat  when  in  Ajiril  a  new  call  upon  Illinois  for  ten  companies  of 
infantry  and  one  of  cavalrv  was  made,  that  in  less  than  lwowcek>i 
time  1J»  offered,  and  still  more  continued  to  olfer,  not  knowing;  that 
tiie  ."itli  rc^iiment  was  full.  .Mucli  disappointment  was  felt  at  their 
rejection;  but  their  hope  was  speedily  icvived.  Under  date  of 
]\Iay  L'Otii,  the  secictary  of  war  wrote  to  (iov.  French  :  '•  Yielding 
to  the  earnest  solicitations  of  the  i)atriotic  citizens  of  your  State, 
the  I'resident  has  instructed  nie  to  rcipu'st  that  ycair  excellency 
will  cause  to  he  raised  and  ii'n(!e/,\()used  at  Alton  another  rcj;i- 
inent  of  volunteer  infantry."  The  enlistments  werc^  to  be  for  the 
same  jteriod  and  luive  the  same  orjianization  as  those  of  the  oth 
rejiiment,  hut  its  destination  was  Vera  Cruz. 

'!"Mie  organization  of  the  surplus  comi)anies  ha<l  been  held  intact 
until  tlie  I'resident's  i)leasnre  in  thei)reniisescouhl  he  ascertained 
Accordinjily,  when  the  reepiisition  came  to  Inind,  (Iov.  French,  on 
the  very  same  day  (.May  -U),  notitied  the  exi)ectant  (;ompaiues  of 
their  acceptance;  oi'»U'red  them  to  the  i)la(;e  of  rendezvous  to  be 
nuistei'cd  in,  and  the  war  department,  two  thiys  later,  that  the 
compaines  were  all  oi'<;anize(l  and  ready  to  march. 

The  following  are  the  conii)anies  of  the  Gth  regiment : 

Company  A,  of  Madison  county,  Franklin  \ik\s,  captain 
Company  B,  Madiwon  county,  Kdwanl  W.  Dill,  captain. 
Company  0,  Fayette  county,  Hiirv<'y  I^ee,  jr.,  captain.  j 

Company  D,  (ireene  county,  Jolm  JJristow,  cajjtain.  i 

Company  E,  >rac'oupin  county,  JJurrcP  Tctrick,  captain. 
Company  F,  Coolt  county,  JamcH  1{.  lluj^uuiii,  cai)tain. 
Company  G,  JJoone  county,  William  .Shepherd,  captain. 
Comj)any  H,  Wi'l  and  Inxjuois  counties,  U.  Jenlvins,  captain. 
Company  I,  Jefferson  county,  James  Bowman,  captwiu. 
Company  K,  Jo  Daviess  county,  C.  L.  Wright,  captain. 

Company  A,  Capt.ain  Nilcs,  was  ordered  into  the  5th  regiment, 
and  Capt.  Collins'  company  from  Jo  iJiiviess,  took  its  phice  in  tho 
0th.* 

For  colonel  of  the  0th  regiment,  Cai)t.  Collins,  of  Jo  Daviess,  was 
elected,  receiving  472  votes,  to  Capt.  Wright  of  thesanie  county  .'5;J4; 
lientenant-colonel,  Caj)t.  Ilicksof  Jelferson,  received  448,  to  Lieut. 
Omlveny  of  Monroe,  371);  for  nuijor,  Lieut.  Livington,  of  Jeffer- 
son, received  340:  (^apt.  Sheplienl,  of  Boone,  L*20;  Capt.  Lee,  of 
Fayette,  142,  and  ii.  Hunter,  102.  Lieut.  Fitch,  of  CJreene,  was 
apiK>inted  adjutant,  W.  G.  Taylor  quartermaster,  and  J.  B.  1  lines 
sergeant  in.ajor.  At  New  Orleans  the  0th  regiment  was  divided, 
the  first  battalion,  companies  A,  1),  E,  F,  1'.,  being  sent  to  Vera 
Cruz  under  the  Col.  Collins,  and  the  2d  in  coiianaud  of  Lieut. 
Col.  Hicks,  toTanipico.  The  division  caused  no  litle  dissatisfac- 
tion among  the  men.  The  2d  battalion  saw  no  service  other  than 
garrison  duty.  The  1st  arrived  at  Vera  Cruz,  Angnst  31st,  and 
after  remaining  in  camp  Bergara  awhile,  was  ordered  out  on  the 
national  road  and  stationed  at  the  San  Juan  Bridge.  Here  a  skir- 
mish with  guer'il   ,-,  was  had,  in  which  one  private  was  killed  and 

♦  NoTE.—Cnptal;  .lUC.  Horry.  .THincs  Biirris.  Ed.  E.  Hnrney  iind  .John  Ewlnpr 

Also  served  in  tliis  rtwimcnt.  The  Itostor  In  th>-  Aci,jntiint-GeneriU"8  Ofllce,  in  giving 
tlie  roKlments  wliich  servesl  in  the  Mexican  War  is  very  Imperfect  and  inuecurate.  It 
gives  tiie  5th  regiment  as  the  Ist.  We  have  collated  our  facts  from  the  prees  of  the 
period. 


542  riisTOKY  OF  Illinois. 


two  wouikUmI.  ("ol.  Collins  was  vciy  sick  m-iuly  nil  tlic  time;  in- 
deed, more  tliiiii  llie  usual  aiiioiiiit  ol'  sickness  attended  tlie  wliole 
regiment.  JU'ports  were  ciiiient  in  the  press  that  one-tilth  of  its 
force,  in  five  nionrhs  after  leavinj;'  camp  at  Alton,  found  a  i^nwe 
in  ^Mexico,  not  from  the  foe,  but  l».v  sickn(^ss.  The  1st  battalion 
lost  7  out  of  its  L'(»  otlicers  :  aii<l  tlie  battalion  at  Tampicct,  while 
it  snt1'ei'e<l  as  yreatly  in  men.  lost  but  one  ollicer. 

I'nder  date  of  .June  .■>(>.  1S17.  the  lion.  I{.  W.  Youny,  comiids- 
sioner  of  the  (Jeneral  Land  Ollice  at  \Vashin<it(»n.  wrote  that  the 
Hecretary  of  War  consenteil  to  accept  two  more  comi)anies  of  cav- 
alry from  Illinois,  which  had  been  raised,  ('ai)t.  AVilliam  l*r<'n- 
tice's  to  rendezxous  aslJov.  I"'rench  direct,  and  Cajit.  \V.  1>.  Stai>p's 
of  Warren  county,  to  rendezNous  at  (ijuincy,  on  horseback,  and 
proceed  thence  to  St.  Loins  by  steaml)oat.* 

The  destination  of  these  cavalry  (companies  was  Vera  Cruz,  to 
operate  ajiainst  the  encjuy's  ^^i  'rrilla  ])aities,  and  keep  ojieii  tlio 
roads  from  the  f;idf  to  the  City  of  .Mexico.  Captain  Lawler  of 
Shawneetown,  also  I'aised  a  cavalry  company:  and  to  show  the 
tronblesomeness  of  this  arm  of  the  service,  we  will  stale  that, 
owinii'  to  delays  on  the  river — nearli  weeks  beinj;'  oc.cu])ied  in  ,uoin<;' 
to  r>at(»n  L'ouiic — he  was  compelled  at  that  point  to  land,  rest 
and  recruit  his  exhausted  horses. 

After  Ids  return.  Col.  V'.  1).  liakcr,  in  ])ursuancc  of  hi.s  re<pic'st, 
was  autlnnized  to  raise  a  battalion  of  live  companies  from  the 
veteran  volunteers,  recently  retiirnt'd.  The  battalion  was  not 
raised;  tlu'  fall  of  the  City  of  ^lexico  speedily  followed,  virtually 
ontlinjithe  war,  althou,i;li  the  treaty  of  (iuadalupe  llidalyo  \vasn^>t 
made  till  February  1',  KS4S. 

'  !?«■(•  IIMrois  Stiitc  Ui  (listor,  .Tiily  8,  IH~.  Josiuli  Little  iilso  ruined  a  cavalry  company. 
Ho  was  coiiiniissloiiL'd  Sept.  24,  184T. 


CnAPTEU  XLIV. 

COXSTITTITIONAL  CONVENTION   OF  1S17,   AND    SOME- 
THING OF  TUE  OKCiANIC  LAW  FKAMKI)  JJY  IT. 


Al'IcM'  tlio  violent  ]K)liti('nl  s(ni,ii,!;l(^  of  1^24  coiiccniiiij;' tlic  iuliiiis- 
sioii  of  sliivt'iy  into  the  State,  tiie  (inestion  of  ciillinji' a  eonxcntion 
to  revise,  or  amend  tlu^  first  constitution  was  not  ajiiiin  revived  for 
a  peiiod  of  l.s  years.  At  tliis  time  sueli  was  tlie  lii^lit  of  ])artisan 
t'eeliiiii  ai'oiised  ayainst  tlie  supreme  ('oiirt  in  decidiiij;'  tlie  MeCiei'- 
naiid-I'ield  case  aj^ainst  tlie  wislie.s  of  tlio  dominant  i)art.v,  and 
tlie  imiK'eessary  a]»i)reliension  tliat  tlu'  (lalena  alien  case  Avonld 
als<»  1-e  <i<'ci»led  against  tiie  wislies  and  interests  of  tiie  democracy, 
in\(>i\  inji'  a  possible  loss  of  its  politi<'al  supremacy  in  tlie  State, 
tiial  tlie  lejiislatiire,  at  its  session  of  IStO-I,  jiassed  a  resolution 
recomiiieiMlin^-  to  the  electors  at  tlie  jicneral  election  of  1S42  to 
\  (»te  for  <»r  a.yainst  tlie  caliinj;'  of  a  constitutional  convention.  IJiit 
ill  tlie  meantime  tlie  Judiciary  was  i'eori>aiiized  by  tlic  addition  of 
live  judges  to  the  sn])reme  court,  all  democrats,  to  overbalance 
the  \\  liij;'  Jiidii'es.  The  democracy  havinji'  by  this  act  secured  their 
]>oIitieal  su]»remacy  in  every  branch  of  tliv  fiONcniiuent,  had  no 
flirt lier  use  for  a  convention  to  remodel  tin;  constitution,  and  at 
the  Aiijiust  election  the  resolution  failed  to  carry,  thonjih  the  whig 
jiarty,  against  whom  it  was  originally  aimed,  ardently  suiiportetl 
the  call. 

Still  the  insufficient  limitations  of  the  old  constitution  became 
more  apparent  from  year  to  year,  and  in  1>S-1.')  the  legislatuie  again 
passe<l  a  resolution  recommending  to  the  electors  to  vote  for  or 
against  a  constitutional  convention  at  the  ensuing  general  election 
of  August,  184(J.  The  democratic  'iress  this  time  urged  the  jieople 
to  vote  for  the  call  of  the  convention,  publishing  the  resolution  to 
be  voted  for  as  a  standing  advertisement  and  jiart  of  the  regular 
democratic  ticket ;  but  the  whig  jness,  if  not  opposed  to  the  call, 
(h'emiiig,  perhaps,  that  its  esjtousal  of  the  (piestion  might  tend  to 
defeat  it,  was  totally  silent  upon  the  subject,  and  did  not  once 
(lire«'t  the  attention  of  the  people  to  the  importance  of  the  measure. 
Being  thus  a  democratic  measure,  the  call  prevailed. 

ill  the  passage  of  the  act  to  provide  for  the  meeting  of  the  con- 
vention, the  main  (juestion  over  which  there  was  any  considerable 
contest,  was  whether  it  should  consist  of  as  many  members  of  the 
then  general  assembly,  ai)i)ortioJied  upon  the  population  of  1840 
(47(».1S.'{),  or  whether  the  number  should  correspond  to  the  new 
apportionment  act  of  that  session,  based  upon  the  census  of  1845 
((i«)li,12r)).  The  contest  was  between  the  north  and  south  parts  of 
the  State;  the  former,  which  hud  been  benefited  most  by  the  immi- 

543 


644  HISTORY  OF  Illinois. 

gratioii  of  tlio  prt'ccdiiifi' yciirs,  Avas  in  I'avor  of  a  rcpio.soiitation 
based  ii))oii  tlic  ct'iisns  of  J  SI.").  Tlic coiistitiition  reads:  "  Tlie 
geiieiiil  asseinhly  shall,  at  tlie  next  session,  call  a  <'onvention  to 
consist  of  as  many  inenibeis  as  there  maybe  in  llie  <;eneial  assem- 
bly." Ml'.  J)ouj;lierty,  since  lienteiiant  {governor,  introduced  a  l)ill 
lixinj;-  the  numbei'  of  dele;;ates  to  eoiresitond  witli  tlie  number  ()f 
niendx'is  of  tin'  tlien  two  liouses,  and  3Ir.  N.  15,  Judd,  of  Cool;,  of- 
fered a  substitute  based  upon  the  ceii.susof  1845,  wliieh  tinally  i»re- 
vailed  and  became  a  hiw. 

A  sjiecial  eh'ctioii  of  (h'lefi'ates  Avas  fixed  for  the  ,'5d  IMonday  of 
Apiil.  IS47,  who  were  to  meet  in  comcntiou  at  Sprin^lield  on  tho 
first  3b>nday  of  June  foliowinK'.  J)uiin<;  the  canvass  the  wliig 
l)ress  in  the  stroii;:j-democi'ati(!(bstricts  arji^ued  i»hiusibly  and  truly 
tluit  foi'  a  duty  so  imi»ortant  as  the  fiamin<i  of  a  new  or^anii-  law 
for  tlie  State,. which  was  to  alfect  not  only  the  jiresent  but  per- 
hi\\>s  future  {generations,  when  present  political  questions  mi;iht 
be  classed  w ith  the  thinj;s  that  were,  the  ablest  talent  of  the  State 
should  be  called  u]»on,  irrespecti\e  of  jtarty  i)redeli(!tions  ;  but  at 
the  same  time  ^ood  care  was  taken  by  them  to  brinj;'  out  and  sup- 
port none  but  their  own  partisans.  The  democratic  juess,  liaving 
the  utmost  faith  in  the  i)ermanency  and  well-beiny  of  democratic 
principles,  came  scpuirely  out  and  urj^ed  its  ])arty  to  lally  as  one 
man  and  secure  such  a  nnijority  in  the  convention  as  would  insure 
tlu'  infusion  of  pure  <lemocratic  princii)les  into  the  instrument 
Avliich  was  to  be  the  }:,uide  for  futun^  lej;islation  ;  to  attain  which 
care  should  be  taken  to  select  candidates  whose  democra<'y  was 
unimpeachable.  The  election  resulted  in  a  return  of  a  {greater  pro- 
portion of  whiji'  delej^ate-s  than  was  to  be  exi)ected  from  the  lela- 
tive  strength  of  the  two  parties,  although  the  democracy  liad  a 
consideiable  nnijority. 

The  denu)cracy  required  tlie  convention,  as  paramount  to  all 
other  consideraliims,  1st,  to  abolish  all  life  oflices  or  long  tenures, 
and  to  i)rovide  for  an  elective  judiciary,  from  the  sni»reme  coiirt 
down;  lid,  to  ju'ohibit  the  legislatnre  trom  ever  again  creating  a 
bank — all  the  linancial  evils  which  liad  ever  aftiicted  the  ])eople 
of  Illinois,  itAvas  charged,  liad  inoceeded  from  the  oi)i»ressions  of 
banks  ;  .Sd,  to  limit  the  power  of  the  legislature  to  borrow  money, 
Avliich  had  been  ant)tlu'r  great  source  of  calamity  to  the  people. 
This  ])oAver  should,  be  so  limited  as  to  prevent  the  legislature  from 
l)ledging  the  credit  and  faith  of  the  State  in  all  cases  except,  j)er- 
liaps,  in  gTcat  emergencies,  as  of  tliieatened  danger  from  invasion, 
and  then  only  to  defray  the  exjienses  of  the  State  government.  If 
such  a  proAisiou  had  been  embodied  in  tlie  constitution  of  1818  the 
financial  embarrassments  groAving  out  of  the  reckless  internal  im- 
provement system  of  the  State  Avould  not  have  opiiressed  the  peo- 
ple. It  required,  4th,  a  veto  poA\er  to  the  governor  equal  to  that 
of  til.e  ])resident  of  the  United  States.  The  veto  poA\er,  iiotAvith- 
standing  the  terrible  ordeal  of  its  denunciation,  had  been  a  favo- 
rite democratic  measure  ever  since  Jackson  had  saved  the  coun- 
try, as  itAvas  supposed,  by  refusing  liii/ assent  to  the  re-charter  of 
the  U.  S.  Bank.  Of  course  the  democracy  were  opjiosed  to  any 
change  in  the  qualifications  of  an  alien  elector. 

The  whigs  wanted,  1st,  a  longer  residence  than  6 months  before 
any  man  slunild  be  entitled  to  exercise  the  elective  franchise,  and 
that  no  alien  should  be  entitled  to  that  sacred  privilege  of  an 


CONSTITUTION  OF  1848. 


545 


AiiMMitMii  citizen  until  hv  wiis  lirst  iiatiiralizod  ;  "id,  to  take  from 
tlic  l(';;isliitiir('  the  power  of  electing;'  or  iip]»oiiitinj;'  ollicers  for  tlic 
people,  i)arti('iilarly  as  it  re^iarded  tiie  meiiibers  of  that  Ixxly,  ami 
tlierehy  i)reveiit  tliat  barinaiiiiii;;'  and  coriiiption  which  <ire\v  up  in 
the  ;i(>ncral  assembly,  and  to  prevent  that  luidy  from  exercisinj;' 
nearly  all  tlie  ])o\vers  of  ji'-overnment,  executive  as  well  as  lej^isla- 
tive;  .'5d,  to  limit  the  nnmlter  of  representatives  in  the  fieneral 
assembly,  and  to  lix  the  a,ii<'  at  which  men  shonid  be  elijiil)le  to 
seatsin  that  body, and  tluis  prexcnt  the  many  mischiefs  j^rowiiij"- 
out  of  legislation  by  yonnji'  men  whose  minds  were  immatnre;  4th, 
to  lix  the  a<i('s  at  which  men  mi;;ht  hold  the  oflice  of  jnd^c,  and  at 
which  jndjit's  shonid  retire  iVoni  the  Itcnch  ;  ."»ih,  to  ]ire\t'nt  a  ma- 
jority ofthe  two-thirds  whicii  constitnted  a  qnornm  in  the  le;;isla- 
tnre  from  tinally  ])assinj;'  a  bill. 

Tlici'c  wei'c  also  many  provisions  mooted  by  the  jncss  and])eoi)le, 
upon  which  there  was  no  }tolitical  or  [>arly  division.  The  most 
im[>(n'tant  and  jicncrally  demanded  wore  retrenchment  and 
economy  ;  to  disconnect  the  sni»reme  jad^ics  from  legislative  <lnty 
as  a:  conncil  of  revision  ;  to  abolish  clijiibilily  to  s«'veral  oliices 
sit  the  same  time;  to  limit  the  power  of  the  le<;islatnre  in  con- 
tractinj>- debts  and  imiiosin<;'  taxes;  to  organize  a  more  etlicient 
tribiunil  for  the  maimycment  and  control  of  county  att'airs  than 
the  county  commissionei's  court  ;  to  limit  the  powers  of  jjovern- 
nu'Ut  so  as  to  secuie  the  ])eople  aj;ainst  opi)ression  by  those  ill 
authority,  (in  view  of  what  was  done  dnrin<j  the  har<l  times  of 
]S4l',  when  the  officials  of  the  executive  department  re(piired  that 
nothinii'  lait  j^'ohi  and  silver  should  be  paid  for  taxes,  while  there 
was  nothinj;'  but  depreciated  bank  ra,<4s  in  the  country,  the  State 
Imviu^'  made  tlie  issues  of  the  Slate  bank  rec<'ivable  for  taxes) ; 
to  prov  id*}  against  successive  si)ecial  sessions  of  the  legislature  at 
the  will  and  pleasure  of  the  governor  without  specifying  the  char- 
acter of  the  business  to  be  transacted  ;  to  tlx  the  pay  of  inend)ers, 
and  to  devise  some  way  to  prevent  an  accidetital  nmjority  from 
continuing  or  adjourning  sessions  for  the  sake  of  compensation. 

A\nong'  the  democratic  delegates  there  was  not  entire  unaidmity 
upon  the  bank  question.  Tlie  following  is  one  of  the  bolts 
launched  at  the  recussants  by  the  press  of  that  party: 

"These  bank-democrats  occupy  rather  paradoxical  ground.  They 
assert  that  banks  are  pernicious,  dangerous  and  anti-republican,  but 
inasmuch  as  tlie  bank  paper  of  other  States  naturally  circulates  among 
us,  it  is  our  true  policy  to  establish  these  engines  of  evil  as  a  nieasure  of 
self-defense.  They  admit  that  we  are  injured  by  the  |)aper  of  other 
States,  and  they  propose  to  mitigate  the  iuj  ry  by  producing  it  them- 
selves— if  any  miscliief  is  to  be  done,  the  citizens  of  the  Slate  ought  to 
have  the  privilege  and  enjoy  the  profits  of  doing  it.  If  other  .States 
choose  to  injure  us,  weouglit  to  seek  redress  by  injuring  ourselves."* 

Tlie  convention  met  on  the  Ttn  of  June,  1847,  and  concluded  its 
labors  on  the  31st  of  August  following:.  When  its  work  first 
came  before  the  people  (for  unlike  the  constitution  of  1818,  this 
was  to  be  jiassed  upon  by  tln-m),  nobody  .seemed  entirely  satisfied 
with  it,  yet  all  concurre(l  that  the  new  was  jncferable  to  the  oid 
constitution.  Judging  it  from  the  partisan  >tand.-point  of  that 
day,  it  must  be  confessed  that  the  the  greater  ^laccess  in  grafting 
it  with  their  i»eculiar  views  was  with  the  wbigs.    The  old  allowed 


♦111.  StiitoReK. 

35 


54(J 


HISTOllY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


aliens  iiiid  citizens  alike  to  vote  after  iiresideuee,  of  0  iiiontlis,  to 
maintain  wliicli  featiiie  wlieii  snjiposed  to  be  in  (lan};er  in  1SK>, 
tlie  (leniocracy  wajicd  ii  im  ice  warl'are  a^iainst  the  snpreine  conit, 
resnllin^  in  a  partisan  reorganization.  Vet  tiie  very  lliin;;-  fearecl 
from  tliat  eouit  was  now  enilKMlied  in  llie  <'oiistitnti<in  ;  every 
olector  must  lirst  be  a  citizen,  and  second  have  a  residence  of  one 
year  in  the  State.  The  elective  principle  by  the  jK'ople  was  ex- 
tended to  the  lillin;;'  ot  eveiy  ollice,  a  tiioroii^ihly  democratic  pro- 
vision, and  the  only  one  which  oiij;ht  ever  to  obtain  nn(U'r  any 
repnblican  government.  Vet  the  democracy,  for  ob\  ions  jiarty 
reasons,  desired  to  coidine  this  to  the  life  oftices — thesn|ireme, 
jnd.u('s — lca\  in.ti' the  jircat  ball;  of  the  oftices  to  be  doled  out,  if 
m)t  barj;aiiied,  asln'fore  by  the  le<;ishitin(',  and  tlins  fasten  tlicii'  in- 
cnndients  ii|)on  every  connty  in  tiu'  Slate,  re,i;ardlcss  of  local  [»olit- 
ical  majorities.  J''or  like  i>arty  reasons  the  \vhi;.;s  desired  to  de- 
prive the  dominant  [»aity  of  the  power  to  elect  this  j^reat  t-rowd 
of  ollicers — -Jadjics  and  clerks,  both  circnil  and  comity — to  the 
legislature,  but  favored  life  ollicers  for  the  sn|>reme  bench.  In 
this  particnlar.  fortunately  for  the  State,  the  partisan  cravings 
of  both,  to  a  certain  extent,  were  <lefcatcd,  yet  the  deprivation  of 
the  jiower  to  elect  all  the  host  of  the  former  by  the  legislatiui'  was 
a  greater  loss  to  the  democracy  than  the  latter  was  to  the 
wliigs.  This  took  from  the  legislatnre  a  fertile  sonrce  of  jiatron- 
age  by  dei)iiving  it  of  the  choice  of  some  LMIO  c(»nnty  ollicers  fro  a 
time  to  time,  who  by  their  intimate  relations  to  the  people  are  in  the 
sitnation  to  exei'cise  a  most  potent  political  intliieiice.  During 
the  ix'iideiicy  af  the  coiistitnlion  before  the  ]>eople,  the  provision 
I'elaliiig  to  ;>  county  judges,  cidled  the  "  i>uppy  court,"  was  made 
to  do  peculiar  service  against  it.  I'pou  the  subject  of  banks,  too, 
the  democracy  may  be  said  to  have  been  in  a  manner  (h'feated. 
The  democratic  <'onvention  of  I'cluuary,  ISKI,  the  largest  ever 
assembled  in  the  State,  had  declared  that  the  creation  of  any  new 
banks,  either  State  or  other  banking  institution  w  hatever.  should 
be  frowned  u[)oii  l)y  the  party;  and  throughout  tlu^  sitting  of  tlie 
conxention  the  press  of  that  ]tarty  was  strenuous  in  iisopposition 
to  banks  of  any  kind.  Yet  banks,  (tther  than  State  banks,  were 
not  prohibited  by  the  constitution,  though  a  general  banking 
law  was  re(iuired  to  be  submitted  to  a   vote  of  tlie  people. 

We  note  but  a  few  features  wherein  the  constitution  of  1848  dif- 
fered trom  that  of  1818.  rroliting  by  the  lesson  of  experience 
taught  by  the  State  internal  improvement  system,  wh(»s<'  enor- 
mous debt  was  then  ])ressing  heavily  ujion  the  i)eoi»le,  no  debt  was 
allowed  to  be  contracted  by  the  legislature  exceeding  ij'oO.OOO,  and 
that  only  to  meet  casual  deticits  or  failuies  in  revenue;  nitr  was 
the  credit  of  the  State  to  be  extended  to  any  individual,  associa- 
tion or  corporation.  Article  l-i,  sei>arately  submitted,  provitled 
for  the  yearly  collection  of  a  tax  of  'J  mills  upon  the  dollar,  in  ad- 
dition to  all  other  taxes,  the  i)roeeeds  of  which  were  to  be  paid 
out  in  extinguishment  of  the  public  debt,  other  than  the  canal 
and  scho  )1  indebtedness,  pro  rata  to  sucli  holders  as  might  pre- 
sent their  evidences.  This  was  a  nobh'  self-subjection  of  the  peo- 
X)le  to  a  tax  for  an  indefinite  time  at  that  dark  period  of  i)ublic 
and  private  embarrussnient,  for  which  we  ought  to  profoundly 
honor  them. 


CONSTITT'TION  OF   1S48. 


547 


IJciLiiiidiii;;'  tiix  titles,  tin'  Inw  of  IS.']!)  wjisoiic  of  peculiar  liiiid- 
sliip,  rcndciiiij;  tln-ir  (Ictciisiiiicc  most  ditliciilt  Ity  llirowiii;;  the 
oiiKN  piohdiidi  as  to  iiiiy  iiicjiiiliiiity  in  llic  iimiinci'  of  ;ic(|iiiriii<; 
tlifiii  ii]ioi)  tlic  I'Cii]  owiio's  of  Ilic  liiiKJ.  A  (Iced  Wiis  prinia  facie 
(•\i<lcii('»'  tiint  tlic  iiiiid  was  siihjcrt  to  tiixillioii  ;  tliiit  tlic  tiixes 
wcic  iiiipiiid  ;  tliiit  liic  liiiids  wt'iv  iiiiicdccmcd;  lliat  it  had  been 
l(';^all,v  adv(Mti/i'd  ;  tliat  it  was  sold  for  taxes;  tliat  tlic  ^^laiitco 
was  the  pmcliasci';  and  tliat  the  sale  was  condncted  in  tiic  nniu- 
nt'i'  ictpiircd  i»ylaw.*  It  was  possiitic  lor  a  nnin  to  Icfsc  tin;  title 
to  liisland,  aIllion;^li  lesidiiiji' on  it  and  having  paid  liis  taxes.  All 
this  was  ladieally  elian;;('d  hy  section  4,  article  !•  of  the  new  (H)n- 
stitntion,  introdnced  by  .ludjic  Lockwood,  the  recpurenients  of 
which  the  coni'ts  ha\e  consli'ned  stiictly,  and  it  may  well  be  infer- 
red that  since  then  not  many  tax  titles  liaxc  stood  this  ordeal  of 
the  organic  law. 

Tile  h'nislatni'e  was  required  to  enconra<;e  intei-nal  inii)rove- 
menls  by  passing'  liberal  general  laws  of  in<'()r[»oration  and  for 
other  coiporatc  jHirposes ;  s])ecial  acts  for  which  were  not  to  be 
<irantcd  nnless  the  objects  could  not  be  attained  under  the  Ibriner. 
It  seems  that  in  the  le.tiislatnres  since  scarcely  any  cor]»orate  ob- 
jects coidd  b<'  attained  nnrler  ;;eiieral  laws,  for  lln'onjihoiit  the 
sway  of  the  c<»nstitnti()n  of  184S,  were  not  only  no  <;eneral  incor- 
]»oration  laws  of  any  deyree  of  jteri'ection  passed,  but  from  ses- 
sion to  session  wer<' granted,  with  most  la\isli  hand,  i)ri\ate  and 
special  acts  of  incoi'poration  for  every  concei\al)le  i)urpose, 
passed  in  packa<;es  of  hundreds  at  a  time,  making;  hu^c  tomes, 
whose  contents  and  ju'ovisions  were  e(iually  uuknow  n  to  the  lueii- 
eral  pui>tic  and  the  honoral)le  mcndiers  whose  nanu's  staml  re- 
<'(irded  in  favor  of  their  enactnu-nt.  This  species  of  lejiislation, 
in  many  cases,  has  been  attended  with  the  niostpernicious  results, 
as  tli«'  peojde  to  their  cost  can  testify. 

Thejud,n('s  of  the  supreme  an<l  circuit  courts  were  luade  ineligi- 
ble to  any  other  ottice  of  i)rolit  or  pid>lic  trust  in  tins  State  or  the 
I  uited  States  durinu-  the  terms  for  which  they  were  el(>cted,  auil 
for  <uie  year  thereafter.  This  clause,  as  it  reads,  has  been  lepeat- 
j'dly  violated  by  the  election  of  Jud,i;('s  to  coujiress;  and  while  it 
is  true  that  bo<ly  has  held  that  it  is  the  Kolejud.ii'e  of  tiie  (pmlitica- 
tioii  of  its  memlters,  and  that  State  la\Ns  or  constitutions  in  such 
cases  are  of  no  l>in(lin<: force,  it  is  e(pial|y  trr.ethat  the  .iicnrlemeii 
thus  elected  had  swoiii  u]»on  their  installation  asjudj^es  to  observe 
the  <'onstitution  of  Illiiu)is  in  all  its  provisions,  witlnuit  any  reser- 
vation as  to  the  clause  in  (juestion,  or  they  could  not  have  taken 
their  seats  upon  the  Ix'iieh. 

in  the  le^iislature  bills  were  to  be  read  on  three  different  days 
before  becominji'  laws,  and  on  final  i)ass:('4('  the  ayes  ai:d  noes  were 
to  be  recorded.  This  well  intended  jtrovision  was  most  shamefidly 
violated  in  actual  jtractice  iu  after  yea  is  by  a  readin*;'  of  the  title  oj:" 
a  bill  only,  and  by  the  so-cailer!  '■oinnil»us ''system,  by  which  hun- 
dreds of  bills — many  ])ro\idin}^'  for  ]>rivate  jobs  and  eorrnpt 
schemes — were  i)assed  at  om-e,  few  of  the  members  kiiowiii<i'  their 
contents. t  The  readinji'  of  bills  tiie  tu'st  and  second  time  by  their 
title  only  pive  rise  to  the  reprehensible  practice  of  iutiodiicing" 


•niackwollTu.x.Tit.  84. 

+It  sei'ins  thai  the  Hon.  J.  Y.  Scammon,  of  Cook,  first  suggested  the  passage  of  bills  by 
the  paukage. 


648 


HISTORY   Ol'   ILLINOIS. 


nnd  i»!issiii;i  iiloiij;'  in  tlieir  onler  wliat  miih  known  jih  ".skolctoii 
bills" — hills  witli  simply  a  lu'iul,  but  no  body,  tlie  latter  being  at'> 
terward  siipplicd.* 

Ibit  tlif  cliifl'  Icatnic  of  tlu'  constitntion  of  1S4S  was  its  rigid 
economy.  Tlic  salary  of  tlie  goveriioi' was  lixed  at  ijsl, ;"»(»(» ;  su- 
]»ri'mt'  judges — tlircc,  made  elective^!*' I, L'OO  each  ;  circuit  judges, 
$l.(l(i(»  each;  auditor  of  iiul)lie  accounts,  !i«i.(KUI;  treasurer  and 
secretary  of  State,  each,  !!<.S(I();  the  compensation  of  mendters 
of  the  general  assenddy  was  tixed  at  ?<-  per  day  for  the  lirst  12 
days' attendance,  and  .*1  a  day  thereatler.  It  was  a  hard  times' 
instrument.  K'eti'enchment  in  everything,  as  inaugurated  Ity  (lo\'. 
Fold  and  then  with  severity  being  carried  <»ut  by  Ciov.  J-'rench, 
was  the  order  of  the  day.  iJut  in  this  i)artienlar  the  constitntion 
rather  overdid  the  thing.  The  trin- medium  between  |)aying  oiu 
elcctixc  servants  ajust  compensation  and  aUowing  our  represent 
iltives  the  exi'rci.se  of  a  sound  discretion  in  all  the  transa(;tions  of 
])ublic  business,  and  at  the  same  time  to  bind  tiiem  down  so 
that  they  may  work  no  nuschief  or  in.jury  to  those  who  choose  and 
delegate  them,  is,  jierhaps,  dillicult  of  attaiumeid.  Jt  is  one  of  tho 
prol)lems  e(»nnected  with  a  representative  form  of  gxtvernment. 

In  evi<lencing  the  severe  economy  of  the  new  organic  act,  we 
will  mention  that  the  amount  of  warrants  di'awn  upon  the  treas- 
urer on  account  of  the  g«'neial  assendily  for  the  session  of  1S45 
was  over  $.").~),(KtO  ;  and  that  the  total  amount  of  mileage  and  jJtr 
(linu  eom](ensatiou  jtaid  to  the  nu-ndiers  and  oHicers  of  the  two 
housLs  for  the  lirst  session  under  the  new  regime  in  1.S4!),  was  not 
quite  $l."i,(i(M»,  a  material  reduction — exceeding  ','>(){)  ]ier  centum. 
But  in  this  connection,  to  show  that  we  are  a  jtrogrt'ssive  ])eople, 
and  at  the  same  time  indicate  the  ])roticieucy  whi<'h  our  Solons 
have  attained  in  the  "ways  that  ai'^  dark",  we  will  give  the  total 
amount  of  legislative  e.xix'iiditnres  for  the  same  luirposes  on  ac- 
count of  the  last  session,  that  of  lcS('»)»,  under  the  same  economical 
constitution,  which  wt-re  .fl'Oti.lSI,  exclusive  of  ]>rinting,  jiajier 
ami  binding,  nudving  nearly  557r),(MI(»  more.  The  four  items  of  n<'ws- 
pa]iers,  stationery,  i)ostage  and  i)ocket-kidves  alone  amounted  to 

The  salary  of  tho  governor,  it  was  provided,  was  "not  to  be  in- 
creased or  (linnuished  ;"'  and  by  way  of  emphasis  in  fixing  the  com- 
pensation of  the  (»ther  ollicers  wliich  we  have  enumerated,  the 
words  ''and  no  more"  were  added.  Yet  by  indirection,  under  i)re- 
tense  of  paying  a  gardener  to  take  charge  of  the  grounds  surround- 
ing the  executive  mansion,  welindin  IStJl  $2,r)((0was  ai)])ropriated 
to  be  expended  or  not  by  the  governor,  as  lie  i)leased,  being  in- 
tended as  an  increase  of  his  salary.  Afterwar<ls  this  unlawful 
gift  was  annnally  increased  to  $4,.~)0().  Indeed,  the  auditor's  ollice 
shows  that  the  inciiinbi'nts  of  the  executive  office  have  received, 
from  j)ecember,  1800,  to  December,  1S72,  twelve  years,  $()(),(KK»,  to 
Avhicrh  they  were  not  entitled.  All  the  State  offices  became  im- 
mensely profitable  in  fees — rnniiiiig  the  emolumonts  of  their  iu- 
cninbeiits  into  thousands  of  dollars,  instead  of  the  hundreds  fixed 
by  the  constitntion.  The  compensation  of  the  supreme  Judges 
Avas  evasively  increased  to  $4,(>0(>,  by  allowing  them  each  a  chief 

•See  ilelmte  In  senate.  Feb.,  IKT)'. 
tCoiweiitlon  Journal  1870.  p.  SiS 


CONSTITUTION  OF   1H48.  549 

clerk  at  Ji<l, (»(»(» jiiid  $1,200  for  an  assistant  (neither  of  which  they 
»'ni|)lt»,vc(l),  instead  of  ?(1,L'00,  their  coiislitutional  salary;  and  to 
the  circuit  jii(l<;('s,  in  delianc(^  of  tlie  words  ><1.(»0((  "  and  ii(»  more," 
were,  yearly  ;;iven  an  achlitionul  ><l,0()0  each,  for  revisions  and  sag- 
jicstions  of  chan;;('S  in  tiie  laws,  a.  labor  which  tliey  were  not  ex- 
l»ected  to,  and  did  not,  jM-rforin  ;  besides  which  a  docket  I'ecMtf  81 
for  each  suit  bronj^ht  was  wiiinj;'  out  of  litij;ants,  als<»  for  their 
bcnclit.  lint  the  altnses  which  crejjt  into  the  lej^islative  dei»ait- 
inent  were  still  j;rosser  and  more  alarniin<;'.  The  jm'*w//mh  com- 
pensation of  niend)ers,  which  for  the  session  of  ISfil,  for  instance, 
amounted  to  .*S,,S()(»,  was  supplemented  by  ]>ostaj;e  .i<S,,S!tL»,  news- 
l»apers  *1,IS1l;^  pencils  >«L',(!(il,  few  of  which  items  were  actually 
received,  but  the  money  taken  in  place  of  them,  on  "commutation" 
as  it  was  called  with  Stale  ofliceis,  and  thus  by  indiiection  they 
.tiot  •'i'S  j»er  <lay  each,  instead  of  !f2  '-and  no  more."  The  jnactice 
was  sul)se(pi<'ntly  increased  by  Aurious  subterfu;n'esof  rent  for  com- 
mittee looms  never  used  luu'  paid  for,  tS:c.,  to  sonu'timcs  amount  to 
jnoi'i'  than  ^'20  a  day  for  each  mendier.  Ten  cents  a  mile  was 
all(»wed  to  each  as  nec<'ssaiy  ti'a\»'linj;'  expenses  to  and  from  the 
seat  of  <;o\-ei'iiment.  While  it  would  be  dillicult  to  tiavel  more 
thaji  L'OO  niih's  from  any  i>oint  in  the  State  to  the  cajtifal,  the  Jour- 
nals show  honorai)Ie  m«'mbers  tohave  char<;ed  and  received  l)ay  for 
1, L'OO  miles  ;;()inyand  comin;;'.  Thusdid  our  pid)Iic  servants  debauch 
themselves,  one  dej)artment  tin;  other.  JJut  iiolwitiistandiny  its 
abuses,  tlu^  constitution  of  IS  18  was,  in  many  particulars,  a  great 
inii>r(»vci)U'nt  ujton  that  of  ISIS. 

That  the  wliigs  had  succeeded  more  than  the  democrats  in 
stamping  that  instrument  with  their  princi]»les,  soon  had  its  iidlu- 
en<'<'.  The  whig  ]tress  advocated  its  ado]ttion  constantly  and  ur- 
gently, while  tlie  d«>mocratic  ])rcss,  where  it  did  n(»t  ojtpose,  waa 
lukewarm  in  it.s  advo(;acy,  yet  cand(U'  conii)elh'd  an  acknowledg- 
ment that  the  elective  jtrinciple  as  applied  to  every  imjiortant 
otlice  was  a  thoroughly  democi'ati(!  idea,  which  covered  a  multitude 
of  bad  provisions;  that  on  the  whole,  the  new  was  jueferable  to 
the  old,  and  it  justly  regretted  the  "abrogation  of  the  provision 
peiniitting  foieigners  to  a  paiticipation  in  the  right  of  sutfiage 
al'tev  a  I'csideiiee  of  0  months,  the  same  as  the  most  unlettered  Uit- 
tivi',"  predi(;ting  that  that  would  ])rove  i)ernicious  by  diverting 
emigration  from  the  State.  No  evil  had  resulted,  and,  it  may  bo 
added,  never  will,  from  adnntting  foreigners  to  this  privilege.  It 
is  a  most  foolish  proserii>tion.  The  provision  limiting  the  power 
of  the  State  to  borrow  money,  and  piohibiting  the  credit  anil  faith 
of  the  State  in  aid  of  any  individual  or  corporation,  was  a  most  ex- 
celh'ut  one. 

The  i)eoi)le  had  ample  time  to  consider  its  provisions,  and  they 
did  not  fail  to  see  its  great  s!i])eriority  over  the  ohl  organic  law. 
For  the  points  of  party  signiticancein  it,  which  at  best  might  ])rove 
but  transitory,  they  (-onld  not  atford  to  throw  away  the  many  safo 
and  ex<!elh'nt  limitations  tor  their  proteittion  against  the  chances 
of  a  wild,  reckless  and  extravagant  legislature  to  involve  them  iu 
ruin. 

'J'he  black  clause — prohibiting  negro  immigration — met  with 
considerable  opposition  in  the  ncnthern  ])art  of  the  State,  particu- 
larly iu  Cook  county,  which  voted  two  to  cue  against  it ;  but  the 


680  IIISTOUY  OP  ILLINOIS. 


yn'iih'st  ;;oiU'nil  ()|ii)«»sitit»ii  wus  to  Uic  L*  mill  tax.  Tlie  followiny; 
i.stlic  vote  iipoii  tlic  coiistitiitioii  :iii(l  tlit' sci>iiiiit(' iiiticlcs : 

I'or  tilt' foiistitiUioii  pin|»cr,  r»!l,SS7  ;  ii;;iiiii.sl  it,  ir>,sr»!t. 

Imh  iUticU- X  I  \' — ii(';iro  cjiiusc,  l'J,(Mi)i  ;  ji^aiiisi  it,l.MI,S,Sk 

For  iiiticU'  W — li  mill  tiix,  U,(ll7;  ajiaiiist  it,  .■!(»,r»,S(». 

The  vote  tor  I'iititicatioii  or  itjcctioii  was  taken  t)ii  tlic  lii'st  Mon- 
day ill  .March,  I>S1S;  and  the  ii«-\v  roiistit  iition  went  into  opi'iation 
on  IIk'  lirst  of  April  follow  in;;.  Tlit'  election  of  ;;()Vcriior  was  aiiti- 
cipatt'd  two  years,  and  iiccordiii^l.v  the  tirst  j>('iieral  «'lection  nnder 
it  tt)ok  place  in  Novemher.  ISIS.  The  comiiieiicemeiit  of  llierc.mi- 
lar  legislative  sessions  was  deterred  from  JJecembei'  to  January, 
tlio  ilrst  convening  ut  tbiit  time  in  1JS4U. 


Chaptkti  XL  v. 

1810-1852— ADMIXISTRATIOX  OF    (JOVEKXOK   FIMINCII. 

Lit'CN  (iiul  (liarmtcr  of  tlic  (Juhcniatoridl  VamJidntvs — Finidiny 
of  thv  Stulc  Dvht — Refusal  of  the  J'eople  to  (/ire  the  Letjinhitiire 
Control  of  the  2  ^fiU  Tax — Toininhip  On/a  nidation — Uoiiiextead 
Exempt  ion — The  IUdoiIij  Island  J)ike  and  a  tSpeek  of  H'tjr — 
iStato  roliey  reyardintj  L'ailroads. 


Tlic  Di'inocratic  Stale  CoiivcMition  of  ISlfi,  to  noiiiiiiato  cniHli- 
(latcs  i'or  jioxcnior  and  licntciiaiit  ^^ovciiior,  iiict  at  S|>riii;;fi('lil  on 
tlic  KMliot'  Kchiiiary.  Tlicie  was  no  lack  of  aspirants  for  i-itlier 
of  tlicso  i><)sitions.  In  coiincotioii  witli  the  first  we  will  name  six 
in  tlie  orch'r  of  their  siii)i)ose(1  strenj^tli,  before  flie  ineetiii;^"  of  tlio 
eonvention  :  Kynian  Trnnilnill,  .lolin  Ciiliioun,  (lie  of  snlise(|uent 
Leconijitoii  Constitution  notoriety),  Anjiustiis  ('.  I'^reiicli,  Walter 
1).  Scates,  IJieliard  M.  Youn;^,  and  A.  W.  Cavarly,  an  array  of 
Aciy  al)leand  |)roniinent  names.  Tlie  eontest  was  sni»i)osed  to  lie 
lielween  llielii'st  two  mentioned,  hut  tlie  hallotin;;' <;av<' a  dilfer- 
ent  exliihit.  After  sundry  efforts  hy  their  friends,  it  was  found 
that  neither  could  be  nominate<l,  and  as  usual  in  such  cases,  both 
]»arties  went  over  to  the  supjxu't  of  another.  Trumbull  received 
the  hijiliest  nundter  on  the  first  ballot,  it  is  true,  but  Freiu-h,  as 
the  cominj;'  man,  wasa'^eady  next,  and  on  the  2d  ballot  advanced 
to  the  front.  On  the  4th  ballot  all  the  names  excejtt  those  of 
French,  Calhoun  and  TiumbuU  beinji'  withdrawn,  the  friends 
of  Calhoun,  feariii;;'  tlie  ultimate  success  of  Trund)ull,  also  with- 
drew his  uanu'.  The,  friends  of  Trund)ull  saw  in  this  move 
their  iiu'vitable  defeat,  and  for  tlie  sake  of  harmony,  they 
also  withdrew  the  name  of  the  latter.  French  was  there- 
upon i)ro(^lainie(l  the  nominee  of  the  convention  for  j;overnor, 
amidst  a  s'H'at  tumult  of  shoutin<;'  aiul  extdtation.  Owinj;-  to  the 
many  able  and  determined  <lemocratic  itspirants,  and  the  strong 
attachment  of  tlieir  respective  friends,  the  whijis  had  iudul;:>ed 
a  ]io])e  that  the  convention  would  break  up  in  disorder,  but  iu 
this  they  were  disappointed.  Trund)ull's  effort  in  1.S45  to  defeat 
the  canal  had  been  revived  against  him  ami  industriously  circu- 
lated by  ( Jov.  Ford  and  others,  as  being  still  his  i)osition,  which 
doid)tless  ])roved  his  discomfiture. 

For  lieutenant-goveriM)r,  the  names  of  J.  B.  Wells,  Lewis  Ross, 
"William  McMurtry,  Newton  Cloud,  .1.  B.  Hamilton  and  W.  W. 
Thompson,  were  presented  for  nomination.  On  the  4th  ballot  all 
the  names  except  the  first  two  mentioned,  were  withdrawn,  when 
the  voting  resulted  in  the  choice  of  Wells,  who  received  132  to 

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£162  HISTORY  OF   ILLINOIS. 

]ios.s  {(.■)  ballots.  The  icsoliUioiis  adopted  stronj^ly  coiidciiim'd  tho 
resuscitation  oftlic  old  State  banks,  and  deehiicd  aj;ainstiuiy  nioro 
of  any  kind  in  this  State.* 

The  whij^s,  wiio  were  in  a  hopeless  minoiity,  seemed  averse  for 
a  time  to  lioldinji'  a  State  convention.  Their  jjress  «liscussed  the 
idea  ol'  some  suitable  candidate  running;  \ty  j^cneral  consent  with- 
out nomination.  Names  to  this  end  were  proijosed,  of  which  we 
may  mention  that  of  .James  Davis  of  iSond.  Jt  was  also  i)roposed 
that  the  Whij:'  State  Central  Committee  sliould  make  the  ticket. 
Finally,  on  theSth  of  June,  a  convention  was  held  atl'eoria,  over 
■which  .Major  Richard  CuUom,  of  Tazewell,  presided,  which  nomi- 
nated Thomas  M.  Jvilj»atri(!k,  of  Scott,  for  j;<>veriior,  and  Cien. 
Nathaniel  (1.  AVilcox,  of  Schuyler,  for  lieutenaiity()veru()r.t 

Kiipatrick  was  boin  in  Crawford  county,  iVnn.,  in  1S()7.  His 
early  education  consisted  solely  in  instruction  from  his  mother. 
lie  lost  his  father  at  the  ajic  of  1.1,  became  a  mechanic,  married 
in  ISL'8,  and  removed  to  Illinois  in  LSoi.  In  IiSiO  he  beat  ]Mur- 
ray  McConnel  for  the  State  senate.  In  1844  he  was  elected  to  the 
lower  house  of  the  le;;islature,  where  he  was  j^rcatly  instrumental 
in  the  passage  of  the  school  law  of  that  i)erio(l.  lie  was  a  man 
of  easy  manners,  ]>Ieasaiit  address,  stronji',  jtractical  sense,  and 
Avithal  <piite  a  forcible  speakei' on  the  stumj).  In  this  cami)ai}in, 
however,  he  deemed  it  doubtless  a  waste  of  time  to  canvass  the 
State,  and  contented  himself  with  issuinj^'  an  address  to  the  jteo- 
l)le,  in  which  he  oi>posed  repudiation  of  tlie  State  debt  and  ar<iued 
the  ample  resources  of  the  State  to  pay,  if  })r()]»erly  develo]»ed. 
lie  looked  forward  to  the  completion  of  the  canal  as  a  means  to 
arouse  the  desi)ondent  enerf;ies  of  the  peo])le.  As  Illinois  was 
then  the  only  State:  destitute  of  bankinj;'  facilities,  he  favored 
banks  based  exclusively  on  si)ecie ;  ajid  a  revision  of  the  constitu- 
tion (a  convention  call  for  that  purpose  was  then  pendin<;'  before 
the  people),  sayinj^;':  "At  the  commencement  of  the  session,  tho 
cajiitol  is  crowded  witu  asi)irants  from  different  parts  of  the  State 
seekin;^'  ditl'erent  otlices  ;  each  has  his  friends  amon<>'  the  members; 
a  system  of  electioneerinj*'  inti'ij;ue  and  loj^-roUinj;"  commences, 
which  enters  into  the  discussion  and  i)assa,iie  of  alnutst  every  bill, 
until  these  oilices  are  disposed  of;  and  it  is  not  unfrequently  the 
case  that  the  success  of  the  most  important  nu'asuies  of  State 
policy  (h'i>end  upon  the  election  of  some  little  fourth-rate  lawyer 
to  the  ottice  of  distri(;t  attorney.  I  attributed  the  bad  le};;islatiou 
mainly  to  this  intluen(!e."'| 

In  the  cam]»ai,!4n,  the  whij>s  exposed  Gov.  Freneli's  record  and 
connection  with  the  passajic  of  the  internal  improvement  system, 
and  ur<;ed  it  aj^ainst  his  election;  but  in  the  meantime  the.  war 
Avith  iMexico  broke  out,  re^ardinj^'  which  the  wliij;'  record  was  un- 
favorable. The  war  was  the  absorbinj;  ami  dominatinji  «iuestion 
of  the  jx'riod,  sweei)in^'  every  other  political  issu<'  in  its  course. 
The  election  of  Auj^ust,  184(1,  resiultcd  in  the  choice  of  the  deni- 
o(;ralic  candidate,  A.  CFicncli,  over  Kil)»atrick,  his  princii»al  com- 
petitor, by  o8,7(M)  votes  for  the  former,  to  30,775  votes  for  the  lat- 
ter. \Ve  say  principal  competitor,  becanse  liichard  Fells  (aboli- 
tion) was  runninff  for  the  same  ollice  and  received  r),lo2  votes. 

•Sl'o  niinois  State  llcKister,  Feb.  27, 1846. 
+IIUriois  Stntc  .rnurnitl. 
4:See  Illiuuis  State  Journal. 


FRENCH'S  ADMINISTRATION.  553 

For  Ik'uteiiant-fjovenior,  Josoj)!!  B.  AVclls,  tlif  (Iciiiociiitic  ciiiidi- 
(liitc,  received  55,221  votes  ;  Natliaiiiel  G.  Wilcox,  wliiy,  20,041,  aud 
x\.l>raiiaiii  Smith,  abolition,  5,171)  votes. 

JJy  the  constitution  of  1.S48,  a  new  election  for  State  oHicers 
Avas  ordered  in  y,vend)er  of  that  year,  before  (Jovernor  rr(  iicli's 
term  was  half  out.  Jle  was  reelected  for  the  term  of  4  years. 
Crov.  I'^rencU  thus  is  the  only  man  who  has  ever  held  the  oiliee  of 
jiovernor  in  this  State  for  (J  consecutive  yeais.  At  the  election  of 
1.S48  there  was  no  organized  oi)i)osition  to  hiin.  tliou<;h  a  number 
of  other  j^entlemen  were  honored  as  the  recii)ieuts  of  the  votes  of 
tile  people.  Augustus  C.  French  received  07,453  votes;  Pierre 
]\Ienard  (son  of  the  tirst  lieuteinmt-yovernor),  5,03!);  Charles  V. 
])yer,  4,74.S;  AV.  L.  ]).  ^Morrison,  3,S;J4;  and  Janu's  L.  J).  ^Morrison, 
1,301.  William  McMurtry,  of  Ivnox,  was  elected  lieutenant  "jov- 
ernor (in  place  of  Joseph  B.  Wells,  the  incumbent,  Avho  did  not 
run  aji'ain),  receiving  (J5,304  votes.  O.  11.  Ibowning,  Henry  11. 
Snow,  IMerre  Menard  and  .1.  L.  ]).  M(nrison,  were  also  liDUorcd  by 
votes  for  this  otlice,  ranging  from  2,000  to  5,000.  it- 

Gov.  FreiKth  was  born  in  the  town  of  Hill,  Xew  Hampshire,  '; 

August  2, 1  SOS.  He  was  the  des(!endant  in  the  4th  generation  of 
jS'atlianiel  French,  who  emigrated  Irom  England  in  10S7,  and  set-  i',- 

tied  in  Saybury,  ^Massachusetts.     In  early  life  young  French   lost  '    | ' 

liis  father,  but  continued  to  receive  instruction  from  an  exem])lary  | 

and  christian  mother  until  he  was  10  yeai^s  old,  when   she  also  if 

died,  conliding  to  his  care  and  trust  four  younger  brothers  and  'i.'i 

one  sister,     lie  discharged  his  trust  with  i)arental  devotion.     His  \' 

education  in  early  life  was  such  mainly  as  a  common  school  af-  '' 

forded;  for  a  brief  period  he  attended  Daitnumth  College,  but  - 

from  pecuniary  causes  and  care  of  his  brothers  and  sister,  he  did 
uot  graduate.  He  subse<pu'ntly  read  law,  was  admitt(>d  to  the 
bar  in  JS31,  and  shortly  after  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  lirst  and  ?! 

practising  his  profession  at  Albion,  Edwards  county.  The  ioliowing  i,' 

year  Ih' removed  to  Faris,  Edgar  county.     Here  he  attained  emi-  ';|i 

nence  in  his  profession,   and  entered   ]>ublic   life  by  rei)resentiiig  J; 

that  county  in  the  legislature.     A   sti'ong  attachment  sjtraiig  up  ;; 

between  him  and  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  In  JS30,  French  became  re-  ji 

ceiverof  the  United   States  laiul  otiice  at  I'alestine,  Crawford  ;: 

county,  at  which  place  he  resided  when  elevated  to  the  guberna- 
torial chair.  In  1844  lu^  was  a  i)residential  elector,  and  as  such 
voted  for  James  K.  Polk.  After  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
cilice  as  governor,  he  occupied  for  some  years  the  professor's 
chair  of  the  law  department  of  McKendree  College,  at  Leba- 
non, and  did  not  reappear  in  public  life  except  as  a  mendjer  of 
the  constitutional  convention  of  18(!2. 

In  stature,  Gov.  Fn'nch  was  of  medium  height ;  squarely  built, 
^•ell  proi)ortioned,  light  complexed,  with  ruddy  face  and  plensant 
countenaiu'c.  In  manners  he  was  plain,  agreeable,  and  of  easy  ap- 
proach by  the  most  humble;  neitherotti(;e  nor  position  changeil  him 
in  his  bciiring  toward  those  he  had  met  while  in  the  nune  hund)le 
walks  of  life.  Though  by  nature  dittident,  ami  at  tinu's  appar- 
ently timid,  yet  when  occasion  (h'lnanded  he  Avas  outsi)oken  and 

Arm  in  his  views  of  i)ub]ie  questions  and  convictions  of  duty.  As    

a  speaker,  while  he  did  not  approa(!h  to  the  higher  arts *of  oratory, 
he  was  chaste,  earnest  and  persuasive.  In  business  he  was  accu- 
rate and  methodical,  and  as  the  executive  of  this  State  admiuis- 


55  t  mSTOKY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


ti*re<l  its  attairs  witli  jircat  economy,  pvudonce  and  discretion. 
Ik'  was  an  honest  and  consciontions  nuMi  in  all  his  transactions, 
and  the  State  was  fortnnate  in  secairiiij^'  his  services  jnst  at  tlie 
tiiiK^  siie  did.  ^VhiIe  stronj;'  common  sense,  vij;ihince  in  iookinj;' 
to  tiie  pnlilic  wellare,  and  conscientions  convictions  of  duty  are 
often  more  desirable  in  an  executive  oHicer  than  briilianj-y  or 
genius,  it  was  peculiarly  so  at  this  Juncture  in  the  atl'airs  of  the 
(State.  In  tlu;  ix'cuniary  embarrassnu'nts  of  those  times  the  credit 
of  the  State  had  been  in  a  measure  rest(U'ed,  and  the  overwhelm- 
in};  <lebt  ])r()i)erly  directed  in  the  course  of  ultimate  extinction 
dnriny'  the  adnunistration  i>recedinj;',  yet  it  still  required  a  clear, 
careful  executive  bi-ain  to  briu};' onler.  out  of  chaos,  and  a  steady 
hand  to  <iuide  the  shi])  of  state  into  the  haven  of  safety.  AVlieu 
Ciov.  FreuclHiuitted  the  helm,  in  1852,  it  was  with  the  proud  con - 
S(;ionsness  that  her  credit  was  fully  restored,  an<l  her  indebtedness, 
Avhich  had  for  many  weary  years  pressed  lu'r  iucubus-like  to  the 
earth,  woidd  be  faithfidly  and  honestly  tlischarj^ed  ;  that  prosper- 
oua  days  had  at  length  dawned  for  her  i)eoi)le ;  that  her  unex- 
ampled resources  were  upon  the  eve  of  developir.ent,  and  that  she 
would  now  make  giant  strides  toward  Avealth,  greatness  ami  em- 
pire, in  all  of  which  his  excellency  had  boine  a  jnst  and  faithi'ul 
part.  lie  was  zealously  devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  the  State, 
ever  a(;ting  for  the  i)ublie  good,  without  regard  to  peisonal  ad- 
vantages or  aggrandizement.  He  lived  in  his  exalted  station  with 
much  frugality.  As  the  lirst  governor  umler  the  liard  times  con- 
stitution of  1S4S,  he  received  simply  the  salary  provided,  8l,.")<><), 
and  no  more.  The  legislative  art  of  evading  this  stringent  i»ro- 
Aisi(»n  by  allowing  the  exe<'utive  $4,500  for  a  gardener,  had  not 
as  yet  been  evoked,  nor  would  it,  we  nuiy  safely  say,  have  been 
sanctioned  by  an  acceptaiu-e  of  the  doucieur. 

In  1845  a  tax  of  li  mills  on  the  dollar  was  authorized,  to  be  ex- 
clusively ai)]»lied  in  i»a,vment  of  accrued  interest  up(»n  the  public 
debt.  The  ])roceeds  of  this  tax  were  applied  to  all  the  interest- 
bearing  debts  of  the  State  alike,  including  the  canal  bonds,  leav- 
ing only  about  half  of  the  tax  to  be  applied  to  the  interest  accru- 
ing uiHui  the  debt  proper,  and  causing  a  yearly  deticit  of  uni)ai<l 
interest  exceeding  -*.'500,000,  which  was  unprovided  for.  The 
canal,  subject  to  all  its  arrearages,  under  the  loan  of  $1,()00,000, 
had  been  transferred  in  trust  to  the  new  subscribers.  To  carry 
forward  the  woik  so  well  begun  of  gra])pling  with  the  monster 
debt.  (lov.  French  n'commeiided  the  registration  and  i'unding  of 
the  debts.  The  uncertainty,  he  urged,  which  hung  over  the  exact 
amount  of  our  liabilities,  had  ]>roduced  a  vague  and  painful  ap- 
prehension in  the  j)nblie  mind  that  the  eftbrts  then  making  to 
meet  a  i)ortion  of  it  were  of  little  avail,  to  correct  which,  and 
elicit  its  true  amount,  this  cour.«(e  should  be  adopted.  Ex(tluding' 
the  canal  debt,  the  residue  of  all  bonds  or  scrip  should  be  con- 
verted into  uniform  transferable  stock.  For  the  arreai.-^  of  inter- 
est due  ni»on  the  bonds,  a  defeired  stock  of  sinular  character,  dif- 
fering oidy  in  that  it  bore  no  interest  for  a  number  of  years,  was 
reconimeuiled.  The  expense  of  funding,  it  was  thought,  would 
be  less  than  the  loss  alrea<ly  sutfered  from  counterfeiting  the  cou- 
l)ons.  Jn  ficcordance  with  the.s<' views  the  legislatuie  passed  two 
funding  acts,  one  authorizing  the  funding  of  the  State  bonds,  and 
the  other  fiuuling  the   State  scrii)  and  accrued  interest  on  the 


FRENCH'S  ADMINISTRATION.  555 


!>•: 


debts.  Tlie  fuiuliiit>;  of  accrued  interest  met  with  considerable 
opposition,  on  tiie  fironnd  that  tlie  ett'ect  wouhl  be  to  cause  tlie 
State  to  pay  compound  interest  after  JS.">7.  But  the  measures 
passed,  and  bv  18.")()  the  entire  State  debt,  exchulin;^;-  that  of  tlie 
canal,  was  nearly  refunded  in  uniform  securities,  wliicli  f;reatly 
simpiilied  the  debt,  and  precluded  further  losses  from  the  liee 
counterfeitiu};-  of  the  bonds,  both  to  the  State  and  holders  of  the 
bonds.  ;  ;| 

The  State  of  Illinois,  as  a  condition  to  her  adnussion  into  the  j  ,i 

Union,  like  many  other  States,  had  entered  into  a  compact  notto 
impose  a  tax  upon  the  land  sold  by  <;overnment  within  lun-  limits  ' 

foi'  ti\e  years  after  sale,  which  was  a  serious  cloj;'  ui)on   her  revc;-  ; 

nues.      During'   the   ])eriod   of  our  liiiancial  embarrassment,  the  ! 

h'jiislature  earnestly  petitioned  (!()nj;ress   to  remove  this  restric-  ,  [ 

tioii  ;  to  these  ai)i>e:ds,  urj;ed  with  much  force  by  Senator  JJreese,  '  ;  ;; 

that  body   had  finally  acceded.     And  now,   by  act  of  February  C 

11),  1S47,  the  lejiislature  provided  thai  all  lands  hereafter  sold  by  ,v 

government  within  this  State  should  be  immediately   subject  to  '/( 

taxation.  This  measure  materially  iiu-reased  the  revenue  of  the 
State,  as  after  the  close   of  the  Mexican  war,  the  distribution  by  r| 

the  government  of  land  warrants  among  the  soldiers  as  bounty,  j; 

caused  a  large  (puintity  to  be  thrown  upon  the  market,  and  great  j  •: 

nnmbeis  were  loca'ed  in  Illinois.     Indeed,  so  cheap  did  land  war-  i|  i 

rants  become,    that  they  operated  greatly  to  check  the  sale  of  ;  iV 

State  lands,  which  were  held  higher;  and  to  avoid  sacritice,  the  .;K 

legislature  peremi)toiily  suspended  from  further  sale  the  ])ublic  -7: 

]>r(ipcrty,  as  ]>rovided  by  act  of  March  -1,  1843,  to  wind  up  the  in-  !; 

ternal  im[)rovement  system.  ?! 

The  legislature,  in  1S47,  in  accordance  with  the  recommenda-  ,J 

tion  of  the  governor,  authoiized  the  sale   of  the  ^'orthern  Cross  (|' 

llaili'oad,    from  Springfield   to  Meredosia,  now  the  T.,  W'.itW.  i 

Upon  the  jiurchaser  was  imi)osed  the  duty  of  putting  it  in  good  fj- 

repair,  safe  for  the  transportation  of  i>ersons  and  in'oju'rty.  The 
roiul  and  its  etiuijunents  sold  for  !ifl(Kt,(KI(>  in  State  bonds,  though 
it  had  cost  the  State  not  less  than  ><1,(I(K»,(I(H).  The  salt  wells  and 
canal  lands  in  the  Saline  reserve  in  Gallatin  county,  granted  by 
the  geneial  government  to  the  State,  were  also  authorized  to  be 
sold  by  the  governor  to  pay  State  indebtedness. 

The  2  mill  tax  provided  liy  the  new  constitution  to  be  annually 
distributed  in  payment  of  the  principal  of  the  public;  debt,  other 
than  tiie  canal,  and  which,  in  ISM),  amounted  to$l(M,78.S  71,  was 
found  t(i  work  badly  and  uni)rotitably  to  the  best  interests  of  the 
Stiite.  The  legislature  piissed  a  resolution  subnntting  to  a  vote 
of  the  peo[)le  an  amemlmeiit  to  the  constitution,  to  accord  to  that 
body  the  discretion  of  using  the  fund  arising  from  this  tax  in  the 
punthase  of  State  boJids,  in  ojx'U  markt't,  at  their  current  rates,  at 
any  time,  instead  of  keeping  the  fund  idle  in  the  treasury  lui til 
the  1st  of  Jamuiry  in  each  year,  then  to  be  ajtportioned  and  cred- 
ited pro  rata  at  a  i)ar  valuation  on  thebomls  pieseiited,  no  matter 
at  what  discount  they  iinght  berated  in  market.  In  this  there 
would  undoubtedly  have  been  a  saving  to  the  State,  by  her 
agents  going  ui)ou  the  market  and  buying  in  her  own  pa])er 
at  a  dis(;ount,  the  same  as  any  individual  ndght  o^)erate; 
but  the  people,  who  felt  it  to  be  more  honorable  that  the  State 
should  pay  the  full  amount,  refused  to  sanction  this  scheme  or  to 


v^:- 


sm 


IIISTOIIY   OV   ILLINOIS. 


enti'iist  the  ficuciiil  Jifsscinbly  in  incddliiiy  with  this  siU'icd  fund, 
and  the  luncndmcnt  fiiiicd  for  wunt  of  that  majority  of  votes 
\\hi('h  tho  constitution  rcciuircd  to  sccnirc  its  adoption.  Tlio  (iiics- 
tion,  thoM<;h  nrj;«'d  iiuain  ni>on  liic  pcctple  by  tlu'  j^overnor,  ajis 
never  a^^ain  })resented  for  tiieir  action,  one  reason  heinji'  tiiat  th(3 
time  re(iniied  to  a^ain  Itrinj;  it  to  a  vote  would  essentially  lessen 
its  iiii|tortance,  as  the  bonds  were  rapidly  a])proxinuitiii^'  a  ])ar 
valuation  in  nnirket.  Such  were  some  of  the  elforts  nnule  durinj^ 
(Jov.  French's  administration  to  yain  the  mastery  of  the  n»onster 
public  debt. 

in  1S.")(),  for  the  hrsttime  since  J.S;{1),  the  accruing'  State  revenue, 
exclusive  of  si)ecilic  approi»riatioris,  was  suhicient  to  meet  tlio 
current  demands  ui)on  the  treasr.iy.  Prior  to  this  it  had  been  the 
practicte  to  issue  ai  surplus  of  auditor's  warrants  to  meet  delicien- 
cies.  Of  couise  when  the  treasniy  was  not  in  a  condition  to  re- 
deem these  warrants,  they  dei>i'eciated,  resultiiifi  in  great  losses 
both  to  the  holders  and  the  Stale  by  their  lessen^-d  value, and  the 
prolonjicd  time  of  their  redemption.  J'.ut  these  embarrassments 
and  sacritices  were  now  ha])pily  overcome.  The  a ji'gref;ate  taxa- 
ble property  of  the  State  at  this  time  was  oser  $l()(»,(IO(t,U()(»,  the 
annual  constitutional  L'niill  tax  yielded  a  revenue,  after  allowing 
a  pi(»j)er  marj;in  for  defaults  and  casual  lossc^  of  about  !*(1'JO,000, 
and  the  poi)ulatiou  was  851,470  souls. 


Toirnship  Orf/dnizathm. — Tn  1S49,  in  accordance  with  the  per- 
mission of  the  new  constitution,  and  in  obedience  to  the  dennind 
of  the  people  from  the  northern  i»art  of  the  State,  who  had  ob- 
served its  practi(!al  workinj^  in  the  eastesti  States,  the  first  town- 
ship orinanizatioH  act  was  passed  by  the  k;''>.iature.  lint  the  law, 
in  attempting  to  put  it  into  practical  operaiion,  disclosed  radical 
defects.  It  was  revised  and  amended  at  tlu  sesi-ion  of  IS")!,  sub- 
stantially as  it  has  existed  ni»  to  the  present  revision  of  1S71.  The 
adoption  of  the  townshi])  orj;anization  system  marks  an  era  intlie 
management  of  tiscal  aftairs  in  many  of  the  counties  of  this 
State. 

The  system  of  township  jiovcrnnuMit  had  itsorijiin  in  Xew  Eng- 
land, -but  the  root  of  this  form  of  local  government  may  bo 
traced  to  the  districting  of  England  into  tithings  by  King  Alfred, 
in  the  t)th  century,  to  curb  the  wide-spread  local  disorders  which 
disturbed  his  realm.*  Upon  this  ancient  idea  of  tithing  districts, 
the  Puritans  grafted  their  greatly  improved  township  system.  The 
county  system  origiinited  in  this  country  with  A'irginia,  and  was 
also  derived  from  England.  The  tobacco  ]>lanters  of  the  Old 
Dominion,  owning  their  laborers  more  com])letely  than  did  the 
barons  of  England  their  vassals,  lived  isolated  and  indci)endent 
on  their  large  landed  estates  in  imitation  of  the  aristocracy  of 
the  mother  country.  They  also  modeled  their  county  and  munici- 
pal institutions  with  certain  moditlcations  suitable  to  tli<!  condi- 
tion of  the  new  coiuitry  after  the  same  prototype  r  whence  has 
spread  the  county  system  into  all  the  southern  and  nuiny  of  the 
]Hirthein  Slates.  All  of  the  northwest  territory,  now  cctnstitiitiiig 
live  States,  aiterthe  compu'st  of  Clark,  was  by  Virginia,  in  177S, 
formed  into  a  county  uncler  her  jurisdiction,  called  Illinois.     The 

•See  further  Blacksioue's  Commentaries,  B  1.  p,  114-116. 


French's  administka'iton.  557 

comity  feature  was  aftonvards  rotaiiu'd  in  all  the  States  carved 
out  of  tlic  iioitliwcstcrii  territory.  The  county  business  in  Illi- 
nois was  transiictcd  by  3  comiiiissiouers,  in  the  reK])ectivc  eoun- 
ties,  who  constituted  a  (bounty  court,  wiiidi,  besides  the  nianase- 
nieiit  of  county  atl'airs,  had  usually  othei'  jurisdiction  conferred 
upon  it,  such  as  that  of  a  Justice  of  the  peace  and  probate  busi- 
ness. J»y  the  constitution  of  ISIS,  owinj;'  t(»  the  intiuence  of  east- 
ern or  iS'ew  JOufiland  settlers  in  tlie  northern i»ortion  of  the  State, 
township  orjiiiuizati  >n  was  autlnuized,  lea\iiij;  it  optional  lor  any 
county  to  adopt  or  not  tlu^  law  to  be  enacted.  Our  township  sys- 
tt'iu,  however,  is  not  closely  modeled  alter  that  of  the  >i'ew  Kw^- 
land  States.  There,  a  rei)resentative  is  sent  directly  from  each 
town  to  the  lower  braju-h  of  the  lejiislatnre.  In  New  York,  owiny 
to  her  larf:;'e  extent  of  territory,  this  was  found  to  be  iniiua  'tica- 
ble,  and  a  county  assend)ly,  (lenominated  a  board  of  supervisors, 
com])osed  of  a  mendter  from  each  town,  was  there  established. 
This  niodilied  system  we  have  copied,  almost  exactly,  in  Illinois. 

Townshii)s  are  olten  compareil  by  wiiters  to  ])etty  rei»ul)lics, 
])()ssessin<;'  unlindted  soveieij^idy  in  nmtters  of  local  concern;  and 
lioards  of  sujtervisors  are  popularly  supposed  to  be  vested  with 
certain  Hunted  legislative  i)owers.  I>ut  neither  is  the  case.  Uoth 
the  county  and  township  boards  arc  mere  tiscal  ayents.  They 
hold  the  purse  strinjis  of  the  counties;  they  may  contract,  incur 
debts  or  create  liabilities — very  fzicat  powei's,  it  is  true — but  they 
cannot  prescribe  or  vary  the  duties,  nor  control  in  any  manner  the 
county  or  township  officers  authorized  by  law.  While  the  county 
court,  consisting;"  of  three  mend)ers,  is  a  smaller,  and,  therefore,  as 
a  rule,  more  nuina^eable  or  controllable  body  by  outside  iuHu- 
ences,  there  is  little  doubt  that  a  board  of  sui»ervisors  is  not  only 
directly  more  expensive,  but  also  that  a  thousand  and  one  petty 
claims  of  every  conceivable  character,  having  often  no  foundation 
in  law  or  justice,  are  coi..'<^antly  i)resented,  and,  being  loosely  in- 
vestigated and  tacitly  allosved,  aggregate  no  insiginticant  sum.  A 
board  of  sujiervisors  also  acts  or  is  controlled  more  by  partisan 
feelings.  There  ought  to  be  unifornuty  througlumt  the  State  in 
the  management  of  county  affairs.  No  little  confusion  seems  to 
pervade  the  laws  at  the  present  time  relating  to  our  two  classes 
of  counties. 

Jlomestead  Exemption, — The  general  assembly,  at  its  session  of 
1851,  first  passed  the  act  to  exempt  homesteads  from  sale  on  exe- 
cutions. This  subject  had  been  brought  before  the  legislature  re- 
peatedly by  Gov.  French  in  his  messages.  The  priticiple  of  this  be- 
neficent law  was  not  a  new  or  untried  one.  Its  jiractical  effects 
upon  the  social  relations  of  communities  had  been  fully  and  suc- 
cessfully tested  in  ditterent  States.  The  claims  of  society  in  main- 
taiiung  the  integrity  of  the  family  relation,  which  is  the  founda- 
tion of  all  society,  it  was  argued,  Avere  superior  to  those  of  the  in- 
dividual; thiit  some  men,  then  as  now,  were  to  be  found  mean 
enough  to  specially  evade  liouest  debts,  did  not  argue  that  such  a 
law,  in  the  interests  of  a  higher  duty  from  man  to  mjin,  would  not 
subsei^e,  as  a  rule,  a  beneficent  puri)ose,  bj'  shielding  the  widow 
and  orphans,  the  aged  and  decrcpid,  from  the  cruel  demands  of 
the  Shylocks  of  the  world.  Prior  to  this,  the  exemption  of  certain 
articles  of  personal  jiroperty,  which  had  been  the  law  for  a  number 


V, 


558  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

of  .vt'ars,  had  not  jn'ovfu  iiiimicjil  to  tlic  true  interests  of  tlic  cred- 
itor. For  tlie  .*(!()  worth  olitropertv  cxenipted.  suit«'d  to  tiie  (h-ht- 
or'seondition  or  occiii>ati(»ii  in  life,  lie  niij;lit  scloct  a  yoke  of  oxen 
for  the  enltivation  of  land,  l»nt  no  land  was  by  tlie  hiw  allowed  liini 
from  which  to  raise  sonietliiii;;-  wherewith  to  sni)i>ort  liis  family  or 
discliar^t'  iiis  debt. 

The  }»rovisions  of  the  law  (which  was  in  force  nj)  to  .Inly  1st, 
]87l.',)  are  too  well  known  to  iccaiiitnlate  here.  It  exemitted  from 
levy  or  forced  sale,  nndcr  any  process  or  order  of  court,  the  lot  of 
};ri)nn<l  and  the  hnildin^^'  theicon  occMpied  as  a  residence  and 
owmcmI  by  the  del>tor,  beinjj'  a  householder,  and  havinj;'  a  familv, 
to  tlie  value  of  !!<1,0(K».  The  law  of  1S7L'  raises  this  to  ij!l,r.OO.  The 
benefit  of  the  act  was  extended  to  the  widow  and  family,  some  or 
one  of  them  continuinn'  to  occupy  the  homestead  until  the  youngest 
child  should  become  of  aye,  or  until  the  death  of  the  widow. 

The  Tiloodii  Tslaiid  DiJce—A  Sped- of  War. — Owiuf?  to  th<^  form- 
ation of  sand-bars  in  tiie  Mississijipi  river  opposite  the  lower  part 
of  St.  Louis,  which  it  was  apprehended  would  di\ert  the  channel 
of  the  river  to  its  left  bank,  and  gicatly  injure,  if  not  destnty,  the 
liarbor  of  that  city,  the  municipal  authorities  tlu'reof,  to  prevent 
that  threatened  calamity,  i)assed  an  oi'dinance,  Februaiy,  ISt.S, 
making  approjtriations  to  construct  a  dike  or  dam  across  the  east- 
ern channel  of  the  river,  from  the  foot  of  IMoody  Island  to  the 
Illinois  sImuc,  to  foice  the  main  current  of  the  water  over  to  the 
8t.  Ijouis  side.  This  effort,  ma<le  at  a  great  exitense  to  the  treas- 
lU'v  of  that  city,  was  met  with  deternuned  oi»i»ositiou  in  llliuttis, 
as  defiant  (o  the  sovereignty  of  this  State  and  an  infringeuu'it 
ui)on  the  lights  of  our  citizens.  It  was  urged  that  the  work 
wouhl  change  the  channel  in  the  upper  ]Mississii>pi ;  that  the  effect 
Mould  be  ♦^o  inundate  the  American  IJottom  ;  that  the  river  would 
cut  around  the  dike,  <bive  the  full  force  of  its  current  towards 
(  ah')kia  cieek,aiul  destroy  Illinoistown  ;  and  that  the  ferry  woidd 
be  c'uinged  up  the  river  to  the  island,  to  get  to  which  the  company 
Avould  charge  enormous  tolls  over  the  dike. 

T]u'  work  was  commenced  by  St.  Louis  within  the  rightful  Juris- 
diction of  this  State,  without  jiermission  from  our  legislsture  or 
notice  to  the  governor,  but  s(»lely  with  the  consent  iuul  a])]»robatiou 
of  the  proj)rietors  of  the  island,  aiul  the  main  shore  opposite.  tOmo 
years  pi'ior.  it  seems,  congress  had  made  appi'o])riations  at  differ- 
ent times  for  the  improvement  of  St.  Ijouis  harbor,  i>art  of  which 
had  been  exi)ended  in  the  removal  of  a  sand-bar  at  the  south  eiul 
of  the  harbor.  These  a]>i)ropriations,  together  with  the  consent 
of  the  owiH'rs  of  the  giound  where  the  dike  was  to  be  built,  St. 
Louis  claimed  as  a  sullici<'nt  license  for  her  invasion  of  the  sov- 
ereignty of  Illin(»is  w ith  this  woik.  The  rising  cities  of  Alton  and 
Qnincy,  watchful  of  theii'  liglits  ami  Jealous  of  their  big  commer- 
cial neighbor,  through  flieir  municipal  boards  passed  resolutions 
exi)ressive  of  their  a])pi'ehensions  that  these  improvements  would 
be  attended  Avilh  danger  to  the  navigation  of  the  great  commercial 
highway  of  the  west,  and  pro\e  detrimental  to  their  interests.  The 
executive  of  the  State  was  calle<l  ui»(Ui  to  inquiie  into  the  matter, 
and  to  take  such  stejjs  as  would  protect  the  sovereignty  of  this 
State  and  the  rights  of  its  citizens.    A  large  number  of  letters 


FRENCH'S  ADMINISTRATION.  639 

from  (liil'i'iTiit  citizj'ii.s  poured  in  upon  his  exoclloncy  to  tlu'  .sJinie 

iMKJ. 

(iovornor  Fi'cnc^li  tlioreniton  addrossod  a  letter  to  the  municipal 
authorities  of  St.  Louis,  reca pit ulatinj;"  tiie  re])res('ntatious  ma<le 
to  him  as  to  the  threatened  (hingcrsof  tiiis  weak,  urj^injn  tlieni 
to  pause  in  tlieir  manilesi  eiieioaeiiments  ujtou  tlie  so\ freij^nty  of 
this  State,  and  tin^  lipids  of  its  citizens,  wiiieii,  if  persisted  in, 
•»voMid  it'cpiire  liim  to  emphiy  suitable  means  to  aii'est. 

To  this  somewiiiit  lu'lheose  document  flavor  Kiiim,  of  St.  Loui«, 
replied,  clainiiiif;'  tlie  general  j;()\ crnment  had  sonu-  years  ]U'e- 
vioiisiy  projected  and  partly  constructed  certain   worlcs  opposite  ;; 

the  city,  with  the  view  to  imi)rove  the  iiavij;ation  of  the  river,  and 
at  the  sanu'  time  improve  the  hailtor  of  St.  Louis;  that  the  works  i 

now  heinj;'  ]ii'osecuted  were  sul)staidially  the  same,  ori;;inaiiy  de- 
sijiued  and  in  ])art  constructed  by  tiie  U.  S.;  that  to  the  uiu'X- 
jtended  balance  of  the  appropiiations  by  conjiress  for  tliis  puipose,  j' 

St.  Louis  had  likewise   added  moiu'vs  to  further  the  said   oliieet;  •'•■ 

joined  tothis  hijj:li  authority  he  plead  also  the  consent  of  the  own-  „ 

ers  of  tiie  <;rouiid  where  the  work  was  beiu;;  erected,  and  assured 
liis  excellency  that  the  (*outeini>lated  improvenu'uts  would  in  no  lii 

wise  infrinj>e  either  the  sovereij;idy  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  or  the  j:, 

riji'iits  of  any  citizen.     After  allud:ni>'  to  t'ee  iiitlMcnces  at  work  to  i!i 

create  a  false  imjtression  uimui  the  i)ul)licmind,  he  closed,  trusting 
that    no  im'onsiderate  steps  would   be   taken  on  the  part  of  the  (■, 

authorities  of  Illinois  without  due  deliberation.  :i' 

This  answer,  intended  to  disarm  opposition   and  allay  feeling',  (.[ 

was  not  satisfactoiy  in  Illinois.     It  was  not  believed  that  the  dike,  f 

in  any  manner,  entered  into  the  plan  of  imi)ro\ement  by  the  gen-  I 

eial  goveiiimei't,  but  that  it  was  the  otfs])ring  of  and  solely  |»ros-  j; 

ecuted  by  St.  Louis,     IS'either   was  it   conceded   that  the  general  |i 

government  lia<l  the  right  to  carry  foi  .\ard  this  work  witlun  the 
rightful  jurisdi<'tion  of  this  State.  It  was  I'urtlier  iiderred  that 
the  work  was  to  be  vigiuonsly  pushed  forward  by  St.  Louis,  and 
that  the  equivocal  agency  of  the  general  government  was  held  out 
as  a  cloak  to  ward  ott"  molestation  in  its  i)rosecution.  'fi 

In  vi<'W  of  the  fact  that  it  was  sought  to  associate  the  general  i'' 

government  with  the  juoject,  the  goxernor  i)roposed  to  snlanittho  H; 

question  as  an  agiced  case,  to  the  U.  S.  ciicuit  court,  then  sitting  i|: 

at  Spiinglield,  as  the  sjjeediest  and  nu)st  satisfactory  mode  of  set-  .!'; 

tling  the  controversy.     IJut  this  i)roposition  was  declined.     Sub-  Ij 

sequeidly,  in  a  letter  to  (lov.  IJeynolds,  he  writes  that  there  is  left  |j. 

him  but  one  alternative,  either  to  cheek  the  work  or  have  some  i'j: 

agreement  that  it  shall  await  the  meeting  of  the  legislatiue.*     A  ij 

committee  of  the  connnon  coun<'il  of  St.  Louis,  with  pt)wer  to  treat,  I*' 

visit<'d  (ioveriior  I'-rench  at  Spriiiglield.  His  «'xcellency  offered  to 
lay  the  imdter  before  the  next  general  assembly,  but  as  that  iu- 
voh cd  a  considerable  loss  of  time,  the  commissi(tn  was  unwilling  ijiL 

to  accede  to  it.     The  governcu'  could  not  grant  permission  to  i)ro-  t; 

ceed  with  the  work.  In  the  meantime  an  injunction,  issuing  from 
the  St.  Clair  circuit  court,  had  been  served  upon  the  contnMJtors. 
But  the  work  was  proceeded  with  in  contemi)t  of  the  order  of  court. 
The  governor  now  inaugurated  "strong  measures  to  cause  the  in- 
junction to  be  respected."    To  this  end,  II.  S.  Cooley  secretary  of 

•  See  Illinois  State  Uegister,  July  14,  ims.  ' 


5G0 


HISTORY  OF   ILLINOIS. 


Slate,  w.a.s  sent  to  Illiiioistowii,  to  invest ijiiite  the  matter.  Ho 
leai'iit'd  that  a  hii'jic  iiiiiiilx'r  of  men  wen?  employed,  that  steamers 
towed  stone  huh'ii  hai';;('s  from  tlie  St.  Louis  (|uarry,  and  that  be- 
tween l-'(K)  ami  .'{()()  tons  of  rock  were  deitosiled  upon  the  diUo 
eveiy  ni<4lit,  notwithslandinj;-  liie  inji'nelion  ;  lliat  1-  feet  of  wail 
■was  Mp,  and  that  in  I  weeks  time  the  whole  line,  fiom  llie  Island 
to  the  main  shor*',  wotdd  be  built  above  the  water's  edj^e.  At 
]>elle\  ille  he  found  the  war  feelinji'  sostron^"^  that  a  {•cneial  disposi- 
tion was  manifest  to  enforce  obedience  to  the  wiit  of  injunction. 
The  sherilf  of  .St.  (lair  county  went  beyond  his  bailiwick  and 
served  the  writ  up(»n  the  JMayor  in  St.  Louis,  who  treated  tin' mat- 
ter rather  li;ilitly.  NN'rits  of  attachment  for  conlemi>t  were  m)\v 
issued  for  the  arrest  of  every  person  found  \iolatin^'  the  process 
of  the  court,  li'  these  civil  measures  failed  ai"d  the  sheritf's  posso 
proved  insulluMent,  the  governor  was  determineJ  to  resort  to  mil- 
itary force,  and  all  the  able-bodied  men  of  St.  v'lair  <'ounty  ap- 
l)eared  ready  to  back  him  in  tin;  enforcement  of  the  civil  juocess. 
It  miji'lit  be  inferred  that  war  was  imminent.  The  sheritf  ai- 
rested  two  of  the  principal  workmen  on    the  dike  and  i-onveyed 


to  be  tried   foi'  contem]»t.     Tiie  ])i'ess, 


them  before  .Iud<;e  Ivoeriu'r 

both  of  St.  Louis  and  Illinois,  became  violently  iidlainaiory,  por- 
trayiiifi'  all  manner  of  dire  results  to  yrow  out  of  these  acts,  much 
u^  if  ail  actual  state  of  war  existed. 

In  the  meantime  the  governor's  envoy  found  in  minj;lin<j  with 
the  citizens  of  St.  Louis  that  the  people  took  very  little  int<'rest 
in  the  trouble,  and  that  tlie  (tity  authorities  had  no  disi)osilion  to 
defy  tlu'  ])rocess  Oi"  a  court  of  lllimtis;  that  outside  of  the  elVorts 
of  the  Wi^'j^ins  ferry  com[>any,  which  owned  in  <;reat  part  the 
island,  and  the  contractors,  who  wanted  to  earn  their  iiu)ney,  very 
little  concern  was  felt  in  the  dike  controversy.  It  wasrepresented 
that  beyond  a  desire  to  hold  tlie  city  harmless  in  its  contract, 
(wherefore  no  etfort  was  made  to  imjiede  or  restrain  the  work  of  the 
contractors)  the  authorities  had  no  immediate  interest  in  it;  that 
■willful  coiitemi)t  or  double-dealing  toward  the  authorities  of  JUi- 
nois,  while  their  committee  was  on  a  peace  mission  to  the  gover 
nor,  was  not  designed.  It  was  the  feriy  com|»aiiy,  owning  the 
islaml,  which  would  nioiiopolize  the  causeway  or  dike  leading  to 
it  from  the  main  shore  ;  the  distance  of  its  transit  across  the  river 
would  be  shortened  by  half;  the  "St.  Clair  ferry,"  (partly  owned 
by  the  State),  together  with  Illiiioistown,  to  which  it  ran,  would 
by  the  new  ferry  landing  be  thrown  so  far  out  of  the  direct  lino 
of  travel  as  to  destroy  both,  and  a  new  town,  (the  present  East 
St.  Louis,)  would  spring  up  on  the  island,  more  convenient  and 
with  shorter  ferryage,  which  woidd  enable  that  company  to  hold 
the  traveling  public  to  their  own  terms  without  successful  compe- 
tition, and  bid  defiance  to  the  State.  For  these  reasons  the  AVig- 
gins  Company  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  successful  accomplish- 
ment of  the  work.* 

The  injunction  suit  came  up  for  hearing  in  September,  before 
Koerner,  then  one  of  the  supreme  judges,  at  Belleville. 
After  elaborate  argument  by  Mayor  Krum  and  Mr.  Blannerhasset 
of  St  Louis,  and  Col.  Biswell,  in  favor  of  tho  work,  and  Messrs. 
Keeting  and  Trumbull  against  it,  the  jurisdiction  of  the  State 

*  See  letters  of  Gen.  Cooley  to  Gov.  French,  Illinois  State  Rogister,  August  4th  and 
nth,  184«. 


M 


FHKNni's  ADMINISTUATK^N. 


rM 


coiiif  wiiH  In'Id  to  be  coiiciineiit  with  Unit  of  tlic  ft'dcral ;  tlie 
l»o\V('r  of  the  State  to  proliihit  ol)stiiit'tioiis  Ix'iii;;  pliicfd  in  luT 
lii;^li\viiys  or  the  coiistriictioii  of  tiiis  dike  in  li;'r  Maviyaldc  walcrs, 
uas  ('(inaliy  deal'.  'I'iic  liill  and  writ  were  snstaincd  as  to  Hall, 
("annon  and  ilrnnct,  tliiccM'ontractois  scivcd  witii  pcoccss  in  St. 
Clair  connly,  lail  as  t(»  the  city  of  St.  l.onis,  a  foi('i<in  nmnicipal 
t',or|)oiation,  and  .Folm  Scrl.icihci-,  •served  in  St.  Louis,  out  of  the 
jniisdiclion  of  tlic  coiiit,  it  was  dismissed.  An  appeal  to  tiie  sii- 
jti'enie  coint  was  taken  fictni  the  decision  dismissing  the  case  as 
to  the  city  of  St.  Louis  and  Shreilier.* 

TIk'  dike  liad  l)een  Ituilt  up  to  tiie  water's  level,  and  the  main 
«'<inlen(ion  now  wasoNei- the  attempt  tolaiild  it  12  feet  Jii;;lieraud 
level  with  the  shore  for  a  highway.  l»elon;;in;i  to  and  in  the  control 
of  a  private  company,  tiaversing  the  navigaitle  waters  of  the 
State.  Another  point  was  the  conse<piential  im])airnu'id  of  the 
St.  Clair  terr\  below,  in  whicii  the  State  had  an  inteicst.  In  de- 
fense, it  was  clainie(l  that  the  obstructed  channel  never  was  navi- 
gabh',  whicli  uas  the  fact,  exee]tt  jx-rhaps  on  occasion  of  ex- 
traordinary freshets,  and  that  it  had  been  cut  within  L'O  years 
tinough  lan<ls  beloiiginji' to  the  old  Wiggins  ferry  (company,  which, 
with  St.  Loins,  was  making  this  dike,  and  thu.s  reclaiming  their 
own  land. 

The  legislature,  at  its  session  of  1S49,  settled  the  trouble  by  the 
l)assage  of  resolutions  whicli  ]»rovided  that  theeit,\  of  St.  liouis 
should  file  a  good  and  valid  bond  with  the  secretary  of  state, 
binding  the  city  to  construct  a  safe  and  connnodious  highway 
over  the  dyke;  and  that  the  owners  of  the  pro[)erty  on  the  island 
and  main  shore  secure  the  luidisturbed  right  of  way  to  the  i)ublic 
over  it  forevi'r  without  tax  or  toll.  The  right  of  way  was  not  to 
exteu«l  to  charteicd  companies  (except  the  St.  Clair  ferry)  and 
tinnitike  conii>anies.  'J'iie  city  of  St.  Louis  was  also  to  secure  to 
the  St.  Clair  ferry  a  landing  in  the  city,  all  of  vhich  was  done, 
and  thus  was  the  cloud  of  war  dispelled. 

A  comnnttee  was  also  ap[ioiuted,  consisting  of  J.  L.  D.  Morri- 
son, (from  the  aggrieve<l  county),  A.  J.  Knykendall  and  Herbert 
Patterson,  toexamiiu'  the  works,  who  rejjorted,  Februaiy  1,  1S~A, 
that  tlu'  dike  was  then  completed,  bi'ing  a  solid  stone  wall  across 
the  chute,  sunk  in  40  feet  of  water,  'M  feet  wide  and  elevated  to  a 
level  of  ;j  feet  above  the  lower  store  doors  on  the  levee  in  St. 
Louis,  leaving-  the  distance  fron)  the  islaiul  across  the  river  but 
800  yards.  A  thriving  city  Mas  predicted,  to  which  at  mtdistant 
day  the  workshops,  lioatyards  ami  i>',-nufactories  of  St.  Louis 
Avouhl  in  a  great  measure  be  transp'.anted.  an<l  where  the  tired 
artisan  or  mechanic,  after  his  day's  labor  in  (he  city,  Avould  repose 
in  a  cheaper  and  more  cond'ort  able  honu'  than  he  (lonld  enjoy  in 
the  ci'owded  city.  The  result  of  thebtiilding-of  thedikehassliown, 
after  a  lapse  of  20  years,  that  stability  has  been  imparted  to  the 
Illinois  shore  of  the  turbulent  river,  that  liloody  Island  has  been 
lieinuiiu'ntlyjoined  to  tlu'  main  land,  and,  while  much  remains  to  be 
done  to  build  up  a  consi<lerable  city  there,  a  half  score  of  rail- 
roads centre  already  in  Easft  St.  Louis. 


Sea  5  Oilman,  368. 

36 


5(12 


IIISTOIJV   oi'   IM.INOIH. 


"  STATE  I'OI.ICY." 


Trilnitf  Iai-UiI  upon  lUinniH  Vvodnvc  in  llic  St.  Louis  Market — 
I!(iili<i4iils  JUxiijijHiinl  AiiihilipKs  W./r/M,  Uv. —  I'mm  I.Sl'.Miiilil  tlin 
.s|u'ci;il  scssidii  ol'  l'«'l»i  iiiirv,  ISfd,  tlicic  prcviiilcd  in  I  lie  Icjiislu- 
liuii  of  Illinois  wliiil  wiis  i»n»i\\  n  ii  the  "  Sliitc  I'olicv."  'I'lu'  ol»- 
Jcrt  \v:i.s  to  so  lociil*-  iind  ti\  liic  tt'iniini  of  cross  r;iilroiuls  :is  to 
Itnild  up  ;^rcat  comimk  rci:)!  iiimiIs  iind  nii;;litv  titit's  witliin  llu; 
limits  of  this  State;  iind  if  titis  did  not  follow,  niili'oiids  should 
not  <:<>  wIm'I'c  tlicv  woidd  contrilMitt'  to  tli«- (-oniincr«'c  iind  wt-iiilli 
of  cilit's  without  the  Sliilc  Tiic  ••  policy  "  wiis  directed  ii^iiiiist 
8t.  Louis,  a  forcijiu  city  ostciisihi.v  to  lavor  (uniispirin;;  domestic, 
(■i>ies  fiillin;^'  within  her  competition,  sit  mite  on  the  hither  hiink  of 
the  I'iithei'  oi'  Wiiters;  those  on  the  W  aluisli,  N'incennes  and 
Teire  lliiiite  were  iilso  included. 

The  reasons  u";;ediii  lavor  of  thisiMilicv  wcremiinv  iind  novel, 
iind  foi'cihie  eiiou<;li  to  in  ii  measure  hold  the  best  interests  of  the 
Slate  in  thiiill  for  ii  period  of  six  vciiis,  A  j;»'neral  militiad  iii- 
eoi'lKii'iition  law  Wits  opposed  iind  defeated,  on  the  ^^roiinds  thitt 
aii.v  raili'oiid  coinpiiny,  foreijiii  or  domestic,  could  ciioos*- its  route 
iicross  tiie  State  in  iiny  <lirecti(»ii  withoiit  consulting  the  interests, 
of  the  seeti(»n  of  countiv  thioiijuh  which  it  |»iisst'd,  which  was  not 
onl.v  highly  unjust,  hut  iimouiited  to  an  iiifrin^eiueiit  of  the  i'i<;lit 
of  ]ni\iite  pi'opert.N  •  it  mijilit  be  detritnental,  and  would  certainly 
be  in  bad  fiiilh  to  ot  .Uf  roads  already  built  or  chartered.  If  a 
roiid  was  i)uilt  on  the  lii  e  of  iind  in  direct  competilion  with  the 
yiciit  public;  work  of  the  Stiile,  the  canal,  the  icsult  would  be  to 
diminish  its  revenue,  injurious  to  the  Stsite,  the  leversiouer,  and 
unjust  to  the  bondholdeis  of  that  work.  It  Wiis  <:i lively  arj^iied 
that  no  shrewd  capitiilist  would  uiiike  an  investment  at  all,  iind 
tliiit  all  improvements  of  tliiit  character  must  be  arrested,  lu'causo 
under  a  liberiil  j;-eneral  railioiid  ineorponition  hiw  ii  riiiniMis  coiii- 
pi'tition  would  inevitiibly  ^row  up.  It  was  scouted  as  unworthy 
and  insultinj;  to  our  Stiite  pride  tocoiiteiid  that  the  fireat  cities 
of  the  Mississippi  valley  eould  n«»t  be  built  up  in  Illinois.  All  the 
riuli'oads  from  ciist  to  west,  north  of  the  Ohio  river,  seeking;  ter- 
mini with  or  beyond  the  Mississijtpi.  must  piiss  over  Illinois  terri- 
tory. Let  but  these  roads  be  compelled,  by  the  statesmiinshi])  of 
Illinois,  to  converj>e  to  a  ))oint  on  tiiat  river  within  our  border, 
jiiid  capit.ii  Would  (enter  there,  storerooms  and  wiiiehouses  spring; 
up,  dealers  itml  eomuiission  merchiints  would  be  there,  i»rodiicc 
and  sliip])in;;  would  };iither  there  whence  to  seek  an  outlet  to  the 
Atliintie  seaboiird  ;  in  ii  word,  a  fiiciit  eommereiiil  mart  and  the 
busy  hum  of  a  mij;hty  city  would  hv  there.  While  the  resources 
of  the  Stiite  were  beinj^  (level(»i»ed,  iind  i»ro])erty  j:;t'neriilly  upon 
the  lines  of  niilroiuls  inereiised  in  value,  iit  the  termini  would  be 
built  up  ii  city  to  rival  in  ji  few  yeiirs  St.  Louis,  which  ]>iiid  one 
third  of  the  revenue  of  ^Missouri,  Avith  debt  iiiid  tiix-riddcn  llli 
uois  contributing  hidf  to  her  cai)ital  and  substance,  tnide  and 
prosperity. 

Aj;iiin  iind  iij;ain  were  streuiious  efforts  made  to  ])i>ss  an  efti- 
cient  jiciieral  niilroiid  ineorporiition  law  in  aceoidance  with  the  ex- 
press provision  of  the  constitution :  "The  fjeueriil  sissembly  sliiill 
encourage  internal  improvements  by  passing  liberal  general  laws 


rHKNCn'M   ADMIMSTIIATION. 


503 


of  iiic(>i'|i<>riiti<»ii   tor  tli;it   piir|>(M(>;"  tiiid  ;i<,^iiiti  iiihI  ii^aiii  (li<l  tlit> 

IKMIpIc  tiom    tllMl    pOltidll     (»r    tllC   Sliltf     wIlOSC   IM'illCSl,   lIKISl     (lilCCt 

iiiul  Itcst  iiiMikct  WAS  St.  I^oiiis,  |M'liliuii  the  Icjiisliiliiif  to  j;iiint 
cliiiilc  rs  tnn'iiili'oiiilsiici'Dss  I  lie  Sliitc  from  N'iiH'ciiin's.  Tct-n^lliiiitd 
iiinl  oilier  points  on  tin-  \\':il):isli,  to  tn  ininiilc  :it  .1  point  oppositi^ 
St.  liOMJs,  lint  wi-i'c  iis  ol'li'n  I'fliisftl,  iin<l  liill  iilln'  liill  contiiinin;;' 
sncli  chiiitcrs  wj'ic  in\iiri:il»ly  icjcctcd. 

At  111*'  close  (>'■  tin'  winter  session  of  1SI!>  tin'  nn'mliers  of  tlui 
yeiMTiil  !issenil>iy,  to  tile  liiinilier  of  IS  op  L'(»,  representing  t  liat 
l»e!t  <»f  counties  acioss  tiie  State  opposite  St.  l-oiiis,  mainly  alVected 
hy  this  exclusive  policy,  issued  a  stiiriii.n  address  to  tlicir  constit- 
uents and  all  the  section  immediately  coiiceiiied,  settin;;'  forth  that 
jll^ticc  had  lieeii  denied  them  ity  the  Ie;;islal  lire,  and  stioii,i;l,\  ap- 
pcaliiiii' to  tlieiii  to  send  delc;;ates  to  the  niiliil  er  of  not  less  than 
ten  from  eiicli  county  to  a  railroad  con\enti(>n  to  Ix^  held  in  Salem 
in  .lime.  IS)*),  to  take  into  consideralioii  their  ;;rievaiices,  and 
<levisc  such  iiicasiires  as  miiiht  lie  deemed  necessary  in  the  eiiier- 
<;ency  to  secure  for  their  section  those  ii;;hts  under  the  <'oiistitii- 
tion  fiMtm  \vhi;'li  they  had  liceit  soniijiistly  deharred.  To  the  north, 
it  was  cliari;c<l,  nothiii;;'  had  heeii  rel'iised.  while  to  the  south 
nearly  everythiiiii'  had  l)een  deiii<'d — hut  not  l»y  iiortlierii  votes 
alone  ! 

The  coiiv<'ution  met  at  the  appointed  time  and  \\  attended  hy 
a  la)';ie  concourse  of  people;  at  least  I. (MM!  earnest  mcii  wcrcasscm- 
l)U'd.  and  o\ci'  1. (KM)  delegates  from  the  counties  a<:j;rie\»'d.  iCx- 
(Jov. /adock  ('as«'y  prcside<l,  ,Mr.  Wait,  of  l>oiid  county,  pre- 
seiiled  an  aide  address,  scttiiii;'  forth  in  apt  lan.uiialic  the  j;riev- 
anc»'sof  that  Itelt  of  country  across  the  State  tliroiij;h  which  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  lailroad  would  run.  pointin;;' out  the  a(h aii- 
taiics  «d'  St.  Louisas  a  mai'ket,  and  holdly  declarinj;'  the  interests 
of  tiiat  se<'tioii  of  the  State  to  he  identical  with  those  of  that  for- 
eiiiii  city.  The  exclusive  jiolicy  of  the  lej;islature  was  rehiiked  ill 
sever*'  terms  for  denying;-  them  the  railroad  charteis  which  they 
soujrht  for  their  section  ;  the  f;overnor  was  re(|Ut'sted  to  c(  nveiio 
the  h'.nislatiiie  in  extraordinary  session,  and  a  general  railroad  in- 
<'orpoi'at  ion  act,  with  lilteial  jirovisions,  was  demanded  from  it ; 
and  finally  the  ix'c.ple  tlirouf^hout  the  country  were  iccomiiiended 
to  assemhie  in  their  home  districts  and  take  steps  to  ur<;e  these 
measures  without  ceasiiijn-. 

It  was  jiciicrally  siipjiosed  at  this  time  that  tlie  jioveriior  would 
convene  the  lej;islature  tor  the  pui'i>ose  of  electing  a  I'nited  States 
senator  in  place  of  den.  Sliields,  rejected  by  the  senate  in  .March 
jaevioiis  for  want  of  elij;il»ility.  As  anticipated,  tlie  ^o\ernor.  on 
tile  Itli  of  Sei)teiul»ei',  issued  his  prochimation  for  a  special  session 
in  ()ct(d)er,  lS4i>,  invitinin'  action  upon  several  suhjects.  among 
thcni  the  estaldishineiit  of  a  jiciieral  railroad  iiicoiporatioii  law. 

To  counteract  the  iiitluence  of  the  Salem  convention,  a  ••State 
policy"  meetinji'  was  called  at  llillshoro.  in  .Mont,iiomery  county, 
for  the  L'Oth  of  .Iiily,  1S4!>,  to  consi<ler  and  take  action  in  reference 
to  railroads  crossinji' the  State  east  and  west,  and.  terniinatiiii:' at 
suitable  lutiiits  for  biiildiiiL;  up  commercial  citie.;  and  towns  within 
the  borders  of  oui- own  State.  The  convention  did  not  meet,  how- 
ever, until  October.  For  the  occasion  an  imiiu'nse  barbecue  wa.s 
pi'cpared,  and  it  was  said  sojiie  TJ.tMK)  ])eo]»le  attended.  Many 
luiblie  men  and  politicians  participated  in  the  proceed inj;s,  and 


564 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


imicli  boMiliiist,  ]Kirtni.viiij{-  tlie  {{Tcat  question  of  "State  policy"  in 
{;lo\viiiji'  colors,  was  iinliil;;('<l.  Ainoiij;'  tlic  iiaiticipaiits  may  be 
iiolcd  tlic  names  of  ,Iosei)li  (iillespie,  liolu'it  tSmitli,  ( "ynis  Ed- 
wards, A.  2s'.  Slai'l)ird,  AV.  IMckeiiiij;,  (lei!  Tlioiiitou,  "\V.  J).  Lat- 
sliaw,  and  otliers.  These  names  show  that  the  Alt(»n  interest  was 
larjiily  leprescntcd.  licsolutions  were  adojttt'd  in  favor  of  the 
"  ]i(»licy  ;"  api>rovin^'  the  a(  tion  of  tlu'  legislature  at  its  last  ses- 
sion in  refnsinji  charters  to  railroads  leading;  to  St.  Louis ;  con - 
demniiif;  the  '-all  of  <^he  extra  session  ul'  the  j;('neial  assembly  by 
tlu'  ;;o\('ruor  for  tnat  month,  and  asUinj'-  its  immediate  adjonrn- 
Jiient  after  the  eh'i  tion  of  a  United  States  senator,  without  acting 
iil>on  any  other  question. 

ller«'  it  may  '  e  iiie;.ti(»ue(l  that  the  action  of  the  ^lissouri  lej;is- 
lature  contribried  not  a  littU'  to  incense  the  lu'opie  of  Illinois 
ajiainst  St.  Louis.  That  body  had,  in  tlie  winter  of  bS41>,  i>rece- 
dinji,  passed  an  act  levying  tribute  upon  all  i)roperty  sold  within 
the  limits  of  Missouri,  being  the  growth.  i>roduce  or  manufacture 
of  any  State  other  than  her  sovereign  self.  The  amount  of  sale- 
tax  re([uired  to  be  paid  was  $4  .50  on  every  $1,00(»  worth  of  mer- 
chandize sold,  for  (j  mnnths  from  and  after  the  Ulst  of  August, 
].S4!>.  Commission  merchants  in  charging  this  amount  ba<'li  to 
their  consignors,  were  required  to  nuike  out  sworn  returns,  much, 
it  is  presunu'd,  after  the  manner  of  our  late  government  income 
tax.  It  was  estinmted  upon  accurate  data,  that  the  commerce  of 
Illinois  alone,  in  the  market  of  St.  Louis,  would  yiehl,  by  this  sale 
tax,  )Jb")().(M»0  annually  to  the  treasury  of  ^lissouri.  It  was  ;* 
schenu'  by  which  to  lilt  the  burden  of  government  and  taxation 
from  the  jjcople  of  3lissouri,  where  it  belonged,  and  impose  it  upon 
the  ix'oitle  of  Illinois,  Iowa  at'd  ^Minnesota.  A  h- ■•  .  >  obnoxious 
to  every  prin«*ii>le  of  justice,  gave  immediate  rise  to  much  dissatis- 
faction and  clamor  among  the  i)eople,  with  severe  denunciati«ui  of 
tin'  otfendiiig  Slate  by  the  press;  it  is  but  just  to  say,  however, 
that  the  }»res.-  of  St.  Louis  also  contemned  the  law  and  its  enac- 
tors, charging  that  the  legislature  of  Missouri,  was  controlled  by 
influences  «intside  of  and  antagonistic  t«)  that  city,  rather  than 
l)ronuttive  of  her  interests.  The  law  was  clearly  inimical  to  the 
constitution  of  the  Cnited  States.  Such  a  tax  if  at  all  admissa- 
ble,  congiess  alone  has  the  power  to  levy,  on  condition  that  it  be 
ina<le  uniform  throughout  the  Uidted  States.  Subseqiuntly  the 
.sui)reme  court  of  Missouri  set  the  law  aside.  l>ut  it  may  be  -well 
imagined  that  it  contributed  not  a  little  in  arousing  feeling  and 
])rejudice  among  our  people  and  lawmakers  against  St.  Jiouis. 
The  dike,  too,  afforded  an  ojti)ortunity  to  array  prejudice  against 
that  city,  and  neither  was  slowly  taken  advantage  of. 

The  legislature,  at  the  calh'd  session  of  October,  1849,  again  re- 
fused si)ecial  chaiters  to  the  Vincennes  and  St.  Louis  railroad.  iV 
geneial  railroad  incori)oration  law  was  h(»wever  established,  but 
so  defective  in  its  jtrctvisions  that  no  c(nnpan,^  could  well  organ- 
ize or  oj)erate  under  it  witliout  fnrtlier  legislation.  The  subjoined 
declaration  of  ]»rinciples  of  State  ])olicy,  drawn  ui>  by  Wesley 
Sloan,  of  Pojx',  the  sage  of  Golconda,  whidi  ]>assed  the  house, 
is'ov.  ;{,  lS4!t,  by  4;5  to  27,  .  'id  the  f-evite  Avith  only  2  dissenting 
votes,  illustrates  the  aiiiinus  of  the  legislature  upon  the  subject 
of  railroads,  better  than  anything  else: 


fkench's  administration. 


505 


limilreil  1st.  Tliat  the  fjcographical  position  of  the  State  of  IllinoiH,  con- 
sideied  in  couneotioii  witli  tlie  constnic'tioii  of  railroads  witliin  lii'r  lim- 
its, is  one  of  the  greatest  natural  a«lvantages  wliich  she  possesses,  and 
wliicli  under  a  judiei(»us  system  of  legislative  poliey  must  be  very  in- 
strumental in  promoting  her  general  welfare  as  a  State. 

":id.  Tliat  the  prosperity  of  a  State  or  nation,  consists  not  only  in  the 
virtue  and  intelligence  of  a  brave  and  energetic  people;  in  the  richness 
of  hor  soil  and  mineral  resources,  but  also  in  the  number  and  extent  of 
her  flourishing  towns,  cit.es  and  villages. 

"8d.  Tliat  any  internal  improvement,  whetJier  constructed  under  a 
genera!  or  special  law,  tending  in  its  ojjeration  to  impede  the  growtli 
and  jtrospects  of  cities,  towns  and  villages,  within  our  own  borders, 
ought  not  to  be  encouraged. 

"4th.  That  the  construe  tion  which  should  be  given  to  the  6th  section 
of  the  10th  article  of  the  constitution  is,  that  the  general  assembly  shall 
encourage  iinpro'.ements  that  are  of  an  internal  character  and  advan- 
tage, and  not  si.ch  as  are  mainly  intended  to  promote  external  interests. 

•'otli.  Thi'l  a  railroad  commc'iiciug  at  our  eastern  boundary,  running 
across  the  State  and  terininatiiig  at  a  point  on  the  Mississippi  river  op- 
positf»  St  Louis,  and  also  uniting  witli  continous  lines  of  railroads  ex- 
tending eastwardly  through  our  sister  States,  either  to  Cincinnati,  or  the 
Atlantic  cities,  would  be  immensely  advantageous  to  St.  Louis,  at  tlie 
same  time  'that  it  would  impede  the  growtii  and  prosi)c'rity  of  tlie 
cities,  towns  and  other  localities  on  tlie  Illinois  side  of  the  Mississippi 
river.' 

"(itl. .  That  the  connection  of  the  Mississippi  river  by  continuous  lines 
of  rar'rratis  with  the  Atlantic  st^-aljoaid,  is  of  vital  imjiortance  to  the 
whole  U iiiou,  and  we  willingly  invite  the  construction  of  railroadv*  pass- 
ing througii  other  States,  to  our  eastern  Ixmndary,  promising  to  grant 
to  them  the  right  of  way,  and  reserving  to  oui-selves  only  tlie  jjiivilege 
of  fixing  the  termini;  a  privilege  we  CKinstitufionally  claim,  and  wliich 
we  are  entitled  to  exercise  by  reason  of  our  geographical  position. 

"7th.  Tliat  the  construction  of  the  great  Central  Railroad  is  a  subject 
of  vast  importance  to  Illinois,  and  all  laws,  having  for  their  object  the 
completion  of  the  same  on  proper  principles,  ought  to  lie  encouraged; 
provided  such  laws  do  not  infringe  too  much  upon  our  latural  advan- 
tages growing  out  of  the  geographical  position  of  the  State."* 

The  passage  of  theso,  resohitioiis  by  the  very  deeiiU'l  inajorities 
we  have  noted,  was  rather  ahtnning'.  And  nowtlie  iiiti'nial  i»oli(;y 
of  the  Suite,  ^o  eniphatieally  annoiineed,  was  attacked  without 
gloves  by  the  foreign  jness,  antl  «)iir  own.  partly,  too.  The  news- 
papers of  St.  Louis  and  Citieiimati,  directly  affected  by  the  refusal 
of  tlie  legislature  to  grant  a  charter  to  the  Oiiio  iv  Mississippi 
IJailroad  Ooiiiitany,  were  unsparing  in  their  abuse.  The  State 
policy  was  denotmeed  as  sellish,  narrow  and  eonteiniitible — 
we  were  re-enacting  tlie  fable  of  the  dog  in  ^lie  manger.  The 
press  of  New  York  ehiinitig  in,  v'haracterized  our  '•  State  jiolicy" 
as  tmreasoiiable,  vain  and  ehnrlish;  we  would  neither  helji  the 
parties  attected  by  it,  nor  permit  them  to  help  tiieinselves; 
to  the  great  railroads  pushing  their  lines  from  the  Atlantic  eitie.s 
westward,  eonferring  permanent  benefit  and  untold  wealth  along 
their  routes,  when  they  arrived  upon  oiu'  eastern  l>order  we  ex- 
elaijiied  in  the  blindness  of  our  own  interests,  thus  far  shalt  thou 
go  and  no  farther,  because  they  wanted  logo  to  St.  Louis,  the 
great  '/oininercial  centre  on  the  Mississippi.  It  was  urged  that 
Illinois  stood  in  the  light  of  her  own  interests:  that  our  short- 
sighted policy  was  proving  ruinous  to  the  south  and  middle  parts 
of  the  State;  that  it  was  the  Altmi  inHiience.  as  o}>posed  to  St. 
Louis,  which  had  produced  the  conflict  between  the  three  .sections 


*  See  laws  of  Special  Scsjiion,  1849. 


600  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

of  tilt'  State,  but  tliat  after  all  the  iKtrtli  was  taking  advaiitago 
of  it,  \\sh\<i  Alton  to  i»ull  the  chestnuts  out  of  the  tire  for  CliieafiO. 
Alton  had  been  ambitious  of  coininereial  distinction  for  many 
years,  always  waitinji'  Micawber-liUe  for  some  fortuitous  ciivum- 
stances,  or  involved  in  some  injicnious  schemes  to  accomi)lisli  this 
grand  object.  ]>nt  tlu'se,  witliout  energy,  labor  and  capital  will 
not  alone  succeed  in  bnildinj;'  up  a  <>reat  city.  It  will  be  remem- 
bered by  the  reader  that  the  State  bank  in  l.S;?r»  was  bankruptcil 
within  tw(t  years  after  it  started  by  its  <'fl"orts  to  sui)i)ly  the  capi- 
tal to  monopolize  the  lea<l  mines  of  (Jalena,  diveit  all  the  ujtriver 
trade  from  St.  Louis,  and  build  uj*  Alton,  nearly  o]»'  "^ite  the 
mouth  of  the  Missouii,  as  the  emporium  of  the  Mississi  ;  valley. 
The  completion  of  the  canal,  also,  it  was  fondly  hoi>ed,  would 
check  the  prosperity  of  St.  Louis.  Canal  boats,  it  was  main- 
tained, m  ,4ht  with  safety  and  exi>editi(tn  be  towed  down  as  low 
as  Alton,  Itut  the  increased  dillicultics  and  dangers  in  tlu'  curr«'nt 
of  the  ]Mississii)])i,  below  the  moutli  of  the  ^lissouri,  would  pre- 
vent their  being  taken  to  St.  Louis,  Avhile  freigl.t  could  at  all 
times  be  brought  as  cheaply  from  New  Orleans  to  Alton  as  to  St. 
Louis. 

Thus  by  the  deceptive  cry  of  this  grand  internal  State  policy, 
and  various  combinations  formed  in  conse(iiU'nce  thereof,  hostile 
legislation  was  evoked  toward  that  part  of  the  State  which  by 
nature  is  not  so  well  adapted  to  the  construction  of  railroads  as 
the  great  prairie  regions  of  the  center  and  north,  and  which  slioidd 
rather  have  received  the  fostering  care  of  friendly  legislation  than 
the  blight  of  this  policy,  whose  effects  are  not  entirely  removed  to 
this  day.  The  great  northern  i)ortion  of  the  State,  seeking  an 
outlet  by  railroads  to  markets  on  the  lake,  and  mainly  within  our 
own  borders,  was  not  inimical  to  the  exclusive  jxilicy  ;  but  while 
that  region  was  liberally  rewarded  with  railroatl  charters  for  its 
develoi)ment,  it  Avas  not  without  aid,  infatuated  let  us  hope,  from 
the  south  to  impose  the  ''ixdicy"  upon  the  latter. 

Notwithstanding  this  withering  i)olicy,  and  the  just  strictures 
upon  it  by  our  own  and  the  foreign  ]»ress,  which   disseminated  ii 
knowledge  of  it  far  and  wide;  and  also  that  thi^  State  geni'rally 
had  been  greatly  retarded  in  her  onward    career  by  an   enormous 
i  publii!  debt,  without  ('(piivalent,  weighing  her  down  like  an  incu- 

\\  bus,  there  was  not,  as  we  api>roach  the  close  of  the  decade  termi- 

,1  nating  with  ISob,  another  State    in  the  Union  increasing  so  raj)- 

M  idly  in  poiiulation,  wealth  and  resources.     Not  Illinois  alone,  but 

i!  the  entire  northwest  was  settling  up  rapidly.     The  whole  of  this 

jl  vast  wildernt'ss  in  182(>,  contained  oidy  about  800,(100  smUs,  (being 

;  ij  less  than  Illinois  had  in  IS.^O^,  while  now  it   numbered    0,000,000. 

i  li  The  action  of  steam  had  eheapeiu'd  and  immeasurably  increase<l 

the  speed  of  transportation  and  immigration.  The  comple- 
tion of  the  canal  had  given  an  impetus  to  the  agricultural 
resouiccs  of  Illinois,  long  needed.  It  had  also  been  indirectly  n 
means  of  wonderfully  imi)r'»ving  her  financial  affairs.  "With  the 
advent  of  Gov.  Ford's  administration,  it  was  olticially  announced 
that  there  was  not  nH)ney  enough  in  the  State  treasury  to  ]>ay 
postage  on  a  letter.  Sin(;e  then  the  new  loan  of  •!  1,(100,000  had 
been  made,  with  which  the  caind  had  beer,  completed,  yielding  now 
an  annual  revenue  in  tolls  of  over  $l!ir),000  ;  canal  lands  worth  half 
luilliou  dollars  had  been  sold,  far  above  the  appraisement ;  3-5ths 


ii 


Hi 

i; 


FRENCH'S  ADMINISTIIATION. 


56: 


of  the  U  mill  tax  autliorizcd  in  lS4r>  now  paid  ^V2  out  of  every  •$ (iO 
of  annually  aecrnin<>'  interest;  and  if  the  two  null  tax  authorized 
l>y  the  new  couHtitution  could  have  been  diverted  in  that  way  the 
whole  annual  interest  on  the  internal  inii)roveinent  debt  ])roi)er 
eould  have  been  paid.  Auditor's  warrants  were  worth  9.")  cents 
on  the  dollar.  Such  was  our  improved  condition  at  this  time, 
])rou}>ht  about  by  a  ri^^id  economy  in  expenditures,  a  thorough 
system  of  retrenclnnent  und<'r  the  new  constitution,  and  a  wise 
administration  of  ]»ublic  allairs  under  (lovs.  Ford  and  French. 

And  now  came  in  addition  such  glad  tidings  which,  luit  for 
the  thorough  schooling  in  the  se rigid  economies  and  dearly  bought 
experienc<'.s,  might  have  sent  us  again  headlong  into  a  wild  course 
of  proriigacy  an<l  schemes  of  ini'atuation.  This  was  the  magniti- 
cent  donation  by  congress  of  some  . ■},')(»(),()(»<(  acres  of  land  to  the 
8tate,  which  secure<l  the  building  the  llliiu)is  Central  Kailroad  ; 
also  at  the  same  session,  the  grant  to  the  State  of  all  the  unsohl 
swamp  lands  within  her  limits,  estimat<'d  at  1  ,r)()(),()((()  acres;  and 
what  was  also  of  incalculable  benefit  to  many  a  faiiily,  the  act  of 
congress  granting  bounty  land  to  the  brave  men  who  jteriled  their 
lives  in  the  l)nt  rec«'ntly  closed  ]Mexican  war.  With  these  encour- 
aging and  hopeful  ai<ls,  Joined  to  an  ever  thronging  emigration 
l»ouring  in  upon  our  rich  ]»rairies,  -stitling  legislation  could  no 
longer  retard  our  march  to  empire. 

In  the  fall  <»f  ISoO,  a  new  legislature,  fresh  from  anew  jteople — 
new  in  great  accessions,  and  also  in  that  they  had  cast  ott'  their 
garnH'Uts  of  despondency,  and  were  full  of  hope — was  elected. 
This  lK)dy  met  in  Januaiy,  ISi]],  aiul  Avliile  it  did  not  inconsider- 
ately crowd  important  bills  through,  performed  a  great  deal  of 
labor,  giving  life  to  those  measures  which  have  become  the  in- 
struments of  an  enduring  gTcatness  to  this  eni])ire  State,  and 
from  which,  with  propel' additions  since,  we  behold  to-day  unfold- 
ing tlu'  full  glory  of  a  grand  future.  These  instriunents  were 
mainly  imi»oitant  railroad  <'harters,  which  in  nuiid)er  were  even 
then  said  to  mark  up  the  snrface  of  the  State  into  a  network  of 
these  improvements. 

The  incubus  of  ''State  policy"  was  not  altogether  shaken  off, 
but  a  good  beginning  was  made  by  granting  a  charter  to  the  Ohio 
and  Mississij>pi  railroad  comitany.  Mr.  Douglas,  taking  a  broader 
view  than  theconlines  of  Illinois,  wasi)rompted  to  address  a  letter 
fi'om  Washington  to  IJr  Maidy,  of  Coles,  saying  if  he  were  a  leg- 
islator he  would  certainly  graid  a  charter  tor  tlie  proposed  load 
froi'i  lllinoistown  to  Terre  Haute,  ami  also  to  Vincennes,  and  to 
otluT  lines  across  the  State  when  any  considerable  portion  of  the 
jx'ople  desii(>d  it.  lie  w«ndd  give  a  i)refereiice  to  the  towns  and 
cities  of  Illinois  wheic  it  could  l>e  done  without  injury  or  injustice 
to  others,  but  he  woid<l  never  sacrifice  the  great  agricultural  in- 
terests f<u'  the  benefit  of  a  much  smaller  interest  in  the  towns.  The 
country  was  not  made  for  the  towns,  but  the  towns  for  the  con- 
venience of  the  country.*  ^J'he  Hon.  Y.  li.  Young,  ]\I.  C,  also 
Avrote  to  Mr.  AV.  S.  Waite,  of  Bond  county,  that  good  faith  on  the 
jiart  of  the  legislature  rciiiuied  them  to  charter  all  cross  railroads 
contemjilated,  as  most  probably  the  Illinois  Central  railroad  grant 
of  land  wimld  not  have  been  obtained  if  the  delegation  in  congress 
had  withheld  the  positive  assurance  that  the  State  would  change 

~^Vi(Ie~lll.  IteK.,  Jan.,  1851. 


5G8  IIISTOKY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Ler  ])()li(!y  in  relation  to  cross  roads.  Tliat  siicli  assiuaiKU's  were 
{iivcii  was  also  corroborated  by  J\Ir.  ])onf>liisaiid  Col.  W.Il.  liissell, 
the  latter  writiii^i  tliatlii'  felt  (luite  sure  xotes  were  obtained  in  that 
^vay,  and  that  the  result  showed  that  they  had  but  \ery  few  to 
spare  in  the  tinal  trial.*  Thus  was  the  le^iislature  indueed  to  yield 
and  grant  just  one  cross  road  leading  to  St.  Louis.  JUit  that  was 
all. 

And  now,  to  illustrate  the  bad  faith  of  soulless  (lorporations — 
the  many  disappointments  and  heart-burnings  which  tlM.y  have 
caused,  and  the  bitter  curses  they  ha\e  invited  from  rising  towns 
and  and)itious  cities  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
State,  it  may  here  be  mentioned  in  connection  with  this  road, 
which  gave  one  of  the  earliest  eases  of  the  kind,  and  which,  too, 
will  serve  as  a  tyj)e  of  nuiny  others  whose  local,  history  cannot 
well  be  obtained,  that,  alter  being  a  suppliant  for  years  before  the 
legislature  for  Just  the  right  of  way,  and  in  its  obse<piiousness  full 
of  the  most  honorable  and  humble  promises,  no  sooner  had  it  ob- 
tained its  charter  than  it  turned  and  violateil  them,  becoming  per- 
fectly oblivious  to  everything  else  excei)t  what  was  expressed  in 
that  instrument.  Belleville,  at  thatdiiy,  was  an  and)itious  and  nour- 
ishing young  city.  In  the  passage  of  the  charter  for  the  Ohio  and 
JMississijjpi  railroad  company,  it  is  alleged  that  it  was  distiiu;tly 
understood  that  the  interests  of  Belleville  should  not  be  sacrificed, 
and  therefore  the  naming  of  that  place  as  a  i)oint  in  the  charter 
Avas  magnaninu)usly  omitted.  This  nuignanimity  that  c«)rporatioa 
failed  to  api»reciate,  and  grievous  disappointment  followed.  J>elle- 
ville  thereupon  tendered  a  sid)scription  of  $r)(),()()0  on  condition 
that  she  be  nnule  a  point ;  she  entreated  and  remonstiated,  but  a 
deaf  ciU'  was  turned  to  all  her  requests,  l.elleville  was  lelt  some 
six  miles  to  the  south.  She  held  an  indignation  meeting  and  de- 
clared it  inconsistent  with  the  honor,  interests  or  duty  of  any 
citi/eu  to  participate  in  the  ceremonies  of  breaking  ground  at  llli- 
iioistown  for  that  road,  February  S,  ISijL'.  On  that  occasion  was 
presented  the  singular  spectacle  of  Cincinnati,  Viucennes  and  St. 
Louis,  three  foreign  cities,  taking  possession  of  the  soil  of  Illinois 
upon  which  to  inaugurate  a  great  improvement,  without  our  coun- 
tenance or  api»robation,  but  we  were  i)owerless  to  prevent  it. 
Other  ]>laces  in  this  State,  similarly  aggrieved  by  other  roads,  are 
I'niont(twn,  Salem,  Charleston,  Shelbyville,  IJrbana,  iS:c.,  &e. 
Verily,  in  our  legislation  niton  the  subject  of  railioads,  and  the 
granting  to  them  of  valuable  franchises,  we  have  gone  from  one 
extreme  to  the  other.  AVhile  our  action  toward  them  in  respect 
of  the  State  policy  was  entirely  too  mirrow  and  illiberal,  savoring 
too  much  of  proscription,  when  chartered  privileges  were  ex- 
tended to  them  it  seems  that  the  bars  were  let  clear  down,  and 
we  failed  to  retain  any  snfticient  control  over  them.  These,  to-day, 
giant  foreign  corporations,  some  of  whom  erst  begged  in  a  most 
su]»pliant  nuinner  of  this  siivereign  State  nu'rely  for  the  right  of 
way,  now  set  u[»  their  vested  rights  and  defy  not  only  legislative 
but  constit\itional  control. 

The  ''State  policy"  imuntaiiu'd  its  sui)rennu'y  longer  with  regard 
to  the  Atlantic^  and  ]Mississippi  railroad,  known  as  the  "  IJrough  " 
road,  trom  Terie  Haute  via  Vandalia  to  St.  Louis  «lirect,  than  any 
other.     This  road  was  regarded  as  in  direct  condict  with  the  Alton 

•  Ibid 


FRENCH'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


569 


opi 


iiitc'it'st,  and  a  ruinous  roniiu'tition  to  the  Tvnv  Ilauto  and  Alton 
road,  tlicn  buildinj;'.  Col.  .lolin  lUou^Ii,  a  Icadiii;;'  imblic,  citizen 
of  !niliana,  was  at  its  head,  and  siiowed  niiicli  dctcrnnnation  to 
accoini)lisli  it.  AVlicn  lie  was  denied  a  special  eliaiter  by  the  lej-- 
islatiire.  of  1<S,>1,  a.  conijtan.v  was  organized  under  Ihcf^'eueral  laws 
of  1S4!> ;  subsciii»tion  books  to  the  capital  stock  were  opened  in 
New  York  cit.v,  capital  $2,(H)(),()(t(),  shares  ijSriO  each  ;  $470,(M)0  were 
spee<lily  subseiibed,  and  Col.  J5rouj;h,  the  i)resident,  issued  his 
bulletin,  auuouncin<>'  his  inteidi(jn  to  buihl  a  I'oad  fidui  Teire 
Ilaule  to  St.  liouis,  not  only  without, but  ayainst,  le;iislati(»n.  The 
idea  that  8t.  Loins  should  have  two  railroad  hij^hways  across  the 
State  of  Illinois  was  simply  monstrous  to  Alton.  An  Alton  news- 
l>a]>er  of  Nt)vember,  LSol],  says  : 

'At  the  close  of  the  last  wssion  of  our  leglHJatnre  we  expressed  tlie 
iniou  tluitCoI.  Jolin  JJrough,  of  Indiana,  would  l)e  satisfied  with  the 
explicit  refusal  of  our  State  to  j^rranta  charter  of  incorporation  to  liis  pet 
pioje  t  *  *  and  tliat  lie  would  al)ideby  the  several  times  rejK'ated  de- 
cisio  I.  The  citizens  of  Illinois  Inid  reason  to  suppose  that  they  were 
rid,  or  all  time  to  come,  of  tliisiiretended  friend,  l)ut  real  enemy,  to  their 
best  int^'rests.  It  seems,  liowever,  that  this  valiant  Imliana  colonel  is 
determined.  uotwitiistandiuK  his  former  repulses,  to  continue  bis  unsoli- 
cited andottielousintermeddlingwith  the  domestic  policy  of  this  State." 

Ibit  it  was  found  impracticable  to  build  the  road  luulerthc  law 
of  liS4!>,  and  a[>plication  was  ayain  made  to  the  j>eneral  assenddy 
♦)f  IS.").'}  for  a  special  clnuter.  Col.  J>ron^h  was  personally  jues- 
ent  and  labored  earnestly  to  sneceed,  but  the  JState  policy  ]»arty, 
afU'r  strenuous  oi»positiou,  led  by  jMcssrs.  Wyini,  Kuykeiidal  and 
others,  were  a;^ain  enabled  to  defeat  the  bill.  Another  bill  look- 
injj;  to  the  accomi>lishmeut  of  .lie  same  result,  perhaps,  was  for  a 
charter  of  tlii' Terre  Haute  and  Vandalia  railroad,  but  the  Jeal- 
ous and  watchful  State  policy  ]»arty,  rejiardinj;-  this  as  a  piece- 
meal resui. rection  of  the  "  IJroujih  road,"  i»romptly  defeated  it. 
The  extension  of  the  Jielleville  and  lllinoist(»wn  chaiter  <'ast\vard 
across  the  State,  the  1'erre  Haute  and  ^Marshall  branch,  and  sev- 
eral others,  which  looked  to  ai)proach  theMississijipi  at  St.  Louis, 
all  met  witli  si^niial  defeat.  The  triumi)h  of  the  State  ])olicy  jiarty 
was  complete,  and  the  pr«'ss  in  its  interest  boldly  proclaimed  that 
it  had  waxed  stron>ier  than  ever. 

Alxiut  this  time,  too,  Chicaj^jowasjireatly  exercised  over  the  Joliet 
Cut-oil' yrievanee,  a  road  wliich  would  save  to  the  public  from  the 
east,  west  or  south — not  desiriu;;'  (o  makethe  detiuir  to  Cliica<;«) — 
COmilesin  transi»ortation  or  travel,  jicting-  and  comiiift'.  Yet  Chi- 
ca<i(),  for  some  fan(;ied  benefit,  was  anxious  that  that  circnit  slutuld 
be  maintaiui'd  and  enforced,  uolois  rclois,  u\H)n  all  freij^ht  and 
passen<ier  transportation.  Jt  is  bur  just  to  say,  howevei',  tlia*  in 
this  tliere  was  not  entire  unanimity.  Notably  the  Chicago  Jk'mo- 
crnt  became  all  at  once  the  most  ardent  advocate  of  State  ]>olicy, 
and  sti'oiifiiy  nr^cd  this  <'nforced  deviation  upon  the  publi*-,  <le- 
iiouiiciufi  ,loliet  and  her  citizens  prominently  connected  with  the 
steps  taken  to  buiUl  a  short  railroatl  directly  east,  in  unmeasured 
terms  of  abuse. 

It  was  at  the  session  of  ISo.^,  that  Jose])li  Gilles])ie,  eliam])ion 
of  the  Alton  interest,  introdu(;ed  into  the  senate  a  bill  by  which 
all  these  existing'  chartered  railroad  corporations  were  to.  be 
pioteeti'd  for  ten  years  a;;ainst  the  buildiuy  of  any  eomi»eting 
ruuds  within  25  miles  distance,  unless  existing  corporations  lirst 


''1 


'\  r 


570  inSTOUY   OF   ILLINOIS. 

c'oiisciilcd  tlicri'to.  Tliis  iinia/.i'iji'  urojjosition  was  a  fir  cliinax  to 
all  tlic  iiioKstroiis,  ahsiiid  and  jtciiiifioiis  scliciiics  of  (lie  Stalt' 
Itolicv  parly.  ^Vilil('  many  <»!'  tlic  (itlicr  States  ol'  tlic  L'nion,  aiii- 
iiiatiMl  by  a  iioblt'  spirit  of  t'iir('r]>iis«',  were  icni(>\  iiij;-  h'^^al  ob- 
stinctions  and  instead  adojjtin;;  broad  and  liberal  railroad  ineoi-- 
poration  laws,  tlirowinj;'  wide  open  tlieir  borders,  and  inxitinj;' 
eapilal  iVoiii  abroad  to  binld  railroads  and  create  competition 
wherever  it  inclined,  it  was  cooly  projjosed  in  tlie  }>reat  Slate 
of  Illinois,  wliicli  needed  develo]>inent  very  badly,  to  draw  a  cor- 
don of  exclnsivcness  around  Jier  borders,  ami  v  itliin  to  condtine 
witli  soulless  corporations  in  the  monopoly  of  all  iinpr«»vements, 
and  hand  over  to  lliem,  bound  by  tlie  stronj>-  clionls  of  the  law, 
the  jx'ople  of  the  State  to  be  lleeeed  \vithout  stint.  The  bill 
tailed  to  become  a  law. 

The  Salem  railroad  convention  of  1.S40  haviii<;' ultimately  ])roved 
successful  in  obtaininjia  charter  for  the  Ohio  and  ^lis«issippi  rail- 
road, another  convention  now  met  at  the  same  ]>lace,  >sov.  "St,  ISij;?, 
to  uvin'  upon  the  governor  the  calling;  to<;<'ther  of  the  ji'eneral  as- 
senddy  in  extraoi'dinary  session.  The  counties  of  Clark,  Ciim- 
borland,  Eflinjiham,  Crawford,  Fayeth',  .Jasper,  Edwards,  JJond, 
St.  Clair,  .Jackson,  ^Monroe,  AVilliamsou,  Randolph,  Clin- 
ton, .leff'eison,  i'eiiy,  INIariou,  Clay,  sonu'  11),  all  south  of  the 
Terre  Haute  and  Alton  railroad,  whose  best  and  most  accessable 
nnuket  woidd  l)e  St.  I^ouis,  were  ably  represented  by  their  most 
public  spirited  and  cnti  iprisin<i'  men.  Tlu'  Hon.  Zadock  Casey 
was  unaiumonsly  chosen  cliairnnin.  A  committee  was  a])pointed 
of  which  the  lion.  Sidney  IJreese  was  ehairnuin,  to  draft  an  ad- 
dress, settinji'  forth  their  <;rievances  and  nrjiinj;  the  p)vernor  to 
con\('iie  the  legislature.  Action  ii,  ii  seven  measures  was  de- 
nninded,  but  the  railroad  grievance  was  the  luaiu  one.  The  eom- 
nnttee  say: 

"J  he  sjR'cial  ucts  and  tlie  j^eueral  law,  so-called,  for  railroad  incorpo- 
ration demand  action  tliat  would  alone  justify  an  extra  session.  Ke- 
strictions  upon  the  accomplisliment  of  useful  enterprises  might  be  re- 
moved l)y  an  act  of  ten  lines,  opening  the  way  to  immediate  construc- 
tion of  works  tiiat  would  bring  in  capital  froni  abroad  and  enhance  the 
value  of  real  estate  to  the  amount  of  several  millions  of  dollars.  That 
Southern  Illinois  has  a  peculiar  interest  in  this  important  measure,  she 
has  no  disposition  to  deny.  Look  at  tlie  single  fact  tliat  in  the  vast  and 
increasing  railroad  eiitei]>iises,  which  is  giving  new  life  to  the  State,  and 
which  already  exceed  li,()()0  miles  in  extent,  less  than  800  are  permitted 
to  Soutliern  Hlinois." 

A  committee  of  some  20  was  a]>i)()inted  to  ]m>sent  the  address 
in  ])erson  to  the  governor.  It  had  the  desired  eft'ect.  The  governor 
issiu'd  his  iiroclamation,  convening  the  legislature  in  Feb.,  l.sr»4, 

Tliis  special  session  was  a  very  busy,  and  in  many  respects,  a 
iiio.st  important  one  for  the  State.  But  we  now  can  only  notice 
the  subject  in  hand.  The  State  policy  was  narrowed  down  to  the 
oiu'  (dijcct  of  again  defeating  the  '•  IJrougli  road,"  for  which  jMir- 
jiose  a  great  effort  was  made,  aided  by  foreign  lobbyists  interested 
in  the  Terre  Ilante  and  Alton  road.  IJut  their  efforts  failed  ;  the 
liberal  policy  triumphed,  tliechartei-  "recognizing  and  authorizing 
the  coustructi(Ui  of  the  JMississijipi  and  Atlantic  railroad"  jiasscd 
in  both  houses  by  decisive  majorilies.  Exit  ''State  policy" — a 
policy  wliicli  has  done  mudi  to  hiinler  and  retard  thi^  growth  and 
develoinnent  of  the  southern  jiortion  of  the  State,  anu  whose 
blight  has  lingered  more  or  less  to  this  day. 


ClIAPTEK  XL VI. 

THE  ILLINOIS  CENTRAL  KAILKOAD. 

Confircmonal  Grant  of  LumJ — H(>U>rool<  Charters — BomUioUlci's' 
tScJH'mfs — The  1  per  eeitt.  of  its  (Iro.ss  Earniui/s — FanHaije  of  its 
Charter — Ileuejits  to  the  Co)iq)a)iij,  the  AStateaud  IiaUri(liial,s — 
Kote :  Jealouny  of  rolitieians  on  Aceonnt  of  its  Glory — C'orres- 
pomlence  of  Messrs.  Breese  and  Douglas. 


Tlic  snbjcct  of  this  cliiiptcr  iiiaiks  iiii  ciji  in  the  ])i'()gre)ii«  of  tlie 
State.  The  {iiiiiid  schciiit'  of  coiiiR'ctiiij'',  by  nieiuis  of  iron  bands 
of  coinnicrcc,  Lalic  Miciiijian  wilh  the  jiivat  waleiy  hif^hway  of 
tlie  .Mis,sissi|)i»i  VaUey  at  tiic  conHiu'iicc  of  tiie  Ohio,  liad  long 
Ihhmi  a  (k'si(h'iatnin  with  oyr  i^'oplo.  It  had  constituted  part  of 
tlio  State  internal  improvement  system  of  IS.iT,  and  some  work  ou 
tiie  hue  was  actually  done,  hut  was  abandoned  with  the  gen- 
eral collapse  of  tha^  system.  The  Central  Jiailroad,  from  the 
southein  terminus  of  the  canal  to  Cairo,  was  snbsecpU'Utly  revived 
by  legislation,  i>rocured  by  scheming  brains  with  an  eye  to  the 
future,  but  the  whole  subject  lacked  vitality  until  the  passage  of 
the  act  of  congress  of  Septend)er,  1.S50,  granting  to  the  State  a 
nuiniticent  donation  of  near  .'{,(KK),0(H)  acres  of  land  through  the 
lieart  of  Illinois  in  aid  of  its  comi)letion.  This  noble  tribute  by 
the  nation  had  its  birth  sinndtaneously  with  and  amidst  the 
throes  of  the  great  adjustment  nu'asures  of  1850,  which,  during 
that  long  and  extraordinary  session  of  Congress,  shook  the  Union 
from  center  to  circumference.  Twice  before  had  a  similar  bill 
passed  the  senate,  and  twice  had  it  failed  in  the  house,  but  now  it 
was  a  law,  and  the  State  |(o,ssesse<l  the  nu-ans  to  complete  the 
great  work.  The  linal  ])assage  of  the  measure  was  hailed  with 
demonstrations  of  great  joy  by  the  people  ami  press  of  our  State.* 
Illinois  internal  improvement  bonds  nnide  a  bound  forward  of  10 
percent,  in  the  New  York  market.  At  tliis  time  the  lunount  of 
railroad  comi)leted  in  the  State  consisted  of  a  section  of  the 
N(nthern  Cross  Kailroa<l,  fiom  iMeredosia  and  Najtles,  on  the  Illi- 
nois river,  to  Si'iinglield  ;  the  Chicago  &  Galeini,  irom  the  former 
city  as  far  as  >]lgin ;  and  a  0  mile  coal  ti-ack  across  the  American 
bottom  from  oi>i)osite  St.  Louis  to  the  mines  in  the  bluffs. 

♦After  the  adjourninent  of  conjrress,  8enntors  no\i(flBS  nml  Sliiehls,  on  Ihcir  return 
hoini',  were  tenilereil  a  publle  (iiiiner  iit  ("liieii)!<)  in  lionor  ol  the  oeeiisinn,  but  for  reii- 
B0I18  of  flelieiiey  tliey  deeliiUMl  heeoiiilutr  the  e.xeluslve  leelph  tits  of  siieh  iitteutions, 
awanliiijj  to  their  eolleiitrues  of  the  house — where  the  tlniil  buttle  whs  fought  luia 
won- Messrs.  MeClernand,  Hitrris.  Wentworth,  YounM',  Kii'hiiidson.  HiFsellnnd  Ilaker, 
the  )irinei|)»l  merit  of  its  passnjre.  The  honors  tor  tlie  success  of  the  measure  were  a 
fruittul  source  of  jealousy  among  our  public  men. 

571 


572  HLSTOUY   OF   1LLIN(»IK. 


Tlic  iict  jirantcd  tlic  lij^lit  of  \\'.\y  lor  I  lie  lailroiul  tliroii^ili  the 
]>iil)l!i' liUKls  of  the  width  of  _(!()  feet,  from  tlic  .soiithciii  tcniiiiius 
of  the  Illinois  iiixl  .Miclii<^iiii  Canal  to  a  [toiiit  at  or  near  tli«^ 
jiMuMion  of  the  t)hio  and  .Mississippi  rivers,  and  for  Itranchcs  to 
Chicago  and  (iali'iia;  also  lli*-  ])rivil('^('  to  take  from  them  mate- 
rials of  eai'tli,  stone  and  tindter  lor  its  construction.  l>nt  the 
main  ;^rant  to  the  State  was  the  alternate  sections  of  land  desij;-- 
luited  by  even  numbers  for  (J  sections  deep  on  each  sid(>  of  its 
trunk  and  branches;  for  the  landssoldor  pre-ein|)ted  within  thi.s 
lli  mile  belt  or  area,  enough  nnj;ht  be  seletrtetl  from  t'ven  num- 
bered sections  to  the  distance  of  lo  ndlcs  on  either  side  of  the 
tracks  e(pnd  in  <piantit,v  to  them.  The  coiistructioiiof  the  road  was 
to  be  simultaneously  commenced  at  its  northern  and  s(Mitherii 
teiiniid,  and  vhcn  completed  the  branches  were  to  be  constructed. 
It  was  to  be  completed  within  ten  y<'ars,  in  (b'fault  of  which  the 
unsold  lands  were  to  n^vcrt  to  the  L'idted  States,  and  for 
those  sold  the  State  was  to  ]y,\\  the  {government  jirice. 
The  minimum  i)riee  of  the  alteinale  or  odd  numbered  sections  of 
the  •;<)\<'rnment  land  was  laised  from  !?1  IT)  to  >f'2  oO  per  acre. 
"While  the  i)ublic  lands  were  thus  by  the  prospect  of  the  bnildiu";' 
of  this  road  rendered  imue  saleable  at  double  ]>rice,  it  followed 
that  the  j^eneral  p>vernment  not  oidy  lost  n<tthin;i'  in  dollars 
and  cents,  but  in  p(tint  of' time  was  actually  the  ;;ainer  by  this 
»plen<lid  j;ift.  The  land  was  taken  out  of  market  for  two  yc^irs, 
and  when  restored,  in  the  fall  of  ISoli,  it  in  fact  brouj;ht  an  aver- 
a<ie<»f  ){!.■)  per  acre.  The  ^rant  was  siibject  to  the  disjtosal  of  the 
legislature  for  the  ])uipose  s])ecitied,  and  the  road  and  branches 
Avere  to  be  and  I'cmain  a  i>ubli<',  hi<;hway  for  the  use  of  the  jiov- 
ernment  of  the  I'nitcd  States,  i'ree  from  all  t(dls  or  other  charges 
for  the  transj)oitation  of  any  troops,  munitions  or  other  ]iroperty 
of  the  j;-eneral  j;()vernment.  This  i>rovision,  had  it  applied  to 
the  rolliiifi'  stock  as  well  as  the  use  of  the  rails,  would  doubtless 
liave  saved  the  <;eneral  j'-overnment  durinjf  the  rebellion  many 
liundrcils  of  thousaujls  of  dollars;  but  it  has  been  construed  ad- 
v<'rsel,\  to  the  rij;hts  of  the  ji'overnment  in  this  ]»articular.  For 
the  i)urpose  of  c(Mitiiiuin<;'  the  road  south  to  JNIobile,  all  the  rijilits, 
])rivil«',m's  an<l  liabilities,  with  rejiard  to  the  jirant  of  th(!  i)ublie 
lands  and  in  every  respect  as  conferred  on  this  State,  weie  ex- 
tended to  Alabanni  and  .Mississi|)pi.  Such  is  a  synojysis  of  the 
imj)oi'taiit  jnovisions  contained  in  this,  the  lirst  land  sultsidy  made 
by  conuicss  in  aid  of  railroads,  latterly  so  lamentably  frequent 
as  t(»  well  ni{>h  despoil  the  country  of  its  jjublie  domain. 

Upon  the  passaj;e  of  the  bill,  Mr.  ])ouj;las  immediately  pre- 
]tarcd  a  ])etition,  si{>ned  by  theconjiressional  delcfJiations  of  all  the 
Slates  alonj;'  the  route  of  the  road  from  ^Mobile  north,  d<'scrib- 
in^  the  ])robable  location  of  the  road  and  its  branches  throuyh  Illi- 
nois, and  recjuestin};'  the  ]>resident  to  order  the  suspension  of  land 
sales  alon*;'  the  lines  desijiuated,  which  was  immediately  done.* 

The  act  of  coii.uivss  threw  upon  the  le^^islature  of  Illinois  liie 
entire  duty  of   making  a  prudent,   wise  and  satisfactory  disposi- 


ILLINOIS  CENTRAL  KAi;  V.OAD. 


573 


tioii  of  tlu'iiia^iiiilicciit  {iriuit.  Tlic.  i>oiiit  ot'dcpiutiircof  tlic  Clii- 
ca^<»  Uriiiicli  fioiii  tlic  iiiaiii  Iniiik  wiis  not  lixcd  It.v  the  act,  and  this 
dclicatf  duty  tli«'  l('j;i.slatui(',  it  was  f;('ii('iall_\ cxpt'ctcd,  \\()iddtak«i 
in  liand.  JU'turr  tlir  ni»'ctin<;of  Ihatliody,  in.lannaiy,  l.sr»l,  ninch 
contention  pcivadcd  tlic  press  of  tlu^  Stati'  rcj;ardin<;'  the  location 
of  the  main  tiiiidv,  and  jtaiticnlarly  the  rontcs  of  the  branches, 
Many  worthy  ami  andtilions  towns  were  arrayed  a^^aini^t  each 
other.  The  liaSalle  interest  wanted  the  ('liicajU'o  branch  taken 
off  at  that  point.  IMooniin^^ton,  looking;  to  a  continnation  of  the 
Alton  \'  San;^anion  road  (now  the  Cliicjijio,  Alton  k  St.  Lonis)  to 
that  i)lace,  wanted  the  Chica;4<)  branch  to  connect  her  with  the 
lake.  Hhclbyville,  which  was  a  point  on  the  old  line  of  the  Illi- 
nois Central,  not  dreaniinj;'  but  that  slie  wonld  have  the  main 
trunk,  was  <;ras|)in<;  for  the  departure  thence  of  the  ('liica;;() 
branch  also,  and  lost  both.  Aiudlier  route,  which  oujulit  to  have 
coinnnnided  jireat  strenj;th,  was  proposed  on  tin'  most  direct  line 
from  Cairo,  nnddiij-' the  jtoint  of  connection  with  the  nmin  trunk 
ill  I'ulaski  county,  and  takinj;'  oft"  the  (ialena  branch  at  Mt. 
A'einon,  thence  throu^di  Carlyle,  (Ireeiiville,  Ilillsboro,  Sprinj;- 
lield,  J'eoria,  (Ialena  and  on  to  J)id>n<iin'.  lint  of  course  it  was 
to  llu' int(  rest  of  any  company  to  nndvc  the  location  where  Iheie 
Avas  the  larficst  amount  of  \  acant  land  that  could  be  brouylit 
witliin  the  bi'lt  of  1.5  ndles  on  either  si(l(^  of  the  road.  And  this 
proxcd  the  <'ontrollinf>  intluence  ultinnitely,  both  in  the  location 
of  the  nndn  stem  and  the  branches. 

The  disastrous  failure  of  only  u  do/en  short  years  before,  as  con- 
nected with  the  Utopia  of  the  internal  improvement  system  by  tho 
State,  was  not  forj^otteii ;  and  now  when  the  means  of  achie\in}» 
{jreatyood  for  develoi»inj;'  tlie  Htate  were  in  hand,  the  stump  and 
press  teemed  with  advice  as  to  the  best  mode  of  disixtsiiij;  of  the 
yrant  of  land,  which,  it  may  be  a(hled,  was  seldom  free  tVoin  bias 
or  a  hiok  to  local  advantaj^cs.  Swarms  <»f  land  specidators  and 
town  site  owners,  it  was  anti<'ipated,  would  infest  the  lobby  at  the 
next  session  of  the  legislature.  The  peojjle  were  very  properly  ad- 
vised that  to  jiiiard  ayainst  the  influences  and  intrigues  of  these 
sharks  they  must  select  their  best  and  ablest  lueu  to  represent 
them. 

The  Holhrooli  Charters. — One  of  the  idiantoms  Avhich  looined 
into  ])nblic  recognition,  casting  its  shadow  across  the  path  of  bright 
jiromise  for  the  State,  was  what  was  kn«)wn  as  the  ''Jlolbrook 
Charters,"  whose  inctorporators,  it  was  feared,  woidd  step  in  and 
swallow  ivp  the  congressional  grant  of  land  under  the  broad  terms 
of  their  franchises. 

The  Cairo  City  and  Canal  Company  was  originally  incor])oiated 
for  the  purpose  of  constructing  dikes,  levees  or  embankments  to 
secure  and  preserve  Cairo  city  and  adjacent  lands  against  tho 
freshets  of  the  rivers.  The  cutting  of  a  canal  to  unite  the  iNIissis- 
sippi  with  the  Ohio  through  Cash  river,  was  also  authorized.  In 
the  fall  of  1835  the  Hon.  Sydney  Breese,  through  a  well-considered 
published  letter,  had  first  called  attention  to  the  plan  of  a  central 
railroad,  connectingthe  southern  terminus  of  the  Illinois  and  JMich- 
igan  canal  at  Peru  with  the  contliience  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
rivers  at  Cairo.  An  eft'ort  was  nuxde  at  the  special  session  of 
1835-6  to  unite  this  project  with  the  canal,  for  which  an  appropri- 


1 1 


674  mSTOllY   (»K    ILI.LNOIS. 


titioii  <»t'$.')()(),0(l()NVjis  tlicii  ;;i-iiiit('(].  This  riiiliii<j:,  ti  cliiirtiT  tor  tliu 
railroad  wiis  };raiit('(l,  .siipplfiiM-iitiii;;'  tliis  itiojt'ct  wilii  tlicCiiiro 
Citv  ("oriipaii.v,  llic  coriioratois  Itfiii;;  l>aiiii.s  l>.  Ilojliiooi;,  (wlio 
was  also  llic  |)i'«-si<lciil  of  tli**  coiiipaiiv.)  Milrs  A.  (iillM-it,  .lolm  S, 
HacUcr,  Al«'.\aii(lci'  M.  .Iciikiiis,  Aiillioiiy  Oliu-v  and  William  ''. 
W'alkfi'.  Application  was  ilicn  t'lsi  made  to  con^iicss  for  aid  Ity 
])i'('-('iii|)tion.  One  .year  later  tlic  Slate  entered  upon  tliejireat  in- 
teiiial  improvement  system,  and,  nnwillin;;'  to  ItrooU  a  rival,  ap- 
])lied  lo  the  Cairo  company  to  snrreiider  the  charter  tor  the  laiild- 
injn  of  this  railroad  thron;;h  the  centre  of  the  State,  which  was 
complied  witli  on  condition  tinit  the  Slat(>  iinild  the  roati  on  a 
route  leadiii;;'  from  Cairo  thi<iii!;h  N'andalia,  Shelhyville.  Decatur, 
JMoominuton,  rein,  an<l  via  Dixon  to  Calena.  The  State  expended 
more  than  a  million  dollars,  it  is  said,  on  this  route  lietore  the 
"^rand  system"' collapsed  in  ISIO.  Snltsetpu-ntlv,  l»y  act  of  .March 
(>,  l.S4.'S,  the  roa<l,  in  the  condition  that  it  was  abandoned,  was  re- 
stored to  the  ( 'airo  company  under  the  title  of  tiie  (Ireat  W  esterii 
IJailvvay  Company,  with   the  ]»ower  to  construct  the  I'oad  from 

1  Cairo  yia  the  jtlaces  i.amcd,  to  a  ]ioint  at  or  near  the  south- 
ern terminus  of  the  Illinois  and  .Michi^^an  canal,  in  such  manner 
as  they  nii;^ht  deem  most  exped.' nt.  The  Cairo  C(»mpaiiy  was 
vested  with  the  title  and  ellccts  of  the  old  Central  railroad.  All 
the  usual  fianchise.s  w«'re  jirauted  to  the  (ireat  Western  Company 
as  part  of  the  Caii'o  Company,  and  in  sectiiui  IS  it  was  added  that 

,  ''.mII  lands  that  may  come  into  the  ]iossession   of  said  company, 

whetlu'r  l>y  donati<iM  or  jturchas*',"  vveiv  pled^^cd  and  inortj;aj;e(l 
'  in  advance  as  security  for  the   payment  ol  the  bonds  ami  obji^ia- 

'.  tioiis  of  the  company  autliorizi'd  to  l)e  issued  and  contracted  under 

the  i)royisions  of  the  charter.   IJy  act  of  JMarch  ;$,  184"),  tlie  charter 
,  of  this  Cireat    W«'stern    J{ailroad  Company  was  repealed ;  l»ut  by 

'  act  oi  l'"ei)ruary  10,  l.S4!>,  it  was  rev  iyed  for  the  benetit  of  the  Cairo 

City  ;ii:dCaiud  Coni|)any,  with  the  addition  of  some  'M)  names  as 
;,  incorporators,  taken  from  ail  i>arts  of  the  State,  many  «>f  whom 

;  Avt're  well-knovvii    politicians.     The  company  thus  reyiyed  was  aii- 

;  thorized  in  the  construction  of  the  Central  Jfailroad  to  extend  it 

i  on  from  the  southern  terminus  of  the  canal — KaSalle — 1<»  Clncajio 

*j  "in   strict  <'ouformity  to  all  obligations,  restrictions,  powers  and 

j;  priyilc^ics  of  the  act  of  bs4.')."     The  jiovcrnor  was  'uipowered  to 

,•  liold  in  trust  foi'  the  use  and    beiielit  of  said  company  whateyer 

jf  lands  niijiht  be  donated  to  the  State  by  the  {-eneral  jioverinnent, 

jl<  to  aid  in  the  completion  of  t!u'  Central  or  (Jreat  Western  Railway, 

,:i  subject  to"t  he  conditions  and  proyisionsof  the  bill  (then  pendiuj;  be- 

i;  fore  conjiiess  and  expected  to  become  a  law,)  jjiantinj;'  the  subsidy 

Aj'  of  .'>,(H)(»,(I0()  acres  of  land.     The  company  was  further  ant hoiized 

;-^  to  receiye,  hold  and  dispose  ov'  any  and  all  lands  secured  to  it  by 

2  donation,  ]>re('mption  or  otherwise.  There  were  other  details  of 
5  minor  impcnlaiice,  but  these  sutticiently  nidicate  the  nice  scheme 
jl  entertained  by  the  lonju-headed  si)ecidators. 

l|  IJut  J)ou<;las,  thonjih  absent    at   Washiufjton,  was  not  to  be 

!|  hoodwinked    by  tln'se    schenu's    ajininst    the    best    interests    of 

I  the  Statu.     At  the  s)»ecial  session  of  the  lejiislatnre  in  the  au- 

'  tumn  of  184{>,  in  his  able  si)eech  deliyered  to  tluit  body,  October 

L'.WI,  he  demonstrated  that  a  fraud  had  been  jiracticed  upon  it  the 

winter  itrecediii};' in  ])rocuriny  from  it  this  charter;  and  that  had 

the  bill  in  congress  donating  this  land  met  with  no  delay  on  this 


ILLINOIS  CENTRAL  UAH.KOAn. 


r>75 


account,  (Iiis  vast  propcit.v  woiiNI  liav«'  yoiic  into  tlic  iiands  of 
Ilollnook  kS:  Co.,  to  cniirli  ilicsc  sclimiinn  rorpoiiilois.  willi  liltlc, 
assniancc,  as  tla-y  ri'prcst'nicd  no  wcaltli,  tliat  llic  roa<l  \voul<l 
over  li(>  iMiilt.  Con^irrss  liad  an  insnpcialtlc  ohjcction  to  inakin}{ 
tlic  •;rant  lor  the  Ix-nfit  ol' a  private  coipoialion.  'I'lic  connrctioii 
of  tlirs4-  Ilollti'ooii  companifs  witii  the  Ccntial  railroati,  in  tiit'cs- 
tiniali(»n  of  (•onj;i<'ss,  prcscntt'd  an  inipassiltlc  hairici' to  tiic  i^rant. 
l>nt  lliis  l(><;islatni'c,  wiiicli  had  granted  the  chaitci,  refused  to  re- 
peal it. 

To  obviate  the  dillienit.v,  Mr.  II(»ll»rook,  presideid  (»f  the  eoni- 
l)anies,  who  aidentl.N  sou;nhl  the  sin-eess  of  the  I'oad,  «'.\ecutetl  a 
))ronns4^  of  rehase  to  the  yoveiiior,  Ih'cendx'i'  l.'ttli,  I.Sl!»,  a  dupli- 
eate  of  which  was  transmitted  t<»  Mi'.  Douglas  at  \Vashiii;;ton. 
lint  the  senatordid  not  re;;ard  tliis  release  as  valid  or  Itintlin;:  upon 
tlu^  c»»niitanv,  because  it  was  wiilKMit  tiie  saiiclion  or  authority  of 
tiu'  stockhohU'rs.  or  «'ven  tin'  board  of  direct ois.  While  he  did 
not  impute  anv  such  motive,  the  company,  he  bclit  xcd,  was  still 
in  tii(>  condition  which  would  enable  it  to  take  all  th«'  lands 
^'ranted,  <livi<le  them  amon^  its  stockholders,  and  retain  its  char- 
tered privilcfi'es  without  buildin^ilhe  road,  lie  was  niiw  illinji' to 
j;ive  his  a|>pro\  al  t<»  any  arranfienu'Ut  by  which  tiie  State  could 
possii>Iy  be  deinived  <»f  any  of  the  lu'iietils  resul;in<>  from  the  ex- 
pected }irant.  Kor  the  iU'ote(rtiou  of  the  State,  and  as  an  assur- 
ance to  conjiress.  t lie  execution  of  a  full  and  complete  release  of 
all  rijihts  :ind  priviie<i«'s,  and  a  surri-nder  (»f  the  cliart»'rs,  and  all 
acts  or  parcels  of  acts  supplemental  or  ann-ndatory  there(»f,  or 
relating  in  any  wise  to  the  ("enlral  lailroad,  so  as  to  leave  the. 
State,  tlironuh  its  le<iislature,  free  to  make  such  disp»»sition  of  tho 
lan<ls  and  su<-h  arrangement  for  tiie  construction  of  the  road  as 
mi<jlil  be  deemed  liest,  was  demanded.  These  re(piireiiieiits  were 
<leeiiied  Hot  unreasonable  liy  tlie  ajicnts  of  the  company  at  Wash- 
iiij;ton,  tiie  lion,  .lohii  A.  IJockwell,  of  ('onnecticiit,  and  Mr.  (r. 
^\'.  UilliiiHs,  and  a  few  days  after  a  reh-ase,  in  duplicate,  was  exe- 
eute<l  in  New  Yoik,  one  copy  of  whicli  was  forwarded  to  the 
jjoveriKH'  of  Illinois,  and  one  retained  by  Mr.  I)(»ii^!as,  to  be  used, 
if  necessary,  in  coii;;ress,  containing  these  conditions: 

"1st.  That  tlie  Iej;;'>^l:'tiii"e  of  said  State  sliall,  within  the  period  of  TEN 
YIOAHS  from  the  Ist  of  January,  1K.")0,  eonstruct  and  liiially  conii)lete,  or 
cause  to  lieet)n8tnRte»l  and  completed,  a  railroad  IVoiu  Cairo  toChicaf^o, 
and  dial  the  southern  terminus  ot  said  road  shall  be  the  city  of  Cairo. 
2d.  That  tlie  leKishdure  of  said  State  shall,  duriiiv;  its  next  session,  elect 
whether  to  accjpt  or  decline  this  release  upon  the  conditions  herein 
stated.  .'5d.  That  until  said  State,  through  tlieir  legislature,  shall  have 
made  their  election,  this  company  may  inih  //it  <ipi,i-i,/i,ii'iui,  of  /fi<'  nm'inior  of 
t/ii  s/iii,\  ))r()ceed  in  the  coiislruction  of  said  road,  and  if  said  cliarter 
aliall  be  released  as  aforesaid  to  said  State  of  Illinois,  the  said  Stateshall, 
within  one  year  from  the  time  of  said  election,  refund  to  this  eomi)any 
the  amount  which  lietween  that  period  and  the  present  time,  shall  liave 
been  expended  in  tlie  construction  of  said  road,  with  (i  i-ercent.  interest 
thereon,  and  shall  assume  all  /»<);««  //Wt  contracts  /leniifUi  made  by  this 
company  in  the  construction  of  the  same,  which  shali  liave  been  previ- 
ously approved  l)y  the  governor  of  said  State." 

Notlnvitlistandiiif?  this  release,  after  the  ])assaj>e  of  the  bill 
g'rantin<j;'  the  land  by  eonj;re.ss,  there  was  a  doubt  in  the  mind.s  of 
the  people  of  Illinois,  which  was  freely  canvassed  i)endin}^'  the 
election  of  the  le<;islature,  which  was  to  dispose  of  the  splendid 
donation  to  the  best  interests  of  the  State,  regardless  of  local  con- 


r.7(; 


niHTolfV    <»l'    II.I.INOIH. 


HiihTiilioiiN  (»!' MTliuiiiil  ilcHiri'N,  thill  ihi-  ('iiii(M-oiii|)iiii,v,  tlii'<iii{jli 
Km  |tr«'.sii|«-lit,  coiilil  iiliil  wniihl  ri|iii*liiil)'  IIm*  tflliH|iiiNliiiii-lil  ol'itH 
I'liiir  li'i's,  or' iisf  soiiD-  t'\|M-t|iiiit  lu  itiiliirr  (In-  ^fiiri'iil  !i>N<'iiilily 
to  liiil  ill  iicn-|iliii;;  il  iirronliii;;  to  its  'J  '  ht  ipiiliil  ion,  ulmli  Uolihl 
Miiililf  lliiil  roiM'i-iii  Im  ii'Miiim-  il>  toiliii'i'  |Mi>ilioii  iihil  (^liisp  llio 
iiii;;!-  '^liiiil  of  1)111)1  iiiiih  r  till-  plov  i>ioii.s  of  IIn  rliiii  Iii' oI  IM|!I, 
'I'lif  follow  in;;  nirioiis  Irttt-r,  ovit  IIm-  iiiiiiif  of  llir  pii'siilMit  of  lliu 
rom|piiii\,  wIihIi  ii|i|i)-in*'il  in  tiir  lllimiis  Aihomlr  ;it  l,<lt;inoii, 
iiiiil  lloiili'il  iiImmiI  ('(in>iili-riili|_\  ill  lli*'  inililic  |ii«'nm  of  IIm-  <lii,\, 
Ni'i'tiiM  to  cviiin*  il  (li'sin*  to  iiolij  on,  iiiiil  it  iJoiilitlcMH  ^mm'  rolor  to 
tli<-  |iiililir  ii|ipi'ilii'iiHioiiH: 

'•Ni;w  YoHK,  H«'|.t,  IT,,  ihfio. 

"J/im,    !•:.  a.  Smith: 

"I>I':ak  Hue  I  I'liii  Irnly  hii.v  that  I  iiiii  iiiiil<'r(ilill|;MlioiiH  lo  tiioHi-  ulio 
Witli  (iov.  ( 'iihty  pifVriilctI  llic  II))  III  of  111!' fliiiili  r  of  llic  <  iiiiil  VV'cmI- 
«-rii  Kallvsay  (  oiiipiiiiy.  Il  wtm  ^  <oil<'il  in  \ii>m\  lailli  aii<l  iimlrr  no 
oIIk'I  llial  lilt- Slii(<' IIIII  now  xranl.  I  inn  liii|i|iy  to  hii,y  lliiil  wlii'ii  I  <'X- 
plailH'ii  lilt'  lilll  lo  .Iinl^'f  DniivtliiH,  iiliij  lliat  my  olijrcl  Watt  to  liuvr  llii) 
I'oml  mail)' fur  the  li<'>l  liilrii'Ht  III'  till' wIimIi' Slalc,  I  would  rctnii  lliti 
fliarli't'  iiillii-r  lliaii  liavr  any  iippovliinn  limn  liii- Stale,  lie  wiih  HMliyili-il ; 
iiinl  llii- •■oiiht'ipM'nci' luiH  lircn  lliat  we  liavr  woiKcil  lujfi'lInT  iil  W'lifli- 
in^'liiii  lliJH  Willi)  r,  ami  liiiv)-  olilaim'il  ilie  unnil  )ir  laml  rinni  i'oii^D'hh 
tow  Mill  makiiiK  III)' i'<a)l.  W'c  tiD' miw  Hiiir  I lial  IId  roiul  Iroiii  < 'iiiin  l)> 
]')'i'ii,  (iali'iiii  ami  ( 'l:iraK'>  w  ill  !»'  I'lnll.  1  am  now  ii''Kanl/lii).>  tlir  cMm- 
]iaiiy  to  i-iiiniiD'nr)'  llie  woil''.  IIiIh  fall,  ami  jiiil  a  lar^e  pari  ol  Hit- r)>nil 
iiii)l)'r  conliai'l  an  i-iirly  iim  jiuhMilil)'.  \\')- nliiill  inalo'  lln-  dhkI  on  Mh-oIiI 
IIm-  III  llie  <  I'liiial  riMil)-,  HikuiuIi  V'aiDlalia,  >^li)'lliy  villc,  l)i')'aliir  ami 
JiluiiiiiiiiKlon.  I  rijolri' w  illi  III)'  p)'iipl)-  III  IIIIiioIh  llial  HiIh  liiipoi'liiiit 
I'oud  liillie  wlml)'  .sinir,  will  now  lie  imiilt'. 

"Vt-ry  riHpi.tfiilly,  D.  H.  llOLHIlOOlv." 

This  W)iN  <-oii.st)iici|  iis  il  |ii'ftfii.sioii  on  IIh*  piiit  of  the  pri'si- 
<1<>iit,  thiit  thr  Stiitc  )'oiil)i  not  ;:riint  iinv  otlii'i'  cliii'tiT  lliiin  tlnit 
wliii'h  hi,s  coinpiiiiN  owiii-ii,  to  roinpiil)-  I  In- ( 'ciilriil  riiiiioiiij,  im- 
]il,\in;^ii  njimliii!  ion  of  tin-  reh-iiM-.  Il*-ri-  wiiNiiiho  ji  I'hiiin  lo  ii 
Hhiin-  of  the  \i,\u\y  in  proniiiii;;  tin-  /^riiiit  from  i-on^ii-ss,  iiinl  the 
iisM  rtioii  thill  hi.s  coinpiiny  wiiN  iiiiily  to  ii'siiinc  thi'  woi'k  (iiifii- 
lioniii;;  till- rout)- of  lilt'  roiiil;  in)li('iil)i|  thiit  tin*  Ciiiro  <-oiiipiiiiy 
Wiis  iiiiistrr  of  the  hitiliilion.  I'lii  IId-I',  llic  ('liir!i;;o  ('oiHtnrrciiil 
AdrcrtiHcr^  n  ncw.spiipi-r  in  llolliidok'M  iiili'icNt,  in  no  very  rl«';;ant 
l!in<^nii;j;)-,  iimi  not  <ii-\),i*l  )if  iiitli'rni-s,s.  liol)lly  hi-I  ii|i  for  him  il  r«',- 
|iii)liiition  of  hin  icli-iisi- iif  tin- cliiirlfi'.s,  l>y  the  following;  its iiw ill : 

''JiiiIk<*  D'hikIkh  hiiH  tifcliin'il  the  lli'Ht  n-li-uHtMif  the  (,'alro  ciiiiipniiy 
illegal  iiidI  iIiI)  rllvc  ;  lnit  llial  Id-  olilaimii  a  Hii'oml  one  that  wimli'Kal, 
iiflor)-  ti<!  wiiulil  vol)'  lor  llie  k>'»'>I  of  laml.  That  will  likely  he  roiimi 
i'lpMilly  ho  For,  although  he  In  an  ex  Jutlge,  il  Ik  (loiiht)'il  it' he  kiioWH 
eiioiiKli  )>f  law  to  eillDr  ilietale  or  )li'aw  a  h'^al  ii'leuMe  in  Hiich  a  I'lme; 
anil  liih  whole   eomiTii   in   IIm-  mailer  may  he  limki'il  upon  iih  iniii'li  a 

iiiei')-  of  political  Irii'kery  ic  IiIh  hraKKOiK  alioul  il  Ih  liomhaHlic,  ami  that 
le  hail  no  iiDiri^  iiitliii-ni'i'  in  pi'0)'urinp;  tlu-  Ki'u»t'  than  Uie  harUiiiK  )>t  a 
jiooilli' (lo>^,  •  *  'J'lie  Culro  ('oiiipany  liave  lu'VeraMlicd  anylhiiig 
of  tliif  StaU' hilt  the  privilege  l)i  cxpemi  Ihcir  own  inoiie;  In  11,  which 
would  m^ver  injur*',  liut  do  much  j^ood  1)1  th«' Hlate.  •  "  *  •  jf 
JirecHc,  and  < 'awy  ami  HolhnioU  can  he  killed  oil'  hy  the  polllielunH  of 
llliiiolH,  look  out  for  more  plunder." 

'J'licsc  pi'<'tciisioiiH  hi'oii^lit  liown  upon  the  <  'iiiro  cniiipsinit'.s,  iiiiil 
pailictthu'ly  tlicir  picMiilcnt,  tlic  H('v«'i'cHt  iUiiniiidvt'nsionH  of  tiit* 
]in'S!s  iiiid  inaiiy  iioliticiium.  lint  tlie  coinpiinieis  wcri!  not  witlioiit 
li'ii'iids  in  tiic  h'gihhitiU'e  and  out  of  it.     It  i«  luobiible  that  tho 


M 


II.MNrilH  (I'.NTUAI.  IMII.ItiiAM. 


u  t 


itlniM*   si;*!!))!    in    Ni-w   York  wiim   iioI    aiillioii/iMl   Its  iIh-   llliiioiM 
K'siili'lil  ml  |tiii  iilois  iiimIi-i   llir  lt'\i\iil  iirl  ol'   |M|!I. 

Ill  Ni)\rliilMl,  Im'I'oic  llif  liHrliii;;  ol  III)-  lt';{i.s|!il  iiir,  WiilliT  li. 
SnilfN,  iiiM' lit'  till-  iH'W  ciii'iMiniltirM  III' ilic  (ill-ill  Ufsifiii  Kiiiiniiiil 
( 'niii|i;iii,\  III  ISIO,  iiijilirsM'il  a  li't liT  iit'  ill \  it:il  ion  In  nil  lii>i  ro 
rni  iioiiiloi  >,  )|iil\  iiiiiiii'il,  lo  liM-i-l  ill  >S)ii  iii;:rK'hl.  .iiiiiiiiirv  l>,  JHril, 
III!  I  III-  |iiir|io>i-  ol  liiLiii;;  sIhIi  iirlioii  ii.s  iiii;:lil  In- ijrriiirii  <'\|M' 
tliriii  lor  iIm- |tiililii' ;;ooil  li,\  Mil n-iiiin  in;;  up  liu-ii' rliiii  li-i  lo  llii* 
tSiiiii'.  or  Niii'li  uiIm-i  i-oiUNc  iiM  ini^lil  In-  «li-,sii<-il  l>\  Ilii*  ;(«-iifnil 
ii-M-iiiliiv,  to  ri-ii'o\(-  ill)  iloiilil  i  iiinl  r|ii<-slioii,s  ii-liili\i-  lo  tin-  coin- 
|i;iii.\  \  I  i;;lils  lino  |iou<  r>,  iind  lo  (liMiiiliiii  rasN  llml  lioil\  uilli  ir- 
;:iii<l  lo  llii-  <li^|lo  J  of  llii-  ;:i'aiit  of  lainl  lioin  run^n'MN  lor  llii* 
liiiililiii;^  oC  III-   niiirli    n h-iM 'i-nliiil  liiiJioinl. 

W  illi  till-  o|Miiiii;;  ol  till-  yiiiriiil  iismimIiIn    ll.i-ir  wi-ii'  not    Wiilil 
in;;   vsniltliN  r;i|iiliili>l.s  irii(l,\     toa\ail  iL'-iiim-Im-h  ol    llii.s  iniiiiili 
n-iM't- of  till-  nalioii,  uiio    |irolIi-ii-<l  to  Iniii'l  tin-   ('i-iiliii!    riiiiroaij 
and  ils  hr:inrlii-.s.     'I'lii-  roljowiii;;  inriiioriiil  u\|)laiii.s  IIm-H': 

"  '/'•>    llii   //iiiiinnli/t  llir  Sriiiiliirn  iinl  /if/irixiiiliiliinH  nf    lIu-    Slule  of  /llinoin,  in     llin- 
Hill   Afiiiili/i)  ciiiiviiiiil: 

'V\h'  na-iiiiiiiiil  ot  UoImtI  KdiiiyUT,  (Ji-oik"-  (iiIm\M(I<I,  (foiivriiii-r 
MoI'I'Ih,  Joiialliaii  SIiii'^'Ih,  <ii-or^i-  W.  I.iiillow  iiml  .lolin  I*'.  A.  Sun- 
lord,  of  ihi-rlly  of  N<-\v  N'ork.iiiid  Diivid  A.  Ni-al,  I'laiiUIln  llaviii  and 
Kolit'i'i  Kaiiloiil,  jr.,  of  liuHlon  iiimI  virinily,  ri-M|ii>ririiil_\'  ii'iirt-HriilH : 

lliivin;^  rxiiiiiiiii-d  and  (-iiiiHldci'itl  an  ad  of  ('iiiiKi'<'HH  ol  Ilii-  I'liili.-d 
iSiiili'H.  wli<-r<'liy  land  \^  doiialid  lor  llir  |Mir|i<mi-  of  msiiiin^  lln-  i-oii- 
hi  11 II 'I ion  of  a  railroad  liuni  ( 'airo,  at  tlii'  nioiilli  of  lln-  Ohio,  to  <  iaii-iiu 
iiikI  till-  noi'lliwi'hl  an)^li-  of  lln-  ,S|a|i-  ol'  JllinuiH  with  a  luanili  i-xti-nd- 
iiiK  lo  ( 'lilciiKo  on  IjmKi-  iMirldiraii  on  ri-rlain  ('oiiditioiiH  llirii-in  i-x- 
|ii<Mhi'<l  ;  and  liavin;r  kIho  i-xaniincd  lln-  rrMoiircrM  of  tin- tractor  i-oiiii- 
try  lluoii;;li  wliicii  it  in  |iro|ioM-il  that  Haid  rallruad  Hliall  iiiihh,  and  lliu 
aiiiniint  ol'  roHl  and  H|iiiri-  of  linn-  nrrcHhary  lo  i-oiiMtrin-t  lln-  Haim-,  tin; 
HiiliHi-rilii-rH  |iro|ioHi' In  I'lirni  a  roiii|iaii.\'  wild  hiii-h  MlocUholdi  th  mm  lln-y 
may  HHHoi-iati- with  Ihiin,  imliidin^  aiiion;;  tlx-ir  niiinhcr  pi  rHoiiH  oV 
liiim- I'XiH-riinrc-  In  lln- ronMlrnrlion  of  hi-vi-iiiI  of  the  i)iin(l|ial  lailroadH 
ill  the  I  nitt-il  iSlali'H,  and  of  iiii'iiiim  anil  cri-ilit  Hiitlicii'il  lo  jilari-  hryond 
diiiiM  lh<-ir  ahillly  to  iicifoin  wlial  tln-y  ln-r<'lnafl<  r  propoHi-,  niaUidhc 
I'ollowin;^  olli-r  to  till' Stall- of  lllinoiH  ior  thdr  <-onMiil»-iation  : 

'I'hi- roinpany  ho  forincil  hy  Hit-  HiihMriiln-rM  will,  iindi-r  lin- aiiliiorily 
and  din  rlioii  of  Ihi- iSlalc  ol^  llliiioiM,  fully  and  faithfully  pi  rfoiin  IIk; 
Ht-vi'i'al  rondilioiiH,  and  cxi-i-tili-  the  Iriinl  in  Kiiid  art  of  r(iiiKr»-HM  i-on- 
taiiK'd.  And  will  liiiild  a  railroad,  with  liraiichi-H  hit  wii-n  tin- li-rniini 
Hct  I'oi'th  in  Hiiid  art,  with  a  sin^li-  tnn-k,  and  ('oni|>lili-  lln-  Hann-  nady 
lor  lln- transportation  of  nn-rrhainlihi- and  |)aHMt-iiKi-rM,  on  or  hi-fon;  tlio 
4tli  day  of  July,  wliii-li  will  hi-  i  .  fin-  yi-arof  our  l.ord  IHM. 

And  the  Haid  railroadH  Hhall  li<-  in  all  riMpictH  as  will  and  ''loroiiKlily 
ItiiilliLs  till- railroad  ni.niinK  lioni  Koston  to  Alhaiiy,  with  hik-Ii  iin- 
)irov*-!n<-iitH  tln-rt-on  imi-xpi-rii-nci- has  Hlniwn  t,o  he  di-Mirahln  and  i-xjm- 
diciil,  and  HJiall  he  ciiiiijipi-it  in  a  iiiaiiiR-r  Huilaldi- to  tin;  hiiHiin-sH  to  ho 
ta-roininodati-d  t iicriliy. 

And  the-  Hiiid  <-oni])any,  I'loiii  and  iifttir  thi*  coinpiction  of  Hiiid  road, 
will)»ay  to  thu  iStat<-  of  lllinoiH,  annually,  —  pi-r  ciiil.  <»f  tin-  uroMHi-arn- 
iiigH  ol  Miid  roud,  without,  diMlintioii  or  clmrK*'  lor  (-xjii-iiHi-M,  or  lor  any 
otin-r  mat li-r  or  cause  :  /V'/icA./,  tiiat  the  (State  of  lllinoiH  will  Kiaiit  to 
tin;  Hiili«(!riherM  a  charter  of  iiK-orporation,  with  l«-rmH  niutiially  advaii- 
tiiKcoiis,  with  ))ow(-rHaiid  limitiitioiiHaH  tlii-y  in  their  wisilom  may  think 
111,  aMMliall  he  a<!cept«!il  hy  the  Haid  company,  ami  an  will  Hiilllcleiitly  re- 
iiiiiiu-rate  tiie  HuhH(Mih(-rH  for  thi-ir  care,  lalior  and  expemliture,  in  tliat 
liehalf  incurred,  and  will  eiiahle  them  to  avail  theiiiHeivi-H  of  tin-  latidH 
lioiialeii  Ity  tile  said  act,  to  raise  tiie  fiiniiH,  or  Home  portion  of  tiie  fiiridH, 
MeceHHury  for  tlie  c-ouMtructiou  uud  tiquipnifnt  uf  Huid  ruud." 

37 


578  IIISTOUY  OF   ILLINOIS. 

]\lr.  ]\iiiit()u1,  one  of  tlic  iiu'iiiorialists,  was  the  uccrcditcd  iijicnt 
of  the  otlicis,  with  full  power  to  act.  He  attended  jHTsoiially  at 
Spiinjilield  diirinj;'  the  .sittinji  of  the  lesislatiire,  and  tiie  above 
propoNition,  coming  from  ^cnlleinen  of  sueh  hi<;li  iinaneial  stand- 
in};,  was  very  favorahlv  received  from  his  hands,  particularly  as 
ir  otfcrcd  the  completion  of  the  road  and  .branches  in  a  much 
shorter  space  (»f  time  than  was  by  any  one  antici)>ated.  lie  was 
williufi'to  adjust  the  C(UMlitionsoi  the  (tontract  so  as  to  render  the 
completion  of  the  road  certain,  and  without  a  possibility  of  the 
misapplication  of  the  lan<ls,  or  the  bestowal  of  a  monopoly  ujxtu 
the  company,  which  was  ready  to  j;ive  any  ;;narantee  that  ndj^lit 
reasonably  be  asked  to  jjuard  the  State  aj;ainst  loss  from  defalca- 
tion, both  as  respected  the  prosecution  of  the  work  and  the  ap- 
plication of  the  ]»roeeeds  of  the  sales  of  lands.  The  terms  <>en- 
erally  were  re;;arded  as  highly  advantageous,  both  to  tiie  State 
and  the  company,  and  they  were  nltinnitely  nuule  the  basis  of  the 
Central  railroad  charter. 

i'lUt  ojjposition  to  the  gift  of  lan<l  from  the  nation  beinji,'  turned 
over  by  the  State  to  a  private  corporation  was  not  wantinji.  The 
maj^iiilude  of  the  j^rant  was  so  ov«'rpoweriny  to  the  minds  of  some 
l)ersons  that  they  fancied  and  arj;iied  that  the  State,  by  i)ropev 
mana/^ement  of  the  nu'ans,  mi;;ht  build  not  oidy  the  TOO  miles  of 
railroad,  but  pay  olf  thei)ul)lic  debt  of  nuiiiy  millions  besides.  If  the 
State  could  ha\e  nuunijicd  its  finances  and  iu()i)erty  with  the  «'cou- 
omy,  sajiacity  and  flexibility  of  a  })rivate  corporation,  mu<*h  of  this 
doubtless  could  have  been  done.  Mr.  John  S.  Wrijiht,  of  Chicajio, 
published  a  pam])hlet,  insistinjj  that  the  Static  wcudd  l)e  everlast- 
injily  dishonored  if  the  lej;islature  did  m>t  devise  laws  to\)uild  the 
road  and  disenthral  the  State  of  its  enormous  debt  besides  out  of 
th(^  avails  of  this  grant. 

Three-fourths  of  the  lands  donated,  it  is  true,  in  quality  of  soil 
an.d  fertility  were  niisuri)assed,  and  there  was  a  most  excellent 
bargain  in  them  so  soon  as  iron  arteries  of  commerce  could  be  ex- 
tended to  tlu'in ;  but  there  they  lay,  and  had  lain  for  Uo  years, 
free  to  any  purchaser  at  $1.2.")  an  acre,  ami  recently,  with  the 
abundance  of  land  warrants  thrown  ui)on  the  market  by  the  sol- 
diers of  th<-'  ^Mexican  war,  they  might  be  had  at  about  70  cents 
j)er  acre,  out  they  rennuued  unenti'red.  The  bargain  in  them  was 
to  be  inn)arted  to  them  by  the  construction  of  a  railroad,  ami  the 
bringing  of  them  within  the  range  of  nuirkets.  It  was  a  <piestion 
of  development,  for  which  large  ami  ready  capital  was  necessary. 
Even  if  the  credit  of  the  Stat(^  would  have  comnninded  the  recpu- 
site  capital  to  build  the  road.  Judging  by  her  experience  then  some 
12  years  past,  it  is  questionable  w  hether  she  ought  to  have  under- 
taken it.  Certainly  there  was  no  such  disposition  on  the  part  of 
the  legislature.  The  shortness  of  time  in  which  the  road  w  as  jtrof- 
fered  to  be  built  was  a  eardimd  consideration.  The  great  interior 
of  the  State,  then  of  no  taxable  value  to  the  treasury,  being  almost 
a  howling  wilderness,  would  in  soim^  three  years'  time  be  pene- 
trated by  a  commercial  highway,  and  brought  within  ready  access 
of  the  great  markets  af  the  world  througliout  the  year.  From  the 
great  lakes  and  upper  Mississippi  on  tlie  north,  to  the  extreme 
})eninsula  of  tlie  State  on  the  south,  a  back-bone  of  well-settled 
country,  populous  towns  and  tlourisliing  cities,  with  ribs  extend- 
ing out  on  eitlier  side,  would  spring  into  being,  and  the  life  cur- 


ILLINOIS   CENTRAL   RAILKOAD. 


579 


rents  of  coiiiiiicico  and  ])i'o.spi'nty  wonld  sjn'i'dily  flow  stron*;'  and 
liealtliy  from  the  scntrt'  to  the  I'xtri'Hiitics. 

Tlic  hill  linincrcil  in  tlic^  Icjjislatnic  niiicli  lonj^cr  than  its  ardent 
friends  had  anlii-ipated,  to  (lieir  no  little  anxiety.  JMany  amend- 
ments were  ottered  and  rejeeled,  sneh  as  riMjniiin};-  i)aynient  for 
the  rijilit  of  way  to  ih'e«'nii»tionists,  or  settlers  n[)()n  the  j;«»vern- 
me'it  land,  the  same  as  to  aetnal  owners,  thonjih  llu'ir  benelits, 
and  tlu'  eidianeed  valne  of  their  lands  by  the  bnildinj'' of  the  voiul 
wonld  be  otM)  ])er  «'ent.  The  ]toint  of  dixerj^enci^  for  tin;  C'hiea,<>o 
braneh  was  str<'iinonsly  attenii>ted  to  be  (ixed,  bnt  was  iinally  left 
with  the  eomi)any  anywhere  "north  of  the  i>arallel  of  .'>!)d.  'M) 
m.  of  north  latitnde."  Ahn-h  disenssion  was  had  npon  the  location 
of  tlu'  main  stem,  what  towns  it  shonid  toneh  between  its  termini 
desifinated  in  tlu'  eonj;ressiona]  ^rant,  bnt  all  intermediate  points 
failed  of  beiny  (ixed  in  the  a>. .'  exee].t  a  single  one,  the  M.  E,  eor- 
•  r  of  T.  21  N.,  If.  1'  K.  ;?d  P.  M.,  from  uliieh  the  road  in  it  eonrse 
slionid  not  vary  more  than  live  miles,  which  was  ettected  by  (Jen. 
Gridley,  of  tlu'  senate,  and  by  which  the  towns  of  Deeatnr,  Clinton 
an<l  JJloondnji'ton  were  assured  of  the  road. 

A  selienK'  was  als<»  developed,  bnt  never  yet  explained,  by  which 
it  was  proposed  to  jdace  this  jirand  enteri»rise  into  the  hands  of 
the  state  bondiioldeis.  addiniia  bank.  It  was  known  as  tlu^  boncb 
holders'  plan.  Kaily  in  .laniiaiy  the  leyishitare  received  a  vol- 
uminous printi'd  l>ill  for  a  charter,  the  ])i-ovisions  whereof,  closely 
scridinize<l.  contaiiK'd  about  as  hard  a  bargain  as  cieditoi' ever 
ottered  l)ondsuian.  it  was  coolly  jtroposed,  amonjiother  jnovisions, 
that  the  State  appoint  commissioners  to  locate  the  roa<l,  survey 
the  loutes  for  the  main  stem  and  branches,  and  select  tlie  lands 
.eranted  by  conjiress,  all  at  the  expense  of  the  State  ;  ajjents  were 
liirther  to  l)e  ai»pointed  by  tlu'  fjovernor  to  apply  to  land  holders 
along-  the  routes,  who  might  be  b<'nelite<l  by  the  road,  for  sul)- 
scription.s,  also  at  the  expense  of  the  State. 

•'  All  persons  sul)serihliij>;an(l  iidvuiiciiifr  money  for  said  purpose,  shall 
he  ciititkii  to  draw  interest  upon  tiie  sums  advanced,  at  tlie  rate  of  —  per 
ceui.  per  annum  troni  the  day  of  said  ailvance,  and  s'hail  be  entitled  to 
dt'sifi;nate  autl  rcfrister  an  auioinit  of  'New  Intenuil  Improvement  stock 
«)f  this  (State'  e<jual  to  four  times  tlu'  amount  so  advanced,  or  of  stock  of 
tills  State  known  as  'Interest  Honds,'  e<jual  to  tlireetinu-s  the  money  so 
advanced  ;  and  said  stock,  so  described,  luay  be  rej^istered  at  th  eaj::eney 
of  the  State  of  Illiuois,  iu  the  city  of  New  York,  Ity  the  i)aity  suliscrib- 
injr.or  by  any  othtr  persons  to  wlu)m  they  niay  assign  tlie  r)<;ht  at  any 
time  after  jiayin^  the  suliscription,  in  the  proportion  of  the  amount  paid; 
and  said  stock  shall  beeudorst'd,  refjistered  and  signed  l>y  the  ajient  ap- 
lioiutcd  l)y  tlie  fioveruor  for  the  purpose,  and  a  cojiy  of  said  ref^istershail 
lie  tiled  ill  theofiieeof  the  auditor  of  iiuiilic  accounts,  as  evidence  to  show 
the  particular  stock  secured  or  provided  for  as  hereiuafler  mentioned." 

The  laiuls  wer(>  to  be  conveyed  by  the  State  to  tlie  managers  of 
the  road  ;  to  be  by  them  ottered  for  sale  u])on  the  completion  of 
sections  of  (iO  i.iili's,  exi»ejis(  sto  l)e  jtaid  l)y  the  State;  the  money 
was  to  go  to  the  n  tmagevs,  but  the  State  was  to  re(!eive  certifi- 
cates of  stock  for  the  same;  two  of  the  acting  nmimgers  were  to 
receive  salaries  of  .fL'.ohO  and  the  others  $l,."tO()— large  sums  at 
that  time;  the  company,  with  the  .sanction  of  the  governor,  to 
l>nrcliase  iron,  <S:c..  pledging  the  road  for  payment;  and  the  road, 
Itroperty  and  stock,  to  be  exempt  frcuu  taxation.  The  l)ill  also 
embraced  a  bank  iu  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  gen- 


•i     'i. 


580  HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 

oiiviil  free  biuilcin^'  law  adopted  at  that  session,  niakiny-  the  rail- 
road sto<-k  rlic  basis.  It  also  ]»i(»\  idcd  that  if  tlie  constitution  was 
anuMMU'd  (wliidi  failed  to  carry.)  cljan^iinj;'  tlu'  li  mill  tax  to  ;i 
siukinj;'  fund  to  be  {ienerall.v  api)lied  in  redenii>tion  of  the  State 
debt,  that  then  the  sto<'k  re<;istered  «unler  this  act  should  also  par- 
ticijtate  in  the  proceeds  thereof. 

Here  was  a  scheme  to  fasten  \\\)()u  the  State  treasury  a  liorde 
of  hijih  salaiied  otiicials  to  eat  out  the  substain-e  of  the  i)eo))le, 
empowering  tlu'  company  to  create  ad<litioiial  otliceis  and  fix  their 
compensation  at  i»leasure;  no  limit  was  tixed  for  the  completion 
of  the  road  ;  extended  advantajics  weie  offered  to  holders  of  in- 
terest bonds,  then  low  in  nuuket,  to  control  the  road  to  an  amount 
of  four  times  their  actual  outlay,  mort^iajie  it  for  iron,  attach  u 
wild-cat  bank  to  the  enterprise,  and  strangle  it  to  «leath.  J>ut 
the  measure  was  so  preposterous  that  it  received  little  cuunte- 
uance.* 

The  next  ap])rehensions  of  the  friends  of  the  measure  were  the 
ettbrts  inteipt)sed  early  in  February,  thi'oufih  the  Ilolbrook  iutlu- 
ence,  to  delay  acti(tn  at  the  \hen  session  of  the  j^eneral  assembly, 
Avhich  wo\dd  revive  the  Cairo  city  company's  charters  by  the 
terms  of  tlicir  release.  To  this  end  a  resolution  was  offered  in  the 
senate  instructing  the  committee  on  internal  improvements  to 
prepare  and  bring  in  a  bill  providing  for  the  appointment  of  agents 
to  locate  the  retail,  with  a  view  to  future  construction,  and  to 
select  the  lands  umler  the  grant  of  congress.  It  is  one  of  the 
unfortunate  features  incident  to  repri'sentative  forms  of  govern- 
ment that  for  sellish  and  ]>artisan  ends  nu-n  will  entail  large  losses 
indirectly  upon  a  tax-iidden  j-ommunity.  So  now  men  were  not 
wanting  who  exerted  themselves  to  create  a  luddty  for  their  future 
political  advancement  by  eflbvts  to  delay  a  work  which  wt)uld  iu 
a  short  time  render  the  central  portion  of  the  State  po]>ulous  by 
l)onring  into  it  a  flood  of  immigration  to  build  towns  and  cities 
and  inii)rove  the  country,  create  wealth  an«l  increase  by  millions, 
annindly,  the  aggregate  taxable  jtroperty  of  the  State — so  badly 
needed  to  relieve  her  of  an  ojtpressive  <lebt.  For  "the  State  might 
own,  in  fee  simple,  many  milli(»ns  of  acres  of  land  and  yet  be  all 
the  i)oorer  !br  it,  uidess  the  lands  by  settlement  and  imjtrovement 
were  rendered  capable  of  yielding  a  revenue."  Such  were  some 
of  the  arguments  held  up  to  these  men. 

It  will  l)e  remembered  that  the  memorialists,  in  their  projiosi- 
tion  to  the  legislature  to  «)btain  the  charter,  offered,  among  otlier 
things,  to  i)ay  the  State  of  Illinois  annually  a  certain  i»er  centum 
of  the  gross  earnings  of  the  road,  without  deduction  for  ex])ense 
or  otlier  cause.  Tin' amount  was  left  blaid;,  to  lix  whii'h,  how- 
ever, became  subsecjuently  a  nuitter  of  no  little  scheming  and 
trouble.  In  the  first  gush  of  desire  to  obtain  the  si)lendid  grant 
of  land  from  the  State,  it  is  said,  the  eorpoiators  would  liave 
readily  consented  to  fill  this  blank  at  10  per  centum  of  the  gross 
earnings.  IJut  unfortunately  for  the  tax  payers  and  the  treasury 
of  the  State,  as  is  charged   in   the  press  of  the  day,  the  shrewd 

•The  oriirin  of  the  linndh<'l(lcrs"  phin  wiis  Involved  In  mystery.  Dr.  Holford,  tlie 
lHr>re«t  of  the  Uliiiols  l)on(lholiler!>,  (ieiioimeiMl  It,  nnil  (ieelnred  he  hud  no  hiiiul  In  it. 
Mr.  Kln(f.  ol  New  .lerscy.  the  next  liirKest,  hIso  refiifed  to  endorse  it.  It  Wiisa  iines- 
tlon  from  wlioin  did  it  eniuniite  ;  who  wns  it  that  wnnted  to  roll  Illinois  mid  urind  her 
further  in  the  dust?  It  wns  niiinif('stl.\  iin  unilcihiinded  scheme  for  i>nrpo!'e.''  of  spec- 
ulation. Hiid  the  hill  heconie  a  law,  the  bcnellclarles  would  <';iubtles»  have  avowed 
thenisclvcB  readily  enough. 


ILLINOIS  CENTRAL  RAILROAD. 


581 


capitalists  t'liiploycd  a  yviitlenuiii  as  their  attorney — a  citizen  of 
Illinois  and  member  of  (!on<;ress  at  the  time,  than  \vliom  none  vum 
more  po^mlar  and  wielded  a  /greater  intlnenee  at  home — an  orator, 
statesman  and  soldier  of  renown — who  had  within  the  year 
emer<ied  from  an  aftair  of  honor  with  no  little  eclat,  and  winch 
•iained  national  notoriety — who  left  his  seat  in  congress  and  at- 
tended at  Sprinf^tield  iu  the  capacity  of  a  lobbyist  for  the  com- 
pany, and  the  result  was  the  State  conceded  a  deduct ioji  of  3  per 
cent,  from  that  ti<>iire,  the  amount  beiii},'  fixed  at  7  i>er  centum, 
and  that  in  lieu  of  all  taxi-s,  State  or  local.*  The  <;ross  earninjis 
of  that  corporation  now  amount  to  about  half  a  million  dollars 
annually.  No  little  effort  has  been  nnide  to  gvt  rid  of  tlie  pay- 
ment of  this  percentage  into  the  State  treasury,  but  since  the 
lands  turned  <tver  to  the  company  have  yielded  so  well  in  price, 
repaying  the  cost  of  the  road  perha]»s  twice  over,  the  people  set 
their  faces  ajj;aiiist  it,  and  have  been  exercised  by  no  little  anxi<'ty 
that  this  now  wealtliy  cor]»oration  would  succeed  in  buyinj^'  up 
en()U<>li  memln'rs  of  the  legislature  at  some  future  session  to  re- 
lieve it  of  this  percentage.  To  satisfy  the  poimlar  clamor  a  limi- 
tation has  been  irrevocably  fixed  in  the  organic^  law  of  1870, 
which  places  the  subje<'t  beyond  the  control  of  further  legislative 
meddling,  and  the  public  anxiety  is  allayed.f 

In  tiie  legislature,  after  procrastinating  action  until  the  heel  of 
the  s<'Ksion,  ^Ir.  J.  L.  I).  AIorrist)n,  of  the  senate,  brought  in  a 
sul»s(itute  for  the  pending  bill,  which,  after  being  amended  iu 
.several  important  particulars — that  by  CJen.  (Jridley  has  already 
becji  n«»ticed — was  passe<l  finally  with  but  two  dissenting  votes; 
:nul  shortly  after,  the  house  took  up  the  senate  bill  and  ]»assed  it 
williout  amendment,  also  by  two  dissenting  votes,  an<l  it  became 
a  law  February  10,  18ol.  The  law  is  so  accessible  that  it  is  unne- 
cessary to  give  a  synopsis  of  it.  The  final  passage  of  the  bill 
was  celebrated  in  Chicago  by  the  tiling  of  cannon  and  other  civic 
demotistrations  in  honor  of  the  glorious  event. 

But  in  the  spring  following,  when  the  surveys  of  the  Chicago 
branch  were  under  way,  there  arose  quite  a  fever  of  excite- 
nu-nt  in  that  city,  fearing  that  the  branch  road  would  be  carried 
to  the  Indiana  line  to  form  a  jiniction  with  the  ^Michigan  Central, 
an<l  thus  pra<'tically  become  an  extension  of  the  latter  road  to 
Cairo,  leaving  Chicago  iKtrthwMd  of  this  thoroughfare  about  L'O 
or  30  luiley.  r-'ominen<:  gei  tit  .iien  addressed  a  letter  to  Mr. 
Douglas,  requesting  his  opinion  respecting  the  power  of  the  c(un- 
pany  to  make  sucli  a  divergence  from  a  direct  line.  Mr.  Douglas 
replied  at  length,  denying  the  powi'r  of  tlu'  company  to  do  so; 
citing  the  language  of  the  charter  that  the  Chicago  bran<-h  should 
ilivcrge  "from  the  main  trunk  at  a  jxtint  north  of  the  parallel  of 
.'{!)  <leg. ;«)  luin.,  ami  ruiMiing  on  the  most  eligible  route  /h^>  the 
city  of  Chicago  ;"  that  one  obje<'t  in  the  grant  of  land  by  Congress 
wa^s  to  render  saleable  the  publi<*  land  in  Illinoi.-'  which  had  been 
L'Oor  oO  years  in  imirket ;  that  the  unittn  with  another  road  nega- 
tived the  i»rovision  of  free  transportation  ut'  United  States  troops 


*Soc  ChioHiro  D(»iii(>criit,  Aujr.   1851). 

+Whlle  the  Stnto  trensury  Is  dniilitlpss  Inrp-cly  bencfltpfl  liy  this  (HTinnnont  iirrHtiKf- 
niiMit,  it,  is  a  qiii'stiiiii  wlR-tlier  tin-  ooir.imiiy  is  not  uftor  nil  the  (riiincr  in  lii-inu-  liii  of 
all  tiixi'iJ  !(>r  Stiite.  ooimty,  towiisliip.  Pi'liDol  1111(1  iiiunicipiil  purposes  alons'  the  entire 
line  uf  its  ruuds,  and  whel Iter  this  is  Just  to  the  localities  coneenied. . 


582  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


and  ]ti<)i)city  i'oivv«'r  IVoni  Cliicayo  to  ^Mobilo — from  the  lakes  of 
the  north  to  IheCJnlf  of  jNIexieo,  &(•. 

There  was  some  <!ela,v  in  eoinnieiieinj;-  the  voik,  ocH-asioned  hy 
the  Commissioner  of  the  (ien«'ral  J.and  Olliee  at  \Vasliin<;ton, 
Justin  Mnlterliehl.  Th«'  eoinjtan.v  liad  ne<i»itiated  a  kian  of  Jt'4(l(l,- 
0(10,  hut  before  it  <:ouhl  be  eonsummated  it  was  neeessary  that 
there  siioidd  be  a  conveyance  of  tiie  Uiiids  I'roni  {iovernment. 
Tht-  commission«'r,  who  was  from  Chicaj^o,  construed  the  j^rant  as 
entitlinji'  the  conijiany  to  hinds  for  the  branch  on  si  strai^lit  line 
to  Chicajio,  wliicli  would  avoid  the  junction  with  IIk^  ^liehi^an 
Central.  l>nt  this  construction  was  reversed  by  the  I'resident  and 
(Secretary  of  the  Interior.  In  ^larcli,  1S.")L*,  tlie  necessary  docu- 
ments of  conveyance  were  linally  si'cured,  coiMracts  were  let,  and 
the  work  carried  forward.  The  road  was  completed  with  liltU'  in- 
terrupticMi. 

As  an  instructive  example  of  how  money  may  quicken  other 
jiroperty  into  manifold  life,  scatteriiif^'  its  j>ains  in  many  nnex- 
pected  directions,  the  Illinois  Central  railroatl  is  a  subji-et  in  point. 
This  work  was  one  of  the  most  stupendous  ami  ingenious  specu- 
hitions  of  modern  times.  IJy  means  of  it  ii  few  sagacious  capital- 
ists became  the  owners  of  a  tirst-class  railroad,  more  than  700 
miles  lonji',  in  full  runnin;;'  order,  comjtlete  in  rollin}>'  stock  and 
every  eipiipajic,  and  millions  of  acres  of  land,  worth  in  the  ajiyie- 
gate  perhajys,  ft<40,000,000,  without  the  actual  outlay  of  a  cent  of 
their  own  money.  This  project  was  amony  the  lirst  to  illustrato 
the  immense  lield  there  was  opening'  uj)  in  this  country  for  bold 
and  yijiantic  railroad  operations  by  capitalists;  and  as  contrasted 
with  the  State  internal  imi)rovenient  scheme  of  l.So(>-7,  it  was 
fui  thermore  an  example  of  the  superiority  of  private  enterprise 
over  State  or  yovermeiital  uiidertakin<4s.  The  State  at  that  time, 
with  a  population  of  about  3r)0,000,  mostly  small  farmers,  author- 
ized a  loan  exceedinj;'  $10,(H»0,000,  to  construct  public  works.  One 
of  these  was  the  Central  Ifailroad,  U}»on  which  a  considerable 
sum  was  expended.  Hard  times  and  a  j^eneral  collapse  foll«>\vetl 
in  rapid  order.  Now,  with  this  j;iaiit  of  land  from  the  fieneral 
government,  not  far  short  of  ;},000,000  acres  within  a  belt  of  15 
miles  alonj"'  the  route  of  the  road,  to  ai»l  its  construction,  these 
gentlemen,  backed  by  credit  and  capital,  step  forw  ard,  projiose  to 
take  the  lands  and  build  the  road,  which  is  tt)  Vielonj;  to  them 
when  built.  The  State  a(;c»'}>ts  the  offer,  incorp«)rates  the  gentle- 
men's scheme  by  perjietual  charter,  and  endows  them  with  this 
muniliceiit  domain  ami  all  the  property  and  remains  of  the  old 
Central  roa<l.  After  the  road  is  put  in  operation,  the  c«)nij>aiiy 
pays  the  State  annually  7  per  (MMitum  of  its  gross  earnings  in  lieu 
of  al'  taxes  forever.  Having  acquired  a  vested  right,  tlie  State 
has  no  other  than  police  control  over  the  comi»aiiy,  and  as  it  is  a 
foieigu  cori)oratioii,  disjjutes  between  them  must  be  settled  in 
foreign,  /.  c.  U.  S.,  courts.  The  nnnimum  valuation  of  the  lands 
accpiired,  so  soon  as  theroad  should  be  completed,  was  $20,000,000, 
exceeding  by  $(i,()00,000,  the  cost  of  the  road,  estimated  at  $20,000 
per  mile,  which  in  iilinois,  was  liberal,  because  she  i)resented  the 
most  uniform  and  favorable  surface  for  the  construction  <»f  rail- 
roads of  any  other  State  in  the  Union.  Two-thirds  of  the  land 
was  stipulated  as  security  for  the  principal  of  the  construction 
bonds  J  250,000  acres  to  secure  the  interest  fund,  and  the  remain- 


ILLINOIS  CENTRAL  KMLROAD. 


583 


(ler  as  ii>  contiiiyi'iit  fund.  The  coii.st ruction  bonds  found  icudy 
sale  at  pai',  and  built  the  road.  Th<,  land  sales  yielded  interestto 
set  off  in  [>art  the- acciuinj;'  interes.  on  the  bonds.  The  redenii)- 
tion  of  the  bonds  completed,  the  road  and  all  its  appurtenances 
remains  the  pi-operty  of  the  fortunate  <;;entlemeu  who  liad  the  sa- 
gacity to  see  how  it  could  be  built  without  costing  them  a  cent. 

lint  they  did  not  reap  all  the  developed  benelits  of  this  <;)inul 
enter[)rise.  The  alternate  sections  of  land  reserved  by  the  federal 
government  within  IT)  miles  of  the  route  of  the  road,  num- 
bered as  many  acres  as  the  grant  to  the  State;  it  had  been 
for  L'O  odd  years  in  market  at  -isl  -o  per  acre  without  sale,  but 
now  when  again  i>ut  in  market  in  the  fall  of  LS.5L',  it  was  eagerly 
taken  up  ancl  readily  brought  irom  $li  to  $7  per  acre,  and  more, 
had  not  settlers  and  si>ecidators  coiid)ined  not  to  bid  againsi  each 
other.  As  it  was,  the  sales  aveiiiged  $'>  per  acre.  The  govern- 
ment thus  realized  a  profit  of  some  $!>,0(M>,(HM)  by  its  munilicent 
policy  of  giving  away  half  its  lands  in  this  locality.  This  was 
in(le<'d  casting  bread  upon  the  water,  which  after  many  <lays  re- 
turned several  fold.  The  lands  in  the  railroau  belt,  so  long  neg- 
lecied  by  liuyers,  were  situated  as  follows:  In  the  Kaskaskia  land 
ottice  district,  i;.'},(><SI  acres,  over  .'}()  years  on  the  market;  Shaw- 
iieetown,  401,!S7.'J  acres,  over .'}()  years;  Vandalia,  34-l,(*7U  acres, 
over  2~>  years;  Danville,  345,702  acres,  over  20  years;  and  in  the 
l^ixon  4(j5,!)4!)  acres,  over  10  years. 

lint  besides  the  general  government,  the  State  too,  was  at  the 
same  time  benefited  by  having  its  unsettled  interior  opened  up  to 
rides  of  thi'onging  immigrants;  its  ri(dj  soil  brought  into  cultivii- 
tion;  j)oj»ulation  increased,  and  its  resources  and  taxable  wealth 
augmented  by  many  millions  of  <lollars.  The  products  of  the 
newly  develoj)ed  region  found  a  ready  avenue  to  the  markets  or 
the  world.  Chicago,  too,  was  thus  furnished  with  another  iron 
tentacndum  to  reach  far  into  the  interior  of  the  State  for  commer- 
<'ial  food  to  give  increase  to  her  marvelous  life,  liut  the  greatest 
iiiinu'diate  benefit  resulting  from  the  building  of  the  road  and 
branches,  acciued  to  the  lands  within  due  and  proper  marketing 
<listan<-e  of  th<'  lines,  estimated  at  the  enormous  amount  <jf  $10,- 
(HHM»00  acres  in  private  hands,  selected  early  because  of  their 
choice  <piality,  which  were  directly  enhanced  at  least  $4  per  acre 
and  rendeied  more  saleable.  Here  was  an  increase  of  wealth, 
aiiiounling  to  $40,000,000. 


lif 


IP 


[Note.] — KntVrcnce  lii\8  already  been  iiiiidc  to  the  jealousy  which  the  success  of  ob- 
tiiinliiK  this  subsidy  f  roin. Coiijiress,  excited  niiiotiK  some  ot  our  pul)lic  men  ns  to  who 
was  entitled  to  the  inec<l  of  praise  for  carryinj?  the  measure  throutrh,  and  tlie  honor 
of  oriirnially  suKjfestinti:  the  plan  or  line  of  such  a  railroad.  It  was  a  conception  and 
labor  worth}'  the  pride  and  ambition  of  any  man.  Visions  of  office,  emolument  mid 
fame  were  d<iubtlcss  discovered  in  it.  While  some  apparently  shunned  it  but  to  make 
it  sure,  others  bolilly  claimed  the  credit.  In  this  connection  wo  are  tempted  to  ex- 
tract from  the  piquant  correspondence  between  the  HonH.  Sidney  Rreese  and  S.  A. 
J)outtlat>.  The  former  had  been  u  senator  In  con(rres8  up  toMarch  4th,  1S4(I,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Gen.  Shields.  In  1H.")()  he  was  elected  to  the  Lefrislalurc,  I'lider 
date  of  December  a;),  isru),  amontr  other  thing's  in  reply  to  the  Illinois  State  Kegister, 
regardinu:  his  favoriuK  the  '•  Holbrook  Chart'i-s,"  he  says: 

"The  Central  Railroad  has  been  a  controlling  object  with  me  for  more  than  15  years, 
and  I  would  sacritlce  all  my  personal  advantages  to  see  it  made.  These  fellows  who  aro 
making  sucli  an  ado  ubout  it  now  have  been  whipped  into  its  support.  They  are  not 
for  It  now.  and  do  not  desire  to  have  it  nmde  because  I  get  the  credit  of  it.  This  is  in- 
evitable. I  must  have  the  credit  of  it,  for  I  originated  it  in  IKln.  and,  when  In  the  sen- 
ate, pas.'ied  three  different  bills  through  that  body  to  aid  in  its  cpnstruetion.  My  suc- 
cessor luid  an  easy  task,  as  I  liad  opened  the  way  for  him.  It  was  the  argument  con- 
tained in  my  reports  on  it  that  silenced  all  opposition,  and  made  Itb  passage  easy-  I 
claim  the  credit,  and  no  one  can  take  it  from  me." 


■t' 


li 


1 


584  HISTORY   OF   ILLINOIS. 

Tliis  fell  uikUt  thu  eye  of  Si'iiator  UoukIhs,  at  Wnslilntfton,  who  took  occasion  to  re- 
ply on  January  ntli,  IK'il,  at  lentftli,  Khintr  a  <li'taili'<l  history  of  all  the  etlorts  niaiie  in 
conifres8  to  procure  either  pre-eniptldii  or  K'r»»t  ot  laud  in  aid  of  buildlntr  this  road, 
saying  ;  "You  were  the  clianipion  (jf  ilie  policy  of  if  ranting  pre-emption  rijfhts  for  tlio 
benefit  of  u  private  company  II  he  llollirook,]  anil  I  wast  lie  ad  vi/cate  of  alternato  sec- 
tions to  the  State."  Tile  letter  is  (lultc  loiiK,  but  very  interest intf,  and  may  bi3  tound 
in  the  llUiiiils  State  /.'<o(s^  /•,  and  papi'isof  the  State  ot  that  period  generally. 

Judt^e  llreese  rejoincil  inider  date  of  January  '£>,  IMTil,  throuKh  the  columns  of  tho 
same  paper,  at  jrreut  leuRth.  claiming  tliat  beside  seekinnto  ol)taiii  pre-emption  aid  he 
also  was  the  Hrst  to  introduce  "a  bill  for  un  absolute  tfraiit  of  the  alternate  sections  for 
theCetitral  and  Northern  Cross Kuiiroads,"  but  ttndiii).'  no  favorable  time  toeall  it  up, 
It  failed.  "It  was  known  from  my  first  entrance  into  contfress  that  I  would  accomplish 
the  measure,  in  some  sliape,  If  possible  ;"  but  tlie  Illinois  members  of  the  house,  he  as- 
serts, took  no  interest  in  the  inissatfc  of  any  law  for  tho  bencllt  of  the  Cent rul  road, 
either  by  jjrrant  or  pre-emption.  He  cItiimB  no  share  in  the  passage  of  the  law  of  IKiO  : 
"Your  (UoUKlas',)  claiin  shall  not,  witli  my  consent,  be  disparaKeil,  nor  tliose  of  your 
nssociates.  1  will  myself  weave  your  chaplet,  and  i)lace  it,  with  no  envious  hand,  upon 
your  brow.  At  the  same  time  history  sliull  do  me  justice,  [claim  to  have  lirst  pro- 
jected thisyrroiit  road,  in  my  letter  of  1K55,  and  in  the  judjiinent  of  impartial  and  disin- 
terested men  my  claim  will  be  allowed.  1  have  said  and  written  more  in  favor  of  it 
than  any  other.  It  has  been  the  hi^rhcst  object  of  my  amliition  to  accoinplisli  it,  and 
when  my  last  restinsr  i>l«ei!  shall  be  marked  by  the  cold  marble  which  jfratitude  oraf- 
ffection  may  erect  I  (lesire  for  it  no  other  inscription  than  tills,  that  lie  who  sleeps  be- 
neath it  projected  the  Central  Kailroad." 

He  also  cited  at  len^itli  his  letter  of  ()ctol)er  It),  18.'i.">,  to  John  Y .  Sawyer,  in  wlii<;li  tho 
plan  of  the  Central  Itiiilroad  was  first  foreshadowed,  which  opens  as  follows  •  "Havinif 
some  leisure  from  the  lalMir  of  my  circuit,  I  am  induced  to  devute  u  portion  of  it  in 
(rivin);  to  the  public  a  plan,  the  outline  of  which  was  suKKCsted  to  mc  by  an  intelligent 
friend  in  Uond  county,  afew  days  since."       *       * 

To  this  Douglas,  under  date  ot  Washington,  Feb.  liS,  IW'il,  surrejoins  at  considerable 
lenifth,  and  in  lefercnco  to  this  oponintr  sentence  In  the  Sawyer  letter,  exclaims,  "How 
is  this  !  The  father  of  the  Central  railroad,  with  a  Christian  meekness  wurthy  of  all 
praise,  kindly  consents  to  be  the  reputed  parent  of  a  hopeful  son  bcROtten  for  him  by 
an  intelligent  friend  in  ii  iielKhborinK  county  !  I  forbear  pushing  this  iiiipiir>  further. 
It  involves  a  ((Uestion  of  morals  too  nice,  of  domestic  relations  too  delicate,  lor  me  to 
'[*  expose  to  the  public  jrazc.    Inasmuch,  however,  as  you  have  furnished  me  with  bccora- 

ln(f  gravity,  the  epitaph  which  you  desire  i  imrrossed  upon  your  toiiil).  when  called  upon 
to  pay  tlii'.last  dolit  ot  natiire,you  will  allow  me  to  su»i>fest  that  as  sucli  an  inscription  is 
a  solemn  lind  a  sucrea  thintr,  and  truth  its  essential  in)rredient,  would  it  not  lie  well  to 
make  a  slinht  modification,  so  as  to  correspond  with  the  facts  as  stated  in  your  letter 
to  Mr.  Sawyer,  which  would  make  it  read  thus,  in  your  letter  to  me  :  "it  nan  liicn  the 
hidlied  otiject  of  mil  ninlMiim  tn  mnmiiilinh  the  Central  I{ailfiiail,ami  when  mil  Ui.tt  restinf/ 
place  nhatl  }»•  niarlati  Jrji  ttie  cold  martile  xrliicli  {/ratituile  or  affcctiou  man  erect,  1  ilesircfor 
it  no  other  iiixcriplUm  tliantliiK:  He  whosi^eei'S  beneath  this  stone  voi.untauii,v  con- 
sented to  UECOME  THE  putative  KATHEIl  OF  A  I-OVEl,V  ClI  ILU,  CA  LI.EI)  THE  CENTUAL 
K.MI.UOAI).   AND    IIEGOTTEN   KOK    HI.M   IIY   AN   INTELLIGENT   FHIEND   IN    THE  COlINTy     OF 

Bond."    Wc  And  no  further  correspondence.    See  Illinois  State  Journal,  Maruh,  1831. 


Chapter  XLVII. 

OUE  FEEE  OK  STOCK  BANKS— 1851-1805. 

IIoiP  a  BanJ;  mu/Jtt  he  started — Ultimate  kSevuriti/ of  the  Bill  holder — 
The  Small  Xotc  Act — ranicof  1854 — lU'Vulniono/  1857 — Wind- 
i)uj  up. 


NotAvitlistiimliiig  the  State,  in  1851,  was  in  tlic  liaiuls  of  the 
democratic  party  by  an  increased  majority,  and  tliat  this  domi- 
nant i)arty  liad  for  years  in  its  State  platforms  fulminated  resohi- 
tions  a,!;aiMst  the  enormity  of  banking;'  as  tiie  s<»urce  (»f  all  our 
financial  woes,  the  lej;islatnie,  also  larj;ely  democratic,  neverthe- 
less passed  another  j^eneral  banking'  law,  authorizing  free  or  stock 
banks.  The  democratic  governor  vetoed  the  bill,  but  it  was 
l)romptly  i)assed  over  iiis  objeclions,  an<l  the  peojde  of  the  State, 
notwithstanding  their  experiences  of  the  disastrous  results  from 
the  banks  authorized  in  18L'l  and  in  I83G-7,  and  in  si)ite  of  their 
teachings  ami  democratic  majority,  a]>proved  it  by  their  votes  at 
the  election  of  Novendter  of  that  year.  As  a  rule,  the  masses 
favor  any  scheme  which  ])i()mises  an  abundant  currency — they  are 
naturally  for  e.\i)ansion — while  capitalists  favor  contraction. 

Directly  after  the  adoi)tion  of  the  constitution  of  1848,  the  es- 
tablishment of  another  banking  system  was  agitated.  The  i»rojeet 
advaiu'cd  was  to  divide  up  the  State  into  3  banking  districts, 
Avith  boards  of  bank  trustees  for  each.  As  security,  banking 
associations  were  to  deposit  United  States  stock  and  a  certain  ])or- 
tion  of  gold,  when  circulating  luites  as  nu)ney  were  to  be  issued  to 
them.  The  democratic  juess  made  a  great  outcry  against  the 
Mhig  schenu',  as  it  was  called,  to  fasten  again  upon  the  then  once 
more  thriving  and  prosiicnms  State  the  withering  curse  of  banks. 
This  ]»lan,  which  proposed  but  one  class  of  securities — United 
States  (J's — was  certainly  preferable  to  tlmt  ad()i)ted  two  years 
later,  wliich  allowed  as  secuiity  the  stocks  of  any  or  all  the  States. 
The  foiniei'  presented  the  advantage  of  having  a  uniform  secu- 
rity for  all  the  banks  of  the  country,  giving  a  like  uniformity  of 
value  to  their  issues  all  over  our  broad  domain  ;  while  to  the  hit- 
t<'r,  with  bonds  of  any  State,  many  far  from  home  i»erlui])s,  the 
fluctuations  of  a  varying  market  would  severely  attach.  But  in 
l)rinciple  the  State  stock  banks  were  the  forerunners  of  the  pre- 
sent nati(»nal  banking  system. 

The  banking  law  of  bS5l  required  as  a  basis  or  security  for  all 
baidcs  operating  under  it,  the  depctst  with  the  auditor  of,  1st, 
United  States  stocks  ;  2d,  stocks  of  any  other  State;  3d,  stocks 
of  Illinois  valued  at  20  per  cent,  below  the  market  price.     Stocks 

585 


6SG 


IIISTOllY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


on  wliit'li  till'  iiitfivst  was  notiiniiiially  paid  could  not  lie  deposited 
except  ill  (loiible  aiiioiiiits.  II  tlit-v  dcpifciatcd  in  the  iiiaiUct, 
i'mllicv deposits  were  to  Itc  made.  Tlic  df]»ositors  were  ciititlccl 
to  tiic  inlcrt'st  arciiiin};'  on  the  bonds.  \\  lit'ii  tlic  d('p(»sit  of 
stoi'Us  was  pel  fcctrd,  tlic  anditoi\vas  autlioiizcd  loliavccn>;iiivcd 
and  issue  hank  notes  to  tlic  owners  in  nearly  c(|iial  anioiints,  not 
less  than  .*«.""»0,(M»0.  to  eiieulate  as  money.  The  notes  on  presenta- 
tion at  the  bank  wcie  rctpiircd  to  be  redeemed  in  specie,  the 
amount  to  he  kcjjt  on  hand  not  beiii};'  speeilied,  and  for  refusal 
and  after  protest  it  became  liable  to  llM  percent  daiiiajics  in  lieu 
of  intci'cst.  On  failure  of  the  bank,  it  was  to  be  wound  uj)  liy 
sale  of  its  stocks  at  auction  in  New  York,  and  the  proceeds  wcie 
first  to  be  i)aid  out  on  the  circulatin;^-  notes.  If  the  stocks  and 
other  etfeets  of  the  banks  jirovcd  insullicient,  then  the  stockhold- 
ers became  liable  respectively  to  the  amount  of  their  stocks  in 
their  ])rivate  projierty,  to  jiay  the  bill  holders.  Interest  was 
iixed  at  7  ])er  cent.,  and  loans  mijihtbe  made  on  real  or  jiersonal 
l»ropeity.  Dealinj;  in  real  estate  was  not  allowed,  other  than  to 
sell  that  which  fell  into  their  hands  as  security.  The  usual  bank- 
in<i  pri\ilej;«'s  of  buyiiij;  and  sclliiij;  exclianj:i',  coin,  &<•.,  wcie  ex- 
tended to  them.  A  board  of  .'5  bank  commissioners,  witli  jtower 
of  examination  into  their  affairs,  was  also  piovided  ;  and  the  oitl- 
eeis  of  the  banks  wi-re  re(piired  to  render  (piarterly  statement.s 
to  the  auditor,  under  oath,  as  to  their  condition. 

A\'itli  these  juov  isions,  it  was  tlioii;^lit  that  the  notes  would  vx'V- 
taiiily  be  safe.  indeed  the  law  was  lirst  rcjiarded  as  so  st-riii- 
jicnt  that  few  would  attem])t  banking;-  under  it — certainly  mere 
speculators  would  not.  The  bill  holders  appeared  to  be  ultimately 
seciiie.  New  York,  we  have  seen,  as  early  as  1S,'5(S,  authorized 
bajikiiift'  on  State  stocks,  and  by  the  time  IJIinois,  which  subse- 
quently coiiicd  the  2sew  York  law,  embarked  in  the  project,  half 
the  States  of  the  I'nion  ran  wild  after  the  discovery  of  the  new 
and  safe  scheme,  by  means  of  which  the  capitalist,  contrary  to 
Franklin's  ajthorism,  niij;lit  "eat  his  cake  and  lune  his  cake" — 
invest  his  money  in  boiuls,  deposit  them,  and  from  the  hands  of 
the  auditor  have  his  money  ayain  and  own  his  bonds  too. 

^Vhile  the  hankinj;'  bill  was  jiendiny  before  the  peojile,  the 
friencls  of  the  measure,  to  secure  its  adoption,  jtointed  to  the  fact 
that  the  State  was  inundated  with  millions  of  the  notes  of  banks 
of  foreifiii  States,  of  the  value,  solvency,  or  jieniiiueiiess  of  which 
little  oi'  Mothinji'  was  known  here;  that  b}'  allowin}>'  aliens  to  fur- 
nish us  a  circulating  medium  we  not  only  ])aid  tribute  to  tlieiii  but 
yielded  our  State  pri(b' ;  that  it  was  but  just  to  ourselves  and  to 
our  iut<'rests  to  re[)lace  this  exotic  trash  by  a  sound  and  safecur- 
lency  of  our  own  ;  that  the  basis  for  banks  re(piired  by  this  law 
made  tlu'in  not  only  jicrfectly  secure  to  the  bill  holders,  but  that 
a  home  cuirency,  Avithin  easy  reach  of  the  i)laces  of  redemption 
and  its  ready  convertibility  into  specie,  would  directly  drive  out 
the  fon'ijiii  bills;  that  with  the  greater  abundance  of  nu)ney, 
times  would  become  easy,  produce  would  rise  in  price,  lands  en- 
hance in  value,  the  influx  of  emi<>iants  be  augmented,  and  gen- 
eral juosjierity  would  sliowei'its  glad  smiles  upon  all  our  i)eoi>le 
with  a  jn'ofuse  hand.  p]xperience  shows  that  the  masses  aie  but 
too  ready  to  gras})  at  a  jiroject  wliich  ])roniises  plenty  of  money 
to-day,  although  assured  that  it  will  be  worthless  to-morrow. 


FREK  OR  STOCK  BANKS. 


587 


Its  i>|>p()m'iit.s  su};u('(l  tluit  uimUt  the  in'W  law,  lliccurn'nc.v  pro- 
])os<mI  Io  l)t' iiitni(iiic(Ml  wiis  siisct'ptihic  of  iniiltiplication  to  an  in- 
(Idiiiilc  aiiioiiiit,  ami  if  the  bill  canicd,  an  axalaiiclic  of  |iapcr 
inoiicy  iiii^iit  hv  thrown  into  ciiculatioii,  (la/.zliii;;  and  binvihlcriiig 
the  st'iiscs  of  the  itcoplc,  leading  lliciii  into  a  wild,  lu'adlonj;  mania 
of  s]i('cidation,  the  sciincl  to  wldcli,  as  had  ever  Ix-cn  the  rase, 
must  he  disaster  and  rnin.  NN'ith  an  inllated  enrreney  ]iroi»erty 
would  attain  to  unhealthy  prices,  purchases  would  be  made  at 
p<'rliai»s  half  cash,  balance  on  time,  secured  by  mortjiaj^cs  on  the 
premis«'s.  ^^■llile  llu!  obli;;ati(Uis  were;  maturinj^'  a  contrac- 
tion would  take  ])lace,  stagnation  ensue  and  prices  be  de- 
]tresse(l  below  the  noimal  standard  ;  claims  Avouhl  be  pressed 
n|)on  debtois,  moit^a^^cs  foicclosed,  and  many  an  unwary  i)ur- 
chaser  woidd  be  strip])ed  of  his  all  under  the  inimmer  of  the 
sheiitt",  Iii.s  vendor  buyinj^  back  the  i)roi)erty  at  less  than  the 
mort;;a,ii'e  claim,  leavinji'an  unsatislied  ju<ljiinent  still  hanjjinj;'  <»ver 
liini.  The  bank  nu-asure  was  held  to  be  a  project  to  swell  the  cof- 
fers of  the  rich  from  the  lab'irand  necessities  of  the  poor. 

They  lurther showed  that  the  bank  securities  mi;;lit  be  of  un- 
stai)!e  value,  which  would  rise  and  fall  in  the  nmrket  with  the 
operations  and  nuu-hinations  of  linanciers;  that  moiu'y  based 
upon  them  would  be  snbjei't"  to  similar  tluctualions  ;  that  these 
]iied}ies  of  st(«!k  were  as  nothinji  to  the  man  with  this  nn)n»'y  in 
liis  hand  which  he  desired  t«»  convert.  Let  but  an  actual  cast;  of 
suspension  be  conteniplate<l.  To  sell  the  stocks  ami  redeem  the 
notes  retpiired  tinu'  and  was  attended  by  eircnndocution.  The 
jtoor  or  needy  <'annot  wait.  Want  and  i'xi^jcnce  ])ress  from 
myriad  directions.  Now  the  broker  steps  in,  liimsclf  perhaps  a 
sharelmlder  in  the  susix-nded  bank,  and  otters  ,"»()  or  7')  cents  on 
the  broken  |)romises.  The  holder  of  this  moiu'y  received  in  ex- 
ehan<i<'  for  his  labor  oi- other  ecpiivalent,  cannot  wait  the  ultimate 
red«'mption  l>y  the  anditiu,  but  is  ccnnitelled  to  snilfer  a  shave  to 
this  dei»th.  The  broker,  however,  is  in  no  such  stress;  he  (piietly 
awaits  the  sale  of  the  stocks,  the  iedemj)tionof  the  notes  with  the 
jtroceeds,  and  I'eali/.es  the  -.")  (tr  .*()  j)er  cent,  which  his  thousands 
of  victtimshave  lost,  and  with  tliejiains  starts  another  bank. 

TJM'dth  section  of  the  bank  bill  piovided  for  the  association  of 
persons  '-to  establish  otlices  ol"  discount,  deposit  and  cirvulatio)!,''^ 
with  an  aji,y'rej;ate  capital  stock  of  not  less  than  ?^.">(»,(HK).  This 
section  served  the  opponents  of  the  bill  a  j^ood  turn  before  the 
])eople.  It  was  deduced  thence  and  asserted  that  the  bill  was  a 
trick,  concealing  decei)tive  phraseology  ;  that  it  ])rovided  for  two 
elasst'sof  banks,  one  secured  by  the  i)led<;-e  of  ])ublic  stocks,  the 
other  totally  iiresponsible,  all  /winji' its  issues  to ''circulate"  on  no 
other  basis  than  ])en,  ink  and  i)aper  to  wiite  out  its  articles  of  as- 
sociation, money  enoujih  to  i»ay  for  recordin<>'  and  jiostinji' co]>ie.s 
thereof  to  Sprinj;field  to  be  tiled  with  the  secretary  of  state;  that 
the  former  were  to  eatch  the  votes  of  tlu'  ]»eople,  but  the  latter 
('oncerns  were  to  furnish  tlie  cuncncy.  The  phraseolofiy  of  this 
section  in  connection  with  the  woi-d  '•  circulate,"  it  must  be  con- 
fessed, was  somewhat  ambij^uous.* 


ft 


*Tho  Olilcnpo  Prri's.  necptnlicr.  IHrc',  siiys  it  lins  win-ncil  tlic  people  thnt  pnpor  would 
bclssiu'd  not  -ccin'cd  by  stocks,  niiil  tlii'it'  wcro  then  various  issues  of  CLTtifieates  of 
deposit  in  llie  siiniliturie  of  Imnk  notes,  signed  iind  sul«crlbed  by  the  officers, desig- 
niited  by  the  uiterers  to  circulute  the  same  as  bank  notes. 


588  IIISTOUY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


^■(»l\vitli.stiin(liii;f  tlu'sc  iir<:iiiii('nts  jijiiiiiist  it,  tlic  pj'oplc  in  No- 
v«-iiil)('r,  l.srtl,  cifctcd  the  Itaiik  l)iii,iiii(l  it  l)«'ciiiiii'  tli«>  l:i\v  of  tliu 
Stiitc.  TIh'  vote  stood  ;{7.<!lj(i  lor  to  ;{|,  tO.")  ii;;iiiiist  it.  This  poll 
Wiis  Ics.s  by  7,0(10  tiiaii  liiill'  the  \<>U's  (;iist  at  tiio  ;>iilK-riiatoii:ii 
t'lt'ctioii  one  yv.w  later,  hciiif;'  1  ."».'i,S,SL'. 

'I'lic  const itutioii  |)i(»\i(l('(l  that  no  bankinj;  law  slionld  lie  «'n- 
actcd  except  by  tlie  sunt;! ion  of  a  nnijority  of  the  people  \dlin<>' 
for  it  at  a  fieneial  election.  A  special  eleittion,  it  whs  doid»tles.s 
thonjiht  by  the  fraineis,  wouhl  not  call  foith  a  full  ex|>ression  of 
the  sentiment  uf  the  people  npon  sneh  a  nieasnre.  In  their  haste 
to  have  the  i)eo|)le  i)ass  npon  the  bank  bill,  the  lej;islatnre 
created  a  jii'neral  elcctt ion  for  this  jturpose,  by  repealing;  all  the 
connty  treasnrers  ont  of  ollice,  and   oi'derin<;'  a   new  eh'ction  for 

I  •        tlntse  olticials  at  the  same  time  the  bank  bill  was  to  be  voted  upon. 

;  With  this  action  of  the  lej;islatni'e,  after  the  eh'ction,  the  defeated 

()I|)onents  of  the  measnre  fonnd  mnch  fault,  and  it  was  severely 
denounced.  It  \\i\>i  claimed  that  a  presidential,  biennial  election 
for  nu'ndters  of  (!on<;re.ss,  or  the  state  lej^islatun^  alone,  wore  (/cii- 
(■)■<(!  elections,  where  the  bill  would  have  been  fully  discus.sed  be- 
fore the  people.  Ihe  spirit  of  the  constitution  was  doubtles.s  vio- 
lated by  th(^  Icfiislature. 

The  a]>i»rehensioiis  that  the  law  Avas  so  strinj;ent  that  few,  if 
any,  banks  would  be  organized  under  it,  was  speedily  dispelled. 

i  "Within  the  first  year  the  denio(;ratic  press  cried  aloud  that  the 

f  country  was   Hoodetl   with   ]»aper  mcuu-y  to  an  alarmiu};  extent. 

i  J'roperty  rose  in  ]»rice,  and  a   specniatixe  s|>irit  became  rife.     All 

who  could  command  the  nu'ans  w«'re  enhnjiin;;  the  area  of  their 
territorial  jiossessions  and  d«'bts  were  fieely  incurred.  The  mania 
of  l(S;}()-7,  it  was  ur{;ed,  would  be  repeated,  and  irretrievable  ruin 
overtake  thousands.  Indeed  the  new  plan  of  stock  bank- 
in<i  be(!ame  very  <it'neral  throughout  the  I'nion,  and  there  was  no 
little  exi)ansi()n.  IJut  in  Illinois  mnch  of  all  this  was  (twin};  to  the 
inaujiuration  of  the  railroad  era  Just  at  that  tinu',  and  enhance- 
ments had  a  solid  basis,  very  unlike  the  jteriod  of  lS.'J(i-S. 

When  the  orjianization  of  banks  under  the  new  loan  was  com- 
menced, not  bin  <;•  further  was  lu'ard  of  thej^reat  ])art  the  associations 
undei'  section  (i  were  to  play;  no  issues  \\ere  uttered  without  the 
deposit  of  sto(!ks  by  any  associations.  I5ut  as  the  law  stood  and 
the  couits  afterwards  held,  the  dei)osit  of  $50,000  in  bonds  was 
a  sntlicient  compliance  with  its  lu'ovisions  as  to  cnpital.  The 
ainotint  of  specie  cajiital  to  f)e  kept  on  hands  was  a  question  of 
risk  for  the  banks,  the  law  not  tixinj;-  any  amont.  This  caused 
much  of  the  business  of  free  bankin{>'  to  go  into  the  hands  of  ir- 
responsible and  non  resident  ]»ersons,  who,  havin<;'  uo  object  or  in- 
terest fuither  than  to  j^et  their  notes  into  ciicula. ou  and  leaving 
the  bill-holders  to  take  care  of  them,  located  tlieii  c-oncerns  in  re- 
mote and  inaccessible  ]>laces,  Avhere  no  legitimate  baiddng  busi- 
ness could  or  was  expected  to  be  done,  ami  Hooded  the  country 
with  "wild  cats."  And  as  such  bai.ks  did  not  often  keej)  any 
place  of  business  in  the  ap])arent  location  thereof,  the  i)ower  of 
demand  aud  protest  was  destroyed.* 

Hoiv  a  Stock  Bank  Miffht  he  Started — While  doubtless  nniny 
of  these  free  bauks  were  started  with  an  actual  paid  u^)  capital, 

*  See  Keport  House  Committee,  1801. 


FREE  OR  STOCK  HANKS. 


-.80 


hihI  <li<l  ii  n>;;ul:ir  anil  l(><iitiiiiiit('  l)iiiiUiii^  liiisiiicss,  for  t]i(>  rciiiii- 
iKTiitioii  Wits  iiiiipic,  il  is  also  tnic  thai  tlic  rollo\viii<^  pcilrrtly 
Irasal.lc  iiiaiinci'  of  orj-aiiizatioii  iiiidcr  the  law,  was  I'lccly  rcro;;-- 
iii/cd  and  ot'tcii  ap|)roa<-lialil.v  ]Mit  into  practice.  A  lew  sharp 
opciatois,  hailiii;i  (Voni,  it  inattcicd  little  whcic,  with  icad.v  money 
enough  to  meet  tlu'  expeiis«'s  of  ficttin;^  up  tlie  l»ills,  notit\  the 
auditor  in  the  proper  way,  that  they  have  or^ani/ed  a  company  to 
start  the,  say  ''Al»soliite  Safety  ltaid<  of  the  town  of  Wildcat,  in 
Jirnsii  comity  ;  capital  fj*L'()(».(MIO."'  'J'hey  now  contrihnte  perhainj 
i!<."».(M»()  for  tin' cost  of  en^iiaxin;;  the  plates,  printiii;;- the  hills  and 
other  incidental  expenses.  Ila\  in^  credit  tln-y  ohtain  letters  and 
next  apply  to  a  broker  ami  borrow  on  short  time,  say  Missonri  i>\s 
or  stocks  (»f  otln-r  States,  to  the  ainonnt  tlu-y  want.  Perhaps  as 
security  tiiey  liy]>othecate  or  mortj;a;:('  (»ther  property,  «'it her  to 
the  bi'oker  ur  some  wvU  kiH)Wii  timincier.  I>y  the  time  the  notes 
are  printed,  count ersi«;ited  ami  re;;istered  the  bomis  are  taken  to 
Spi'in^tiehl  and  deposite<'..  '^Fhe  auditor,  in  a<-cordance  with  the 
hiw,  turns  over  to  them  their  nicely  executeil  bri};ht  new  bills, 
le present  in  ji  .t!-0(»,(M)(>,  declared  by  law  to  lie  nuMu-y.  Apjtropriate 
and  excpiisite  de\  ices,  representing;  peihaps stacks  of  nmncy  ba;;s, 
out  of  which  a  stalwart  Imlian  is  pourin;;-  the  yellow  ea^ilcs  in 
jlieat  iu'ai)s  of  precious  j^old,  embellish  tlie  crisp  "promisi'.«  on 
(h-nniml.'  The  bills  an*  lu'xt  taken  or  sent,  say  to  (ieor;;ia,  or 
SiuiK'  other  distant  State  where  a  similar  bankinj^  system  is  in 
oi»eration,  ami  there  swapped  for  the  issues  of  various  baidis,  the 
more  scattered  the  bett»'r,  so  as  to  have  tlu'Ui  from  home  as  far  an 
])ossible.  The  money  receive<l  in  exchaiijic  is  now  either  directly 
]»aid  over  for  tlu'  bonds  bonjilit  or  de])osited,  or  ])erhaps  brou;;ht 
liome  ami  vested  in  j>rain,  jMuk  or  beef,  which  is  shijiped  cast,  the 
bills  of  ladinj;  transmitted  to  the  broker,  who  pays  out  of  the  j>ro- 
ceeds  for  the  bonds  a<lvaiiced,  and  foiwards  the  residue,  i»erhai»s 
a  hamlsome  nmr^in  besides,  to  the  baidcers  in  Illinois.  And  thus 
the  money  is  turned.  In  the  nu>antime  the  baidc  at  AVildcat  is 
opem'd  for  a,  few  hours  each  day,  but  no  piles  of  bank  notes  ap- 
]K'ar  on  its  desks,  no  exchanf>e  is  bou<^ht  or  sold,  mt  accommoda- 
tions are  j;ranted  or  discounts  made.  !No  drearier  lookiii};  baidc 
ever  opened  its  doors.  Jbit  then  in  the  out  of  the  way  ])lace  of 
its  location  there  is  little  denmnd  for  these  ordinary  tratisactions 
of  a  baidv.  Jv^otwithstamlinj;'  the  rathersorry  lookinj;'  appearance 
of  this  coniiern  with  itscapitalof  $200,000,  the  owners  are  imikinj;' 
the  interest  on  the  bonds  deposited,  amountinj>' to  double  the  oriy- 
imtl  capital  invested  in  the  bank.  If  the  bills  are  a  lonj;  time  in 
lindiii<>'  the  retreat  for  their  redemption,  it  is  a  <;()od  tliinj,^  for  the 
in<;enious  baidvers.  To  };iiard  a<;ainst  their  ready  presentation 
for  this  i)uri)ose  the  institution  has  been  located  in  Brush  county, 
where  it  nmy  be  both  dillicult  to  lind  and  tedious  of  ac<!ess,  ami 
■where  a  snuill  amount  of  coin  in  the  vault  serves  to  sustain  it 
ayainst  failure.  Perhaps,  by  fortunate  investments,  the  baidc 
prospers ;  the  owners  add  some  paid  up  capital,  ami  with  th^se 
means  a  general  banking  business  is  engage<l  in.  Of  the  banks 
located  in  cities,  or  at  conveniently  accessible  points,  it  was  noted 
that  the  same  companies  would  start  several  bank.s  with  a  large 
lunninal  capital  for  each,  though  the  actual  banking,  or  the  utter- 
ing of  their  bills,  was  restricted  to  the  minimum  amount  allowed 
by  the  law.    This  would  enable  them,  by  shifting  coin  from  one  to 


w 


i.f 


'<  !l 


11  i 


C!»0 
aiH»tli(<i 


IllsroliV    III'    ILT,;  NOIH. 


aiH»tli(<i'  ill  titiM'N  <>riiniti  to  p't  alon;;  wiili  pi'iinips  imU'oi-  li-ss  of 
tlic  ()i'(liiiiii',v  aiiioiiiil  of  spccit'  kr|it  on  IiiiimIs  I'oi' ifdciiiptiiiii.  IW- 
(Iriiiplioii  oi'  ciicli  liill  sr|iiiiiitfl,\  w  iis  iillowiilil*-  at  lliislJiiM-,  iiikI 
M'piiiiilc  pKth'sts  wcif  liKrwisc  ir(|iiii('(|.  In  is.'iT  llic  Ic^iislatiiri^ 
HiiH'iidt'iI  tlii'  law  so  liiat  in  presenting;  notes  tor  pii.viiieiit  it  was 
not  rcMpiii'iMJ  to  lerrivc  riMJcinption  tor  tsu'li  note  scpaialely,  lait 
tlic  wiinie  anioiiMt  ini;^lit  Ix-  pirseiitcil  as  a  p'licial  ol)li;;atiuii  aii( 
uiic  pa,\iiii>nl  (Iciiiaiiiicil. 


and  Willi  a  raillirnl 


llic  coiintr.v  and  Itcnetiti-d  vcr,v  many  ])<M)pii>; 
iiiMi  iiiiii.i  i.iMiiiiii  aiidilor  to  lotdc  alter  tliese  .  ecnrilies.  wlm.  in 
case  liiey  depieeialed  in  market  would  pi'omptl,\  ciiii  on  llie  l>aid;s 
iiU'ected  to  niak(>  <;(i(id  the  niai';>in  declined  with  ad<lilioiial  depos- 
its, no  iiltiiiiale  loss  cunld  well  occur  lo  tiie  bill  holder.*  Nolliin;;' 
wonld  permaiieiilly  liavc  depreciated  these  stat*'  securities  except 
the  nil precedeiUed  occasion  oHeied  by  tliu  rebellion  of  lli  tSt sites 
of  the  Union. 

•As  n  (rood  comniciitnry  on  the  iiiyiiincnt  of  iiltlnintc  scourlty  to  the  bill  holder,  how- 
ever. 11 1 X III  which  niiieh  stress  uiis  liild  ill  the  time  hy  the  iidviieiiles  of  the  slock  liiiiik 
E<ystein,  and  also  us  illiistnitiiiM:  the  niiiniiciof  hinderiiiir  iiiiil  Ihrowinir  olititiieles  in  tho 
wiiy  of  II  leiulv  redeiiLiition  in  specie  thai  iiilKht  l)e  niiicle  use  of  by  hankers,  the  fol- 
lowiim  ]il'  asantly  related  exiierience,  current  at  the  tiiiic,  thoiiirh  ap|iiied  to  Indiana, 
titled  Illinois  as  well,  and  will,  we  trust,  proxe  not  iiiiiiiterestliiK  to  the  reader.  It  la 
the  iiiveiition  of  some  fertile  newspaper  K<''ilii»  of  the  time,  aiia  tlrKt  a|)peiirud  In  the 
Cincinnati  ('(Hiiiiii  irial  ; 

Suppose  II  ttenileinan  should  be  so  unfortiinatn  ns  to  full  heir  to  n  five  dollar  note 
iiimii  oiieof  tlie.se  institution,  and  desires  loroali/.e  upon  It  specde  or  e.\clianirc,  t  ' 
what  is  he  to  do?  First,  find  the  bank  !  that  of  course  ;  and  that  is  not  always  an  easy 
matter.  lianUs  in  Indiana  lurk  in  otit-ol-tlie-wiiy  places  l.lke  the  Insect  hunted  by 
the  ciitoniolotficiil  HIberniiin,  when  you  lliid  them  they  ar'iit  there.  They  don't  atfect 
corner  lots,  but  shun  the  din  of  crowded  cities.  licstlinK  close  under  the  loe  of  prime- 
val forests,  marked  by  an  ancient  Indian  trail  or  solitary  cow  path.  They  are  thinirs 
to  bi'  found  liy  the  bee  tiuntiM-s,  are  seen  far  olf  by  the  midnight  Ninirod  In  search  of 
coons,  with  IliiMiioonliKht  sleepinijr  upon  tliclr  »hiii|jlo  rooln  andprimitivo  cornices. 
Capital  lias  become  modest,  and  wealth  retires  from  the  world  into  the  cloisters  of  tho 
deep  old  woods,  or  tho  holy  solitudes  of  the  iirairies,  convcrsinK  with  nature — layiiifJT 
u|i  its  treasures  "where  ncdtntr  moth  nor  rust  doth  corrupt,"  and  where  none  I  but  the 
aiiilitorid  state]  can  llnd  them. 

Hut  suppose  that  the  institution  Is  rrvealod,  and  the  monetary  anchorite  stands  con- 
fessed,:  suppose  that  the  business  hours  have  n'Tlved,  and  the  shlnirle  whose  opposing 
sides  (five  each  oihertlie  lie,  faces  the  sun  with  the  unnouneenient — 'bank  ojien'' — 
we  see  the  aforesaid  heir,  with  rapid  steps,  approach  the  edifice,  llecnters;  tie  dniws 
his  pi<'torlal  evidence  of  a  promise  from  nis  pocket  book;  he  approaches  the  counter, 
presents  his  note  to  the  payin>r  teller,  and  u  coloquy  ensues; 

•'  Can  vou  Rive  me  specie  lor  thIsV" 

"No." 

'•Siiilit  or  short  time  eastern  exehangc  I" 

"Nothing." 

"Why  ■!" 

"Vou  are  making:  a  run  on  our  institution ;  this  species  of  presentation  wc  are  hound 
to  resist.  You  are  trying  to  break  us,  sir— to  make  us  stop  payment,  sir;  you  can'tdo 
it,  sir." 

"  Hut  haven't  you  stopped  nnvment  when  you  refuse  to  redeem  ?" 

"No,  eir;  ours  in  a  stock  iDstltutton.    There's  your  ultimate  security,  sir,  deposited 


FREK  on  STOCK  BANKS. 


501 


'■'Tilt-  Forih/ii  Small  Notr  .Ir/."— Willi  tJu' iiH'cliiij;  of  llic  Ic;;- 
j.sl:itiir«s  ill  1S.*>:{,  a contiiiiiftv  of  <)|)ini<iii  (il)t:iiiit'<i  iiiii()ii<^  IIh^ 
iiii'iiiht'i-s  iis  to  the  powri'  to  iiiiit>ii<l,  iiiiMlil'y  or  ifptiil  tlic  ;:ciifnil 
tVrr  Itiiiikiii^'  liiw.  (>ii(>  \i<'w  \^!ls  tliiil  tlif  ori;;iiiiii  ai-t  liiiviii); 
hcfii  siil)iiiittc<l  (Oil  \ot<' of  tlic  |M'o|)li'  I'oi'  tiifii'  siiiM-lioii,  it  was 
now  tJM'ir  law  and  l)c,\oii*l  I  lie  control  of  llic  lf;;i.slatiir(>,  lixfil  as 
tlic  laws  of  tilt'  .Mnlcs  and  I'crsiaiis;  that  tlic  voicoof  tlu^  iicoplu 
liad  iiiipai)*'d  to  it  its  \  italitv,  aii<l  it  iiiiist  livr  to  proi-icat*-  itK 
nai>liii<>-  itaiiks  until  tlir  saiiu'  ini^ilitv  Mtice  deprived  it  of  its  t-x- 
istciu'c;  that  l),v  the  tiTiiis  of  tin- constitiitioii  tlit'  people  had  tu 
saiieli«iii  siieh  law  l»,v  their  vote,  liist  aiitliori/ed  Its  the  ie;;islatiir«i; 
and  that  the  same  KMitiiie  had  tolie  iiiider^^oiie  with  all  its  aiiieiid- 
iiieiits.  A  ^'siippleiiieiital"  haiikiii;:  law  w  illiont  all  this  routine 
was,  however,  v<'ntiired  upon  and  adopted  \iy  the  lej;islatiirt'. 
ISiit  its  reception  l>\  tlie  peo]de  indicated  that  the  le;^islatiire 
niijiht  have  spared  themselves  this  tioiil>le ;  for  the  want  of  ohe- 
dieiic*'  to  this  law  was  intt  based  upon  aii,v  l.'chnl'al  jiroiind  of 
Wiiiit  of  power  1,;;  the  le;;islaliire.  It  was  prohably  untie  a  ijues- 
tion  (d"  <'oiiveiii«'iic»'. 

This  was  the  w<'l|  Umnvn  "foreign  small  nole  act,"  by  wliieli  to 
foster  lioi.ie  Itaiiks  and  prevent  the  retirement  of  specie  froiii  cir- 
cnlatioii,  a  penalty  of  ><.■)((  was  imposed  for  every  ioici;-!!  hank 
Itill  of  a  less  deiioiiiination  than  ^'>,  uttered  after  the  1st  of  Au<;iist, 
1S."»;{.  It  was  soiijiht  to  absolutely  scpielch  the  l'oiei;;n  small 
trash.  JJankers  and  j;eiieral  deah'is,  or  their  emplo,\ees,  ^^ailty 
of  this  otl'eiisi^  were  to  !>«'  additionally  )Miiiislied  l>y  iiiiprisonmetit 
in  the  coniityjail;  and  no  suit  could  be  maintained  upon  any  ob- 
lij;atioiis  the  <'«»iisideratioii  of  whi(th  was  thesi^  small  notes  of 
banks  of  alien  States.  Great  latitude  in  itleadiiigs  under  the  act 
was  specially  enjoined. 


■witli  tho  luiclltor.  Wo  cnn'f  bronk,  (tir;  wo  can't  stop  pnyinent.  liook  at  the  law  I 
liOiik  lit  tlut  (iiiKlitor'sl  circiiliir  !" 

"  H\it  have  you  no  Kpccic  on  himd  ?"' 

••  Vi's,  Hir;  iind  we  lire  lioimd  to  keep  It.  Tho  liiw  ol)ll(r('S  us  to  keop  }2\i  per  oont.  of 
ppt'cio  on  Imiid,  If  wo  piiy  out  ovory  time  oiio  ot  yon  ti'llows  call,  how  oun  wo  keep 
ft  on  hiinil  ?"  . 

"  Then  1  shiill  proceed  nnd  have  tho  note  protested." 

"V«-ry  well,  sir.  You  will  find  a  notary  piilillc  at  Indianapolis,  provided  he  if)  nt 
homo,  whUrh  is  only  ahoiit  140  miles  Ironi  hero.  Mnl,  sir,  voii  hud  lieiler  tro  homo,  and 
rely  upon  your  iiltiniateseeiirity.  We  ean't  pay  speeit!- (Ind  it  won't  do;  but  you  are 
ultlinaKdy -ocurc;  you  ean't  lose  your  money,  thoujfh  you  never  jfet  it.  Uenicinbcr 
that." 

We  will  suppose  our  Rontloman  so  iinroasonahio  ns  not  to  be  satisfied  with  the  pre- 
sentation of  the  pay  int?  toller  of  tiie  Kroat  priiieipio  of  ultimate  seeiirlty.  He  linds 
his  way  to  Indiunapolis,  iniikos  protest  in  due  form,  and,  iioto  In  hand,  proceeds  to  the 
auditor  of  state,  where  anollier  dialoirue  ensues: 

"  Sir.  I  liave  a  note  ot  the  Siiuash  Hank,  at  Lost  Prairie,  with  cortllleate  of  protest, 
whieli  I  want  to  deposit  in  your  hands,  with  a  re(iuest  that  you  miikc  collcetion  as 
8pee<lily  as  possible." 

"Certainlv,  Sir." 

"  How  lonif  before  I  can  expect  to  reall/.e  upon  the  ultimate  securities  of  tho  insti- 
tution ?    Thirty  ilays,  is  if  not  ?" 

'•  Not  quite  us  soon  as  that  sir.  T  shall  «lve  notieo  to  the  ollleers  of  the  Squash  Ititnk. 
If  they  pay  no  attention  to  it,  I  shall  offer  its  securities  in  iiiy  hands  for  sale;  but  in 
dis  hiinrinir  my  duty  to  all  the  creditors  of  tlio  institution,  1  shall  net  proceed  to  offer 
any  of  its  assets  in  this  market  until  afterat  least  (.'  lays'  notice  in  Now  Vork,  I^on- 
doii  and  Paris,  so  as  to  Insure  tho  lurtfcst  and  host  pnco  for  tho  securities;  and  not 
then.  If,  In  my  opinion,  the  ultimate  liiterestBof  all  concerned  will  he  promoted  by 
a  further  extension  !     Hem  I" 

"  IJiit,  my  dear  sir,  how  Iour  will  It  he  before  I  can  realize  upon  my  demand  ?"' 

"Can't  say,  sir;  stocks  are  down  just  now — may  rise  in  a  year  or  two— depends  some- 
what upon  tiio  fate  of  the  war  in  P.urope.  But  never  fear,  your  ultimate  security  is 
undoubted.  If  yoti  should  nevcrKct  it.  you  will  never  lose  it;  remember  that.  Kely 
upon  your  ultimate  security  and  you  are  safe.'" 

"  D-n  ultimate  .securityl    1  want  my  money." 

"  Well,  sir.  If  that's  your  ^me,  when  you  get  It,  please  give  us  the  information." 


m 


m. 


592  IIISTOKY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

Tlic,  exceeding  .striiigeney  of  tlie  provisions  overle.aped  them- 
selves. While  ro  law  was  ever  more  generally  luuh'rstood,  both 
as  regards  its  provisions  and  the  tinn^  when  it  was  to  go  into 
effect,  for  the  jtress  ciMislimtly  invited  attention  to  it,  niging  its 
observance  in  every  iiiirticulai',  so  no  law  was  ever  more  totally 
ignored  by  everybody,  or  became  a  more  complete  <lead  letter 
from  the  start.  It  was  violated  tliroughout  the  length  and  breadth 
of  the  State  inany  thousands  of  times  daily  in  tlie  multiform  bnsi- 
iiess  relations  of  society,  without  tlu'  least  attention  being  paid  to 
it.  Tiie  Hoods  of  foreign  small  notes  continued  to  infest  our  com- 
munities and  retained  their  ground. 

The  Panic  of  1854. — In  the  fall  of  1854  there  was,  for  a  short 
time,  (jnite  a  monetary  crisis  in  the  <'ountry.  Among  the 
free  banks  of  esi)ecially  Ohio  and  Indiana  there  were  a  num- 
ber of  failures,  and  much  alarm  prevailed.  JMissouri  and  Virginia 
bonds  had  been  thrown  in  huge  amounts  upon  the  Xew  York 
market,  and  declined  to  1)5  and  OIJ  cents  j  though  their  interests 
had  been  regularly  k<'pt  up.  Dame  rumor,  with  her  many  tongues, 
doubtless  considerably  eidarged  upon  the  facts,  and  much  distrust 
obtained  in  Illinois.  Chicago  was  Hooded  with  Georgia  shiu- 
plasters.  Brokers  sought  to  take  advantage  of  the  public  solici- 
tude to  precijtitate  a  panic  ;  its  effects,  however,  did  not  extend 
lunch  beyond  the  city.  There,  a  heavy  run  was  made  on  the  baidcs 
by  bill  holders  and  depositors,  and  a  pretty  general  suspension 
took  place. 

In  the  nfeantime,  AY.  B.  Fondey,  of  the  bank  commission,  couu- 
selkd  the  people  that  the  i)anic  was  a  mere  brokers'  trick,  that  no 
default  had  been  made  in  interest  payments  on  the  depreciated 
bonds,  and  therefore  it  could  only  be  tensporary,  and  warned  them 
not  to  part  with  their  money  at  discount  or  sacritice.  The  mer- 
chants of  Chicago  had  steadily  taken  the  money  in  exchange  for 
goods,  and  the  wholesale  dealers,  feeling  assured  of  the  ultimate 
se(!urity  of  the  stock  banks,  and  perceiving  iu>  adequate  ca'  .se  for 
the  ])anic,  also  lent  their  su[>port  in  sustaining  the  banlis,  and  the 
result  was  that  in  a  few  days  they  resumed  business,  and  the  panic 
only  gave  them  greater  confidence  with  the  people.  The  storm 
was  suc(!essfidly  weathered,  ami  those  banks  whose  deposits  were 
dei)reciated  comjdied  with  the  call  of  the  commissioners,  and  put 
up  an  additiomd  margin  of  security. 

After  the  tlurry  the  j)ress  took  uj)  the  subject  of  revising  otu- 
banking  law.  The  discrimination  of  UO  ]>er  cent,  against  Illinois 
bonds  as  a  banking  basis  was  denninded  to  be  removed.  Under 
the  law  of  1849  i)rivate  i)ersons  might  make  valid  agreements  for 
interest  at  10  per  cent.;  not  s<.,  liowever,  the  banks — they  were  re- 
stricted to  7.  In  this  conne(!tion  the  bank  commissioners,  ex-Gov. 
A.  C.  French,  P.  Maxwell  and  W.  B.  Fondey,  in  their  report  of 
Dec.  30, 1S54,  say  it  had  been  the  custom  with  banks  to  loan  their 
money  to  other  cor])orations  and  associations  composed  for  the 
most  part  of  the  same  stockholders,  to  be  re-loaned  by  them  as 
individuals  at  an  advance<l  rate  of  interest,  1()  per  cent.,  and  the 
result  was  that  the  community  had  not  been  enabled  to  get  money 
any  (cheaper  than  formerly,  while  the  difference  of  3  ])er  cent,  in 
the  rate  of  interest  obtained  in  this  manner,  had  induced  the 
banks  to  evade  the  intention  of  the  law,  and  pursue  a  course  cal- 


PREE  OE  STOCK  BANKS. 


593 


(!nliit('(l  to  wciikoii  tlic  confidence  wliicli  tliey  Kliould  endeaAor  to 
inspire  in  the  comnninity  where  h)cat<'(l.  Jt  was  also  nijicd  that 
those  bjiidvs  whicli  wanted  to,  slioiild  lu'  ])eiinitted  to  withdraw 
their  hills  I'roni  cirenlation  and  take  np  their  bonds  with  the  au- 
ditor in  sums  of  .$ri,0()(»  or  .Sl(»,(K»(>.  instead  of  all  but  10  jier  cent., 
as  the  law  tlien  stoo(l.  l>ut  the  lej^islafnre  of  LSo.l  disrej^arded 
all  the  objections  with  the  sin^ule  exception  of  the  last,  and  sim- 
ply allowed  banks  to  surrender  to  the  auditor  their  bills  in  sums 
of  •*  1.000  for  their  securities. 

Two  yeais  later,  however,  another  Icfjislature  ])ut  Illinois  bonds 
on  an  etjual  footin;;'  with  those  of  otln-r  States  as  a  basis  for  bank- 
inin,  all  to  be  valued  10  per  cent,  less  than  the  market  price; 
allowed  banks  to  discount  ]»a[ier  oi'  make  loans  at  the  rate  of  10 
)»er  cent;  forbade  the  location  of  banks  at  places  of  less  than  200 
inhabitants;  made  the  issues  redeemable  at  the  places  wliere 
<lated.  in  packages,  to  be  treated  as  a  sin^ileoblijjation,  and  whicli 
uiiyhi  ilnis  likewise  be  protested  for  non-payment. 

The  Revnhion  of  1857. — On  the  first  of  tlainiary,  1857,  the  whole 
iHunber  of  banks  which  liad  been  organized  since  the  law  took 
<'ffect  in  1.S51,  was  (H,  eleven  had  been  closed  voluntarily  or  by 
j»rotest  and  forfeiture  of  charter,  leaving  50  in  operation,  with  a 
ciicnlatioii  of -%(». 480,87.'},  on  a,  basis  of  stock  security  whose  cash 
valuation  was  $(>,0();},.'{8!) ;  and  u]>  to  the  tinu>  when  the  financial 
crash  swept  the  country  in  Sei>t(inber  of  this  year  banking  ca[»ital 
and  operations  were  largel;  <)n  the  increase. 

The  period  of  tiie  existence  of  the.  banks  up  to  this  time  had 
iMt'ii  one  of  un])ai'alleled  pros])erity  in  this  State.  Its  rapid  strides 
to  opideuvieand  empire  had  lu'ver  been  ('(juidled  befoie,  nor  have 
tiu'V  since.  Our  taxable  wealth  had  nearly  trebled  itself,  being, 
for  "the  year  1851,  $i;{7.818,07!»,  and  for  the  year  1857,  $407,447,;j<j7. 
This  period  being  within  the  lailroad  era,  the  increase  of  wealth 
was  either  solid  or  based  ujton  a  Just  and  reasonable  expectation 
of  values,  tliongh  s<Mnething  was  attribntable  to  bank  expansions. 
The  whole  country  was  ]»'os|)ei'ous,  stimulated  greatly  by  the 
lunnber  of  free  banks  then  very  generally  in  vogue.  It  is  in  pe- 
riods of  this  sort,  when  times  are  good,  pajicj-  money  abundant, 
and  c(»nfidence  strong,  that  communities  incline  to  the  abandon- 
ment of  the  old,  slow  but  saiV'  pursuits,  for  the  tempting  prospects 
of  realizing  laigi;  gains  on  small  capital  in  short  times.  There 
was  an  intlation  of  values  throughout  the  west,  which  atfected 
landed  i)r()perty  in  cities,  towns  and  country.  Chicago  corner  lets 
shai'ed  in  this  to  Ji  wonderful  degree.  A  spirit  of  speculation  was 
rife,  but  it  was  more  intensified  in  the  east  than  the  west.  'There 
large  i:,(ioants  of  western  tinproductive  property  had  been  bought 
purely  ou  speculation,  witli  money  borrowed  from  the  abundant 
cotters  of  the  banks  at  home,  <lepending  upon  its  steady  advances 
in  quoted  values  to  meet  payments  as  tliey  matured  ;  here  pur- 
chases were  made,  many  of  them  on  better  time,  and  the  j)rop('rty 
develoi)ed  and  made  ])r()ductive.  ^Vhen  the  fimmcial  storm  burst 
upon  the countiy  its  disastrous  efif'ects  were  tlu'refore  more  se\crely 
and  nuuv  lastingly  exi)erienced  in  tlu'  east  than  the  west.  As 
W(!stern  lands  and  lots  had  been  in  great  pait  the  means,  but  not 
the  cause,  of  the  nioiu'tary  crisis,  so  now  western  industry  and 
western  i)roducts  became  the  medium  of  unlocking  the  wheels  of 
38 


694 


HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


I  I: 


I 


5i 

c 


*1 

ii 


coiiiinrri't'  and  iij;litiii};'  tlu^  biisiiu'ssot'  tlit'  country.  Tlu'  ciistcru 
CMUvnt-y  iscnt  west  to  nn»vc  tlu'  (•i(»i)s,  had  been,  on  tlic  lirst  niut- 
teiinys  of  tlic  aiyproacliin^  storui,  M'ly  j;('iit'iall,v  it'callcd.  West- 
ern merelianls  had  bouj^lit  very  ]ar;;ely  on  time  in  tlie  east.  It 
now  be(!anie  the  (Uity  of  the  western  ])rodneers  to  throw  their 
staples  of  ji'rain,  pork,  beef  and  other  eoniinoditii's  into  the  market 
on  time  to  release  these  merchants  and  debt(<rs,  which  was  iidbly 
done. 

In  .lannary,  18r»7,  an  eilbrt  had  been  made,  mostly  on  the  part 
of  western  biokers,  titdiscredit  some  ol  the  stock  securities  of  Illi- 
nois banks,  which  v-ieated  some  alarm.  8t.  Louis  juerchauts  issued 
a  cir<'ular  statinj;'  that  they  would  continue  to  receive  the  notes 
of  thi' discrediteil  baidcs  as  heretofore.  The  determined  stand  thus 
taken  ins[»ired  lhe]»ublic  with  coidideiice.  and  the  brokers' scheme 
j)roved  a  failure.  Later,  the  securities  of  sonu'  of  the  banks  liavinj;' 
sustained  a  dinnnution  in  value,  the  bank  c<uunMssioneis,  on  the 
8th  of  JNLiy,  nnidea  rcijuisitiou  on  them  to  (lie,  within  40  days,  ad- 
ditional security.  All  responded  but  two.  l>\  the  UTtli  (»f  .lidy, 
such  was  the  tluctmition  of  stocks  in  market,  aiul  the  sij^ns  ot  the 
impendinj;- icvulsion,  tluit  it  be»  .,  necessary  to  nuike  a  similar 
requisition,  this  time  on  11!>  banks,  beiiiji'  more  than  half  of  those 
in  theiState.  They  weic  jiiveii  ilO  days  to  make  j^ood  the  marjiin. 
These  •-'*.»  banks  had  a  deposit  of  stock  secniilit's  of  ,¥-t. ;")<•*>. ()()(»,  of 
which  iijl',7.'5.s,((()0  were  Missouri  ()"s.  The  total  nnnd)cr  of  JNiissouri 
bonds  u[i(m  which  bankinji  was  done  in  Illinois  was  at  this  time 
iu)t  less  than  5?4,o()(»,()(IO  ;  not withstaiidiu'^  which  the  brokeis  and 
inerchants  of  iSt.  Louis  now  icfuscd  Illinois  currency,  eausin}"-  much 
embarrassment  to  our  people  in  the  central  and  southern  [tarts 
of  the  iState.  One  of  the  bank  comnussiont'rs  visited  {St.  Louis, 
andy  belbre  a  meetiny  of  her  merchants,  brokers  and  busincs  nu-n, 
made  a  masterly  exposition  of  oui' baidan<;  system,  and  failed  not 
to  show  to  those  j^cntlcmen  that  the  credit  of  Alissouri,  whose 
bonds  formed  nearly  thi'ce-iburths  of  the  bases  of  o.ir  baidis,  was 
also  invohed  in  their  attempts  to  brinji  Jllinois  currency  into  dis- 
re]uite.  His  action  was  also  seconded  by  caiulid  and  intellij^cnt 
discussions  by  the  newspajiers  of  the  city.  The  whole  wascrowni'd 
with  the  success  of  rcsioriny-  illiiKiis  currency  to  its  foruu'r  staml- 
iiiy  in  St.  Louis  at  yold  ]>:ir.  This  was  a  noble  stand  for  a  ft»r- 
ei.un  city  to  take,  but  a  .scNcre  shock  lo  her  comnicrce.  ChicajiO 
banks  and  business  men  arranjicd  a  liiffercut  standard  for  Ihi.s 
currency,  nominally  known  as  a  jiar  standard- — jiar  for  that  city 
— which  was  never  less  than  Id,  an«i  jicuerally  L")  iter  cent,  below 
a  real  ])ar  leitreseiitiufi  a  sjiecie  e(pn\  alent. 

Owinji  to  the  j;('neral  i»ros]»erity  of  the  country  ami  the  ]»ublic 
feeliu};'  of  se«'uiity,  many  of  our  banks  which  <lesired  to  do  oidy 
a  le^itiimite  business,  had  been  tempted  iido  excessive  issues. 
Now  the  larjic  nnmbei'  of  suspensions  ami  failure  of  banks,  in- 
surance and  trust  companies  in  othei'  States,  carryinji'  down  with 
them  inany  of  the  staunchest  nu'rcantile  houses  in  the  c<mutry, 
created  a  panic  which  bore  heavily  u])oii  our  banks,  brokers,  capi- 
talists and  business  nu'ii  jicncrally.  Tlu'  divscrcditi'd  baidis 
protested  their  iimbility  of  complying;'  with  the  rcMiuisition  of  the 
commissioners,  but  these  functionaries  were  lirm  in  their  demand. 
And  the  banks,  notwithstandiii};'  their  condition  aiul  the  disas- 
trous monetary  crisis  luevailing,  with  but  very  lew  exceptions, 


(  m 


FREE  OR  STOCnC  BANKS. 


595 


slni<if>l('(l  nobly  tliroiijili  tlie  ])rostratiii;ji'  stoiiii,  and  .subsnjiicntly 
«'iiJoyi'(l  it  hnjicr  isliare  of  jjuhlit;  conrKlciicc  tlinii  at  any  forincr  pe- 
riod* 'i'lit'  financial  standinji of  the  Slate  anionji  all  tlie  private 
and  eorponite  ealaniities  of  that  jieriod  stood  nnsliaken. 

The  ett'eets  of  tins  revulsion  of  1857  was  stated  as  fol]()M'.s : 
Whole  iMunber  of  tinns  in  the  11.  S.  (except  California)  which 
failed  was  2(>4,(»n  ;  liability  .<!2!»!»,S(M,(I(»0;  assets  $i:)(MH' I, <»()(>; 
total  loss  !{<14*.),7.S(»,()()(>,  of  annihilated  coniinereial  wealth.  The 
niunberof  (irnis  failing'  in  Illinois,  was  oK),  with  an  aj;|nreyate  lia- 
bility of  !j<l),;i."W,0()(».  Of  these  117  beIon«;cd  to  Chieaf^o,  with  a 
liabi'lity  of  !!S(J,r)(;L',(KK).  Tiie  reinainin.n-  l!l!»  Illinois  liVnis  had  a 
liability  of  ii<L',7()(i,(>(»0.t  if  the  losses  in  Illinois  avera;;ed  with 
that  of  the  country  at  lar<;e  they  were  about  $4, ")()(),()()().  These 
incredible  sums  must  have  been  larj^cly  sitecnlative.  In  Chicaji'o, 
lejiitimate  business  r«'cei\e<l  only  a  staj:j;t'rin<i  blow,  b\it  specula- 
tion was  totally  jaostrated.  The  depreciating;  t'hect son  the  prices 
of  real  estate,  with  the  hai'rassinj;  iidluence  (»f  maturing  pay- 
ments, were  not  checked  ibr  L*y<'ars;  and.  the  business  of  erecting? 
buildinj;s,  or  in  some  cases  tinisliinj>'  those  be<:un.  wji;'  stopped. 
AN'orkmeii  in  larjic  numbers  ibrsook  the  city,  imi>rovenM'nts  lan- 
liuished,  store-rooms  and  houses  stood  vacant,  rents  declined,  and 
vendors  and  mort,i>a<i('es  received  back  the  i»ioiierty  sold,  with  the 
added  inipro\enieiits,  finished  ov  otherwise,  and  the  forfeituie  of 
one  or  moreitaynients  by  jiurchasers  besides. 

The  revjdsion  c.f  isr)7,  unlike  that  of  l.S,i7,  involved  mostly  only 
indi\  iduals  and  certain  speculative  and  commercial  centres.  Had 
the  State  been  involved  by  its  connection  with  the  banks,  as  liO 
years  lietbre,  the  extent  of  this  mad  i>anic  tcni'cnt  upon  the  en- 
tire people,  with  tlu*  expanded  credits  and  inflated  prices  of  the 
jteriod,  is  fearful  to  coiitem[>late.  IJut  thanks  to  the  ju-o\  isiou  of 
tiie  constitution,  forliiddinj;'  JState  connection  with  banking  oper- 
ations. And  the  collajtse  eominj;  when  our  altiindant  crops 
were  matnicil,  with  exchan,ii<'  in  our  favor,  the  mines  of  Calilbr- 
nia  ponriuii'  theii'  \(»lumes  of  precious  metals  into  the  cui'rent  «d' 
specie  exchaujie,  the  i»anie  could  not  and  did  not  inciduce  a  last- 
in  jn'  eft'cet  upon  the  ]>rosj>erity  of  the  State.  Still  the  taxable 
wealth  of  the  State  the  second  year  aftei' the  rc\ulsioii  was  re- 
iH.rted  )isl(l.(l(!(l.(M)0  less  than  in  IS;")?. 

ill  Inn-  |S(i<)  the  free  banking;' system  iiad  amply  demonstrated 
il.ii.  ii()\\('\-er  a  law  mi;^lil  comiK'l  a  banker  to  liilly  seciuc  his 
i  -lies  by  pledji'e  of  State  slocks,  il  was  piaclic;ill\  inipossilile  to 
eit<;iaft  upon  it  peremptory  and  inuncdiate  icdcmption  of  issues 
in  speeie.f  The  notes  of  Illinois  banks  were  current  only  in  our 
own  Slate,  and  to  any  considerable  extent  bcxond  they  were  at  a 
discount  of  oiu' jier  <'ent.  or  more.||  J!e!<iellie  close  of  this  year 
the  banks  had  incicased  to  lib,  with  a  ciiculation  of  .*lL*..')liO,*.)()4, 
which  cmistitnted  almost  exclusively,  the  cui'rency  of  this  State. 
The  bank  se<'nrities  on  deposit  were  valued  at  $i;5.J»S(),<>71.  Of 
the  14  banks  withdrawn  from  existence  nj)  to  this  time  in  the  1) 
l)recediny  years,  sonu'  voluntary  and  others  by  Ibrfeituri^  under 
the  law,  the  securities  of  all   save  one   had  been  ample  to  redeem 


•  See  nic.  Con.'s.  Uopoit,  .Inn.  1H(;9. 
+  n.  DokIiis  &  Co.'h  Coin.  Ajreiicy.  N. 
t  Sci'  Kepoit  H.  Coin.  IKCl. 
II  UiBSbll'B  Mi'Bsuge  1859. 


Y.  Ikrahl. 


590 


HISTOUY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


-'( 


every  note,  dolliir  for  dollar  in  siK'cic;  and  in  the  exceptional  ease 
tlu'i*'  was  omIv  a  loss  of  .">  per  cent.*  Tiiis  (leMi(»nstrale(l  their  nl- 
tiniate  seenrit.v  to  the  bill  holder  in  ordinary  civil  times. 

And  now  with  this  larye  volnme  of  home  enrremry,  based  for 
the  most  part  npon  llu'  stocks  of  southern  States,  in  the  midst 
of  rapid  and  solid  prosperity  to  this  State,  was  wantonly  jn-ecipi- 
tated  the  j;reat  and  disastrous  war  of  the  rebellion,  State  after 
State  shot  madly  from  the  orbit  of  the  ridon,  (Jonliih'uce  in  their 
securities  was  disturbed,  liefore  the  close  of  November,  1S(J(»,  18 
banks  were  already  in  dis<'redit  on  account  of  depreciated  se<'uri- 
ties,  and  were  sidtjeeted  to  the  call  of  the  eonnnissioners.  Eastern 
exchanjue  advanced  to  S  i)er  cent.  i>usiiiess  men  lield  nu-etinjis  to 
eitnnsel  lojictlur  ami  devise  ways  out  of  the  linancial  trouble  that 
wa.'s  thickeiiiuj;  daily.  In  tln^  impenetrable  political  darkness  of 
the  times,  the  bank  commissioners  left  the  bankinji'  interests  of 
the  State  to  the  correction  of  the  lejiislature.  That  body,  which 
nu't  ill  .lanuary,  J,S(il,  revised  the  free  baidiinj;'  law  by  restricting;' 
banks  thereatter  to  be  oi'j;ani/ed,  to  the  dei)osit  of  U.  S.  and  Illi- 
nois stocks  as  security,  which  would  also  enhance  the  salable  value 
of  our  State  stocks;  {^ranted  to  existinji  banks  (!  nn)nths'  time  alter 
call  in  which  t«»  unike  <;(M)d  any  nnir^in  sult'ered  by  the  decline  (»f 
their  secniities  in  market,  before  beiuj;'  forced  into  li(juidation  or 
their  assets  could  be  reached  for  failure  to  redeem;  desij;inited 
C'hicajio  and  Sprinjitield  as  jiciu'ral  i)oints  of  redemption,  throu<;li 
aj;ents  of  the  baidis,  at  a  discount  <»f  ^  of  1  per  cent.,  the  money 
haviiiu  for  some  time  been  1  per  c«'nt.  below  i)ar,  whiclj  was  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  lecommemlation  of  Chieajjo  business  men  ; 
laised  the  interest  damaj;es  on  notes  protested  for  non-payment , 
from  iL'i  to  I.*.")  ]»ereent.,  and  allowed  the  auditor  t«)  surren«ler 
bonds  deiiosited  jiro  rata  to  holders  of  innes  i)rotested,  or  on  banks 
in  pioces.-^  of  li(iuidation  Ironi  other  causes.  If  the  lejiislature  had 
not  thus  temporized,  but  with  a  due  ap]»reeiation  of  that  Juncture 
in  national  alfaiis,  rijiidly  foici'd  every  bank  in  default  into  liqui- 
dation on  10  day's  call,  and  r«M|uir«'d  the  auditor  to  sell  the  securi- 
ties innnediately,  if  the  nnii'ket  was  a  little  depr«'ssed  by  the  abun- 
dance of  bonds  cast  ui)on  it,  it  would  liavt'  would  have  wouml  up 
almost  excry  one.  and  the  linal  result  w*ould  have  been  better  for 
I'dih  the  bill  holders  and  the  banks. 

The  legislature  at  this  session  passed  alsoanothei'  <>eneral  baidc- 
inj;'  bill  pretlicated  solely  ujion  a  sjjccie  basis.  We  will  not  syn- 
opsi/e  this  nn'asure;  siilhce  it,  the  people,  tired  of  a  rotten  bank 
currency  which  the  history  of  the  State  showed  lia«l  been  fur- 
nished l)y  eveiy  bankinj;  system  which  had  ever  yet  been  in  oper- 
ation, they,  by  their  votes  cast  at  the  Is'ovember  election  «)f  1801, 
rejected  it.  JJesides,  a  revision  of  the  constitution  had  been  or- 
dered, and  it  was  not  deemed  advisable  to  hami)er  in  any  way  the 
convention  soon  lo  meet.  "^^ 

JJut  besides  this  Icjiislation,  the  <lays  of  free  banking  in  Illinois, 
as  in  every  other  State,  were  numbered.  Secession  was  on  the 
ram})aj;('.  In  the  latter  part  of  March,  but  before  •»i)en  hostilities, 
Chicago  lMdk<'rs  threw  out  the  issues  of  .'U  Illinois  stock  brinks. 
F(»rty  odd  were  m»w  uneurrent.  This  act  was  purely  arbitrary, 
for  the  audit(»i's  report  showed  many  of  these  to  stand  as  well  as 
immy  of  those  bank  quotable.  I'erliajjs  it  was  shrewdly  calculat<'d 

■    Gov.  WooU'8  inessugcriaul! 


mm.. 


FREK   OR   STOCK  BANKS. 


597 


that  the  masses,  with  small  amount  of  uiiciuTciit  inoiioy,  would 
sa(Mi(i<'<;  it  l)liii(lly  at  the  tirst broloi's  ortice.  St.  Louis  continued 
to  receive  this  euirency.  Prior  to  this,  owin^'  to  tlie  <;eneral  dis- 
trust, in  which  country  shared  perhaps  more  fully  than  (^ity,  larj^o 
amounts  of  the  Illinois  issues  had  accumulated  in  Chicago,  where 
they  were  ciu'rent,  making?  trade  brisk.  Before  lon^-  the  Merchants' 
Loan  and  Trust  Company,  anticipatiiiff  an  early  heavy  deprecia- 
tion, and  having  i)erhai>s  first  worke(l  off  its  supply,  refused  to 
further  take  this  currency.  The  other  banks,  with  their  cotiV'-s 
full  of  it,  attempted  to  sustain  it,  doubtless  with  no  other  view 
than  to  {iiun  time  to  get  rid  of  it.  Hence  it  remained  current  in 
trade,  and  large  amounts  were  sent  to  the  country  to  buy  i)roduce, 
which  iwlvanced  rapidly  in  pri(!e ;  but  as  the  country  was  fully 
infected  with  the  distrust,  the  money  showed  evidence  of  exceed 
ing  nind)leues.v,  and  would  return  to  th'..  city  faster  than  it  could 
be  shoved  otf.  Local  trade  was  unusually  active.  In  this  straight, 
to  keep  the  stuff  u]),  leading  business  nuMi  and  bankers  in  Chicago 
actually  pledged  themselves,  and  signed  and  issued  a  circular,  to 
take  the  money  at  par  during  the  war.  Hut  the  pledge  was  broken 
a  very  few  days  utter.  Other  distinctiojis  now  obtained  iu 
this  currency,  such  as  ''Illinois  jtrefened,"  which  the  seller  of  pro- 
due*^  C4>uld  only  obtain  at  a  dee})  shave.  Exchange  on  >'ew  York 
speedily  advanced  above  the  "preferred"  to  i;i  j)er  cent.  "While 
the  farmer  thus  got  a  few  cents  more  for  his  grain,  it  cost  him  a 
heavy  percentage  to  exchange  for  good  money,  or  he  ])aid  it  out 
in  double  profit  to  the  merchant.  The  list  of  iliscredited  baidcs 
rapidly  increased.  All  the  stoi-k  banks,  regardless  of  the  State 
»st(K'ks  which  formed  their  security,  shared  more  or  less  in  the  de- 
pri'ciation,  but  after  the  breaking  out  of  actual  hostilities  those 
biise<l  upon  southern  stocks  declined  directly  to  50  cents  on  the 
d<»llar. 

With  the  jneetiiig  of  the  legislature  iu  extraordinary  session, 
Ajjril,  18G1,  there  were  various  schemes  mooted  to  have  the  State 
guarranty  the  ultimate  reilemjttion  of  this  free  bank  money  of  the 
Illinois  banks.  Some  plans  end)raced  all  of  the  8lL*,()()(>,(KK)  of 
circulation,  and  others  half,  seU'cting  thos<^  secured  by  the  best 
stocks.  In  Ix'half  of  the  latter  proposition  petitions  w<'re  freely 
eirculated  among  the  i)eople  praying  the  legislatnr<'  to  this  end. 
This  plan  was  by  a  certain  portion  of  the  i)ress  (h-nouiiced  as  an 
invidious  distinction.  To  obviate  the  constitutional  pi'ovision,  the 
power  of  the  legislature  was  claimed  u[)on  thegrouncl  of  necessity, 
this  money  in  that  desperate  crisis  constituting  the  sole  circula- 
ting mediiun  of  the  peo[)le  of  the  State.  There  was  a  senate  bill 
guarantying  the  issues  of  certain  banks,  and  tiu're  was  an  effort 
made  to  have  the  State  take  this  bank  currency  for  its  war  bonds, 
authorized  at  that  session,  but  all  failed. 

After  this  the  money  got  into  a  still  more  mercurial  and  unset- 
tled condition.  No  one  knew  what  his  money  would  be  worth  on 
the  morrow.  Of  course  the  wiles  and  arts  of  the  brokers  added 
no  little  to  this  instability,  and  the  perph'xity  of  the  people,  lie- 
fore  June  every  important  city  and  many  diffeient  railroa4ls  issued 
fn»m  (lay  today  their  sjiecial,  and  sometimes  their  exclusive,  lists 
of  banks,  whose  notes  they  designated  as  cnneiit.  Tlu'se  "lists 
were,  for  tlie  most  i)art,  arbitrary.  Every  tra<lesman,  and  even 
farmers,  carried  in  their  pockets  bank  lists  of  this  kind,  often  onlj' 


50S 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


to  lu'wr  of  new  Inciik-downs  iiiid  icviscd  lists  just  alter  liiiving 
taki'ii  in  soiik'  ot'tli*'  inoiicy.  Jt  was  ii  ix'iiod  of  iiiiiioyiiiK.'c,  trial 
uiid  vexation. 

Tlic  hanks,  from  tlicir  location — often  at  remote  and  inaccessi- 
ble |)oints — liad  earned  tlie  not  inexpressive  soul)re<inet  of  ''wild 
cats;"  and  now,  since  tlieir  j>('neral  depreciation,  tlieir  issnes  ic- 
ceived  the  rather  inelej;ant  a]ipelation  of  "stump-tail."  To  aid  in 
linrryinj>- forward  the  a]ipi(>acliin<;  end  of  their  reiyn,  the  press  in 
many  ways  lent  its  ]»owers  of  ridicule.* 

I>y  the  time  theratlier  abundant  wlieat  crop  of  1801,  notwith- 
utandinj;  the  devastation  of  the  army  worm  that  season,  went  into 
the  market,  the  stock  baidis  were  driven  to  the  wall,  anil  <ioU\  and 
silver  sent  from  the  east  was  ])aid  into  the  farmer's  hand,  though 
the  prices  lanjicd  low — (»<t  to  70  cents  j)er  Itnsliel.  By  l.S<i;}  all 
excei)t  17  of  the  110  banks  were  in  ]»rocess  of  li(piidatioii,  with  the 
circulation  reduced  from  about  .*$ll.',000,000  to  about  l!(."ttl(!,U);j. 
The  retirement  of  this  vast  circulation  was  etlected  mainly  by  Xha 
bill-holders  voluntarily  surrenderin<i'  the  money  for  tiie  bonds  de- 
l)Osited,  for  which  purpose  every  facility  was  extended  to  them  by 
the  amlitor  in  accordance  with  the  law.  Five  banks  had  or};anized 
under  the  amended  act  of  IStJl,  with  an  a{;jire<;ate  circulation  of 
$.">1,04.'5.  By  the  first  of  tlauuary,  1<S(m,  the  circulation  of  Illinois 
banks  had  dwindled  down  to  .i!l;}2,4.'>(!,  all  sciMired  by  Illinois  (Ts 
— 1^  1 7.">,0;U.  Some  of  the  tree  banks  were  under  the  act  of  con- 
gress of  ISO,'}  converted  into  national  banks;  and  it  was  the 
national  banking  law,  taxing  the  issues  of  all  other  banks  2  i)er 
cent.,  which  has  hnally  wholly  extinguished  them. 


*(Oneof  the  bunks  lu'<:anit'  tlic  iiropertv  of  the  Hon.  J.  YoiinR  Scrtminon,  a  well  known 
weiilthy  resident  or  ('hiciijro,  who,  ti)  (five  them  eurreney,  endorsed  nil  its  notes.  Mi-. 
Wentworth.  of  the  Dcinocriit,  who  h;id  roiiyht  the  "wild  eats"  witli  an  iintlii^jrinjf  will, 
hendinjr  liis  editorials  on  tlmt  suli.jcct  with  a  family  uroiipof  wild  eats  in  various  siiu- 
Kestive  attitudes,  wlien  tliis  Seanimon  money  came  to  liis  hands,  wtiieli  was  not  slow, 
|irinted  across  the  haek  of  ea<'h  note,  his  fayorite  family  Mi'oupof  wild  eats,  and  set 
it  nfioat  aKain.  These  earicatiires,  it  wassaid,  hud  tlie  elfect  to  irreutly  stimulate  the 
proiirietor  of  the  notes  to  retire  them.) 


Chapter  XLVIII. 

1853-1857— ADjMINISTRATION    OP  GOV.   MATTESOK 

Ikmocrathi  and  Whiff  Conrcntiom — SJxctches  of  the  Ovheniatorial 
Candidates — Financial  Condition  and  Phyfiical  Development  of 
the  t^tate — Tjeijislation^  185,'J-5 — Maine  Law  and  Riot  at  Chieaf/o — 
Onr  Common  /Schools  and  trials  in  the  establishment  of  the  Free 
School  ISystem, 


Tlio  Domocrutic  Stat«5  Convention  of  1852,  to  make  a  ticket  for 
State  oHiceis,  met  in  Spi'iii<;tiel<l  April  L'Otli.  Tlie  political  out- 
look lor  that  party  appeared  clear  all  around  the  horizon  au<j;uriiig 
an  easy  victoiy  at  the  coming  November  election.  IIen(!e  there 
Avas  no  lack  of  as]>irants  for  place  on  ii  ticket  of  such  promise. 
For  the  position  of  governor  seven  names  were  presented.  For 
some  time  ])revious  it  had  been  confidently  exi)ected  thattlie  Hon. 
J)avid  L.  (iregg,  then  secretary  of  State,  an  ac(!omplished  gentle- 
man of  learning,  varied  political  e.\])erien(!e,  and  great  intluence 
\vitli  his  ]»arty.  would  re(;eive  tlu'  nomination.  Quite  a  number 
of  counties  had  instructed  for  him,  tin?  public  press  in  its  com- 
ments and  surmises,  had  settled  on  liim  with  a  degreeof  certainty, 
causing  the  opi)osition  to  discharge  their  batteries  at  him,  as  if  his 
nomination  had  been  consuninnited.  The  atta<'k  upon  him  was 
mainly  on  account  of  his  religion,  he  being  a  Catholic,  The  even- 
ing before  the  meeting  of  the  convention,  a  sermon  of  a  ])olitical 
bciiiing,  violently  attacking  Konmnism,  was  pi-eached  at  the  Cap- 
ital, which  was  hugely  attended  by  the  assembled  members  of  the 
conv<'ntion.  Some  controversy  was  indulged  afterward  as  to 
whether  the  minister  was  a  whig  or  democrat.  One  thing,  how- 
ever, was  certain,  it  was  ])reached  to  intlueiu'e  the  action  of  the 
convention  in  the  defeat  oi'  j\Ir.  (iregg.  How  much  intluence  it 
had  we  do  not  say.  No  sooner  had  members  begun  to  collect  than 
it  was  whispered  about  that  it  woidd  never  do  to  nominate  Cregg 
because  of  his  Catholicism;  and  this  objection  was  industriously 
but  quietly  urged  against  liini  in  the  convention.  After  his  sacri- 
tice  there  was  an  elfort  to  smother  the  nnitter,  but  it  could  not  be 
d()n<'.  "Sir.  (Jregg  knew  and  felt  it  all  the  time,  but  he  Mas  to  true 
to  party  to  bolt  the  ticket,  and  he  gave  it  the  supp(nt  of  all  his 
l»ower.  In  a  letter  to  1.  X.  Morris,  scouting  the  idea  that  the  con- 
vention was  governed  by  such  intolerant  motives,  he  nevertheless 
adds,  "  it  is  doubtless  true  that  a  few  men  in  the  convention 
sought  to  stir  u])  religious  ]m'Judices  with  the  view  of  accom- 
l)lishing  my  defeat."  Aside  from  this  quiet  persecuting  intrigue, 
the  convention  was  entirelv  harmonius. 

599 


GOO  ,  IIISTOUY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

'J'lic  coiivciitioii  Wiis  orjijuiizt'd  witli  llic  Hon.  ,1.  A.  McClt'iiiaiul 
as  its  pcriiiiiiit'iit cliairiiiaii.  Tlic  iiaiiics  pit'sciitt'd  lor  t lie  posi- 
tion of  ;i(»v«'iiioroii  tlic  ticket,  tojictlii'i'  witii  tiii'  iiuiiiltcr  of  votes 
on  tiie  lirst  ballot,  were  as  follows:  1).  L.  (ire<;ji,  of<!ook,  HI  votes; 
Joel  A.  Matteson,  of  \\ill,  ."id;  .lolin  Dement,  of  Lee,  ">;{;  F.  C 
Slieniian,  of  ("ook,  L'.">;  Thomas  L.  Ilaiiis.  o!'  Menard,  Hi;  Lewis 
W.  IJoss,  of  J-'ulton,  7;  and  I).  P.  Jinsli,  (»f  I'ike,  (i.  Joel  A.  Mat- 
teson  afterwards  received  a  majority  of  tlie  votes  east  and  was 
declared  tlie  nominee  of  tlie  conxcntion  for  {governor,  (iustavus 
Koi'rner  re;'eive<l  the  nomination  for  lieutenant-jiovi'rnor;  Alex- 
ander Starne,  secretary  of  State;  Tlionnis  JL  Campbell,  auditor, 
and  .John  Moore,  State  treasnrer. 

Tlu'  platform  stood  by  tin;  com}»roniis(>  measures  of  bSoO,  and 
non-intervention;  ajiainst  meddlinj;'  witn  the  domestic  all'airs  of 
other  States  to  stir  up  strife  and  hatred;  lor  free  homesteads  to 
heads  of  families  on  the  public  <lomain  ;  and  declared  in  I'avor  of 
])ou<;las  for  the  jnesidency — that  he  '•  end)odied  all  the  elenieids 
of  j)opularity  and  success  to  such  adej;ree  as  to  stamp  him 
as  the  nuiu  for  tlie.  cominff  crisis."  State  atlairs  received  uo 
notice  at  its  hands,  and  as  the  free  bankinj;'  law  was  in  fidl  opera- 
tion, democratic  hostility  to  banks,  so  strenously  asserted  in  l.SU>- 
'48,  was  not  rejx'atecL 

The  Whiji  State  Convention  of  l.S.")2,  m«'t  also  at  Si»rinj;tield  on 
the  7th  of  July.  Jt  was  but  si)ariuj;ly  attended.  The  rej;ularly 
a]>i»ointed  delejiates  failed  to  ai)i)earand  their  i)laces  \vere  in  i»art 
tilled  by  proxies  taken  from  the  j;rand  ami  petit  juries,  litijiants 
and  witnesses  in  attendance  ujion  the  U.  S.  district  and  circuit 
couits  then  in  term.  It  was  orj;anized  by  the  choice  of  the  lion. 
O.  IL  Jirowuinji',  of  Adams,  as  (ihairmaii,  who  in  his 
oi)enin}i'  si)eech  candidly  renmrked  in  etfectt,  that  it  was  not 
expected  that  the  ticket  to  be  by  them  nominated  would  carry 
the  State,  but  it  would  ju'ove  im])ortant  in  tendinji  to  hold  uj)  the 
hands  of  their  party  friends  in  those  States  where  there  was  hope 
of  success  for  (ieii.  Scott,  candidate  for  the  i)residency. 

The  ticket  was  nu)s{ly  made  by  acclamation.  Aspirants 
for  the  barren  honors  were  not  nunu'rons  as  in  the  case  of  the  de- 
niocrac,\.  The  Hon.  K.  15.  Webb,  of  White,  was  nt»minated  for 
governor;  J.  L.l).  ^loirison.  of  St.  Clair,  for  lieuteiuint-jioveinor; 
IJuckiu'r  S.  3Iorris  for  secretary  of  State;  Charles  lietts  for  audi- 
tor; and  Fiancis  Arnz,  a  tlermaii,  then  on  a  visit  to  Europe,  for 
treasurer.  Owinji'  to  the  wide  spreatl  disjiust  i»i  the  whij;'  ranks 
rejiardinji'  the  conii)roniise  measures  of  1<S.")(),  and  the  national 
■whij:  platform,  which  ai)proved  them,  it  was  planned  on  the  part; 
of  the  nniuajiers  that  with  the  endorsement  of  the  nomina- 
tion of  Cen.  S(H)tt,  to  show  ])arty  loyalty,  it  inij^ht  be  best  to 
quietly  stop,  leuvinj;' candidates  free  to  assunu'  siu'h  j^irounds  upon 
the  slavery  (pu'stion  and  fuiiitive  slave  law,  either  jiro  oi'  eon,  as 
miiilit  be  deenu'd  to  accord  best  with  tin;  \aryin};'  sentiments  of 
ditlerent  localities  in  the  State.  But  thisi)lan  was  sadly  (leranj;ed 
by  .Mr.  Herndon,  of  Sanjiamon,  who  un(>xpectedly,  introduced  a 
resolution,  api)rovin}:i  ihe  Ualtinuuc  jdatform.  Here  was  a  dilem- 
ma. To  refuse  to  adopt  what  was  clearly  their  duty  as  national 
Avhi<is,  would  be  to  break  their  i)arty  adhesions  and  Itecome  des- 
pised »lisorj^anizers  ;  to  do  so,  division  and  estranj;einent  in  their 
ranks,  at  home  w  as  inevitable.    The  whig'  party,  iii  the  north  of 


MATTESON'S  ADMINISTllATION. 


001 


tills  State  «'s|K'('iiill.v,  was  liir<;»'ly  iiiiti-sliivciy.  Ilcriidoii  was 
linii,iiii(l  llic  n'soliitioii  piisscd,  it  is  siiid,  with  l'('('liii;;s  of  mt'lau- 
cliol.v  1111(1  iiiiiltt'riii;L;s  of  (liscoiitciit.  It  was  lirst  oinittcd  from 
the  piiltlislicd  report  of  the  prociu'din^s,  but  tlio  alert  deiiiociacy 
inoiiiptl.v  called  attention  to  tlie  direlicti  )n,  whereupon  llic  ollicial 
proecedinjiis  were  lepnblislied  "to  conect  the  many  inaeciiraeies 
of  the  (irst  re]»ort."* 

Tiu'  aholilioiiists,  who  ]»rol)aI)Iy  exju'cted  to  piin  by  the  larj^o 
defection  in  tli(^  whi^'  i»arty,  also  bron-^ht  out  a  State  ticket  with 
Dexter  A.  Ivnowltou,  of  Stepiienson,  for  j;ovenior,  and  J'hilo  Car- 
penter, of  Cook,  for  lieutenant  };overn(»r. 

.Mr.  Webb,  the  head  of  the  whij;  ticket,  was  a  lawyer,  deeply 
read  in  his  ]>r(»fes.sion,  and  of  e.xceilent  standinj^'  in  the  State.  Ilo 
Iiad  been  for  many  years  State's  attorney,  and  rei>eate(lly  repre- 
Kented  his  county  in  the  lejiislature.  He  did  not  possess  the  ;;ifts 
of  oiatoiy.  Ill  1>S.'{(»,  as  a  member  of  the  legislature,  he  opposed 
the  a(l<»ption  of  the  State  imiirovement  system,  and  spread  his 
protest  upon  the  Journal,  containin;i  lanjiuaye  of  pro]>liesy,  whose 
verilication  in  a  tewyeais,  was  but  too  emphatic,  lii  bs."),")  be  was 
a  candidate  for  the  su|)reme  bench  aj^ainst  .ludj^c  JJreese,  who  was 
elected  While  yet  a  boy  his  father  removed  to  Carmi,  Illinois, 
wiiere  ."Mr.  Webb  continued  to  live,  and  died  in  IS,")!).  When  tlio 
vriter  i)ersonally  knew  him  in  tiie  latter  years  of  liis  life,  be  was 
exceediiijily  fond  (.f  a  small  sociial  circle  of  friends  with  whom  to 
discuss  tlie  political  and  other  (pu'stions  of  tluMlay,  and  to  talk 
over  old  times  in   his  ])eculiar  didactic  and  instructive  maiiner.t 

The  whin'  candidate  for  lieutenant-^iovernor,  Col.  JJon  Morrison, 
was  also  by  profession  a  lawyer.  He  had  served  with  accei»tability 
in  both  the  State  and  national  lej;islatures,  and  as  lieutenant-col- 
onel of  the  2d  Illinois  regiment  in  the  Mcxii^an  war.  He  was  a 
native  lilinoisan;  an  oratoi'  of  distinj;uished  manners,  dariu;;  ad- 
dress, and  an  ardent  wlii""'.  lie  had  i)een  very  successful  in  accum- 
idatinj;'  a  larye  and  valuable  landed  estate,  which  he  still  li\es  to 
enjoy.  Neither  of  these  caiulidates  was  tinctured  with  the  grow- 
in,;:  anti-slavery  sentiments  of  the  jiarty  at  that  day. 

lieside  the  (lisappointmeiit  of  pul>lic  expectation  in  the  <lefeat 
of  (irejift'  before  the  democratic  convention,  the  nomination  of 
JMattesou  for  jiovernor  did  not  at  first  j^ive  jiciu-ral  satisfaction  to 
the  party  in  all  paits  of  the  State.  From  tlu'  south,  hostile  to  all 
banks,  the  pn'ss  indicated  the  impression  to  be  that  the  head  of 
the  ticket  had  warmly  advocated  the  a(h)ptiou  of  the  jicneral 
banking  law  ;  that  he  favored  a  U.  S.  bank,  or  any  kind  of  ''wild 
cat  system  ;"  that  he  had  not  besides  been  soiiml  on  the  W  ilmot 
proviso;  was  against  the  compromise  measures  of  l.S.V),  and  fa- 
vored free  soilism.  The  democratic  organ  at  the  capital  called  on 
the  Joli<'t  pajK-r  (where  ]Matleson  resided,)  to  give  to  the  democ- 
racy a  "full  and  explicit  statement  of  [hisj  views"  upon  the  im- 
portant subjects  named.  To  Koerner  was  ascribed  a  position  ui)oii 
these  (luestituis  in  perfect  accord  with  the  sentiments  of  the  party. 


■|r, 


•  Si'c  IlliiHiis  Stiite  .Toiirnal. 

|.N()i'i:-  +  lM>r  liis  own  imiiisi'tiient,  viniiidcd  by  iiny  toiiclior  !in<l  portiiips  bd'ore  he 
WHS  uwiiri'  111'  his  proHcieiU'y,  lie  Imilmiik;  a  most  i-xoolliMit  Kiinich  scholar,  without 
liciiiK  al)l(',  liowovcr,  to  his  knowlrilBi'.  to  pronounce  u  word  of  the  lan«uaire  corri'ctly. 
Tills  WHS  ilono  by  re^rviiarly  r  adinK  tlic  Courier  <if it  Kfat  IJiiin,  a  Kreiicli  newspaper 
printed  in  New  York,  lor  wliieli  he  was  a  subscriber.  The  writer  has  lieard  liiin  read 
in  Kiifrlish  fresh  from  its  eoUmiiis,  timcatiilauain.  translatinjr  witli  such  readiness  thut 
oue  would  suppose  him  to  be  reading  from  uu  ordinary  American  newspaper. 


002  HISTORY  OF    ILLliNOlS. 

It  Wiis  siiid  fliiit  ifllic  ti('k<'t  liixl  been  reversed  us  re^^anls  tln-so 
ciiiididates  it  would  liave  Iteeii  preleralile — "lint  an  it  is  we  adiiere 
to  it,"  eoiuinaiided  tlie  i»arl,v  drill  ser^ieaiits.  Two  slioit  .years  or 
less  (ieiiioiist rated  Hie  t'allac.v  of  these  a|iprelieiisioiis  hy  the  }i(iiii};" 
over  of  Koeriier  to  the  aiiti-Neluaska  parly,  and  Mattesou's  sup- 
port of  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  (■oiiiproiiiise. 

The  eaiiipaijiii  of  IS.")!*,  as  nii;;hl  ha\  e  been  expected  by  the  whi^iS 
jiiviii;;  lip  the  eontesi  in  advanee,  was  attended  by  littU'  exeiteiiient  ; 
nothinji' of  interest  oeenrred,  and  npon  its  close  in  No\enii)er,  I'e- 
suited  in  an  ovt'ivvhelniiii;;  victory  for  the  deniociaey.  iloel  A. 
IMalteson  received  .S(>,»>tr)  voti's,  lOdwin  li.  Webb  (»4,4CKS,  and 
Dexter  A.  Knowlloii  S,SLM». 

fbiel  A.  Malteson  was  born  August  H,  1808,  in  Jeflerson  county 
Xew  York,  whither  iiis  father  had  removed  from  Vermont  thie«5 
years  lietbre.  His  lather  was  a  farmei'  in  fair  eirciiiiislances.  but 
a  common  ICiijiiish  edncaliiin  was  all  that  his  only  son  received. 
,b»el  lirst  tempted  foitiiiK'  as  a  small  tradesman  in  Pn'seott.  Can- 
,  aila,  before  his  majority.     Ih*  returne<l   thence  home,  eiiten'd  an 

;  academy,  tau<;ht  scliool,  visited  the  lar};e  eastern  cities.  ini])ro\ed 

;  a  faini  his  father  had  uiveii  him,  made  later  a  tour  south,  worked 

;  there    in   Imildiiif;  railroads,  «'.\perieiice<l  a  storm,  on  the  (iulf  of 

^  JMexico,  visited  the  jiold  di;ijiinj;s  of  uortlu'rii  (leorj;ia,  wlienc*'  h«i 

j  returned  via  Nashville  to  St.  Louis  and  through  Illinois  to  his  fatli- 

,  er's  home,  and  married.    In  1S.I.'>,  lia\  iiiji;  sold  his  farm,  he  removed 

i^  Avil  li  his  w  ife  and  one  child  to  Illinois,  and  took  a  claim  on  <;()vcrn- 

meiit  laud  near  tlu'  head  of  An   Sable  liver,  in  the  jiresent  Ken- 
dall couiily.     At  the  time  tlieic  were  not  exceedinj;  two  lu-ij^libors 
I  wilhin  a  raujuc  of  leu  mile;:,  and  only  three  or  four  houses  between 

his  location  and  ('hica^^o.     He  opened  a  larj;('  farm  ;  his   family 
l  was  boarded  twelve  miles   away  while  lu^  erected  a  house  on  his 

I  claim,  sleepiiiji,  dniiuiL;  this  time,  under  a  rude  pole  shed.     Here 

I  his  life  was  iilaced  in  imminent  ]»eril  by  a  huj^c  jiraiiie  rattlesnak*! 

I  shariiiji'  his   bed.     In  bS.'i.")  he  boujiiht  larf^cly  at  the  j;»iveriiment 

j  laud  sales,    J)iiriiiji'  the  s]ieculative  real  estate  mania  which  broke 

!  out  in  Chicajio  in  IS.'ii;.  and  sju'cad  all  over  the   State,  he  sold  his 

lauds  undei'  the  intlatioii  of  that  period,  and  removed  to  doliet. 
In  IiS.iS  he  became  a  heavy  contractor  on  the  Illinois  and  iMiclii- 
}»an  eanal.  Ujion  the  com])letiou  of  his  Job  in  1841,  mIicu  hard 
times  prevailed,  business  at  a  stand,  contracts  jiaid  in  State  scrip; 
Avhen  all  the  public  works  i'xcejit  the  <'aual  were  abandoned,  the 
State  oti'ered  lor  sale  700  tons  of  railroad  iron,  which  was  jiur- 
cliased  by  JMatteson  at  a  ureal  barjiain.  This  he  shipped  and  sold 
at  Detidit,  icalizinj;'  a  very  handsome  ])rolit,  enoujih  to  ])ay  otV  all 
his  canal  debts,  and  leave  him  a  surplus  of  several  thousand  dol- 
lars. His  ent<'rprise  next  ])roni])ted  liiiu  to  start  a  Moolen  mill  at 
Joliet,  ill  which  he  prosjiered,  and  which,  after  successive  enlarjie- 
inents,  becaiiK!  an  enormous  establishment.  In  J842  he  was  tirst 
ele<'ted  a  State  senator,  but,  by  a  l)unjilinj«'  apportionment,  .lohu 
Pearson,  a  senator  holdinj-'  over,  was  found  to  be  in  the  same  dis- 
trict, and  decided  to  be  entitled  to  reiiresent  it.  IMatteson's  seat 
was  declared  vacant.  Tearson,  however,  with  a  nobleness  ditlicult 
to  apjueciate  in  this  day  of  forced  tor  olliee,  unwilling'  to  reju'esent 
his  district  under  the  circumstances,  immediately  resijjned  his  un- 
expired term  of  two  yeais.  A  bill  was  passed  in  a  few  hours  or- 
dering a  new  election,  and  in  ten  days'  time  Mattesou  was  re- 


mattkson'h  administration. 


cm 


tiii'iicd  i'(>-('U>ct('<l  and  took  liis  s«>at  tis  sciiiitor.  From  IiIn  w(>]1- 
Kiiowii  ciipiicilx  iis  a  IxisiiM'ss  iiiiiii,  li<^  was  iiiatU*  cliainiiiiii  of  tlic. 
coiniiiittt'con  liiiaiict',  a  posilioii  wliicli  lit'  lii'ld  (hiiiii;;  litis  liallaiid 
two  lull  succeeding;  scniitorial  terms,  diseliar;;iM;;  its  iiapoilanl 
duties  with  ahililv  iilid  rnitiirulMess.  jicsides  iiis  exieiisiv*'  woolen 
mill  interest,  when  woiU  wiis  i-esumed  on  lliccauiil  nndei'  (lie  new 


or  cilizeii,  lie  had  i«'W  superiors,  ills  niessaj;fs  present  a  perspur- 
uonsiiriay  of  facts  as  to  the  condition  of  the  Stale,  and  lire  often 
couched  in  fnr<Ml»le  and  elcj;ant  dit!ti«)n.  The  helm  of  Klale  was 
coiilided  to  no  iiiisUilll'ul  hands. 


-     1 .-       ■"  ■■■■■■■■    I-. •'....  .,   .....,...,  ....,.» 

he  sought  exile.  l''iiidiii,i>- no  security  in  Fiance,  then  under  Louis 
J'hilippe,  in  .Mav,  l.S.'>.'{,  at  the  ajicofl'l',  he  embarked  at  Jlavre  for 
America,  and  on  arrival  proi'ceded  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in 
IJelleville.  Jlere  he  determiiKMl  to  pursue  the  ])ractice  of  the  law, 
not  witlistandin^'  the  obstacles  of  a  forcij;ii  toiijiue,  of  which  lie 
had  but  a  student's  knowle<l<'(',  and  iimiiediately  commenco<l  a  dil- 
jjiciit  course  of  readin<>',  attended  the  Lexin^itoii  liiw  sithool,  and 

•  1  f  f  i  1 1' \i-ti  fil    1  kiti*ti  iiiit   fliik    1>iti'    1  k>i  ff  1  iiii<  i  k4'    Aj1>iiii    \\*     Sill  tw  liti*  •im  I    .I'liDiio 


*  See  speech  of  D.  L.  (ji-ogj?,  185:i 


004 


IIlSTOllY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


jdiK'c  Wits  )»ro('m»'<l  lor  liim  l>.v  liis  politicii!  IViciids,  kiiowinji'  well 
liis  ai'tlfiit  wislii's  to  rev  i.sil  I  lie  scciu's  of  his  .vttiilli  diiiiii;;  tin-  tlicii 
Mtiii]uj;lt'  of  tliiit  ('(Miiitry  for  liltcri.v.  Hut  wlicii  the  rlVoit  wiis 
cnislitMl,  :iii«|  crowds  of  politiciti  rcfii^icrs  lied  IIm'  opinfsscd 
fiitlit'ihiiid,  Kocnicr.  not  liii\  iii;^  sliiitcd,  icsi;;ii»'d  his  coiiiinissioii.* 
Ill  IS,")l  lie  went  olfwilh  the  iiiili  NcdinisUii  iiioxciih'IiI,  siiicr  wiicii 
lit-  has  iictcd  witii  tlic  icpiililicaii  piirty.  lie  presided  over  tiitt 
State  lepiihlicaii  eoinciitioii  in  IS.")S,  when  Mr.  liiiiccdii  was  desij;'- 
nated  as  a  candidate  for  I'.S.  senator.  In  iSlid  lie  wasa  d» deviate 
at  lar^c  to  the  Ciiica;'*)  coii\('nti<»n.  On  tlie  l>reakiii;;(»iit  (»f  tlio 
reiteiiion  he  raised  the  i<'{d  llhiiois  re;^iiiieiit,lnit  liefore  it  was  fully 
oif;aiii/.cd  lie  was  apiioinl«'d  a  coi(»nel  on  thestalV  (d"  (ieii.  Freiiionr. 
In  IStiL'  he  was  appointed  iiiinister  to  Spain,  which  place  he  re- 
Ni;;ned  in  l<S(tr).  Since  then  lie  has  acted  in  various  public  (;apa- 
cities  for  tiie  State,  lie  was  in  ISTU  the  liberal  republican  and 
deiiiocritic  candidate  for  jiOveriMir,  but  was  deleated. 

The  la'W  adniinistration  was  entrusted  with  the  helm  of  State  at 
ii  tiling  when  she  was  risiii.n  with  };reat  rapidity  from  tlie  Ion;;'  and 
<;:looiuy  spell  of  pecuniary  embarrassment  follow  iiii;  the  failure  of 
the  internal  im]irovement  systi'in  of  1S.'57.  The  buildiii<;-  of  the 
{•reat  network  of  railroads  was  just  fairly  inaii;;urated,  and  about 
400  miles  of  track  completed.  The  first  year  of  this  adniinistru- 
tion  the  increase  of  taxable  wealth  in  tin-  Stale  ainounte<l  to  )i!7.'>,- 
<SO.">,.">L'<S,  ecjiial  to  about  ~>\  percent.  Only  a  small  portion  of  this 
unprecedented  increase  was  reasonably  attributable  to  the  new 
assessiiieiit  law.  The  coinmerce  of  ("hicayo,  with  a  population  of 
50,0(10,  had  j^one  beyond  .'i<L'0,(l()0.0(IO,  and  the  trade  and  eommerce 
of  the  Illinois  river  and  canal  amounted  to  )!!4L',.'J4."»,000.  The  State 
debt,  jtrincipal  and  interest,  on  the  1st  of  .lannary,  IS,"},'},  was  .*17,- 
;i!tS,OS.")..'{r),  which,  as  the  Slate  increased  at  the  rale  of  JO  i»er 
cent,  and  the  debt  at  0  per  cent.,  was  estimated  to  be  extin};iiish- 
able  in  11  years'  time — by  lS(i4. 

In  his  elaborate  inaugural  messafie,  indieatiiiji  that  a  master  of 
flmin«'<'  had  cast  his  eye  over  the  liehl  of  Slate,  (iov.  .Matteson  al- 
luded to  hei  Hatterinji'  ])rospecls  ;  how  she  was  in  the  track  of 
eiiii»iro;  th'  nunil»er  of  railioads  in  course  (d"  constiuction, 

and  besr  ,iberality  of  the  legislature  in  {irantinji  fuilher 

(•hurt'  I'ordinji  every  projx'r  eneouiajicmeiit  to  briii^'  new 

field  /!•  into  market.     TiiU'  to  tin'  jdact'  of  his  abode,  he  re- 

eonii.  .cd  the  buildin;;'  of  a  State  prison  in  the  northern  i»art  of 
the  State.  The  Alton  penitentiary  was  then  crowded  with  -'27 
eon\  icts.  lie  also  iccommended  the  adoption  of  a  free  scho(»l  sys- 
tem, and  if  that  should  be  deemed  prenialure,  at  any  rate  to  au- 
tliori/e  a.  general  superintendent  of  the  common  s('hools.  The  new 
free  bankinjj'  law  he  did  not  want  to  see  disturbed  by  the  lejiisla- 
tiire,  but  those  unauthorized  institutions  still  operatinjf  under  the 
semblance  of  banks  and  issuinj;'  their  notes,  should  be  stopi)ed. 
He  also  desii'ed  a  re-submission  to  a  vote  of  the  ])eoi)le  the  (pies- 
tion  of  chunj^iiijn'  the  distribution  of  the  2  mill  tax  ;  and  such 
amendment  of  the  constitution  as  would  {•ivc;  to  the  foreijiiier  a 
siteedici-  rifiht  of  sutlrajic,  out  of  which,  la;  ar^iued  at  lenjith,  no 
evil  could  .<;row.  In  his  \  iew  the  hard  times  constitution  was  too 
parsimonious  in  the  salaries  and  fees  lixed  for  ollicers  ;  the  Judi- 


♦Sec  D.  L.  Grojrg's  speech,  1852. 


MAT'I'KHON'S   ADMIMSTUATION. 


(;(),■» 


<-iiir,v  .should  lie  ])Iii<-cil  iil>i>V(>  pcciiiiiiir.v  waiir,  ii|m>ii  (hat  hifth 
^riMitiil  wliicli  wiiiiM  coiiiiiiiiiiil  III)'  <-()iilii|t'iic('  iiml  rt-spt'ct  ol'  intcl- 
li;:fiit  iiicii.  lit'  r«>;;iinliMl  tli<>  coiiiix-lisiitioii  of  iiiniiixTs  of  tlii; 
p'lM'iiil  nssciiiltlv  so  low  iis  to  Im'  altriitl»'<l  willi  ciiiliai  liisHiiu'iits. 
Tliis  lif  (h'siiiMl  also  amciidnl.  'I'lic  roiistitiition  wab  not  anH'iidctl, 
liowt'vcr,  ill  any  •»!'  these  or  other  paitieidars  for  17  years;  j'IhI 
these  oltjeetions,  nr^ed  from  so  hi<;h  a  source,  doiilttless  enilrii)- 
iited  to  the  lirst  feelin};  and  impulse  that  license  taken  .•iliiits 
ri^'id  |)i'ovisions  woidd  not  perhaps  incur  au,\  j^reat  pidilic  (dthi*|Uy, 
wiiich  was  .suhsecpiently  iniproxed  upon  until  theii'  \  iolati(»!«8  w to 
l>iacticed  i»y  every  departnu-ut  of  j;overinnent  in  the  j;n>sNest 
manner. 

Ihiiiny"  the  le;;islative  session  oi'  lS."i3  was  enacted  the  small 
liank  Itill  law,  wideh  was,  from  the  start,  as  dead  a  letter  as  law 
evei- l»c<'ame;  also  a<'ls  to  use  the  sur]>lus  fund  of  the  Ireasniy 
ill  the  purchase  of  State  indehtedncss ;  to  condemn  the  ri;;lit  of 
vay  for  pui|M»ses  of  internal  impro  incut  ;  to  Itiiild  the  present 
j;()\('riiiuent  mansion;  incorporate  the  State  Af^ricultural  Society; 
sell  the  State  lauds,  of  which  1  L'S,!**! I  acres,  valued  at  *7 17. 1'.lo, 
^vere  still  on  hand,  and  ^irantiii};'  the  ri;;lit  of  pr(^elnptioll  on 
them;  re-enact  tlu'  law  prohiltitin;:'  the  rctailiii};"  of  iiitoxica- 
tinjj  drinks,  fixin;;'  the  license  at,  from  !?."»0  to !?<;{()();  and,  under  tho 
partisan  lash,  that  inhuman  and  dis^^racefiil  act,  preveiitin;;  freo 
iie;>roes  and  mulattoes  from  st'ttliu};'  in  the  State,  under  severe  pen- 
alties, was  passed. 

Ill  IS.M  was  ])assed  that  law,  more  than  any  other  upon  (air 
statutes  fraught  with  untold  l)eiiefactious  to  the  youth  of  our 
State,  to  maintain  a  system  of  free  sclatols  ;  also  an  act  auth(ui/in;; 
the  erection  of  150  addition.  1  ]»risoii  cells  to  the  Alton  peniten- 
tiary. The  most  important  measure  beariiif;'  upon  the  treasury 
of  the  State,  at  this  session,  was  the  act  for  a  settlement  (»f  old 
canal  claim  damaj''es,  datinj;"  hack  beyond  IStO,  in  favor  of  <'er- 
taiii  contractors,  tS:c.  The  commission  appointed  for  the  tinal  ad- 
justiiM'Ut  of  these  claims  consisted  of  S.  II.  Treat,  ,Iolin  J),  ("aton, 
and  Walter  V>.  Scates.  Ily  resolution  it  was  ordered  that  with 
the  State  census  to  be  taken  in  ]>>~>')  should  be  separately  returned 
the  name,  residence  and  jiostoltii'e  address  of  all  the  deaf  and 
diiin]),  blind  and  insane  jiersons  in  the  State.  A  resolution  reki- 
tive  to  tlie  ealliiif''  of  a  convention  to  alter  the  eonstitutiou  Wi.s 
also  aj^aiii  submitted  to  tlu^  peoi)le,  to  a^aiii  meet  defeat. 

Dnrinji'  the  4  years  of  IMatteson's  admiiiistration  the  taxabio 
wealth  of  the  State  was  about  trebled,  beiii};'  for  the  year  IS^il^ 
$i;{7,.Sl.S,()7!>,  and  for  the  year  ISad,  $;{4!».!»r.l,L'7L';  there  were 
raised  and  paid  out  on  the  public  debt,  $7,(>71>, IIKS,  reducing  it 
from  $17,398,985  to  112,840,144;  in  the  jueaiitime  taxation  had 
been  reduced,  and  the  State  had  resumed  payinj;'  interest  in  New 
York  as  it  fell  due.  AVliile  the  public  debt  was  thus  bein}«-  re- 
duced, the  means  of  its  ultimate  extinction  were  rapidly  on  the 
increase.  When  IMatteson  came  into  office,  less  than  400  miles  of 
railroad  were  constructed  in  the  State;  when  lie  went  out,  the 
number  would  vary  little  from  3,000,  "  peuetratiiiff  almost  every 
section  and  tillinj?  the  conntry  Avith  activity  and  business."  Dur- 
ing his  term,  the  impulatiou  of  Chicago  was  nearly  doubled  and. 
its  commerce  more  than  quadrupled. 


(JOG 


HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


:-P; 


The  Maine  JAqnor  Lair  iu  Illinois. — In  185"*  tlio  Icji'isliitnro 
passed  a  very  stiin^ciit  jtroliihitorv  liciiioi'  bill,  (•(Himionly  known 
fis  tlic  "Maine  law" — Itcinj;'  a  total  prohibition  of  both  the  sale 
and  ma  nn  fact  MIC  of  spirit  nous,  viiionsor  and  tli(i  Mors,  nndcr  heavy 
jtenalties  of  tines,  iinpiisoninents,  or  both,  and  destinetion  of  li- 
(jMoi's.  It  contained  certain  exct-ptions  in  linorof  the  nnikiii^i  (»f 
cider,  wines  and  beer  and  ale  for  export.  Inii)orters  were  allowed 
to  sell  in  the  orijiinal  pa(ka^<'s  only.  The  law  was  not  to  ^ointo 
effect  nnless  appioved  by  a  majority  vote  of  tlic  people  at  a 
bpecial  ("lection  to  be  held  in  Jane  of  that  year. 

In  1S.">1  had  i)eei;  opted  a  •somewhat  strin^^cnt  act  known  as 
the  "(pnu't  law."  It  was  desi<ined  to  stiike  at  tippliii};'  establish- 
ments, in  prohiltitin^' the  sale  of  spiritnoMs  and  mixed  (not  malt) 
licpiois  in  less  (jnantity  than  a  (piart.by  forbiddin,i;  tiiem  to  bedraidc 
on  the  premises  where  sold  or  j;iven  away;  and  by  icpealin^  all  laws 
jjiaiitiiiji'  license  for  these  [)Mrposes.  The  i)enalty  was  a  tine  of 
$L'r>.  The  law  jirodnced  a  jireat  ontcry  of  popnlar  indijination, 
and  was  in  l.S,"»,">  repealed.  While  the  leyislatnre  wasthns  bowinj;' 
to  low  clamor,  the  friends  of  tem|)eranci^  were  not  idle.  A  State 
tempeiance  convention  met  at  the  capital  in  -lannary.  Delej^ates 
to  the  iinmber  of  l'(t().  iVom  all  paits  of  the  State,  were  in  attgid- 
ance.  The  leadinji'  j)ai'licipants  were  S.  I).  Lockwood,  formerly 
sui»i'enie  jndji'e,  the  (listinj;Mislied  pionet'r  and  divine,  .J.  ]\I.  Peck, 
I).  I).,  llmis.  15.  S.  Edwards.  S.  W.  Hobins,  Thomas  M.  Taylor,  (1. 
r.  West,  W.  C.  \'anmeter,  .iMd^^c  (Jrover,  (S:c.  lU'lievinj;'  intoxi- 
cating drink  to  be  the  j^ieat  incentive  to  crime,  they  sonjiht  to  re- 
fona  society  by  abolishinji'  this  terrible  temj)tation.  Tlu'  Elaine 
law  was  nndei'ii'oin^'  trial  in  several  States  at  the  time.  The  iise 
of  tiie  hall  of  icpresentativ cs  was  denied  them  after  a  pi<)tracte<l 
debate  in  the  lionse,  by  a  vote  of  .'i;5 1(»  M.  The  convention  diafted 
a  bill  similar  in  its  provisions  to  the  Maine  law,  which  was  ])re- 
sented  to  the  "iciieral  assembly  for  adoption,  bnt  met  with  speedy 
del'eal  ;  some  of  the  stronj^cst  temperance  members  believinj;' that 
moral  snasion,  and  not  arbitrary  le^^islation,  was  the  only  mode  of 
api>roacliin<;  a  free,  Ihinkinu  pcojile  like  the  Americans,  voted 
against  it.  At  the  special  session  (»f  Febrnary,  l.S,")4,  the  friends 
of  tcmjx'rance  a.nain  assembled  at  Spiin,utleld.  'I'lie  attendi'.ncc 
was  chietly  from  the  iiorlherii  part  of  the  State.  The  jirohibilory 
bill  was  a,i:aiii  intiodnced  in  the  U'jiislatnie,  and  this  time  favora- 
bly reported  ii|(oii  by  the  select  coMimittee  on  temj)eraiice.  Mv. 
i'almer  (since  .yoveiiior,)  moved  the  submission  clanse  as  an  amend- 
ment, but  for  want  of  time  no  final  action  was  had  ni»on  it. 

'Ihere  were  at  the  time  jiiavcdonbts  as  to  the  coMstitutionality  of 
Kuch  a  law;  bat  at  the  .iMiieterm  of  th<>  Supreme  court,  in  the 
case  of  .lacksonville  r.v.  (iodai'd,  these  were  in  a  measure  r»'nu)ved. 
Jacksonville  by  ordinance  had  declared  tiie  saleof  li(pu)rs  a  nui- 
saFice,  makiiij;  the  offense  i>unishable  by  fine,  It  was  contended 
by  the  defendant  that  li(pior  was  projierty,  and  that  the  ri};ht  to 
accpiire  ]»ro|K'rty,  and  lioldiu};',  nsinj;  and  (lisi)osinji'  of  it  was  both 
naluial  and  constitutional,  and  could  not  be  invaded  by  any  nni- 
ni<i|»ality  under  authoiity  of  the  State;  the  rifiht  1ni;;ht  be  rej-u- 
lated  but  not  destroyed.  The  court  held  that  this  doctrine  as  a 
iiiMversal  jtrinciple  was  not  tenable.  It  deiu'iided  upon  the  kind 
of  [U'operty;  its  use  and  disi)()sal.     We  surrendered  both  natural 


matteson's  administration. 


007 


ami  social  ri^ilits  in  tli«^  jjolitical  stati',  wiiicli  was  iieeesbaiy  and 
j»aiiiiii()iiiit  tor  t lie  well  hciiiii ol"  society.  Tlicsc  ixilicc  jiowcis  <le- 
slioycd  iH'itlici'  .Majiiia  Cliaita  iu»r  any  constitution.  Tinsict  and 
tJM' tliinji',  with  its  nsc,  must  be  Jud;;;('d  by  its  ctl'ccts,  and  wlicii 
tlicy  bi'oti<;lit  it  wit'iin  tlu^  i'<'asoii  and  niiscliicfs  of  the  law  the 
}»ower  of  <>(»vernnient  innst  rejiidate  them.  AVeliad  a  lijiht  to  our 
jioldand  silver,  and  the  disposal  of  it,  yet  conltl  not  coin  it,  We 
mi.uid  labor  and  icst,  yet  were  disallowed  to  become  idlers,  va- 
jirants  or  va<;abonds.  We  mijilit  dispose  of  onr  ])roperty,  yet  had 
no  riyht  to  fiand>le  it  olf.  And  to  jtnnish  the  eifect  we  mij;ht  re- 
move the  canse.     .hid<>e  Scates  delivered  the  opinion  of  the  conrt. 

The  i)rohibitory  bill  came  a^aiii  before  the  lejiislatiire  in  l.sr)5. 
That  Itody  was  unex])ectedly  rei)nblican,  or  rather  "  fnsion"  by 
a  combination  of  wiiiys  and  anti-Nebraska  democrats.  Vov  the 
tirst  time  in  tiie  history  of  the  State,  since  the  orjianization  of  the 
Avhiy  antl  <lemociatic  ])arties,  it  was  not  in  the  control  of  the  latter. 
The  bill,  aftei'  bein^  amended  by  the  senate,  i»assed  both  honses, 
and  inider  the  snbmissit)!!  clause  went  before  the  people  for  ap- 
l»i(>\al. 

It  may  not  be  uninterestinf;;  to  <>ive  an  idea  of  the  ar<;ument.s 
advanced  for  and  against  the  nieasnie.  The  opjtonents  held  that 
driiikin,ir  men  must  l>e  lestrained,  if  restrained  at  all,  by  convinc- 
inji  their  jud^in«'nt  that  dissipation  led  to  ruin  and  death  ;  by  a 
conviction  that  temiu'iance  was  the  way  to  ja'osjjcrity,  happiness, 
heiilth  and  lon.ii'evity ;  that  their  sympathies  must  be  enlisted  in 
tiie  canse  by  moral  suasion,  whicii  was  the  only  eftectual  lever  to 
bear  on  such  a  work  ;  tiiat  jtenal  and  prohibitory  laws  liad  in 
every  instance,  iiroved  a  total  failure,  and  were  calculated  to  pro- 
voke resistance.  It  was  hard  to  establish  tlM»  belief  that  liipior 
uas  not  iiropcrty  which  nn  ii  mij^ht  not  defend  from  destruction, 
and  the  jninciple  was  the  same  whether  ten  dollars  worth  of  li- 
quor was  destroyed  or  ten  millions  woith.* 

The  friends  of  the  bill  arjuned  that  as  the  ])eoplo  of  this  State 
weic  law  abiding;'  tiiey  would  not  resist  solx-neticent  a  law.  Every 
man  in  society  or  ji'ovcrnment  had  to  yieh!  somethinji-  of  his  sav- 
aj,'e  liberty — the  libeity  of  each  was  circumscriited  by  the  e(pnil 
liliertv  of  all.  The  effect  of  intemperance  in  ]troducin,!4  crime  and 
paupeiism  <'alled  forlaxalion  to  delray  mul  -iipporl  a  double  wron<>'. 
il  ini,i;ht  destroy  a  husiiand  or  son.  in  \>  in  .1  i  lie  w  ife  or  mother  had 
a  riiiiit  of  support — a  form  of  properi;^ .  1 1  li(|M!»r  was  properly,  so 
was  iron,  yet  c(»nvert  that  iron  intocoiiin  iiiniiij^-  tools  it  became 
contraband  and  lost  the  character  of  property.  All  thin^iswere 
sacied  until  desecrated.  Man  was  entitled  to  ])ersomd  liberty, 
yet  inebiiation  would  sul>ject  him  to  arrest  under  ])olic«'  rej^ula- 
tions;  liberty  was  regulated  ay  law;  <>-overnments  wei-e  instituted 
amoni;  nu'ii  to  promote  their  j;eneial  welfare,  and  ]trevent  wronji^ 
and  injury  to  the  rights  of  ]>eison.s  ami  i)roi)erty.  The  }>eneral 
jiodd  of  the  ])eo|»le  was  the  object  of  all  law,  ami  whatever  stood 
in  the  way  of  its  iittainment  shoidd  be  renM)ved  by  a])i)roi)riate 
lejiislation.  Finally,  it  simply  resolved  itself  intoa<pu'stion  whether 
intemperance  was  an  evil,  and  whether  iidoxieating  licpiors  pro- 
duced intemperance.t 

•  Illiniils  Stnte  Keprlster,   April  WO. 
i  Journal  (111.  State,)  March.  1855. 


COS 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


The,  Jlon.  1>.  S.  Edwiuds,  a  lawyer  of  ability  and  ('iiiiiiciit 
staiidiiifj,  i'raiiu'd  the  bill,  and  labored  eaiiiestly  before;  1  lie  ]ieo- 
pie  to  secure  its  adoption;  many  others,  intlneneed  by  pliiian- 
tliropie  motives,  did  tlie  same.  Tlie  iState  received  a  ])i'etty  tlior- 
on^li  canvassin};'  by  si>eakers  and  the  i)ress.  J>nt  politicianw,  si 
craven  .set,  with  an  eye  ever  lo  tlie  t'ntnro  of  their  personal  ad- 
vancement, stood  aloof  fnmi  it.  'J'hp  opponents  circulated  f-ar- 
bled  coj)ies  of  it  amonji'  fanners,  with  l'or};('d  inter])olations,  foi'- 
biddin;^'  the  niaiiufacliire  ami  sale  of  cich'r.  The  bill  vead,  if  ii 
man  was  foniid  drunk  and  committed  a  breach  of  the  ])eace,  he 
.should  be  arrested.  From  this  tin;  words  "committing!  a  bicacli  of 
the  peace"  were  omitted,  it  was  further  cliara«'teri/e(l  as  the  j^reat 
abomination  oi" modern  times — it  circumscribed  the  ]»riviU',ii('  of  the 
citizen,  it  outraged  his  free  conscience,  and  by  its  ado])ti(»ii  liberty 
M'onld  be  crnshed.  The  bill  was  defeated  before  the  i»eople  by  ii 
small  a<><ire;;ate  majority.  The  sonthern  comities  voted  mostly 
against  it,  and  the  northern,  with  the  exception  of  Cook  and  IJoclc 
Island,  for  it. 

Maine  Law  Biot  in  Chicofjo. — Section  ^Ct  of  th  proliibitory  bill 
provid«-.l  that  "  all  laws  aiitiioriziiif;' the  jiiantiiij;'  of  licenses  to 
sell  spiritnons,  intoxicatinj^-  or  mixed  li(iiiors  shall  be  repealed 
from  and  after  the  date  of  the  passaj^c  of  this  act " — February 
12tli.  Section  o!)  read  :  "The  provisions  of  this  act  shall  take 
effect  on  the  tirst  jMonday  of  .hily  next,"  luovided  that  if  a  major- 
ity of  the  ballots  to  be  dei)()sited  were  .'f;ai list  prohibition  tlien  the 
act  was  to  be  of  no  force  or  effee^t  whatever.  Section  J}'.)  beiii<i  a 
later  exjiression  of  the  will  of  the  lejiislatnre  than  the  contlictiiif;" 
jirovision  of  section  .'i(»,  accordiiij^'  to  numerical  order,  on;:;ht 
plainly  to  liiive  prevailed.  In  ^larch  the  city  council  of  ('hicajio, 
said  to  have  been  Knownothinji',  rc(iiiired  all  persons  seilinj;' 
lifpior  to  take  out  licens(>  at  the  rate  of  $;}()()  a  year.  Many  of  the 
saloonkeepers  weie  (Jermans.  Tiiese,  actiii};'  under  le<>al  advi(;e 
as  to  the  construction  of  the  State'  prohibitory  law,  that  the  city 
had  no  leyal  authority  to  issue  licenses  from  February  to  July, 
and  that  every  ])erson  choosing  to  had  the  right  to  sell  licjnor 
Avithiii  that  jieriod  according  to  secrtion  ;')(!,  icfiiscil  to  comjily  with 
the  lequiremeiits  of  the  council,  and  continued  to  sell  liepiors. 
"Warrants  were  issued,  and  some  oO  (ieriiian  saloon-keepers  were 
arrested.  The  Cjuestion  being  an  important  one,  it  was  comtliided 
to  try  them  before  Judge  Ifucker.  On  the  <lay  set  (iermaiis 
tl'.:  iiigc*!  the  court  room  until  it  was  iiii] ossible  to  ])rocee(l  with 
the  trials.  The  poli(!e  cleared  the  room,  and  the  crow«l  letired  to 
the  next,  from  which,  on  account  of  their  noise,  they  were  also  ex- 
cluded. With  the  beating  of  drums  the  crowd  now  took  jiosses- 
sion  of  the  sidewalk  on  Randolph  street,  excluded  the  passing  ]»e- 
(lestrians,  and,  armed  with  bludgeons,  knives  and  jHutols,  sjieed- 
ily  develojied  into  a  mol),  insultingevery  one  coming  within  range, 
ami  bidding  detiance  to  th«  ])olice.  The  latter  attempted  to  oi)eu 
the  sidewalk  by  force,  and  a  general  melee  ensued,  resulting  iu 
tlie  death  of  two  policemen,  as  many  Germans,  and  the  serious 
wounding  of  a  grciit  number.  The  streets  were  cleared,  and  order 
re-established  by  the  aid  of  the  military  ;  SMi  (Tcrnians  were  ar- 
rested and  lodged  in  jail.    It  was  a  day  of  outraged  law,  disgrace 


Mm^. 


MATTESON'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


609 


aiul  blood  lor  Cliiciifio.     On   the  next  day  (Sunday,)   the  city  was 


put  under  martial  law. 


OUR  COMMON  SCHOOLS. 

Trials  Incident  to  the  EstohJishment  of  the  Free  School  StfNfem. — 
The  free  .seliool  system,  enteicd  iii)on  in  ISoo,  marks  the  tiirn- 
infi'  i>oint  in  the  history  of  common  school  education  of  the  State.. 
Theri^^lit  of  the  State  to  Jiiaintain  su(;ii  a  system  is  founded  upon 
the  idea  that  where  i^noran<;e  ]>rc(loniinates  vice  and  erinu'  are  its 
inseparable  <'on<'oniitants,  and  that  by  education  the  masses  will 
be  ('levated,  society  benelited,  offenses  lessened,  and  yood  <;ov- 
ernnu'nt  i>r«Miioted.  lint  the  main  incentive  to  its  establish- 
ment in  Illinois  was  the  <:reat  necessity  that  etticiency  be  infused 
into  the  cause  (»f  education;  and  tiie  awakeninj^  of  the  people  from 
the  deep  lethargy  into  which  they  had  sunk  to  an  api)reciation  of 
its  imp<»rtaiice.  Keei>in<i  in  \ie\v  the  wonderful  power  of  money 
up<»n  all  the  affairs  of  men,  it  was  inv(»ked  in  this  case  to  stir  them 
up,  and  a  law  was  devised  which  offered  essentially  a  premium  to 
stimulate  them  to  take  hold  of  those  beiK'tits  which  had  been  ten- 
dered them  for  10  years  ])ast  under  then  existing  laws,  but  which 
they  had  steadily  refused  to  fully  acce])t.  The  main  feature  of  the 
law  is  brin<;in<i'  thestronji'  hand  of  f;()vernment,  operatiufj'  through 
the  taxing  power,  to  bear  ui)on  the  ]>roi>erty  of  the  State,  and 
causing  it  to  contrilaite  to  the  education  of  its  youth.  To  effect 
this  was  Jio  easy  task.  Many  old  and  deep-rooted  prejudices  as  to 
taxation  for  this  puri)ose  had  to  be  eiadicated  ;  the  judgment  of 
'lien  as  to  its  power  and  rightfulness  was  to  be  cominced  ;  false 
ideas  of  economy  for  ten  years  sedulously  ])ursued  by  The  State, 
were  to  be  uidearned  ;  ignorant  ]>areiits  eidightened  ;  and  teachers 
of  the  re(piisit<'  (puditications  and  earnestness  obtained.  It  was  a 
jtroblem  both  <litticult  and  delicate;  but  indefatigable  men  labored 
unceasingly  for  its  solution,  and  it  was  finally  accomplished  ;  and 
the  law  and  its  results  point  an  instructive  lesson  In  the  science 
of  government. 

The  ordinance  of  1787,  declared  knowledge  in  connection  with 
religion  and  morality,  "  to  be  necessary  to  the  good  government 
and  happiness  of  mankind."  and  enjoined  that  "schools  and  tlie 
means  of  education  shall  foie\ cr  be  encouraged."  Accordingly, 
congress,  in  the  Enabling  Act  for  this  State,  A])ril  18,  1818,  ap- 
propriated .'3  [K'r  cent,  of  the  net  ])roceeds  of  the  sales  of  the  ])ub- 
lic  lands,  lying  within  her  limits,  for  the  encouragement  of  learn- 
ing, l-l(!th  partli  thereof  to  be  exclusively  bestowed  on  a  college 
or  university.  Two  townships,  one  then  and  oiu'  sometime  ]uior, 
were  besides  donated  tor  founding  and  maintaining  a  sendnary  of 
learning.  The  i)rocee<ls  of  the  ."i  i>er  cent,  fund  and  the  sales  of 
the  sendnary  lands,  were  blended  in  18.'{r),  and  boriowed  by  the 
State  at  0  per  cent.,  the  interest  to  be  annually  distributed  for 
school  imrposes.  In  1845  the  leceipts  of  the  procee<ls  of  the  3 
per  cent,  school  fund  were  suspended  for  a  time.  Owing  to  the 
embarrassed  condition  of  the  finances,  this  State,  like  nnniy  others, 
had  stopped  i)aying  interest  on  lier  public  debt,  and  congress,  by 
resolution,  ordered  the  3  per  cent,  fund  to  be  withheld  from  them 
and  applied  t«»ward  tlie  payni',  nt  of  iiderest  on  bonds  held  in  trust 
bv  the  geiu'ral  goveinnu'nt.     Thii;  action  was  denounced  at  home 


1 1' 


610 


HISTOKY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


as  ii  ^i'l'iovoiis  and  iui\vaiTaiit»'<l  \vi()ii<;-,  but  our  <U'k'}{ati(»n  in  con- 
gress riiised  no  voice  aj;ainst  it.  After  the  Me.\i«'iin  war  the  tree 
entry  ot  hinds  b,v  land  wairaiits  caused  the  .'>  j)er  cent.  I'und  to  lu; 
materially  lessene<l,  and  the  lejiisiature,  in  lS4i(,  authttrized  its 
proceeds  to  be  invested  in  Illinois  bonds,  tlien  low  in  market, 
wiiich  W(»idd  have  been  a  wise  exi»cdient  Ibr  the(S  preceding  years 
but  now  nothiuf''  much  came  of  it.  The  seminary  fund  received 
additions  from  time  to  tinu',  as  sales  were  nuule.  and  in  l<S(tl,  th(> 
residiu' of  the  land  was  tiiriu'd  over  to  the  ajiricultural  college, 
the  principal  of  the  lund  beinj;-  ,*."»0,S.'{S.  The  State  in  IS.")!  had 
set  apart  tiie  interest  of  the  colU'^iC  and  seminaiy  funds  for  tlie^ 
maintenance  of  the  nornud  university,  excej>t  one-fourtii  for 
the  deaf  and  dund)  asylum,  in  1S.">7  the  legislature  added  to 
the  common  school  fund  the  juoceeds  of  the  sur|)lus  revenue  of 
tlur  II.  S.,  distributed  to  the  seveial  .States  by  act  of  c(Hi<iress, 
amountin;;'  at  that  tinu',  to  !s!l.'>l,',,S.")(l,  the  State  jiayinji  interest 
thereon  at  the  rate  of  <>  per  cent.  This  fuml  thus  escajted  bein<>- 
swallowed  up  in  the  vortex  of  the  internal  impro\ement  system  of 
that  period.  The  seveial  sums  thus  deiived  may  be  calU'd  the 
permanent  State  connnon  school  fuml,  the  whole  amountin;;', 
when  the  free  school  system  was  entered  upon  in  1S."(,"»,  to  )?!).">  1,- 
004,  yielding  an  annual  interest  of  ."is,")?, 7(H),  (uie-fourth  of  whicli 
was  distributed  to  the  deaf  and  dumb  asylum. 

r>ut  a  more  im])oitant  and  really  muniticent  donation  from  con- 
gress was  the  Kith  section  of  every  congressional  township,  or  if 
sold,  lands  ecpiivalent  thereto,  as  contiguous  as  mij^ht  be,  for  the 
use  of  the  inhabitants  of  such  township  for  school  pur]»oses. 
This  amounted  to  {)*.tS,44S  SiKlOO  acres,  which,  had  it  been  proj)- 
erly  liusbiinded  and  managed,  would  have  gixcn  the  peopU'  such 
an  ample  school  fund  as  would  have  saved  them  from  local  taxa- 
tion. One  trouble  of  most  new  countries  is  that  immigrants  come 
em])ty-handed  and  are  both  averse  and  unable  to  ])ay  taxes.  Sudi 
Mas  emphatically  the  case  in  Illinois  at  an  early  day.  To  the 
sentiments  of  a  i>eoi)le,  law  nud<ers,  seeking  oflice  at  their  hands, 
Avill  bend,  and  the  result  in  Illinois,  was  that  as  early  as  l.SliS, 
with  an  em])ty  treasury  and  the  fear  of  providing  adeipuite  rev- 
enue by  taxation,  the  legislature  unlbrtunately  authorized  the  sale 
of  the  school  huu.s,  ancl  borrowed  the  ])roceeds  to  defray  the  cur- 
rent public  expense.  At  first  the  lands  were  lease<l  an«l  sipuitted 
on  to  a  large  extent.  The  <»ccupants  shortly  <lesiring  better  titles, 
2)osscssing  the  t'lcctive  franchise,  and  being  united  by  a  common 
interest,  their  iuHuence  with  our  hiw-nudvcrs  was  suHicient  to  j>ro- 
ciire  the  |)assage  of  laws  to  sell  them  at  very  low  prices,  and  thus 
this  niagiidicent  gift  of  the  nation  lor  the  liighest  of  purposes,  was 
in  great  part  squandered.  The  seminary  t(»wnsliii»  larj!:ely  shared 
the  sanu' fate.  JJy  bSo;?  tlie  townshij)  lund  amounted  to  $1,441, - 
4L'7,  yielding  then  an  annual  interest  of  $111,H)1.  In  l.S(!S  the 
])rincipal  was  )!*4,S7.'5,L'.'{2,  varying  in  different  townshii)s  from  $1(10 
to  more  than  $100,000,  owing  to  l(»sses  and  mal-a<lministration  in 
the  one  cas<',  and  provident  management,  a  later  settlenu'Ut  of  the 
districts,  and  fortuitous   circumstances  as  to  location  in  the  other. 

In  is;}."*,,  as  we  ha\e  noted,  the  interest  on  the  several  school 
funds  thus  borrowed  by  the  State,  was  first  distributed  to  tlie 
counties  ac<'ording  to  the  number  of  children  under  21  years,  to 
be  i)aid  to  teachers  at  u  rate  of  not  more  than  oiie-half  due  them 


MATTESON'S   ABMINISTUATION. 


Oil 


for  scrvict's  iciidcii'd  in  llii'  prt'codiiij?  12  inoiitlis,  tlie  overplus, 
if  any,  to  constilntc  forever  a  county  scIi(»oI  fund,  a  wise  pro- 
vision, but  I(»st  in  the  subsequent  elianjues  of  tlu'  law.  Of  course 
tin-re  was  nocoinity  fund  made  if  tiu'd  istiibntixe  share  was  lesstlian 
one-indf  tin'  sums  due  to  teaclntrs  ;  iu'nce  tliere  are  some  counties 
without  tliis  fund.  Tlu'  aj>j;re^at«'  county  fund  in  IS't't  was  about 
$,")0,()(((».  In  1X52  the  balance  of  the  swamp  and  overflowed  lands, 
afl<'i'  payin<i' for  diainaj;!' and  levees  bnill  to  reclaim  tlu'm,  was 
•granted  totliG  counties  where  situate,  their  proceeds  to  be  ccpndly 
divided  amonj>'  the  townships  for  educational  purposes,  loads  and 
biidiics,  as  miyht  be  deemed  exjx'dient.  In  IS.").'!  the  tines  c(»l- 
lected  and  criminal  forfeit nres  on  bail  were  fuithei'  added  to  the 
school  fund  and  s<'hooI  projK'rty  was  exempted  from  taxation. 

Tlie  Hrst  free  school  system  of  this  State  was  adopted  .'!()  years 
before  the  piesent  one.  Schools  flourished  in  almost  every  neijih- 
borluKHl,  and  tli<'  law  "worked  adnuiably  well."*  (lov.  Coles,  in 
his  messajnc  to  the  lejiislatuic  ol"  1S24— ."),  directed  attention  to  the 
liberal  donation  of  (^on<{'ress  in  lands  for  e<lucational  pnrjtoses, 
askin^i'  that  they  Ite  husbanded  as  a  rich  treasure  for  futuic  jicn- 
eiations,  and  in  the  meantime  to  make  pro\  ision  for  the  sujjport 
of  l<»«'al  schools.  Later  duiin^'  the  .session,  Joseph  Duncan,  after- 
ward.s  ^•ov<'rnor.  then  a  senator,  introduced  the  bill  for  this  act. 
Tlu'  preand»le  declares  that  : 

"  Toenjoy  our  ri^Iits  and  iilnTtics,  we  must  understand  them  ;  their 
sccnrity  and  protection  oiisjfht  to  be  tlie  first  ol>Ject  of  a  I'lee  ixople ;  and 
it  is  u  well  estal)lislied  fact  that  no  nation  lias  ever  continued  lonjf  iu 
the  enjoyment  ()t'«'lvil  and  political  freedom  which  was  not  liotii  virtu- 
ous and  c-niiglitened.  .And  lielieviuK  that  tlie  advancement  of  literature 
jilways  iias  been  and  ever  will  lie  the  means  of  more  fully  developing 
(lie  I'ights  of  man — that  the  mind  of  every  citizen  in  a  rej)ul)li(!  is  the 
eonnnoii  [>r<>perty  of  society,  and  constitutes  die  liasis  of  its  stienj^tli  and 
liaj>pin(  ss — it  is  tlierelbre  consi<U  red  the  peculiar  duty  of  a  free  govern- 
ni(  lit,  like  ours,  to  eneourajie  and  extend  the  improvement  and  cultiva- 
tion of  the  intellectual  enerfj;ies  of  the  whole." 

It  was  |»rovided  that  common  schools  should  be  established, 
freeaiKl  ojx'n  to  every  class  <if  white  citi/eiis  between  theaj;es  of  .5 
and  21  ;  and  persons  over  21  mijiht  be  adndtted  on  such  terms  as 
the  trustees  should  prescribe.  i)istrictsof  in)t  less  than  1")  fami- 
Ii(>s  wei'c  to  be  fornuMl  by  the  county  courts  upon  petition  of  a  ma- 
Joiity  of  the  voters  theicof;  oUicers  were  to  be  elected,  sworn  in, 
and  llieii- duties  were  |)resci-ibed  in  detail.  The  system  was  full 
and  comi»Iete  in  all  |)arlicnlars.  The  le,i;al  voters  were  empowered 
at  flu' annual  nu'ctinjn  to  levy  a  tax,  in  money  or  meicliantable 
jiroduce  at  its  cash  vahu',  not  <'xceedin<;-  i  of  1  ])er  cent.,  subject 
to  a  nniximinn  limitation  of  $l(Mo  any  one  person.  lint  aside 
from  this  fax,  the  best  and  most  elTcctivc  feature  of  the  law,  iu 
principle  the  nicat  stimulant  of  our  ]»resent  .system,  was  an  an- 
nual appropriation  by  the  State  (d'  $2  out  of  every  $]0{)  I'eceived 
into  the  treasury,  and  the  distiibiition  of  o-d  of  the  interest  arising 
from  the  s<'liool  funds,  apjiorfioned  anion;;  the  sev«'ral  c(nu.ties  ac- 
cording to  the  nnndierof  white  children  under  the  age  of  21  years, 
which  sums  were  then  re-disfributed  by  the  counties  among  their 
respective  disfiicds,  none  paiticipating  tliei'cin  where  iM)t  at  least 
.J  months  .school  had  been  taught  dining  the  12  nmntlis  pieeed- 
ing.     In  this  law  were   foresliadowed    some  (d"  the  most  valuable 


♦  Gov.  Ford. 


612 


HISTORY  OP  ILLIJfOIS. 


M 


*.■■ 


IViUiucs  ol"  our  i»i('si'iil  cHiciciit  free  .s(;li()ol  system.  But  it  is  as- 
serted tliiit  the  l;i\v  of  ISLTi  \vas  in  iidviiiice  of  tlie  times  ;  tliut  the 
]KM)i»le  preleriiMl  to  pay  tlieir  tuition  lees,  (»r  do  without  edueation 
for  tlieir  eliihlren,  raliier  than  suhinit  to  the  bare  idea  of  taxation, 
liowever  it  ini^ht  fall  in  th(^  nniin  upon  the  wealthier  i»roperty- 
holders  lor  the  Itenelit  o'all  ;  and  tln'  law  was  so  amended  in  ISliT 
as  to  virtually  nullify  it,  by  ])rovidinj;  that  no  person  should  be 
taxed  for  the  maintenanee  of  any  school  unless  his  consent  was 
iirst  obtained  in  writinj;,  and  the  continuance  of  thfc  Htate  tiit]>ro- 
l)riation  of  $2  out  of  (^very  sjiKlO  reiteived  into  the  treasury,  b«'in;4' 
its  \cry  life,  was  denied.  The  lej;islature.of  ISL'T,  uidiUe  its  ])rede- 
cessor,  not  only  in  this  but  many  other  respects,  was  one  of  the 
woist  that  lias  ever afllicted  the  State. 

After  that  there  were  reiteated  amendments  and  revisions  of  tiie 
school  law  by  the  lejiislature,  but  for  the  want  of  tlie  vital  prin- 
ci]»le  of  the  taxiiij^'  jiower,  little  ellicieney  was  iini)arted  to  the 
cause  of  education  in  Illiiu)js.  For  JcS  years,  it  may  be  said,  the 
darkness  of  i;;norance  hunji'  over  the  land,  unrelieved  by  a  ray  of 
l)r(tmise  in  the  rij;ht  diiection.  Still,  zealous  men  labored  inde- 
fatijjably  in  the  cause.  In  bS44  an  earnest  common  school  conven- 
tion met  in  I'eoiia.  and,  after  deliberation,  jMessrs.  .lolin  S.  Wrij^ht, 
of  Chicajno,  II.  JM.  Weed,  of  bewiston,  and  Thomas  M.  Kilj>atiick, 
of  AVinchester,  drafted  a  memorial  to  the  lef^islature  in  favor  of 
an  ellicient  c<unmon  scJiool  syst«'m,  which  is  an  al)le  and  exhaust- 
ive document  on  the  subjectt.*  To  arouse  i»ubli«;  interest  and  stir 
up  the  masses  to  the  necessity  of  educatinj;  their  children  they 
deemed  of  ]»rime  imjtortance,  and  to  this  end  pleaded  earnestly 
for  a  State  superintendent  (»f  jmblic  instruction,  as  a  separate  and 
distinct  ollicer,  with  a  fair  salary,  whose  duty  it  sliould  be,  amony 
other  thin;;s,  to  travel  into  every  county  and  neij;hborh(»od  in  the 
Ptate,  deliver  lectures  to  the  peoi»le,  impress  upon  them  the 
importance  of  education,  carefully  examine  such  schools  as  there 
were,  note  the  ojx'ration  of  the  existing  law,  learn  the  wishes  and 
plans  of  the  ])eoi)le,  and  Irom  sources  outside  of  thi;  State  ct)lleet 
such  valuable  infoiiuation  as  could  be  obtained  respeiitin;;  im- 
Itrovenients,  &.{'..  and  I'cport  from  time  to  time  to  tlie  legislature. 
That  such  an  ollicer  would  see  to  it  that  the  public  moneys  raised 
\vcre  rijilitfiilly  apitlied  and  made  useful  in  the  hifihest  dejiree. 
Gov.  Foitl  added  his  rccommen<lation,  sayinj^'  sncli  an  ollicer 
"  must  be  a  laie  man.  endowed  with  talents,  zeal  and  discretion 
of  the  hifihest  order.''  They  further  declared  education  a  pnl)lic 
benelit,  indis])ensable  to  the  welfare  of  the  State,  and  as  nnudi  en- 
titled to  supi>ort  from  jicneral  taxation  as  the  juiliciaiy,  or  the 
maintenance  of  public;  liij;hways;  and  asked  why  sinj;le  out  edu- 
cation Irom  all  other  public  beiielits  and  exemj^t  a  man's  prop- 
erty IVoni  ]»ayiii,ii  its  exi»eiise.  Well  kiiowinj>,  however,  the  then 
cripitled  condition  of  the  State  treasury,  resultin<;'  from  the  late 
internal  improvement  scheme,  they  asked  no  contribution  Irom 
it,  but  Itoldly  recommended  local  taxation,  and  frankly  acknowl- 
ed;;»'d  that  their  every  etfoit  was  intended  as  a  lure  to  draw  the 
peo]»le  into  the  jirasj»  of  th(>  awful  monster,  a  scliool  tax.  Let 
them  but  j^ixe  peiinission  to  use  this  monster  to  those  so  inclined, 
and  others,  seeinju'   tlie  result,  would    fall   into   his  embrace.     In 


*  See  111,  llepoits,  1815. 


matteson's  administration. 


013 


otlicr  words,  allow  stick  townships  or  «listricts  as  waiifed,  by  a 
majoritv  <»t'tli<'ii'  k'f,'al  voters,  1o  adojtt  this  iiicthod  of  sustaiiiiiijf 
tln'ir  sciiools.  The  local  tax  would  incite  iiKjuiry,  and  insure  the 
faitlitnl  use  of  the  public  money,  both  from  the  (State  treasury  and 
the  township  fund. 

The  legislature  at  the  session  of  1844-5,  uinible  to  resist  the 
force  of  this  reasoning',  yielded  its  partial  assent.  Actuated  by  a 
fcelin;;'  of  economy,  inider  the  jtressurt^  of  tlie  times,  tlie  secretary 
of  State,  already  l)urdened  with  the  business  of  his  office,  was 
nnule  ex-ollicio  State  superintendent  of  i)ui)lic  instruction  ;  and  in 
reference  to  local  taxation  it  was  re<piired  that  a  two-thirds  le<;al 
vote  of  any  districit  concur  in  or<lerinf;-  the  tax.  Coiisiderinj;'  the 
intluence  of  lar^'c  property  holders,  who  were  mostly  opposed  to 
the  assessment  of  taxes  for  school  purposes,  it  may  well  be  ima^'- 
ined  that  little  school  revemie  was  thence  derived.  Indeed  the 
whole  of  the  local  scJu)ol  taxes  for  the  years  1.S40-47  <lid  not 
amount  to  1  mill  on  the  gslOO  of  taxable  wealth  of  the  State.  The 
auditor  was  t«  distribute  the  interest  of  the  State  school  fund  ac- 
cordinji,'  to  the  number  of  children  in  eacdi  county  under  20  years, 
based  ui)on  the  preceding'  census,  and  these  distributive  shares 
weic  a^^ain  to  be  distributed  by  tin;  counties  to  the  townships  ac- 
conlin^'  to  the  number  of  children  in  each,  under  lil.  But  if  no 
tschool  had  been  tauyht  for  JO  months  i)recedin^,  the  moiu'y  was 
to  be  adde<l  to  the  i)rinci]>al  of  the  townshi[»  fund.  I\I;uiy  of  the 
fciitnresof  the  law  of  LSio  are  incoi'jjorated  in  that  of  IS.V). 

As  a  (pialification  for  teaching',  the  law  reipiired  a  knowledfjeof 
reading,  writing,  arithmetic,  ;;eo;;ra[)hy,  fjrannnar  and  history, 
wliich,  .straufj^e  a.s  it  may  now  apj)ear,  wax  far  too  hi.uh  a  standard, 
nn<l  nniny  districts  were  deju-ived  of  their  distributive  shares  of 
tlu'  State  .s<rhool  fuiid  on  this  account. 

Thus,  whil*',  tlie  statute  books  were  swollen  with  school  laws, 
tliis,  like  many  others  wliich  pre(;cded  it  bein^'  most  voluminous 
and  anything  but  clear,  repellinii'  nearly  all  from  reading  it,  the 
cause  of  education  wa.s  not  (jairied  into  as  vigorous  and  ellicient 
o^teration  as  mi^lit  have  been  done  under  the  law,  and  a  most  la- 
mentjU)le  ajyathy  still  pervaded  the  i)e«tple.  In  many  <'ounties  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  State,  and  notably  in  Cook,  the  schools 
Mere  in  a  Hourishiii";  condition.     But  out  «)f  the  00  i-ountij's  in  the 


.. ..- .  ...  „, ^  - 

State,  the  secretary  of  Stat*',  ex-otlicio  sui>erinteiident,  in  ISKi, 
was  able  to  obtain  rejtorts  from  o7  only,  as  to  the  condition  of 
their  .schools.  The  county  school  commissioners  received  very 
inadequate  <M)mi)ensation,  and  weie  mostly  neylijjent  of  their  du- 
ties or  incompetent. 

lu  1847  the  standard  of  tlie  qualitication  for  teachers  was  low- 
ered, or  souyht  to  be  brou<;ht  within  th(^  reach  of  the  material  that 
existi'd,  by  amendin;;' the  school  law  so  as  to  allow  the  <;Tantiiig 
of  certificates  for  any  one  or  more  of  the  before  named  branches, 
as  till!  applicant  mi^ht  desire;  and  the  requirenu'iit  of  a  §  vote 
to  levy  a  local  tax  was  was  modilled  to  a  majority  of  all  the  legal 
Aolcs  of  any  district — whcjice  it  followed  that  a  simple  absen(;e 
could  defeat  the  tax,  an<l  as  mi<;ht  be  eNjJected,  jjfreat  diihculty 
wasexiierienced  to  induce  a  sullicieiit  number  of  voters  to  assem- 
ble, and  efliciency  was  still  in  abeyance.  In  1840  the  qiuililication 
ol  teacthers  was  raised  to  the  former  grade,  subject,  however,  to 
Die  will  of  directin's,  as  to  any  of  the  branches,  and  a  certificate 


I  r 


nU  IITSTOItY   OF    ILLINOIS. 


of  tliat  kind  was  valid.  Tin'  local  tax  wliii-li  iiii>;lit  bo  levied  was 
limited  to  L'.")  cents  *>ii  tiie  -"isKM),  its  iMiipose  t(»  lu^lesi^iiali-d.  lii- 
eorpoiated  towns  and  cities  were  allowed  to  <;(>  to  ^ti)  (rents  on  tlie 
$!(((>.  Ill  I.S.")I  a  nia.jt»iity  of  tiie  le;iiil  voters,  attendiiij;  at  any 
legally  convened  ineeliii";  lor  llic  |»iir|)ose.  were  allowed  to  levy 
u  local  tax  not  exceeding  fjfl  on  ev«Ty  ><l(»()  t>l  the  taxaltie  prop 
ertyoftlie  distiict.  The  taxaltie  wealth  of  the  Slate  at  this  tiinei-x- 
eeede(l.*l(»(l,(»()(l,(IO(>,  and  m!.(I(I(M'<»<>  nii<;lit  have  been  raised,  whi.li 
added  to  the  State  school  fund  annnally  distrilMited,aiid  that  of  the 
township,  would  have  furnished  the  people  an  ample  fund  for  acom- 
]dete  free  school  system,  iliit  it  <lepeiided  upon  their  elcetioii 
to  avail  of  it,  and  instead  ot°  :;; 1. 1 1(10,(1(1(1  and  more,  we  lind  that 
tbi'  the  year  IS,'*!'  the  total  local  ad  valorem  school  tax  in  tln'  whole 
State  amounted  to  only  .*."il,(l()0,  ln'inj;-  less  than  one-twentieth 
l)art  of  the  limits  of  the  law.  .Mr.  (lre<;^',  seeretaiy  of  Stat*-  and 
sni>erintendent  of  public  instruction  at  the  tinu'.  says:  ''•  I  am  not 
awai'c  that  in  a  single  instance  has  this  been  done  [that  is,  the 
full  benelit  of  the  law  avaih'd  ofj,  nor  eun  any  motive  be  assi};iie»l 
for  the  action  t>f  the  iieo|)le  in  this  r<'spect,  unless  it  ^rows  <»ut  of 
a  itreference  for  the  sNstcni  which  now  pievails."  The  school  law, 
in  educational  elfi'cts,  way  a  dea»l  letter. 

As  stated  in  the  outset,  the  i»ro\)lem  remained  how  to  lift  pub- 
lic sentiment  from  the  slouch  of  apathy  into  which  it  had  sunk, 
to  the  ^reat  importanct^  ot  education.  Happily,  from  many 
l>arts  of  the  State  the  question  of  a  ;;eneral  free  school  system 
was  be<;innin;:  to  be  agitated.  The  press,  which  had  lonj;  sto«)d 
aloof,  took  hold  and  bc;:an  to  discuss  the  siil»ject  in  earnest.  The 
lllinoin  Tcavli(t\  a  publication  devoted  to  the  cause  of  edm-atioii 
and  uumberiu};'  amoiij;  its  (tontiibutors  many  of  the  ablest  teach- 
ers, exerted  a  wide  inllucnci'  and  did  ellicient  service.  The  linaii- 
(•ial  condition  of  the  Slate,  too,  was  under^oinj;  a  most  desirable 
change.  Our  ra|>id  increase  in  population  ami  wealth  was  <iissi- 
])aliii<;  the  clouds  «d' emltarrassmeiit  which  for  10  years  had  cast 
their  shadow  over  the  land,  and  the  people  beheld  the  future 
briiiht  with  ]»roinise.  The  lailroad  era  had  dawned  iip«tn  the 
State,  a  new  imiudse  was  j;iven  to  its  develoi>ineiit,  and  its  strides 
to  empire  were  uncijiialed.  (Jov.  AIatteson,in  his  iuanj^ural  mes- 
saj;t',  ill  a  forcible  manner  <lirecle<l  attention  to  the  jireat  iiiipor- 
tance  of  a  broad  and  <'omprehensive  common  school  system,  tree 
to  all  alike,  and  sujtported  by  a  tax  ujton  all  the  i)roi)erty  in  the 
State,  to  fit  the  rising  generation  in  its  intellectual  cajtaeity  for 
the  proper  direction  of  tlu^  grand  futiin'  of  the  Slate.  Still  there 
■were  in  the  then  views  of  the  iteojtle  many  weighty  objecrtions  to  a 
scheme  of  such  extiaordinary  State  dictation,  as  it  was  called. 
Jt  was  regarded  as  wholly  at  war  with  (he  proj»erty  rights  of  tin? 
iiidi\  idual,  exacting  and  o])prcssive  to  those  unable  or  unwilling 
from  various  motives,  to  favorably  view  or  participate  in  the  com- 
mon advantages  to  be  <lerived  from  it;  and  the  h'gislatun'  ad- 
journed without  having  accomplished  anything  toward  a  solution 
of  the  problem. 

Jn  December,  1853,  antici[»ating  an  extra  session  of  the  legisla- 
ture, two  large  common  school  conventions  met,  one  at  Jerseyville 
eom[»osed  of  nniny  adjoining  counties,  and  one  at  liloomington, 
for  ihe  whole  Slate.  These  conventions,  whose  earnest  s])irit  was 
widely  felt,  indicated    not  only  a  growing  dissatisfaction  with  the 


MATTESON'H  ADMINISTRATION. 


r.i.j 


cxistiiifi"  coiniiion  scliool  systtMii,  Init  ovinofd  a  riiK'iicd  (It'tcnniiia- 
tioii  in  tlic  imlilii',  iiiiiid  to  iiiiikc  u  radiciil  diaii};'*'.  Tlicsi;  iiiovc- 
iiiciits,  iiiid  the  very  jicnciid  iippinhidion  of  their  <'X|»r«'s.sioiiH, 
were  so  (■iiipliiiti(;  as  to  |ii'odiirf  a  'I'.i'idcd  iiiiprcssioii  upon  tiio 
ficncial  ass«'nil>i.v,  wliicii  uict  in  ]'\'l»iiiar.v  followiiij;-,  and  to»»k  the 
first  st('i)in  tiic  ri<;ht  direction,  1  ythc  cnactnicnt  of  a  hiw  s<'para- 
tin^' tiic  otiicc  of  superintendent  of  public  iiistruetion  frou)  tiiat 
of  secretary  of  State,  the  former  Iteinj;'  ne;;Ie(;ted  ou  account  of 
tin'  arduous  duties  (d'tlu'  hitter,  and  creating;-  it  a  distinct  dep:'.rt- 
luent  of  State  j^overnnient,  tlie  incundx'nt  to  receive,  a  salary  of 
$l.")(l(>.  IW'sidcs  otlier  duties,  iu^  was  rcipdred  to  diaft  a  bill  «'Ui- 
hodyiuji'  a  system  of  free  educati(>n  for  all  theciiildren  of  Die  State, 
and  repoit  it  to  tlie  next  {i'eiu'ral  assendtly.  On  the  loth  of  ^M arch, 
IS.")!,  (iov.  Matteson  appointed  the  IIou.  N.  \V.  P'dwards  Slate 
superintenth-nt  of  counnon  sciiools.  Tiiis  most  important  otiice, 
at  tiud  juncture,  was  bestowed  upon  Mr.  Kd wards  on  account  of 
his  louj;  experience  in  pidtlic  life,  and  from  the  conviction  that  lie 
would  cai  ly  into  etlV'ct  the  lH)pes  of  the  people  and  the  desinns  of 
the  le;^islature  in  creating'  it.  In  .January  tdllowin<;'  he  submitted 
to  tli<'  ^^cneral  assendtly  a  full  rei)ort  upon  the  condition  of  tht! 
])ublic  schools  throutihout  tlu'  State,  al)ly  nr^cd  the  education  of 
the  children  in  the  State  at  the  public  expense,  and  ))r«'senle(l  a  well- 
drawn  bill  for  a  complete  system  of  free  schools,  whi(!h,  with  some 
alterations,  became  a  law.  And  tiius  the  j>reat  d(;sideratuni,  l»n}^ 
souyht,  was  found  ;  and  the  earnest  and  iiulcfatij;able  men,  .vlio 
liad  laltoi'cd  unceasinjily  to  advance  the  cause  of  education,  and 
who  ha<l  never  faltered  even  in  the  darkest  hours  of  the  Statcf's 
linances,  were  rewarde<l  by  belioldin*;  tlie  completed  machinery 
prepared  for  its  accomplishment. 

The  act  liore  date  Feb.  lo,  IHoo,  and  endu'aced  all  the  essential 
principles  now  in  force.  In  them,  as  we  said  in  the  outset,  is 
evinced  soniethinj;'  of  the  science  of  government.  We  have  noted 
the  educational  ne<'ds  of  the  ])eople,  and  how  they  mij;]d  ha\e 
l)i()\ided  the  means  Under  tln^  laws  for  free  schools  in  every  dis- 
trict (d"tlie  State,  but  they  would  not.  It  renniined,  therefore,  to 
<"omi)('I  them,  not  by  force  or  the  stronj,'  arm  of  the  jiovernuu'Ut, 
but  in  a  way  who.s«'  results  would  be  fully  as  etlicieiit.  And  this 
was  accomplishe<l  by  iccojiiii/inji  and  enforcinj;'  the  ])rinciple  that 
the  State  has  the  sovereign  rij;ht  to  levy  and  collect  a  snllicieiit 
tax  from  the  real  and  peisonal  ])roperty  within  its  limits,  and  ex- 
jx'iid  it  III  jiivin.n'  its  youth  a  common  education.  Foi'  State  ]»ur- 
poses  the  school  lax  was  fixed  at  2  mills  on  the  !jSl(t().  To  this  was 
a<lded  the  intere:  t  from  the  permanent  school  fund,  when  the 
whole  would  bejiiveii  back  to  tIiepeo]»le,  s  of  it  in  ])roi»oition  to 
the  niimlu'rof  children  under  21  in  each  county,  and  the  residue  to 
the  townships,  whole  or  fractional.  In  allowiiiji'  territory  to  con- 
trol .\  of  the  fund,  which  ks  nnvaryinj^'  in  the  distribution,  new  or 
sparsely  settled  counties  were  stimulated  to  the  establishineiit  of 
schools,  which  otherwise  could  not  hsne, co]>od  with  the  denser 
.settlements.  iJut  before  the  Stare  fund  could  be  shared  in,  (cer- 
tain pierecpiisifes  must  be  coni])lied  with.  A  free  school  had  to 
be  maintained  for  at  least  (I  months  in  the  year,  ami  it  Avas  made 
imperative  upon  the  directors  of  every  or^ianized  school  district 
to  levy  such  a  tax  annually  as  if  added  to  tlie  iniblic  funds  would 
be  suflicieut  for  that  purpose;  and,  as  if  fearing  that  this  might 


.1 


610 


HISTORY  OF   ILLINOIS. 


not  prove  su('(H>ssfnl,  it  was  iiuuii'  «'()lli'('tiiblf  (lie  saiiic  as  tlm  State 
and  couiit.v  tax.  Ollit-r  taxes  niij^lit  still  he  voliiiitiiiily  ihidcd  l»y 
a  vott'  of  till'  piMtplf,  to  cxtriid  tlic  term  of  schools,  build  oi'  rcpiiir 
Hcliool  lioiisi's,  purchiisc  sites,  6n\  The  local  tiix  laiide  thus  obli- 
gatory, is,  ho\vev«'r,  the  iiiinii  resoiiice  of  our  I'ree  school  syslein, 
vhicli,  in  ISdS,  ajinrejiated  ij«  l,L'.~)0,(;7!».  The  pnblic  school  IimkI.s 
hiivin;;  reached  the  hands  of  the  township  trustees,  a  new  rule  ob- 
tains as  to  their  distribution  anionj;  the  <listricls.  To  eiicoura;;o 
school  attendance,  hair  (d'  llu^  I'iiikIs  art^  iippoitioned  on  the  ex- 
hibits of  the  teuchers^  sciu-dides,  iind  liidf  in  proportion  to  the 
number  of  (thildreii  under  21  years  old  in  each  district.  Such  iiro 
tlH>  leadin<>  and  sa^^iieious  combinations  of  the  s(;heme  to  brin<; 
education  iM>arer  to  the  ]>eople,  and  induce  them  to  partake  of  it. 
This  is  the  force  resorted  to  by  j;(ivciiinienl  to  reiidei'  the  system 
etlicient.  It  is  essentially  the  ollerin;;-  of  laij;e  yearly  picnnnms 
to  every  district  to  establish  and  nniintain  a  free  school  for  its 
youth. 

The  new  schocd  system  showed  directly  a  marked  iiniiro\('ment 
in  educational  efforts  and  results.  Of  the  number  of  children  in 
the  Slate,  un<ler  151,  only  about  one-third  attcinled  any  kind  of 
school  before  its  establishment,  now  the  average  reached  nearly 
half;  before,  the  total  nund)er  of  schools  was  4, L'lo,  now  the  num- 
ber rose  diri'cttly  to  7,(i5U;  before,  the  avera^ic  monthly  waj;cs  of 
teaciiers  were  .^L'.')  for  males  and  $12  for  fenmles,  now  they  were 
reported  at  $4r»  and  5'-7,  n-sixctivcly ;  and  while  for  l(Srt4  the 
school  fund  (interest)  distiibnted  was  oidy  $1^1,1'*'),  for  IHo.j  it 
-was  )jf(»(;."),025— ^ddli.SOJ)  bein<;  the  yield  of  the  2  mill  tax.  The 
cause  of  education  thus  at  (»nce  received  an  impetus  wliicli  has 
since  not  only  been  well  niaintained  but  j;ainc(l  vehtcity,  until 
to-day  the  free  school  system  of  Illinois,  amon;;  the  very  best  iu 
the  Union,  is  one  of  the  ]»rondest  and  noblest  monuments  which 
she  has  elected  alonj;'  the  lii;;hway  of  her  career  toward  j;reat- 
ness,  and  who  will  dare  to  raise  his  ruthless  hand  to  tear  it  down  i 

But  now  a  new  leatnre  of  oi)i)osition  to  tiie  new  scliool  system 
was  suddenly  develoiu'd,  which  clouded  the  vision  of  some  of  its 
stanncliest  friends,  and  threatened  its  destruction.  This  yrcw 
ont  of  the  collection  and  distribution  of  the  2  mill  tax,  whit-h  acted 
very  nnetpially  in  the  ditfeient  counties.  Thus,  from  ("ook  was 
collected  $.'{(>,(l()(hnore  than  she  received  back  as  her  «listributive 
share;  Sangamon  ]»aid  into  the  State  treasury  $2.'},i;)2,  and 
received  back  .*!  1,027;  and  from  all  the  wealthier  and  more  poi>ii- 
lons  eonnties,  with  vaiyiu};  amounts,  the  same  results  obtained; 
vliile  others — for  instance  White— contributed  $2,o7!)  as  her  share 
of  the  2  mill  tax,  and  received  back  a  distributive  share  of 
$5,409,  a  yain  of  ovi'r  100  ]»er  cent.;  Pope  paid  in  $l,0.~)r),  and 
received  $4,230,  and  Hardin  paid  $S04,  and  received  back  $2,417, 
beiny  nn)re  than  4  times  the  sums  raised.  AVhilc  the  i»eoj>le  had 
been  yradmdly  biou^ht  to  view  as  but  ri;;ht  that  one  man's  juo- 
perly  might  be  taxed  to  defray  the  exjtense  of  tcachin;;'  another's 
child,  the  idea  that  one  county  shonld  similarly  contribute  to 
another,  ])crhaps  hnndreds  of  miles  distaid,  was  rejiai'ded  as  the 
essence  of  injustice.  In  many  ])arts  of  the  State  tlunr  (complaints 
•were  loud  and  deep,  and  nu'ctinys  were  held  in  bS.'iG  seveiely  de- 
nonnciiifi'  the  law,  and  requirinji'  of  can<lidates  for  the  Icjiislatm-e 
pledyes  to  favor  its  niodilication  or  repeal.    It  was  manifest  that 


M attkhon's  ai):\i i m k  r u ation. 


017 


a  f1ii;iTiiiit  wroiifj  cxistt'd  soiiu'wlu'n',  and  it  ri'slcd,  ddiibtlcss,  in 
;:r(>:it  piirt  witii  the  iiii('(|iiiil  ViiliiiUions  of  ical  and  pcrsuiial 
])i'(i|M>i't,v  in  till'  ditlcrciit  counties,  as  in  San;:ani<in  lands  were 
valned  at  $12M;  in  Christian,  $;{.(>«»;  in  White,  i!<L'..VJ,  ^Sic.;  hnt 
e(|iiali/ati(»n  of  assessments  ronid  nctt  wholly  remedy  it  —  tlui 
spirit  iind  cardinal  piineiples  of  the  free  school  system  were  that 
tin*  i»roperty  an«l  wealth  of  the  State,  should  bear  the  hurdi-n  of 
edncatinji'  its  youth,  no  iimtler  in  whose  hands  it  was,  nv  whero 
silnate.  Tin;  framers  of  the  law  had  huilded  hettei'  than  they 
Knew,  and  with  tiiis  l)road  idea,  compreluMided  in  its  fullest  sense, 
the  etlorts  at  amendmeid  Ity  the  le;;islatnre  in  IS'u  proved  abor- 
tive.    It  is  the  vital  juinciple  of  the  law  t(t  day, 

Tlu're  bein^' still  a  ;^reat  dearth  in  teachers,  and  with  tlu^  vi(nv 
also  to  attain  nniforniity  in  the  modes  of  teaciiin<;  and  conducting' 
si'hools,  at  the  session  of  1857  the  State  Nornnd  University  was 
e«(ablislic'd  at  IJIoonnngton. 


Chai'ikk  XLIX. 
DUELS  IN  ILLINOIS,  AM)  ATTK.MITS  AT  DUELS. 
Affairn  of  Honor  and  Permnul  JUffivtiltieH, 


Tlic  sciil  of  Illinois  liiis  liccii  l»l(»o(lstiiiii<'(l  hiil  coiiiiNinitivcly  ,'i 
finv  times  l»_v  llic  l»iirit;iroiis  codcdiit'llo.  Tiiosc  licn-f  iiii<l  iiiipl.u'ii- 
blc  jiii.s.sions  wliicli  in  <•(^nt^o^  ('is,v  know  no  linal  arj^unicnt  hut  mor- 
tal coniltat  have  not  found  con^icnial  cultuic  on  tlif  level  plains  of 
tlic  I'raiiic  Slate,  '"he  reeoids  and  details  of  the  a«:tiial  duels  fou;;lit 
are  pailieidaily  nu'af;i'e,  ohseuie  and  unsatisl'aetoiy.  lint  we  aru 
temj)ted  to  ii'wi'  what  there  are.  Of  the  (irst  duel  fou;;ht  within 
the  jtresi-nt  linuts  of  this  State  Ity  residents,  the  names  of  the  prin- 
cipals even  are  not  transmitted.  All  that  we  have  l)een  al)le  tt» 
liiid  recorded  re;;ardin;;  it  may  be  found  in  lieynold's  Tioncer  His- 
tory, in  the  words  folhtwiny  : 

"At  the  time  the  i']nylisli  ti'oops  camo  to  talio  possi-ssion  of 
Fort  ("hartres,  |17(mJ,  two  younj;  otlicers,  one  French  and  the 
other  10nj;lisli,  luid  a  misunderstanding;'  at  the  Eort.  This  quar- 
rel  ai'ose  as  did  the  war  ot  the  (Ireeks  aj;ainst  the  Trojans,  on 
account  of  a  lady.  These  otticeis  fouf;ht  with  small  swcuds  early 
on  a  Sunday  morniii;;',  near  the  fort,  and  in  the  comUat  one  was 
killed.  'J"he  other  left  the  fort  and  descended  the  riv<'r.  J  was 
inlormcd  of  the  above  duel  nearly  oO  years  aj;o,  by  u  very  ajicd 
French  man,  \lv  informed  me  of  the  details,  and  said  lie  was  lucs- 
ent  and  saw  the  combat."  L'eynolds  wrote  this  about  IS,")!*,  and 
lie  must  hiive  received  tlu^  information  when  lie  was  barely  lU 
years  old. 

The  next  duel  of  wliieli  we  have  any  record,  occurred  in  1<S(){>, 
and  may  Ite  found  in  the  same  book.  It  proved  a  bloodless  aH'air 
at  the  time,  but  an  anjiiy  quarrel  ^-rew  out  of  it,  resnltinji  atter- 
wards  in  the  dastardly  assassination  of  one  of  the  ])rincipals. 
The  duel  was  arianyt'd  between  Ivice  Jones,  son  of  .lt)lin  Iviee 
Jones,  a  Welchman,  theliist  and  also  oiu' of  the  ablest  lawyers 
llliuois  has  ever  known,  and  Shadraeh  Bond,  afterwards  the  iirst 
jiovernor  of  the  State.  Jones,  the  elder,  settled  at  Kaskaskia  in 
171K),  but  u])on  the  foiination  of  the  Indiana  territory,  which  in- 
ebuU'd  Illinois,  renioved  to  the  ca]»ital,  Vincenues,  where  lie  at- 
tained prominence.  The  son  ])ossessed  a  hi<;h  order  of  intelUnrt, 
was  well  educated,  and  located  at  Kaskaskia  in  1<S(H»  to  practiv;e 
the  j)rofessiou  of  the  law.  He  diifti'd  into  ]K)litics,  and  by  his 
rare  ability  sjieedily  attained  to  the  leadership  of  hisjjarty.  Jle 
was  elected  a  member  of  tlu^  teiritorial  lej^islature,  which  met  at 
Vin(;ennes.  His  talents,  prominence  and  influence  was  distasteful 
to  the  opposite  party,  if  it  did  not   arouse  jealousy  iu  his   own. 

018 


DUKLINU. 


nio 


Tlic  qiUMtioii  i)t'  piihlic  iiiti-i:>Ht,  mid  no  litllc  vinilciit  ('Xcitciiiciit 
at  llic  time,  wlis  the  division  olllu'  ti'iiiloiy  by  llic  th'tiU'liiiM'Ut  of 
lliiimis.  Voiiii;;  .loiK's  iiiid  ISoiid  Ix'Ciiiiic  iiivoh  <mI  in  ;i  pci'soiial 
cnnlinvcr.sy ;  a  rliiillfii<;r  and  acccplanrt'  lollowcd,  and  the  par- 
ti<'.s  nift  foi-  mortal  rond>at  on  an  island  in  tin-  Mississippi,  ))«-t\vc«-n 


niMi'dci'oiis  an  aM\ania;;r  oi  nis  a<iv<'i'sar\ ,  cxclainii'd  mat  ''it  was 
an  accidt-nt,"  and  ifl'iiscd  to  lii<-.  'I'o  condnrt  so  noble  tlic  nature 
of  .baics  at  once  it-.spondfd  in  an  aniicaltic  spiiii.  'i'lic  two  prin- 
<-ipals  I'cconcilfd  tiicir  diDiruit  v  and  (putted  liie  Held  witboiit  liir- 
tlit'i' *-ontli<-l.  Ibit  tlie  i;;Mol)l('  (-(MKlnct  of  Dnnlap  lankled  ami  l(>(l 
to*a    r«-l«'ntl('ss    ipiaiicl   brtwcrn    Immi    and  .b)nfs.     Hatred   ;:rew' 

.Ill  i:....ii.    ii i: I     1 1     ..I'   It.. ..I... •.  .1   I.:... 


II  l>~^     I  I  H  I    l\>^*  1    II  I  li^     II    1  I     I  r^>       I  111        11(1  I  11  I    «  M     (I     I    I  I  11  III  II  1  >      4l>'^>^(l>^.'M  I  I  ^     I   II  I  1  Ml^  II 

a  I'eihl  en^icndei'ed  i),V  tiie  most  foolish  ndsealled  code  of  iionor,  in 
tliel'Stli  _v<'ar  of  ids  aj^c,  jteibaps  the  most  promisin;^'  younj;  nniu 
of  the  period.  His  untimely  death,  eonpled  witii  the  manner  of 
it,  shocked  the  whole  comniMnity,  which  sincerely  monrned  his 
loss.  His  ninrd«'rer  escaped  to  Texas  and  siiccessfnll,\  exaded  tlu) 
Just  lainishmcnt  tine  him  fiom  an  earthly  tribunal.  In  ISina  law 
wa.s  adopted  by  Uw  governor  and  judjics.  t(t  suppress  the  prac- 
tic<'  of  duelin;;,  wIMcli  c(mstituted  a  fatal  result  in  diicliiij;  mur- 
der, makinj;  the  aidi'rs,  abettor.s  or  counselors  ]trincipals  in  tiie 
Clime. 

Still  later,  in  the  sanu'  work,  ;;ivin;j;  a  sketch  of  the  well  kiiowji 
and  <lanntless  jtioncer  Kector  family,  consi^tin<^■  of  *.)  sons  and  4 
tlauuhteis,  ami  recounting;  the  deeds  of  valoi'  perfornu'd  by  sonui 
ot  thcni  in  the  west  dnrinj;  the  war  of  l.SlL',  the  author  records 
that  *"Thonnis    JJector,  on(^   of  the  younjicr  brothers,  had  a  duel 

M'itli   .T(i<liiiti      lltirfitii     nil      llliwiilv    l<]<iitil       nitiwi^itit     S\f      I.ftiii<.:       '>Mil 


17  11  ' 

]»robably  sometime  diirinji' the  war  of  ISlii.  Uloody  Island,  within 
the  jurisdiction  of  Illinois,  was  more  frctpu-ntly  the  conxcnieiit 
and  safe  battle  j^round  resorted  to  by  St.  Louis  or  ^lissouri  bel- 
lijii'ients  for  the  settlement  of  their  personal  dilticidties  by  the 
barbarous  Idles  of  the  bloody  code,  than  lllinoisans,  ami  this  i.s 
(Sidd  to  have  given  origin  to  the  horrid  name  by  which  the  island 
Avas  km)wn. 

The  n«'xt  and  last  duel  w hicli  icsulted  fatally  between  Illinois 
eitizen.s  and  upon  its  soil,  was  fought  within  tlie  limits  of  Uelle- 
ville,  in  February,  ISl!),  between  Alonzo  ('.  Stuart  and  ^Villian^ 
BeiMU'tt.  It  grew  out  of  a  druukencarousal  in  which  besides  the 
eond»atants,  many  citizens  of  St.  Clair  couidy  i)articii)ated. 
Stuart  and  JJennett  fell  out,  and  with   the  view  to  having  some 


!!«■ 


620 


HISTORY  OF   ILLINOIS. 


rare  sport  niul  inaldiift'  a  butt  of  BiMiiii'tt,  it  was  proposed  ainoiiif 
tlic  outsiders  tliiit  flics*^  two,  to  settle  tlieir  qiinrirl,  should  liylit 
a  sliiiiu  duel.  tStuart  was  let  into  tlie  secret  but  IJeniiett  was  kept 
in  tiie  dark.  Both  parties  readily  agreed  to  the  duel.  Niitliiiii 
Fike  iind  .Iae(»b  Short  aeted  as  seeonds.  The  weaiKUis  selected 
were  ritles,  which  were  loaded  with  ]»owder  oidy.  The  coinl>at- 
ants  fearlessly  took  their  i»osition  on  the  Held  at  40  paces,  and  at 
the  proper  sij;nal,  Bennett  tired  with  j^ood  aim,  and  to  the  horror 
of  every  one  present,  Stuart  fell  mortally  wounded  in  the  breast 
and  expired  almost  instantly.  Stuart,  to  hi<>hten  the  merriment 
ayaiust  his  anta{;onist,  had  not  tired  his  weapon  at  all,  but  Ben- 
nett, i)robably  .suspecting  a  cheat  or  trick,  and  animated  by  malice 
was  ])roven  on  the  trial  to  liave  secretly  slipjx'd  a  ball  into  his 
ritie.  Stuart  was  a  most  estimable  citizen  and  his  untimely  death 
was  deeply  and  generally  regretted. 

Bennett  and  the  two  seconds,  Fike  and  Short,  were  arrested  and 
im]>risoned.  In  the  spring  they  Aveie  indicted  i'or  murder.  Daniel 
1*.  ("ook  was  prosecuting  attorney,  and  Thomas  M.  JJenton,  «)f  St. 
Louis,  appeared  tor  the  defendants.  A  se]»arate  trial  was  granted 
and  the  two  seconds  were  ac(piitted.  The  transaction  was  con- 
denuied,  yet  as  it  clearly  appeared  that  the  seitonds  intended  no 
harm,  the  verdict  was  generally  approved.*  Next  Bennett  was  to 
be  tried,  but  having  leanu'd  that  the  testimony  elicited  in  the  other 
oases  was  damaging  to  him,  he  broke  Jail  and  made  his  escape 
into  Arkansas,  lli.s  whereabouts  was  some  two  years  later  dis- 
covered, and  by  means  of  artifice,  ("which  was  not  ai»i»r(>ved," 
says  Beynolds,  tlur  Judge,  who  sat  in  his  trial),  he  was  taken  back 
to  Melleville,  tried  in  LSlil,  at  a  sjjecial  term  of  the  court,  con- 
victed of  nuirder,  sentenced  and  executed. 

(Jov.  Bond  was  strenuously  and  clamorously  besieged  for  a 
considerable  time  Avith  petitions  praying  a  i>ardon  for  the  dt)omed 
man,  but  without  avail.  He,  who  on  the  Held,  as  avc  have  seen, 
was  unwilling  to  take  an  advantage  of  his  deadly  foe,  would  not 
yield  to  entreaty  in  this  case,  and  William  B<'nnett  <langled  at 
the  rojte's  end  till  he  was  dead,  in  ]>resenceof  a  gieat  multitude 
of  spectators,  who  doubtless  took  in  a  great  moial  lesson.  To 
the  advocates  of  the  code,  his  fate  must  have  appeared  ])eculiarly 
hard.  They  may  have  well  conceived  that  ISennett,  in  igiuuance 
of  the  sham  intended,  by  ])utting  a  ball  into  his  ritle  was  but 
doubly  assuiing  his  defense  against  an  adversaiy  who  was  enti- 
tled to  an  ecpud  chance  with  him.  But  fatal  dueling  was  nuirder 
in  the  eye  of  the  law,  as  it  ever  should  be. 

iStone  Dnel. — Anuuig  the  motly  and  heterogenious  collection  of 
men  at  the  Galena  lead  mines  in  ISl'i),  representing  almost  every 
nationality  of  the  civilized  world,  together  with  a  sprinkling  of 
Indians,  on  the  lioly  Sabbath  might  be  v.itnessed,  within  the  limi- 
ted area  of  the  town,  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  dancing,  all 
manner  of  gambling  and  horse-racing  under  tlie  hill — it  was,  i)er- 
haps,  not  astonishing  to  them  that  a  duel,  exceptionable  and 
outlandish  in  form,  should  therealsobe  fought.  This  was  nothing 
less  than  a  deadly  set  to  by  the  throwing  of  stones.  The  chas- 
tisement intlicted  by  such  a  combat  is  something  feiul'ul  to  cou- 


•  Hcynolds'  Life  and  Times. 


DITELING. 


621 


t('in])l;itc — better  be  shot  into  rrii<j,iiieiits  tbiiii  bruised  iuid  iiiiinj;l('<l 
to  death  with  stones.  The  name  of  but  one  of  tlie  itrincipalss  in 
tliis  liylit  is  recorded — the  same  Thomas  llijij^ins  of  whom  we 
lniv(;  already  related  a  marvelous  Indian  rencontre  durinji'  the 
Avar  of  1.SI2.  A  (luarrel  between  him  and  another  was  arrani^cd 
to  be  settled  by  this  cruel  wa^crof  battle.  A  pile  of  stones  care- 
fully assorted,  both  as  to  number  and  size,  was  placed  witiiin 
easy  reach  of  the  stand  or  post  of  the  respective  combatants, 
who  took  their  i)ositions  ten  ])aces  ajiarr.  The  dreadful  (tontlict 
vas  to  o]ien  by  the  hurliii};'  of  these  stones  at  each  other  on  a 
given  signal  from  the  seconds.  The  stones  flew  fast  and  thick 
ioi'  a  moment,  but  the  battle  was  of  short  duration,  llijij;ius  pro- 
\\uiX  too  brave,  dexter<»us  and  poweiful  for  his  adversary,  who 
lied  ill  great  precipitation  to  save  his  life.* 

We  now  approach  a  period  of  something  less  than  two  years  in 
the  annals  of  of  Illinois,  exceedingly  rife  with  belligerent  bluster. 
The  legislative  session  of  1840-1,  attended  by  much  ]K)liti(;al  strife 
and  vengeful  ]»artisan  legislation,  was  also  fruitful  of  threatened 
combats  and  "affairs  of  honor"  betwi^en  mend)ersand  otlie)' oHi- 
cial  dignitaries.  Indeed,  one  hoiioiable  senator,  ]Mr.  Ihutker,  fond 
of  making  a  good  jtoint,  improved  the  occasion  to  move  the  sus- 
pension of  the  dueling  law  for  two  weeks,  to  accommodate  all  the 
doughty  and  chivalrous  gentlemen  with  full  oi)portunity  to  settle 
their  personal  dillicnlties.  The  occasion  of  this  was  a  ])eisoiuil 
question  between  two  senators,  ]\Iessrs.  E.  ]).  linker  and  .ludge 
rearson.  The  former,  smarting  under  the  epithet  of  "falsohootl," 
threatened  chastisement  to  the  latter  by  a  "list-fight"  in  the  public 
street.  I'earson  de(;lined  making  a  "l;lackguard"  of  himself,  but 
intinuited  a  readiness  to  light  as  gentlemen,  accor«ling  to  the  code 
of  honor.t 

Tli(»  exciting  presidential  contest  of  1840  resulted  in  tlie  defeat 
of  the  democracy.  The  chajiriu  of  the  dominant  party  in  Illim)is, 
Avhich  had  goiu^  democratic,  seems  to  have  imi>elled  them  to  pro- 
ceed to  any  length  to  secure  absolute  control  of  every  dei>artmeut 
of  government  in  (he  State.  The  two  questions  before  the  legisla- 
ture in  1840-1  to  secure  these  revengeful  ])artisan  ends,  weic  a  re- 
peal of  the  State  bank  charters,  ami  the  reorganization  of  the  ju- 
diciary. It  had  been  assumed  by  the  democrats  that  the  su])reme 
court,  which  was  com]»osi  '  (»f  3  Miiigs  and  1  democrat,  would 
decide  the  (ialena  alien  case,  pending  lor  some  time,  against 
the  aliens,  and  against  the  wishes  and  iiit<'rests  of  that  party.  To 
prevent  this,  or  to  overrule  a  decision  fraught  with  such  dire  re- 
sults to  that  party,  5  democratic  judges  were  added  to  the  court. 
The  mo.tsure,  h)oked  upon  as  a  revolutionary  one,  was  lesisted 
step  by  step  by  the  whigs;  the  debates  iiuMdent  to  it  took  a  wide 
range,  were  often  bitter  in  persoi  al  invective  and  defiant  contra- 
dictions, and  threats  of  combats  ami  affairs  of  honor  were  not  un- 
freqiieiit.  Among  others  in  "  se  debates,  the  Hon.  .1.  J.  Ilardiu 
slioiMi  with  unwonted  powe.  and  brilliancy.  In  oiw  of  his  speeches 
the  Hon.  A.  K.  Dodge,  of  Peoria,  discovering,  as  he  thought,  an 
indignity  personal  to  himself,  took  excei)tion,  and  an  "affair" 
seemed  imminent.     The  controversy  was  referred  to  "friends,"  the 

'Heynolds'  Life  nnd  Times, 

+See  ill.  Stute  Kcffister,  Feb.  12,  1841 


622 


HISTORY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


spciilcin-  Hon.  W.  ]>.  Leo  Ewiiifj,  and  Win.  A.  Ki('liiir<ls()n  acting 
for  Dodjic,  and  .1.  .1.  lUown  and  10.  1>.  AVcbb  for  Ilardin.  These 
ros]»('('ti\(',  and  we  will  add,  sonsihlc  and  jndi(!iou.s  "friends,"  re- 
ported as  follows: 

"111  the  matter  of  controversy  and  niisunderstandingexisting  between 
the  Hon.  J.  J.  Hardin  and  the  Hon.  A  II.  Dodge,  tlie  underKigned  (the 
respective  friends  of  tlie  parties,)  believe  tliat  no  cause  of  (juarii'l  now 
exir*ts  ;  tiie  Hon.  J.  J.  Hiirdiii  disavows  the  imputation  of  falseliood  as 
aiJplicd  to  tlie  Hon.  A.  K.  Dodge  personally — but  was  and  should  be  un- 
derstood as  denying  tlic  cliargt-  that  the  whig  jiarty  was  opposed  to  ex- 
tending the  rigid  of  suffrage  to  uiinaturalizeil  foreigners  ;  and  to  tlie 
ciiarge  in  general  terms  he  apjilied  the  ei)ithets  ''falsehood  and  calumny," 
and  not  to  Mr.  Dodge  ;  the  uudersigned,  on  this  statement  of  the  case 
and  the  facts,  pronounce  theditriculty  honorably  and  amicably  arranged 
ami  settled,  and  should  be  so  received  by  those  gentlemen. 

Hereunto  we  set  our  hands." 

Another  "  affair"  j;id\vin<>"  out  of  tlio  same  ]iart!san  moastire, 
which  jiained  coiisidciahlc  notoriety  at  the  time,  .iiid  which  went 
a  step  farther,  was  that  of  the  [I, hi.  Tiieoidiilns  W.  Sniitli,  one  of 
tlie  supreme  jiidjics,  and  the  lion,  .lolin  A.  ]\Ic('lernand,  then  a 
yonnjiinemher  of  the  house.  ^IcCh'rnand,  as  we  liave  seen,  had 
some  two  years  jirior  received  the  ap[»ointnient  of  secretary  of 
State  from  (lov.  Carlin,  but  the  oldincnnibeiit,  A.  V.  Field,  a  wliif>', 
refused  to  yield  np  the  otiice  to  him,  in  wiiicli  the  supreme  court 
had  sustained  him.  .Much  partisan  I'eeling  had  been  stirred  np 
against  the  court  in  connection  with  this  ease.  JMcCleriunul  now 
took  a  leading'  and  very  active  jiart  in  the  jiassage  of  the  act 
uliicli  returned  the  old  sui»reme  Judges  to  the<lrndgery  of  circuit 
duty.  He  made  an  aciimonioiis  speech  against  the  whig  mem  lers 
of  tlie  court,  charging  tliat  a  majority  of  that  tribunal  liad  opinions 
]»repaied  at  one  time  to  deciih' the  alien  case  adversely  to  tiiat 
class,  and  that  bnt  recently  tlie  whig  judges,  with  the  view  to  iii- 
tiiience  legislation  upon  the  judiciary  bill,  had  evaded  the  consti- 
tutional (piestion  in  the  case,  and  decided  it  njion  an  nniiniiortant 
jioiiit.  Jle  had  this  information,  it  seems,  from  S.  A.  J)oiiglas, 
but  held  himself  jicrsonnlly  rcsjionsible  also  for  the  asseitioii. 
fliidge  Smith  (democrat,)  had  given  currency  to  tlies(^  rejiorts 
against  his  associates,  bnt  now,  at  the  re(|uest  of  J.  J.  Hardin,  he 
joined  them  in  a  published  card  denying  that  such  ever  was  the 
iact.  A  immber  of  gentlemen  in  their  cards  sustained  JMcClernand 
that  Smith  had  given  out  sncli  reiiorts.  The  issue  of  lin^t  being 
thus  nairowed  down  against  this  functionary  of  the  suiireiiie 
bench,  and  placed  thus  in  no  very  enviable  position  before^  the 
])ul)lic  and  liis  associates,  Ik^  was  stung  to  tli<^  sending  of  a  note  to 
jMcC'leinand  by  the  hands  of  his  "frieml,"  Dr.  ^lerriman  (said  to 
liave  Ix'cn  an  old  rover  of  the  high  seas,  and  who,  we  shall  see, 
was  mixed  n]»  in  nearly  all  the  "affairs"  of  that  period,)  pennetl 
in  sncli  discieet  language  that  it  might  be  construed  into  a  chal- 
lenge or  not;  btit  the  impetiions  ]Mc("lei'nan<l  iiromjitly  accepted  it 
as  a  challenge,  holding  his  second  resp(>nsible  if  his  jirincipal  should 
attempt  a  ditfereiit  interpretation,  and,  without  fuitlier  parley,  a.s 
tin'  challenged  party,  named  the  place  of  meeting,  which  was  to  be 
in  Alissonri  ;  the  time,  early  ;  the  wea]ions,  rifles;  and  distance,  40 
l»aces.*     This  meant  business,  as  the  phrase  now  goes.     We  have 


'  The  III    Stnto  JniirnnI  nt' Fikluy,  Mtirch  0th,  1801,  in  evident  allusion  to  this  cose, 
gives  the  distunce  at  OU  yards 


DUELING. 


G23 


btH'ii  diiiibk' t()<»btaiii  ii  view  of  tlie  ('oitc'S](oii(1(>ii(U' lu'twi'di  the 
lu'llif^t'iyiits,  wliic'h  was  not  puhlislicd,  Imt  Icaiii  from  reliable au- 
tlioiity,  that  with  this  seiioiis  asi)('(;t  of  the  ease,  .losiah  Laiuboni, 
the  attorney  fteneral  of  the  State,  lodged  a  eonipliint  before,  a  Jus- 
tice of  the  peace  at  Spriiifi'ield,  wherenpon  a  warrant  issued  and 
tlie  pnf>iiaci(»as  <>-entleinan  of  tlie. judicial  ermine  was  arrested  and 
placed  under  bonds  to  keep  the  peace.  The '*  affair  "  bein^' thus 
interinpted,  Judp'  Smith  took  Iiis  dej)arturt  for  Chicago  to  enter 
upon  theduties  of  his  ciictnit.  This  unexi»ected  termination  of  the 
"atfair"  afforded  no  little  merriment  to  the  old-time  wags  and 
jokers  about  the  cai»ital. 

Shields  and  Lincoln. — In  the  summer  of  1S4L*,  at  tlie  worst  pe- 
riod of  the  hard  times,  when  l>oth  the  Stat<'  bank  with  itsbranchea 
and  tile  Shawneetown  bank  had  tinall.v  collapsed  with  a  circnlii- 
tiou  of  $-i,r)(»(),()(K),  about  the  only  circiilatin;;  medinni  the  peojile 
had;  ilie  notes  hardly  wortli  oO  (U'lits  on  the  dollar,  {^old  and  sil- 
ver very  scMi-ce,  business  prostrated  and  tlit;  people  dejected, 
(loveriior  Carlin,  Ainlitor  Shields  and  Treasurer  Carpenter,  as 
"orticers  of  Stat<',"  issued  their  ])roclaniation,  notifying  the  va- 
rious tax  collectors  that  the  revenue  would  have  to  be  i)aid  into 
the  treasury  in  .si»ecie  or  at  specie  rates,  that  the  State  bank 
notes  would  not  betaken  at  their  face  value,  and  that  they  would 
be  hi'hi  ri'sponsible  for  any  deficit  between  their  current  value 
and  s[)ecie.  Whereupon  the  collectors  demanded  jjold  and  silver 
or  its  equivalent  from  the  peoi»le  in  payment  of  their  taxes.  This 
was  a  peat  hardship  at  the  time.  An  act  of  1«S.'>()  had  authorized 
the  collection  of  taxes  in  State  bank  i)aper,  j^iving  discretion, 
liowever,  to  the  governor,  auditor  and  treasurer,  to  snsi)end  this 
jnovisioii  of  the  law  and  demand  payment  in  specie.  The  notes 
of  the  Shawneetown  bank  were  not  coxcred  by  the  law.  l»ut 
by  another  act  of  bS."i{(.  it  was  declared  generally  and  without  re- 
servation, that  the  ])aper  of  both  the  State  banks  and  Shawnee- 
town bank  should  be  received  in  ]»ayment  of  taxes — the  act  of 
l.S.{(»  not  iM'iiig  in  terms  repealed.  Tliese  State  otiicers,  however, 
took  the  view  that  the  law  of  1<S.'U»  was  still  in  force,  and  they 
deemed  it  their  duty  to  ])rotect  the  interests  of  the  State  by  de- 
inainling  the  revenue  in  specie  or  its  e<piivalent.  They  held  that 
the  law  of  18,'5;>,  allowing  ])aynieiit  of  tax«'s  in  bank  ]»aper  meant 
and  intended  that  that  paper  should  be  receixcd  only  at  its  actual 
value  on  a  specie  standard.  This  a<'tion  of  the  State  otlicials  pro- 
voked much  feeling  and  opposition  tlirougiioiit  the  State.  Indig- 
nation meetings  were  held  by  the  jn'ople.  irrespective  of  party, 
for  it  concerni'd  all  alike,  the  action  <lenounced  and  resistance  to 
its  enforceiiK'Ht  threatened.  It  was  charged  that  these  otlicials 
aimed  only  at  securing  their  fees  and  salaries  in  specie  from  a  dis- 
tressed people.  The  <lemoerati(;  i>ress,  to  a  certain  extent,  like 
the  whig,  characterized  it  as  an  unwarrantable  assumption  of 
authority.  The  jiressure  became  so  great  that  in  a  shoit  time  a 
supplemental  proclamatiiui  was  issued  suspending  the  (collection 
of  the  taxes  of  1S42  until  the  meeting  of  the  legislature.  What- 
ever may  have  been  thv'w  jxtwer  to  enforce  the  collecction  of  taxes 
"n  specie,  the  susiieiHliitg  of  the  collection  altogether  was  certainly 
beyond  their  province. 


624 


HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


]\lr.  Lincoln,  in  an  artide  pnbli.slicd  in  the  Sanf/nmo  Journal, 
of  8t*i»t('inlK'r  2(1,  1S42,  datcMl  ''Lost  Townsliip,  Aug-.  27,"  and 
signed  "Jicbecea,"  attacked  tliiss  avti(tn  of  tlie  "otlticersctf  State" 
pretty  roughly,  though  done  in  a  jesting  .style.  The  foiin  of  a 
dialogue  is  adopted,  rei)resi'ntinga  (leniocratic  neighbor  of  '*Aunt 
Becca's,"  who  lias  •'tugged"  hard  getting  out  his  wheat  t<t  raise 
bank  p;ii»er  enough  to  pay  his  taxes  and  a  snndl  school  debt 
which  he  owes,  and  just  after  he  gets  his  money,  in  looking  over 
the  iStdfc  J\'e(fi,ster,  he  is  confronted  with  the  prodanuition  forbid- 
ding tax  collectors  and  s(;hool  coinniissioneis  to  receive  bank  pa- 
l)er,  whereupon  he  indulges  in  some  intem[)erate  language  against 
these  otlicials  in  general,  denouncing  them  as  a  hypocritical  set 
who  disgrace  their  places,  which  ouglit  to  be  tilled  with  nu'n  who 
will  do  more  work  for  less  pay  and  take  lewer  airs  while  doing  it. 
Auditor  Shields  is  especially  assailed,  lie  alone  had  signed  the 
su])i>lemental  proclamal-ion  suspending  the  collection  of  the  rev- 
enue tor  thecurient  year.  lie  is  called  a  liar  and  a  fool — dull  as 
a  "  cake  of  tallow" — for  presuming  to  make  an  order  so  illegal. 
But  that  was  not  all.  (Shields  was  a  bachelor,  and  his  aj)pear- 
ance  at  a  fair  in  the  city  is  caricatured,  his  demeanor  criticisi'd, 
and  he  is  named  a  ''conceited  dunce."  The  article  is  somewhat 
long,  cutting  and  humorous,  but  abounds  in  such  indelicate  allu- 
sions generally  as  to  render  it  untlt  for  insertion  in  this  work.  The 
fanciful  idea,  as  reitresented  by  some  of  the  since  great  n)an'8 
biographers,  that  it  was  a  poetical  eHusion  of  a  lady,  and  that 
when  the  author  was  denuinded  Mr.  Lincoln  in  a  spirit  of  gallan- 
try gave  his  name,  nniy  be  dismissed  as  a  delusion. 

The  mercurial  blood  of  the  Milesian  gentlenuin  thus  assailed, 
was  sent  to  the  top  of  the  tube.  He  demanded  of  the  editor, 
Simeon  Francis,  the  luune  of  the  author,  and  that  of  Mr.  Jjincoln 
was  given  to  him.  Ihning  a  pre-arranged  trij)  to  make  to  Quin- 
cy  on  public  business,  on  his  return,  in  company  with  Ciejt.  AN  h'te- 
side  as  his  "friend,"  he  jtursued  Mr.  Lincoln  to  Tremout  in  Taze- 
well county,  where  the  latter  was  attending  court,  and  imme- 
diately sent  him  a  note,  stating  that  his  name  had  been  given  liim 
by  the  editor  as  the  author  of  the  Kebecca  paper  "and  leijuiring 
a  lull,  i»ositive,  and  absolute  retraction  of  ail  otfensive  allusions" 
iinule  to  him  in  relation  to  his  "j)rivate  charactei'  and  standing  as 
a  man,  or  an  apidogy  for  the  insults  conveyed."  In  the  meantime 
Dr.  Merrinian  and  William  Butler  of  Springtield,  having  learned 
the  errand  of  Shields  to  Fremont,  had  started  a  few  hours  later, 
and  by  riding  all  night  had  ])reeeded  Shields  and  AVhiteside  in 
their  ariival  there.  They  informed  3h'.  Lincoln  what  he  might 
t>xi)ect.  In  the  evening  of  the  saiiu'  day,  September  17,  ^Ir.  Lin- 
coln answered  Shield's  note,  refusing  to  olier  any  explanation  on 
the  grounds  that  Shields'  note  assumed  the  fact  of  his  (Lincoln's) 
authorship  of  the  article  in  the  Journal,  not  pointing  out  what 
the  otfensive  part  was,  and  aecom[tanying  the  same  with  menaces 
as  to  consequences.  Mr,  Shields  on  the  same  day,  addressed  him 
another  note,  disavowing  all  intention  to  menace;  inquired  if  he 
was  the  author  of  the  article  in  question  and  if  so,  asked  a  re- 
traction of  the  ott'ensive  nuitter  relating  to  his  private  character. 
Rtill  technical,  Mr.  Lincoln  returned  tliis  note  with  the  verbal 
statement  "that  there  conhl  be  no  further  negotiation  until  the 
thst  note  was  witLdrawu."    Mr.  Shields  now  sent  u  note  designa- 


DUELING. 


r.2r> 


tiiij;  (icn.  Wliitsidc  us  his  friend,  to  wiiicli  Mr.  liiiicidii  iiishmtly 
replied  Ity  iiiimiiiii  Dr.  Merriiiiiui  as  liis  i'rieiid.  Tliis  was  on  Mon- 
day iiMiriiiii.t;' tlie  l!Hii  <d"  SejtteMiher. 

Tliesetwo  "fiieiids"  now  secretly  itle<l<>(>d  tlieir  honor  to  eaeli 
othisr  to  a^i'rei'  upon  some  amicable  terms  and  compel  their  [»riii- 
cipals  to  Mceept  tiiem  ;  and  to  ]»iocrastinute  tlio  nnitter  adJoniiuHl 
i'lirllier  ]>roceedinfis  to  S))rin;:lield,  wnillier  all  parties  re])airedex- 
('e]tl  Siiields.  wiiose  iioise  was  lame — tiie  two  s«'eonds.  Whiteside 
and  Mei-riani,  ridinj^'  in  tlie  same  bujijiy,  thon<ili  i)ai't  of  tlie  time 
Whiteside  r(»(le  with  Lincoln.  Merriman  saysthatthe  ''valorous 
•i'eneral"  iiej^iiiled  the  tedium  of  the  joniiiey  by  reeoiintinji-  hisex- 
l>loits  in  many  a  well  fonmht  battle,'dan,i;('i's  l,y  tlood  and  lield, 
doubtless  with  a  view  to  i)roduce  a  salutory  effect  on  his  nerves 
juid  impress  him  with  a  i)roper  noticm  of  his  lire-eatinfi'  piojtensi- 
ties.  They  airive<l  at  Sprinj^iield  latelNlonday  ni;:ht,  and  Mr.  Lin- 
coln to  prevent  arrest,  left  early  on  Tuesday  niorninj;'  for  .Tackson- 
ville,  in  ('omi)any  with  Mr.  Butler,  leaving  the  following  instruc- 
tions as  a  guide  to  ])i'.  .Merriman  : 

''  In  case  Wlutesides  shall  sifjjnify  a  wisli  to  adjust  this  affair  without 
furtiier  (lifHcidty.  let  him  know  that  if  the  present  papers  he  withdrawn 
and  a  note  from  Mi-.  Shields,  askinjf  to  know  if  I  am  the  author  of  the 
articles  of  wliicii  he  complains,  and  asking?  that  I  shall  make  him  gen- 
tlomaidy  satisfaction,  if  I  am  the  author,  and  this  without  menace  or 
dictation  as  to  what  that  satisfaction  shall  be,  a  pledge  is  made  that  the 
following  answer  shall  be  given: 

"  T  did  write  the  "  Lost  Township"  letter  which  appeared  in  theJour- 
«'(/ of  the  -i\  inst.,  but  liad  no  participation,  in  any  form,  in  any  other 
article  alluding  to  you.  I  wrote  that  wholly  for  })olitical  efiect.  Iliad 
no  intention  of  injuring  your  personal  or  private  character  or  standing 
as  a  man  or  gentleman  ;  and  F  did  not  then  think,  and  do  not  now  think, 
tliat  that  article  could  produce  or  has  produced  that  efl'ect  against  you  ; 
and  liad  I  anticipated  sucIj  an  effect  wouhl  luive  forborne  to  write  it. 
Anil  I  will  add  that  your  conduct  towards  me,  so  far  as  I  know,  had 
always  been  gentlemanly;  and  that  I  had  no  personal  pique  against 
you,  and  no  cause  for  any." 

"  If  this  should  be  done,  I  leave  '  with  you  to  manage  what  shall  and 
what  shall  not  l>e  published.  If  nothing  like  this  is  done,  the  prelimi- 
naries of  the  fight  are  to  l)e: 

1st.  l(r<(;)r<»ji— C'avalry  broad  swords  of  the  largest  size,  precisely 
equal  in  all  respects  and  such  as  are  now  used  by  the  cavalry  company 
at  .Jacksonville. 

2d.  J'ii.iiiio}i — A  plank  ten  feet  long,  and  from  9  to  12  inches  broad, 
to  be  firmly  fixed  on  edge,  on  the  ground,  as  the  line  between  us  which 
neither  is  to  jiass  his  foot  over  on  I'orleit  of  his  life.  Next  a  line  drawn 
on  the  ground  on  either  side  of  said  plank,  and  parallel  with  it,  each  at 
the  distance  of  the  whole  length  of  the  sword  and  3  feet  additional  from 
the  plank  ;  and  the  passing  of  his  own  such  line  by  either  party  during 
the  fight,  shall  be  deemed  a  surrender  of  the  contest. 

3d.  Titne — On  Thursday  evening  at  o  o'clock,  if  you  can  get  it  so ;  but 
in  no  case  to  be  at  a  greater  distance  of  time  than  Friday  evening  at  5 
o'clock. 

4th.  /*(?(•(?— Within  .S  miles  of  Alton,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river, 
the  particular  spot  to  be  agreed  on  by  .you. 

"  Any  preliunnary  details  conung  within  the  above  rules,  you  are  at 
liberty  to  nuike  at  your  discretion,  but  you  are  in  no  case  to  swerve  from 
these  rules  or  pass  beyond  their  linuts." 

The  position  secondly  proscribed  for  the  combatants  on  the  liehl 

looks  ji  good  deal  like  the  cropping  out  of  one  of  Liin^oln's  irre- 

])ressible  j(dves  ;     as  if  Loth  were  placed  out  of  harm's  way,  and 

that  they  nught  beat  the  air  with  tlieir  trenchant  blades  forever 

40 


620 


HISTORY   OF   -LLINOIS. 


iiiid  not  coiiu",  witliiii  (liiiiiiij;iii^'  ivacli  ol'  ciicli  oilier,  iiiil  il  must 
be  rciiiciiilx'ictl  t!i:i1  Sliii'hl.s'  ii(lvci.Niiry  \v;i.s  woiidcil'iilly  piovidcd 
willi  iciicliiiiji'  powers. 

These  iiistructioiis  to  Dr.  .Merriiiiaii,  to«;etliei'  witli  tlie  terms  of 
tli(^  hostile  meeting',  were  read  l»v  liiiii  lo  (ieii.  Wliiteside.  wlio,  in 
tlie  absence  ol'iiis  principal,  deciiaed  aj^reein;;  upon  terms  of  set- 
tleiiieiil  until  they  should  meet  in  Missouri.  l»esides,  Sldelds  auil 
AN'hiteside  both  held  States  ollices,  the  latter  bein;;  fund  commis- 
sioner, and  to  liiive  accepted  the  challenjie  would  ha\t'  interfere*! 
with  their  <»aths  of  ollice  and  the  laws  of  the  State.  Alljiarties 
now  left  f(U' the  held  of  coudiat.^Ir.  Lincoln  (who  had  };one  be- 
fore,) ami  his  party  \  ia  .Jaelvson\ilh',  wlure  they  were  joined 
by  l)octor  iiiedsoe,  and  where  they  procured  the  weapons; 
and  Shields,  whom  Whiteside  went  to  meet,  \  ia  ilillsixiro,  where 
they  were  Joined  by  (ieu.  iCwiuji,  and  at  Alton,  which  they  icached 
ill  ad\ance  of  the  other  party,  they  were  further  joined  by  J)r. 
Hope. 

lloth  parties  shortly  after,  bein^'  Thursday,  crossed  the  river  to 
]\Iissouri.  In  the  meantime  (ieii.  Hardin  ami  J)r.  10n};lish  had  also 
arrived,  who  now,  as  the  mutual  friends  of  both  parties,  presented 
the  following  proposition: 

"Alton,  Rkpt.  22,1843. 

"JIfc.wrs.  niiitfxidi- and  Merriman  :  As  the  miitunl  pcrsomiL  fiionds  ol'  Mi  ssis.  Shields 
and  Lincohi,  liut  witliout  iiutliority  from  either,  wn  eiiincslly  dfsirc  u  rccoiicilialioii 
ol  tlu'  inisiindcisiiiiidiiiM:  wliicli  exists  lie  twee  ii  tlieiii.  Siieti  dillicultieR  sliuiild  ulwiiys 
be  itriMMjred  iiiiiieahly,  if  it  is  possilile  tixlc)  so,  witti  lioiKir  to  liol  h  iiiiitics  IJolievin;? 
oiirsolvi'S  tlisit  SMcli  iirnmjreiiieiit  e.iii  possildy  lie  ellected,  we  respect  fully  l)iit  emn- 
estly  subtnit  thi'  followin'r  proposition  for  your  eoiifiiderutioii:  Let  tlio  whole  dillleully 
he  siil>niitted  to  four  or  more  jieiil  lemen,  la  be  selected  by  yourselves,  who  stuilli.'oii- 
sider  llieiilbiir,  and  report  Lhcrciipon  for  your  eonsideriition. 

JOHN  .T.  IlAltDINf. 
K.  W.  ENULIiSU." 


This  proi)osition  was  submitted  to  tlio  respective  principals, 
"wii(»  both  sijiuilled  a  disi)osition  to  accommodate  the  alfaii',  and  it 
Avas  accepted  with  slij^ht  modilication — Mr.  Shields  declining  to 
settle  the  matter  throuf;h  any  other  than  the  friends  he  liad 
already  selected.  The  following  etfrrespondeuce  then  took  place, 
wlricli  ended  this  most  ridiculous  controversy  : 

"Mr.ssouur,  Sept.  2;.',  1842. 
''G6ntktnai:-~A\\  papers  In  relation  to  the  matter  in  controversy  between  Mr.  Shields 
and  Mr.  liincoln,  having!-  been  withdrawn  liy  the  friends  of  the  parties  eoneerned,  the 
friends  of  Mr.  Shields  ask  the  friends  of  .Mr  Lincoln  to  explain  all  otfensive  matter  in 
the  arlielcR  which  iippcarcil  in  the  S(iii(i(im<i  JmiiiKil  of  the  M,  iuh  and  Ititli  of  Septem- 
ber, over  thesimiatiire  of  Uebecea,  and  headed  •Lost  'I'ownship  ' 

It  isdueto(ien    Hardin  and  Mr    Knjflish  to  state  that  their  interference  was  of  the 
moBt  courteuua  and  geiitiemanly  character. 

JOHN  D    WHITESIDE, 
WM.  LKEl).  EWINU, 
T.  M.  JJOHli." 


'  Missouri,  Sept.  22, 1843 
"QeiitUmen  :  All  papers  in  relation  to  the  matter  in  controversy  between  Mr.  Lincoln 
and  Mr.  Sliields  luiviiiR-  been  withdrawn  by  the  friciicis  of  the  parties  eoneerned,  we, 
the  wnder-iuned,  friends  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  in  accordance  with  your  renuest,  that  an  ex- 
planation of  Mr.  Lincoln's  publieiition  In  rthition  to  Mr.  Shields  in  the  ^'«7I(/((Hi()  c/oiir- 
»i(i/  of  the  2d,  !)tli  and  lOth  of  September,  be  made,  lake  iileasiire  in  sayintf  that 
althoiiL'li  .Mr.  tyincoln  was  the  writer  of  the  article  sitrned  Kebecea  in  the  Jaunial  of  tlio 
2d,  anil  lliat  only,  yet  he  had  no  intention  of  injuring  the  personal  or  private  character 
or  slamlinM:  of  Mr.  Shields  as  a  freutleman  or  a  man,  ami  tliat  Mr.  Lincoln  did  not  think, 
nor  does  luMiow  think,  that  said  article  could  iiroiliice  such  an  ell'eet,  and  had  Mr. 
Lincoln  anticipated  such  an  etfect  he  would  have  forborne  to  write  it ;  we  will  liirtlicr 
state  that  said  article  was  written  solely  for  political  ell'eet,  and  not  to  (rratify  any 
personal  pique  against  Mr.  Shields,  lor  he  nad  none,  and  knew  of  no  cause  lor  any. 


DITELINO. 


027 


It  if"  clue  to  Opii.  IFiinlin  imd  Mr.  Entrlish  to  say  thiit  their 
most  courteous  unci  tfciitlcnmnly  cliuracter. 


interference  was  of  the 

E.  H.  MKIdtTMAN, 
A.T.  lll-i;i)S(tK, 
AVM.  IMJTt.Klt.* 


Slih'ldfi  and  T'liflrr. — Out  oftlio  Sliiclds  and  IiutltT  //V^s■<v)  yrow 
(lin'ctly  iiiiotlicr  iill'iiir  oC  lioiuir,  tliis  time  hctwccii  (Icii.  Sliiclds 
iiiid  .Mr.  Will,  iliitlcr.  Tlic  hitter  <;»>iitl('iii;iii  liiid  been  one  of  Mr. 
liiiicolii'.s  .•seconds,  :i)id  .'^iiys  that  he  wa.s  lor  t lie  fray.  Disapjjoiiitcd 
ill  tliis,  iiiiiiifdiatcly  after  the  hloodle.s.s  teiiiiiiiatioii  of  that  affair, 
lie  wrote  a  not  veiy  coiiiitliiiieiitary  accoiiiit  of  the  coiidiict  of  the 
hellioerciits,  from  Alton,  to  Wm'  S(tii</<iiiio  'f(iiini<il  (\\h\f\\  tlie  writer 
lia.s  been  nnahle  to  tiiid  after  careful  searcii.)  in  wiiich  h«^  tliinks 
lie  hole;  fully  as  severely  upon  hi.s  priiicijtal  as  his  adversary. 
The  latter,  however,  who  ajiaiii  evinced  that  tlie  blood  of  Doiiny- 
brook  conrsed  in  his  veins,  on  Butler's  arrival  home  from  St.  Louis 
at  (Hi(!e  addres.sed  him  a  curt,  nieiiacini;'  note,  by  flic  hands  of  his 
former  friend,  (ien.  Whiteside,  which  was  ]>r<>m|)tly  accepted  as  ii 
ehallen^-e,  and  the  inevitable  J)r.  Meirinian  desionated  as  his 
friend,  tln'oiiyh  whom  the  preliminaries  were,  without  further  cir- 
('umlociiti<Mi.  submitted  t(»  (uMi.  Whiteside  about,  !)  p.  in.  on  the 
same  day,  October  .5(1,  IS|L*.     These  were: 

Time — Snni'ise  on  the  followin<;-  mornin*;'. 

ri((('c — Col.  Jvobert  Allen's  farm — (about  1  mile  north  of  the 
State  II(»iise). 

Wcojjous — llifles. 

IHstaiice — loo  yard.s. 

'I'he  parties  to  stand  with  their  riyht  sides  toward  each  other — 
the  rifles  to  be  held  in  both  hands  horizontally  and  cocked,  arms 
e.\tended  downwards.  Neither  ]»arty  to  move  his  person  or  liis 
rifle,  after  bei no-  ]>laced,  before  the  word  fire.  The  .>^i,t.'nal  to  be : 
"Are  you  ready '  —  fire  ! — one — two — three!"  about  a  second  of 
time  interxciuno-  between  each  word.  Neither  party  to  fire  before 
the  word  fire,  nor  after  the  woid  three.  The  word  to  be  "iveii  by 
the  friend  of  the  challen.i;('d  jiarty.  The  principals  to  bt^  attended 
by  one  fri«'iid  each,  v>  ho  wer<>  to  be  placi'd  midway  between  the 
principals,  .'50  yards  back  from  a  straioht  line  between  them,  to 
the  rear  of  each. t 

These  terms  were  indionantly  refused  b\  ]\rr.  Shields'  friend, 
elaimiiio'  that  he  had  waited  all  day  for  the  answer  which  now 
came  at  *.)  ]>.  m.  while  his  piineipal  was  attemling  a  social  party, 
lie.  as  a  State  ofllcer.  had  also  uniformly  refused  to  violate  the 
laws  of  the  Slate  by  dueling  within  its  limits  to  which  he  would 
not  .subject  his  principal,  also  a  State  ofHcer.  'i'he  terms  were  sat- 
isfactoiy  with  the  exception  of  the  i)lace,  which  he  further  claimed 
the  ehalleiiyed  ]>arty  had  no  exclusive  ri,iiht  to  dictate,  and  that 
the  time  should  be  a  matter  of  ajireenient.  The  lanoiiao-e  used 
was  curt  and  abriijjt.  It  seems  that  the  terms  were  further  unfair 
ill  the  position  assi<;ned  to  the  combatants  on  the  field,  with  their 
ri^ht  sides  towards  each  other,  in  that  it  would  oive  Mr.  Ibitler 
the  ad\antao-e,  he  beino  left-handed,  as  was  alleged.  (Ien.  White- 
side, late  on  the  night  of  tlie  od  sonoht  Dv.  Merriman  at  his  lody- 


'  lioth  Ocn.  Wbitpside  and  T)r.  Mcniiiuiii  pulilislied  card'J  in  tlip  K(i)i(/<(mo.7oi(7-;(nJ, 
llic  I'ornicr  in  that  of  Oct.  T,  IW^',  and  the  latter  on  the  Itth  of  the  sanie  month,  detail- 
iat',  with  isonie  variance,  all  th(^  circuinstuncesof  thisulfair,  from  l)oth  of  wliieh  wo 
have  uatliered  this  account. 

t  SeeSungamo  Journal,  Oct.  7, 1843. 


628 


IIIHTOKY   OF   ILLINOIH. 


in;;.s,  to  liaiiil  in  IiIh  objection,  but  did  not  find  liiin.  'So  in(>ctin<i^ 
tonii  pliice  on  tlu'  moininj;  of  llic  ttii.  I>nrin;;'  tlic  <lii,v,  Iiowcvcr, 
(twin;;  to  a  iiiptnic  between  liie  se;'onds,  Mr.  Shields  iiddicssed 
anotiiei' note  to  Mr.  Ilntiei',  explainin;;' tiie  stains  of  liis  second, 
ciieeirnlly  aeeeptin;;  tlie  preliminaries  iiiniseif,  and  olVeiinj:  to  >n} 
out  to  a  lonel\  i»laeeon  tlie  piairieto  lijiiit  wiieie  lliere  would  l)e  no 
(lan^^cr  olinteri  iiption  ;  or,  if  that  did  not  suit,  lie  would  meet  him 
on  his  own  coiidii  ions  when  and  where  he  jdeased.  This  note  was 
declined  by  Mr.  15utl«'r,  ehiiming  tliat  the  allair  wa.s  closed,  ami 
this  was  the  end  of  it. 

Wliiiesidr  tntd  Merriman — And  now  the  dou};hty  secoiul.s 
wound  \\\)  this  series  of  affairs  by  one  of  their  own;  which  ;;rew" 
out  of  the  iie\l  prece<lin«;' one.  We  have  already  said  that  White- 
si<le's  refusal  of  Uiitlers  terms  was  couched  in  curt  and  abrni»t 
lan^uajic,  and  that  the  jtlace  of  combat  could  not  be  di«'lated  to 
liini,  for  it  was  as  much  his  rijiht  as  Merriman's,  w ho,  if  he  was  a 
gentleman  would  rcco;;nize  ami  concede  it.  To  this  the  latter  re- 
re]>lied,  October  4,  S  a.  m  :  "That  the  arro;;ant,  dictatorial,  rude, 
and  unt;-eiillenianly  (;haract<'r"  of  this  note  precluded  the  possi 
bility  of  his  comninnicatinj;  farther  on  the  subject  to  which  it 
alluded,  which  was  sent  by  the  hands  of  ('apt.  Lincoln,  Avho  now 
served  his  iormei'  second  in  the  same  capacity  «)f  "friend.'' 
"NVhiteside  then  wrote  to  ]\Ierriman  :  "1  have  to  request  that  you 
"will  meet  me  at  the  IManters'  House,  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  on 
next  Friday,  where  you  will  hear  from  me  further.'"  Merrimaii 
i:ow'  wrote:  "1  wish  to  know  if  you  intend  that  note  as  a  chal- 
lenj;e;  if  so,  my  fiiiknd  will  wait  ui»on  you  with  the  conditions 
of  our  nieetiiij;."  At  4  ]).  m.  Whiteside  replied  :  "You  shall  have 
a  not«'  of  the  ciiaracter  you  allude  to  when  we  meet  at  the  IMant- 
ers'House,  on  Friday  next,  at  St.  Louis."  j\Ierrimau  lejoiued,  de- 
nying' AVhiteside's  right  to  uaine  the  time  and  jtlace  for  tlie 
adjust nieiit  of  their  dilliciilty,  but  proffered  to  meet  him  on  that 
day  at  Louisiana,  Mo.  \\  hen  this  last  note  was  ])resented  to  Cieii. 
AVhiteside,  he  replied  verbally:  "IJncoln,  1  cannot  accept  any- 
thing from  him  now.  1  hav(^  business  at  St.  Louis,  and  it  is  as 
near  as  Lituisiana."  *()ii  the  .Jlh  of  October',  (i en.  AVliitesi«le  ad- 
dressed another  note  to  Dr.  ^Merriman,  which  was  deliv*'re«l  by 
Gen.  Shields,  offering  to  acci'pt  the  jtroposition  to  meet  at  Louisi- 
ana, jMo.,  but  the  doctor,  deeming  tlie  alfair  closed,  now  declined 
to  re-open  it,  and  the  matter  w'a.s  dropped. t 

It  seems  that  out  of  all  these  bellicose  manifestations  one  on- 
gagementor  one  hostile  jtass  at  least  might  have  been  had.  But 
it  was  better  that  they  all  terminated  pacilically,  as  they  did. 


7>>-.s'.  Hope  and  rrice  had  a  duel  in  Texas  during  the  Mexican 
war.  Dr.  Ilojte  was  a  well  known  gentleman  from  Alton.  We 
have  seen  his  name  connected  with  the  Shields-Lincoln  alfair  as 
one  of  the  seconds.  The  1st  and  2d  Illinois  volunteers.  Colonels 
Hardin  and  l>issell,  were  encamjted  at  San  Antonio,  two  miles 
from  the  Ahuno.  J)r.  Hope  was  surgeon  to  the  Lst  regiment.  The 
dilhcully  gr(!w  out  of  Dr.  Price's  repeating  a  conversation  having 

•Piinniiinon  .Tour.  Ont.  7. 1843. 
+  111.  Statu  Reg.  0(!t.  14,  1842. 


DITELINO. 


629 


occurred  in  J)r.  Hope's  tent.  TIn^  latter,  feeliii};  liiiii.self  ng- 
jiricvctl,  (l(»<fj;('(]  tlu' loniier  in  llie  streets  of  H;m  Antonio,  where- 
upon I'riee  sent  liiiii  ii  eliallen;;e.  Mujor  Cross,  of  the  I'nited 
States  army,  acted  as  the  seeoiul  of  Dr.  I'lice,  iiinl  ('ii|tt.  Wilhiinis, 
of  tile  Kentucky  Ijjfe  Guards,  acted  for  Dr.  Hope.  'I'lie  enjiaye- 
iiient  was  louj;iit  Septend)er  14,  iy4(>,  and  rrice  was  badly 
WDUUiled  in  tiie  abdomen.* 

I'luitt  ((ml  Cduipbcll. — The  next  aitair  of  this  sort  was  the  occa- 
sion of  fixing' in  tlu",  constitution  of  1S4S  the  stiinj^cMt  clause  n;- 
latinj;  to  dueling.  Durin<^  the  sitting  of  the  conventiop,  in  1S47, 
wiiich  framed  that  instrument,  when  the^  (piestion  of  alien  suf- 
frajii'  was  under  consideration,  Mr.  ().  C  Pratt,  from  .loDaviess,^ 
a  democrat,  opposed  foreigners  enjoying;'  the  elective  franchise 
until  tlu'y  were  natuialized.  His  colleaj'iie,  Thompson  Oanipbell, 
also  a  dem(»crat,  who  favored  j^reat  leniency  in  this  resi)ect  to 
aliens,  attacked  and  taunted  him  with  havin<>  obtained  the  votes 
of  f(uv,i};;ners  for  his  position  (to  which  he  was  elected  by  only  9 
majority)  on  ple<lj;es  to  them  that  he  would  recpiin- no  more  than 
a  year's  residence  aial  a  declaration  of  intention,  citinj^'  an  occa- 
sion where  some  ()<><»r  70  foreijiners  were  at  work  on  somt^  public 
vorks.  Pnitt  denied  this,  attributing'  Ins  collea<;iU''s  mistake  to 
th<' l>resence  there  of  a,  barrel  of  beer  and  a  ke;;(»f  whisky.  Camp- 
bell denounced  the  insinuation  as  untpialitiedly  false,  and  that  if 
lie  (Pratt)  Ma.s  a  man  he  wouhl  notice  it,  ami  settle  it  personally. 
On  t!i<'  same  <lay,  Wediu'sday,  Pratt  sent  him  a  in»te  recpu'stinjjf 
liis  presen(;e  at  the  Planters'  House,  St.  Louis.  Campbell  ans- 
\vei«'<l  that  he  would  be  there  on  Monday  following;',  but  icpaired 
thither  immediately,  puttin<>'  up  at  the  Plant«'rs'  Hotel.  His 
^'friend"  in  St,  Lous  was  Col.  Feid.  Kentiett.  Late  on  Saturday 
ni;^iit  Pratt  also  arrived,  with  his  "friend,''  takih;;' lod;;iiijis  at  the 
]\Ionroe  House.  Hut  tlu'  bnsin<'ss  of  the  belli;iei'ents,  "(»n  bloody 
de<'ds  int<'nt,"  who  thus  souj^iit  a  forei<;ii  jurisdiction  to  airanne 
their  preliminaries  and  settle  their  dniculty  by  tin^  duello,  had- 
leake<l  out;  indeed  it  was  well  known,  and  one  HIenneihassctt, 
an  ahlerman,  nia<le  aftidavit  to  the  fact,  and  late  on  Saturday 
iii<;ht  both  pai'ties  were  arrested  and  jibnu'd  under  heavy  bonds  to 
keep  the  peacH'.  This  plan  of  jiivinji'  an  "affair"  notoriety  ouj^ht 
to  he  effective,  in  these<laysof  t<'le<iraph  and  news)>aper  enterprise 
to  <iain  a  name  for  bravery,  and  at  the  sanu'  tinu'  by  Judicious 
arrests  riui  no  danf;er  of  sustainin{>'  jiersonal  injury.  It  is  a  won- 
der that  it  is  not  more  impi'oved.  Tlx'se  ^-entlemen  new  returned 
and  resumed  their  seats  in  the  convention. 


P>y  the  old  law  of  this  State  the  penalty  for  duclinji',  when  the 
issue  was  fatal,  was  death,  the  sanu'  as  in  case  of  murder,  but  for 
the.se  "affairs"  it  was  disalnlity  from  holdinji-otlice  ot  honor,  trust 
or  emolument,  and  snuill  lines  after  conviction.  The  law  was 
without  r<'straint;  there  never  had  been  a  conviction  for  this  lesser 
olfeiise,  Ix'cause  parties  always  eva«l«'d  the  law  by  <i(>in<i'  beyond 
the  Jiuis<lietion  of  the  State  to  carry  out  their  juiriioses.  The 
facts  and  ciri'umstances  of  the  Pratt-Canii»bell  affair,  as  well  as 
the  K'jieiited  evasions  of  the  law,  well  known  t(»  the  niend)ers  of 
the  convention,  stinuilated  them  now  to  etfectually  circumvent  and 

~~ "Bee  111.  State  Res.  Oct.  16,  im. 


OM) 


HISTOUY    (»r   ILLINOIS. 


m 


lm>a1v  u]>  tlic  ])riu;tic(',  more  coiiiiiion  iiiiioii^  (iHicijIs  and  politiciil 
asi»iraiils,  as  will  liavc  W'vu  liitlicfd,  tliaii  otiiiiis.  IIciicc  tlicy 
(Icvist'd  and  tVanird  an  oath  of  otlicc,  and  incinpoiatcd  it  in  tlii^ 
constiltition,  so  hroad  in  its  tciins  of  dislVanciiiscnicMt  and  tlio 
strncluic  ol'  its  ian^naj^t'  as  to  conci'  not  oniv  Illinois.  Imt  all  the 
Avorld  hcsidi's.  Not  ptTliaps  that  Illinois  (•(»nM  pnnish  th"  pcr- 
jni'cr,  \vlu),  having' coinniittcd  an  otVcns**  of  tiu^  kind  ontsidc  its 
Jurisdiction,  slionld  he  take  this  oath  of  olVicc,  lint  rather  to  ap- 
pall the  coiiscicnco  of  those  pnhlie  men  who  wonid  he  most  likely 
to  yiehl  to  snch  ninrderoiis  piactices.  The  inischi<'f  aimed  at  was 
the  suppicssion  of  the  out la/^eons  practice  of  diu'linji,  witliont 
respect  to  place,  eirenmstance  or  time,  save  only  that  the  offense 
.sh()iild  *hile  since  the  adoption  (d'  the  constitntion. 

The  oath  may  be  lonnd  in  the  constitntion  of  1S4S,  article  l.'>, 
section  IM!.  ;\lr.  K.  H.  .Servant,  oi'  Ifamhtlph,  introdnced  ami 
iin)ved  its  adoption.  It  passed  the  convention  hy  7  I  yeas  to  41 
miys — neither  of  the  above  eoiid>atants  voting'.  Amon;;'  the  nays 
appear.s  tlie  name  of  (Jen.  \\hitesid«',  who,  it  mij^lit  thence  be  in- 
ferred. notwithstaiHliii;;'  the  lidsra  with  which  W(^  have  seen  his 
name  ('(»nnect«'d.  still  believed  in  tlu'  code  of  honor. 

Harriii  and Ih')ni/. — The  Mexican  war,  wliich  pioved  such  a(iod- 
send  to  democratic  jtoliticians  thai  a  noted  and  witty  whin',  whose 
])arty  was  oat  in  the  cold,  shortly  after  its  close  announced  him- 
self in  favi)r  (d'  the  next  war,  was  also  frnitfnlof  jx-rsonal  (Ullicnl- 
ties.  Dnrinji  the  election  cainpai;;ii  of  bS4S,  Dr.  A.  (i.  Henry,  in 
a  speech  at  l'.ear<lstown,  char;;cd  .Major  Thomas  L.  Harris, one  of 
the  truest  and  noblest  men  of  Illinois,  then  runniiif;  for  eon<>r*'ss, 
with  "skulkin;^'  at  the  battle  of  Cerio  (lordo;  that  lie  (;ould  prove 
this,  and  would  repeal  -it  to  his  face  the  followinji  wet'k.''  Here 
was  a  ji(»od  oiijtoitunity  Ibran  "alfair."  When  Hari'is  arrived  at 
Hprin<;lieid  he  asked  an  interview  with  tin*  doctor.  15ut  that  j;«'n- 
tieman  answered:  "1  have  lu)  business  with  Major  Harris,  and 
do  not  desire  a  personal  interview.'"  Harris  then  (U'manded  that 
he  nndvc  jjood  his  llcardstown  statement.  The  doctor  now  (U'nied 
haviny  uttered  exactly  this  lanj;naj;e  ;  disclaimed  wantinj;  to  do 
Harris  knowingly  an  injustice,  l»ut  that  iie  could  not  be  deterred 
from  saying'  what  lie  bcli*'ved  to  be  true;  ollered  to  refer  the  mat- 
ter to  John  Calhoiui  and  .hnnes  JJarrett,  of  Harrks'  ]»arty,  and  at 
their  iustaiwe  would  umke  a  ](ublic  apolojiv.  addiny  that  he  would 
leave  town  the  followinii  morninj:  to  meet  his  speakinji  apjioint- 
ments.  ]MaJor  Harris  then  i»ro\('d  by  four  yood  citizens,  who  pub- 
lished theii'  card,  that  the  doctor  had  made  the  statements  refer- 
red to  at  IJeardsfown.  and  in  tlu>  words  yiven,  whereupon  he  de- 
nounced him  to  the  norld  as  a  liar,  a  scoundrel  aiul  a  coward — 
and  that  was  the  last  of  this  alVair.* 

^  Doris  and  liifiNcU. — Alter  the  constitution  went  into  operation, 
no  other  duels  or  attempts  at  duels  have  been  engaj^'ed  in  or  had 
an  oiiyiii  within  the  Jurisdiction  of  Illinois,  to  the  knoH]ed<;e  of 
the    writei:t  and  there  were   onlv  three   outside  of  its  limits   to 


•Sec  Hl.Stiitc  Uejr.    Oct.  0,1848- 

+Of  cniirsi-  tins  docs  not  niciin  to  inclndo  the  fliiols  of  parties  outside  the  Stutc,  who 
foiiiul  in  Illinois  a  Siite  iiiKl  ciMivciiicnt  rendezvous  lor  the  settlement  of  thcM'  per- 
sonal difficulties,  Viirioii';  Islands  In  the  I'pper  Mississippi  within  thojurisdiction  of 
Illinois — notnlilc,  lllooily  Island— linve  I)ccn  the  scenes  of  these  barbarous  fr.iys  he- 
twccti  (Citizens  or  r(si(lents  from  nciulilKiriiiL"- territoricsuud  States,  the  latest  belujf 
between  IJ.  Gralz  Urown  and  (jov.  Ueynolds,of  Missouri. 


DrEMNO. 


031 


Aviiich  (»ni' citizniM  wcro  jKirtics,  Two  of  tlicsiucsiiltcd  latall.v,* 
and  tli*>  otiicr  attaiiit'd  iiatioiud  <-('l«-l)rity  and  was  no  little  sonrci; 
of  i»iid»' to  lllinoisans  at  tlic  lime;  and  as  it  was  snl>sc<|ii»'htly 
tlic  occasion  of  nincli  political  and  personal  ccnsnicand  ahnsc,  in 
connection  with  the  constitntional  oath  of  oflice,  \\v  heic  insert  it. 

Dnrinji'  the  lonj;'  and  an;^r,v  contest  in  con<;ress  over  the  adjust- 
ment of  l<sr»0,  s(»nthern  niendiers,  more  thai.  «'ver,  indulged  their 
f;asconade  in  vanntinj;  sontheni  chivaliy,  defeiidin;^  slaxeiy  and 
poitiayiii};  the  beanties  and  advanta;ics  of  disunion.  T(»  dispar- 
a<;e  northern  c.oura;,'(!  and  exa;;;;erate  .•(outhciii  valoi',  the  then 
late  Mexican  war  was  dra^^^cd  in  as  ])roof  and  illustration.  Mi: 
Seddon,  of  Virginia,  enconraj;ed  Ity  otliei'  ■.oiilhern  licntleinen, 
went  further  and  attempted,  in  couDucntin^^'on  tii(>  hattleof  liuena 
A'ista,  toawartl  the  entire  i-redit  of  savinj;'  the  fortune  of  the  day 
ata  very  critical  period  of  thathattle  to  a  Mississippi  re;;inu'nt, 
of  which  .lefferson  Davis  had  heen  the  ('olonel,  for  the  purpose 
of  UKiintainin<;' the  southern  boast  that  tlcre  was  more  personal 
bravery  and  prowws.s  in  that  se(!tion  than  in  the  north. 

Mr.  Uissell  was  a  new  nu'inbei-,  with  a  j^ood  record  in  tliat  war 
as  the  colonel  of  the  Ud  rei^inicnt  of  Illinois  volunteers.  Shocked 
at  these  utterances,  and  tired  with  the  di.-^irace  attempted  to  i»e 
cast  upon  his  section,  he  on  the  ."Jlst  of  {"'ebiiuiry,  I.S,")(>,  essayeil  a 
reply  to  these  ceaseless  tirades  of  bia^|;adocio.  which  proved  to 
be  one  ol"  tl:  "  keeiu'st,  most  incisive  and  brilliant  s]>eeclies  ever 
sjtoken  in  the  halls  of  conjiress,  not  only  in  vindication  of  his  own 
section,  but  in  jtrickiiiy- the  vain  assumption  of  the  other.  This 
sjieech  stam])ed  jlissell  at  once  with  national  distinction  and  fame. 
Tlie  chivalry  were  touched  to  tlu'  <iuick  ;  and  failing'  to  answer 
him  in  debate,  it  was  sought  to  <!rnsh  him  in  another  way.  'I'lie 
followini;  jtassajic  was  ostensibly  claimed  ti;  be  the  offensive  i>or- 
tion,  and  the  since  well  known  chief  of  the  southern  confederacy 
was  put  forward  to  test  IJissell's  mettle: 

"Tills  i)r()iiont'ss,  liowever,  [lo  un(l<'rrati'  Die  bnivery  of  others  and 
Viunit  tlu'M' own,]  IS  not  always  liarniless,"  ixclaimed  Jiissell,  "and  I 
must  now  refer  to  asniijcvt  wliicli  I  would  iiavc  <:ladly  avoided  I  al- 
ludo  to  till' claim  |iut  forth  for  a  soutiiern  refi;iuu'iit  iiy  tiii'  jieutleniaii 
from  Virginia,  [.Mr.  Scddou,]  of  liaviiiK  met  and  repulsed  the  enemy  on 
the  Held  of  lUieiia  \'ista,  at  the  critieal  moment  when  the  Indiana 
ref^iiiuMit,  throiijrii  an  un fortunate  order  of  tlu'ir  colonel,  }x:\\v  way. 
Justice  to  those  li'iUK,  as  well  as  those  wiio  fell  on  tliat  occasion,  do- 
maiuis  of  UK  !'  j)ri.inj)t  correction  of  this  most  erroneous  >tatenieiit.  And 
I  allirm  di.-^iincily,  sir,  and  sucii  is  the  fact,  that  at  the  time  tiie  iM  In- 
diana regiment  trave  way  tlie  Mississippi  rei;inienl,  foi-  wiiom  tiii'claini 
is  jrratuitously  set  up,  was  not  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  scene  of 
action,  nor  yet  had  it  Hred  a  ;::nn  or  pulled  a  tri;j:,uer.  J  allirm  further, 
sir,  tliat  the  trooi)s  which  at  that  time  iiiet  and  resisted  the  enemy,  and 
thus,  to  use  the  jieiitleman's  own  lan;rua^e,  'sualched  victory  from  tlie 
jaws  of  defeat,'  were  the  lid  Kentucky,  the  l.'d  Illinois  and  a  portion  of 
the  1st  Illinois  retrimeiits.  It  jrives  n\v  no  pleasure,  sir,  to  he  compelled 
to  allude  to  this  sultject,  nor  can  1  see  the  necessity  or  lu'ojjriety  of  its  iu- 
troduc'ion  into  /this  dehate.  It  having  l)een  introduced,  however,  I 
could  not  sit  in  silence  and  witness  the  intlietion  of  sucli  cruel  injustice 
ui)on  men,  livinj;;  and  <lead,  whose  wcll-eiU'iied  fame  I  were  a  monster 
not  to  j)rotect.  The  true  and  l)rave  hearts  of  too  many  of  them,  alas, 
have  alreatly  minjiled  with  the  soil  of  a  foreign  country;  hut  their 
claims  upon  the  justiccof  their  countrymen  can  never  cease,  nor  can  my 
oh! '"rations  to  them  lie  ever  forgotten  or  disregarded.     No,  sir,  the  voice 


"Botli  inCulifornla-FertiuSDii  ami  Llppincott  being  tlic  Illiuoisans— the  former  was 
killed  aud  the  latter  now  holds  ollicehure. 


lit 


o;i2 


IIISTOUT  OF   ILLINOIS. 


i 


I 


of  Hanlln,  tluit  voice  wliifli  lins  ko  often  been  heard  in  tills  liaii,  na 
mini'  now  is,  tiioiij;ii  fur  niorc  cioiiUfMlly,  tin- voice  of  llaniin  !  aye,  iuhI 
of  .McKcc  ami  liic  iicconipilsiicii  Ciiiy — cadi  \via|i|ictl  in  liin  liiiuMly 
HJiroini— tiicir  voices  woiilii  rcproacli  nie  from  tlie  >,'rave  lia<l  I  failcii  in 
tliiH  actof  juMtlce  to  thoni,  an«l  tiie  oliitTH  who  (<)U),'lit  anci  IVi.  I>y  my 
Bide. 

"Von  wiil  Hnspect  me,  Mr.  ("iiairman,  of  liavinKwarm  feeliii^json  liiis 
HUl)J«'ct.  Sir,  1  nave;  and  inive  tiivcn  tiu'ni  ulterancc  a.^i  a  matler  of 
dnty  Fn  aii  tiiis,  lidwever,  I  Ity  no  means  detract  I'rom  tiie  ^faiianl 
eominct  of  tlie  .Mississiiipi  icKinient.  At  otlier  timesand  places  on  tluit 
lilootiy  field  liiey  tlid  all  tiint  tiieir  warmest  admirers  conld  desire,  ihit, 
let  me  ask  ayain,  why  was  tliis  suliject  inlrodnced  into  tliis  deliatc? 
Wliy  does  tile  K*'"tk'man  say  'Iroojm  of  tiie  nortii'  K»ve  way,  wiii'ii  l-e 
means  only  a  single  iv^fiinent'.'*  W iiy  is  all  this  i»nt  lor  tiie  puri)ose  of 
dispaiiijfinn  tlie  nortli  for  the  iieiieflt  of  tlie  somli?  Why,  hut  for  the 
pnrposeof  furnishinjf  material  for  that  ceaseless,  never-ending  tiieine 
of  'Houthern  oliivairy  ?'  " 

As  soon  as  it  tiansjiiicd  thiil  Davis,  upon  this  sIcikU'I'  pretext, 
and  as  if  ho  conld  vary  a  historical  lad  hy  a  dnd,  iiad  cliallcn;;cd 
IJissdl,  all  Wasliin<;ton  was  on  the  (/»/  rirr.  The  (|nciy  ran  lioni 
inuntli  to  nionlli,  ''will  he  accept — will  he  stand  lire  V  Those  who 
knew  the  man  were  emphatic  in  tlicir  answers  that  he  wonld.  It  is 
said  that  Daniel  Widister  came  over  to  the  indl  of  the  house  lor 
an  intr<idnction  to  this  notthcrn  man  who  proposed  to  meet  thi^ 
sonthroii  in  his  favorite  method  of  sdllin;;  a  dispute,  savin;;-,  "I 
wish  to  look  him  in  the  eye."  IJissdl  was  called  and  the  two 
grasped  hands  heaitily.  As  Wehslei'  withdrew  with  an  i-lastic. 
step  and  a  kindling'  eye,  he  olis^-rved  to  a  hi;;h  di;;iiitiiny  of  the 
pivernnient  who  understood  the  olijed  of  his  visit,  '-lie  will  do, 
the  south  has  mistaken  its  man,"  w  liii'li  was  the  fad.  I»issell 
l»i'onii»tly  accepted  the  challen;i«',  lie  left  the  iireliminaries  to  his 
friends,  except  weapons  and  distance,  tliesc  lu' detcrniincd  njion 
himseir,  selecting;'  the  conunon  army  ninsket,  to  be  loaded  willi  a 
ball  and  thive  luick-shot ;  the  combatants  to  be  stationcil  at  40 
])aces,  with  liberty  to  advance  to  10.  This  evinced  a  cool  and  de- 
termined |tiirpose  to  li^lit  to  the  dealli,  and  the  tire  caters  stood 
annized.  Davis  had  desi;;natcd  S.  \V.  In^e  as  his  rri«'iid,  and  Bis- 
sell  named  Major  Cross,  of  the  IJ.  S.  army.  The  medin^was  to 
take  place  on  the  following;  day,  Feb.  L'Sth,  the  rendezvous  beiiijj; 
rinderstood. 

lint  at  a  late  hour  in  tli(>  evening;  another  ettbrt  at  recom-iliatiou 
was  made  by  the,  mutual  friends  who  had  lie«'n  of  counsel  in  the 
atfair,  tlndfic  Dawson,  of  (icorj^ia,  and  <'ol.  ^V.  A.  Ifichanlson,  of 
Illinois.  After  further  conl'erenc(*  it  was  a^i«'ed  that  the  challeii;;e, 
and  Jill  corresp<uideiice  therewith  connected,  should  he  treated  as 
withdiawn,  and  that  Col.  liissell  add  to  his  lirst  letter,  to  be  in- 
serted after  the  word  I'e^iment  in  tin-last  paraj;raph,  "■but  1  am  will- 
iuj;  to  awai'd  to  them  the  credit  due  to  tli«'ir  jialiaiit  and  distiii- 
fjuished  servi(;es  in  that  battle."  The  reconciliation  thus  elfected 
was  satisfactory  to  the  parties  innnedialely  coiicerne*!,  and  a  source 
of  t;rati(ication  to  tlieii- tVieiids. 

in  the  meantime  it  was  said  that  rresident  Taylor,  the  father  in-, 
law  of  Col.  Davis,  havin;>'  been  apprised  of  the  arraiif^enieuts  for 
the  hostile  nieetinj;',  accom]»aiiied   by  Col.  liliss,  his  jirivate  secre- 
tary, had  instituted  Ic^al  imKH'edinj^'  to  check  the  intende<l  hostile 


*II)e~d  Indiana.  Col.  Bowles. 


DITKI.INO. 


033 


ht:iiic<>  tlu'HtiiiK'  ]^>r()|)<)siti(>ii  otrcrcd   l>y  nii>   (i-nihraccd  in   nu'iiioraiKliini 
kj.r.^'Hi'd  luy  williiiKiiCMs  to  atct'iit  it.     Aftci- foiisult- 


ovciit,  l>ii(  |ui(»r  to  this  intcrCcri'iHu',  \vlii<'h  was  aftrr  ini(1iii;;iit,  the 
l<)i-c;;oiii;;  iiiiiicaldt'  iiiith'isdiiHliii;;  li:i(l  iiIrciKlv  Itt'cii  airivcd  at. 
\Vc  sithjoiii  Ihi!  uieiuoniiKliiiM  and  coiicspoiHlt'iicc: 

"[Mi;m()kani)a  No.  3.] 

"Mot  iiim.  Kiiit'ldH  and  Major  (-'roHHat  8  o'clock  p.  in.,  to  arrange  terms 
of  coniliat.  It< 'fori' ciiteriiifr  iipoii  liiiHiiicsH  .hid^t;  Dawson,  of  (it'oi>;ia, 
and  .Miijor  Uicliardson,  of  Illinois,  cnltrcd,  and  proposed  HuiiniittiiiK  to 
lis  a  proposition  \vhi<-li  they  iioped  would  oliviate  a  ineetinf^.  We  con- 
sented on  liotli  sides  to  hear 't,  and  the  I'oliowiiiK  projiosilion  was  Mieu 
HUliinitled  :  That  all  corres,  idenee  he  withdrawn  snhseqnent  to  Col. 
Davis'  (Irst  letter,  and  that  ( 'oi.  Dissell  add  to  Imh  tirst  letter  a  statement 
(to  come  in  afii'r  the  won!  re|,'iment,  at  the  foot  of  the  first  paue.ias  fol- 
lows, to-wit  :  '  ikit  r  am  willing  to  award  them  the  cre<lil  due  to  tlieir 
pdlaid  an<l  distinKuished  services  in  that  hattle.'  This  hein^;  in  sul)- 
stunce  the  same  proposition  od'crcd  I 
No.  ] ),  of  course  I '.  Api'.^'sed  my  willi 

ini;,  (Jen.  Shields  an<l  Miijor  Cross  expressed  their  "willingness  to  make 
the  addendum,  which  was  accordiiifily  done.  IJy  mutual  consnet, 
all  c<»rresp(»ndon('e  sul)sc((ueiit  to  Col.  iJi.ssell's  amended  leller  was  with- 
drawn, and  thuH  the  dilliculty  wa«  adjusted. 

S.  W.  IN(jiE." 
"Washington,  D.  C,  Feb.  27, 1850." 

The  matter  belli,!;-  adjiisfed  on  this  basi.s,  the  followiiie-  apiicaied 
ill  the  Union,  of  Feb.  I'S,  l<SijO : 

"Washinoton,  Feb.  34,  1K")0. 
"(lintlrmrn:  In  or.lpr  to  roindvo  nny  orronoous  linprcssioti  wlilcli  may  liiivo  hecn 
niiidr  ()  till'  piilillc  iiiiiKl.  liy  llic  siiiiiiisea  of  letter  wiltciH,  in  rcliitloii  to  ii  forresiion- 
iIi'IU'i'  wlilcli  lias  piisscd  l)(!t  ween  Col.  DiivU  iind  Col.  Ilissell,  we  tukt;  the  iiherty  ot  re- 
<Hiestln(f  )()u  to  piiblisli  the  followintr  correspoiidenee,  which  will  show  tliiit  the  rniit- 
tet' liiiH  iii'en  must  honurubly  udJustoU  to  the  gntlilluutiou  ttiid  entire  siitiHt'uetiou  uf 
the  luuluul  I'rieuds. 

.JAMKS  SHIELDS, 
S.  W.  INtiU.' 

After  wliic'h  follow  the  first  two  letttn-s  subjoined,  Uisst^ll's  be- 
iu};  iiineiided  by  the  words  inclosed  in  braclcets  in  the  2d  para- 
graph : 

"Wartitnoton,  r>.  r.,  Keh.  23. 

"Sir  :  I  nin  informed  ttiiit  In  yesterday's  debate  you  iissiMted  that  at  the  time  it  was 
claimed  for  the  Mississippi  reifimcnt,  on  the  Held  of  Hiieiia  Vista,  to  have  passed 
fhrou^'h  the  seattcrcd  tiles  of  the  ~d  Indiana  reaimeiit .  ami  to  have  met  the  Mexican 
forces,  who  had  routed  and  were  pursiiinjf  that  letjinicnt,  the  Mississippi  reyiment 
was  not  wttliln  one  mile  and  a  half  of  that  particular  spot.  Not  liavinn- been  able  to 
find  a  "report"  of  your  remarks,  and  beimr  the  proper  person  to  answer  any  eliarffo 
which  a  resi)onsibli!  man  may  make  airainst  the  Mississippi  retfln.ent  referred  lo,  I 
take  this  mode  of  asking  whether  the  information  I  liave  received  is  correct. 

"  Yours  respectfully,  JEFF.  DAVIS." 

"Hon.  Mr.  Hissell." 


"Wasiii.noto      Feb.  32. 

"Sill:  In  yotir  note  of  thi.i  date,  you  inquire  whether  I  asserted  in  j  icrday's  de- 
bate that  'at  the  time  It  was  claimed  for  the  Mississippi  retrlnu'nt,  on  tlie  (leld  of 
niiena  Vista,  to  have  passed  throujfh  the  scattered  files  of  th('  :.M  Iixliaiia  reiriment, 
and  to  liavi'  met  the  Mexican  forces,  who  had  routc<l  and  were  pursuinjf  I  hat  re^i'iment, 
the  Mississippi  retfimont  was  not  within  one  mile  and  a  half  of  the  spot." 

"The  lust  answer  I  can  Mrive  to  your  imiuiry  is  to  state  what  I  did  say,  which  was  this, 
that  "at  tlu>  lime  the  3d  Indiana  retriment  w'ave  way,  the  .Mississippi  re^.'inlent  was  not 
within  a  nule  and  a  lialf  of  the  scene  of  action .'  This  substantially,  was  all  I  said  iu 
reference  to  the  Mississippi  rcM-iment.  1  also  said  that  the  ;.'d  Kentucky  rejrimcnt,  the 
I'll  Illinois  and  a  portion  of  the  1st  Illinois  repiments,  were  the  troops  that  at  that 
time,  met  and  repulsed  the  advaneinpr  column  of  the  enemy.  In  my  remarks,  I  re- 
ferred to  what  occurred  'at  that  particular  spot'  at  that  partlctdar  lime. 

Ilaviiiii  answered  yoin'  in(|';ii'y,  I  deem  it  due  In  .justiee  alike  to  myself  and  the 
Mississippi  reiriment  to  say  that  I  maih.'  no  (rharire  aMiiinst  that  reulmcnt,  [but  I  am 
willinir  to  award  them  the  credit  due  their  Mrallant  and  distiniruished  services  in  that 
battle)  My  only  oli.ieet  was  to  do  .justice  to  the  character  of  others,  iivinu'  and 
dead,  whose  conduct  fell  under  my  own  observation  on  that  occasion— a  duty  im- 
posed upnn  me,  by  remarks  previ'  uslv  made  in  the  course  of  the  same  debate. 

Very  respectfully,  yours,  &e.,  W.  H.  lUSSELL." 

"IIo.N.  JEFf  Davis.'" 


•  lUiaola  State  Journal,- March  3, 1850. 


634 


HISTORY  OF   ILLINOIS. 


Jj((iit'  and  DoiKjlas. — In  (lie  si)niij;"  of  IH~)(),  .slioitly  beloie  tlie 
Kiitioiuil  DciiiiK'iatic  convention,  tliciv  was  an  eviclcnt  atti'Mipt 
made  t(»  clialc  and  i)i(>vok<^  i\lr,  Don^las  into  an  all'air  of  honor. 
There  were  donbtless  nniny  anxions  to  tlins  end>roil  Illinois'  j^reat 
seiuitor  at  that  particular  Jinn'tnrc^  of  his  public  career.  Tho 
occasion  of  this  was  the  presentation  to  conj^ress  of  the  Topeku 
constitution,  a(!('oni]»anied  hv  a  forj;('(l  inenu)rial,  pra,VMi<;'  a«lniis- 
siou  into  the  Union.  The  ;;eniiin(;  memorial  took  the  hi^h,  not 
to  say  I'cvolutionary,  jiround,  that  conj;ress  had  no  power  to  es- 
tablish }>overnnients  for  tlie  territories,  and  thiit  the  Kansas  Ne- 
braska act  was  unconstitutional  and  \(»id;  that  the  people  owed 
ao  alle;;iance  to  I  hem,  and  that  they  assertt'd  their  inlierent  rij;ht 
to  overthrow  the  teiritorial  government  without  tlie  consent  and 
ill  deliaiute  of  the  authority  of  conj^ress.  (ien.  J.  11.  Lane  had 
been  chosen  one  of  the  senators,  and  naturally  desirin;';  to  take  his 
seat  as  sncli,  per(;eived  that  this  document  woidd  i>i()bal)ly  not 
tend  to  fuither  his  chances  to  that  end.  A  forj;«'d  copy,  couched 
in  mon' ()bedii>nt  phraseolo,yy,  was  therefore  pn'sentedto  (M)n<4ress. 
The  trick  was  disclosed,  however,  and  Mr.  l)oujilas,  as  <'hairmaii 
of  the  committee  on  territories,  denounced  it  in  unnu'asured  teiins, 
as  was  his  riylit  and  duty,  as  a  fraud  and  forj;ery,  and  it  was  re- 
jected. The  (luidniincs  and  \Vashin,nton  letter  writers  hostile  to 
Mr.  Douj^las,  immediately  snutfed  a  battle  from  afar.  IJiimorsbe- 
came  rife  of  an  expectted  hostile  meetinj;'  accordinj''  to  tlie  code  of 
honor,  between  the  fierce  border  };eneral  and  the  j;ieat  chaiiijiiou 
of  i)opular  soveri'ijiiity.  A  determination  seemed  to  be  evinced 
to  intensify  the  all'air  in  e\  cry  way  possible.  The  time  and  min- 
utest details  of  the  expec  ed  iiostile  event  w«'re  carefully  an- 
nounced. Mr.  l)ouj;las,  however,  was  not  deceived,  lie  <livined 
the  purpose  to  be  to  };ive  the  matter  notoriety,  ]>ro\ oke  the  send- 
ing; of  a  hostile  niessaj;e,  j^et  arresteil,  and  come  out  of  the  affair 
with  a  name  for  bravery.  When  the  message  of  Gen.  Lane,  there- 
foie,  under  date  of  April,  l<Si)(;,  finally  came,  askinj;'  "for  stKih 
an  exi)Ianation  of  your  lanyuaj^e  as  will  remove  all  imputation 
upon  the  intejiiity  of  my  action  or  motives  in  connection  with 
that  memorial,"  Douylas  answered,  reiteratinj;  in  scathiiifr 
phrase,  all  the  facts  of  the  case  and  concluded — "My  rei)Iy  is 
that  tlu're  are  n()  facts  within  my  knowle«li;e  which  can  remove 
all  imputation  upon  the  intejirity  of  your  action  or  mctivs  in 
connection  with  that  memorial."*  After  that  there  were  no  fur- 
ther rumors  of  a  duel,  but  Gen.  Lane,  sixty  days  later,  i»i(blished 
an  abusive  card  in  the  Wasliiiifiton  papers,  which  injured  the 
author  more  than  tSenator  Douiilas. 


*  See  III,  State  Ui'Kis^er,  May  '    Ibuii. 


liMto 


Chaptek  L. 

1852-1  sr)(i— ORGANIZATION  OF  Tllli;  KEl'lJBLICAN PARTY 

The  Illinois  Wilniot  Prorino — DisNoliition  of  the  ^yhig  Vmiij — Ixe- 
penl  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  —  Intense  I'olitieal  Feelintj — 
Donjilas  denied  Free  Speech  in  Chie<(</o — Know  Xothinyism — Jktn- 
ocralic  and  IiepHblie<ni  Conventions  o/lSoG — Result  of  the  Cum- 
paiffn — Lineohi's  Plea  for  Harmony  at  the  Chicago  lianquet. 


After  the  Missouri  couiiJioinisc  of  ISi'O,  the  question  of  slavery, 
ever  an  aiij;r,v  one,  did  not  aj^ain  attain  national  prondnence  for 
sonietidM,^  like  ."JO  ycai's.  Tlic  cause  of  its  revival  j;iv\v  out  of  tlio 
annexation  of  Texas  and  tiie  acquisition  of  teriitoiy  from  ]\Icxieo. 
The  object  for  which  the  Ibrnier  was  sought  and  secured — involv- 
iuf^- a  war  with  Mexico:  the  avowed  jnupose  of  the  most  active 
friends  of  Ihe  movement,  the  annexation  of  Texas  hein.i^'  a  para- 
mount issue  of  tlie  national  caiiipaij>n  of  1.S44;  the  iutliK'nces 
whi(!h  prevailed  in  securing;'  the  administration  to  the  south  ;  and 
the  overt  aim  and  otliiMal  declarations  of  its  supporters,  althoujih 
foreiji'n  to  the  i)inpose  of  tiiis  work  to  either  trace  or  analyze,  all 
poiid  to  tlie  extension  of  sla\i'ry. 

Shivery  was  distastel'ul  f>enerally  to  the  north,  but  jtarticularly 
so  to  a  lai\i;e  ])ortion  of  the  whiy  i>arty  at  this  time.  It  was  more 
j>'eiu'rally  obnoxious  in  an  early  day  of  the  <;overnnu'nt  than  at  a 
later  [X'riod,  but  it  did  mit  become  a  (piestion  of  i)arty  fealty  until 
ettbrts  were  made  to  extend  its  area  ;  and  had  slaveiy  not  bect»me 
anf^ressive  for  territorial  ex]»ansion,  it  would  have  taken  a  long 
time  [uobably  for  the  antislavt'i\v  party  to  have  risen  above  the 
contemi)t  with  which  it  was  j;enerally  re>;arded  in  its  early  days. 

in  August,  l.S4(>,  pending  th<^  deliberations  of  congress  to  ap- 
propriate i2,()0(>,()()0  for  the  executive  to  prosecute  negotiations 
witli  Mexico,  looking  to  the  acqidsition  of  territoiy,  Mr.  Wilmot, 
of  Penn.,  nutved  the  (*elebiated  i)roviso  (almost  in  the  woi'ds  of 
the  Gth  article  of  the  ordimim;e  of  1787):  ''SlaverV,  or  involuntary 
servitude,  excej)t  as  a  punisliuK'nt  I'or  crime,  shall  be  forever  pro- 
hibited in  any  territory  which  may  be  acquired  from  Mexico." 
When  this  amendnn  nt  came  up  for  action  in  the  house  it  pre- 
vailed by  a  nuijority  of  (»,  the  only  names  from  non  slave-hohling 
States  recorded  against  't  being  from  Illinois,  viz  :  Messrs.  JJoug- 
las,  Fickliii,  Hoge  d  ivlcClernand — a  fair  counlerpait  to  the 
action  of  the  111"'  ■-  senators  on  the  adriission  of  Missouri  a 
quarter  of  a  cei.  .»  before.  'Mr.  J)o;<gIas,  subsequently,  in  the 
senat<'.  nn)ved  a  substitute  for  the  "  proviso,"'  i)rohibiting  shivery 
in  the  acquired  territory  north  of  3Gd.  oOm.,  which  was  lost. 

035 


R^tt 


630 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


!r 


II 


1^ 


To  show  tliiit  tlic  sciitiiiiciit  of  tin'  uorlli  was  averse^  1o  tlio  cx- 
tciisioii  of  bliivciy,  iiiid  that  tlic  iioi'llicrii  (h'liiociacv  was  not  ,vet 
wiioUy  ill  tlu'  ^lasj)  of  the  slave  luopajiaiidists,  tiie  lc';;isIatiiro 
(larjicly  (U'liKxuatic),  at  its  ri'j;iihir  wiiitci'  session  of  1(S4'.>,  passed 
Joint  icsohitioiis  instiiicliiif;'  our  scnatois  and  rcin'csciitativcs  in 
<'onj;r('ss  to  use  all  lioiiorahic  nicaiis  in  their  power  to  procure  the 
eiiaetmeiit  of  such  laws  for  the  j;o\erniiieiit  of  the  teiiitories  of  the 
I'.  S..  aecpiiicd  by  the  ticaty  of  peace  with  Mexico  as  should  con- 
tain llie  express  declaration  that  "there  shall  be  neither  slavery 
nor  iiivolnntary  servitude  in  said  territories  otherwise  than  in 
]mnisliinent  tor  criiiie  whereof  the  party  shall  have  been  duly  con- 
victed." The  "^Villnof  proviso"  had  lia<l  niucli  (tdiiini  east  upon  it 
by  this  time,  and  this  iiiodilicatioii  oi'  it  Ity  oniittinj^-  the  word  '-for- 
e\er"  would ai)ply  to  territorial  conditions  only,  leaving-  tStates  to 
be  formed  out  of  it  free  to  establish  or  excbide  shivery — a  vastly 
ditferent  thiiij;'!  The  discovery  <.:'tliis  ni(H'.  distinction,  inaetically 
without  a  ditference,  it  was  tlioujiht  by  no  means  recoj^iiized  the 
odious '' proviso,"  fast  becoming' a  i)aity  test.  A  poition  of  the 
Illinois  democracy  at  tlie  time  held  that  conjiress  had  no  constitu- 
tional ii<;ht  to  eitlier  establish,  proliibit,  or  in  anywise  interfere 
with  slavery  in  the  territories. 

The  proceedinjis  in  both  houses  incident  to  the  ])assa^('  of  these 
resolutions  of  instruction  were  exeitiii;^  and  protracted,  and  the 
(b'bates,  in  which  all  the  leadin<>'  members  shared,  exceed iiij^ly 
abh'  and  not  without  acrimony.  They  were  a(ht])ted  in  the  house 
by  .'is  to  34,  all  tlie  whijis  (LM)  and  14  democrats  voting-  for  them, 
•while  the  34  noes  were  all  democrats;  in  the  senate  the  vote  stood 
14  to  1 1,  all  the  whij;s  {',)  and  7  democrats  voting  aye,  the  11  noes 
l)ein<;all  democrats. 

There  was  soinecjuestion  at  the  time  as  to  whether  our  dele.-iates 
in  con<>ress  would  obey  these  instructions.  IN-ndinj;'  the  eoinpro- 
niise  measures  of  l.s.")(»,  a  mass  meetinjj,  in  Chiitajio  called  upon 
Senator  Douglas  to  obey  the  resolutions  in  their  spirit  as  well  as 
teehnieiil  letter,  or  resign.  Douglas  had  ever  oi)])osed  the  Wil- 
niof  provis(>.  Now,  having  written  the  eompiomise  bills  and  re- 
jiorted  them  from  the  committee  on  territories  witlumt  the  pro- 
viso, an  amendment  was  ottered  in  the  jirecise  language  of  the 
Illinois  instrn(;tions.  He  believed  in  the  right  of  instruction,  but 
rather  than  resign  his  seat  and  knowing  that  it  would  not  i»revail 
even  with  the  vote  of  Illinois,  he  denounced  it  in  severe  terms, 
and  then  in  obedience  to  instructions,  voted  for  it. 

At  the  session  of  the  legislature  in  l.S.~)l,  the  so-called  Illinois 
Wilmot  proviso  resolutions  were  lescinded.  It  was  further  re- 
solved to  sustain  the  executive  oi'  the  U.  S.  in  his  deterinination 
to  enforce  the  fugitive  slave  law ;  and  as  the  adjustment  measures 
l)assed  by  congiess,  coini»rising  the  admission  of  (.'alifornia,  the 
establishment  of  territoiial  governments  for  Utah  and  Is'ew  Mex- 
ico u])on  the  ])rinciple  of  non-intervention,  the  settlement  of  the 
Texan  boundary,  amendment  of  the  fugitive  slave  law  of  17J>3, 
and  abolition  of  the  slave  trade  in  the  District  of  ("oliimbia,  were 
eminently  calculated  to  remove  all  contritxcisy  and  restore  ]>eace, 
<piietiide  and  conlidence  between  the  two  sections  of  the  country, 
they  met  their  lieaity  concurrence.  Our  delegation  in  (;ongi('ss 
was  fill  tli«'r  instructed  to  resist  all  attempts  to  disturb  or  unsettle 
them.     The  resolutions  were  ad'Hited  in  the  house  by  u  vote  of 


THE  REPTTBLIOAN  PAKTY. 


037 


49  to  11,  and  ill  the  senate,  by  L'L'  t(t  1'.  The  deniocratie  press  eon- 
gi'atiilated  tlie  people  upon  tlie  removal  of  tliis  stijiiiia  Iroiii  tlio 
State,  wiiich  indicates  the  advance  I  lie  <picsti(»n  ol'  slavery  was 
iiiakinj;'  as  a  ]»arty  issue.  In  reseindiii<;  the  resolutions,  botli  dem- 
ocrats and  whi^s  laiji'ely  i)art i<'iitat('(l,  while  iait  tw<)  yearti  jaior 
every  whi^  in  i)otii  houses  iiad  voted  to  a(h)pt  them.  In  the  iiiean- 
time  the  a^iitations  incident  to  tlie  j;reat  adjustment  iiieasnres  of 
1S.")(>,  whicii  shook  the  I'liion  to  its  centre,  iiad  taUeii  jtlace  and 
been  i'laieriially  settled,  and  tiiis  action  of  the  lej^islatiire  was 
an  earnest  of  its  acceptance  in  <;(»od  faith,  and  a  hearty  accpiics- 
C'lice  in  the  national  comiiromise  ol  that  period  by  both  whij^saiid 
democrats. 

I'lider  this  fraternal  fcelinti'  the  national  election  of  IS.lL*  re- 
sulted in  favor  of  the  democratic  ]iai'ty  by  an  overwlielmiii';'  ma- 
jority. Tliis  was  hardly  exjx'cted.  They  had  casttlu'ir  represen- 
tative men  overboard  and  selected  ]Mr.  Pierce,  at  the  instance  of 
the  South  (A'ir.yiiiia  briii,iiinj:'  him  forward  in  convention)  on  ae- 
coniit  of  a\ailability,  v.hile  the  whi^^s  had  for  their  candidate  a 
soldier  chieftain  of  renown,  who  had  carried  our  tia^'  to  victory 
from  Canada  to  the  City  (»f  ^lexico,  in  the  person  of  (icii.  Scott. 
"While  many  whi>is  had  labored  with  ])atrioti(^  zeal  in  the  adoption 
of  the  adjustment  nieasiires  of  I.S.IO,  there  was  still  a  \('iy  larj;e 
aiiti  slavery  element  in  that  i)arty  throuj-hoiit  tln^  ]S'orth,  whicli 
j^ave  but  a  sullen  acipuesceiice  to  the  eomi»romise;  many  (»f  the 
leaders  spit  u]»oii  the  JJaltimore  platform.  JJesides,  in  the  election 
of  Taylor  ill  1848,  tlie  whij;s  had  swerved  from  i)rinciple  for  per- 
sonal considerations,  and  while  crowned  with  success,  forfeited 
the  contideiice  of  the  country.  With  the  oveiwhelminjidefcat  in 
1802,  and  the  northern  disatieetion  in  itsianks,  symptoms  of  dis- 
solution in  that  jirand  old  ])arty  were  now  evry where  manifest. 
It  was  ])rononneed  in  articiih  martin  by  its  leaders,  and  its  aban- 
donment daily  advocated. 

Ill  Illinois  the  democracy  were  in  such  a«eendeiicy  in  185L'  that 
"wlien  the  whi<;'  Static  convention  assemliled  to  juit  forth  a  ticket, 
it  was  candidly  stated  by  the  chairman  in  his  openinj;'  speech,  that 
they  had  nolioi)e  of  success,  but  it  was  hij^hly  important  to  make 
a  decent  show,  and  thus  encourage  and  uphold  their  friends 
abroad. 

After  the  accessiou  of  rrosi<leut  Pierce  democracy  was  not 
without  its  mutt<'rin}is  of  discontent.  In  the  election  the  A'an 
Buren  breach  of  1848  was  bridjicd  over,  it  seems  largely  by  the 
"  cohesive  junver  of  public idunder" in  ])rosi)ect,  but  disappointment 
in  the  division  of  the  loaves  and  fishes  now  caused  a  wide  and 
deejier  hostility  than  ever,  in  many  portions  of  the  country.  The 
troubles  of  a  country  emanate  from  uneasy  and  ambitious  politi- 
cians, its  safety  reposes  in  the  tranquil  masses.* 

Duriiifj  a  period  of  dead  calm  in  general  jiolitics,  the  op])ositiou 
for  tlie  October  contest  in  Ohio  in  18.')3,  sought  to  fuse  all  the  va- 
rious party  factions  and  unite  them  agaii^st  the  party  in  power, 
and  the  Keimblieaii  party  was  in  a  manner  forshadowed  by  their 
platform  of  principles:  opjjosition  to  the  fugitive  slave  law  and 
the  further  extension  of  slavery ;  freedom  of  the  public  lands; 
ecpial  taxation  and  the  suitjuession  of  int(!mperance.  This  was 
known  as  the  Giddings  ukase.    The  movement  met  with  defeat. 

*  Oentoti.  ~~ 


638 


HISTORY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


TIk!  \  iirioiis  i)iirt.v  ('l«'in('iit;i  released  by  the  dissoliitioii  of  the 
Avhi;L;-  piirly,  to.uethcr  willi  otlier  (lisailecte*!  elements,  were  at  this 
]>eri(»(l  (iril'tiii};  hitlier  and  tliitlier,  ready  and  eaiicr  to  eateh  or 
(•liii;4'  (()  tliis  rock  or  that  \ine,  to  erystalize  alioiit  any  stronj;'  ob- 
ject wliicli  oHered  tlieni  a  liojiel'id  opposition  t(»  tlie  pai'ty  in  jxtwer; 
bnt  lliey  were  as  yet  nnwillinj;  toendiraee  unadulterated  aboli- 
tionism. A  larf^e  porti(»n  of  the  whiffs  were  still  eonservalive  and 
disinclined  to  uive  in  their  adhesion  to  a  new  party.  I51ind  to  the 
l»lain  purposes  of  the  South,  they  icasoned  justly  that  to  base  a 
l)arty  on  i-ce graphical  boumhiries  in  one  section  of  the  country, 
raliu'r  than  upon  the  broa<l  constitution  for  the  whole,  Avas  to  jus- 
tify the  same  in  the  opposite  section,  in  utter  disrejiard  uot  only 
of  tlie  soh'mn  injunction  of  W'asiiinjiton's  farewell  addicss,  but 
revolutionary  in  sjiirit  and  result,  if  not  intent,  and  utt<'rly  sub- 
versive of  all  fiaternity  of  action  in  the  nation  at  larue.  IJepos- 
h\'fX  conlideiice  in  a  continuance  of  the  tianiiuility  alfor<led  by  the 
c(»nipromise  of  l.S,j(»,  they  saw  no  exi.u('ncy  which  jiistilied  the 
sacrilice  of  the  peace  and  harmony  L'."i,(i()(),()(l(>  of  i)coi»Ie  foi'  the 
ima^inaiv  beiielits  to  result  to  0,500,000  Africans  in  our  coun- 
try.* 

Some  tireat  (piestion  to  convulse  the  tranipnlity  of  the  eountry 
and  awaken  the  slumberinj;'  sentiments  of  tlie  masses  to  a  new 
conllict  of  jxilitical  opinion  was  thereibi'e  i-ecpiired  ;  and  to  erys- 
talize tlieii' lirst  lioiror  and  astoiiishnu'iit  into  a  new  jiai'ty  was 
the  duty  of  the  hour.  JCxpectants  did  not  have  to  wait  lonj;-.  At 
the  session  of  conf>ress  of  IS-'^'l-i.  the  re])eal  of  the  jMissonri  Com- 
l)romise,  l»y  the  oi'<;anization  of  Kansas  and  Nebiaska  into  teni- 
torial  ,ii<)veiiiments,  ])resented  an  ain|ile  held  for  the  arts  and  skill 
of  i)arly  discii)Iinaiians,  and  the  ojjportuidty  was  well  im])iove(l. 
The  Missouri  compromise,  since  ISL'O.  had  iidiibited  slavery  from 
that  vast  and  temjK'rate  rejiion  which  faced  the  turbulent  river 
of  that  name  for  ."iOO  nuh's  on  the  west,  and  extendinji'  south- 
Avar<l  to  the  line  of  .'{(id.  .'>0  ui.  All  this  ext<'iisive  aud  su]tj)osed 
fertile  leiritory  was  thus  opened  to  the  intioductiou  of  tlu'  bli^hb 
and  curse  of  slavery,  otheiwise  s(t  well  adapted  for  ndllions  of 
free  and  haj»py  honu's.  The  fact  was  rejiarded  as  an  unpaialleled 
outraj;*',  and  the  excitement  throujihout  the  north  was  extraordi- 
nary ;  nor  was  the  public,  mind  at  all  a])[>eased  by  the  fact  that  it 
Avas  tendered  the  south  by  iM)rthern  m<'n. 

Mr.  J)ouj>las,  as  chairman  of  theeomndttee  on  territories,  was 
the  auth(»r  of  tin'  Kansas-Nebraska  bill,  yet  the  superoj^atory 
amendnu'id  (according-  to  Ids  \  iew),  which,  in  express  ti'rms,  re- 
l)ealed  the  restriction  as  to  slavery,  was  ottered  by  Mr.  J)ixon,  of 
KentiKtky,  a  Avhij;.  ^\\:  Doufilas  ]iromj)t!y  acce]>te<l  it,  feeling 
that  he  couhl  not  consistently  do  otherwise,  I'or  his  ori;iinal  bill, 
(lrav<n  in  accordance  with  the  priiuiples  of  non-intervention,  re- 
cofiuized  in  the  comi»romise  measures  of  J<S."»0,  of  which  lu'  was 
the  real  aidhor,  rendered  the  inhibition  in  ett'ect  nuj^atory.  While 
such  was  the  case  with  rcj^ai'd  to  the  or}ianizati(Ui  of  Utah  and 
IS'ew  Mexico,  it  is  also  ti'Ue  that  lh«^  Missouri  restriction  was  not 
exi)resNly  rei)ealed;  n(»r  was  it  ever  intimated  duiin}^  the  pro- 
tracted discussions  in  c«»nyress.  in  1850,  that  such  would  be  the 
ettect. 


•  Hi'soluttons  of  Wliljf  Convention. 


•^        ,lfc 


THE  REPITnLIOAN  PARTY. 


G39 


The  iiioiisiirc  was  of  such  absoibiiiji  iiitoiost  lliiit  loii};' lu'lVtrc  it 
l)OC!im«' ii  hiw  llic  ix'Oplc  in  pulilit;  iiict'liii^s  •■•avc  ('.\])rc6>si(»ii  to 
tlu'ii'  iii(li<4iiati()ii  in  many  parts  of  the  couiitr.v.  Early  in  I*'t'hni- 
ary,  IS.")-!,  wlicn  it  was  apparent  tiiat  tlichiil  wonid  hcf-onic  a  law, 
a  larj^e  nii'ctin^  was  licid  in  ('liicaj;'),  to  place  the  ban,  as  was  said, 
upon  the  movements  of  Senator  J)on.i;las.  It  was  comprised  of 
citizens  of  all  i)arties,  bnt  more  larjicly  pai'ticipated  in  by  tbrmer 
jMomin.'nt  sn]»porteis  of  the  senator  tiian  others.  Siteeches  com- 
mend itory  of  his  course  were  nnide  by  U.  S.  IJiackwell,  8.  S.  JIay.s, 
E.  C.  Larned,  T.  L.  Dickey,  Mr.  ]\Iannieirc.  Mark  Skinner,  and 
otiiers.  Of  the  resolutions  adoi»ted  we  sul>join  the  Ibllowinj^': 
''That  the  passa<ie  of  the  [Nebraska]  bill  for  the  repeal  or  moles- 
tation of  the  IMissonri  comitromise.  will  destroy  the  harmony  which 
now  exists  between  the  noitii  and  the  sonth,  crt-ate  sectional  dis- 
turbances and  perpetual  agitation  of  (juestions  which  have  hereto- 
fore been  rejiarded  as  settled  by  the  unanimous  consent  of  tho 
nation."  Tlie  immediate  action  of  the  lej;islature,  then  in  extia- 
ordinary  session,  was  invited  to  tln^  subject,  and  instructions  de- 
maiuled  for  our  conji'ressional  delejiiition  to  votc.a;;ainst  the  bill.* 

1"li<' question  si)ei'dily  fjot  into  the  lcf;islature,  whi(!h  was  !ar<^(^]y 
demociatic,  and  Inirdly  )('(]uired  tlie  Chicago  invitation.  Two  sets 
of  resolutions  were  introduced,  one  known  as  the  (lillespie, 
(stroufily  condemniufi:  the  pur])osed  action  of  conjiress,  and  the 
other  by  I\Ir.  Omelveny,  a])provin;4'  thu  Xebiaska  bill  as  but  an- 
other a])i)licatiou  of  the  ])rincii»les  of  adjustment  of  ISoO.  After 
a  ;»rotracted  debate,  in  which  jNIcssrs.  Louan,  Siiy<I"r  and  Siu- 
jlleton  (wliiji)  took  a  leadinji'  i»art  in  advoca(\\,  the  Onu'lveny  res- 
olution j)assed  in  the  House  by  .'JO  to  22 — 3  whii;s  and  27  demo- 
crats foi',  and    11  democrats  and    11  whiys  votinj;' a<;ainst. 

'My.  1  louji'las  was  Ihe  cham]»ion  of  the  measure  in  congress. 
This  drew  upon  him  much  of  the  ))ublic  resentment.  The  excite- 
ment invaded  the  ])oitais  of  the  church.  Twenty  six  nnnisters 
of  the  .u()S]»cl  at  Chica.n()  addressed  him  a  letter  on  the  ini(pnty  of 
rejtealing'  the  Missouri  comi)iondse,  to  which  he  replied  in  adiid- 
rable  lempi'r,  objectinji  to  the  use  (»f  the  Sa1>bath  as  a  day  for  elec- 
lionccring',  or  converting'  thepul[)it  into  a  place  for  stump  speeches; 
''the  purity  of  the  christian  chuich  and  our  holy  religion,  and  the 
l)reservatioii  of  our  i'ree  institutions  require  that  church  and  state 
bi.  separate,  that  the  preacher  on  the  Sabbath  day  shall  find  his 
text  in  the  IJible;  shall  picach  Jesus  Christ  and  him  cruciHed  ; 
shall  jtreach  Irom  the  holy  sciiptures.  and  not  attenqtt  to  control 
the  i>olitical  organisations  and  political  parties  of  the  day." 

After  the  passage  of  the  measure,  the  indign.ttion  vented  by  an 
enraged  jtcople  (lid  mit  abate,  and  the  brunt  of  it  contiinu'd  to 
fall  upon  its  gifted  champion.  Illinois'  great  senator  was  de- 
nounced as  a  traitor  to  hi-  sectio?!  and  the  cause  of  human  lib- 
erty, fiom  New  England  to  ("alifornia;  the  press  of  tin;  north 
teemed  with  ibuse  and  censure;  he  was  burnt  in  elligy  along  his 
route  home,  and  in  the  chief  city  of  his  ovvn  State  deniecl  tho 
right  of  free  speech  iu  vindication  of  himself  by  a  tumultuous 
mob. 

Dnuplas  Doiied  Free  Spnvh  hi  Chicago. — Four  years  before, 
wlu'u  liu'city  (iouncjj  passed  resolutions  denouneinj^  the  coinpro- 


*Seo  HousoJour.  Feb.  SSi,  1864. 


040 


HISTORY  OF   ILLINOIS, 


misc  nioasiircs  as  a  violation  of  tlic  laws  of  (Jod  and  tlii'  con- 
stitution, cnjoiniiiji' tlic  citv  police  to  (lisfc^anl  tlic,  fu<;iti\c  slave 
law,  and  ail  jiood  citizens  i  disoliey  it,  Mr.  Donj^las,  in  a  speech 
of  jii'cat  force  and  conxincin-  eloipience,  attacked  this  action  witli 
such  elfect  as  to  rcvolulioni/e  the  scntinicnt  of  the  people,  and 
the  next  day  the  council  reconsidered  tin;  I'csolutions  by  IL'  to  1. 
His  |tower  in  vindication  of  himself  was  now  Justly  dreaded.  It 
■was  sou.i^ht  to  s(|uelch  him.  iJeforc  his  ariival  tlie  opi)osition  press 
cried  out  :  "We  have  i)retty  j{ood  reason  for  helievinji  that  Sena- 
tor I)on,!4las  will  arrive  in  the  city  to  day  or  to-morrow.  If  so, 
it  will  lie  seen  that  the  rene.i;ade  is  endeavoring;  to  sneak  iionu; 
(]ui«'tly,  and  avoid  tiie  odious  public  dcnninstration  whi<'h,  iu' must 
know,  awaits  him.  The  peojtle  arc  ready  for  him."*  And  alter 
his  arri\al  we  find  the  following;'  lan^inij;e  : 

"Had  Douglas  dared  to  come  to  Chicago  jsooii  after  the  passage  of  the 
Ncl>raska  infamy,  wlien  the  sting  of  tlie  wound  was  yet  rankling  fresh 
in  tlie  hearts  of  Ills  insulted  constituency,  and  when  tlieir  liiood  was  vet 
boiling  at  tlie  treachery  of  their  servant,  to  whom  tiiey  had  eiitrnsti'd  so 
luucii,  lie  would  have  lieen  met  witii  a  storm  of  indignation,  and  seorii, 
ami  retrlliutiou,  which  might  have  swept  him  from  the  eartli,  and  re- 
lieved the  world  of  the  disgrace  and  siillering  which  he  may  yet  entail 
upon  it.  *  *  Stephen  A.  Douglas  has  no  claims  upon  the  cour- 
tesy or  kindness  of  the  j)eople  of  Chicago,  l>ut  he  has  the  deepest  reasons 
to  fear  their  detestation,  tlieir  abhorence,  tln'ir  rebukes,  and  their  ven- 
geance. He  lias  betrayed  us  ;  be  has  disregradetl  us;  be  lius  iiiHulted 
us  ;  be  has  disgraced  us  ;  be  has  injured  us-  in  our  reputation,  our  fair 
fame,  our  lionor,  and  oiM' pecuniary  interest.  *  He  is  now  in  our 
midst.  If  lie  is  content  to  remain  in  the  oliseurity  into  wbicli  he  lias 
sunlv,  we  shall  not  pull  him  forth.  *  *  But  if,  in  bis  madnesH 
and  liis  folly,  be  attemjits  to  get  up  what  lie  calls  a  'viudicatiou'  of  liis 
crimes  *  it  will  not  be  our  fault  if  be  arouses  a  lion  wbicb  be  can- 
not tame.  Let  him  add  no  more  insults  to  those  wbicb  be  has  already 
heaped  upon  us.  There  is  a  poiut  beyond  wbicb  the  people  will  not  en- 
dure." 

"NVe  j>ive  these  extracts  to  show  the  hight  to  which  polit  ical  feel- 
ing was  aroused. 

Douglas,  however,  nothing  daunted,  caused  an  announcement 
to  be  made  that  he  woidd  address  the  peojile  in  vimlication  of  the 
Kansas  Nebraska  bill  on  Saturday  evening,  September  the  1st.  Jn 
the  meantime  rumors  were  rife  on  the  streets  regarding  theetforts 
nuiking  to  ])i'cvcnf  his  siu'aking,  and  others,  that  he  should  have  n 
lieariug  at  any  cost  ;  that  thousands  ol  (5-shooters  would  bcon  the 
ground  to  enforce  the  freedom  of  .speech.  Jlis  fiiend.s  opeidy  in- 
dulged in  the  taunting  remarks  that  his  oppcuu'nts  would  bi'  si- 
lenced and  *'made  to  «'rouch  at  his  feet  like  whijiped  curs,''  .md  the 
like.  On  the  afteiiioon  luecediiig  the  speaking,  one  of  the  ojiiio- 
sition  lU'Wspapers  issued  an  intlanimatory  haiKl-ldll,  as.serting  that 
an  "Irish  body  guaid"  had  been  oiganizcd  to  prevent  Americans 
participating  in  the  meeting.  Kuowuothiugism  was  beginning  to 
make  a  show  in  the  land,  A  threatening  letter  was  sent  to  Dong- 
las  from  the  secretary  of  an  organization  formed  since  his  arrival, 
which  recjinrcd  him  to  leave  the  city  or  remain  silent;  '-if  he  dis- 
regarded the  notice  the  organi/ution  was  jiledged,  at  the  sacriliee 
of  life,  to  prevent  his  being  heard."  Shortly  after  noon  the  dag.s 
of  all  the  shipjiing  were  displayed  at  half-mast ;  and  at  a  quarter 
jiast  0  p.  m,  the  city  bells  began   to  toll,  and  continued  to  till  the 

•Tilbuuo,  Aug.  l»o4 


THE  KEPUULICAN  TAllTY. 


r.41 


nir  with  their  nioiirnfiil  tones  lor  over  an  liour.     The  Kubject  was 
soiij;iit  to  1>(^  impressed  witii  an  air  (>finonl*niny. 

At  the  ajutointed  hour  of  ineetinj;'  in  llie  eveninjy  tlie  vast  spaeo 
in  front  of  llie  Nortli  -Market  Hall  was  thronji'ed  with  men.  Crowds 
of  \  isitors  from  a  distance,  some  as  far  as  J)etroit  and  8t.  Louis, 
had  arrived  by  every  train,  desin)ns  to  hear  liim. 

On  tiie  ai»|>earanee  of  the  senator  on  the  open  bah-oiiy,  wlien, 
after  a  suitable  allusion  to  the  excitement  of  the  occasion,  he  at- 
tempted to  launch  out  into  the  subje(;t  of  liis  addiess,  lie  was  at 
once  ureetcd  with  hisses  and  <;roans  followed  by  a  wild  tnmidt  of 
shout injj^  and  outrageous  noise.  He  folded  his  arms  across  his 
bi'cast,  and  with  a  silent  determination  (;abnly  surveyed  the  anj;iy, 
,seethiu<;'  multitude  around  and  beneath  him.  Anon,  upon  the 
cessation  of  the  din,  lu^  stretched  forth  his  hand  to  resnnu'  his 
speech,  oidy  to  have  his  voice  drowiu'd  by  a  redoubled  uproar, 
and  there,  fearlessly  above  that  suryinj;'  and  maddened  mass  of 
men,  stood  the  "  Little  (riant"  for  four  hours,  essayinjLf  tinu'  and 
ajiain  to  s])eak  only  to  be  overpowered  by  the  hootinj'-  and  demo- 
niac! yells  of  the  infuriate  multitude  of  ten  thousaiul.  The  most 
oppr(»brious  epithets  were  hurled  at  liim,  and  the;  most  insulting 
words  were  shouted  and  bandied  back  and  forth  by  the  crowd.  Jp 
vain  did  well  known  gentlemen  circulate  among  the  throng  ami 
counsel  order — but  there  was  uo  order.  It  was  an  intolerable  out- 
rage ottered  to  a  distinguished  citizen  and  a  man  of  towering  in- 
tellect. No  violence  or  collision  oc(!uned,  however,  as  had  been 
feared.  It  was  said  that  Douglas'  nuxnner  teiuled  to  a<1d  to  the 
flame  of  passion  alrea<ly  high.  Inspired  by  a  conscious  feeling  of 
excelling  power,  lie  appeared  rather  as  a  master  tliaii  a  servant 
of  the  people.  This  iieculiarity  has  frequently  been  observed  of 
liim — doulttless  it  was  highteued  at  this  time.  An  o])position  pa- 
l»er,  describing  the  scene,  says  of  him  :  "Dictator  Hashed  from  out 
liis  eye,  curled  upon  his  lij),  and  mingled  its  cold  irony  iu  every 
tone  of  his  voice  au<l  every  gesture  of  his  body.  At  this,  as  in 
water  fa(!e  answereth  to  lace,  so  the  heart  of  man  to  man."  Many 
of  the  op])Ositiou  felt  deeply  mortitied  that  Mr.  Douglas  had  not 
been  [)ennitte(l  to  speak. 

Prominent  among  the  early  mass  meetings  in  Illinois,  irrespec- 
tive of  party,  but  in  which  leading  democrats  acted  a  controlling 
part  for  tlie  purpose  of  sinking  all  previous  party  predelictions, 
and  pledging  themselves  to  unite  in  the  organization  of  a  new 
party  to  make  common  cause  against  the  extension  of  slavery, 
either  by  the  abrogation  of  tlie  Missouri  compromise  or  the  annex- 
ation of  more  territory  for  the  use  of  slavery  (the  acquisition  of 
Cuba  then  being  in  the  public  eye),  was  held  at  Freeport  in  the 
spring  of  1854.  Many  other  meetings  of  a  similar  character,  all 
sliowing  how  earnestly  the  people  took  this  matter  to  heart,  were 
held  during  the  summer  of  1854,  mostly  in  the  northern  portion 
of  the  State.  We  subjoin  a  summary  of  one  held  in  Kane  county 
August  19, 1854: 

"We,  tlie  people  of  Kane  county.  In  mass  convention  assembled,  irre- 
spective of  party,  In  view  of  tlie  loug-contiuued  encroachment8  of  tlie 
slave  power,  culminating  at  last  in  the  repeal  of  the  law  of  freedom  iu  all 
the  hitherto  unorganized  territoriesof  the  ITiiion,  will  co-operate  with  the 
frieuds  of  freedom  throughout  the  State  in  au  effort  to  bring  the  govorn- 
lueutback  to  just  principles ;  to  restore  Kansas  and  Nelu-aska  to  the  po- 
41 


642 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Ritioii  of  free  territories  ;  to  repeal  the  fugitive  sliive  law  ;  to  restrictHliiv- 
ery  to  the  StateH  in  whivii  it  exists;  to  piohiliit  (he  adiuissioii  of  any 
more  slave  Slates  into  the  I'liioii  ;  lo  exclude  slavery  iVoiii  ail  Ih'.'  terri- 
tories over  which  the  Keneral  ^{oveniineiit  lias  t'xchisivi'JurisiJiclioM  ;  re- 
eist  the  ac(Hiireiiieiit  of  any  new  slave  terrilory,  anil'  the  repeal  of  the  iu- 
hiiniuii  and  ImrUiroiiH  hluek  lawH  of  this  State." 

These  were  tlic  sentitnciits  of  tlie  |)eoph>  to  a  larju'e  exfeiit. 

Tlie  Tiizeweli  Minor  (wliiji)  proixjsed  a  "Slate  ,coiiveiiliou  of 
all  parties  and  divisions  of  parlies  oi)posed  to  tiie  repeal  of  llu; 
IMissuiiri  eoininoinise,  to  he  held  at  sonic  coiixcnient  place  in  tlu^ 
t>tate  early  cnoiijih  in  i»oiiil  of  time  lo  make  arranjicini'iils  for  the 
fail  elections  of  l.sr»4.'"  IJiit  this  proposition  did  not  iiu'ct  with 
general  favor,  ^^■|lile  llie  old  whijis  in  Illinois  stood  aliiHtst  as  a, 
unit  in  op])ositi<)n  to  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  eoinproniise,  tiiey 
were  yet  unwillinj;'  at  that  tiini'  to  lose  their  identity  to  aeconiplisli 
one  sinjile  ohjcct  which  it  was  supposed  would  [)rove  transitory, 
and  it  was  apprehended  that  when  the  Nebraska  matter  was  dis- 
posed of  the  disafVected  democrats  woidd  do  as  thc_\  had  done  iu 
the  elei!tion  of  rierce  in  IS.")!,*,  after  support inj;'  Xixu  IJiircn  in  ISIS. 
The  wliiys  arj;iie(l  that  as  their  antajiionisni  to  the  Nebraska  swin- 
dle was  well  known,  all  that  the  <lisallcctcd  democrats  ami  frce- 
soilers  had  to  do  was  to  join  them,  ami  unitedly  place  the  seal  of 
condemnation  upon  it. 

In  the  north  part  of  the  State,  liowevcr,  in  every  eonfiicssional 
district,  and  also  that  of  Madison  in  the  south,  anti  Nebiaska  or 
fusion  caiulidate.s  were  broujiht  out,  anti  Nebraska  i»lalform.s 
adoi)te(l  (a  notable  oiu' at  lUoomin^lon),  and  the  whij;s  may  be 
said  to  have  been  fully  merfi'cd  with  all  the  oiiposition  elements. 
l>ut  in  the  central  or  cai»ita!  district  it  was  otherwise;  there,  while 
the  whiji's  had  a  larj^e  majurily,  and  Air.  Yati's,  their  idol,  had 
taken  extreme  pound  ujion  the  (piestion  in  eon}jress,  they  yet 
dared  not  adopt  an  anti-Nebraska  platform  for  fear  an  abolition 
plank  would  drive  off  the  mitional  whij^s;.  and  if  the  whi};s  shonhl 
adopt  a  natioiml  platfonn  the  free-soilers  ami  abolitionists  would 
be  (Iriveu  off.     The  wliij's  there  incrlined  nH)re  to  know-m)tliinjiisin. 

On  Tuesday,  October  3d,  1854,  however,  a  small  anti-Ne- 
braska or  fusion  State  convention,  which  assumed  the  name  of 
Ivepublican.  nu  t  at  S]»rin;.;fcld.  It  was  alteiided  by  some  I'd  dele- 
gates, and  ehielly  ii;aiia.L;cd  by  icadini;-  and  cNcr  ardent  abolition- 
ists— Mr.  J.ovcjoy,  of  lliireau,  Ichabnd  Codding  (the  Tom  Coiwin 
of  Illinois),  of  Cook,  Krastus  Wright,  of  Sangamon,  &e.  The  con- 
vention was  held  at  arms  length  by  the  great  body  of  anti-Ne- 
braska democrats  and  whigs,  both  on  account  of  iiisignifieance  iu 
point  of  numbers  and  the  ixditieal  status  of  its  fuglemen.  It 
has  never  been  generally  acknowled  as  the  first  Stale  republican 
convention.  There  was,  besides,  but  one  State  officer  to  eh'(!t,  the 
treasurer.  It  conelude<l  its  labors  on  the  5th  by  )iominating  J. 
E.  M'Cluu  of  M'Lean,  for  that  ollice.  The  lion.  John  Moore,  the 
old  incumbent,  was  the  democratic  candidate.  McChin's  name 
vas  in  a  few  (lays  after  withdrawn,  and  that  of  James  Miller,  a 
whig  of  the  same  county,  substituted.  A  platlbrm  of  principles 
was  adopted,  as  follows: 

Wherean,  Tlio  present  congress  by  a  majority  of  the  members  elected  to  the  house, 
has  (lellberiitoly  and  wantonly  re-opencd  the  f  ontroversy  respectInK  the  extension  or 
slavery  undor  our  national  jurisdiction,  which  a  majority  of  the  people  had  uuder- 
Mtood  to  be  closed  forever  by  the  Bucceseive  compromises  of  1820  and  1850 ;  and 


m 


THE  15KPUTJLICAN   PAKTT. 


013 


ir/i^TCrtn.  This  oonifrcRH,  iililoil  iind  iiiipolluil  by  tlit'  li'ilcral  executive',  tins  hy  Ww  act 
curri'iillv  kiiDwn  us  llic  NcliniHUii  hill,  dcslKncilly  siilivcrlcil  mt  miii'li  ol  the  (•(piii|iiH't 
ciiniiiiDiily  tiiiiu'il  t  111' MIssoiiil  <'cimi>i'(iiiiis(',  us  cxrliidi'il  sliiviiv  I  i.iji  l,liMt  vi'sl  ic- 
)fliiii  111  (iiir  I'Diitini'iil  sti'i'ti'liiiiK  t'l-iiiii  till'  Mississippi  III  tlir  Kiii'kv  .NiihiiiIiiIms,  anil 
rriiiii  till!  iiiinilU'l  (iI'MIl  il.  :«)  III.  to  lliL- iiiirtlici'ii  hoiiiiilaiy  lit  nur  I'liloii,  tlii' Stutc  tif 
Missouri  uloiic  exti'ptt'il ;  thiTcfort'. 

/iVfiii/iif'<y, 'I'liai  tlii'Sliiti-  (it  Illliiiils  iilllniis  and  uialiitaliis  the  I'liilit  mill  tlicdiityof 
the  ^I'licnil  uii\  I'l'iiiiK'iit  to  pi'oliiliil  ami  pni'liidi'  tlii'  I'Mi'iisioii,  cslalillsliiiiciit  or  prr- 
pctimtlon  (d  liuiiiiiii  slavery  in  any  mid  every  terriloi  j  id  the  I'  S.  and  In  any  terri- 
tory, possession  and  country  over  wliieli  tlilseoiintry  now  lias  or  may  lienalter  aeiniiro 
I'Xeiiislve  .jiirisdiel  ion. 

Iii!<iiUril,  That  the  doetrliie  aillrined  liy  the  Ncdiniskii  bill,  and  ndiled  over  by  Its  ad- 
vocates with  the  spetHoiis  phrases  (d  noii-iiitei\enlioii  mid  popiiiar  soveielirnly,  ia 
rciiiiy  and  clearly  a  eoiiipiete  surrender  ol  all  the  ^iromiil  liltherio  asserted  and  nialn- 
tiilui'd  by  the  tederal  u''o\  eminent,  with  respect  lo  I  he  liiiiitat  Imi  ol  sla  \ery,  Is  a  plain 
coule.-'sioii  ol  the  rljflit  ol  the  slave  holder  to  transler  his  hiiiiian  iliiilteis  to  any  part 
ol  the  piiliiK' iloinain,  and  there  hold  tlieiii  as  slines  as  loiur  as  incliiial  ion  or  interest 
may  dielate  ;  that  this  is  an  attempt  totally  li>  rev  rse  the  doetiiii  liil  liei  lo  iiiiHorinly 
held  by  stntesiiieii  and  .|uiist-,  that  slavery  Is  the  creature  ol  local  and  State  law,  ami 
to  make  It  a  national  Instiiiilion. 

lirxiilviil,  That  as  rreedoiu  is  national  mid  slavery  seetlniial  mid  local,  the  absence  of 
1)11  law  upon  the  subject  ol'  slavery  prcsiiincs  the  existence  of  a  slate  of  freedom  uloiio, 
while  sUiviTv  "xlstedoidy  by  virtue  <d  positne  law. 

U(siilr<il,  That  slavery  can  exist  In  a  tiiritoiy  only  by  nsiirpiitlon  and  In  violation  of 
law,  and  we  believe  that  conurcss  has  tin'  rivlit  mid  should  prohibit  Its  extension  Into 
such  territory,  so  loiitf  as  It  remains  under  the  iruanUanship  of  the  >ieiicral  (Jovern- 
meiit. 

lirsiilriil,  That  we  willlntfly  concede  to  neiirl\b(iilii»r  States  all  theicKiil  lights  on  our 
soil  Ineliided  in  the  sa<'rcd  compact  of  the  I'onsi  it  lit  ion,  but  we  rcuaid  the  trial  b\  .iiiry 
and  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  as  safeguards  of  personal  liberty  so  necessary  tiial  no 
interests  of  any  cltl/.cu  of  our  own  State  ever  arc  or  can  be  perniitlcd  to  siisiieiid  tlicni; 
and  therefore  no  eiti/.cn  of  other  States  can  lalrl,v  ask  iis  to  consent  to  their  iibrofia- 
tion. 

llfHdlrcd,  That  wo  recoK'iiizo  no  antagonism  of  national  Intrrestsbef  ween  us  and  the 
citizens  of  soiitfiern  States,  iku'  do  we  entertain  any  fecMii>;9  of  hostility  toward  them, 
but  wo  recofrni/.c  them  as  kindred  and  brethren  id'thc  same  national  family,  liav;ii^u 
common  oriurin,  and  we  hope  a  c(aiini(in  and  glorious  dcstin.v. 

/tesiid'cd,  That  in  that  fraternal  spirit  we  call  upon  Iheiii  to  aid  us  in  rostorinir  the 
action  of  government  to  its  primitive  iisatic.  under  which  we  have  so  loii>r  cn.joyed 
prosperity  and  peace,  as  the  only  «:iiarant''e  of  futiii'o  liarmony,  and  a  certain,  if  not 
the  only,  means  of  perpi'tiiation  id  the  rnion. 

Uisiilrrd.  That  the  rixciiiiiil  harbor  lmpro\  cnicnts.  when  necessary  to  the  safely  and 
J'onvenltnce  of  commerce  with  foreivrn  nations,  or  amonn  tlu"  several  States,  are  ob- 
jects of  national  concern,  an<l  it  is  the  duty  of  coiifrress.  in  the  exercise  of  itsoonstitu- 
tional  power, to  pniviile  for  tlie  same, 

JlisiilrnI,  That  we  heart il.v  approve  the  course  of  the  freemen  of  ronnecticiit.  Ver- 
mont, Iowa,  Ohio,  Indiana.  New  York,  Wisconsin,  Michifiiin  mil  Maine,  post  polling- or 
disrenardlny  their  iiiinor  diirerences  of  opinion  or  pr<  feretices,  and  actiiii;- toiretlier 
cordially  and  triistinirly  in  the  same  i  aiise  of  Ircedom.  of  frei-  lalinr  and  free  soil,  and 
we  commend  their  spirit  to  the  freemen  of  this  and  other  States,  exhorting  each  to  re- 
nounce Iii8  jiarty  whenevoranU  wherever  that  party  proves  unfaithful  to  humup  free- 
dom 

Tlu'  tVdlowiiiji'  State  otMitral  ('(tiniiiittct!  was  (Icsionatctl ;  Jud^e 
David  J.  liaktT  of  IMadiscui,  ]\Iaj.  V.  I),  ("oy  of  Knox,  ]S\  (J. 
(Jocr  of  Lake,  A.  (1.  Tliioop,  of  (look,  Edwin  S.  Lelaiid  of  La- 
Salle,  M.  L.  Diiiilap  of  Cook,  lion.  A,  Idiicolii  of  Saiigainon, 
1],  M.  Sheets  of  Stevenson,  /.  l']astiii:iii,  ol' ("ook,  .1.  F.  Faiii.s- 
vMdlli  of  Cook,  J.  I>.  Faiiliank.s  of  Morgan.  leiiabod  Codtliiiu of 

(    i(ic.|0(».* 

\V'('  eannot  forbear  to  relalc  an  cpi.sodc  \\lii(  ii  occurred  during' 
(l:e  .sittin<>-of  tiie  eoiivention,  wliicii,  by  its  brilliaii(!y,  tloiibtiess 
aided  to  east  that  body  in  the  shade.  On  the  4th  tlay  of  Oeto- 
ber  a  mass  meeting,  b,N  previous  ai>pointineiit,  was  held  atSpring- 
lield,  at  whitili  Mr,  Doujiias,  Gen.  Singleton  and  Major  Jlarris 
(running  for  congress  agiinst  Yates,)  were  to  speak.  A  large  as- 
semblage of  people  liatl  gathered  from  far  and  near,  in  eonse- 
tpieiiee.  Jt  was  also  the  occasion  of  the  first  State  fair  at  Spring- 
Held,  wliicli  had  drawn  a  lai'ge  attendance  from  all  over  the  State, 
ami  was  a  great  success.  It  had  been  rumored  that  Judges  Ureese 
and  Trumbull,  anti-Nebraska  democrats,  both  looking  to  Shields' 
]»laee  in  the  United  States  senate,  would  be  juesent  to  answer 
Douglas.  ]\rr.  Lincoln,  too,  l(K»king  forward  to  tliat  exalted  posi- 
tion, had  carefully  i»repared  for  the  occasioji,  and  the  two  former 

•  See  Chicago  Tribune,  Oct.  7, 1854. 


(»U  lIlSTOltY   Ol'    ILLINOIS. 


i'iiiliii;;  to  ii|i|)Ciir  iit  till' ap|i*>iiitc(l  time,  liit  divided  t)i(Miiii(^  iiiid 
discussed  t  lie  mII  ;il»s()ri)iii;;  ((iiestioii  of  tiie  diiy  with  Mr.  Dou^iiiis. 
Tliib  was  tlie  llrst  oeensioii  tliiit.  tiirse  i;i'eat  rival  eliaiii|)i()ii.s,  wlio 
lia\e  <)eeu|)ied  so  lai';i(>  a  sliai'o  of  pnl)li<;  attention,  and  wlio.su 
just  lame  lias  sunk  deep  into  tlie  |ialriotie  heart  of  the  nation, 
measured  their  sti'en};tli  in  dehate;  and  the  intelleetnal  etl'ort.s  of 
liotii,  eanvin^'  the  assembled  mnltitiide  alternately  by  storm,  arc 
sp(dceii  of  in  the  lii,i;hest  of  terms  1)V  their  lesix-etive  friends. 
The  iiieeliii;;,  on  aeeoiint  of  the  weather  was  held  in  tln'  hall  of 
represeiil;iti\es. 

.Mr.  IjiicoIii  sjioke  first,  oeeiipyiiiji'  two  hours.  lie  (whi;j) 
elainuMl  to  be  national  in  his  views;  was  opposed  to  disturbin;; 
slaveiy  where  il  existed  in  the  States;  would  sustain  an  ellieient 
slave  law,  beeaiue  of  the  eiear  ^rant  of  power  in  the  eonstilutiou 
lor  the  re(!OVery  of  fu;;itives  from  labor;  believed  that  eonj;r«>ss 
had  the  power,  and  should  exercise  it,  to  prohibit  slavery  in  the 
territories,  citiiij;  the  ordinance  of  17M7.  He  also  took  the  broad 
^r(uiud  derived  from  the  d<'elaration  of  independence,  that  the 
white  man  bad  no  rif;ht  to  iniposi  laws  upon  the  blacks  for  their 
ji'o\ criimeiit  without  their  consent ;  and  concluded  with  a  vi^^orous 
attack  iijion  Douglas  personally,  takiii]H'  as  his  text  the  eelebratt'd 
ajiostropho  of  that  jicntlemau  in  lSi!»,  that  the  Missouri  compro- 
iiiise  was  caiioiii/ed  in  the  lu'urts  of  the  American  people,  wliieli 
no  ruthless  hand  would  dare  to  be  reckless  eiioiijili  to  disturb.  lie 
sjioke  with  singular  power,  and  beinj;  deeply  moved  himself,  car- 
ried his  audience  with  him  step  by  sti'j)  in  wra]»t  attention  to  his 
el(Mpience,  until  his  ar<;nnient  broke  like  a  sun  over  tlieii'  uuder- 
sfandiii};-.  *^lr.  Lincoln's  speech  was  heartily  endorseil  by  the 
convciitiou. 

JMr.  l)ou,iilas,  in  answer,  sliowed  that  the  priucijili' of  lej;islatiou 
ill  the  adjustment  measures  of  bSoO,  sniiported  by  patriot  whij;s 
and  deiiiociats  aliki!  as  a  linality,  was  precisely  the  same  as  that 
embodied  in  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill,  and  that  the  insertion  of 
tlie  words  declariiiji  the  ^Missouri  line  iii(»]terative  and  void  by  a 
southern  whi^',  was  nieie  surplussajne,  and  did  not  chanjic  the 
Ir^^al  elFect  at  all ;  that  aside  from  those  words  the  act  was  the 
same  in  its  ;;jraiit  of  lejiislative  jiowers  as  tliat  of  Utah  and  New 
JNIexico,  which  had  met  the  apjirobation  of  all  jiarties  e.\eei»t  ultra 
abolitionists.  The  ar};uiiient  of  his  adversary,  his  friends  (tiaimed, 
was  met,  ])oint  by  jtoiiit,  repellinj;  his  assaults  and  exi»osiii^'  his 
sojtliistry  in  a  scathinf^and  triuini»hant  manner,  as  only  the  Ijittle 
(iiaiit,  with'liis  ready  powers  of  debate,  of  all  men  in  Ameriea 
e(nild  have  done,  <'arryin{>'  eonviistion  home  to  the  minds  of  his 
liearers  until  their  ])ent  u])  enlhusiasm,  knowing- no  bounds,  burst 
forth  in  ringing-  apjilause   rom  a  thousand  throats. 

Tlie  closing  hours  of  the  (^invention  were  also  graced  by  the 
presence  of  Alessrs.  IJreese  and  Trumbull,  who  had  been  heralded 
to  answer  Douglas,  but  failed  to  arrive  until  the  day  after  the 
great  debate.  The  hour  of  their  speaking  was  .leferred  till  4  p. 
ill.  for  the  eonveiition  to  close  its  labor,  when  Mr.  JJreese  made 
the  oiiening- spe<>ch  of  about  an  liour's  duration,  in  which  he  de- 
nounced the  rejieal  of  the  Missouri  compromise,  declaring:  he 
would  have  sulfered  liis  ri:j:lit  ar  n  to  be  cut  ott'  rather  than  have 


•See III.  Jour.  Oct.  1   1854. 


TUK  UKiniJLlCAN    PART  if. 


(515 


voted  for  tliat  iinMisjire,  liiid  lio  bccu!  in  tlio  soiuitc*  In  tlic  iiIiscih'O 
of  |)on;;liis,  .lolin  Caliionn  (of  sii))s«M|ii('iit  |j('i-oiii|)t(in  conslilu- 
lioii  notoriety,)  to(tk  tlu' piivilcyr  to  reply,  siiyin;;-  lliiit  willi  re- 
mind to  tlii^  peisoniil  diMlikc  to  Mr.  I>oii;;la.s  wliieli  appeiireil  to 
iiMiiii:it<^  .lii(l;;e  iSreese,  lie  IimiI  nothing  to<lo;  and  tlieii  proceeded 
to  sliuw  that  tlie  eonijironii.se  of  IS."»((.sii|»ris(Ml('d  the  Missouri  e<»ni- 
jiroinise,  hy  establishing,'  the  i»rin(di»le  of  non  inteix cntion,  to 
which  luttli  nati«)nal  whi^s  and  democrats  uere  eoinniitted ;  ha 
tainite<i  the  speakers  with  not  meeting  Doii^dasat  hisapoiiitiiieiit, 
but  waiting  until  the  eneinv  innl  departed,  and  then,  I'aithiau  like, 
<lischiir<;inji;'  theii'  jioisoned  iviiows  after  him.  Calhoun  had  few 
eipiiils  in  point  of  ability,  but  he  lacked  <'nerj,'y  and  was  theslav«i 
4il'  tlie  eu]».  In  tlit^  eveiiiuj;' a  \ery  larye  aiulience  assembled  in 
respnscnlativ<'s'  iiall  to  hear  the  very  able  aif^iiiuent  of  .Iiid<j;e 
'i'riimbull,  and  doui)tless  also  to  heai'tiie  self  ai)pointed  and  iniin- 
italde  ( 'UUioMii  in  reply,  Trnmbiill  luade  tin'  '"one  (pu'stion  of 
tliH  r<'peal  of  the,  Missouri  comproiinse  the  text,"  scouting'  the  idea 
that  he  was  ever  either  a  wlii;;  or  abolition!' t."t  Met 'Icruaud's 
jtosition  was  the  same.  Indeed,  those  who  had  atliliated  with  tin; 
democratic  ]»arty  rebelled  ostensibly  only  a<;aiMst  Nebraskaisia 
bein<;'  nnule  a  ])aity  test  or  tenet,  l»eeause  it  re\  i\<'tl  slavery  aj;itii- 
tion  ;  ami  they  studiously  masked  all  app<'aiances  of,  and  (lis- 
<'iaiiiu'<l  all  sympathy  with,  anti-sla\ery  sentinu'uts  in  the  sense 
«)f  ultolitionism. 

Tlitj  weeks'  discussion  at  S])rinji:tield.  as  it  uas  called,  did  not 
Jesuit  in  i'stablishinj;'  a  nnity  of  ]M)sition,  or  cause  a  full  espousal 
of  a  iimv  party  oij^anization  by  all  the  o]>position  ;  the  convc^ntion 
was  not  openly  subscribed  to,  an<l  the  whij;'  picss  feai'cd  t(»  ap- 
l»rove  or  notice  it  ;  but  in  all  the  tiimnnnj;'  of  the  i»eiiod  there 
was  entire  unanimity  in  thorough  oppo.sitiou  to  the  repeal  of  the 
jMissouri  eompronuse. 

The  iiicipieut  r<'j)ubli(^an  party  of  Illinois  nmde  a  vigorous  and 
spirited  <'am)taiyn.  Messrs.  Chase  and  (liddin^s,  of  Ohio,  lent  it 
their  ai<l,  and  spoke  words  of  cheer  and  em^ourajienu'nt  to  the 
new  and  untried  part,>  m  nniny  counties  of  our  State;  the  result 
uas  the  development  of  a  stn'ii^th  in  the  election  astounding-  to 
the  <leniocrac\,  gratifying  to  themselves,  and  uiu'xpeeted  to  all. 
They  emerged  from  their  first  i)olitical  eonliict,  in  l.sr)4,  in  a  num- 
ner  triumphant.  The  oidy  State  otiicer  to  elect  was  the  treasurer, 
and  the  tried  ami  ineoiru|)tible  veteran  ini'undx'nt,  honest  ,Iohu 
]\Ioore,  it  is  true,  was  re-elected,  but  wlnit  was  far  unnv  imi>ortant 
in  a  political  ])oint  of  view,  five  <mt  of  the  nine  j'ongressmen  were 
republican,  viz :  Washburne,  Woodward,  Knox,  ^'orton  and 
'i'rundudl,  Yates,  ])ersonally  popidar,  but  forsaken  by  the  pro- 
slavery  wliigs,  was  lost.  The  straight  Nebraska  deino(!raey  were 
in  a  nniiority  in  the  general  assenddy,  lost  the  organization  of 
both  houses  and  the  election  of  a  United  States  senator.  Thus 
closed  the  first  contest  in  lllinoii-.  between  the  incijiient  party  of 
freedom,  though  sectional,  and  the  old  democratic  party,  winch, 
to  hold  in  its  grasp  a  united  south,  was  leaning  too  much  to 
slavery.  In  Illinois  the  scepter  of  power  had  departed  from  the 
hands  of  the  deniocraey. 


♦S.e  III.  Kotf.  Oct.  IS,  IR-4. 

tSce  )iiB  Letter  Oct.  U,  1854,  in  111.  Kegister. 


«> 

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HISTOllY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


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'M\ 


THE  KNOW-NOTHING,   OB  A3IERI0AN,   PARTY. 

The  (Mirious  stu(l(>ut  who  will  take  tin;  trouble,  may  easily  trace 
soiiu'tliinj;  of  a  coiiiicction  from  the  old  federal  party  down  totiio 
kiio\v-iiothiii{;i.siii  of  half  aeeiitiiry  later.  The  former  eidmiiiated  un- 
der the  elder  Adain.s  in  disaster  and  dis<;raee,  by  theemu'tment  of 
the  alien  and  sedition  laus  and  itsfinal  overthrow  in  the  election  of 
]Mr.  rietferson.  Fiom  that  time,  however,  uativist  orj^anizat ions 
existed  juore  or  less  in  the  larger  cities  of  the  Union,  where  tlu'ir 
contests  wei'c  mostly  personal  and  local,  meeting  with  varying 
success  and  faihire.  Later,  in  State  and  national  elections  tliey 
mo.stly  co-operated  with  the  whig  party,  and  occasionally  sought 
to  commit  it  to  their  narrow  doctiines.  ITpon  the  dissolntion  of  the 
Avhig  party  this  elcnu'nt  devised  a  uew  secret  organization  more 
snittle  in  its  o[)erations,  and  by  its  mysterious  ways  enticing  the 
yonng  and  unwary  (for  the  hunuiu  mind  loves  a  mystery)  with 
ininciples  prescriptive  of  foreigiu'rs  and  intolerant  of  catholics. 

The  dark  ceremonies  of  The  order,  <;onducted  with  mysterious 
secresy,  were  peculiarly  impressive.  In  admissions  to  member- 
ship much  solemn  parade  was  made,  sacred  oaths  administered, 
and  horrid  i)enalties  retpiired  to  be  underwritten  by  candi<!ates 
f(U'  violating  any  behest  of  the  order;  and  to  all  inquiry  t lie  mem- 
ber was  to  "know  nothing."  They  were  bound  by  their  onths  to 
deny  that  they  belonged  t')  the  order.  In  this  feature  of  the  in- 
stitution is  found  the  meaning  of  the  name  "Know-nothing."  It 
was  signiiicant  of  their  oliligations.  The  local  organi/iitit»ns  were 
deiu)minated  lodges,  the  nu'ctings  of  whicL  were  usually  hehl  un- 
der cover  of  night,  as  if  their  deeds  were  evil,  by  aid  of  dark 
lanterns,  in  lonely  and  unire<iuented  places,  in  the  recesses  of 
forests,  i)rairie  hollows,  deserted  or  unteinmted  buihlings,  untin- 
ished  attics,  dtc.,  rei)airing  thither  stealthily,  though  none  i)ur- 
sued — conduct  most  unbecoming  i)atriotic  citizens  of  a  free  coun- 
try. Lodges  sent  delegates  to  the  council  which  nominated  can- 
didates, designated  other  delegates  to  other  councils  or  conven- 
tions, issued  orders,  <}tc.,  all  <jf  w  hich  the  members  had  solemnly 
8worn  to  imi»llcitly  sui)poit  and  obey,  under  penalty  of  expulsion, 
l)roscri]»tion,  ]>ersonal  indignity  if  not  outrage. 

At  tirst  tlicir  nomimitions  were  made  from  the  other  political 
parties,  and  by  their  seciet  and  united  weight  they  would  gener- 
ally tui'u  the  scale  as  to  them  s<'empd  meet.  Thus  emboldened, 
the  operations  of  the  oi'der  were  extended  and  fuudly  its  own  dis- 
tinctive nominations  o])enly  announced  for  either  local  or  other 
offices.  Adviincing  with  clandestine!  and  rapid  strides,  it  attained 
]>olitical  suprenuu'y  in  several  States,  and  cast  a  large  vote  in 
many  others.  Still  aspiring,  in  l.sr»(>,  a  presidential  ticket  was  put 
forth.  ]>ut  it  may  be  said  that  the  Know-nothing  order  lost 
}iower  so  so(m  as  it  openly  made  separate  and  distinct  nomina- 
tions from  its  (»wn  i)arty  ami  (juit  secretly  espousing  the  nomina- 
tions of  other  parties.  While  many  of  the  pretensions  of  all 
parties  are  hollow— advanced  to  make  political  capital  anu)ng  tlie 
nmsses — the  cry  of  "Americans  to  rule  America"  bv  the  ostracism 
of  foieign-born  citizens  and  ])roscription  in  religion,  the  two  cardi- 
nal tenets  of  the  i)arty,  was  both  unrep\d)lican  and  unconstitutional 
— unrepublican,  because  in  contiict  w  ith  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 


THE  REPUBLICAN  PARTY.  64T 

peiKk'iicc,  which  charges  the  King  of  Engliuid  with  "ciideavoring 
to  prwveut  the  i)opulatioii  of  these  States ;  for  tliat  jmrpose  ob- 
structing the  laws  for  the  uaturahzatioii  of  foreigners,  refusing  to 
j)ass  others  encouraging  their  eniigmtion  hitlior;"  unconstitu- 
tional, because  that  instrument  says :  "  No  religions  test  shall 
ever  be  required  as  a  qualification  to  any  office  of  public  trust  un- 
der the  United  States."  Further,  the  constitution  not  only  ])er- 
niits  but  fosters  the  freest  discussion.  With  frequent  ajjpcals  to 
the  people,  a  tribunal  than  which  none  is  higher,  with  the  duty  of 
tlu'  citizen  to  arraign  and  investigate  the  conduct  of  govern  men  t, 
and  scrutinize  the  operation  of  the  laws,  what  can  justify  i)()]iti- 
cal  organizations  which  avoid  the  open  day  meet  in  darkness  and 
seclusion,  which  otter  no  ground  to  open  (!ombat,  whose  ])rinci- 
l)les  are  a  sealed  book,  and  whose  adherents,  under  sworn 
obligations,  "  know  nothing  f"  It  tended  to  segregate  foreign- 
born  and  Catholic  residents  into  communities  distinct  in  feeling 
and  in  political  and  i  jligious  interests,  and  to  excite  in  their  breasts 
tlie  animosities  and  hatreds  of  race  by  fastening  ui)on  them  i»o- 
litically  the  brand  of  Helots.  Every  consideration  of  exix'diency 
no  less  than  justice  demand  that  this  large  and  valuable  element 
be  in  every  way  enconi-aged  to  amalganuite  freeiy  with  the  masses 
in  order  that  its  character  and  impulses  may  be  lendered  homo- 
geneous with  the  vast  aggregate  of  American  >-iO(!iety, 

At  first  the  order  had  no  clearly  detined  i)osition  ujjon  the 
slavery  question.  It  sought  to  ignore  it  for  a  time ;  but  that 
all-absorbing  subject  which  enlisted  both  the  s.^;Mpatlly  and  (!U- 
l)idity  of  men,  and  excited  them  as  no  other  ]m")lic  question  has 
ever  done,  would  not  down  at  the  bidding  of  the  secix't  cabal.  It 
liad  to  be  met  and  it  ultimately  proved  its  ruin. 

in  Illinois  the  order  was  not  early  developed,  neither  did  it  take 
deep  root.  In  coud)ination  with  the  whigs  of  central  and  south- 
ern, an<lthe  free  soilers  of  northern,  Illinois,  it  fused  and  enteicd 
witli  its  strength  into  the  contest  of  l.So-I.  rerhai)s  its  most  deter- 
mined ett'ort  was  then  made  on  W.  B.  Archer  for  congress  in  the 
7th  district,  which,  singularly,  resulted  in  a  tie  vote,  tliough  Alleu 
was  said  to  Imve  had  ouc  majority.  In  1S;V)  it  i»resented  the  most 
disjointed  issue,  and  made  the  largest  ett'ort  ever  essayed  by  it  iu 
Illinois.  In  the  spring  of  that  year  the  State  council,  which  met 
in  Chicago,  endorsed  for  snpieme  judge  of  the  central  division  the 
Hon.  Ste[tlien  T.  J^ogan,  and  for  clerk  S.  A.  Corneau,  botli  of  San- 
gamon ;  and  the  conclave  issued  its  secret  edict  to  tiie  mendx'isof 
tlie  lodges  requiring  obedience  to  its  behests.  In  the  council,  it  is 
said,  the  contest  for  the  control  of  its  organization  was  wanidy 
waged  l)etween  the  open  anti-slavery  mendters  and  those  who 
sought  to  dodge  tinit  obtrusive  issue. 

Judge  Logan  (probably  not  persomvlly  identified  with  the  order, 
it  being  its  practice  to  sn[)port  candidates  irresjjecrtive  of  their 
personal  connection  with  tliem,)  was  known  far  and  wide  as  a(k'ei) 
read  lawyer  and  able  jurist,  and  had  been  a  whig  leader  for  a  long 
time.*  The  democratic  ticket  for  the  same  ottices  was  comjiosed 
of  ().  C.  Skinner,  of  Adams,  forjudge,  and  W.  A.  Turm^y,  of  JMor- 
gan,  for  clerk.    Mr.  Skinner  was  comparatively  a  young  man  for 

'  In  the  constitutionnl  convention  of  1847  .Iiultfc  Lojran  had  ndvocated  a  proposition 
rtMiuirinR  15  yt-ars  citizenship  (SO  years  residence,)  from  a  foreigner  as  a  qualitlcatlon 
for  the  oiHce  of  governor. 


C48 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


,)3iH: 


ii  i»la(;c  oil  tlic,  sui)i(Mm;  b('ii(;Ii  ;  not  ^(Miciall.v  know  ii,  but  of  f^ood 
jibility.  Under  tlic  firtMinistanccs  Loi^iin's  election  was  eonlidently 
exjteeted  ;  but  lie  met  witli  ovciwliebninj;  defeat,  bein^  beaten  some 
1(»,00()  votes.  In  ^lovember  befoie  San;;amon  bad  sent  Inm  to  the 
legislature!  by  SOO  majority;  now  he  was  icpudiated  in  liis  own 
county  by  1,100  nmjority.  Tiiis  was  but  further  |»n)of  that  the 
end)ittered  slavery  (juestiou  dominated  every  otlicir  political  tie, 
however  oath-bound.  It  was  a  manifestation  of  the  old  whiji  ])ro- 
siaveiy  sentinu-nt  whicii  felt  that  Lo^an  had  been  too  closely 
allied  in  the  legislature  the  winter  Itefore  with  the  anti-slavery  fu- 
.si(»n  which  elected  Mr.  'rrund)nll  to  the  V.  S.  senate,  and  which 
now  broke  its  old  adhesions  and  went  en  masse  to  the  democracy, 
Avhere  it  nniy  be  found  to-day  in  c«'ntral  Illinois. 

The  national  K.  iS'.  council,  after  a  ]»rotracled  and  stormy  ses- 
sion at  rhihulelphia,  Febnuiry,  IS.IO, nominated  Filmore  and  Don- 
aldson and  adopted  a  i>latform  reco^ni/in^  the  iirincii)les  of  the 
Kansas-Mebraska  act,  whereui»on  the  northern  members  bolted 
the  (lonventntn  and  repudiated  the  i»latform.  Thus  theovershad- 
owin<;-  (pu'stion  of  slavery  ruptured  and  overthrew  know-nothinj;- 
ism,  though  the  orj^ainzation  was  kept  up,  both  State  and  national, 
for  some  time  after. 

On  the(Jth  of  May,  IS-jO,  theknow-nothinj;'  State  couticil  of  Illi- 
nois convened  at  Sprinjilield.  The  attendance  exhibited  a])orten- 
tious  falliujn"  ott"  in  innnber.s.  The  deliuerations  were  conducted 
Avith  (!l(»sed  doors.  On  the  part  of  many  of  the  manajicrs  who 
played  with  the  ordei'  only  for  rei)id»Iican  purjtoses,  a  stronj;  ettbrt 
was  made  to  defer  proceediiij^s  until  after  the  meetinj;-  of  the  State 
reitublican  conventum  on  the  liOth  inst.  JJut  this  scheme  was  de- 
feated, and  the  followinj^  ticket  was  brouj;ht  out:  For  };'overin)r, 
AV.  It.  Archer,  of  Clark  ;  for  lieutenant-ji»)\ernor,  M.  L.  Duidaii, 
of  Cook  ;  for  secretary  of  State,  A.  Thornton,  of  Shelby  ;  for  treas- 
urer, Jiimes  IVliller,  of  McLean;  for  auditor,  l)r.  JJarber,  of  "Wash- 
injiton  ;  and  for  superintendent  of  i)ublic  instruction,  E.  Jenkins, 
of  Fayette.  JNlr.  Danenhowei-,  of  Cook,  and  .Joseph  (lillesjtie,  of 
Madison,  were  api)ointed  seiuitcrial  electors.  The  I'hiladelphia 
K.  N.  platform,  totally  at  variance  with  republicanism,  was 
udo])ted,  and  the  nomimition  of  Filmore  and  Donaldson  ratitied. 

J\ir.  Archer,  who  was  at  Washington  contesting;  the  seat  l)f  J. 
C  Allen  in  conj;ress,  lefused  to  ac(;ej>t,  and  snbsecjuently  i)iirtici- 
])ate(l  in  the  national  I'epnblican  conveidion  which  nondnated 
Frenujut.  JJuckner  S.  Morris,  of  Cook,  was  snbstitnteil.  Others 
refused  to  accept,  and  T.  1».  Hickman,  of  Fayette,  was  substituted 
for  Mr.  Duida]);  \V.  Jl.  Vounji',  of  Lojian,  for  Mr.  Thornton.  James 
Miller,  of  Mcljcan,  without  acceptinji  his  nomination,  received  the 
same  place  on  the  ticket  of  the  liloomin};ton  convention  a  few 
days  later.  Indeed,  it  is  said  that  numy  inend)ers  of  the  council 
Avent  direct  to  IJIoomiiijiion,  and  that  some  icceived  places  on  the 
republican  ticket.  At  the  JS'ovend)er  election  of  JSoCithe  K.  N. 
ticket  i»olled  alumt  20,000  votes,  and  this  was  about  the  last  ettort 
of  tlu!  order  in  Illinois. 

I'.esides  k!U)w-nothinfi,  the  Anieiican  party  was  also  desijiuated 
"  Sam,"  from  "  Uncle  Sam  "  or  U.  S.,  the  initials  of  United  Slates. 
The  i)ersonally  fij^urative  rejjresentative  of  slavei'y  tvas  often 
S])oken  of  as  "  Sand)o,"  denoting;',  in  concrete,  the  anti-slavery 
party.  Hence  the  slavery  question  in  the  K.  N.  c(.)uucil  was  spokeu 


THE  REPUBLICAN  PARTY.  049 

of  iis  ii  set-to  between  "Sam  "  and  "Sambo."  At  Pliiludelpliia 
"  Sam  "  eanied  tlie  day,  but  tlie  vi(!tory  was  dear  as  defeat.  The 
terms  of  repioaeli  ai>i)Iied  to  the  i)arty  were  Hindoos  or  Tlni};s,  the 
latter  an  association  of  robbers  and  miM(h'rers  of  India.  Tliis, 
from  tlie  fact  that  its  (course  was  marked  by  riots  and  the  (h'struo- 
tion  of  life  and  property.  Tlu'se,  it  will  be  remembered,  were 
fearfid  in  the  years  l.sr)4-5  in  many  of  our  larj;('  cities — I5altimore, 
Louisville,  St.  Louis,  Cincinnati  and  other  places. 

It  is  well  that  such  orf^ani/ations,  from  the  condition  of  enlight- 
ened soitiety,  must  ever  prove  short-lived,  as  did  this.  Their  ten- 
<len<ry  is  to  diffuse  distrust,  suspicion,  hati'ed,  insincerity  ;  they 
disturb  the  order  and  (piiet  of  societ},  poison  contidence,  and 
eventuate  in  mobs  and  crimes.  This  onler  taught  nuMi  to  think 
li,ii,litly  of  the  prin(;iples  of  liberty  as  set  forth  in  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  and  of  treason  by  administerinfj'  oaths  in  \  iola- 
tion  of  the  (;onstitution  ;  it  profaned  reliyion  by  appeals  to  the 
weak  juejudices  of  bij^otry  and  famiticism  ;  and  i)lant;'d  t]ie  seeds 
of  riot,  aison  and  blood-shed,  by  arrayiny  the  i)eople  of  one  laco 
or  nationality  in  deadly  hostility  against  the  other.  Its  name 
should  be  anathema. 

During  the  year  185ii  the  republican  organization  gave  renewed 
evidences  of  vitality  and  imaeasing  strength.  In  Ohio,  JNIr.  Chase 
was  elected  by  a  large  majority.  The  (lenn)cracy  of  Illinois  felt 
impelled  to  look  to  tlieir  position,  and  inmiediately  after  began  to 
])repare  for  the  great  contest,  nearly  a  year  ahead.  A  stirring 
address,  dated  December  I,  l.S.'i.j,  was  issued  by  the  State  gene- 
ral committ(!e,  of  which  the  lion.  J.  A.  McClernand  was  ehair- 
nnm,  diiecting  the  appointment  of  delegates  to  the  State  demo- 
cratic convention,  to  be  held  at  Springfield,  May  1st,  l<sr)(».  A 
portion  of  the  address,  which,  by  Us  terse,  aigumentative  di(!tion, 
r(!veals  the  author  in  tlie  chairman  of  the  committee,  is  lu^re  <]uo- 
t»Ml,  as  portraying  in  a  nmnner  the  intense  and  acrimonious  party 
feeling  of  that  day  : 

"Tlie  nijileontents,  the  iiitoloraiita,  and  the  religious  liifrots  of  the 
country.  Imvedeterniined  upon  making  a  desperate  effort  to  seize  the 
reins  of  government.  Tlielr  oidy  wish  and  lione  is  to  excite  poj)ular 
passion  and  upon  it  ride  into  oltiee  and  power.  They  have  raised  their 
black  flag,  witli  "Abolition"  upon  the  one  side,  and  "Disunion"  upon 
the  other,  surmounted  with  the  know  nothing  deatli's  head  and  cross 
bones,  and  with  hideous  outcries  are  rallying  their  motley  forces  for  the 
coming  struggle  They  pretend  to  be  the  peculiar  friend  of  the  negro, 
while  they  would  make  slaves  of  white  men;  tliey  i)retend  to  be  the 
friends  of  freedom,  yet  murder  men  for  exercising  a  i)lain  constitutional 
right ;  they  pretend'  to  love  liberty,  while  they  denounce  the  constitu- 
tion as  a  '  league  with  hell  ;'  they  make  loud  professions  of  policy  while 
they  persecute  others  for  ditterence  of  relitjious  opinions,  and  slander 
amf  belie  all  who  entertain  sentiments  ditferint  from  their  own.  One 
day  they  profess  to  be  diarmed  by  '  that  ricli  Irish  brogue  and  that 
sweet  tieiman  accent,'*  and  the  next  they  shoot  down,  burn  and  mur- 
der men,  women  and  ddldren  for  not  being  born  in  the  same  country 
as  themselves;  they  illustrate  their  principle  of  'Americans  ruling 
America'  by  mobbing  the  elections,  breaking  up  the  ballot  boxes,  and 
destroying  the  votes  ;  they  urge  their  own  will  as  higher  than  the  con- 
stitution, while  they  deny  to  the  people  of  the  territories  the  right  to 
have  any  will  atal! ;  they  seek  to  revolutionize  government  by  violence 
when  its  acts  contlict  witli  tlieir  own  ;  they  resist  the  constitutional  acts 
of  congress  by  armed  mobs,  which  is  treason  by  the  law.    Devoid  of  po- 

''Guii.  Scott's  speech  wbUe  a  cundidate  for  president. 


650 


HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


litical  priiiciplo  themselves,  they  are  for  fusion  with  men  of  every  sha<le 
of  political  jirinciple,  and  men  of  no  political  princii>le,  ho  they  can 
'vote  a  vou!,' and  add  strength  to  their  political  organization.  In  bold 
contrast  and  aloof  from  all  tliis  confusion  stands  the  democratic  party."* 

Tlie  (convention  met  acconliuff  to  tlie  time  and  place  desifiiiatcd, 
and  nominated  the  Jlon.  W.  A.  liichardson,  of  Adams,  as  their 
candidate  lor  j;overn()r,  on  the  3d  ballot ;  the  old  treasurer,  John 
Moore,  heinji'  his  strongest  op])onent,  and  leading  him  on  the  (irst 
ballot  113  votes.  Tin^  iH)minati()n  of  Kichardson  was  not  unex- 
l)ected.  It  Avas  foreshadowed  by  a  little  circumstance  that  took 
place  the  preceding'  summer.  A  coini>any  of  Chicaf'o  nulitia 
made  Senator  Douglas  a  complinu'ntary  visit  at  his  residence  on 
the  lake  shore,  below  the  city,  and  duriii};'  tlie  aiternooii's  enter- 
tainjnent,  in  their  hilarity,  nominated  Col.  liichardson  lor  gover- 
nor. Jle,  more  than  perinii)s  anj'  other  mend)er  from  the  free 
States  had  proven  himself  the  lirm  and  reliable  Iriend  and  suj»- 
l)orter  of  the  senator  in  the  i)assa}ie  of  tlu^  Kansas -Is'ebraaka  bill 
tlin)U};li  the  lower  house  of  congiess.  The  fusion  press,  which 
constantly  taunted  the;  democracy  with  the  dictatorshij)  of  Doiij^- 
las,  took  this  circumstance  of  a  social  occasion  and  settled  Hi)on 
Kichardson  as  the  candidate  with  whom  the  State  convention  had 
nothinj?  else  to  do  but  to  confirm ;  in  which  they  i)roved  to  be 
correct.  Col.  li.J.  Hamilton,  of  Cook, was  nominated  tor  lieuten- 
ant j-overnor  ;  W.  11.  Snyder,  of  St.  Clair,  for  secretary  of  state  ; 
lionest  John  Moore,  of  McLean,  the  old  incinnbent,  again  Ibi 
treasurer;  Samuel  K.  Casey,  of  Jefferson,  for  auditor,  and  J.  11. 
St.  Matthew,  of  Tazewell,  for  superintendent  of  jaiblie  schools. 

In  tlie  platform  the  convention  atlirmed  that  conjjress  had  no 
rij^htfid  authority  to  establish,  abolish  or  imdnbit  slavery  in  the 
States  or  teriitories;  approved  non-intervention  and  jmpular  sov- 
ei'ei}j;nty,  the  (!()inproinis(M>f  ISoO,  and  declared  that  the  restora- 
tion of  the  Missouri  restrictioii  would  be  a  llagTant  violation  of 
the  constitution  aiul  the  principles  of  sell'-j>overnment ;  asserted 
th(^  national  rijiht  of  all  men  to  religious  freed(nn,  declaring  their 
oi)position  to  i)ros(;ription  of  foreign  born  citizens;  and  instruc- 
ted tiui  delegates  to  the  Cincinnati  national  democraticconveutiou 
to  vote  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas  for  president. 

During  all  this  time,  it  may  well  be  imagined,  the  leaders  of 
tlie  new  party,  which  had  met  with  unexpected  success  in  1854-5, 
■were  not  idle.  vVhile  they  were  sanguine,  they  Averealso  cautious 
in  taking  extreme  or  advanced  anti-slavery  ground.  They  sought 
to  form  a  coalition  of  all  the  various  factions,  odds  and  ends 
outside  of  the  democratic  party  oi)posed  to  the  Nebraska  meas- 
ure, with  a  view  rather  rather  to  success  than  the  espousal  of  rad- 
ical i)rinciples.  The  democracy  characterized  this  coalition  as  the 
"s]»eckled  progeny  of  many  conjunctions."  But  v^uccess,  it  was 
well  reasoned,  would  do  more  to  confirm  lukewarm  friends  than 
unanswerable  siiguments.  In  this  connection  we  quote  the  apt 
language  of  the  Chicago  Tribune  at  the  time  : 

"TiiK  Bloominoton  Convention. — Only  two  weeky  will  intervene  be- 
tween the  present  time  andtheday  fixed  for  holding  the  anti-Nebraska 
State  convention  at  Blooinington.  But,  though  the  time  is  short,  we 
wish  to  correct  one  misapprehension  that  has  gone  abroad  in  relation  to 
the  proposed  gathering.  It  is  this:  that  the  couvenliou  is  to  be  exclusive- 


•See  111.  Reg.,  Dec.  4, 1855. 


THE   RKPmiLICAN  PARTY.  G51 

ly  repiiblican.  Such  is  not  the  case.  The  republicans,  so  far  as  we  arcin- 
fornifd,  consent  to  be  represented  tliere  purely  as  anti-Nebrasku  men, 
ami  if  there  is  anything?  in  tlieir  political  creed,  which  points  to  more 
radical  measures  than  old  line  whij^s  and  anti-Nebraska  democrats  can 
consent  to,  they  have  expressed  their  willinj;ness,  without  dissent,  to 
])Ut  sudi  thin)j;s  in  abeyance,  and  unite  upon  the  platform  ui)on  which 
all  northern  men,  who  are  .not  avowedly  pro-slavery,  ou^ht  to  stand.  As 
one  of  the  organs  of  republican  opinion,  we  liave  no  hesitation  in  say- 
iiifj  that  we  advise  our  friends  throughout  the  State  to  such  a  course  of 
action.  We  say  further,  that  we  know  of  no  man  whois  identified  with 
the  re])ublican  party  who  desires  or  would  accept  a  nomination  from  the 
convention,  forany  place  whatever.  The  republicans  of  the  north  wisli 
to  testify  their  sincerity  by  taking  the  places  of  privates  in  the  ranks, 
reserving  the  right  to  do  battle  wherever  the  fight  is  fiercest.  They  ex- 
pect that  the  nominee  for  governor  will  possibly  be  a  man  who  differs 
with  them  u\Hni  some  matte-sconnectetl  with  national  politics,  but  they 
do  not  demand  uniformity  ot  belief— do  not  expect  it.  We  know  not 
who  may  be  on  the  ticket  witli  Col.  IJissell,  and  we  do  not  care  what 
they  are  called,  or  what  may  be  their  political  antecedents,  so  that  they 
arc  men  of  personal  and  political  integrity,  who  may  be  dejiended  upon 
to  carry  out  the  views  that  they  will  announce.  The  republicans  ask 
notliiiig." 

On  the  22(1  of  February,  185G,  an  auti-Nebrtiska  editorial  con- 
vention had  jnet  at  Decatur,  with  Paul  Selby  as  chairiuan,  and 
"NV.  J.  IJ.sre.v  as  secretary,  whidi  gave  a  free  airiiij?  to  its  i)olitical 
views,  both  State  and  national,  as  editors  are  wont  to  d(».  They 
demanded,  in  a,  set  of  resolutions,  the  lestoration  of  tlie  Missouri 
compromise;  opposed  the  (b'inands  of  slavery  for  territorial  ex- 
pansion as  inconsistent  with  freedom;  de(rlared  tliere' was  an  ur- 
gent demand  for  refoiiu  in  the  State  adininistri'tion  ;  stood  to  tlie 
free  school  system;  and  aske<l  all  who  concurred  in  their  views  of 
national  (piestions  to  dro})  all  party  differences  i^pon  other  issues 
and  nnit^^  in  a  conimon  ettbrt  to  give  these  practical  effe(;t.  For 
this  purpose  they  lecoinnieiulcvl  a  delegate  State  convention  to  be 
held  Thursday,  i\lay  29,  at  Bloomiiigton.  They  designated  a 
State  central  committee,  one  from  ea<di  eongressioiud  district,  to 
niake  the  call,  lix  the  ratio  of  representation,  and  take  such  other 
steps  as  woidd  secure  a  full  rei»resentation  from  all  parts  of  the 
State.  We  name  the  committee  in  the  order  of  the  nund)er  of 
their  respective  districts :  W.  1>.  Ogden,  Chicago;  S.  M.  Church, 
Kockfort;  (r.  A.  1).  Farks,  Joliet ;  T.  J.  Frickett,  Feoria ;  E.  A. 
Dudley,  f^uincy;  Wni.  II.  llerndon,  Springlield;  K.  J.  Oglesby, 
Decatur;  Joseph  Gillespie,  Edwardsville;  D.  L.  Phillips,  Jones- 
boro.  Gov.  Koerner  'and  Ira  O.  Wilkinson  were  designated  for 
the  State  at  large. 

Accordingly  the  rei)td)lican  State  convention  of  1850,  met  at 
P>loomington,  in  .Arajor's  Hall,  jMay  29th.  Out  of  the  101  counties 
m'aiiy  one-third  were  unrepre.sented,  naiiu'ly :  Alexander,  Pulaski, 
]\lassac,  Joiinson,  Pope,  Hardin,  Saline,  Galiatin,  Ilamili*,!!, 
White,  Wayne,  Wabash,  Clay,  Crawford,  .Jasper,  Effingham,  Cum- 
berland. CJark,  Douglas,  Fayette,  Shelby,  Brown,  Jefferson,  Frank- 
lin, Williamson,  Jackson,  Perry  ami  JNIonroe,  nearly  all  in  the 
soul  hern  part  of  the  State.  The  Hon.  John  M.  Palmer  of  Macou- 
l»iii.  was  chosen  i)ermanent  cliainnan.  The  following  were  chosen 
as  vice  presidents:  J.  A.  Davis  of  Stephenson,  Wni.  Kossof  Pike, 
James  McKee  of  Cook,  J.  H.  Bryant  of  Bureau,  A,  C.  Harding  of 
Warren,  Itiehard  Yates  of  Morgan,  H.  O.  Jones  of  Piatt,  1).  L. 
Phillips  of  Union,  Geo.  Smith  of  Madisou,  J.  U.  Marshall  of  Coles, 


652 


HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


J.  JM.  Kn^gles  of  Vinson,  (J.  A.  1).  Turks  of  Will,  Jolm  Claik  of 
Scliiivlcr.  Sccictiirit's:  II.  S.  Ilakcr  of  .Miidison,  ('.  L. Wilson  of 
CooU",  .loliii  Tilsoii  (.f  Adams,  \V.  lJiisliin-11  of  LaSalif,  Jl.  .1.  F. 
Ilaiiiiii  of  Kaiidolpli. 

Tlw  [)i'()('('i'diii}is  of  llic  coiivciitioii  were  liariiioiiioiis.  Tlic  iioiii- 
iiialinii  of  the  Ihtii.  W.  H.  IJisscIl  of  St.  (•'lair,  wlio  was  siiiiitly  an 
anti  Nebraska  democrat,  liad  been  {•eiit'rall.v  a{;ri'od  ii])on  before 
tlie  eoiiventi(»ii  met,  by  tlie  ]»ress  and  jteople.  The  iJelleville  Atf- 
ranife  had  lirst  broujilit  forward  his  name  in  connection  with  this 
olliee,  ill  March  inecedinj;',  ^v|licll  was  shortly  seconded  by  tlie 
o]»])osition  ]>ress  jjeneially  and  in  nieetin<;s  of  tlie  i)eo]>le.  lie  was 
very  ])o[mlar,  but  liis  health  had  been  impaired  by  paralysis  of 
liis  lower  extremities  and  there  wasai)i)re]iensioii  as  to  his  ability 
to  make  a  vigorous  canvass.  lUit  in  a  letter  to  (jleo.  T.  Jirowii  of 
Alton,  dated  May  U4,  he  wrote  that  lie  was  reeoveriii};'  from  his 
inlirniity,  and  hoped  for  entile  restoration  ;  that  his  general  health 
and  capacity  for  business  were  as  {;ood  us  ever;  and  while  he 
inijiht  not  be  able  to  eii}>aye  in  an  active  canvass  he  would  not 
decline  the  iioininati<»n  if  tendered  him.  After  the  readinji  of  this 
letter  to  the  convention,  ]»nblic  expectation  was  conlirined  by  his 
uiianiiiums  nomination.  Francis  Hott'mun  of  J)uTaj;e,  a  tlerman, 
vas  also  unaniimnisly  nominate('  for  lieutenant  jiovernor.* 
O.  ]M.  Hatch  of  I'iUe,  was  nominated  for  secretary  of  State,  the 
lion.  Jesse  K.  Dubois  of  liawreiice,  for  auditor,  and  James  ]\lil- 
ler  of  McLean,  for  treasurer.  These  last  named  gentlemen  were 
charged  with  being  members  of  the  know-nothing  order,  which 
was  doubtless  tlici  fact;  that  the  two  former  had  attended  excry 
State  council  of  that  order  since  its  organization,  and  been  dele- 
gates and  prominent  leaders  in  its  late  State  convention  held  at 
Springtiehl  on  the  Oth  iust.t  At  the  same  know-nothing 
convention,  we  have  seen  that  Mi\  ]\Iiller  had  been  hon- 
ored with  the  nomination  for  the  same  place  on  the  ticket 
at  IMooniington.  l>ut  to  the  nominating  committee  at  the 
latter  place  he  stated  that  he  had  not  nor  did  not  intend  to 
acce])t  the  place  on  the  know-nothing  ticket.  \V.  II.  Powell  of 
Peoria,  was  nominated  for  sujieiinteiKh'iit  of  iiublic  instruction. 
Thes<>  latter  names  were  selected  by  a  committee  of  0,  one  from 
each  congressional  district,  ai»i)ointed  by  the  chair.  They  were: 
S.  \\.  Lawr'Mice,  Cyrus  Alden,  W.  W.  Orme,  J.  J^.  Arnold,  A. 
AVilliams,  A,  Lincoln,  T.  A.  IMarshall,  Thos.  McCluken  and  J5eii. 
T.  Wiley,  named  in  the  order  of  their  resi)ective  districts.  The 
candidates  selected  by  them  were  coniirmedby  the  convention. 

The  following  is  the  platform  adopted: 

liffohrd.  That  forcM-oinjr  iiU  fornier  rtiffproiu'es  of  opinion  upon  other  questions, 
we  pl('(l«e  ourselves  to  unite  in  opposition  to  the  present  admin istnitlon  anil  to  the 
party  which  upholds  an<l  supports  it,  and  to  use  all  honorable  and  constitutional 
meuns  to  wrest  the  jrovcriunent  from  the  unworthy  hands  which  now  coiitrid  it  and 
to  i)rin!i:  it  back  in  its  adniinistration  to  the  principles  and  ))ractices  of  Wasliinnton, 
Jellerson,  and  their  i^reat  and  v;ood  compatriots  of  the  revolution 

lU'iiiJriil,  Tliat  we  hold,  in  accordance  with  tlie  opinions  and  practices  of  all  the  urcat 
statesuien  of  all  parties,  for  the  llrst  60  years  of  tbeudniinistration  of  the  jfoverinnonl, 


*  This  jrentleman  fonnd  dnrlnji:  the  canvass  that  he  was  inclifrlble  for  that  office— not 
haviniir  been  naturalized  14  jcars,  a  <|uali(lcation  jncsenbed  by  tlie  constitution,  and 
he  icsiH'iicd  his  place  on  the  ticket.  'I'lie  convention  subsequr'ntly  met  ajiain  and 
substituted  the  name  of  .lohn  Wood  of  Adams,  an  old  whig.  H  S.  Edwards,  at  the 
sanu'  time, received  20  votes,  iJr.  Euan  IT,  J.M.  Itugirles  10,  Joseph  SeifllKer  S,  S.  M. 
Chinch  II,  and  Leonard  Swctt,  H. 

+  We  have  it  from  undoubted  authority  that  the  candidate  for  auditor  not  only  re- 
l'u.scd  to  come  Into  the  convention  but  cursed  it  for  its  ubulitiouism  while  he  accepted 
the  place  upon  its  ticket. 


THE  REPUBIJOAN  PARTY.  053 


that  under  tho  constitution  conifi-uss  possesses  the  jiower  to  prohibit  slavery  in  the 
territories  ;  nnil  thiit  wlillst  we  will  iniiintiiin  all  eonslitiitionul  rltrhts  ol  tlie  south,  wo 
tllso  hold  tliiit  justiee,  huiniuiit.v,the  prineipies  of  treedoiii  lis  expressed  in  ourdecliir- 
ntion  lit  independence,  iind  our  niitintiiil  constitution  atid  the  purity  and  pcrpct  uity 
of  our  K<'vernnu-nt  reipiire  that  that  power  shoulil  be  exerted  to  prevent  the  exten- 
sion ol'  slavery  into  tcriitories  heretofore  free. 

I{r><iili'i<l,  That  the  repeal  of  the  .Missouri  coniproinisc  was  unwise,  unjust,  and  inju- 
rious; an  open  and  a^Kravated  violation  of  the  pliKJiteil  faltii  of  the  States,  atiil  that 
the  attempt  of  tlie  present  adniini.slration  to  loree  slavery  into  K;insas  analiist  the 
known  wishes  of  the  letral  vo'crs  of  that  territory,  is  an  arbitrary  and  tyrannous  vio- 
lation of  tht!  ri(fhts  of  the  people  to  iiovern  themselves,  and  that  we  will  strive  liy  ail 
eonslltutional  means  to  secure  to  Kansas  and  Neliraska  the  IckhI  tfuaranty  aj^nlnst 
slavcM'y  of  which  they  were  deprived  at  the  cost  of  the  violation  of  the  plljfhtcd  faith 
of  the  nailon, 

tte^iihiil.  That  we  arc  devoted  to  tiic  union  and  will,  to  the  last  extremity,  defend  it 
"(falnst  the  elforts  now  beiiiH:  made  l)y  the  disiuiionlsts  of  this  administration  to  eom- 
pass  its  dissolution,  and  that  we  will  support  the  constitution  of  the  United  Slates  in 
all  its  provisions,  retranlintr  it  as  the  sat^'ed  bond  of  oiu-  union,  and  the  only  salc«iiard 
for  th(!  preservation  of  the  rights  of  ourselves  and  o\u'  posterity. 

Ucxiilnil,  That  we  lue  in  favor  of  the  innnediate  adniissloii  ot  Kansas  as  a  member 
of  this  confederacy,  imder  the  constitution  adopted  by  the  people  of  said  territory. 

litxiilrtri,  Tliat  tlie  spirit  of  our  Institutions  as  well  as  the  constitution  of  our  coun- 
try, guaranties  the  lilierty  of  conseience  as  well  as  |>oliticai  freedom,  and  tlnit  we  will 
l)roseribe  no  one,  by  le>rlsiation  or  otherwise,  on  ueeount  of  reliffious  oplidons,  or  in 
conseiiuencc  of  place  of  birth." 

Eesolutioiis  approving  of  the  course  of  Soiuitor  Trmiibul],  and 
roii(leniiiin<j  iliat  of  Senator  Donpla.s  were  also  adopted  ;  one  by 
]\Ir.  Wentwork,  in  favor  of  an  eeononiieal  administration  of  tlie 
aflairs  of  tlie  State;  and  one  by  O.  H.  Browning,  that  the  pro- 
eeedinoH  of  the  convention  be  signed  by  all  the  ofiice.s,  and 
piiblislicd.  The  Slate  central  coniinittee  appointed  cons!.-;led  of 
J.  C.  Conkling  of  Sanganion,  Asabel  (Jridley  of  ]\I(!L<Mn,  13.  C. 
Cook  of  JiaSalle,  and  C  11.  Kay  antl  N.  IJ.  Jndd  of  Cook. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  platform  omits  to  demand  the  repeal 
of  the  fngiti\e  slave  law,  omits  to  assert  the  right  of  trial  by  jury 
for  the  captured  slave,  and  omits  to  claim  the  writ  of /<«?><'««  ror- 
JH/.S- in  his  behalf ;  nor  is  the  institution  of  slavery  denounced  as 
tiie  sum  of  all  villainies.  The  Hon.  Owen  Lovejoy,  an  original  ab- 
olitionist, who  had  vainly  emleavored  in  the  legislature,  in  is'i't, 
to  coni  iiit  the  new  party  to  a  declaration  against  the  admission 
of  more  slave  States  into  the  Union  and  in  favor  of  the  rejieal  of 
the  fugitive  slave  law,  which,  by  the  way,  received  a  large  vote  in 
that  body  at  the  time,  now  in  the  convention  strove  to  have  a 
plank  in.serted  in  the  i)latform  Avhich  Avould  retlect  a  more  ad- 
vanced position  for  the  party,  but  was  defeated.  But  with  a  keen 
insight  into  the  future,  he  observed  that  while  lie  would  like  to 
have  inoculated  them  with  the  virus  more  thoroughly  at  the  time, 
he  <lidn't  care  much;  for  having  been  exposed  to  the  infection 
they  would  all  take  the  disease  in  the  natural  way,  and  break  out 
all  over  with  it  before  the  campaign  was  ended  anyhow- — which 
was  the  case. 

'The  perso)inel  of  the  republican  ticket  thus  made  showed  that 
tlie  Chicago  Tribune,  bespeaking  for  advanced  republicanism  a 
subordinate  part — tlie  post  of  honor  as  privates  in  the  battle — 
was  taken  at  its  words,  for  iu)t  a  i)ure  aud  simple  republican  re- 
ceived a  place  on  the  ticket.  It  was  a  coalition  which  the  lepub- 
licans  were  content  to  support  with  the  hope  of  future  reward. 
They  did  not  reckon  without  their  host.  Success,  the  touchstone 
of  all  human  undertakings, attended  them,  and  cemented  all  these 
various  elements  into  one  great  and  liomogeneous  paity,  leading 
to  the  most  radical  results.  With  success,  all  the  halting,  the  timitl 
and  the  doubting  ones,  now  perhaps  beholding  the  reward  of  oflice 
in  the  future,  became  immediately  the  most  pronounced  and  un- 
yielding, if  not  radical,  partisans. 


054 


HISTORY  OP  ILLINOIS. 


It  liasbct'ii  sui)i)(».s('(l  tlmt  tlie  wlii<>- and  kiiow-iiotliiiij''  i)aiti(.'8 
Aveii- wholly  absoi'licd  l»,v  tlii-  icpiiltlicaii  party.  Siicli  is  only  paitly 
inw.  Itistnus  in  llic  iioitliciii  i»a»l  o'"  tlu;  Slate,  jtciliaps,  but  not 
in  the  central  antl  s(»ullM'rn  parts,  m  the  latter,  while  tlie  deuio- 
cratie]»arty  contributed  larjicly  toward  its  ranks,  it  received  back 
a  greater  nund)er  of  wliijis.  The  (iernians,  wholly  deiiiocratic!  in 
IMadison  and  St.  Clair  counties,  went  o\er  almost  in  a  body,  but  the 
whi;;s  of  San<;anion,  Tazewell,  INIorj^an  and  Aiianis  largely  joined 
the  donocracy,  where  they  are  to  this  day. 

The  H'pcal  of  the  IMissouri  compromise  was  both  a  ]»arty  blunder 
and  mistaken  statesmanship.  The  south,  with  a  sectional  institu- 
tion in  ItiL'  nn«lst,  ought  to  have  broadly  ap]>reciated  thegreat  noith 
with  its  giant  stejts  towaid  empire,  its  teennng  millions,  its  innu- 
nu'rable  w():k-shops,  skilled  laborers  and  vast  industries.  In  the 
faceof  this,  wi;ile  it  had  piaclical  control  ot  the  government,  its  pol- 
icy was  to  excit*'  into  beiugLhe  party  whoso  i)rincii>les,  however 
they  maybe  said  in  the  abstr.ictto  have  been  national  by  aiti)roxi- 
nuiting  to  the  landmarks  of  the  fathers,  wore  s«'ctional,  because  it 
ojtposed  the  sjireadof  mi  institution  which  was  itself  sectional  ;  and 
it  becaiue  national  oii'y  through  the  operation  of  a  wr  nuidly  ])re- 
cipitated  by  the  south.  The  ]iarty  wldch  ostensibly  sought  only  to 
restrain  the  sectionalism  of  the  south,  has  accom])lished  greater 
and  miglitier  dee<ls  than  the  most  ardent  abolitionist  of  2i>  years 
ago  could  have  dreamed.  And  what  it  has  done  it  has  done  so 
thoronghly  that  it  can  never  be  undone.  It  has  abolislied  slavery  ; 
raised  more  than  r),(»()0,()()()  of  negroes  to  citizenship,  and  enfran- 
chised them — all  this  by  constitntional  i)rovisions. 

W.  H.  Bissell  was  elected  governor  by  a  i)huality  of  4,729  votes 
over  Col.  liichardson  ;  Morris,  K.  N.,  receiving  ]!),241  votes  for  tlie 
same  office,  while  Jiuchanan's  plurality  over  Fremont  was  J),104; 
Filmore,  K.  N.,  receiving  ;J7,4.j1.  The  legislature  was  democratic. 
The  democracy  liad  thrown  no  obstacles  in  the  way  >f  the  ojtposi- 
tion  dividing  npon  Filmore,  but  rather  encouraged  it ;  but  the 
maiJi  reason  wliy  Buchanan  carried  the  State  and  liichardson  failed 
was  owing  to  the  former's  want  of  identification  with  the  iei)eal  of 
the  Missouri  compnunise,  though  he  had  a(!cepte<l  the  Cincinnati 
]>latform  and  dilated  ni)on  the  beauties  of  ])o))nlar  sovereignty.  It 
was.  ill  s])i|e  of  tiiis.  believed  that  in  his  ,  onvictions  and  ])olicy  he 
would  be  apart  frctui  its  ])riucipl('s,  and  lucaii  laitli  with  itsdevoled 
friends — an  opinion  which  jnoNc-d  jiiojihctic  within  the  year  of  his 
installation.  The  Missouri  Democrat,  while  it  esjjoiised  republi- 
canism and  8U])ported  JJissell,  by  a  strange  inconsistency,  laborM 
even  with  iepid)licans  to  sei)arate  liuchanan  in  the  public  mind 
from  the  outrage  of  the  rejical  of  the  Missouri  compromise. 

We  close  tins  chapter  by  the  concluding  portion  of  Mr.  Lincoln's 
speech  made  after  the  election  at  the  republican  banquet  in  Chi- 
cago, Dec.  17, 1856  : 

"All  of  us  who  did  not  vote  for  Mr.  Buchanan,  taken  together,  are  a 
majority  of  400,000.  But  in  the  late  contest  we  were  divided  between  Fre- 
mont and  Filmore.  Can  we  not  come  together  for  the  future  ?  Let  every 
one  who  r  ally  believes,  and  is  resolved,  that  free  society  is  not,  and  shall 
not  be,  a  failure,  and  who  can  conscientiously  declare  that  in  the  past 
contest  he  has  done  only  what  he  thought  best — let  every  such  an  one 
have  charity  to  believe  that  every  other  one  can  say  as  much.  Thus  let 
by-gones  be  by-gones.  Let  past  differences  as  nothing  be,  and  m  ith  steady 


T»TE  RKPUBLIflAN  PAKTT.  655 

tveon  the  roal  iHsue,  let  ua  re  i  milieu  rate  the  k<>'>"1  <•'<!  'central  lileaH*  of 
the  repuhljc.  We  can  do  it.  Thehiuaaii  heart  is  withijH— (Jod  in  with  uh. 
AVe  Hhail  analii  heahle  not  t<»<leclarethat  'all  States,  aHStateH,  an- equal,' 
nor  yet  that  'all  eitizenw,  an  citizenH,  are  ecjiial,'  hut  to  renew  the  hroad- 
er,  hetter  declaration, including  hoth  these  and  nuieh  more,  that  all  nieu 
are  created  equal.'" 


Chapter  L. 
1S57  ISIM— ADMINKSTllATION    OK    (iOVEKNOU    IJISSKLL, 

Life  nnd  (Jlidnicter  of  the  (fovenior — droHH  Attack  upon  him  in 
the  Ijrjiinhdiire  on  Account  of  hin  Duelinff  Affiiir — 1  urbnicnce 
of  Party  tStrife  and  ir(tnt  of  Official  (Jourtcnij — IHHj'raccf'ul 
Action  in  On/aniziny  the  JJouhc — Apportionment  Ililh  of  1H"»7-1> 
— The  Canal  iScrip  Fraud — The  McAlliHter  and  /Stelfbinn  .Hands- 


Aside  from  the  i,'Mienil  exeiti'ineiit  incident  to  onr  quadreiiiiial 
ixditical  eaiii])ai;;iis,  tliat  of  l.sr)(;,  owin^  toit.s  sectional  cliaiaeter. 
was  liioic  than  (trdiiiaril.v  hitter.  Tiie  content  forStateand  hxal 
otliees  in  Illinois,  wheie  the  new  repnhlican  party  had  developed 
iniexpe(!ted  streM};th  two  ,v»'arn  hefore,  was  iinusuall.v  aerinioni- 
oiis  and  personal.  Of  the  candidates  for  ji'overnor,  Itiehaidson 
canvassed  the  State  tlioronghly,  hnf  l^i.'isell,  owing  to  his  physiiid 
ailment,  was  uiuible  to  do  .so,  and  nia<le  but  one  sjieech,  whit'ii 
Avas  to  his  old  neighbors  at  iJelleville.  Jbit  his  character  thron}:]i- 
out  the  campaign  was  the  target  of  vindictive  assaults,  some  of 
which  he  felt  iiimself  impelled  to  <len.y  as  utterly  untrue.  In  let- 
ters addressed  to  theCiuincy  Herald  and  Siiringtieldij;tY/''''''f''  J'*'  b'ok 
occasion  to  reitel  the  charges  that  in  lS5l,}is  the  paid  attorney  for 
the  cai>italists  who  sought  the  incorporation  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Kailroad,  he  had  been  authorized  to  otier  10  per  cent,  of  the 
gross  earnings  of  the  road  for  the  charter,  or  that  he  had  from 
liis  knowledge  of  luiblii;  men  in  the  legislature,  labored  as  Ji  lob- 
byist with  Mr.  llantoul  to  obtain  the  reduction  to  7  per  cent,  to 
the  lasting  detriment  of  the  treasury  of  the  State. 

Upon  Richardson  was  concentrated  and  poured  out  all  the  pent 
lip  rage  of  the  opposition.  He,  it  was  urged,  as  a  northern  man, 
next  to  Douglas,  had  advocated  in  congress  with  determined 
zeal,  persistence  and  cifectiveness  the  disturbance  of  the  Missouri 
compromise,  and  was  joint  author  in  opening  the  Pandora's  box 
to  precipitate  the  evils  of  shivery  agitation  upon  the  entire  coun- 
try, and  a  border  war  upon  the  ill-fated  territory  of  Kansas,  to 
crush  out  her  freooom  ft)r  the  purpose  of  eidarging  the  area  of 
human  bondag'j.  These  impassioned  appeals  tokt  with  effect 
upon  the  people — Bissell  was  elected  by  a  jdurality  of  4,729  votes 
over  liichardson.  The  legislature,  nearly  jalanced,  was  politi- 
caliy  opposed  to  the  governor  elect.  The  senate  stood,  13  demo- 
crats, 11  republicans  and  1  American  (K.  N.);  house,  37  demo- 
crats, 31  republicans  and  G  Americans,  besides  a  contested  election 
case  from  Peoria,  which  w^as  the  occasion  of  a  fierce  partisan 
struggle,  as  we  shall  see. 

656 


niSSKLL'H  ADMINIHTUATION. 


G't'i 


Willi;un  II.  Ilisscll  was  l)orii  April  L'.">,  ISI 1,  in  the  Stiitc  of 
IS'i'W  Voik,  near  I'aiiitc<i  Post,  Vates  comity.  Mis  itaiciils  were 
oltsciuc,  IkmicsI,  (i(hI  I'ra'iii';'  people,  who  rcaied  llicii' cliildien  un- 
der tile  daily  e\aiiii>le  of  iiidiistrv  and  fni;;alit,\,  as  is  the  wont  of 
that  class  of  eastern  society.  Vonn;;  iJissell  received  a  respecta- 
ble but  not  thoroiiKii  academical  education.  Ily  application  lie 
ae(piiu>d  a  knowledge  of  medicine,  and  iti  his  (>ai-|y  manhood  caino 
west  and  lo<'aled  in  Monroe  county,  Illinois,  wheic  he  eii;;a;L;ed  in 
the  piactice  of  that  pi(»fession.  Miit  he  was  not  enamored  of  his 
i-allin;;;  he  was  swayed  by  a  bioader  andtitioii,  and  the  mysteries 
of  (lie  iiealinm'  ait  and  its  arduous  duti«'s  possessed  no  charms  for 
him.  In  a  few  years  he  discovered  his  choice  of  a  profession  to 
lie  a  mistake;  and  wiieii  he  approached  the  a<re  of  :>0  sou;;lit  to 
iM'iUin  anew.  Dr.  Missell,  no  doubt  unexpectedly  to  himself,  dis- 
covered a  sin^-nlar  facility  aixl  charm  of  speech,  the  exercise  (»f 
w  hicli  acquired  liim  ready  local  notoriety.  It  soon  came  to  be  iin- 
derstoo<l  that  he  desired  to  abandon  Iii.s  profession  and  takc^  up 
that  of  the  law.  Durin;^'  terms  of  court  he  woidd  spend  his  time 
at  the  county  seat  amon^  the  members  of  the  bar,  who  extended 
to  him  ii  ready  welcome. 

It  was  not  stran;;e  that  he  should  drift  into  i»nblic  life.  In  1SK> 
lie  was  eh'cted  •■  a  democrat  to  the  lej;islature  from  Monroe 
county  and  made  ellicient    inenii»er.     On   his   rt'tiirn  home  lie 

(piaiilied  himself  '"or  admission  to  tin;  bar  and  speedily  rose  to 
front  rank  as  an  advocate.  His  powers  of  oratory  were  captivat- 
injx:  with  a  pure  diction,  charminjj  and  inimitable  gestures, 
clearness  of  stateiiM'iit,  and  a  remarkabh^  \  ein  of  sly  hnnior,  his 
efforts  before  a  Jury  told  with  almost  irresistible  I'ffect.  lb'  was 
chosen  by  the  le<iislature  i)rosecutin}i'  attorney  for  the  circuit  in 
which  he  lived,  in  whi«'h  position  he  fully  dischar^icd  his  duty  to 
the  State.  };aine(l  tin'  esteem  (tf  tln^  bar,  and  .seldom  failed  to  con- 
vict the  (tttender  of  law.  in  stature  h(^  was  s(inewhat  tall  and 
sleiuU'r,  and  with  a  straijiht,  military  bearinj;'  i>i  sented  a  distin- 
guished ai)i)earance.  1 1  is  comi»lexioii  was  dark,  his  head  well 
l»oised,  thoujih  not  larjie,  his  address  pleasant  and  manner  win- 
niiiji-.  lie  was  exemplary  in  habits,  a  devoted  husband,  and  kind 
ami  induljiXMif  piiient.  lie  Avas  twice  married,  the  first  time  to 
]\liss  .lames,  of  Monroe  county,  by  whom  he  had  2  children,  both 
daufihtei's,  now  living  in  IJelleville.  She  died  .soon  after  l.S4b. 
]Iis  second  wife  was  a  datij^hter  of  Elias  K.  Kane,  formerly 
I'nited  States  senator  from  this  State.  She  snrvived  him  but  a 
short  time,  and  died  without  issue.* 

When  war  was  declared  with  iVfexico,  in  1840,  lie.  enlisted  and 
was  elected  colonel  of  his  r<'{;inient,  over  Hon.  Don.  Moirison,  by 
an  almost  unanimous  vote — <S07  to  (».  For  his  opportunities  he 
eviiK^cda  hi{>h  order  of  military  talent.  On  the  bloody  field  of 
IJuena  Vista  lie  acquitted  himself  with  intre])id  and  distiufruislied 
ability,  contributing  with  his  rej>iment,  the  Ud  Illinois,  in  no  small 
degree  toward  saving"  the  wavering  fortunes  of  our  arms  during 
that  long  and  fiercely  contested  battle. 

After  his  return  home,  at  the  close  of  tlie  war,  he  was  elected 
to  congress,  his  opponents  being  the  lions.  P.B.  Foukcand  .losepli 
(lillesi)ie.  He  served  two  terms  in  congress.  He  was  an  ardent 
politician.    Huring  the  great  contest  oi  18o0  he  voted  in  favor  of 


'Letter  from  the  Hon.  Joseph  Gillespie. 

42 


658 


niSTOTlY   OF    ILLINOIS. 


the  adJustiiH'iit  iiH'iisures,  lioldiiiii:  the  f't»llo\viiifi- laiif'iiiii'o  on  tlio 
doctrine  of  noii-iiitcivcntioii  :  "It  is  ii  priiici])!*',  sir,  n|>(»n  wliicii  I 
liiivc  ;il\.<<.vs  stood,  and  I'roui  wliicli  I  liave  no  idcii  of  dcpartinj;, 
a  priMciplc,  niaintaincd  and  ulicrislicd  by  my  (tonstitucnts.  and  one 
wliicli  tlicy  will  1)(^  slow  to  snirriKU'r."  lint  in  1S,")4.  wlicn  tiie 
same  principle  was  sonjilit  to  l»e  applied  to  the  orjuanizalion  of 
the  territories  of  Kansas  and  Nel»rasUa,  involvm;;'  a  lejteal  of  the 
JMissouri  coin]tr()niise,  lie  oppctsed  that  nnnecessary  assanlt  n))on 
the  domain  which  for  .')(>  years  had  been  consecrated  to  freedom, 
and  ni»on  its  consummation  became  iden tilled  with  the  ori^aniza- 
tioii  of  the  republican  ])arty. 

On  account  of  <'xposure  in  the  army,  the  remote  cause  of  a  ner- 
uous  foiiu  of  disease  j>aine<l  entrance  to  his  system,  and  event- 
vally  develojM'd  i»araplile,i;ia,  affect  in;^'  his  lower  extremities,  which, 
while  it  left  his  body  in  comparative  health,  deprived  him  of  loco- 
motion, other  than  by  the  aid  of  crutches.  While  he  was  ficnerally 
hopeful  of  ultimate  recovery,  this  mysterious  disease  ))ursued  liim 
without  on<'e  relaxiiijn'  its  stealthy  hold  to  the  close  of  his  life,  on 
the  ISth  of  Miirch,  IStJO,  over  Ihnouths  before  the  expiration  of 
his  gubernatorial  term,  at  the  early  aj;e  of  4S  years,  lie  died  in 
the  faith  of  the  Homaii  Catholic  church,  of  which  he  had  been 
a  membc!  since  1854.  When  it  is  remembered  that  William  11. 
Bissi'll,  in  the  short  period  of  l(i  years,  without  eaily  educational 
advaiitajics,  abandoned  at  the  mature  a<ie  of  'M)  years  one  jtrofes- 
sion  by  castin<^  aside  his  pharmacojjia,  his  vade  mecnm  and  arma- 
mentiim  cliiru<;ienm — quittinji  the  <lnll  and  laborioiis  routiiu'  of  a 
country  doctor,  and  resolutely  tnrninj^'  his  attention  lotlie  i>n»fes- 
sion  of  the  hi".  ,i,>  I'ttbrdiny  him  a  wider  field  for  his  a<-tive  im- 
ayination  and  as])irii),u  ambition  ;  attained  sjx'edily  at  the  latter 
eminence  as  an  irresistible  advocate;  distinji'uished  himself  as  a 
soldier;  as  an  accom])lished  orator  took  front  rank  in  the  halls  of 
the  national  Ie}>islature;  and  as  the  standard  bearer  of  a  new 
l)arty  marchiiifi' toward  national  freedom,  was  elevated  to  the  lirst 
position  of  his  State  by  the  ])artiality  of  a  <>ratefnl  and  conlidinp; 
peoj)le,  his  life  nnty  be  considered  a  brilliant  success.*  Yet,  in 
the  annals  of  this  State,  as  will  be  seen,  jh)  ])ublic  man  was  ever 
subjected  to  contumely  so  j^ross,  abuse  more  harrowin<;',  or  pur- 
sued with  nnilice  more  vindictive;  and  that  these  cruelties  caused 
him  many  a  lieart-]>an<,%  castinjia  shadow  over  his  exalted  posi- 
tion, or  embittered  his  closing;'  <lays,  is  not  :i  foreijiii  infeiencc. 

It  was  durinji  his  first  conj^ressioiial  term,  before  he  was  stricketi 
with  ])aralysis,that  his  hi{;h  sense  of  f^allantry  wasdeeply  wounded 
by  an  ettbrt  on  the  part  of  the  southern  chivalry,  throujuh  Mr.  Sed- 
don,  of  Vir.yinia,  to  depreciate  the  valor  of  northern  troops  at  J>u- 
ena  Vista,  while  the  victory  upon  that  field — "snatched  from  the 
jaws  of  defeat'' — was  attributed  solely  to  south',  li)  troops,  and  par- 
ticularly (daimed  lor  the  Mississi])]*!  rities,  a  rej^iment  commanded 
by  Jert'erson  Davis,  the  late  rebel  chief.  The  discissions  in  con- 
gress, fiTowiiifi-  out  of  the  acquisition  of  territory,  of  a  character  to 
l)ode  dissolution  to  tlu^  I'liion  for  a  time,  were  attended  by  nnu- 
iJinil  explosions  of  luilMilent  passictns.  Personal  insults  and  mena- 
ces to  noilhern  members,  with  a  \  lew  to  their  intimidation,  were 
frequent,  'riiese  iiisulls  and  the  bra<>jj;adocio  of  swajifi'ering  dis- 
unionists  to  overawe  the  north,  which  were  submitted  to  in  many 


'Gov.  Puliiit-r'sluiiuml  orntioD,  May,  1801. 


BISSELL'S  ADMINTSTRATION.  Oof) 

instances  \vi|li  ii  nu'ekness  to  cause  one  even  now  tohlnsh  with  in- 
dijiUiitioii,  ISisscH's  ardent  nature  could  not  brook,  and  the  vile 
shiiidcr  of  Se(l(h)n  was  repcHcd  in  a  speecii  rej)lete  with  facts, 
stiufiinj^'  rebuke  aiul  moving'  ehxiueuce,  which  iic(|uired  for  liiui 
national  fame,  and  was  a  sounte  of  pride  to  his  secition  and  Stat(\ 
Such  bold  utterances  in  su(!h  ucconiplished  oratory  was  more  than 
the  vauntiuf;  chi\  alrv  could  bear.  lie  was  challen<;ed  by  .lelfersoii 
Davis  to  mortal  cond»at.  Uissell  liad  indulp'd  in  honorable  de- 
bate, warm,  it  is  true,  but  in  terms  decorous  v.ithal,  and  in  maii- 
lU'r  courteous,  yet  his  life  was  souj^ht.  it  was  explicable  oid.N  oil 
the  jiround  that  the  challen<'e  was  addressed  to  the  entire  north. 
It  could  not  chaiific  or  vary  the  fact  of  history  connected  with  the 
battle  of  IJuena.  Vista.  l>ut  when  IJissell  coolly  attcepted  the  (thal- 
lenfi'e,  without  unseendy  parade,  evincinji-  not  only  his  individual 
iiitrejudity  but  an  earnest  of  a  deliberate  intention  to  tijiiit,  which 
won  him  the  admiration  and  gratitude  of  the  country,  the  nuitter 
was  accommodated. 

Jbit  the  constitution  of  Illinois,  besides  the  regular  oath  of  office 
l)resc4ibed  the  following  in  addition  : 

"I  do  solemidy  swear  that  I  have  not  fought  a  duel,  nor  sent  or  ncc/'pied 
a  .'hallenge  to  H^lit  a  duel,  the  i)r<>l>able  issue  of  which  nilfijht  have  been 
the  <leath  of  eillier  party,  nor  been  a  second  to  either  party,  uor  in  any 
manner  aide  lor  assistetl  in  sucli  duel,  nor  been  knowingly  the  bearerof 
siieli  dialienge  oraceptance,  since  ihe  adoption  of  the  constitution  ;  and 
that  I  will  not  be  so  engaged  or  concerned,  directly  or  indiret-tly,  iu  or 
aboutsuch  duel  during  my  continuance  inoliice:solielpuie  God." 

The  democracy,  which  luul  indulged  confident  expectations  of 
success  in  the  election  of  bSofi  to  the  very  last,  when  they  foujul 
the  scepter  of  power,  so  long  wielded  by  them  in  Illinois,  i)ass 
from  their  grasp,  tneir  chagrin  and  mortitication  knew  lU)  bounds. 
J)uiing  the  canvas.*-  their  press  and  stump  orators  had  not  been 
silent  on  IMssell's  disability  on  account  of  this  att'air  with  Jeff. 
l)a\i  i,  and  after  the  election,  the  ]>resstiie  and  onslaught  in  this 
direction  was  furious  and  unintermittent.  The  disease-snntten 
ma;i  was  i»ursued  with  a,  bitterness  and  ghoul-like  spirit  painful  to 
read,  using  the  circumstance  of  accepting  the  challenge,  erst  a 
source  of  such  pride  to  every  citizen,  as  a  means  now  to  ])rostrate 
Idm.  Their  pi-ess  teenu'd  with  comnu'uts  upon  the  deliberate  in- 
t<'n(iou  of  so  distinguished,  exalted  and  honorable  a  ]>ersonage  as 
the  governor  of-  this  great  State  committing  the  dark  and  fearful 
crime  of  perjury. 

lint  these  assaults,  that  they  should  have  no  deterring  effect 
uiion  their  object,  were  met  by  the  rcpnblicran  press,  politicians 
and  orators,  at  meetings  and  banquets  cclebiating  the  great  vic- 
tory, in  various  parts  of  the  State,  by  every  known  art  of  encour- 
agement, legal  soi>histry,  and  assurances  that  the  governor  elect 
could  and  would  without  hesitation,  take  the  oath  of  otU(^e  pre- 
scribed by  the  constitution.  It  would  not  do  to  lose  the  fruits  of 
a  great  victory  on  acciount  of  a  jtaltry  oath  of  office.  The  consti- 
tution, it  was  exclainu'd,  by  the  simplest  rules  of  law  could  not 
and  did  not  have  any  extra-territorial  Jurisdicition,  wherefore  he 
could  not  per[>etrate  an  infraction  of  it  where  it  did  not  extend — 
he  was  a  rectua  in  curia  in  this  respect.  J>issell  himself  ]uiblishcd 
a  letter  in  the  Alton  Courier^  in  which  he  went  over  the  wlioh'.  legal 
grounds  applicable  to  the  question,  resting  upou  the  fact  that  be 


6()0  HISTORY  OF    ILLINOIS. 


Mas  beyond  tlic  U'j^al  jurisdiction  of  the  coii.stitution  of  Illinois. 
He  furtlu'inKtro  icgavdcd  the  objections  so  vclK'niontiy  urjicd  as  a 
political  persecution  of  himself,  the  result  of  inortitUi;tioii  conse- 
quent upon  denu)cratic  defeat,  and  announced  his  determinatiou 
to  take  the  re([uired  oath.  In  this  he  was  ai»i)lau<led  by  his  party, 
declaring  that  he  was  right,  that  the  people  looked  to  and  relied 
upon  him,  that  his  incorrujitible  integrity  Vfus  above  rejjroacb, 
and  that  he  would  take  uo  step  or  do  aught  which  his  conscience 
could  not  fully  justify. 

He  further,  it  seems,  took  counsel  from  and  fortified  himself 
with  the  opinions  of  tl  x'st  legal  talent  of  the  State  among  his 
political  friends.  At  ine  time  of  IJissell's  election  as  governor  he 
had  been  an  invalid  exceeding  three  years, his  paralysis  rendering 
him  for  much  of  the  tinui  physically  hel]»less,  and  it  is  not  in  ac- 
cordance with  ])hysiol()gical  law  that  tlie  mind  connected  with 
such  a  body  should  maintain  its  wonted  vigor,  strengh  of  purpose 
or  independence  of  will  the  same  as  if  the  system  was  unimpaired  ; 
and  though  he  himself  wrote  at  tlie  time  of  the  meeting  of  the 
Bloom ingtou  convention  that  his  intellect  knew  no  abatement  of 
its  vigor  and  strength,  "  it  was  Ufauifest  to  his  friends  that  his  ac- 
tive career  was  ended.''*  A  man  smitten  with  incurable  disease 
leans  upon  the  support  of  his  friends,  and  is  then  more  than  ordi- 
narily intluenced  by  them.  Did  they  not,  therefore,  assume  a 
cnli)able  responsibility  in  putting  him  forward  for  this  place,  and 
after  election  further  impel  a  step  which  exposed  him  to  the  en- 
venomed shafts  of  an  implacable  political  enemy,  if  not  fraught 
with  serious  consequences  to  the  peace  of  Lis  conscience?  Demo- 
crats deiisively  avowed  that  his  moral  constitution  was  not  spared 
by  the  blow  w  liii^li  prostrated  his  nervous  system. 

In  .January,  l.sr»7.  Governor-elect  Bissell  and  family  arrived  by 
the  Chicago  and  Alton  railroad  at  the  seat  of  government.  Gov- 
ernor Matteson  met  them  with  his  carriage  at  the  depot,  and  con- 
ducted them  to  the  elegant  mansion  to  which  they  had  been  in- 
vited by  the  flattering  partiality  of  the  people  of  this  great  State. 
On  the  13th  inst.,  at.  U  p.  m.,  the  two  houses  of  the  general  assem- 
bly, which  had  been  in  session  since  the  oth  inst.,  preceded  by 
their  respective  officers  and  escorted  by  Capt.  Hopkins'  artillery 
and  a  large  concourse  of  citizens,  proceeded  to  the  executive  man- 
sion in  pmsuance  of  a  joint  lesolution  to  witness  the  installation 
of  the  governor-elect.  The  oath  of  ol!ice  having  been  taken,  and 
the  ceremonies  and  congratulations  over,  the  two  houses  returned 
to  the  hall  of  the  house  of  representatives,  the  lobby  and  gallery 
of  which  were  crowded.  Lieutenant-Governor-elect  Wood  was 
then  sworn  in  by  Chief  Justice  Scates,  and  the  inaugural  message 
of  Governor  Bissell  received  and  read  to  the  two  houses,  after 
which  ti.e  senate  retired  to  their  ciuunber,  where  Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor Wood  delivered  a  neat  and  appropriate  address. 

Governor  Bissell's  inaugural  message  was  short  and  a  very  or- 
dinary document,  noticeable  oidy  in  that  it  stepi)e<l  out  of  the 
usual  course  in  "distinguishing"  the  incorporators  of  the  Illinois 
Central  railroad  company,  "  that  our  i)eoi>le  in  future  nniy  never 
forget  to  whom  they  are  mostly  indebted  for  the  great  work  of 
that  road."  For  the  handsome  grant  of  land  that  those  gentle- 
men got   from  the  State,  ntore  than  enough   to  build   and  lully 

*  Palmer's  funeral  oratiun,May,  1871. 


bissell's  administration.  CGI 


I'ciuip  tliiit  road,  one  would  suppose  that  the  peoi)U'  did  not  owe 
tlu'Ui  much  eitlier  iu  debt  oi-  {gratitude.  Hut  the  pcu-tion  of  tliU 
iiiessafje  particularly  ort'ciidinjj;  to  the  democratic  majority  was  a 
cursory  view  and  discussion  of  the  all  absoi'oinn'  slaveiy  (]uestiou 
as  connected  with  Kansas.  Now  in  this  there  was  ])erliaps  noth- 
ing- luinsual,  but  the  out-<i'oin^'  governor,  ]\latteson,  in  his  eom- 
plet*'  and  a(luiirable  vah'dictory  message,  then  a  week  old,  had 
studiously  avoided  the  subject  ;>f  politics  in  any  ]>liase  whatever, 
and  Inul  invoked  harnuniy  in  couiu-il  with  his  distini^nished  suc- 
cessor. This,  then,  was  the  fire-braiul  for  an  exjilosion,  donbtless 
but  too  {iiadly  received,  and  a  most  extraordinary  debate,  both 
as  to  character  and  <luration,  spnni<j  up. 

In  the  house,  ilr.  1.  N.  Ariu)ld,  upon  the  coiu'lnsion  of  the 
rea(lin<i'  of  the  message,  made  a  motion  to  have  the  usnal  number 
of  l.'(),(KK>  copies  printed.  This  was  the  signal  lor  attack.  ]Mr. 
Logan  (now  senator  in  congress),  moved  to  amend  by  insei'ting 
10,000,  and  followed  up  his  motion  by  a  si)eech  of  two  days  dura- 
tion, which  in  severity  of  language  ex<!els  peiimps  anything  that 
that  gi'iitlenjan  lias  ever  uttered.  It  shocked  the  better  sense  of 
all  (WMsiileiitte  men  not  wholly  devoiu'ed  by  i)artisan  malignity, 
and  nuist  have  dec jdy  woun<led  the  sensitive  feelings  of  Hissell's 
liigh  strung  nature  rendered  more  acute  by  a  long  entailed,  en- 
lc<Ming  nervous  disord«'r.  To  many  democrats  the  speech  was  no 
siii»rise.  Due  prei)arati<)n,  i)articii)ated  in  by  some  of  the  party 
h'aders,  hiul  early  been  made.  Material  for  eviden-.^e  to  cover  the 
entire  ground  had  been  <*arefully  collected,  and  an  orator  to  exe- 
cute the  «uife<'ling  task  selected  with  skilUnl  penetration.  In 
August  preceding,  Col.  llichardson  had  written  to  .Jetleison  Davis 
for  a  VA)\\y  of  the  corresjtoiulence  between  the  latter  and  (k)l.  Bis- 
sel,  connected  with  their  dueling  affair.  In  the  published  cories- 
pondence  the  challenge  and  its  acceptance,  or  the  n)eniorandun» 
of  final  settlement  had  never  appeared.  Davis  had  to  write  to 
C'alilornia  to  Mr.  Inge  lor  it,  and  it  had  now  arrived  to  be  used  to 
convict  Bissel  of  perjury.  Major  Harris  harl  written  from  Wash- 
ington, stating  he  knew  Bissell  had  accepted  a  challenge  from 
Davis,  for  he  had  cx>pied  it.  The  Hon  P.  B.  Fouke,  wiio  was 
present  in  Springtiehl,  furnished  a  written  statenuMit  that  Bissell 
in  tlu!  canvass  against  him  lH~y2,  for  congress,  ha<l  urged  his  ac- 
cejitance  of  this  challenge  in  his  own  favor,  because  he  was  ineli- 
gible to  any  State  ottice  on  account  of  the  constituti(nial  oath  of 
oHice.  Col.  John  Crain  said  he  had  heard  Bissell  state  the  same 
iu  a  speech  at  Nashville  in  W.")!.  The  Hon.  W.  H.  Mcuriscui  wrote 
that  Bissell  during  the  late  canvass  for  governor,  had  said  in  his 
hearing,  that  he  did  accept  the  challenge  from  Jetf  J)avis,  &c.;all 
these  letters  are  paraded  in  the  speech  of  Logan,  Jan.  l.'}-14,  1.S,j7. 

Thus  fortified,  Logan  exclaimed:  "  If  coriuption  enters  into 
high  places,  it  is  my  duty  as  a  faithful  public  servant,  to  drag  it 
from  its  iK>lluted  <len  and  expose  its  hideous  deformity  to  public 
ciiticism  and  c(intemi>t."  He  would  "demonstrate  to  the  world 
a  degree  of  moral  turpitude  without  parallel  in  the  histcuy  of  the 
Htate.  No  governor  of  Illinois  has  ever  sought  retirement  to 
take  the  (Kitli  of  oflu'c" — the  oath  was  taken  at  tin'  ex«'cutive  man- 
sion, as  we  have  seen.  "  We  might  infer  from  this,  that  a  guilty 
and  bleeding  conscience  had  sought  seclusion  rather  than  stainl 
erect  upon  this  floor  and  pass  the  fiery  ordeal.     The   secluded 


602 


HISTORY   OF   ILLINOIS, 


ll 


and  iiiMisal  i)liic(^  iit  wliiitli  it  Wiin  takiMi  iiiiiv  afionl  j;nniii(l.s  (or  an 
inrcrcucc  as  to  tlic  workinji'  of  a  mind  ;;()ad('d  to  d('s|iiMjition  l»y 
a  wcijility  conviction  ol 'moral  tnipitiidc."  That  the  cxccntive 
had  «aid  ''lie  must  t-onnnit  perjury  to  hold  the  oi'lice  of  j;overnor; 
and  tlien  hear  of  his  taiiinj;  tht;  very  oath  wliicii  lie  said  would 
amount  to  ])eriury  ;  1  am  lost  in  aniazi^nent — standinj;'  bctore 
the  peopli^  with  I'alseliood  upon  his  lips,  and  averrinj;  his  own 
<;uilt  of  a  reckless  disre;,ard  of  all  that  can  inspire  c»>nlidenee  in 
man;  ^°  *  the  moral  sense  of  a  million  and  a  half  of  the 
l)eople  has  been  shocked  by  that  fi'arful  oath.  Truth,  sir,  lias 
been  crushed  to  (^artli.  The  liij-li  standanl  of  moral  rectitude  has 
bci'ii  broken.  The  votaries  of  virtue  and  honesty  have  been  van- 
quished, and  one  univeisal  wail,  from  (Miic^aj^i)  to  Cairo,  ha.s  bt-t'ii 
heard  in  consecpieiice  of  the  i>rostralion  of  the  exeiuUive  (;liair  by 
the  hands  of  a  man  whose  lips  an'  «piiverinji'  with  falscho«)d.  * 
The  constitution  of  my  beloved  State  lies  prostrate  in  the  dust  — 
bleediii";  and  man<;led,  *  *  I  warn  yoiiu};'  men  and  old 
a^iaiiist  tlKM'xample  set.  I  l>ray  (lod  that  we  may  never  aj;aiu 
witness  siicli  an  ocrcasion ;  Virtue  and  Truth  liereft  ui'  all  their 
charms,  while  the  liideous  and  hateful  <4<>dsof  vice  hold  dominion 
over  the  peojile,"  Such  are  only  a  few  salient  extracts  from  this 
lonji'  speecli,t 

Th(i  ariay  of  able  names,  both  (h'lnocrat  and  rei>ijblicaii,  as 
members  of  the  house  at  this  session,  is  excellent.  Much  i>arty 
feelinj;'  had  been  already  elicited,  as  we  shall  see,  in  the  lirst  ettorts 
to  orj^aiiize  the  house,  and  the  debates  iiHiideiit  to  this  (juestion, 
nominally  ujioii  the  printing;'  of  the  jioveriior's  messajje,  were  not 
only  generally  i)articipated  in  but  were  protracted,  exeitinj;  and 
exceedinji'ly  acrimonious.  We  cannot  do  more  than  to  state  that 
the  posi'  ion  of  the  friends  of  the  {governor,  in  defense  of  him,  was 
{icnerally  the  same  as  has  already  been  indicated — that  the  hniis 
(h'livti  was  the  District  of  Columbia;  that  he  had  otteiuled  no  law 
of  Illinois,  either  statutory  or  orj>anic,  for  neither  <;ouhl  liave  le^al 
jurisdiction  beyond  the  State;  wherefore  his  <  xcelleney  iiii<Lilit 
safely  and  truly  swear  that  he  liiul  not  accepted  a  (;hallen};('  to 
i'\}ih\  a  duel  since  tin;  adoption  of  the  constitution.  And  Mr.  De- 
nio,  in  the  debate,  ass«'rted  that  Davis  "to  this  day  declar«'s  to 
Gov  JJissell,  thi'onjili  Senator  Trumbull,  that  he  «ird  not  consider 
the  notes  exchanji'ed  between  them  equivalent  tt>  a  challenj^e." 
But  the  »h)ciimeiitary  evidence  shows  this  to  be  untenable. 

The  locuN  (klictl,  which  the  {governor  and  his  friends  set  up  and 
used  as  a  defense,  was  not  in  question.  That  the  otleiise  commit- 
ted in  the  District  of  Colinnbia  was  dehned  as  an  olfense  by  our 
statutes  is  tru(>,  but  that  it  was  not  punishable  here  is  etpially 
true.  It  was  circumstances  and  evasions  of  that  character,  how- 
ever, that  the  constitutional  oath  souj^ht  to  comi)asK  and  jirevent. 
The  intent  of  the  law  may  be  <;atliered  from  the  eircumstances  of 
its  passa{;e.  To  mark  the  ])o])ular  abhorence  of  tlu^  duello,  and  to 
impose  upon  its  votaries  the  disability  of  holding;"  ollice  in  spite  of 
their  constant  evasions  of  its  punishments  by  {^oiny  beyond  the 
confines  of  the  State,  was  the  aim  of  its  framers,  ami  it  has  faih  d 
of  etticacy  in  (nily  two  instances.  The  offense  now  and  hert;  wus 
not  in  acceptinj;'  a  ehalleii};e  in  Wasliinj^ton,  hut  in  swearinji'  at 
tliis  time,  in  Illinois,  that  he  had  not.     The  reasoning  in  the  one 

*  See  111,  State  IteKistur,  Feb.  im. 


mSSELL's  ADMIMSTUATION. 


m3 


ciisc  (Iocs  not  iij)i)ear  to  fit  the  other.  Was  Dissell  tlien  only  a  tie- 
facto  j^ovcrnor  1 

'llw.  coiirtcssy  of  printing;  the  usual  imiuhcr  of  (;opies  of  the 
lucssaj^e  was  denied.  Attacks  on  the  jtiivalc  character  of  his  ex- 
eellcncy  continued  Ihrou^liout  tin'  session.  No  annoyance  oi'  ein- 
barrassin<'nt  that  could  be  inflicted  was  spared  him.  In  tlic  pas- 
.safjfe  of  the  bill  establishing;  tJu^  uoithern  or  .loliet  penitentiary, 
icconiniended  in  his  nie.ssaj^c,  his  (Mistoniary  pri\  ilejjes  as  a  co or- 
<linat(!  branch  of  the  law-inaUinj;"  jiower  were  encroached  upon, 
and  the  a]>pointnu'nt  of  tluMMunniissioners  taken  from  him.  The 
dignity  of  oflicial  ])osition,  ami  the  courtesies  and  amenities  inci- 
dent tiiereto,  were,  to  a  j^reat  extent,  sunk  out  of  view. 

In  the  Semite,  which  c(Uitained  a  democratic  majority  of  one.  no 
dis(;ouitesy  was  .shown  to  the  <>'overnor  by  a  refusal  to  order  the 
juiidinj;' of  the  usual  munber  of  (topics  of  his  nu'ssaj^c.  Jn  that 
chamber,  besides,  ficneral  harniouy  and  yood  t'eeliuj;-  i)re\aile(l 
Ihrou^hout  the  session,  and  business  moved  alou.u'  with  acce[»table 
dispatch.  Lieutenant-dovernor  Wood,  a  ,i;('ntleman  of  line,  eoin- 
nnindin<>- personal  appearance,  ]»reside(l  in  an  impartial  manner, 
and  his  conciliatory  deportment,  meetinj;'  out  to  all  the  senators 
the  .same  (iourtesy,  was  received  and  nu;t  in  return  by  a  like  iiuirk 
of  respect  ami  cordiality. 

The  house,  notwithstanding-  its  many  able  and  talented  mend)ers, 
was  the  tlu'atre  of  much  tnrbulencc  and  partisan  strife  throiij^h- 
out  the  session.  It  was  said  to  liav(>  opened  as  a  mob  and  closed 
in  a  rout.  In  political  comi)lexion  it  stood,  deunxMats  .'$S,republi- 
cans.'il,  and  Ameiicans  (J.  There  wciv,  however,  two  contestants 
to  this  democratic  nuijority,  and  in  the  I'eoria  case  of  Eastman, 
rcpid>lican,  aj^ainst  Shellabarj;er,  democrat,  it  would  .seem  that 
Eastman  was  justly  entitled  to  the  seat.  A  few  votes  cast  i\>v  ('. 
L.  inst<'ad  of  C  M.  Eastman  had  been  thrown  out,  and  the  certifi- 
cate awarded  toiShellabar<;er,  whereas  had  they  been  counted  the 
former  wonld  have  had  the  majority. 

In  t)u'  first  efibrtto  effect  a  temporary  organization  of  the  house 
was  enacted  one  of  those  uuseendy ,  (pmbbles,  which,  while  they 
aie  not  unfre<|uent  in  this  free  country,  are  nevertheless  a  dis- 
^ra(*e  to  any  deliberative  body.  The  republicans  were  piimarily 
in  fault.  I)y  unitin<i  the  ()  Americans  with  their  ^il  meml)ers  they 
had  planned  to  .secure  the  or<>anizatiou  of  the  house  in  accordance 
with  the  usaficsof  the  lower  house  ofconj^ress  and  the  Ibitisli  par- 
liament. For  this  pn!i)ose  Mr.  Ibidjjcs,  clerk  of  the  house  for  the 
pre<*ediu<>'  {;viieral  assend)ly,  a  rei»ublican,  was  on  hand  to  call  the 
house  to  order  and  temitorarily  orjianize  it ;  to  act  as  temi)orary 
.sj)eaker,  and  in  that  capacity  exclude  all  contestants  from  xotiuf;', 
which  would  leave  the  re])ublicans  in  a  majority,  and  throw  its 
peiinanent  organization  into  their  hands.  IJut  the  democrats  wc  ro 
on  the  alert,  and  the  trick  was  suspected.  The  moment  the  old 
eleik  essayed  to  call  the  house  to  order,  F.  1).  rreston  nominated 
J<»hn  Dougherty  for  s])eaker  pro  tern.  A  srx'uv  of  uni)arallele(l 
confusion  and  uproar,  mixed  with  ])ersonal  menac(»,  now  ensued, 
Preston,  in  .steutoriau  tones  ami  with  much  firnuiess,  i)utting 
Dougherty's  nonnnation  to  vote  ami  declariufr  it  carried,  and 
Ibidfi'es,  persistent  in  his  rijjht  to  orjiauize  flu;  house,  callin;:  the 
roll  for  this  i)urpose,  and  many  members  answerin*;  in  reeojiiiition 
of  his  right.    Mr.  Latshaw  was  declared  secretary  ^^^'o  fe?«.  in  the 


6G4 


niSTOUY  OF   ILLINOIS. 


KUiiie  lUiiinicr  tliiit  Dou^licrty  had  bcoii  (;li(KSi'ii  Npcakcr,  aiul  lie 
also  was  calling;  tln'  i(»ll  of  iiiciiiIhts.  Above  tlii'.  (.in  a  motion  was 
now  made  tbrtln'  sci'^caiit  at  arms  to  »j«'('t  tlic.dd  cleik,  Uric'^ics. 
Amid  the  ^icat  uproar  it  was  dt'clanMl-  cariicd,  and  at  once  exe- 
cuted with  a  rush,  by  his  Ibreible  removal,  in  wliieh  t|uite  a  num- 
ber of  tiie  honorable  ji'entlemen  volunt«'ered  their  assistance,  Tho 
gicatest  eoidusion  prevailed,  muscU'  was  triumitiiaiit  and  order 
was  restored.  The  vi(!tory  was  with  thedcMuocrats  ;  Slieilabaiger, 
one  of  the  I'eoria  contestants,  was  retained  in  ids  seat,  which  pive 
them  a  clear  w  yrkinj"'  nnijorit.v  and  the  or;;aid/ation  of  the  lionse. 
As  there  were  many  able  nuMubeis  in  the  house,  tins  Peoria  con- 
tested election  case,  as  well  as  the  (jnestion  of  printiu};  tlie  j^over- 
nor's  nu'ssajie,  elicited  their  fidl  jtower  of  debate,  and  many  line 
and  eloquent  speeches  from  both  sides  were  made  during  the  ses- 
sion. 

Eari.>  in  the  session  an  ai>]M)rtionment  bill,  based  upon  tho 
State  census  of  ISo.l,  was  introduced  into  the  house  by  the  repub- 
licans. The  population  of  Illinois,  in  1S.")(),  was  .sr)l,470,  and  in 
18r>."i,  l,.'500,l'5l — an  in(;r«'ase  of  4t7,7iSl — about  50  per  cent.,  or 
one-third  her  entii(^  ])()])ulation  in  o  years.  This  gain  was  two- 
thirds  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  State,  the  main  rej>ublieau 
strongholds.  The  bill  was  therefore  at  once  spurned  by  the  iWiw 
ocrats,  who  ottered  a  substitute  which  was  provocative  of  the 
most  stubborn  parliauuMitary  resistan(^e  at  every  stej)  by  the  re- 
publicans. Such  measures  are  nearly  al  wa.\  s  ])assed  in  the  interests 
of  the  dominant  party.  J>oth  bills  souglit  to  secure  ascemlency 
in  the  next  legislature,  when  a  Uidted  States  senator  was  to  be 
elc  'ed  to  Douglas'  jilace. 

'J  lie  constitution  rcipnred  districts  to  be  com])osed  of  contigu- 
ous territory,  bounded  by  county  lines.  The  substitiu'  was 
claiuH'd  to  be  unconstitutional,  in  fact  a  perfe(!t  libel  on  the  theory 
of  e(pnil  representation,  hi  that  it  "gerryman(lere<l''  the  State  into 
all  sorts  of  deformity,  the  nu're  cornering  of  counties  in  many  in- 
stances being  deemed  a  sntlicient  contiguity  of  territory  for  the 
formation  of  districts;  in  one«listrict  ;}  votes  were  nuide  equal  to 
4  in  another;  in  another  5  were  nnule  to  e(pnd  more  than  0  in  still 
another;  and  that  in  a  certain  contingency  one  county  would 
be  without  rejueseutation  at  all.  With  much  show  of  rea- 
son, doubtless,  the  opposition  regarded  the  .substitute  as  a  imist 
villainous  piece  of  i>arty  legislation,  and  they  exhausted  every 
l)arliamentary  ettbit  and  devi(!e  to  defeat  it,  but  failed.  The  bill 
was  i)assed  towanl  the  heel  of  the  session.  It  now  went  to  the 
govennu'  for  his  signature.  That  fun<'tionary,  it  was  confidently 
exiK'cted,  would  veto  it;  the  surprise,  therefore,  was  simply  as- 
tounding when  his  secretary,  on  the  last  day  of  the  session,  with 
other  bills  reported  his  approval  of  it  to  the  house. 

And  now  everything  was  bustle,  there  was  huiryiug  to  and  fro. 
Uis  excelleiu'y  was  coni'nmted  by  disaiq)ointed  but  detern>iiied 
Xiolitical  friemts,  and  within  an  hour  he  sought  to  icciall  his  .ues- 
sage  of  ai)pioval,  alleging  it  to  have  been  made  by  mistake.  Some 
republicans  oi)enly  boasted  that  they  had  comi>elled  the  recall  and 
thereto.  An  infirnml  note  explanatoiy  of  the  circumstances 
was  sent  to  the  house,  tbllowed  afterwards  by  his  veto  and  return 
of  the  bill.  The  ciiaynn  and  mortitication  was  now  changed  from 
the  republican  to  the  democratic  side.    The  house,  where  it  origi- 


-t  'iiii; 


iiisskll's  administration. 


G65 


iiutt'd,  refused  to  receive  hack  the  bill,  or  allow  the  veto  inessage 
to  h«^  read  or  eiileicd  upon  tiie  Journal,  as  tlie  (ronstitutio.i  rc- 
(jiiiicd,  and  both  were  taken  to  the  otllei^  of  the.  Secretary  of  State, 
and  tlier(i  filed.  It  was  held  that  after  the  <j^overnor  had  au- 
n(»unced  his  approval  of  the  hill  it  heeanie  a  law,  and  j)assed  for- 
e\  t'l  be.vond  his  control,  and  the  only  way  to  reach  it  would  bo 
by  repeal. 

The  republican  members  sij;iied  a  protest,  which  was  spread 
upon  the  minutes,  as  was  the  undoubted  rif>ht  of  any  two  or 
more.  liut  now  that  party  feeliuj;  was  thorou<;hly  aroused,  the 
jirotest  was  not  allowed  to  stand.  On  motion,  it  was  expunged 
from  the  journal.  This  conduct,  both  with  reference  to  the  rejec- 
tion ol"  the  veto  messa;^*' and  the  expuiiKiiij^'  of  the  i)rotest,  was 
contrary  to  the  c(vnstitution,  revolutionary  and  most  reprehensi- 
ble. With  these  partisan  acts,  and  amidst  the  fi'reatest  ujtroar, 
without  indnlj^in;,^  the  ordinary  courtesy  of  passinj;'  a  resolution  of 
thanks  to  tlu;  speaker,  the  hour  of  the  sine  die,  a<l)ournuu!nt  hav- 
iuix  been  i)osti>oned  by  stoppin<;-  the  clock,  this  deliberative  body 
tinally,  late  in  the  ni},dit,  adjourned  in  a  rout. 

Some  democrats  having  confidence  in  the  le{;ality  of  the  point 
ui)on  whi(!h  the  house  acted,  that  the  governor  could  not  recall 
his  apitroval,  the  act  was  by  mandamus  cj cried  up  to  the  su- 
l)reme  court  to  test  its  validity.  IJut  the  opinion  of  that  tribunal 
was  adverse.  The  constitutionality  of  the  objectionable  ])rovi- 
sions  of  tlu'  bill  were  not  jtassed  ui)on,  but  whether  the  forms  of 
legislation  which  it  followed  ren<lered  it  valid  or  not.  Judge 
<  atiui,  delivering  the  ojiinion  of  the  court,  held  that  while  a 
bill  is  in  the  possession  and  control  of  the  executive,  within  the  pe- 
ri(»d  limited  by  the  constitution,  it  has  not  the  force  of  law,  and 
lie  may  exeicise  a  veto  power,  and  so  return  to  the  house  where  it 
originated,  with  his  minu'  eiased,  uotwithstanding  he  had  ouco 
announced  ids  approval  of  it. 

Apportioihiient  Bill  of  ISoJ). — Two  years  later,  at  the  close 
of  tile  session,  another  bedlam,  more  outrageous  and  undignified 
than  the  foregoing,  was  ena(;ted  by  the  legislature.  Theoccasiou 
was  again  an  api>ortionment  nuiasure.  The  democracy,  through 
the  herculean  labors  of  Douglas  in  his  senatorial  canvass  against 
Mr.  Lincoln,  were  in  a  small  majority  in  both  hou.ses,  although 
the  popular  vote  of  the  State  was  against  them.  Se(Mng  the 
<'lose  of  their  rule  approaching,  jnobably  in  the  next  election  as 
it  proved,  they  sought  to  [)erpetuate  their  power,  and  possibly 
with  the  view  to  elect  a  democratic  successor  to  the  then  hated 
Trund)ull  in  the  United  States  senate,  in  18(51,  by  so  shaping  the 
senatorial  a)id  rei»resentative  distrii'ts  as  to  give  them  the  gen- 
eisd  assembly  atid  accomidish  the  ends  in  view. 

The  l)ill,  itseems,  was  indeed  a  most  unfair  gerrymander,  looking 
s(»lely  to  partisan  ends.  Ckauities  seitarately  entitled  to  represen- 
tatives weregrou[)ed  with  others,  and  large  districts  formed  whose 
aggregate  democratic  vote  woukl  oveibalance  their  snndl  republi- 
can majo)'ities,  and  thus  force  upon  them  re})reseutatives  they  did 
m>t  want.  Instead  of  forming  districts  out  of  contiguous  and 
compact  territory,  they  were  stretc'hed  over  two  degrees  of  lati- 
tude. To  the  republican  counties  of  the  State,  whose  population 
was  stated  at  040,718,  were  accorded  33  representatives,  while  to 


606 


UISTOUV   OF    ILLINOIS. 


tilt'  licinociiitic,  coiiiitics,  with  a  population  of  477,078,  were  nivt'U 
41   rcpicsciitativcs. 

Tii«'  hill  was  iutixliiccd  the  lliinl  week  of  the  session  iiiid  the 
(Iciiiociatic  majority  fop'.'d  it  aloii;;  in  its  ordtT,  Tln' rcpidilicans 
Avlio  wcn'  ahl.v  n'prcsciitcd,  jiaiticulaiiy  in  tlir  lions*',  fon^ht  it  at 
every  sici).  Thns  all  tlu;  l«'j;islati(»n  behind  this  bill  was  held  in 
abeyance  (11  its  account.  The  41.*  days  (tonteiui»lateil  by  the  e»ni- 
stitution  as  the  limit  of  the  session,  were  frittered  away  in  I'eso- 
lulions,  parliamentary  contention,  and  bunconib  speeelies.  When 
it  finally  i>assed,  lirst  the  lieutenant-Mt»vernor,  whose  si<;nature 
was  re(piired  to  it,  was  said  to  be  absent  durinj^'  th«> 
iii^ht  session,  ami  r<'fused  to  sij;n  it  except  at  the  cajtital. 
N.*xt  (lov.  IJisse'l  retained  it  a  week  bef«)re  he  sent  in  his 
veto,  in  the  meantime  everythinji' of  impoitance  was  delayed. 
The  enrolling;-  clerks,  in  obedience  lo  orders  it  was  said,  retarded 
their  labors.  Chairmen  of  the  enj;rossinji'  committees  had  tlii'ir 
po(;kets  crammed  with  bills,  which  they  would  neither  leport  tln'm- 
selves  nor  dis,iL'(>rj;e  for  others  to  <lo  it.  IMivate  bills  of  friend 
and  I'oe  were  kept  back,  so  ^^reat  was  the  feelinj;  of  determination. 
Conlident  of  veto,  it  was  deterndned  to  re](ass  the  bill  over  it  b»'- 
fore  any  other  business  should  be  transacted.  It  was  tlu^  nniin 
appropriation  bill,  tlirou<ih  n(»n  action  upon  which  the  ends  of  the 
nnijority  were  souj^ht  to  be  .iccomplished  by  failing  to  i>rovide  the 
means  for  carrying;'  on  the  {"'overnnu'iit  and  a<lministerin};'  the  laws 
during  the  comiuf;  two  years'  interrej;num.  The  rei»ublicans  sou;ilit 
to  [)ass  it  out  of  the  re<iular  order  but  failed,  it  was  well  un- 
der:;tood  that  with  the  passaj^e  of  this  bill  they  would  leave  'illelsi' 
in  the  lurch,  stampede,  and  break  a  (juorum  to  <lefeat  the  hated 
apportionment. 

Finally  the  f^overnor  sent  in  his  veto.  The  house  Imd  niet  at 
9  A.  M.  Immediati'ly  after  )>rayer,  the  lion.  Jj.  IS.  Church  an- 
nounced the  <;(»vernor's  private  secretary,  and  as  he  commenced  to 
read  a  violent  tumult  ensued.  The  democrats  almost  in  a  body 
spran,i;  to  their  feet,  vociferatinj>"  fiercely,  while  above  the  din 
rai)i)ed  the  speaker  with  his  gavel,  crying  "silence — order — there 
is  lU)  quorum  present.  Ko  communication  can  be  made  to  the 
house  in  the  absen»',e  of  a  <]Uorum!  Doorkeejier  put  that  man 
out'' — meaning  the  secretary.  Others  shouted  '•  Knock  him 
down,"  "  Jvi(;k  him  out,"&c.,  with  other  threats  and  im])recatious. 
The  door-keeper  starte<l  to  execute  the  sjieaker's  older,  but  by 
this  time  the  secretary  had  read  the  veto  message,  and  delivering 
it  and  the  bill  to  a  j)age,  tuined  to  dejiart.  As  the  l)age  started 
to  the  clerk's  desk,  the  sjieakcr  oideied  the  palters  to  be  retunu'd 
to  the  secretary,  and  Mr.  CJreiMi  of  Massac;  volunteered  to  execute 
the  order.  He  snatched  them  from  the  boy's  haml,  ptirsued  the 
secretary  into  the  lobby  and  thrust  them  at  him.  Upon  refusal 
they  were  violently  cast  on  the  floor.  Mr.  Church  gathered  them 
up,  folded  them  together,  walked  leisurely  up  the  aisle  and  laid 
them  carefully  on  the  speaker's  desk.  That  gentleman,  with  a 
contem])tu()Usexi»iessiou,  brushed  then>  off.  They  were  exandned 
by  sev<'ral  members  ami  thrown  back,  when  JNlr.  Green  picked 
them  off  the  Hoor  and  thrust  them  in  his  jiocket,  with  the  remark 
that  he  had  as  much  right  to  them  as  anyluxly  and  he  would  as- 
sume the  responsibility;  meanwhile  the  wildest  disorder  prevailed. 


bisskll's  administuation. 


607 


^Vll('n  (|iii('tii(U^  was  rcstorcMl,  si  «'all  of  tin*  house  sliowcd  <»iily  42 
nu'iiiltcrs  present,  less  tliaii    a  (|iioi'iiin,  and   tlu^  lionse  ailjonined. 

Tlie  ohjeetions  of  tln' j-ovenior  to  tlie  a|>i.',ii1ionieiit  bill  were 
tliat  its  eHeet  wcadd  be  to  con  tin  n«^  tlic  control  of  the  };eneral  as- 
senil»ly  in  the  hands  of  a  minority  of  the  people;  that  the  new 
county  <»f  Ford  was  i>laee<l  wholly  within  both  tln^  !)th  and  ISth 
senatorial  districts;  that  in  the  nuitter  of  <;ivin<if  excess  the 
loth  section  of  the  the  lOth  article  of  the  constitution  was 
disre^ai(U'd  ;  that  there  was  an  unnecessary  <U[»artnre  from  sin- 
gle districts — a  ^larin<{- instance  bein^' the  ."{I'd,  composed  <»f  the 
counties  of  ("hampaiyn,  I'iatt,  DeWitt,  Macon,  JNhudtrie,  Shelby 
and  Kllin^ham,  to  whicl-  ',>  representatives  were  j;i\en,  when  the 
census  showed  that  the  7  counties  would  divi<le  neatly  into  3  sep- 
arate distrl(;ts,  <S:c. 

Messrs.  S.  A.  Ilurlbut,  A.  W.  Mack,  L.  S.  Church,  Leonard 
Swett  and  J.  A.  I)a\  is,  iei»ublicaus,  ottered  a  protest  a;i;ainst  the 
action  of  tli«'  house  in  its  rejection  of  the  veto  nu'ssaj^c,  st'tting 
forth  in  scathing''  lanj;ua^e  the  conduct  of  the  house  and  the 
speaker,  as  detailed  ;  (]uotinji'  also  the  {governor's  uu'ssajic  to  make 
it  appear  of  record.  The  speakei,  Jlon.  W.  K.  JMorrisoii,  doubt- 
in;i  the  the  necessity  of  receivin<i'  the  protest  without  the  house 
first  passiiifi'  upon  the  )»ropriety  of  its  laujiuayc,  held  it  for  ad- 
visement, but  subsetpU'Utly,  with  the  uiodilication  of  some  of  its 
allusions  to  individual  meud)ers,  not  himself,  he  admitted  it,  and 
it  was  spread  upon  the  journal.  The  democrats  sjjrcad  a  counter 
protest  against receiviufi' tlie  liist  i)rotest  npiui  thejouiiial. 

In  the  meantimu  the  not  um'.\i>ected  n'judtlican  he^ira  to(>k 
l)lac«'— a  few  beinji' left  behind  to  attend  to  the  i)rotest  and  Ictok 
alter  thiujis  generally.  The  (pu»runi  was  broken,  the  re-passaj-e 
of  the  api)ortionnient  bill  over  the  j;<)vcruor's  veto  prevented,  and 
all  the  uidinislied  business  broujiht  to  a  dead  lock  ;  involvinji  hun- 
«lr«'dsof  bills,  both  public  and  i)rivate,  inclndinji'  the  general  ap- 
propriation bill  uecessary  to  keep  the  wheels  of  gcneiinnent  iu 
motion.  The  lesnlt  was  not  s<»  bad,  howevei',  as  was  at  first 
anticipated.  The  approjtriations  for  the  northern  i»eiiitcntiary 
and  the  asylums  at  Ja(:ksonville  had  been  gotten  through  early  in 
the  session,  as  also  for  the  i)aynu'Ut  of  the  semi-annual  interest 
on  the  State  d«'bt ;  and  the  judges,  by  a  law  of  J<S41t,  could  draw 
their  salaries  on  vouchers  certilied  fntni  the  govcnu)r  to  the 
aiulitor.  The  cou<luct  of  tlie  re]»ublicans  in  leaving- was  revolu- 
tionary, and  the  whole  proceedings  not  oidy  undignified  but  dis- 
creditable to  the  State.  If  the  minority,  not  a]»iireciating  that  in 
their  capacity  as  legislators  they  acted  foi'  the  whole  State  ami  the 
entii<'  peo])le,  sought  only  to  discharge  partisan  duty  to  their  con- 
stitiU'uts,  then  they  should  have  defeated  there-election  of  1,)'*"^"' 
las,  and,  indeed,  they  might  in  the  same  way  have  altogether  ]»re- 
veiite«l  legislation.  After  waiting  two  days  for  the  retuiii  of  the 
delin(juents,  the  democrats  adjourned  the  general  assembly  sine 
(lie. 

Upon  the  death  of  Gov.  Bissell,  March  18,  ISCO,  tlie  Lieut.  Gov., 
John  Wood,  by  virtue  of  his  ofllice,  became  governor  for  the  unex- 
pired term  of  near  10  months  time  Bissell  was  the  only  execu- 
tive of  the  State  who  died  iu  that  olBce. 


OOH 


HIST<»UY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


TIIH  (;ANAL  SCIMP  FltAl'I). 


In  IIh^  winter  «>!'  IS.IU  was  hroii  ;lit  to  li;;lit  llic  most  stnpcMdoiis 
iniliv  itlnal  fV:iii<l  txri- pt'i  |icli'iit  I  n|Miii  lli*- Stiilc  of  Illinois.  It 
Wiis  ;;i'('atl>  inlcnsiiinl  in  tliat  all  tli<^  attrndant  ciiciinistant-cs 
])ointf<i  to  a  i;cntlcnnin  as  llio  pciix'trator,  wlio  lait  a  short  time 
Im  lore  liad  hern  ImhioiimI  with  tlic  most  <>\altcii  station  in  tlir  ^ilt 
of  tin-  ))<'o|)h-  of  linr  Stale,  and  who  eanieil  inio  his  retirement 
their  eonliilenee  and  «-steem.  The  Irand  consisted  in  the  re-issiio 
of  )}<1-'- I,1SL'  (Kiof  !K»  da.N  s  redeemed  canal  scrip,  dalin;^  i>acU  some 
.'{(>  \eais.  Owinji  to  tiie  pecuniai'.v  ntM'cssities  ol'  tliat  peiiod,  tiie 
ennal  ti  iistees  liaci  issncdiiLMJ."),!'.!?  ninety  da\  checks,(hited  May  l.st, 
and  .'!<lL'.'-{,.'il7,  (hited  An};iisl  1st,  l.S.'J!).  Miicii  looseness  had  i)e»'ii 
ohseiNfd  in  the,  oii;;iind  issiu^  of  theses  elu'cks  us  well  as  in  their 
redemption,  tiiey  lia\in^'  i)een  |int  aside  witinMit  liein^'  cancelled. 
A  snjK'ralaindanee  of  them  had  been  prepared  (not  know  in;;  how 
many  mi}{l>t  be  needed)  all  sij;ned  and  i'xeented  except  lilliii;;  in 
the  name  of  thiMreasnrer.  They  it-mained  nnre^^istered  and  nn- 
tr 'lined  nntil  dctaciied  ami  signed,  when  the  amount  of  the  dif- 
ferent denominations  were  entered  in  a  hook,  which  served  as  a 
memorandum  of  the  actual  ainonnt  in  circulation.  These  checks 
had  i)een  put  in  ciicnlal ion  in  l'A'A\)  fur  a  temp(M'ary  })nrpose  from 
the  canal  ollice  at  liockporl,  and  were  redeemed  partly  hy  the 
kSlate  haidi  hiain-hat  (Jliica';(),  in  puyment  for  (lues  to  the  canul, 
and  otherwise.  It  a])pears  from  the  reports  of  the  canal  oilicers 
to  th<»  legislature,  in  InIO,  that  all  of  both  thes(^  May  and  Anjinst 
issues  ha<l  been  redeemed,  except  IjS.SLiJ,  ami  in  18-ili-3  otdy  iflillli 
remained  outstanding. 

J)Mrin;;'  Ww.  session  of  the  lej;islatnre,  in  1H."»!>,  (icn.  Jatutb  I'^ry,  for 
man;,  years  canal  trustee,  called  at  the  audilor'solticc  and  showed 
.Mr.  Dubois,  auditor,  one  oi' these  old  camd  checks,  which  had  been 
offered  for  sale  in  Sprin;;lield,  a:id  <'auti(»ued  the  State  ollicers 
aj^ainst  receix  iii<;  sncii  scrip,  explaining;  how  it  was  Ion;;  since  re- 
deemed, and  that  what  was  then  in  circulation  must  be  frandit- 
lent.  lie  was  ntferi'cil  to  the  fund  commissioner's  oHicc — the  ii*>\- 
ernor  having  been  f'  (iflicio  fund  commissioner  simte  IMI.'i — where 
he  h-ai'iied  to  his  amazement  that  scrip  of  that  d<-.scription  to  a 
\(iy  liUiiv  sum  had  been  fiimled,  ami  that  lu'w  bonds  ot  the  State 
under  the  fiindiiif;  acts  had  been  issued  tlu'refor.  The  checks 
were  duly  si;4iied  W.  r.  Thornton,  presideid,  ami  counteisi^ncd 
]»y  .lacob  Fry,  commissioner,  and  by  those  jifntletncn,  and  also 
]\lr.  .Joel  iManniu};,  r<'(;o<;iii/ed  as  the  Kanu*,  IJifoO  ami  $!()(>  checks 
issued  by  them  in  is;{!>,  and  redeemed  and  carefully  packed  away 
m  abox,  but  now  doinj;ser\  ice  af;ain,  after  exchaufic  as  free- 
bank'  deposits.  With  this  rev«'lalion  consteination  became  rife  in 
every  State  department,  in  which  the  lejiislatnre  particii»ated, 
the  pcojde  ineiu'ially  shared,  and  the  newspaper  press  fairly 
leveled.  Noi' was  this  les.seued  when  it  also  transpired  that  the 
whole  of  this  s<iip  thus  fraiMlnlenlly  coineited  was  presented  by 
no  less  a  ))ersoiia;j;e,  than  exdov.  Matteson. 

In  th(^  Stat<^  Semite,  Mr.  Marshall  of  Coles,  introduced  a  i<'solu- 
tion.  which  was  adopted,  instnuMiii};  tlu;  fimince  committee  to 
in<iuire  into  certain  State  stocks  said  to  \h',  issued  and  based  on 
count<'rfeit  or  .spurious  scri]»,  empowering  them  to  send  for  per- 


HTHHFXI.'H   ADMINfSTKATION.  fWJO 


Hoiis  iitiil  |):i|M'i-.s,  :iii<l  to  I'l'port  to  tin*  s(>ii)it<-  tli<-  n-siilt  ol  tlicir 
invest  i}iiil  ion.  Tiiis  coininitlrc  <'on,si.sl«(|  ni"  S.  W.  l-'iilicr,  clniir 
iniin,  l>.  ('.  < 'ool<,  A.  •!.  Kn,\  Ivi-mliill,  /.  A|>|)lin;;ton,  S.  A.  I>n*-U- 
luiisti-r  iind  SiliiN  Ij.  Ilryiin.     Tlicy  r»')»oit  : 

"ll  ii|t|ii'niH  llml  in  Dcm  inilxr,  |H")(1,  Just  licloic  llic  cIoho  of  IiIh  frnn 
«)f  olllcc, iiliont  Sl.'i,(i(M»,  ill  jiniDiiiit,  (if  lilt' cliccks  iiliovc  (Icscrilird,  were, 
liyOov.  MiillcsDii,  |ii-('M('iil<'il  to  I'liKicli  Mouic,  xrcii'Ini'y  of  tlic  riiiiil 
fDiiiiiiissioiicr,  iiikI  new  Stale  IioikIh  ImhiiciI  liicrclor.  'i'iiat  (iiiriii^r  the 
jciir  IH.'>7,  iilioiit  ^!»;t,ri(H)  additioiiiil  of  llic  Maine  elieekM  were,  Ity  <<<)V«'r- 
nor  MalleHon,  |iresente<l  to  tlie  Maine  otlleer,  \nIi(»  isMiieil  new  IkhkIm  tor 
tlial  aiiKiiiiit  ami  tliat  at  diseiH  tinieM  llieiel.a)  lietii  paid  to  (idvernur 
MalleMon,  from  tlie  Slate  lieasiir.v,  an  anioniit  of  nioiiev,  lor  |iriiiei|iitl 
and  liitereMt,  to  nialie,  witii  tlie  IioikIm  mo  i^Miied  to  liiin,  tiie  hiiiii  ol'.'r^iili.'i,- 
]H'2  lid,  on  ueeouilt  ol  the  eanal  clieekM  so  |ileMenled  li_y  liini.  'I'lie  jjiealer 
hart  i>r  tlie  eiieciiM  are  reeiinni/ed  \>y  (Jen.  'i'liornton,  (ieii.  Fry  and 
^Ir.  .Manning;  aM  the  n<'nuin<•?^')(lall(i  i^l<ln  ehic  Us  of  May  ist  and  An- 
^riiMl  Ist,  is.'!!),  I»y  llieiii  issued  and  ii'deeiiied,  and  iim  part  of  Ilic 
redeemed  eheeks  packed  Ity  Mr.  Manning  and  tier  Kry  in  tlie  Itox  de- 
|>osiled  in  tlie  liankat  Cliiea^o,  in  tlie  year  1K|().  'there  are  also  ri>nii«l 
anions  theelieeks  I'linded  iiy  (Jov.  Malteson,  I  wo  pa^ka^eM  of  tlieelieekH, 
«lated  An^nst  1st,  ls;>!i,  ainoiintiiiK  to  $10,5(1(1,  whieh  are  IVesli  in  appear- 
aiiee,  liave  the  ed^es  tint riniiiied ,  tint  Inlly  sifcned  liy  the  euniiiiissidtier 
and  secretary  of  liie  canal  conmiissioiieiM,  and  iiMcd  liy  tlie  ti>'aMiirer  of 
the  lioard.  liiitwaiilinK  the  name  of  the  Ireasiirer  tilled  in  ii|)on  their 
futf,  and  lyiiiK  njioneai'h  other   in   conseeiitive  iiiimlpers." 

It  iippciiicil  iilso  in  testimony  licf'oie  the  cotninittcc.  tlnit  (icii. 
F) y,  ticiisni'cf  of  the  ciiiiiii  hoaid,  iind  .loel  Miinniii;;,  secretiiry, 
ill  tlu'  I'iill  of  iSttl,  coiintiMl  iiiitl  piiciuMJ  ill  iv  l:ii'<;(' senlcd  iioxtlio 
c1h'<'J\n  I'cdcciiicd  iiiid  otlicr  evidences  of  ciiiiiil  indebtedness,  and 
llie.v  iM'Iieve  some  of  the  part iaily  exeeiited  <'iieel<s;  that  Ml'.  Man- 
liin;;  toolv  tiie  liox  toChiea^o  and  deposited  it  in  tlie  liiaiKtii  Static 
JJaiik,  where  it  remained  midistiiilied  until  IMS,  wlieii  if,  witli 
oilier  lioxes  and  i»aeUa;;('s  left  there  hy  the  eanal  ollicers,  was  re- 
jnov<*<l  to  th(!  canal  (dlicc^  in  Cliicaj:*).  This  box  and  other  divers 
jtackaj^es  of  redeemed  eanal  iiidehledness,  were;  receipted  foi  \>y 
wi(!<u'.ssors  to  preihu'cssors  Ikmii  lime  to  time  as  ehan^ics  in  tiiat 
otll(re<»eciirr<'d.  And  none,  of  these  W)  day  clieeks  were  seen  in  eir- 
cnlatioii  from  lSIO-1  down  to  ISaJJ.  (ien.  Hart  li.  Ktnart  t<'stilie(l 
that  for  years  after  I.S47  he  hoiij-ht  altttj-ctln-r  near  half  a  million 
<lollars  woi'Mi  of  all  kinds  of  Illinois  eanal  intlelitedmsss,  adverti- 
Kin{>'  therefor  in  Chica^fo  and  New  Voik,  Init  ainoii};  all  his  pur- 
chases he  saw  only  about  iJKH)  of  tln^  lcS;{l»  eanal  checks. 

Jn  IS').'}  (lov.  Mattt'son  appointed  .Fosiah  McKoberts  State;  canal 
trustee,  who  went  to  Chieaj-o  to  receive  from  ex-Lieiit.dov.  .1.  U. 
Wells  theassets  of  tin*  eanal  otliee,  ainon<,'  which  was  this  sealed 
box,  eorrespoiidiii}^  to  th(!  above,  deseiiptioii.  He  received  also 
Jinother  box  with  a  loose  lid  or  cover,  e.(mtaiiiiii;;'  broken  ]>aekae(;s 
of  canal  indebtedness,  defa<;e<l  with  a  (^aneelin^  hammer,  but  on 
conntiii};  the  contents  they  were  Ibiind  to  be  short  in  many  instan- 
ces of  the  anionnts  noted  on  the  wrappers.  He  also  found  divers 
piiekagos  of  canal  in<lebtedness  in  the;  oflicie,  i)aTtially  broken,  and 
part  of  the  contents  niissiii},'.  An<l  "he  was  advised  by  (lov. 
Wells,  his  predecessor,  in  Ksubstan(;e,  that  the  vouchers  and  all'airs 
of  the  <%'inal  oflice  would  not  hold  otit,  or  prov(;  corr<!(;t,  but  such  as 
were  there  then  of  the  pajiers,  vouchers  and  furniture  of  the  ollice, 
be  received  from  (lov.  W(;lls." 

Mdtoberts  then  advised  (lov.  Mutteson  that  the  books,  vouch- 
ers, &c.,  of  tbo  canal  olUcc  Lad  been  turned  over  to  bim,  among 


070 


HIHTOHY  OP  ILLINOIS. 


wliicli  tlici'i'  Wiis  iiiiicli  iis*'l«-s.s  iiiiillcr  wiiicli  slioiilil  In*  disposed  of; 
mill  l»v  tlif  ^^ovcriKir's  (liicctioii  lie  piicUrd  nil  llic  ('\  iticiiccs  of 
caiiiil  (1.  ollici' iii(|cl>t*-<liH-.s.s  K'crivril  tioiii  Wrlls  in  :i  iniiiU  iiiid  a 
l)()\  (iiii  (U'diiiiii'.v  sliuc  Imix.)  foi  li'iiiisinissioii  to  S|)i'iii;;(icld.  Iiiiso 
(loin;:  iir.  tried  to  piil  the  siiiiic  sridrd  l)o\  '•into  the  tniiik  and 
siioc  l)o\,  lint  it  was  too  lar;;<-,  and  li*'  broke  it  open  and  packed 
llie  eonleiits  eilliei'  in  the  liiiiik  oi'  slioe  lio\,  or  a  part  in  eaili, 
wiiicii,  lie  cannot  certainl,\  slate.  Alter  paekiii<4  the  tiiink  ami 
shoe  box,  he  loeki'd  and  sealed  the  trunk  and  box,"  directed 
them  to  (lo\.  .loel  A.  Matteson,  at  Sprin};liel(l,  Illinois,  put  them 
on  boai'd  the  railioad  at  <'liiea;;o,  and  came  with  them  to  I^a- 
Salle,  witli  (lov.  Matteson,  and  there  lell  them  in  ehar^t'  of  (Jov. 
Mattesoii,  who  directed  them  to  be  sent  to  the  Central  I'ail 
load  depot  at  LaSalle.  r«  »7>»^'  for  Sprin;;lleld,  Illinois,  in  charyo 
of  (lo\.  .Malteson,  who  was  then  {ioiii;;  to  Spriii;;ticld. 

"There  is  no  distinct  e\  ideiice  before  the  (tommii  tee  that  the  shoo 
box  lijis  ever  been  seen  since,  but  the  tiiiiik  was  found  diirin^i  the; 
course  of  this  in\  esti;;ation  in  a  basement  room  of  the  ca]iilol  at 
Spiiii;;lieid.  It  was<»pene<l  (thei'c  wert;  n[>oii  it  some  appeaia.iices 
of  havinj;b«'en  sealed  twice,  as  if  ojiened  and  seaU'd  a};ain),  an<l 
the  conleiits  fonml  to  consist  of  a  ;;reat  variety  of  evidences  of 
caiiul  indebtedness,  some  complete,  that  ha<l  been  in  circulation 
and  redeem(>d  and  caii<;elled,  and  some  unfinished  scrip,  also  can- 
celled with  a  hammer,  the  whole  contents  counted  to  near  $li,.')()0,- 
0(10,  of  all  sons,  altliou;;h  Ml'.  McKobcrts  stated  in  his  icport  to 
(Jov.  Matteson,  in  l.S,"i;{,  that  the  con  I  en  Is  of  the  trunk  and  box  de- 
livered by  him  to  (iov.  Malteson,  in  the  sjirinj;  of  that  .Near,  were 
only  <'stimated  to  amount  to  )j!(I.SO,000.''  The  uncancelled  cheeks 
were  not  lound  ii)  the  truidv,  and  no  trace  of  the  box  was  ever  dis- 
covered. 

Thus  the  box  and  trunk,  which  the  evidence  and  !itten<lant  cir- 
eumstances  all  show  contained  the  redeemed  and  unused  canal 
checks  of  1S;>!»,  wcit^  directly  traced  into  the  (;ustody  of  the  gov- 
ernor ;  he  siibserpiently  ap]»eari'd  with  the  identical  bonds  in  his 
possesion,  and  had  them  exchan<;('d  or  funded  for  new  State  bonds 
by  the  secretary  of  the  fund  commissioner,  to  the  amount  of  $L'L'.'{,- 
l.SL',00;  and  he  appeared  furthevas  the  sole  beneficiary  of  their  pro- 
ceeds. Aprimafucievusv,  was  tlius  stronj-ly  made  out  aj^ainsttho 
ex-yoveriior,  anil  the  onus  prohaiidi  was  shifted  to  him  to  relieve 
Iwmself  of  the  charg(\ 

Under  this  grave  state  of  the  case,  it  was  only  sliown  in  defense 
that  the  j^overnor,  after  his  retirement  in  the  winter  of  1857,  took 
rooms  at  the  St.  Nicholas  Hotel  in  8prin<;tield,  where  he  bou{,dit 
Liigcly  <;  ■  the  public  indebtedness  of  the  State— $.'380,000  of  all 
sorts,  otlier  than  canal  checks  of  1831).  Mr.  Niles  testified  that 
$L'00,000  of  this  sum  was  funded  for  and  on  account  of  Clark, 
Dodjii'it  Co.  "Messrs.  li.  K.  (ioodell  (a  son-in-law  of  the  govern- 
or), AVm.  Smith  and  J\Ir.  Nesbitt,  swore  that  Gov.  Matteson  re- 
ceiv(!d  from  the  Merchants'  and  Drovers'  Hank,  at  Joliet,  from 
December  12,  18r)(»,  to  about  the  first  of  May,  18r>7,  a  little  over 
S:iOO,000,  whi(th  Mr.  Smith  nmlerstood  was  to  be  used  in  buying 
State  or  canal  indebtedness.  Mr.  Goodell  states  he  knew  that  Gov. 
Matteson  was  about  that  time  buying  public  indebtedness;  and 
Mr.  Nesbitt,  that  he  brought  to  him  packages  of  money,  which  he 
delivered  to  him  at  his  room  iu  the  St.  Nicholas  Hotel."  Geu.  I.  B. 


UIMMELL'S  ADMINISTRATION.  071 

Ciirnui  Jiiul  A.  II.  McKirc  testified  "tliat  tlicy,  cncli,  iit  ditt'crent 
times,  were  in  liis  i'oimiis  ill  tliiit  liotej,  iiiiii  siiw  liiiii  hiiyiii;;  ol'  pcr- 
soiis  iiiiiviiowii  to  llH'iii,iiii(|  ii|i|)iii'riiil,\  slriiii;;ei's  in  tin-  town,  ciiniil 
si'i'ip  iinti  rlh'flis,  to  iin  iinionnt  on  some  o(-<-iisions,  of  altont  !jir>,- 
000,  vvliieli  In'  |>iiid  lor  in  eiisli  al  tin'  linn',  except  in  one  oi'  two 
instiiiM'es  he  WiiM  noticed  to  ^^ivc  a  check."  Cniian  thon;;lil  pnr- 
clnises  were  nnnle  oiMsionally  at  T'l  cents  on  the  dollar  tor  piinc.i- 
]>al,  to  which  was  added  tlieaccrned  intei'csl  ;  ami  he  also  thon;;lit 
that  heohsorved  pnichiises  to  the  amount  of  -iCil^OOO  to  lit.'iO.OOO, 
and  that  sonn'  of  these  were  !M)(lay  (du'cks.  .Moore  swore  liiat  he 
tlioM;r|it  he  Inn!  oliserved  the  ^'overnor  pay  from  ijSl.L'O  to  tj;|.:iO  for 
principal  and  inti'rest  of  pnhlic  indelttedin'ss  dn«'.  A  letter  from 
(lovernor  l!iss(dl  staled  that  shoitly  after  his  accession  he  was 
frei|Mently  appli«'d  to  hy  letters  and  persons  stran^^t'is  to  him, 
ilesirin^'  to  dispose  of  e\idenc<'s  of  State  indelttedness,  and  he  nni- 
forndy  referreil  them  todov.  .Matteson  asdealin;;'  in  siu'h evidences. 

Tin;  .  while  the  trunk  fidl  of  cancelled  and  woithless  evidentu'S 
of  State.  indel)tedn4>ss  wa.s  readily  fonnd,  no  sn(M'<'ssfnl  etl'ort  a|)- 
l>ears  to  have  been  nniih^  to  show  wliat  becaim^  of  IIh'  box  con- 
taininji;  the  nncan<-ell('d  ami  nniised  canal  scri|i;  ami  while  Mat- 
teson «»blained  the  new  Slate  bonds  and  money,  he  failed  to  show 
whert*  he  {fot  the  00  (hiy  canal  checks  exciianficd  for  tlH-m, 
slhMvn  to  liax'e  lu-en  in  the  lost  sho»^  box. 

l-'rom  the  tiin«'  thecxchan<'(^  wasett'ected  in  ISoT,  np  to  the  frimo 
of  its  detecttion  in  IS.'tO,  neitinT  (lov.  IJissell,  althonjih  ex  (dlicio 
final  commissioner,  nor  any  otlier  Slate  oflieer;  tln^  fund  commis- 
sioner's clerk,  .Mr.  Moore,  who  had  also  been  JMatteson's  cleik, 
alone  excepted,  knew  anythinf;  of  the  transaction.  (Joxcriior 
Matteson  was  not  personally  examined  before  tin'  '•ommitlee.  of 
in\('sti«:ation,  Messrs.  (Irimsliaw,  IJrowniny  and  Koerner  were 
jneseiit  oil  behalf  of  the  State,  and  .Messrs.  Stuart  and  E(\- 
wards  <d'  Spriii^jlicld,  as  counsel  for  (Jov.  Matteson.  The  exann- 
nation  was  reported  in  detail,  and  may  be  found  in  full  in  tho 
weeklv  Illimiis  Ntate  Journal iA'  A\m\  27,  and  May  4tli,  11th  an  1 
l.Slh,  "hSoO. 

The  comnnttoe  foreboro  to  express  any  oi)inion  of  the  j>uilt  or 
innocen<;e!  of  any  party  conceriH'il,  and  were  apparently  j;lad  that 
(lOV.  Matteson  had  saved  them  "the  necessity  of  determiniii}^ 
many  einbarrassinj'-  questions  arising;  out  of  the  forej>()iiij>  state- 
ment of  facts,  by  otferin;;-  to  indenniify  the  State  ajjaiiist  all  los.s 
or  liability  by  reason  of  moneys  paid  him,  or  bonds  issued  to  him 
on  account  of  said  canal  ehectks."  The  fi'overnor's  letter  to  this 
effect,  dated  Si»riiigliehl,  February  9th,  ISoO,  appears  with  their 
report.  This  letter,  notwithstanding  its  fair  laii^iiajne  that  he  had 
"  uneon.sciously  and  innocently  be(ii  made  the  instrument  tlirouj>h 
whom  a  };toss  frau<l  upon  the  State  has  been  attempted,"  and  his 
"earnest  desire  for  the  preserxation  of  [his]  own  reputation  pure 
and  spotless,  rendered  [him]  unwilliufi"  to  retain  tlie.se  bond.s, 
aitliouj-h  i)urc,hased  by  and  issued  to  [him]  bona  fide  and  for  a  val- 
uable consideration,"  was  eommonly  regarded  as  a  confession  of 
the  transaction. 

These  funded  bonds  were  on  deposit  with  the  auditor  of  State 
as  security  for  the  State  bank  (so-called)  located  at  Shawnec- 
town,  a  free  or  stock  bank  owned  by  Gov.  Matteson.    To  indeni- 

""•See  in.  Keports  1859,  vol.  1,  644. 


672 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


f 


iiiiy  the  Stiito  ajiiiiiist  loss  by  tliose  securities  tlius  fraiululcntly 
obtained  lor  the  canal  sciij),  the  governor  and  his  wife,  under 
date  of  April  Ul,  ISal),  inortj;a}jied  his  Quincy  piopertv  to  the 
State.* 

The  comniittee  aslvcd  leave  to  sit  duriu}?  vacation  for  fnrtlier 
invest if^ation,  which  was  {^ranted,  and  in  ]<S(il  tiiey  ina<le  a  volund- 
uonui  re])ort,  enibracinji'  a  ficneral  exatninati(»n  into  tlie  ditteicnt 
cla;-ses  of  indebtedness  <»f  tln^  State.  They  found  in  the  course 
of  their  investigation  additional  frauds  uixni  the  State  jierpetra- 
ted  duriuin'  tlie  i>eriod  in  (juestion,  with  various  idnds  of  scrip, 
!(niountin<;'  in  the  ajijiicgate,  estiniatinj"'  princijial  and  interest  up 
to  .lannary  1,  bS(51.  to  !j!l()5,.'54({. 

To  pay  off  a  claim  of  $.'{.S,iil4  44  to  ]\Ir.  Kenedy,  authorized  by 
the  leyisliiture  in  l.S4()-7,  (Jov.  French  had  couiineiic«'d  to  reserve, 
undefaced,  internal  improvement  scrip  i»aid  in  for  State  lands  sold, 
but  as  this  was  slow  in  cominj;  in,  he,  in  Sei>tember  '  ;sued  bonds 
t(»  Kenedy,  which  paid  him  off.  In  the  meantime  $4,o()l  04  (»f  the 
land  scrip  had  accumnlated,  and  tlie  governor  caused  a  descrip- 
tive list  of  it  to  be  juade  and  liled  away,  which  was  found  by  the 
committee;  but  the  scrip  was  fraudulently  funded  May  14,  1<S57, 
amounting  then,  principal  and  inteiest,  to  $(),(».")(>  71>.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1841,  (lov.  (Jarlin  jilaced  in  the  hands  of  the  canal  j-ommis- 
sioners  2(18  bonds  of  $1,((00  each,  1!).5  werei)aid  out,  JOl  returiicil, 
and  2,  Nos.  105  aud  100,  reserved  in  blank  for  ^Messrs.  J.  (i,  and 
I).  L.  Jioberts,  mIio  never  called  for  then),  and  they  were  never 
paid  out  to  anyone.  The  bonds  were  dated  .Tuly  1,1841,  a-nd 
fully  executed  except  inserting  tlieuame  of  the  payee.  The  com- 
mittee uow  found  tlie  two  bonds  in  the  au<litor's  office  caui-elled. 
"  The  evidence  before  the  committee  tends  to  show  that  the  name 
of  J.  Cratty,  the  payee  of  bonds  Kos.  105  and  100,  aforesaid,  is 
in  the  handwriting  of  Joel  A.  Matteson ;  that  while  10  bonds, 
nmnbered  consecutively  from  126  to  144  inclusive,  Avere  i»aid  out 
to  Cratty  by  the  commissioners,  these  two  never  Avere,  but  were 
reserved  as  above  stated.  The  loss  to  the  State,  as  we  have 
seen,  was  estimated  at  $165,346,  besides  the  $22.'}, 182  66,  based 
upon  the  uncancelled  canal  checks  of  1830,  total  $368,528  00. 
The  comniittee  conclude:  "Whether  this  scri])thus  fraudulently 
taken  from  the  State  was  the  scri])  Avhich  was  in  the  box  ami 
trunk  ;iV)ove  mentioiu'd  cannot  be  determined,  because  no  des- 
criptive lists  of  the  scrip  was  kept.  The  only  facts  in  evidence 
before  ns  tending  to  throw  light  upon  that  subject  are  above 
stated." 

In  the  si)rin{j  of  1859  the  offense  was  brought  to  the  attention 
of  the  grand  jury  of  Sangtunon  county  by  three  of  the  State 
offlcials,  Messrs.  Dubois,  Jiatch  and  JVIiller,  who  by  their  letter 
of  April  27th,  furnished  that  body  a  list  of  Avitnesses  in  va- 
rious i)arts  of  the  State,  all  of  Avhoni  had  been  before  the 
senate  committee.  The  witnesses  Avere  subpa'uaed,  and  the  evi- 
dence elicited  Avassuch  that  the  grand  jury,  by  aA'ote  of  16 to  7, 
determined  to  indict;  but,  on  die  next  day  their  action  Avas  on 
motiim  reconsidered.  The  inquiry  wa.s  extended,  but  nothing 
new  being  elicited  they  again  determined  to  lind  a  true  bill,  only 
to  be  again  reconsidered.  And  noAv  sundry  members  of  the  jury 
began  to  falter  in  their  determination,  and  Avhen  they  again  bal- 

*  Sue  Uook  N.  ot  Murtguges,  pp.  550-22,  Adums  Co. 


niSSELL'S  ADMINISTRATION.  67.'5 

lottod  the  bill  wns  refused  by  a  vote  of  10  for  to  12  against — 5 
lia\  iiiji'  reversed  tlieir  opinions.  Many  rumors  and  surmises,  both 
of  a  political  and  Hiiiineial  eharaeter,  j-ained  currency  in  connec- 
tion with  tlu^se  "b!i(!kin<js  and  lillin^s"  of  that  body. 

A  yrand  Jury's  investifiations  niv  ex  parte.  It  is  not  their  prov- 
ince to  in<piire  into  the  defense.  Tiie  attorneys  of  the  accused 
ji'overnor  planned  a  letter,  which  reached  tlie  Jury  throu};h  tlie 
prosecutinj;'  attorney,  suyp'stiiif;  (besides  some  witnesses  who 
had  testilied  fav()ral>l\'  to  Matteson  before  the  committee)  the 
names  of  Capt.  ().  II.  i'ratt  of  LaSalle  and  Dr.  A.  li.  Knapp  of 
Jerseyville,  as  parties  who  would  make  important  disclosures. 
According  to  the  rumcmsof  the  period,  which  were  exceed inj;ly 
numerous,  the  ca]>tain  and  the  doctor  mentioned  were  expected 
t<»  shift  '^'le  brand  from  the  f^overnor,  anil  fix  it  u]»oii  ex- Lieut, 
(xov.  J.  B.  Wells,  then  deceased,  who,  Ave  have  seen,  when  he 
yielded  up  the  canal  otlice  to  his  successor,  JVh'HobiV' ts,  had  re- 
marked "that  the  vouchers  and  affairs  of  the  canal  oiiice  would 
not  liold  out."  But  the  scheme  failed;  tliouj;h  these  runuirs 
promptly  brouylit  to  the  capital  of  Illinois  Judj;e  Wells,  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, his  brother,  who  unwilling  that  the  inii)Utation  rest 
longer  on  idle  and  mischievous  rumors,  demanded  that  the  cliaige 
be  avowed  and  the  grcmnds  disti'ictly  set  out— when  they  iiu- 
nu'diately  ceased.* 

The  sum  subsequently  recovered  by  tlie  State,  under  decree  len- 
dered  in  the  Sangamon  circuit  court  against  Matteson,  was  $L'.">5,- 
500.  On  the  L>7th  of  Ai»ril,  ISiii^  the  master's  sale  of  the  ex-gov- 
ernor's property  took  place  at  the  door  of  the  court  house  in 
Spriiiglield,  to  satisfy  the  decree.  The  property  sold  realized 
$238,00(>,  leaving  a  deficit  to  the  Siate  of  $27,500.  The  State 
became  the  purcliaserof  the  larger  share  of  it.  His  splendid  man- 
sion and  grounds  at  Springfield,  which  cost  $93,000,  brought  only 
$40,000.  This  property  was  afterwards  redeemed  and  never 
passed  out  of  the  possession  of  the  family;  a  son-in-law  being  the 
reiiuted  owner,  and  the  ex-governor  making  his  very  retired  home 
there.  Never  did  a  governor  retire  from  oflice  in  Illinois  Avith  more 
iv.'.pect  by  the  people  of  both  parties ;  with  more  general  confi- 
dence in  his  integrity  or  administrative  ability;  with  prospects 
for  future  iiolitical  prefernu'Ut  of  exceeding  high  promise  ;  but  the 
disclosure  of  these  frauds  iipou  the  State,  i)rostrated  as  by  a  sin- 
gle blow  all  these  cherishe<l  hopes,  and  to-day  there  are  doubt- 
less many  people  in  Illinois  who  eveu  do  not  know  that  such  a 
man  is  in  life  among  us.t 

THE  MACALISTER  AND    STEBBINS    BONDS. 

Attempted  Swindle  by  Funding  them  in  1859. — And  now  at  the 
very  liight  of  the  great  hue  and  cry  of  corruption,  theft,  robbery. 
&c.,  raised  in  connection  with  the  canal  scrip  fraud,  over  which 
the  republican  press  fairly  gloafc^l  with  demoniac  delight,  and 
while  in  the  full  tide  of  its  onward  career,  a  shadov  was  suddenly 
thrown  across  its  track  by  a  dark  cloud  replete  with  ominous  [K)r- 
tent,  implicating  the  existing  State  government  in  au  attempted 

•  The  full  proceedings  of  the  grand  jury  are  published  in  the  weekly  111.  State  Jour- 
nal of  July  lit,  18r)9. 
t  The  fcx-Kovernor  died  in  the  winter  of  1S73-3  nt  Chloago. 
43 


674 


HISTORY  OP  ILLINOIS. 


^Ul\ 


swiiidlo  111)011  the  treasury  of  tin;  State,  ainouiitiiij;'  to  $244.-(IH,  by 
tlic  iciiiiKliiij;'  of  tli«'  Macalister  and  Stchbiiis  Itoiids,  so-called, 
vlii(!li  sliii(;lc  consternation  into  the  ranks  of  t lie  leadeis.  The 
(lentociatic  press,  winch  had  stood  almost  diiiiih  under  the  r(;vehi- 
tion  of  Ihecanal  check  frand  and  meekly  received  the  vehement 
blows  of  its  adversary,  was  not  slow  to  avail  itself  of  the  ojtpor- 
tuiiity  thus  allorded  to  <»tt-setthe  foiiiier,  and  it  rallied  to  I  he  onset 
A\ith  a  will.  ANhile  Ihe  two  wronj^s  did  not  make  one  iij;lil,  it 
was  nevertheless  aj;reat  relief  (such  is  Iniman  nature)  for  the  lat- 
ter to  find  j;rounds  to  clunjic  liie  former  e(|ually  with  cidi>ahility. 
Ill  l<S4i,  .lime  I7th,  .John  I).  Whiteside,  fund  •oiiiinissiouer,  re- 
ceived an  advaiK^e  of  )j!L'(»l,4<i((  from  Macalister  &  Slei»l)ins,  hank- 
ers in  New  York,  for  a  short  period,  and  as  security,  hy [tot  hecated 
with  them  804  Slate  bonds  ol'  ."ismKHt  each,  Ix-arin;;'  (J  jter  cent,  in- 
terest from  May  1,  1.S41.  ]'2i<;lit  days  later  he  delivered  to  them 
30  .'Jll.OOO  (i  per  cent,  internal  iini)i()veineiit  l)onds;  on  the  1st  of 
July  foUowinj;' he  <;ave  them  an  orderon  Nevins,  Towiisend  <S:Co., 
of  New  York,  for  a  further  batch  of  41  bonds  of  $1,00(»  each, 
which  they  received;  and  on  the  L'Tth  of  ()<'tober  follow iiij;,  tlu-y 
receixcd  from  iMichael  Kenedy  §.").S,l!l."»  44  in  canal  s<'rip — the 
Mliole  afijiic^atinj;-  ^\}\2,2\'>  44  of  Illinois  interest  heariii;;  indebl- 
ediiess,  whicii  that  linn  received  to  secure  their  advance  of  .i(li(»l,- 
4(!0  to  the  State.  The  receipt  of  these  sums  they  acknowledj^cd 
ill  their  account  ciiricnt  reiider<'d  in  IS42,  diiiinj;  the  session  of 
the  jicneral  assembly,  beinj;li<S  (»4-lOO  cents  on  the  dollar  of  se<;iir- 
ity  in  their  hands.  Upon  the  bonds  and  oblij^alions  received  by 
them,  after  the  lirst  .S04,  they  had  a<ii<'ed  to  make  further  advances 
to  iiay  the  State's -Inly  interest  for  1841,  if  it  was  found  necessary, 
but  the  State  stopitiii^' her  interest  payments,  the  advance  was 
never  made  ;  and  under  her  then  linaiiciiil  emliiirrassiiieiits,  the 
$LM)l,4(iO  ad\aiiced  was  not  repaid;  the  hypothecated  bonds,  ac- 
cording'to  the  contract  with  the  fund  commissioner,  b<'came  for- 
leit,  and  JMacalister  &  Stebbins  claimed  their  lull  redeiiiittion  in 
iiu)iiey.  lint  it  was  answered  that  tiiis  contract  was  made  in  vio- 
lation of  law  ;  that  it  was  the  duty  of  the  lender  to  have  iiMiuired 
into  the  fund  commissioner's  lej^ai  authority  to  hypothecate  the.  e 
obli<;ations,  and  as  he  had  manifestly  been  overreached  by  the 
arts  and  cuiininjj;  of  money  Jobbers,  the  State,  at  the  barofeoii- 
isei(;iic,e,  would  only  rejiay  the  aiiKUint  actually  receive<l  with  the 
interest  ajiieed  to  be  paid,  liut  these  just  terms  of  settlement 
Avere  refused,  after  which  the  pled}j;ed  securities  were  known  as 
the  "iMacalister  &  Stebbins' bonds." 


In  1847  (Feb.  28tli,)  the  les'islature  passed  "an  act  to  authorize 
the  fundin{4'  of  the  State  debt."  r.y  its  provisions  the  IMacalister 
&  Stebbins  bonds  were  specially  excluded  from  its  operation.  The 
new  "certilicates  of  indebtedness"  authorized  by  it  were  desi};- 
liated  "New  Internal  Im]»)()vement  Stock  of  the  Stateof  Illinois," 
of  ijsl, 000  each.  "Certilicates"  for  matured  interest  of  over  <5  yciirs 
were  to  be  issued,  not  to  draw  interest  till  alter  1857,  beinj;'  willi- 
out  coupons,  as  the  interest  was  stipulated  in  the  bo«ly  of  the  cer- 
tilicates. A  "transfer  iiyeiit"  was  to  be  ai»pointed  in  New  York  to 
attend  to  the  funding  of  the  compli<!ated  Illinois  imiebtedness. 

Three  days  after  a  supplemental  act  was  i)assed  to  authorize  a 
settlement  with  Macalister  &  Stebbins,  by  the  provisions  of  which 


bissell's  at>:mtnistration. 


G75 


'M  (UMits  (»n  tlic,  dollar  were  otlcicd,  in  new  b(»ii(l.'i  on  tlic,  anionnt 
li.vi>oflu'cat<'«l;  the  bonds  to  Ix-ar  upon  tlicir  face  the  words,  "li(ini- 
dation  Itonds,"  wliicli,  it  will  Itc  observed,  would  lia\('  made  two 
classes  (»!"  Illinois  I'nnded  iionds.  Wy  its  terms  tlio  law  exi)ired  on 
the  4tli  of, Inly,  I.SlT,  and  as  the  holders  of  the  bonds  ictiised  to 
surrender  them,  or  setth;  aeeordinj^  to  its  i)ro\isions,  nolhinf;  moro 
was  done. 

Snl»se(inent],v  better  counsel  pi-evailed,  and  at  the  session  of  the 
lejiislalui'e  in  the  winter  of  IS1!(,  Win.  II.  Hissell,  then  a  member 
of  ('on<iress  from  Illinois,  was  sent  by  .Maeallister  tS:  Stel)i)ins  to 
S]>rin;;ti<'ld  to  nutke  as  ji'ood  a  l)ar^aiu  with  tin^  Stale  as  he  eonhl 
lor  the  redemption  and  settlenn-nt  of  theses  securities.  '-An  acit" 
was  i)assed  "to  prevent  loss  to  the  State  on  the  .Macalistei'  & 
Stebl)ins  bonds."  It  w'.is  ena<'ted  that  upon  suri«'uder  of  the  lion«ls 
and  .scrip  hypothecated  with  Macalister  tS:  Slebbins,  aiiu)Uiitin<;-  in 
tlu^  aji'jii'einate  to  $!n.'5,LM."».4'I,  toj^ether  with  the  inteicst  coupons, 
the  governor  was  to  settle  and  pay  the  amount  of  money  ori<;inally 
advane<'d  with  7  percent.  iiit<'resl  thereon  fiom  the(lat<'  ofdeposit 
to  the  time  of  settlement,  in  $l.(l(H)  bonds  diw  aftei'  l.S().").  I»earinj; 
<{  per  cent,  interest,  j)ayable  semi  annually  in  New  York,  pro  rata 
oufot  the  interest  IiukI.  The  old  Itonds  to  be  surrendered  in  such 
amounts  at  a  time  as  $i;o,()()(>  of  the  new  bonds  woidd  settle;  an<V 
all  h«'ret()fore  surrendered  to  be  credited  in  lull  at  li(i  cents  on  the 
dollar  of  the  .SOI  bonds  first  hypothecated.  TIm'  now  bonds,  like 
those  provided  foiin  the  act  of  1S47,  weic  'o  bear  upon  their  face 
tli«'  words  "]i(piidation  bonds.''  Hence  no  "new  internal  improve- 
ment stock" <;onld  lejially  be  issued  for  thes«' l)ouds;  these  liipiida- 
fi<m  bonds  weic  a  distin<'t  class.  The  <ireat«'r  ]»ortion  of  the 
Macalister  &  Stebl)ins  bomls  were  funded  nniler  this  act  at  the 
rat<' otTei'cd,  but  not  all — 114  havinii  passed  out  of  their  hamls. 

Huriui;  tlie  session  of  th<'  ficneral  assembly  in  lS.-»7,  Dr.  \V.  W. 
IJoman,  nu'inber  fiom  St.  ("lair,  intioduced  a  bill  which  became  a 
law.  entitled  "An  act  to  iund  th<^ arrears  of  inteiest  acctined  and 
nnpai<l  on  the  i»ublic  debt  of  the  State  of  Illinois,"  It  authoiized 
the  governor  to  take  up  all  arrears  of  interest  due  and  unpaid,  and 
to  issue  to  the  holders  thereof  boiuls  of  )t!l,()()()  each,  the  same  as 
those  iUitho)i/ed  by  the  fundiny  act  of  1^47;  for  old  boiuls  with- 
out coupons,  interest  ccitificates  wei'c  to  be  issued  to  the  holder, 
for  which  new  bonds  were  to  be  issued  njion  j)i'esental ion  ;  ami 
"any  holder  of  canal  or  internal  imi)rovement  scrip  holdinj;  less 
than  .i!l.(M)()  may  i)resent  the  same  with  interest  ccitificates  enouj^h 
to  make  $l.(KU>or  more,  and  the  governor  shall  issue  a  boiul  as  be- 
fore staled  for  such  amount." 

After  its  jiassa^e  it  was  ai>prehend<'d  that  tin;  law  was  broad 
enoujih  in  its  leinis  to  include  the  oiilslandin<;  Macalisler  &  Steb- 
bins  bonds.  To  i»re\-ent  such  a  construction,  a  Joint  resolution 
was  promptly  passed  :  "That  no  bonds  or  certilicales  for  arrears 
of  interest  ujx)'!  the  IVIacalister  &  Slebbins  bonds,  Iwld  hy  lieu, 
shall  be  issuvd  by  the<>'o\('riioi-  toihe  holdersof  the  aforementiom'd 
indebledii'ss,  to  tluMr  agents,  or  to  any  person  ei-  i)ersons  claimin<;' 
under  them." 

The  outstandinj;  1 14  Ma('alister&  Slebbins  bomls  of  $1,000  each 
had  passed  into  tlu'  possessnui  of  other  jtarties  in  N<'W  York,  who 
ulle<>-e(l  that  they  liad  puichased  them  s(une  1(J  y<'ars  ajio  at  public 
unction  without  the  knowledge  that  the  State  refused  to  pay  them 


670 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Sit  pill'.  Tliev  now,  under  the  law  of  1857,  made  application  to  the 
governor  to  liavc  thcni  funded  at  i)ar,  which  was  refused.  They 
next  ai)plied  to  the  supreme  court  i'ov  a  viandamuH  to  compel  the 
governor  to  fund  them,  but  the  writ  was  also  refused,  tlie  court 
lioldinj;'  tliat  the  exe(;utive  is  a  coordinate  and  independent  branch 
of  the  goveniMHMit,  and  that  they  had  no  jtower  to  command  him 
to  do  an  ollicMai  act.  No  opinion  was  expresse<l  relative  to  the 
power  of  the  governor,  under  the  hiM,  to  issue  the  bonds ;  but 
Judge  IJreese,  in  delivering  the  opinion  of  the  (M)urt,  adde<l  :  ''If 
the  goveiiior  asks  our  opinion  on  the  point  of  duty,  we  will  cheer- 
fully give  it  ;  but  we  refer  him  to  the  high  tribunal  of  his  own 
conscience  and  the  public  judgment." 

Jiut  notwithstanding  the  refusal  of  (Jov.  Bissell  at  this  time  to 
fund  them,  and  ap]»arently  in  the  face  of  the  joint  resolution  above 
quoted,  he  subsciiuently  ciianged  his  mind,  signed  the  requisite 
number  of  new  bonds  in  blaid<,  as  did  also  the  treasurer,  Rliller, 
and  sent  thetn  on  to  New  Ycnk  to  be  idled  up,  as  was  the  rejMe- 
hensible  custon  of  the  tinu\  In  18i5t)  he  further  ordere«l  the  State 
transfer  agent,  Edward  IJement,  resident  in  New  York,  to  fund 
the  old  INIacalister  &  iStebbins  bonds  at  their  full  value,  i)rineipiil 
and  interest,  in  the  "New  Internal  lmi)rovenient  stock"  of  J.S47, 
authorized  by  the  funding  a(!t  of  that  period,  which  in  express 
terms  forbade  the  funding  of  these  bonds.  The  jtrincipal,  $1 14,(l()(), 
was  accordingly  funded,  February  oth,  18;>1),  leaving  $78,(»()(>,  the 
arrears  of  inteivst,  still  unfumled.  The  bonds  were  hehi  at  the 
time  by  the  New  York  Bowery  Insurance  Company,  $85,000  ;  the 
Mechanics' Banking  Association,  $2(5,000;  and  Morris  Ketcthuiii, 
$3,(H)0.  Under  the  existing  laws  of  the  State,  the  governor  hail 
no  power  to  settle  with  these  parties  upon  any  other  terms  than 
those  ])roposed  by  the  law  of  184!),  at  28.04  cents  on  the  dolliir; 
and  the  just  liability  of  the  State  on  these  outstanding  Macalister 
«&  Stebbins  bonds,  including  interest,  was  less  than  $45,000, 
•whereas  bv  this  action  it  would  have  been  directly  $102,083,  and 
idtinuitely '$244,208— a  loss  of  near  $200,000. 

The  transaction  seems  to  have  been  kept  a  profound  secret. 
But  at  tliis  time  the  canal  scrip  fraud  having  transjtired,  a  bill 
was  introduced  into  the  legislature  abolishing  the  funding  agency 
in  New  York,  and  ordering  the  books  of  the  oflice,  containing  the 
evidences  of  this  transacttion,  to  be  forwarded  to  Springfield — and 
now  on  "a  more  careful  examination  of  the  law  [the  governor]  be- 
came doubtful  of  his  authority  in  the  matter,  and  immediately 
telegra])hed  Mr.  ]>enient  to  stop  funding,  whicdi  was  done  at  once.'"* 
Immediately  after  this  the  governor  informed  the  auditor 
of  the  fact.  "I  was  for  blowing  it  at  once,"  said  that  function- 
ary, "but  he  [the  governoi]  insisted  that  that  wouUl  lessen  his 
chances  of  liaving  the  bonds  returned,  and  1  reluctantly  consented 
to  keej)  still  for  a  time."f  A  (!(U'resi)ondence  was  immediately 
opened  by  the  governor  with  j\Ir.  Bement  and  the  holders,  to 
negotiate  with  them  for  their  vsurrender,  which  did  not  at  once  suc- 
ceed. In  May  the  books  of  the  New  York  funding  agency  were 
brought  to  S[)ringtield.  The  auditor,  i)rofessing  now  to  derive 
his  infornnition  from  them,  broke  the  subject  to  the  treasurer, 
■  "who  was  already   apprised  of  it.    These  gentlemen,   before  the 


•Seo  Dr.  Muck's  letter  to  the  Oliicnuro.Tournnl.  .luly  12,1859. 
tSee  Dubois'  letter,  111.  State  Jour.,  July  20,  1869."' 


bissell's  administration.  677 

treasurer  started  to  New  York  to  pay  the  July  inteicst  oii  the 
State  bouds  jjeuerally,  ajjreed  and  deteriiiiiu'd  positively  between 
themselves  "that  nothing  should  ever  be  paid  upon  the  bonds  of 
either  prineipal  or  interest,  while  [they]  were  in  the  ofliees,"  With 
this  resolution  on  their  part,  the  closure  of  (he  transfer  office  in 
New  York,  and  the  fact  that  the  new  bonds  issued  undei'  the  law 
of  1841)  were  hixcribed  bonds — not  transferable  exeei>t  n[(on  the 
books — they  could  not  be  used  or  placed  upon  the  market  at  any 
price  ;  nothiufjf  could  be  done  with  them,  and  as  neither  i)rincipal 
nor  interest  had  been  paid  to  any  considerable  extent,  the  State 
could  not  be,  and  was  luit,  financially,  harmed.  The  scheme  was 
nipped  in  the  bud  ;  thou}»h  before  the  transfer  agency  was  closed 
in  New  Yoik  Mr.  Ketehum  succeeded  in  liaviufi'  liis  three  new  or 
funded  certificates  of  $1,000  each  transferred  on  the  books  to  a 
Mr.  (Jraham. 

"The  plan  embraced  the  funding  of  the  114  bonds  under  the 
general  law  of  1847,  whicli  expressly  i>rohibited  its  being  done; 
to  issue  for  them  'New  Internal  Improvement  Stock,' to  the  credit 
of  which  new  stock  was  to  be  placed,  the  aj>gTef;ate  of  pro  rata 
interest  which  the  State  had  paid  in  cash  on  its  bonds  since  1847, 
anjountingon  these  $114,000  of 'stock'  to  $37,298,  which  sum  would 
be  payable  on  the  1st  of  July,  18,")!>,  the  first  int«'rest  pay  dav  after 
tlu'  funding  of  the  bonds,  (the  bonds  being  funded  on  theijth  of 
Fel»ruary,  1H59);  in  addition  to  which  two  sums  there  was  issued 
certificates  for  interest  due  from  date  of  tlie  original  bonds  sur- 
rendered, up  to  the  passage  of  the  law  of  1847  under  which  they 
were  funded,  amounting  to  $41  ,."{88  83;  and  the  holders  were  en- 
titled to  the  further  sum  of  $41,382,  being  the  balance  of  the  12 
year's  interest  remaining  uncredited  to  tlie  'new  stock,'  for  which, 
under  Dr.  liomau's  law  of  1857,  they  would  be  entitled  to  certifi- 
cates"*—making  a  total  of  $244,208  83,  or  just  about  $200,000 
more  than  the  State  justly  owed. 

Dui'iug  the  summer  of  1850,  Dr.  Mack  was  sent  to  New  York  to 
negotiate!  for  tlie  surrender  of  the  refunded  bonds.  As  the  hold- 
ers f«»und  they  couhl  not  make  them  available — oenig  inscribed 
bonds  they  could  not  be  sold  without  transfer  on  the  books — 
the  Stiite  department  unwilling  to  recognize  hem  or  pay  interest 
on  them  either  accruing  or  in  arrear,  tliey  were  finally,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1850,  sun'endere<l.  Tl'  '  holders  were  unwilling,  however,  to 
settle  by  the  law  of  1840,  Six  years  later,  at  the  session  of  18U5, 
the  legislature  jKussed  a  law  compelling  the  sum-nder  of  the  Mac- 
alister  and  Stebbins  bouds,  under  penalty  of  a  forfeiture  of  inter- 
est after  .Inly,  and  princii)al  after  January  following,  ]8(!().  The 
amount  allowed  to  be  paid  l)y  this  law  on  each  $1000  was  $248  13. 

The  action  of  Gov,  IJissell  in  ordering  the  funding  <>f  tlie  Mac- 
alister  and  Stebbins  bonds  is  difficult  to  explain.  He  apparently 
disr<'garded  the  Dr.  K(unan  resolution,  inisreniend»ered  the  nian- 
danuis  pnx'x'edings  in  1857  to  compel  him  to  do  what  he  now  did, 
and  violat<?d  the  law  of  1847,  under  which  the  fuiuling  was  done, 
whi<'li  expressly  forba<le  it;  while  even  if  lie  had  been  legally  au- 
tliorized  to  pay  their  full  value  of  principal  and  interest,  as  only 
about  28  cents  <m  the  dollar  had  ever   been  received  for  them  by 

Letter  of  "Investigfator**  to  Chicago  Times,  Aug.  1859. 


078 


HISTORY  OF   ILLINOIS. 


the  State,  it  was  pliiiiily  contrary  to  the  justice  and  equity  of  tlie 
case,  and  i)()])ular  opinion  would  have  sustained  Idni  in  a  refusal, 
for  the  protection  of  the  treasury  of  the  State.* 

NcvTE — "When  the  transaction  KnI'li'il  the  lixtit,  (liirinR  the  heijfht  of  the  ciinitl  scrip 
friiiKl  invcstitfiitlon,  Uiuscll's  enemies,  stiiiiiiltitcd  doiibtlcss  to  udditioniil  |)Mrti!<iin 
feeiiniur,  or  ititlueiiccd  l).v  personal  aniinotsity,  put  the  very  worst  const rucit ion  possil)lo 
upon  it,  and  the  most  corrupt  motives  ol  combining  with  New  Yorii  sliurpers  to  rob 
the  treasury  were  attril)utod  to  his  exi  ellency .  A  loin;  letter  fiom  New  Vork  to  the 
Chicago  Tinier,  dated  AujrusfiO,  is,")!),  signed  "InvestlKator,"  evinces  a  "workiiiy  op  of 
the  ease'"  witli  apparently  danunrinu' eflect  to  liisexeellcncy.  From  it,  it  seems,  tliat 
an  old  Hellevillea(Miaintance  of  llissell'.i,  thron^rh  letters  of  introduction  from  him,  in 
lH"it<,  (rained  credit  enon^h  in  New  York  to  buy  111  of  the  l)onds,  with  their  accrued  in- 
terest of  «13(),(K)()  besides,  tor  $8i),000.  He  broujfht  an  installment  to  Illinois  to  ^et 
funded,  but  owintr  to  a  ipiarrel  as  to  how  tlie  prollts  were  to  l)e  divided  between  him 
and  Ills  confederates,  the  sale  was  rescinded,  and  after  some  threats  with  the  law,  tho 
bonds  were  Kiven  back.  Ne.xt,  the  New  York  owners,  one  of  whom  was  Morris  Keteh- 
uni,  a  close  friend  of  the  (fovernor's  nnd  one  of  the  oriKinal  Illinois  Central  Kailrond 
incorpoiMtors,  ha vinvr  also  resiRned  the  State  transfer  agency,  Ills  partner,  Ui.'incnt, 
beiiiK  appointed  in  tlic  place,  all  with  a  view  to  tlie  cnnsummation  of  tliis  fraud.it  is 
hinted,  tried  their  skill  tiiid  ultinuitely  succeed,  as  we  liave  seen,  in  having  tin;  lionds 
partially  funded;  and  with  all  these  elforts  Uisscii,  who  had  the  power  to  fund  the 
bonds,  is  so.'^tit  by  letters,  conjectvires  and  deductions,  to  be  eoniK^cted  as  a  eorriipt 
Rhanu'  ill  tlio  profits  of  the  transaction.  The  lettei-  Is  the  careful,  elaborate  and  able 
arRiiinent  of  a  Icfral  j)rosecutor,  who  manifestly  has  much  personal  feeling  in  the  mat- 
ter. It  contains  a  complete  history  of  the  Maealisler  and  Slebbins  ii«)iiils,  and  many 
of  the  points  ajraiiist  the  ifovernor  appear  to  be  well  sustained  by  liis  own  correspond- 
ence. At  the  meeting  of  the  democratic  State  convention  at  SpriiiRlield,  in  .laniiary, 
18*50,  Hon.  ,7.  L.  Don  Morrison  avowed  liimself  its  author,  and  in  a  speech  supple- 
mented his  charges  anainst  liis  excellency  l)y  tlie  pnxiiiction  of  a  number  of  letters 
from  liim  to  the  New  York  parties  and  his  nelleville  aeiiuaintance  + 

Prior  to  Morrison's  convention  speech,  Bissell  had  been  under  many  intlietions;  but 
this  was  too  much  and  in  the  Ulinoix  State  Journal  »{  .Tanuary  11.  l.siK).  he  publisheil  it 
stinwnx  reply,  evincing  the  rekindling?  of  his  old  flame  of  scathing  invective.  Ho 
attributes  the  causeless  attack  upon  him  to  the  envy  and  jealousy  of  his  assailant,  as 
the  key  to  all  his  malice;  they  wtM-e  neitrhbors,  both  living  in  nelleville — one.  obscure, 
had  been  honored  with  otlice  repeatedly;  the  other,  wealthy  and  eons|)iciious.  had  met 
Tvitii  constant  disappointment  In  this  rcsi)ect.  He  deni.  d  receivlnt*  one  cent  during 
his  lontf  offleial  career  that  did  not  properly  nnd  legally  belonsr  to  him;  pronounced 
the  ■•Investitrator"  letter  "a  tissue  of  vile  assumptions,  inferences,  deductions  and 
downright  lies;"  nccu.ced  Morrison  of  dislionorably  suppressinjrn  letter  of  his  to  I'en- 
seneau  (the  nelleville  friend)  re.lectinyr  a  dishonorable  proposition  in  reference  to  the 
fundinH  of  the  Maoalister  andStebl)ins  bonds,  which  would  have  "blown  his  pitiful 
cobwebs  8ky-hitjh,"and  by  way  of  counter  charges,  proceeds  netratively  to  intimate  his 
assailant's  connection  with  many  dishonoialjle  acts.  overreachiiiK  widows  and  orphans, 
&c.,  to  obtain  titles  to  lands,  prompting  the  Old  Kantfcr  to  exclaim  :  "If  that  mail 
keeps  outof  the  ponitentiafy  -'0  years  he  will  be  the  richest  man  In  Illinoia. 


+Seo  111.  State  UcKister,  Jan.  W,  180O, 


Chapter  LII. 

OUR  SENATORS  IN  CONGRESS. 

Their  Lives   and    Characters — Senatorial  Contest   between  Lincoln 

and  Douglas  in  1858. 


Edwards  and,  Thomas. — Upon  tlie  iiieetiiif;'  of  tlio  first  State 
Icjfislature  in  ()<'l(/.)ei',  1818,  Niniaii  Edwards,  wlio  had  been  tlio 
abiiA  and  iK)i)ular  territorial  j^overiior  tip  to  that  time,  and  .Jesse 
IJ.  Thomas,  one  of  the  federal  judjjfes  duriiij^' the  entire  sejyarate 
territorial  existtJiee  of  Illinois,  were  ele<!te(l  as  senators  to  con- 
gress;  the  former  on  the  lirst  ballot  by  a  large  majority,  .'Wont 
of  the  U)  votes,  aiul  the  latter  on  the  .'kl  ballot  by  21  ont  of  tiio 
40  votes  east;  Leonard  White  receiving  18,  and  jNIichael  Jones  1. 

The  full  term  of  a  senator  is  0  years,  or  .'i  congresses.  The  con- 
stitntion  of  the  U.  S.  divides  the  senators  into  3  classes,  one  going 
out  with  the  expiration  of  each  congress.  Upon  the  admission  of 
a  State  the  new  senat()rs  draw  lots  for  classes.  Edwards  drew  the 
'M  class,  being  the  existing  15th  congress  which  expired  with  the 
.'5(1  of  JMarcli,  181J),  and  Thomas  the  i^lass  which  ex])ired  with  the 
17th  congress  on  tlie  3d  of  ?!aich  1823.  Both  were  re-cdected  for 
full  terms.  Edwards  in  1819,  till  March  4th  1825,  and  Thomas  at 
the  session  of  1822-3  till  ]\Iarch  4th,  1829. 

Of  Edwards  we  have  already  spoken  fully,  as  governor. 
Tiiomas,  as  a  federal  judge,  had  l)orne  himself  with  mnch  dignity 
upon  the  bench,  but  it  is  recorded  that  he  did  not  api)ly  his 
talents  to  the  mastery  of  the  law.  By  natnre  ho  was  rather  a  poli- 
tician, an  avocation  which  absorbed  his  better  abilities  through 
life,  ^^'ith<mt  talent  as  a  speaker,  he  exhibited  shrewdness  and 
tact  in  the  management  of  men  and  questions.  We  have  alreadj' 
noted  the  manner  of  his  election  as  a  delegate  to  congress  by  the 
Indiana  territorial  legislature  in  1808,  his  pledge  being  that  he 
l)rocure  the  separation  of  Illinois  from  Indiana,  a  valuable^  pnblic 
service  to  ns,  wliich  he  fidly  discharged.  Both  senators  actively 
snpported,  in  1820,  the  adndssion  of  Missonri  as  a  slave  state. 
Mr.  Thomas  gained  considerable  notoriety  for  originally  suggest- 
ing the  line  of  3Gd.  30m.,  known  as  the  Missouri  compronnse. 
AVith  this  proviso  the  Missouri  bill  passed  the  senate,  24  to  20; 
the  senators  of  all  the  slaveholding  States,  with  one  from  Indiana 
and  two  from  Illinois,  the  last  admitted  State  into  the  Union, 
voting  for  it.  Mr.  Randolph,  the  leader  of  the  ultra  southern  fac- 
tion in  the  house,  indignantly  characterized  the  compromise  as  a 
"dirty  bargain,"  and  the  northern  men  by  whose  co-opera- 
tion it  was  carried  as  "  doughfaces,"  which  was  the  origin  of  that 
appelatiou.    Thomas  was  the  intimate  friend  of  Mr.  Crawford, 

079 


GSO 


HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


m 

I 

III 

i  iii 


advociitiiij'lii.s  election  totlie  presidency  in  1824,  bnt  after  the  huc- 
cesH  of  AdiiMis,  came  over  to  tlie  su))p(>rt  of  liis  administration. 
Diirin;;'  tlie  convention  striij;';ile  lie  advtx-ated  tiie  enj;rartiii};-  of 
slaveiy  upon  our  consiitution.  After  tlie  expiration  ol'  liis  last 
senatorial  term  he  renu)ved  to  Ohio,  wheie  he  died  in  185;{. 

John  McLean, — In  ISL'l:  Edwards  resigned  the  senatorship  to 
accept  tli(^  ndssioii  to  Mexico  tendei-ed  him  l».v  Pn'sident  Monroe. 
On  the  nieetin}>' of  the  lejiisiatuic  in  Novemher  of  that  .vear,  .lolin 
]Meliean  was  eh'cted  to  till  the  iniexpired  term  of  Edwar<ls,  the 
latter  havin<;  tlirown  n]>  tiu^  iMexican  mission,  bein;;  his  competi- 
tor. MctLean  is  said  to  have  been  in  many  respects,  the  nM)st 
{;ifted  man  of  his  peiiod  in  Illinois,  lie  was  lt<»iii  171)1,  in  North 
Carolina.  At  the  a};e  »»f  4  years  his  father's  family  removed  to 
Lopin  connty,  Kentucky,  where  he  received  such  iimitetl  educa- 
tion as  the  new  country  iilfor<led.  lie  studied  law,  and  in  ISlii,  at 
the  a<ie  of  1!,'{,  (%ime  to  Illiiu)is  and  settled  at  Siniwneetown,  with 
little  nu'ans  and  less  credit,  bnt  endowed  with  j;reat  natural  tal- 
ents and  swayed  by  a  lofty  ambition.  JJe  s])eedily  became  eon- 
spicnouH  at  the  bar  and  in  political  life.  Three  years  after,  ho 
became  a  (landidate  for  congress,  Daniel  I*,  ','ook  beinj;-  his  oi)po- 
nent.  The  contest  was  one  of  the  nn)st  animated  an«i  vij;orou.s 
ever  made  in  the  State,  (dniracterized  thronjihont  by  a  lii<;h-tt)ned 
courtesy,  which  eminently  distin<;nished  both  competitors.  They 
were  youn}^'  nn'u  of  rare  jironuseand  alike  won  the  esteem  of  the 
people.  Melican  was  elected  by  a  small  majority,  but  at  the  next 
election  Cook  succeeded  over  him  and  continued  to  hold  the  i>lace 
until  181i(),  when  Duncan  beat  him.  IVhtLean  was  frequently  a 
member  of  the  lej^islature  and  speaker  vif  the  house. 

He  looked  the  born  orator;  with  a  larj-e  symmetrical  li<;iire,  tine 
lijiht  complexion,  a  frank,  nnifiiinnimous  soul,  he  exer<'ise«l  that 
magnetism  over  his  uaditory  which  stamped  hiin  as  the  leader  of 
men.  Possessed  of  strong  ccmim)!)  sense,  a  lively  ima;;inati(»ii, 
a  pleasant  humor,  ready  command  of  lan<fua]ue,  his  oratory  llowed 
with  a  nu)vinft'  toirent,  ahnost  irresistible  to  the  masses  of  his 
day.  With  these  native  attributes  and  a  compass  of  intellect 
oxceedinf>ly  great,  consciousness  of  jiower  caused  him  to  rely 
perhaps  too  nnich  u])(m  them  to  the  exclusion  of  that  diseii)line, 
constant  and  itainstaking  study  which  make  the  ])rofound  scholar. 
He  was  twice  elected  to  the  U.  S.  senate,  tlu'  la:.ttiuu',  December 
6th,  1828,  unanimously,  as  the  successor  of  Jesse  B.  Thonnis,  for 
a  full  term;  but  he  only  served  the  (irst  session,  ami  after  coming 
home  died  at  Shawneetown  in  18,'{(>,  in  the  very  |)rime  of  his  nnvn- 
hood,  at  the  age  of  .'59  years.  His  death  was  a  great  ])«d)li(;  loss, 
and  the  legislature,  as  a  titling  testimonial  to  his  memory,  nanu-d 
the  large,  fertile  and  now  populous  county  of  McLean  hi  honor  of 
him. 


I]lias  Kent  Kane — was  elected  a  senator  in  congress  Novem- 
ber .'{(>,  1824,  for  the  term  commencing  March  4,  182."),  and  termi- 
nating March  3, 1831 — to  the  place  of  M(tLean.  The  latter,  at  the 
time  of  his  election,  7  «lays  before  fVu-  the  .'3  numtlis  unexiiired  term 
of  Edwards,  was  also  a  candidate  for  the  long  term,  and,  not 
doubting  his  ehoi(!e,  immediately  departed  for  Washington  ;  bnt 
a  new  candidate  a^ipeared  in  the  field,  and  after  a  protracted 


SKNATORS  IN  CONGRESS.  081 

stiuftnle,  lie  failed  becoiniiijiliis  own  successor,  and  lOlias  K.  Kane 
was  elected.  This  was  on  tlie  KHli  ballot,  wlien  Kane  received 
US  votes,  ami  Saninel  I).  Lockwood,  tlu^  tn-xt  lii^iliest,  L'."}.  Mr. 
Kane  was  a  native  of  New  Yorl< ;  had  received  a  thoron^ih  ednc-a- 
tion,  heinjf  a  jiiadnalc  of  Yale  Collejic,  stinlied  law,  and  in  1.S14, 
when  qnite  yoiinj;',  son<;ht  tln^  sonth  and  west,  and  located  linally 
at  Kaskaskia.  lie  was  possessed  of  a  stronj;',  clear  mind  ;  was  a 
close  reasoner, a  ])rol'onnd  lawyer, an  aj^reeable  speaker, a  Ineid  wri- 
ter and  attained  eminencH'  in  his  profession  as  well  as  in  public  lift . 
When  the  wheels  of  the  new  State  {iovernment  were  put  in  mo- 
tion, in  October,  ISIS,  (Jov.  IJoml  apitointcd  him  secretiiry  of  State. 
Atl<'rwards  he  was  a  State  senator.  l)ecend)er  11,  IS.'iO,  lie  was 
re-cletrted,  on  the  first  ballot,  to  the  (I,  S.  senate  for  the  full  term 
from  the  4tli  of  Mar(;h  followin<;',  .1.  M.  Robinson,  his  principal 
opponent,  receiving;  G  votes;  but  before  the  exi)iration  of  his  2nd 
term,  his  health,  which  had  loii};-  been  feeble,  }^ave  way,  and  ho 
died  at  VVashinj;ton,  Decend»er  iLHh,  IS^o.  lie  was  a  man  of 
purity  of  character,  honesty  of  intention,  amiable  and  benevolent 
in  disposition,  and  very  jicnerally  esteemed.  The  legislature 
named  the  county  of  Kane  in  honor  to  his  memory. 

Darid  Jewett  Baler — was,  Xovember  IL'th,  IS.'^O,  api)ointed  by 
Gov.  Edwards  to  till  the  unexpired  term  of  John  ^IcLean,  deceased; 
but  the  lejiislature,  between  which  ami  his  excellency  there  was 
little  accord,  nuH^ting  shortly  afterwaids,  refused  to  sanction  the 
executive  choice,  and  on  the  IJth  of  Dccendicr,  ISoO,  elected  .lohii 
]\I.  Robinson  instead.  Baker  was  born  in  Connecticut,  in  17i)li, 
and  after  receivinfj'  a  colh'giate  education,  and  stiulyiuf;'  law, in 
ISH)  with  his  young  bri<le  renH)ve<l  to  Illinois,  ami  located  at  Kas- 
kaskia. lie  was  a  studious,  i)ainstakiiig  lawer,  and  attained  a 
stan<ling  with  the  ablest  of  the  Illinois  bar.  He  was  long  probate 
judg«'<)f  Randolph  county.  He  eschewed  i)olitics,  except  in  1824, 
whvu  he  actively,  both  with  pen  an<l  tongue,  opjKised  the  intro- 
duction of  slavery  into  Illinois.  For  his  warm  utterances,  the 
then  chief  justi(^e  of  the  State,  Thonnis  Reynolds,  afterwards  gov- 
ernor of  Missouri,  attacked  him  with  a  bludgeon  in  the  streets  of 
Kaskaskia.  During  his  short  stay  in  congress  he  originate<l  the 
nu'asurefor  disj)osing  of  the  governjneid  lands  in  tracts  of  40  acres, 
which  facilitated  the  settlement  of  the  State — the  law  up  t(»  that 
tinu'  not  ])ermitting  the  entry  of  less  than  1(10  acres.  In  ISoli  he 
was  appoiided  by  .Jackson  IJ.  S.  attorney  for  Illinois,  nn<l  reap- 
jjointed  in  1S."J7  by  Van  IJuren.  In  1S40  he  united  with  the  whig 
])arty.  In  1S4.S  he  was  defeated  for  supreme  judge  by  Mi'.  Trum- 
bull, in  the  3d  grand  division.  In  lHo4  he  helped  to  orgaiuze  the 
republican  party.     He  died  at  Alton,  August  10,  1809.  * 

John  M.  Bohinson — had  the  following  o]>]>onents :  Theopliilus 
W,  Smith,  Thomas  Mather,  R.  M.  Young,  .1.  Kitchell  and  ex-Gov. 
Bond,  but  his  strength  incieased  at  every  ballot,  and  on  the  oth 
obtained  a  majority.  Gen.  Robinson  was  a  Kentuckian  by 
birth,  with  a  liberal  education  and  a  lawyer  by  profession.  While 
still  a  young  man  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  at  Carmi,  where 
he  married,  and  continued  to  make  his  home;  a  member  of  his 

•See  Weekly  Illlnnia State  Journul,  Aug.  U,  1869. 


(iS2 


IIISTOUY   01-'   Il.LINOIH. 


•fiiiiiily — ii  (laiiniiicr,  tlnMHily  survivor — still  rcsitifs  i\unv.  He  was 
tall  and  erect  in  statiii-e,  well  ])i-oi><irti<)ne(l,  of  li^lit  coinitlexion, 
\villi  hnj;*'  head,  i)lt'asinn'  eoiiidenanee  and  winninjf  ad»lr«'s,s— n 
lliH^  .specimen  ol"  nnmly  beanlv.  A  distinj^nislied  trait  (»!'  liis  eliar- 
aeter  was  soeiabilit.v;  indeed,  Ids  convivial  dis|)osition  carried  liiin 
into  fre(|ueiit  excesses.  His  title  of  j^cneral  was  derixcd  lioin  a 
connection  with  the  ndlitia or^^ani/ation  of  tli(>  State,  lit*  was  re- 
eh'cted  to  the  1".  S.  senate  l)e<'end)er  L'Olh,  I.s;M,  on  Ihetlrst  ballot 
by  a  vote  ol'-lT  to  .'50 — \l.  M.  Vonn;;  beinj;-  his  opponent — for  a  fall 
term,  which  expin-d  Man-h  IJd,  iJsil.  In  1S4.'{  he  was  elected  on*' 
of  our  supreme  Jndfics,  but  within  two  months  after,  April  L'Tth, 
died  at  Ottawa,  away  from  home,  w  hither  his  rennuns  were  taUen. 

Willldni  Lie  J>.  J<]i('!)i</ — was  elected  l)e<'ember  LMttli,  IS,'}'),  to 
serve  out  the  unexpired  term  of  lOlias  K.  Kane,  dei'cased.  'J'his 
election  was  a  ))r()!ract.ed  strnjij>le.  Ilis  comi»elilors  were  ilanies 
Semple  and  \l.  M.  Yoiin<;,  both  of  whom  led  him  on  the  liist  Itailot, 
the  vote  stan<lin^',  Semple  L'o,  Vounj;'  15)  and  ICwinj;  IS,  On  llie 
Sth  ballot  Younji  was  dropped,  the  !(lli  and  KMli  sl(tod  a  ti»',  but 
on  the  llMli  lOwin;.;  received  40  to  S«'mple  'M,  and  was  elected, 
(Jen.  Kwin;;'  was  a  ;;cntlennin  of  cnltui'c,  a  lawyer  ''y  profession, 
and  had  been  much  in  pulilic  lile.  He  had  been  receivi'rof  the 
pid)lic  moneys  at  Vandalia  and  lost  a  !J(1,(KM»  deposit  by  the  job- 
bery of  the  State  bank  in  ISU.'J,  He  was  speaki'r  of  the  Stat*"! 
senate  in  1S;{4,  ami  by  virtue  of  that  ]»osition  had  been  acting' 
y(>vern(»r  for  1.")  days.  His  tith' of  j;<'iu'ral  was  of  militia  origin, 
luul  he  attained  some  distinction  in  the  Jilack  Hawk  war.  He  was 
ii  Kentuckian.  above  medium  hi;;ht,  and  of  heavy  build,  with 
auburn  hair,  blue  eyes,  lar^c-sized  head  and  short  face.  He  was 
{i'cnial,  social,  fiicndly  and  affable,  with  fair  talent,  thou}"!!  little 
oiiyinality.     Under  Clov.  Fortl  lie  was  elected  State  auditor. 

h'ichard  M.  Yoioxj — succeeded  to  the  seat  of  (Jen.  Ewinjj',  and 
served  out  a  full  term  from  JMarch  4,  ISI}?,  to  March  4,  lS4;i,  He 
was  elci'ted  ])ecend)er  14,  ]83G,  on  the  3d  balh)t,  Samuel  McK(d)- 
erts  beiuf^'  his  primnpal  opj)onent;  Archie  Williams  and  (Jen. 
PJwinji'  also  received  sonu'  votes,  the  former  21  and  the  latter  1,'J. 
Judj^e  Youn<>'  was  gilted  with  line  colloquial  }>owers,  ami  his  inter- 
course with  men  was  nninaf;ed  with  i.ii  urbanity,  smoothness  and 
address  well  cahMdated  to  impiess  thv  m  with  his  excellence  and 
worth,  in  which  lay  the  secret  of  his  uccess,  lather  than  force  «u- 
enerji'y  of  character,  or  vij^'or  aud  <;om]>ass  of  nu>ntal  endowments. 
His  talents,  which  were  resju'ct able  and  above  mediocrity,  derived 
additional  lustre  from  these  anuable  attributes.  He  wasu  Kentuck- 
ian, of  spare  build,  lather  tall,  educated,  and  a  lawyer  by  i»rofes- 
siou.  In  1824  he  was  elected  by  the  legislature  one  of  the  o  circuit 
judges,  and  assigned  to  the  2d  circuit.  During  his  senatorial  term 
in  1<S3{>,  he  was  ajjpointed  by  Gov.  Carlin  one  of  the  State  agents 
ill  connection  with  ex-Gov,  Keynolds,  to  negotiate  the  $4,0()(),0()0 
canal  loan,  for  which  purpose,  they  repaired  to  Euv(»pe,  and  tlu'ir 
advances  of  $1,000,000  in  Illinois  bonds  to  the  house  of  \Vright  & 
Co,,  of  London,  proved  a  heavy  loss  to  the  State.  Still,  under 
party  operations,  before  his  senatorial  term  ex])ired,  he  was  made, 
February  ,'Jd,  1842,  a  supreme  judge,  a  position  which  he  held 
uutil  1847.     He  died  at  Washington,  in  au  iusaue  asylum. 


SKNATOHS  IN  t'<)N(JHKHS.  083 


r"!'*)!))  tilis  time  oil  tlie  (rauciis  systviii  w>i»4  rcNoitt'tl  to  l>.v  par- 
lies  to  <lcli'niiiii*>  tlicir  choice  of  ciiiiditlatcs  I'oi  olllccs,  iiicliHliii}; 
tliiit  of  I'liitcd  States  s<>iiatoi-,  and  aspiiiiitt.s  to  tliat  exalted  |)o.si- 
tioii  were  no  l<tii;;ei'  di,-tra<'ted  with  the  whims  of  individual  U-yis- 
hitois.  The  selieniiny  or  party  |>ipe  hiyiii},'  was  now  all  with  tluj 
view  to  secure  the  favor  of  leaders  aiul  the  manipulators  of  the 
caiUMis.  Whom  Uin;;'caucus  designated  as  the  party  iKuninee  no 
one  was  to  yaiiisay.  Thesysteni  wasadopt<'d  Ity  the  minority  as  well 
as  the  majority  jtarty,  hul  it  is  to  be  noted  that  Illinois  ne\er  had 
a  wlii;;-  senator  throughout  the  existence  of  that  party.  Tli(llrst 
democratic  senatorial  (taucus  I'csidted  in  th(>  selection  of  per 
haps  the  most  uii(-ompromisiii<i  party  man  in  the  State. 

Samuel  Mclioherts — the  lirst  native  lllinoisan  ever  elevated  to 
the  hij;li  ollhte  of  a  United  States  senatorfrom  this  State,  was  horn 
April  IL',  17!M),  in  what  is  now  Monroe  county,  his  lather  residing' 
on  a  farm,  ilei'cceived  a  ^ood  lCn<>'lish  education  from  a  conijte- 
teiit  private  tiitor,  Edwaril  Humphrey,  and  attained  also  somo 
]u'oliciency  in  latin,  Itut  his  naturally  stroii<>'  mind  inclined  him  to 
mathematics.  At  tlu^  early  aj^c  of  L'O  he  wasappointed  circuit 
clerk  of  Monroe  county,  a  i)osition  which  art'oi(l«'d  iiim  opportu- 
nity to  he(;omo  familiarized  with  forms  of  law,  wliicli  he  eaj;erly 
embraced,  jxirsuiu};"  at  the  same  time  a  most  assiduous  cours«'  of 
n'adinj;.  Two  years  later  he  entered  the  law  dei)artment  >>f  Tran- 
sylvania University  at  Jiexin;>ton,  Ky.,  where,  after  ."{  full  coiii'ses 
of  lectures,  he  graduated  with  tlu*  dejjreeof  bachelor  of  law.s.  lie 
eommeiKu-d  the  ]»ractice  of  law  in  competition  with  such  men  a.s 
Kane,  Ueynolds,  Mills,Mears,  JJIackwell, Star,  Clark,  JJaker,  Eddy, 
jMcl.ean.  ike.  In  1824,  at  the  a}>e  of  lio,  he  was  elected  by  the 
Icfiislature  one  of  the  o  circuit  Judges.  As  Judge  he  lirst  publicly 
exhibited  strong  partisan  bias.  In  ISl'l  h«^  had  been  a  violent 
convention  advocate,  and  now,  in  detiamie  of  a  release  by  the  leg- 
islature, he  assessed  a  liiK^  against  (Jov.  Coles  for  settling  his 
emancipated  slaves  ill  Madison  (bounty,  without  giving  bond  that 
they  should  not  become  a  public  charge  ;  he  also  removed  a  cir<'uit 
clerk  in  the  same  county,  and  api>oiiited  another  in  his  place, 
from  partisan  motives,  which  caused  a  great  outcry  at  the  time 
and  contributed  laigely  to  the  i'e]»eal  of  the  (circuit  court  system 
in  1827.  In  1828  he  was  elected  a  State  senator;  in  ]8;i0  appointed 
United  States  district  attorney  for  this  State  ;  in  181^2  receiver  of 
the  jinblic  moneys  at  the  Danville  laud  otlice,  and  in  IS.'Ji)  s(»licitor 
of  the  general  land  ollic(^at  Washington.  When  the  State  bank.s 
of  I8;{7  jiassed  int()  whig  control  by  their  organization.  Judge 
M(d{oberts,  with  others,  opjjosed  them,  and  th(\v  were  refused  tlie 
land  offiw  moneys  as  deposits,  to  aid  in  crippling  them.  On  the 
Kith  of  December,  1840,  Samuel  McHoberts  was  elected  Lnited 
States  senator  for  a  full  term,  comnuuicing  March  4tli,  1841.  He 
received  ou  the  first  ballot  77  votes,  Cyrus  Edwards,  the  whig 
nominee,  50,  and  E.  D.  Baker,  1.  lie  died  March  22,  184;},  at  Cin- 
cinnati, at  tlie  house  of  his  old  friend.  Judge  James  Hall,  formerly 
of  Shawneetown,  on  his  route  home  •from  "Washington,  in  the 
vigor  of  intellectual  manhood,  at  the  age  of  44  years. 

Judge  McRoberts  was  a  little  above  medium  hight,  sparely 
built,  of  a  nervous-bilious  temi)eranient,  and  had  a  good  head.* 

*He  tmd  a  defect  lu  one  eye. 


G84 


HISTOHY  OF  ILMNdlS. 


Ho  WHM  Hwaycd  by  a  Htiililidni  will,  a  lii;>li  aiiil)itloii,  mid 
iiiil)oiiii(l('<l  ciici'^y.  Ills  iiiiihl  \\!i.s  rli'iir  stn)ii<;  aiul  jticcisc,  aiid 
ill' was  ad('('|>  n-ad  lawyer,  lit'  was  ever  a  voiacioiis  stiidnit, 
jfivcii  t()ov«'r-nx»'ilioii.  Wiiih'  li«'  i'xcrti'd  ar,o}i«'iit  iiillii('ii<-«>  oxer 
his  party,  lir  was  y<-t  witlioiit  tlir  sinootli  and  oily  arts  of  tlir 
ordinary  politiriaii.  lie  };»t\('iiu'd  hy  tliu  powiT  of  will  ladii'i' 
than  a(idi'(>ss  and  blandishment. 

Sidney  lirecHC — succeeded  U.  M.  Yonnj;-  to  tho  United  i>tates 
sj'uate  for  a  fall  term,  from  MaTch  1, 1S4.'{.  1I(!  was  thedemociatic 
cancus  nondnce  and  was  c'leettd  l)eecnd)er  17,  ISIL*,  on  the  tlrst 
ballot,  by  KKS  votes  t<t  his  •.■pjioiu-nt,  Archibald  Williams',  4!>. 

lie  was  born  ab«»nt  the  close  of  the  Inst  <'entuiy,  in  Oneida 
county,  N.  Y.,  received  acollcj^iatc  education  and  };iadnatcd  with 
distinction  from  I'nion  {'ollcf^e.  lie  had  been  the  schoolfellow 
of  I'ilias  Kent  Kaiu',  who  was  his  si-nior.  After  the  latter  was 
appointed  secretary  of  State,  in  ISbS,  I u' wrote  for  you n<'-  Hrecse 
to  Join  him,  which  he  did  by  the  close  of  the  year,  and  read  lav/ 
Mith  him.  Aside  tVoin  the  ability  of  his  preceptor,  thisjiave  him 
the  advanta;;e  of  fornnn;;  a  wide  actpnuntanct;  in  the  new  Slate. 
In  ISL'O  h<'  essayed  the  practice  t)f  the  law  in  flackson  ccainty,  but 
iiH't  with  failure  in  court  befon*  a  Jnry,  and,  overwhelmed  with 
mortitication,  n'sohed  to  abandon  his  profession.  The  next  .\ear 
he  becann^  jtostnuister  of  the  ancient  town  of  Kaskaskia.  In  ISL'2 
(iov.  IjoihI  a))pointed  him  circuit  att«>rney,  in  which  ])osition  Ciov. 
Coles  retained  inm,  bnt  Edwards  did  not.  In  IHJil  he  prepare«l 
and  publishe<l  ''IJreese's  Reports"  of  our  sui>renu'C(uirt  decisions, 
belli/;-  the  lirst  book  ever  i»ublishc<l  in  the  State.  The  next  year 
lie  took  part  in  the  lihu'k  Hawk  war — beiiij;-  a  niajm-.  On  the 
establishment  of  the  circuit  court  system,  in  1<S;{5,  he  was  chosen 
jiidjie.  in  which  capacity  the  McClernand-Field  case  came  before 
iiiin — an  excitinj;'  political  (piestion — concernin};'  the  jjower  of 
the  y()\  eriior  to  remove  the  incumbent  of  the  ottiee  of  the  secre- 
tary (»f  State,  which  he  decide<l  with  an  elaborate  opinion  in 
favor  of  the  relator,  but  which  the  supreme  court  reversed.  Upon 
the  reor{;anization  of  that  court,  in  1S41,  resiiltiuf^  in  great  part 
from  this  question,  he  vt  as  elected  one  of  the.  live  democratic 
supreme  judges. 

As  senator,  he  occni)ied  the  seat  of  his  old  school-mate  and 
friend,  E.  K.  Kane.  Upon  the  expiration  of  his  term  he  was 
electe<l,  in  IHiiO,  to  the  legislature,  and  was  made  sjieaker  of  the 
house.  In  ltSo5  he  was  again  electt'd  (Mrcuit  judge,  and  two  years 
latei'.  on  the  resignation  of  Judge  Scates,  again  elevated  to  the 
supreme  bench,  where  he  has  held  a  position  ever  since ;  and 
here  it  is,  by  his  numerous  and  able  opinions,  that  he  has  made  a 
lasting  record  in  the  annals  of  this  State,  being  a  finished  scholar 
and  iirofound  jurist. 

In  congress  he  fav<u'ed  the  annexation  of  Texas,  our  title  to 
Oregon  np  to  the  line  of  r>4d.  4()ni.,  and  carrying  the  war 
with  Mexico  into  the  heart  of  that  country.  To  his  connection 
with  the  land  grant  for  the  lieiietit  of  the  Illinois  Central 
railroad,  we  have  alluded — his  original  plan  lieing  a  i»re-emption 
insteail  of  a.  grant,  lie  procured  the  i)assage  of  acts  f(tr  the  sale 
of  the  mineral  lands  at  Galena  and  other  places,  and  the  repeal 
of  the  5  years  exemption  from  taxation  of  the  public  lands  in  this 


SENATOnS  IN  C()N(UIEH8. 


or-^ 


8tiit(>,  wliicli  wen;  valiialilc  aids  to  tlu*  State  at  tliat  JMiictiirt'  of 
her  lliiaiiriiil  (listless.  II*' iiiaWc  also  an  altic  report  in  I'avoi'  of  a 
grant  of  lan<l  to  a  lailroad  from  Lake  Mi('lii<>aM  to  llic  l'a*-ili(;. 

fitnucs  Scnipic — was  appointed  Unitnl  Stat<'s  senator  l»y  (lov. 
I'onl,  in  ISI.J,  as  tiie  suceessoi'  of  .Sainuei  Meifoltcits,  deceased, 
and  aftei' st-rvin^' tor  one  session  as  sneli  a, 'pointer,  the  leyisla- 
tnre,  Decendter  1 1,  IXU,  eopiirnied  Ins  a|»pointnient  li.v  elect  in;;' 
Inni  for  the  nnexpired  term  of  ids  predecessor, '\v  a  vote  of  lOli 
to  •lolin  .1.  Hardin  47.  In  politics  Semph^  was  a  democrat,  and 
the  eancus  nominee  of  his  parly,  as  was  Hardin  of  the  \vhi<:s. 
He  had  been  miK'h  in  public  life.  He  was  speaker  of  the  lioiise 
in  I.S,'«t-7,  when  tlu^  Stat(>  Internal  TmproveiiM  measure  was 
passed;  afterward  Chaijic  dc  Alfairs  to  New  (Irci..  ,i  and  Jiid;;e 
of  thesnpr(;me  (;oiirt.  (ieii.  Sempie  was  a  line  looking'  man,  and 
detested  the  plots  and  iiiti'i;;iies  of  politicians.  Maiiyot  the  ohlcr 
residents  of  Alton  and  Sprini^jlield  will  rememi»cr  iiim  as  the  pro- 
jector of  th<^  "steam  wafioii"  wliicli  lay  for  years  a  wreck  on  the 
prairie  south  of  Sin'in<;lleld.  He  wntte  an  elaborate  lii.story  of 
Mexico,  wJdcli  lias  never  been  [»iiblished. 

Shaken  Arnold  Douf/las — became  the  .successor  of  Semple.  ITo 
received  the  Democratic  caucus  nomination  and  wa.s  eU'cted  De- 
cember 14,  184(5,  on  the  llist  ballot,  by  KM)  votes  to  Cyrus  Ed- 
wards, the  whi;;' nominee,  4.").  Doujilas  was  not  unknown  in  the 
national  lej;islature,  liaviii};-  already  .served  ]>arts  of  li  terms  in 
the  lower  house.  With  the  advent  of  this  remarkable  man,  whonj 
we  do  not  hesitate  to  call  j^reat,  into  the  U.  S.  .senate,  Illinois, 
took  at  once  hif>li  rank  in  that  august  body,  re<loundiiig  not  only 
to  her  glory,  but  .solid  advantage  smrh  as  no  State  before  nor  since 
lias  received  from  the  hands  of  congress.  We  allude  to  the  pro- 
curing of  the  Illinois  Central  railroad  land  grant,  a  liereiileau 
task,  in  which  he  received  the  earnest  support  of  his  colleague  and 
the  entire  delegation  in  the  lower  hoii.se.  Douglas,  though  young 
in  year.s,  was  directly  a<!knowledged  the  peer  of  the  great  states- 
men, Clay,  Web.ster  and  Calhoun,  with  whom  he  serve<l  his  tirst 
term.  Since  his  ^^Icuu;,  Trumbull  has  maintained  a  high  jiosition 
for  Illinois  down  to  the  i.''*sent  time.  Douglas  became  his  own 
successor  in  1853,  and  ag.iii.  in  18.")!) ;  but  we  defer  a  more  ex- 
tended sketch  of  his  life  aiul  ci:'iracter  to  an  acc^ount  of  the  cele- 
brated .senatorial  contest  between  him  and  JVlr.  Lincoln  in  1858, 
contained  in  this  chapter. 

James  Shields — was  chosen  to  succeed  Sidney  Breese  for  a  full 
term  from  Marcli  4tli,  1849.  He  was  the  caucus  nominee  of  the 
democracy,  largely  in  the  ascendant  in  Illinois.  The  contest — an 
exc'^ing  one — wai;  over  the  caucus  nomination.  Breese  strove 
eiirnestly  to  become  his  own  succes.sor,  and  John  A.  McClernand, 
ambitious  for  the  exalted  seat,  Mas  also  hi  the  tield.  Both  Avere 
greatly  the  superio'-s  of  Shields  in  ability  and  probably  in  art  and 
address,  but  the  later  had  the  advantage  of  military  glory  be- 
fcm  which  mere  civi^  services,  however  valuable,  have  ever  paled. 
Neither  was  he  a  novice  in  civil  official  experience.  Born  in  county 
Tyrone,  Ireland,  in  1810,  he  emigrated  to  the  U.  S.  in  1827,  and 
settled  iu  iu  Illinois,  3  years  later.    In.  7  years  time,  without  being 


G8G 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


W^ 


naturalized,  \w  was  sent  to  tlie  lo<>isIatiii(' from  l{aii(l<)l[)li  ('(unity, 
(iov.  Carliii  ai)p()iiit('(l  liiiii  aiiditor,  and  in  J.S43,  lie  was  elected  a 
supieiiie  jiidjie.  Under  President  Polk  he  was  eoniniissioner  of 
tlie  ji'eneral  land  oilice  at  Wasliinjiton.  In  tlie  ^lexiean  war  lio 
entered  h\  favor  of  the  jtresident  as  a  brif-adier-jieneral  and  was 
afterward  breveted  nnijor-jieneral  for  jiallant  services.  lie  was 
a  fortunate  soldier.  I)orue  Ironi  the  tield  of  Cerro  (iordo  shot 
throujiii  and  tlirouj;li,  and  icported  atlntnu^  as  killed,  he  recovered 
in  time  to  take  a  eons](icuous  ])art  in  the  triuni]»h  of  our  arms  un- 
der Scott  in  the  valley  of  Mexico,  In  this  latter  cam[)aign  such 
was  his  soldierly  conduct  that  the  State  of  South  Carolina  \'oted 
him  a  handsome  and  costly  swoid,  inscribed  with  the  battles  of 
Cherrebnsco  and  Cheoultepec,  and  the  foUowinji'  sentiment: 

"FKOM  THE  STATE  OF  SOUTH  CAROLINA, 

"TO  (iKNEKAL  SHIELDS. 

•'In  testimony  of  lier  iuhniratioii  of  gallantry  in  the  Mexican  war,  and 
asatriliute  of  gratitudes  for  his  parental  attention  to  tlie  Palmetto 
regiment." 

From  Mexi(!o,  after  the  fall  of  the  cai>ital  of  that  coTUitry,  had 
first  come  the  annouu(!eiuent  by  letter  that  the  };allant  soldier 
would  be  a  comi)etitor  for  semitorial  honors  before  the  ensuing" 
legislature  of  l.S41>.  On  his  way  honu',  at  VVashin<>ton,  a  public 
dinner  was  tendered  him  and  (leu.  Quitman,  at  which,  in  a  s[)eech 
Shields  s[toke  incautiously  in  flowing-  terms  of  (Jen.  Scott,  then 
undei'  ban  with  the  administration.  IJieese  tbrseeing  in  this 
soldier  of  renown  a  formidable  coini)etitor  for  his  j»hu;e,  did  not 
attend  the  banrpu't.  IJefoic  long  Shields  was  ordered  to  Tamjiico, 
but  on  his  I'oute  thither,  at  >s'ew  Orleans,  a  dispatch  from  the 
War  department  ordered  him  back  to  Washington,  to  testify  in 
the  tri;il  of  (Jeii.  Pillow.  The  order  to  return  to  Tampico  was  not 
renewed,  iind  Shields  (!ame  :o  Illinois  and  uuived  about  among  his 
fiiends.  Now  he  was  appor.ited  governor  of  rciiiote  Oregon,  which 
created  the  impression  upon  the  pul)lic  mind  that  the  obje<;t  of  the 
administration,  which  did  not  relish  his  fearless  prais(^,  of  (Jen. 
Scott,  was  to  banish  him  beyond  being  a  competitor  against 
Breese  for  the  senate,  but  he  did  n\)t  accept  the  governorship  of 
tliat  remote  post. 

In  the  senatorial  canvass  it  was  urged  against  Breese  that  he 
differed  \\itli  his  colleague  on  a  subject  of  vital  importance  to  the 
State,  the  procuring  of  the  Illinois  (Jentral  railroad  grant  of  land  ; 
.against  McClerimnd  it  was  objected  that  Ids  iirinciples  of  democ- 
racy were  so  thoroughly  .Facksonian  that  consistency  would  lead 
Irim  to  oppose  the  vital  interest  of  th(^  west,  the  imiirovement  of 
rivers  and  harbors;  iind  against  Shields,  that  he  was  ineligible, 
because,  as  a  foreigner,  he  had  wot  been  naturalized  long  enough 
to  entitle  him  to  a,  seat  in  the  U.  S.  Ser.ate,  tln^  constitution  of 
the  U.  S.  re(piiiing  a  citizenshi|»  of  U  years,  Shields  having  been 
naturalized  in  O^-tober,  1S40.  These  valid  objections  failed,  and 
he  Wiis  elected. 

Shields  repaired  to  Washington  to  take  his  seat  on  the  4th  of 
March  following.  And  now  this  most  im])ulsive  son  of  Erin 
committed   a  most  foolish  blunder,  to  call  it  no  worse,  as  public 


SENATORS  IN  CONGRESS 


G87 


nicn  arc,  wont  to  do  wIismi  tlicy  write  letters.  To  overcoino  tlie 
qiusstioii  of  his  iiu'lij^ibility,  wlii(!li  would  probably  be  raised 
aj;aiiist  his  takiiiy  a  seat  in  the  senate,  he  athlicssed  Mr.  IJreese 
II  h'tter  uiKh'r  (hite  of  February  L'.'i,  l.S4!>,  ehai';4in<r  liini,  aniony 
other  "meannesses,"  toward  him,  with  propanatiii.u'  tiiis  in  Illinois, 
sayiny  :  "Had  I  been  defeated  by  yon  on  that  j;round,  1  had  swoi'u 
in  my  iieart  that  you  never  should  have  profited  by  yoursuecess; 
and  de[>end  upon  it,  1  would  have  ke])t  that  vow,  rejiardless  of 
coiisetpu'uces."  Hut  that  beiu<;'  past,  he  demaiuied  of  him  then  a 
h'tter,  aeknowledjiinj;-,  iu  effect,  that  in  1840,  when  he  (Shields,) 
talked  of  p["'"fi"  to  Canada,  in  case  of  war,  tlmt  lie  (IJreese)  as 
circuit.jud<>-e,  offered  to  j;ive  him  something'  in  tiie  shape  of  a  final 
naturalization  ceitilicatc;  to  take  along — to  simply  pr()v)f  in  case  of 
difficulty ;  adding, '-and  refuse  this  request,!  Iierc  give  you  fair 
Marning- — let  tin;  consequences  fail  on  youi' own  head — I  shall  hold 
myself  acMpiitted  l)oth  befoie  (lod  an  man  for  tlie  course  1  shall 
feel  bound  to  ])ursue  toward  you." 

i»ut  Hreese  di<i  not  scare  as  well  as  it  was  evidently  hoped.  lie 
refused  conqdianire  with  tlie  demand,  which  he  (Construed  as  a 
threat  of  assassination,  publishing  his  refusal,  t(»getlier  with 
Shields'  letter,  in  the  newsi»apers.  Shields,  in  a  sidtscipient  letter, 
attempted  to  explain  tliis  away.  When  his  credentials  were  pre- 
sentecl  in  the  senate  on  the  5th  of  Marcli,  obj<'ctions  to  his  eligi- 
l>ility  wer<^  pi'omptly  interi)()sed  ;  Douglas,  howin'cr,  suc(!eeded  iu 
liaving-  him  sworn  in,  wliidi  eiuil)led  him  to  participate  in  tho 
debate.  After  due  investigation,  a  resolution  was  reported  tliat 
^Ir.  Shields  was  not  eligible  at  the  commencement  of  the  term  for 
\vhi('h  he  was  elected,  and  that  his  election  was  void.  IJefore  its 
adoption  lie  tendered  his  resignation,  and  thus  addressed  the 
senate:  "To  my  own  State,  sir,  1  shall  appeal,  and  hear  what  she 
has  to  say  ;  and  if  she  deseits  me  now,  if  my  State  shall  not  an- 
swer to  tlie  ai)i)eal  1  am  about  to  make  to  her,  I  will  say  furtlier 
tlnit  it  is  my  intention  (though  I  have  endeavored  to  prove  my 
fidelity  to  my  country  by  every  act  of  my  life,)  nt^er  to  offer 
iiiyself  again  for  office  in  the  United  States."  As  his  resignation 
should  have  been  tendered  to  the  governor  rathertliau  tlie  senate, 
the  resolution  was  a(loi)ted. 

The  question  at  home  now  was  as  to  tlie  power  of  the  governor 
to  fill  the  vacancy  thus  occasioned.  The  constitution  of  the  IJ.  S. 
says  if  vacancies  liai)pen  by  resignation  or  otherwise,  during  the 
rece.ss  of  tlie  legislature  of  any  State,  the  e.\e(;utive  thereof  may 
make  temporary  appointment.-,  uiitil  the  next  meeting.  Was  this 
such  a  vacancy  as  the  constitution  <M>ntemplated  that  the  governor 
had  power  to  fill  by  a]>poiiitment,  and  thus  save  the  expense  of  a 
called  session  ?  The  (luestion  was  thoroughly  discussed  in  the 
jiublic  press,  and  by  letters  from  public  men,  both  for  and  against. 
Air.  Douglas,  jierhaps  fearing  a  new  election  before  Mr.  Shields 
would  become  eligible,  held  that  the  governor  had  the  power;*  but 
that  functionary,  in  a  long  letter  published,  disclaimed  the  i)ower,t 
and  finally,  in  September  of  that  year,  issued  his  proclamation, 
C(mveniiig  the  legislature  in  extraordinary  session,  Octolier  L'2, 
181!>,  to  ele(!t  a  IJ.  S.  senator,  including  in  his  call  a  number  of 
other  subjects  for  legislative  action.      Under  the  decision  of  the 

•Soe  his  letter  in  III.  State  Register,  Auff.  30, 1849. 
flbid,  June  21, 1849. 


688  HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 

U.  S.  senate  Gov.  French  liad  it  in  his  ])ower  to  cut  oil"  Sliiehls 
from  tliis  position,  but  he  convened  the  le<;islature  for  a  time  Just 
after  iSliiehls  would  be  rendered  eligibh;  by  being  9  years  natural- 
ized. 

After  the  call  the  canvass  waxed  exceedingly  warm.  The  whig 
jM'ess  opeidy  espoused  the  cause  of  Siiields,  crying  out  itersccution, 
and  charging  that  those  democrats  who  usually  controlled  the 
party  in  the  8tate  ha<l  determined  to  sacrili(;e  the  gallant  soldier, 
and  that  to  attain  their  ends  wicked  means  were  being  emidoycd. 
Breese,  ]\IcClernand  and  Shields  were  again  the  candidates,  ;.ind 
the  friends  of  the  resjjective  as])irants  were  exceedingly  active. 
The  contest  was  again  for  the  caucus  nomination.  The  friends  <»f 
Mc('Ieriiand,  fewest  in  nuiid)er,  sui»posing  that  su(;h  a  state  of 
hostility  existed  between  the  respective  adiieients  of  Ureese  and 
Shields,  that  neither  would  yield  in  cau(;ns,  but  would  finally  as  a 
compromise  (concentrate  u])on  their  candidate,  i)roved  very  tena- 
cious. LJl  ballotings  weic  ha<l  ;  on  the  first  Shields  received  I'S, 
Breese  LM,  and  IMcCIernand  18;  on  the  last,  Ureese  L'O,  JMcClernand 
12  a' d  Shields  HI — a  niajcuity.  The  highest  for  Breese  was  on 
...c  ;th  ballot,  29  ;  the  highest  for  McClernand  on  the  2d,  11). 
Shields  was  again  elected  senator,  and  thus  ended  the  very  bitter 
struggle. 

Lyman  TnimbuU — succeeded  to  the  seat  of  Senator  Shields  for 
a  full  term  from  the  4tli  of  March,  18.15  ;  and  became  his  own 
successor  in  1801.  Since  the  hrst  organization  of  the  deniocnatic 
party,  and  dating  beyond  that   to  1824,  Avhen  it  was  in  its  forma- 

ij.^^-  five  stage,  those   who  afterwards  constituted  it   never  failed  of 

*'\l'-':'  electing  men  of  their  political  views  and  i)rinciples  to  the  U.  S. 

senate  from  this  State.  Their  defeat  now  was  attended  by  a 
bitterness  and  de])th  of  feeling  unprecedented.  The  occiasiou  wc 
have  already  traced  to  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  compronnse, 
resulting,  unexpectedly  to  all  parties,  in  this  State  going  anti -Ne- 

'  ■  .;,  braska  at  the  election  of  November,  18i")4, 

f^v' ;'  At  the  meeting  of  the  legislature  the  choice  of  a  U.  8.  senator 

■was  to  be  the  political  event  of  the  session.  The  exact  ])olitical 
status  of  that  body  after  the  election  was  not  at  once  fully  realized, 
and  while  the  democracy  Avere  api)rehensive  they  yet  hoped  to 
prevail.  But  upon  its  assembling  in  January,  185r»,  it  became 
speedily  apparent  that  by  a  fusion  of  all  the  anti-Xebraska  mem- 
bers the  democracy  were  in  a  minority.  The  house,  on  the  2d 
day,  was  organized  by  the  election  of  an  ti -Nebraska  oflrtcers:  Thos. 
J.  Turner,  of  Stephenson,  being  chosen  si»eaker  by  40  votes  over 
J.  P.  Kichmond,  of  Schuyler,  democrat,  24.  The  senate  acted 
more  tardily  on  account  of  the  conduct  of  Messrs.  Jaridgan  and 
Morton, Nebraska  democrats,  rei)resenting  anti-Nebraska  (listricts, 
in  absenting  themseh'es.  The  fusionists,  however,  prevailed,  and 
organized  both  houses. 
"  Alarm  now  seized  the  democracy.    Their  press  cried  out  to  the 

fold:  the  Avolf  is  on  his  walk — let  the  old  party  awaken  to  the 
danger  which  threatens  it  from  the  allied  isms;  traitors  are  con- 
si>iring  to  stab  «k^ep  into  its  vitals ;  nefarious  schemes  are  con- 
cocted and  combinations  of  an  unholy  ambition  formed,  moved 
uuto  by  a  deep-«cated  antipathy  against  the  truest  and  best  mcu 


SENATORS  IN   CONCilJESS. 


089 


of  tlic  State*  Aiioii  intiiiiidatioii  and  cajnlci-y  were  botli  tiicd 
upon  tlic  disaffccti'd  wanderers  I'roin  tlie  democratic  fold,  Tliey 
wen)  denounced  as  malcontents  wlio  illy  reijuited  the  ])ast  favors 
bestowed  u|»on  tliem  at  tlu'  Iiands  of  tlie  demociacy  by  tlieir  base 
attempts  lo  disrupt  the  old  party — in<;rates,  prompted  by  malice 
and  jealousy  to  rule  or  ruin.  Tliey  were  apj)rised  that  the  ])eople 
were  viyilant  and  would  narrowly  seiutinize  tlieii'  (^very  act,  arti- 
lice  and  departure  from  piinciple,  and  would  not  fail  to  \isit  si,<;nal 
retribution  ujxin  those  who  biaved,  delied  and  trampled  u])on  the 
popular  will.  The  name  of  Donjilas — a  tower  of  strength,  and 
dear  to  the  democratic  heart — was  invoked  ;  it  was  necessary  that 
liis  colleague  should  be  a  man  who  would  uphold  his  Iiands  to 
battle  for  the  success  of  those  j>i'eat  principles  ol"  non-interven- 
tion which  were  founded  in  justice,  and  which  by  the  maj;i<!ofliis 
p'liius  would  eventually  triumph  and  overwhehn  all  its  oi)poueiits 
with  confusion.t 

All  this  was  ])reliminary  to  the  senatorial  election.  The  contest 
■was  tai'dily  a}»pi(>ached  and  was  not  linall,\  reached  until  the  Sth 
of  February,  owin.n  partly  to  a  snow  blockade  which  kept  many 
members  from  the  capital  beyond  the  time  of  the  temporary 
adjournnu'iit.  .lanu's  Shields,  the  re<>ular  democratic  caucus 
nominee,  was  placed  in  nomination  by  Mr.  (Jraliam ;  Abraham 
Lincoln,  the  idol  of  the  old  wliijis  and  stroiijily  anti-Nebraska, 
by  Stephen  T.  Logan;  and  Lyman  Tiiimbull  the  nominee  of  the 
less  than  luilf  a  dozen  anti-Nebiaska  democrats,  by  .John  j\L 
I'almer.  Ar(diibald  Williams,  W.  I>.  Oj-tb'U,  Joel  A.  Matteson, 
Cyrus  ICdwards  and  W.  15.  Kellogy'  were  also  ]>ut  in  nomination. 
ni  votes  were  necesrary  to  a  choice  on  joint  ballot.  On  the  lirst, 
Shields  received  41,  Lincoln  44,  Trumbull  ">,  and  the  others  nanuMl 
each  1.  On  the  7th  ballot  Shields  was  out  of  the  tield  and  JMat- 
tesoii  being-  substituted,  rect'ived  on  the  Sth  4()  votes,  the  utmost 
strength  of  the  democracy.  On  the  lOth  ]\lr.  Lincoln's  name  was 
witlalrawu  and  the  whig  vote  being  concentrated  on  IMr,  Ti'umbidl, 
lie  leceived  ~t{)  votes  <lir<'ct,  and  before  the  result  was  announced, 
]\Ir.  Sullivan  changed  from  Williams  to  Trumbull,  electing  him  by 
just  the  requisite  niiml)er. 

Neither  i)ersiiasiou  nor  menace  could  move  or  intimidate  the 
Trumbidl  phalanx  of  live.  ]\Ir.  Lincoln,  though  ambitious  of 
senatorial  honors,  for  he  had  been  elected  a  member  of  the  same 
legislature,  butsupposing  he  could  be  elected  senator. had  resigned 
shortly  after;  now  when  it  became  api)arent  that  he  coidd  not  suc- 
oeetl,  lu^  pressed  his  friends  tosujtport  Air. Trumbull,  which  was  ulti- 
mately done,  (with  tears  by  his  old  friend.  Judge  Logan,  it  is  said), 
not  that  they  loved  him  less,  but  the  cause  of  ireedom  demanded 
it.  Governor  jNLitteson,  though  he  was  not  the  caucus  choice  of 
his  party,  not  being  in  full  accord  with  J)ouglas  on  the  (]uestion  of 
harbor  and  river  imi)roveinents  in  the  west,  the  levy  of  tonnage 
duty  fortius  puipose,  <S:c.,the  democracy  boasted  (as  was  done  by 
]\Ir.  Aloultou  upon  the  lloor  of  the  house,  notwithstanding  their 
knowledge  of  an  anti-Nebraska  majority,)  that  in  the  last  resort 
enough  mend)ers,  iiitiiuMU'ed  by  a  high  regard  of  personal  consid- 


♦  See  III,  8t4\to  Reiriftor,  .Thh.  1856. 
t  See  the  press  of  tlio  period. 


u 


GOO 


IIISTOKY   OF    TLLTXOTS, 


ciiitioii  i'ov  his  exci'lli'iKiy,  would  inlly  toliis  .stippoif,  and  Iriiiinpli- 
antly  fleet  liiiii.     JJiit  tliey  reekuued  witliuiit  tiieir  liost.* 

Mv.  Trmiilndl,  at  tlu'  tiiiu^  of  ids  election  to  tiie  senate  of  tiio 
IT.  S.,  was  about  4;>  years  old.  He  was  born  in  Connectieut,  wiierc 
he  received  a  jiood  education.  Subse<|ueiitly  lie  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  the  law  and  later  settled  in  iUinois  to  i)iactice  ins  piot'es- 
sion,  which  he  did  with  niaiked  success,  sju'edily  attaining  dis- 
tinction as  an  able  lawyer.  In  l.S4d  lu' was  elect<'d  to  tiie  ieyisla- 
tuie.  \N'iien  Douglas  was  elected  a  suprem*' Jud;.te  in  IStl.liov. 
Carlin,  resistin;^  lej;islative  dictation,  appoiiiteci  'rrund)ull  to  tlie. 
vacant  otlice  of  secretary  of  State,  ovei- .SicK'Iernand,  but  iie  <*anie, 
nearbi'inji'  defeated  in  tiie  senate  l)y  tiu'clVorts  of  tin- latter  and 
his  friends,  out  of  which  <;rew  sonu'  ill-fcelinj;'.  At  tiie  openin.^of 
Clov.  Ford's  a(iiiunistration,he  incurred  tiie  displeasiueof  tliat  func- 
tionary by  opi»osiii<4  his  ])oii<'y  toward  the  State  Iianks,  causing;  ids 
dismissal  from  ollice.  The  same  year  and  the  following'  one,  ho 
.soujilit  the  coiij;ressi(»nal  nomination  in  the  l>eileville  district, 
but  lailiny',  ui»on  the  ineetinj;'  of  the  h'<;islatur(^  he  asjiiied  to 
the  senatorial  nomination  aj;ainst  .Tames  Semple,  the  ji-overnoi's 
apixiiiitee,  and  faile<i  a,iiaiii.  In  1S4(>  liis  name  a]»i)cars  anions  tlie, 
candidates  for  j;overnor,  but  failed  tlirou;:ii  tlu;  inlliience  of  (iov. 
Ford,  and  on  account  of  his  opposition  to  the  canal.  He  iiniiie- 
diately  sou,i;lit  and  obtained  the  candidacy  for  con^iress  in  the 
Dellevilie  district,  but  was  did'eated  by  over  2.(K)0  majoiity,  though 
tlie  district  was  larji'ely  denmcratic.  As  a  ])oliticiaii  'rriinibnll 
lacke<l  tiiat  liearty  and  cordial  ficniality  of  manner  wiiicli  wins 
popularity  anion^'  the  masses.  His  intercourse  witii  the  peo])ie,  if 
not  formal,  left  the  impression  of  reserve,  and  his  nature  was  re- 
jiellant  rather  than  ma<;iietic.  I>ut  no  such  disadvantaj;<' obtained 
Avitli  him  ill  rej>ard  to  politicians — o\-er  such  as  niij;lit  l)e  reached 
by  the  forceof  intellect  he  ever  exercised  a  lar^e  inlluence.  How- 
ever, after  the:;e  repeated  trials  for  place,  in  1848  he  was  elected 
one  of  the  sui>renie  jud.nes  under  the  new  constitution,  which 
ollice  he  resij>iied  July  4,  LSo.'},  on  acctuint  of  insidlieient  salary. 
By  nature,  study  and  habit  he  was  admirably  fitted  for  tiiel»eiicli; 
witii  a  mind  stron{>,  clear  and  i)enerratin<i-,  wliich,  while  it  incliiie(i 
to  detail,  never  lost  its  broad  yrasp  of  i)rinciple — iiere  lie  was 
capacitated  for  jireat  eminence.  He  was  an  aide,  searchin.i;'  and 
comiireliensive  constitutional  pleader.  Uv.  was  ever  a  stieiiiioiis 
and  ultra  democrat,  but  in  1854,  unable  to  brook  the  repeal  of  tli-e 
]\lissouii  compromise',  he  ojtposed  his  party  upon  that  (piestion, 
and  was  in  2soveml)i'r  eh'cted  to  congress  as  an  anti-2s'el)raskii 
democrat,  which  place  he  resij^ned  to  accept  the  senatorshij). 

His  record  in  eonj>ress,  which  is  national,  and  not  our  province 
to  jiive,  stands  very  hij;li.  He  was  for  many  years  the  al)U'cliair- 
inan  of  the  judiciary  committee,  and  few  conftressioual  acts  of 
importance  l»ut  what  bear  the  im})res.s  of  his  far  reaciiinj;-  mind. 
As  an  orator  he  is   devoid  of  imagery  and   ornateness  of  diction, 

*  The  whitrs  for  n  lotur  time  felt  soio  over  the  defeat  of  Mr.  Lincoln  nnd  tlie  forcintf 
of  iiti  (il)ii(ixioiis  eandidiite  upon  tlieni  liy  the  iirtiltriii-y  conduct  of  only  n  men.  In 
ISTuitlic  Hon  J.  H.  Miitheny.  H  whijf,  in  ii  Kiltnore  speech  at  Petersburg,  \isinjx  most 
Bcatliins-'  iaupuatrc  towird  Mr.  Trumbull,  boldly  chartred  a  pre-aiianxed  biuviiin  be- 
tween all  the  anti-Nebriiska  elements  to  the  ellect  that  Trumbull  was  to  bu  elicted  to 
contiicss.  which  was  done  :  that  the  abolitlonistH  were  tf>  have  the  olllccs  on  the  con- 
vening: of  the  let?islature,  which  they  Kot;  and  that  the  whitrs  were  to  have  the  IT.  S, 
senator,  which  I  hey  did  not  >ret.  The  charire  was  denieil  at  the  time  by  a  brother-in- 
law  of  Mr.  Trumbull,  and  in  1H.")H,  Mr.  Lincoln,  du'iuK  hi.s  senatorial  canvass  with  Mr. 
Dougrlas,  in  his  speech  ut  Churlestua  cburucterizcd  it  us  u  "  cock  unci  bull  story  ."J 


SENATORS  IN  OONGRKSS.  (591 

but  as  a  close,  clear,  compact  and  systematic  tliiiiker,  with  an 
exc(^llellt  memory,  a  wide  ac(iiiaiiitaii(!e  of  puhlii!  atlUirs,  and  an 
extensive  knowledge  of  the  law,  he  was  the  most  formidable  de- 
bater of  the  an<;iist  senate.  As  a  in'a(!tical  expounder  of  the 
l)riii;'i])les  of  his  party,  he  eclipsed  i\Ir.  Seward.  He  ever  has 
been  a  hard  stndtMit,  but  notwithstandinj;'  his  mental  labor  he 
bears  his  near  three-score  years  well  and  looks  youthful.* 

DOUGLAS  AND  LINCOLN. 

firnatorialCampni(jnofM^~>^. — The  contest  between  these  pen- 
tkMuen  for  a  seat  in  the  IJ.  8.  senate  is  not  only  tiuMuost  memorable 
in  the  annals  of  Illinois,  but  involving;'  jiieat  national  issues  at  the 
tinu',  i'^sumed  a  scope  beyond  tlic  mere  peisonal  success  of  the 
contestants,  and  an  impcutance  whicii  arrested  public  attention 
fronj  all  parts  of  the  Union.  I)ou;;las  was  the  leadinj;'  r('])rcscnta- 
tive  man  of  the  democracy,  and  Liiic(>!ii  t)ein<i-  pitted  ajiaiust  him, 
became  the  same  for  the  rei)nlilic.in  party.  It  wascalled  the  battle 
ot  the  f>iants,  and  results  nicw  out  of  it,  both  as  iclatcs  to  the  men 
concerned  and  tli<^  [>rin(!iplcs  inv(»lved,  the  most  nu)mentousro  the 
nation  siiu'c  its  foundation  was  laid  in  the  blocnlof  the  Kevolution. 

To  apiueciate  this  contest  fully  we  are  compelled  to  present  a 
short  view  of  the  status  of  parties  at  the  time. 

The  all-abstnbinji'  political  (piestion  was  that  of  slavery.  Since 
the  flay  that  AV^hitiU'y  invented  the  cottonjiin,  slave  labor  had 
jiradually  become  so  piolitable  that  the  whole  south  favored  the 
eniarjjement  of  its  tcrritt)rial  area,  and  so  far  as  the  south,  acting 
as  a  unit,  could  control  the  democrati(r  party,  it  was  pro-slavery. 
To  this  was  arrayed  in  sectional  anta.iionism  the  new  republi(;au 
party,  which,  wliih;  it  professed  to  be  anti-slaveiy  only  so  far  as 
extending;'  the  territorial  area  of  slavery,  had  thron<;h  sympathy 
swept  into  its  ranks  as  co-workers  all  the  old  abolition  element  of 
the  country.  JJetween  these  two,  thus  presenting  a  dangerous 
sectional  issue,  it  was  attem[>ted  to  interpose  the  broad  national 
doctriiuH)f  non-intervention,  or  as  it  wascalled,  popular  sovereignty, 
of  which  .Mr.  Douglas  was  the  actknowledged  chani[)ion.  This  prin- 
ciple, honestly  api>lied  to  the  orgaidzation  of  the  territories,  and 
fairly  carried  out,  offered  the  only  peaceable  solution  for  the  fierce 
sectionalism  of  the  period.  Hut  this  plausible  theory  was  practically 
subjected  to  the  grossest  abuses.  Kansas  and  Xel)raska  had  been 
organized  upon  it,  but  no  sooner  done  than  emigrant  aid  societies 
were  fornu'd  throughout  the  north  sending  thither  men  armed  with 
Sharp's  riHes  to  locally  organiz(^  the  territory  in  the  interests  of 
freedom,  while  the  slaveholders  of  the  south  with  their  emissaries 
pressed  over  the  borders  to  effect  the  first  organization  in  the  in- 
terests of  slavery.  Two  paities  with  totally  o])posite  views  thus 
strove  for  supremacy  in  a  new  csuntry  where  theni  was  no  legal 
restraint  im[»ose(l  ui)on  them,  and  it  is  not  strange  that  collision  and 
an  actual  border  war  followed.  — : 


(*  Oov.  Muttoson  rofuscrt  Mr.  Trumbull  Ills  certlllciito  of  i-lpctlon  «s  senator  in 
18,")."),  Iicpiiiisc  tli(.' conNtltmion  provided  tliut"tlii)  Judg-ca  ot'  tlie  su))roine  and  ("ircuit 
courts  sliiill  iiDt  lie  eligible  to  iitiy  olflcc  or  piil)lii:  trust  in  this  St.itc  or  tlie  United 
Sti\tL's,  durlny  tlio  term  for  wliioh  they  are  eleeted,  nor  for  one  year  thereafter. " 
But  the  senate  of  the  V.  S.,  when  the  (inestion  was  raised,  held  tluit  it  was  the  jiidtte 
of  the  qiialifleation  of  its  niemi)ers,  a  riirlit  'vhich  no  State  law,  eithor  organic  or  statu- 
tory, could  take  away  or  circumscribe.] 


602 


IITSTORY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


Wliile  tlie  soiilli  vi('\v('<l  iK)i»uliir  sovcn'ijiiit.v  as  tlio  sliort  cut  to 
all  the  ends  of  iiholitioiiism.  tlic  (Iciiiocratic  l»arty,  of  wliicli,  by  its 
unity  it  was  tlu'contidllin^  party  at  Cincinnati  in  national  conven- 
tion assenihled,  solemnly  allirnied  it  as  its  <!ieed.  JMr.  ]>uchanan, 
its  noinine(>,  in  his  letter  of  ac(!e|)tan(;e,  said  "that  the  jieojdi^  of  n 
territory,  lik<'  those  of  a  State,  sliall  decide  for  themselves  whether 
thivery  shall  or  shall  not  exist  within  their  limits,"  The  natio)i 
giivo  its  confidence  to  these  fair  ]»romises  only  to  be  deceived. 
After  linchanan's  accession  to  jtower,  with  a  cabinet  maiidy  of 
southein  men  about  him,  he  threw  off  the  mask,  and  in  his  uiani- 
I'esto  to  the  New  Kn^jland  nu'morialists,  said  :  'Slavery  exi.-'ed  at 
that  iH'riod — when  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  was  jtassed — and 
still  exists  in  Kansas  under  the  constitution  of  the  K.  S,  This  point 
has  at  hist  been  decided  by  the  liij-hest  tribunal  known  to  our 
liiws  [alludin;;'  to  the  Dred  Scott  decision].  How  it  could  havei 
been  seriously  doubted  is  a  mystery," 

I)urin<;' the  sunmu'r  of  1S,")7  was  concocted  iu  Kansas  the  infa- 
mous Leconipton  constitution.  After  the  election  of  the  pro-slavery 
deleji'ates — the  fre<' State;  men  notvotinj;' — and  when  the  character 
of  their  work  was  well  anticii)ated,  nunors  were  current  that  tlu^ 
])resi(lent  would  sustain  it  ;  and  after  the  adoption  of  its  i)ro- 
slavery  chuise  by  a  lari;ely  fraudulent  vote,  in  which  all  the  j^reat 
historic  nanu's  of  the  country,  from  Geoijic  Wasliinytoii  down, 
wv.iv  re(!oi(led  in  its  favor — the  fret;  State  nu'u  iu)t  voting  at  all, 
because  the  constitution  i)roper,  whi(;h  also  recognized  slavery, 
Hot  beiufi'  submitted — upon  the  meetinji'  of  cou<;ress  he  boldly  an(l 
iu  slnnneless  deliancte  of  his  previous  ple(i;ji'es  to  the  country,  urjicd 
the  admission  of  Kansas  under  this  fraud,*  He  made  it  the  test 
of  i)arty  fealty,  and  brou,nht  to  bear  iu  its  fav<U'  the  full  jiowerof 
his  otli(!ial  i»atronaj;e,  J)ouj;las,  in  a  speech  at  Milwauke,  in  KStJO, 
says  : 

"  Ff  you  look  into  the  Lecompton  constitution  you  will  find  that  the 
origiuiil  document  nuulc!  Kansas  a  slave  State,  and  tluiu  the  sclu'chde 
sul)mittc'd  anotlier  slavery  clause  to  the  pe(.ple  to  vote  for  or  aj^ainst  ;  if 
they  voted  for  it,  Kansas  was  a  slave  State,  and  if  they  voted  ajj;aiMst  it 
still  it  was  a  slave  State.  When  1  reached  Washington,  three  days  before 
the  meeting  of  congress,  I  went  directly  to  the  president,  and  had  a  talk 
witii  himupon  tiiissubjecit,  in  whioh  I  informed  him,  as  a  fiiend,  not  ti> 
send  the  constitution  into  congress  for  aeceptauce  1  told  him  that  it 
was  a  violation  of  every  pledge  we  iiad  made  to  the  people  ;  a  violatiou 
of  tiie  fundamental  j)rincii)les  of  the  democratic  party,  and  a  violation 
of  the  principles  of  all  parties  in  all  republican  governments  ;  because  \t 
was  an  attempt  to  force  a  constitution  upon  an  unwilling  people.  He 
begged  me  not  to  say  anything  upon  the  subject  until  we  should  hear  the 
news  as  to  how  the  vote  stood  on  the  slavery  clause.  The  vote,  you  re- 
member, was  to  be  taken  on  the  slavery  clause  on  the  21st  of  December, 
three  or  four  weeks  subse(|uent  to  this  convention.  I  told  the  president 
that  if  he  would  withhold  his  recommendation  until  the  vote  was  taken 
on  that  clause  L  would  withhold  my  speech  against  the  measure.  He 
said  he  must  reconuuend  it  in  his  message,  and  I  replied  that  if  he  did, 
I  would  denounce  it  the  moment  his  message  was  read.  At  last  the 
president  l)ccame  somewhat  excited  upon  the  subject,  and  he  arose  and 
said  to  me  :  'Mr.  Douglas,  I  desire  you  to  remember  that  no  democrat 


♦  "My  polUicul  life  hiis  no  Kreater  error  to  atone  for  than  my  neglect  to  crush  this 
reptile  of  Peiiiisylvunia  when  I  hu(i  hlin  In  my  nower.  tfe  was  the  ca\ise  of  a  bitter 
wnr  lietween  two  men  of  this  rcpuhlio  (Cliiy  ami  .Ki^kson,)  who  should  not  have  been  so 
cstratured.  His  representations  eauseil  the  eharife  of 'bar)»-»in  and  sale,' and  when 
bro\i«ht  home  to  him  he  meanly  left  mo  to  laee  it.  Friends  interfered  to  save  him  from 
belnjT exposed,  and  I  listened  to  them." — .lneUson's  oiiinion  of  Uuehanan,  expressed 
to  Moses  Diiwsonln  ISJr.    See  WushiiiH:ton  litpahlir. 


SENATORS  IN  CONORESS. 


G93 


ever  yet  differed  from  an  administration  of  liisown  choice  witliout  being 
cruslied.'  Tlien  lie  added  :  'Beware  of  the  fate  of  Tallmadge  and  Ilivers.' 
r  arose  and  said  :  'Mr.  President,  I  wish  you  to  remember  that  (lieneral 
Jackson  is  dead,  sir.'  From  that  day  to  this  he  and  I  have  been  trying 
the  (lue^tion  whether  General  Jackson  is  dead.  And  one  thing  is  certain 
— the  people  of  Illinois  decided  in  1858  that  James  Buchanan  was  not 
General  Jackson." 

At  the  opeiiiuf;  of  congress  in  the  fall  of  1857,  the  slave  propa- 
giiudists,  assured  of  the  powerful  aid  of  theexeculive,  proclaimed 
loudly  that  Kansas  must  be  admitted  under  the  Leeomptou  con- 
stitution uiU!onditioually,  supplemented  with  their  oft  repeated 
threats  of  «lisunioii.  But  the  great  cham})ion  of  i)opular  sover- 
eignty, unwilling  to  do  this  violence,  both  to  the  law  of  his  country 
and  the  pledges  of  his  party,  now  ]»romptIy  stei>ped  forward  and 
fought  the  battle  of  freedom  for  Kausas,  almost  single-handed  of 
his  party  in  the  senate,  but  well  seconded  in  the  liouse  by  the 
democrats  of  the  Illinois  delegation,  ably  led  by  the  lamented 
Thomas  L.  Ilarris.  li!  disregard  of  old  and  dear  i)arty  ties,  the 
popular  sovereignty  democrats  stood  side  by  side  with  the  repub- 
licans iu  congress,  ami  the  recreant  president  with  his  disunion 
allies  were  deieated  in  their  outrageous  scheme  to  force  slavery 
on  the  unwilling  peoi)le  of  Kansas. 

From  a  volume  entitled  "Our  Living  Representative  Men,"  by 
John  Savage,  we  copy  a  few  graphic  sentences  des(!ril)ing  a  mem- 
orable scene  in  the  United  States  senate,  on  the  occasion  of  Mr. 
Doiigias'  delivering  his  celebi-ated  anti- Leeomptou  speech,  March 
Uli,  1858.  JJesides  citizens  from  all  parts  of  the  Union  and  mem- 
bers of  the  house,  the  dignitaries  and  representatives  of  foreign 
eourt.s  at  Washington  weiv  iu  atendance: 

"If  tlie  immense  mass  of  people  who  crowded  the  galleries,  the 
lobbies,  tlie  stairways  and  the  ante-rooms  of  the  senate  is  any  evidence 
of  interest  in  the  question  of  debate,  then  Kansas  is  the  most  interest- 
ing topic  of  the  day.  *  *  Senator  Douglas  entered  the  chamber  just 
after  a  fainting  lady  had  been  carried  out  of  the  gallery.  *  *  He  was 
congratulated  by  men  of  all  parties,  and  soon  was  engaged  in  an  earnest 
confab  with  Green,  upon  wliose  spirits,  however,  the  Little  Giant  did 
not  seem  to  make  any  especial  cliange.    »  *  *  * 

Gwin  and  Keward  rose  sinmltaueously  and  moved  to  admit  the  ladies 
to  the  lloor  of  the  senate,  and  a  perfect  flood  of  beauty  poured  into  the 
chamber.  The  appearance  of  Senator  Douglas  was  the  t<)l<en  for  around 
of  api»lause.  The  sight  must  have  been  as  deeply  gratifying  lo  him  as 
it  was  entrancing  to  that  mother  and  daughter,  Mrs.  Douglas  and  her 
mother,  who,  from  the  report<'rs'  gallery,  looked  upon  the  scene  witli 
tliat  anxious  pleasure  which  tell  thb  physiognomist  that  they,  of  all 
the  gay  and  brilliant  crow<l,  had  the  deepest  interest  in  it.  For  three 
hours  Senator  Douglas  spoke— he  warmed  up  by  degrees,  lifting  the 
head  and  heart  of  the  multitude  with  liim,  until  one  almost  felt  as  if 
he  were  in  Europe  during  the  revolutions,  listening  to  some  powerful 
tribune  of  the  i)eople  expounding  tiieir  riglits  and  inspiring  them  to 
such  action  as  made  America  a  lepiiblic.  Me  went  through  his  public 
course.  The  period  enJbliU'^•d  some  of  the  most  prominent  and  vital  acts 
in  the  liistory  of  American  poltics.  He  showed — not  as  a  «lefenee,  but 
in  a  proud,  manly,  and  almost  defiant  sj)irit — what  his  acts  had  been; 
he  echoed  his  own  words  ;  he  was  proud  of  his  deeds — deeds  and  worda 
which  were  recognized  portions  of  the  policy  of  the  democratic  party. 

As  lie  proceeded,  with  emphatic  aiul  measured  dignity,  to  define  his 
posifirju  iu  the  present  crisis — wluit  tlie  duly  of  a  senator  from  a  «>ver- 
eigii  State  was,  and  the  respousii)ility  he  (»wed  to  the  people  whose  voice 
ciihuinate  in  him — he  iield  the  multitude  chained  with  that  pecul'ar 
eUKjuence  which,  base(t  on  common  sense  and  the  rights  of  man,  reachea 
Its  destinatioa  witliout  the  aid  of  winged   rhetoric.    Buch    eloquence 


694 


HISTOUY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


does  not  (la/./.lf,  it  couviiiccs  ,  it  doos  not  Mtrttdi  tlu)  fuiicy,  Imt  Holidilics 
the  head;  it  does  not  hold  tlie  bieatli,  l)ut  niulies  one  luealiie  freer,  tor 
it  eheers  tlie  lieart. 

Tlie  ^?reat  l>urst  of  Hi>i>laiise  wiiich  hrolce  from  tiie  fralleries  and  rolled 
over  the  ehunil)er  was  a  iiohler  testimony  to  the  ))rineiples  eniineiated 
by  tlie  elo(juent  senator  than  rnJKlit  be  written.  He  was  there  the 
defender  of  the  i)eoi)le,  the  represiiiitative  of  (lie  Stale,  and  not  the 
vassal  of  the  t'xeeiitlve,  nor  the  valet  of  the  athninistration,  to  do  its 
biddiiij?  without  eonsidtinj^  tlu'ir  own  jud^nient  or  the  interests  of  the 
people.  He  stood  forth  as  the  (champion  of  State  sovereij^nty."  He 
j?rew  in  eiithusiasm  witli  the  progress  of  his  sulyeet,  and  the  ellec^t  was* 
elei!trie. 

Tims  was  convoytMl  ii  lesson  whicrli  slioiihl  liiivc  tini{>Iit  the<'liit'i' 
inii^istiiUe  of  this  iiatioM  that  tlien^  may  be  ])0[>iihtr  leaders  moio 
Ijowerliii  tliaii  tli(^  executive,  with  all  his  einuinous  pati'oiia^'c  at. 
his  haeiv ;  Itiit  ills  peiceptioii  was  b]iinl(>(l  l>y  morlitication,  ami 
lie  looked  only  iv,  i'eveii^<>,  and  tor  this  purpose,  piitsned  Douglas, 
who  looked  forward  to  a  renewed  seinitorial  t»'nn  at  the  ensuing; 
session  of  the  le<;islature,  with  all  hisollicial  i)owcrand  patronage, 
into  Illinois. 

The  adherents  of  the  president  in  this  State,  the  federal  otlicers 
and  appointees,  and  other  recipients  of  his  bounty  ami  favors, 
joined  by  the  broken  down  i)oliti(;ians  and  place  hunters,  whose 
future  depemled  not  upon  the  i»reservalion  but  rather  the  de- 
.slru(!tioii  of  the  deimx-ratic  party,  ami  iilso  those  moved  by  envy 
or  hatred  of  the^Iiittle  (liant,"  were  rallied  ami  thor«»ii<;hly  orj;aii- 
ized.  A  few  (U'lnoftratic  m-wspapersyii-lded  to  subsidy,  but  more 
weriMlireirtly  established  ;  and  itinerant  orators  were  enii)ioyed  to 
perambulate  the  State  tliroiifi'h  its  len<;th  ami  breadth.  Tiie:  adher- 
ents of  the  i)resideiit  wei(^  designated  a.s  Danite.s.  A  secret 
politi(!()-military  order  in  Kansas,  of  whose  fearful  oaths  and 
frijihtful  doings,  horrid  accounts  had  been  published,  was 
demaiueed  in  congress  by  INlr.  Douglas,  and  characterized  as  an 
imitation  of  actit-throat  IMormon  band,  called  Danites.  ()n<i  of 
the  reputed  leaders  of  the  Kansas  (U'der  was  employed  in  Illinois 
as  a  general  ])ost  ollice  agent,  in  wliieli  capacity  he  traversed  the 
State  constantly,  notoriously  doing  more  to  organize  the  adminis- 
tration oi)osition  against  Douglas,  by  threats  of  dismissal  or  intim- 
idation, than  ferreting  out  governmtMit  delinquencies. 

The  democracy  of  Illinois  met  in  convention  at  Springfndd, 
April  21,  l.SoS,  to  nominate  candidates  for  State  treasnicr  aiul 
superiidemlent  of  pul)lic  instrmttion,  and  i>articularly  to  declare 
its  status  with  regard  to  the  great  question  of  variance  between 
the  ]»resident  and  Senator  Douglas.  In  97  of  the  101  counties 
resolutions  had  already  been  ])assed  by  the  democracy,  approving 
the  course  of  tin'  Illinois  delegation  in  congress  upon  this  Le(M)mi)- 
ton  question.  Two  conventions  met  at  the  appointe<l  time  ami 
idace,  both  claiming  to  repr<'sent  the  true  democracy  of  the  Stiite, 
one  sustaining  i)opular  sover<'ignty  and  approving  the  course  of 
onr  delegation  in  congress  during  the  Lecomi)ton  struggle,  the 
other  endorsing  the  administratioJi  and  repudiating  Douglas  as 
afliliating  with  republicans.  The  hitter  wasbut  sparingly  attended, 
the  represeidation  being  from  24  counties,  and  its  proceedings 
were  somewhiit  spiritless.  John  Dougherty  (since  lientemmt 
governor)  i)resided.  Ike  Cook,  a  Chictago  postmaster,  was  chief 
inamiger,  and  Dr.  Leroy,  .lohn  L.  IMcCoimel,  Ii.  B.  Carpenter  ami 
B.  F,  lilackbtiru  were  the  speakers.    As  it  was  partly  composed 


SEIJATOBS  IN  CONGRESH.  fl05 

ol"  scccdcM's,  no  ticket  was  iiiiidc,  Jiiid  an  adjoiiriiiiiciit  till  llic  !Mli 
of  fJiiiU!  was  liud,  wiicii  it  met  a^aiii  with  a  soiiu'wliat  iarj^cr 
atli'iidaiicc.  .loliii  I)«>ii;ilu'rty  was  iiomiiiatcd  for  ti'casiiier,  and 
<'.\  (idv.  .lolin  IkC.vnolds  tor  State  scliooi  snpeiintendent,  bolli  by 
aeeianiation.  The  'Miationals^'  met  with  nineli  en(M)nra;;einent 
from  the  rejinhlieans,  but  now,  in  their  h)n};'  phitloiin  of  prinei- 
l)h's,  tliey  ])aid  their  resjieets  to  them  as  follows:  We  deem  thn 
])rineiples  and  i)oliey  of  the  blaek  republicans  as  utterly  opposed 
to  lliespiiit  in  which  the  Union  was  formed,  and  the  su(;cess  of 
that  i>arty  would  be  disastrous  to  its  prosperity — which  was  not 
so  palatable  to  the  latter.  The  presich-nt  was  v«'ry  much  dissat- 
islied  with  these  meaf^re  and  spiritless  affairs;  county  meetinju's 
and  district  conventions  were  therefore  held,  and  administration 
lejiisiative  tickets  were  generally  put  in  the  field  with  the  ho[>e  of 
<livertin{;-  votes  enouj;h  to  (tariy  the  State  for  tlu^  republicaiis. 

The  re^iidar  democratic^  convention  was  hujicly  atlentU'd,  84 
counties  i)ein<;'  fully  repr<'sented,  embracing'  more  of  the  endnent 
and  distinguished  men  of  the  State,  than  was  (!ommon  on  sn(!li 
oci-asions.  lOx  Lieut.  (Jov.  .John  INIoore  presided.  The  ticket 
made  was  W.  Jj.  FomU'y  for  treasuier,  and  ex-Gov.  l''reiich  for 
suiierinlendent  of  i)ublic  instruction.  While,  the  resolutions  of 
the  <'onvcntion  were  firm  in  tiu'ir  tone,  they  did  not  oj»enly  ami 
decisively  mention  Doujilas  by  name  and  api)lau(l  his  course,  nor 
<lid  they  condemn  the  president  in  direct  terms.  It  was  sought 
rather  to  avoi<l  an  oix-n  riii»ture  with  the  administi'ation.  A  reso- 
lution olfere<l  by  ,Iud;;e  l)rumnu)nd,  ''That  this  convention  view 
with  ic'^^ret  the  course  pursued  by  tlu^  present  adnnnistration  in 
rem<»vin^'  <;ood  men  from  oflicefor  the  expression  of  opinionsupon 
any  yiveu  ])roposition,"  was,  upon  motion  of  Jud^eO.  ('.  Skinnei", 
l)roniptiy  laid  on  the  table.  'J'his  looks  like  a  piece  of  ariant 
tru<klin^' to  an  arl>itrary  and  recreant  ])resi(lent.  It  was  hoped 
that  the  Jvunsas  troultles  would  jtrove  evanescent  and  that  party 
unity  would  be  ]»reserved.-  The  convention  did  not  nominate  or' 
recoiiiniend  Mr.  I)oii;;las  as  the  senatorial  candidate,  as  did  the 
icpMblicans  Mr.  Lincoln,  sonn;  time  after.  IJut  his  candidacy  was 
j;<'nerally'  conceded.  There  were  other  aspirants  in  the  demo- 
cratic lanks,  but  when  it  was  jH'rceived  what  lier(;ulean  blows 
v.eie  recpiisite  in  the  fi^ht,  the  field  was  left  by  conwnon  consent  to 
the  Litth'  (iiant. 

IJiit  with  the  efforts  and  exceptions  mentioned,  the  democracy 
jienerally,  both  press  and  i>eople,  sustained  Senator  l)ouj;las. 
During  the  daikest  hour  of  the  Lecompton  strujiyle,  the  reitnbli- 
can  ju-ess,  layinj;'  aside  party,  heartily  i)raised  the  course  of  l)ou<;- 
las  and  his  colleaji'iu's  of  the  house  for  their  noble  stand  in  vimli- 
cation  of  law  ami  jiopul'  ■  right,  a<;aiiist  the  slave  olif-arcdiy,  with 
a  treacherous  president  at  its  head.  I)urin<>'  the  canvass  Mr. 
(Ireeley,  a  warm  admirer  of  theeliara(!ter  of  Doujilas,  howexer  he 
warred  against  his  politi(!al  principles, held  the  followinglanguage 
in  the  New  York  2V/7jjfH6' regarding  his  or  Mr.  Lincoln's  success: 

"There  is  a  conthigency  in  \Thich  even  lie  [Mr.  Lincobi]  might  be 
elected,  tiiat  would  cause  sucii  election  to  be  viewed  with  regret  i)y 
repuhiicaus  in  other  States.  *  *  Weallude  to  mcret  coalition  l)etween 
repul)lican  leaders  and  the  little  faction  of  postmasters,  tide-waiters  ami 
federal  otHce  seekers,  who,  for  the  sake  of  tlieir  dirty  pu<iding,  present 
and  hoped  for,  pretend  to  approve  the  Lecompton  fraud,  and  are  now 
hounding  ou  the  truck  of  Senator  Douglas.    Any  couspiriug  or  conniv- 


OIXJ 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


iiiu,'  Willi  tliiH  jtack  on  tli<>  part  of  n-pulilicaiis  of  IlliiiniH,  no  itiattcr  l>y 
wlial  iiunic  KltwML'il,  uiidiT  wliat  pivtfXl  vt-ilcd,  would  bu  regarded  by 
republi('auH  in  other  Ktuteswitli  prolound  disfavor." 

Of  DotifiliiH,  ho  lieldthe  loUowiiiji;  laii^iia;;!' : 

"Tliey  have  seen  Idin  sepande  liiinHeU'  from  a  triumphant  iui<lah>ioHt 
iiivin('i()le  adniinistiation,  wliicli  luid  iionors  to  dispense  and  millions 
todislmrse,  braving  the  denuneiation.s  of  party  orpmi/.ation  and  party 
pro^rets,  which  liave  for  lid  years  l)orne  him  on"ard  from  triiimpli 
to  triumph,  and  from  indiirene<-  and  obsenrity  to  opulence  and  dis- 
linction — they  have  seen  him  incur  the  deadly  and  uni|ueiichalile 
liatred  of  I  lie  slave  power,  blasting?  in  a  moment  all  the  ri'asonal)lehoi)e8 
of  obtaining  the  i)residency  throuj!;li  tlii"  machinery  and  Hj)ell  of  the 
democratic  party.  *  *  When  a  statesman  so  hi^h  in  position,  in  jjower, 
in  hojies,  separates  himself  from  a  triumphant  majority  to  iii^lit  a 
momentous  l)'attle  on  the  side  of  a  iidnority,  to  whom  lie  had  always 
stood  in  deadly  opposition,  it  is  scarcely  reasonable  to  attribute  that 
chaufie  to  any  motive  which  does  not  honor  his  conscienciousness  and 
his  courage.  And  it  seems  to  us  particularly  uiifiiaciouH  in  those  to 
whom  he  has  lent  the  weijjlit  of  liis  powerful  arm  to  unite  with  his 
and  their  implacable  enemies,  in  disparaKinfr  his  motives,  belittleiim  his 
influence,  and  i)aralyzinK  his  exertions.  *  *  However  pointed  may  be 
our  future  dillereiices,  we  sliall  never  forget  that  in  the  Lecomidon 
struggle  he  proved  faithful,  in  deliance  of  great  tem])tation,  not  toour 
l)rinciiiles  but  to  his  own,  *  *  If  this  course  was  taken,  the  conse- 
quences braved  by  IMr.  Douglas,  solely  upon  the  strength  of  liis  eonvic- 
tions  <.f  rigid,  and  of  the  moral  weight  of  th(>  ))ledges  given  in  the 
Nebraska  bill  and  the  Cincinnati  i)latform,  no  public  man  in  our  day 
has  evinced  a  nobler  lidelity  and  courage  " 

lint  tliis  out  spoken  iippiovnl  of  Donjilii.s'  coiirsclty  llu' icpiibli- 
caii  jn-ess  ontside  (d"  tlic  Stuti'  was  bitterly  ami  (leOantly  resisted 
in  IlliiMiis.  Tlie  administration  oi'^^aiis  iiad  n'ad  liiin  ami  his  tul- 
lowcrs  out  of  the  dcinocratict  ])arty,  and  the  retleeiicm  had  been 
indiiljicd  tiiat  he  iniyld  find  a  hxlfiinu  phiee  in  the  r('i>nl»ii('aii.  but, 
llie  jtress  ol'  the  latter  ]»arty,  kiiowin;^  well  the  man,  scouted  this 
its  an  ej;i'ej;i(»ns  i'alac^v.  Their  |>olitical  hatred  of  their  old  foe  was 
revived  with  all  its  fornu'r  iinimosity,  and  they  i»n»claiine<l  that 
there  was  iioeoidlict  into  which  the  republicans  of  Illinois  entered 
so  heartily,  so  thoroii<;hIy,  so  unitedly  as  this.  Tiiey  (b'sired  to 
bo  avenjicd  on  him  with  an  intensity  not  to  be  appreciated  by 
ontsideis,  and  lor  the  ]nirpose  in  hand  asked  to  be  let  alone  in 
the  fijilitl>y  the  sentimental  philosophers  and  eidhiisiasts  abroad.* 
The  feeblest  eH'orts,  siiyiiij^saiid  i>nrposesof  tlie  Unchanan  men,  to 
divide  tli«',  democracy  of  tiieStalt ,  were  jiicedily  taken  up.  paraded 
bel\)re  the  ]»nblic  and  lieralded  abroacl  in  a  iiiajiiiiiieent  form. 
The  stran<«e  anonndy  was  e.\liil>ited  of  a  most  persistent  jtraise 
and  llattery  bestowed  by  the  republicans  upon  the  slave  party, 
Avlnle  these  who  had  in  eon<;ress  stood  side  by  side  with  them  in 
tiie  defeat  of  the  Lecoinpton  iiii<|iiity,  reeeive<l  <ndy  their  abuse 
and  slander.  All  this  to  promote  the  scliism  in  tlie  democratic 
party,  and  redouml  to  the  benefit  (d"  tlieirowii. 

The  State  republican  conveidion  metat  Sitriiififield,  Jnm^  lo,  ]858 
atid  wasorji'anized  1 -y  select  i ii};' ex- Lieu t.-Cio v.  Koenier  as  ])resident. 
It  was  laryel.N  attended. 87  counties  lieinji-  represented,  ami  niiicii 
eidhnsiasm  was  exhibitetl.  .Faiiu's  Millei'.  tiie  then  inenmbent,  was 
renominated  for  treasurer  without  opposition.  For  the  (candidacy 
of  the  oHiee  of  siiperiiiten<lent  of  public,  instriietiini  ten  names 
were  presented.     The  second  ballot  showed  the  (tontest  to  li<!  be- 

'tce  Chicago  pnpers  ol'  June,  I808, 


SENATOUH   IN   (ONOKKHS. 


007 


twjM'ii  W.  II.  Powell,  tilt'  (licii  iiifiiiiilK'iil,  and  Newton  Hiiteiiiaii, 
of  Moi';>iiii,  wlin  on  tlietliii'd  liallot  iceeived  the  nomination. 

In  tlieir  declaration  of  inineiples  tliey  '■disclaimed  all  intention 
of  altemptin};,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  to  assail  or  alaidye  the 
ri;;lils  olaiiy  of  the  mcndiers  of  the  cont'ederacy  yinirantied  Ity  the 
eonslitnlion,  or  in  any  manner  to  inteilere  with  the  instilntioii  of 
.slavery  in  the  States  wln-re  it  existed."  They  denounced  the  ad- 
ini,nistrali(»n  ;  ditf«i('d  with  the  decision  of  the  l".  S.  supreme  eonrt 
in  the  l)r<'d  Scroti  case;  nniiiitained  the.  ri^ilit  of  eonjiress  to  pro- 
Inhit  sla\«'ry  in  theterril(»ri«'s,and  its  duty  to  exercise  it  ;  appr(»ve(l 
the  llien  recent  decision  of  the  snpreme  court  of  Illinois deelarin**; 
that  property  in  per.sons  was  repn^nant  to  the  eonstitntion,  and 
that  shivery  was  the  t'reatiire  of  local  or  mnnicipal  law.  Charles 
L.  \Vils<Hi  oU'ered  a  I'esolntion,  which  was  iinaninionsly  adojtled 
anddst  shouts  of  applanse  :  '^  That  Abraham  liineoln  is  the  first 
and  oidy  choice  of  the  repnhlicans  of  Illinois  for  the  U.  S.  senate, 
as  the  sncccessor  of  Stephen  A.  Donylas." 

DfHTGl.AS  AND  Lincoln. — These  two  most  eminent  and  illustri- 
ons  UM-n  of  Illinois  and  of  the  nation  deserve  at  tnir  hands  sonnv 
what  moi'c  extended  hittj-raphical  sketches  than  aic  ;;«'neially 
^i\('n  in  this  work,  which  we  deem  it  proper  to  make  before  pro- 
iseedin;!;-  to  detail  their  great  <!ontest  for  senatorial  honors. 

tSh'jtIini  Aniolil  Doiujlas — was  born   April  2.'{,  ISl.'l,  at   Urandon, 

Vermont,  "a  j; I  State  to  emi;;rate  from,"  as  he  has  said.     Ili-s 

father,  wlnt  died  when  Stephen  was  an  infant  of  .'{  months,  was  Vk 
pii,\sician  of  considerable  eminence,  and  a  native  of  New  York. 
His  grandfather  was  a  i'ennsylvanian,  and  a  soldier  in  the  iJcvo- 
liilion,  beiny  with  Washington  at  Valley  Foi'^ic  and  at  Yoiktown. 
Ilisyreatfiiandfathei'  was  also  native  born,  bnt  the  remote  ancestry 
\\  as  from  Scotland, and,  it  has  been  said,  traceable  to  Ihc^  blood  of 
tin'  Donju'las.  In  yonth  Stei»hen  received  the  oidinary  s<'hool 
edncation  of  his  native  State,  aiul  was  an  apt  and  dilijicnt  pnj)!!. 
At  1.*),  nnuble  to  <ii'atify  an  ai'dent  <lesir<'  to  ]>repare  for  colle;^'e, 
owinjito  his  mother's  slrai,nhti'ned  cii-cnmstai'iM's,  he  apprenticed 
liimselfto  the  cabim-t  trade.  In  IS  niontl  .;  afterwards,  tindinj-' it 
to(»  hard  tor  his  constiliition,  he  abandonod  it  and  entered  the 
academy  ut  Hrandon.  The  foilowin,n  year,  his  mother  having 
mai-ricd  a  Mi',  (iranger,  whose  son  liad  i»re\  iously  married  his 
eldest  sister,  the  family  removed  to  (,'anadagiia,  N.  Y.  Jlere 
Steplu'n  resnmed  Ids  academical  eonrse,  and  also  connneneed  to 
r«'ad  law.  At  the  age  of  20  he  started  west  to  seek  an  eligible 
location.  At  Cleveland  he  was  long  detained  by  sickness,  IJecov- 
ering,  he  went  to  Cincinnati,  an(l  thence  by  river  to  St.  Lonis, 
tinding  his  way,  lat<^  in  the  fall  of  1S;>;5,  to  X\w  village  of  Winclies- 
tcr,  S<'ott  (;onnty,  Illinois,  \vhither  he  walked  from  Jacksonville, 
in  (pu'st  of  a  school  to  tea(  h,  his  exchetpu'r  being  reduced  to  'M^ 
cents.  His  first  work  was  clerking  at  a vendne,  which  yielded  him 
§<>,  bnt  he  obtained,  shoitly  after,  a  school  of  40  jtnpils  at  $3  a 
(piaitci'.  H<'  kept  n]»  his  law  studies  meanwhile,  and  the  following 
.March  was  adnutted  to  the  bar  by  tlu' snpreme  court  sitting  at, 
Vandalia.  He  now  betook  himself  to  the  ]>ra(ttiee  of  the  law,  and. 
speedily  won  distinction  in  his  ]»rofession.  Within  a  year  of  Ids 
admission  to  the  bar,  before  he  was  22  years  old,  he  waL'  chosen  by 


608 


niSTOHY   OF   ILUNOIfl. 


tlic  l('y:isl;i(iiir  attorney  h;<'Ii»'I'iiI  <•'  '•'•'  State.  In  1S;U»  lie  was 
elected  to  tlie  le;:islal  lire  IVoiii  M(ir;;aii  ediiiily,  l»eiii;i  t  he  y(Hm;icst 
iiieiiiher  ill  that  Ixidy.  Al  this  se- sjoii  the  internal  iiiipioNeinent 
tolly  of  the  State  was  entered  upon.  In  1>S.'{7  Ih>  was  appointed  l>y 
\'aii  l>iiren  rejuislei' of  the  land  olliee  at  S|»iiii;;lieid.  The  same 
year  he  was  noiiiinaled  tor  eon  ^  less,  and  a  I  the  eleetioii  of  An^^iisi, 
1S."(S,  (tame  within  ~>  votes  of  an  election  out  of  .'U»,(MM»  east,  his  op- 
])oiient  hein;:'  the  lion,  .loliii  T.  Stiiarl,  wlii;;.  lie  now  d<>voted 
iiimseif  assidnonsly  to  his  new  profession,  and  pro\ed  himself  iiii 
able  lawyer  and  siieeessfnl  advocate.  His  tact  and  skill  in  the 
examination  of  witnesses  was  iiiii'i\  ailed.  In  ISIO  he  enlei'ed  willi 
fi'reat  ardor  into  the  exeitiny  presidential  eanipai;;ii,  eanvassiii;n 
the  Stale  thoroii;ilily,  hy  addressinj;  HOT  iiieelin;;s  in  fa\(»r  of  \aii 
]>iireii.  I  poll  tile  meetin;;  »»f  the  le;;islatiire  in  Di-eemln'r  of  that 
year,  he  was  appointed  seeietary  of  State  by  (Jov.  ('arlin,  wlio  was 
iiiiabie  to  withstand  the  |>ressiire  in  his  favor.  Diirinji  the  session, 
from  partisan  motives,  the  supreme  «'oiirt  was  reoijiani/ed,  in 
which  I)oii;;las  took  an  aelive  ])art  through  lobby  addresses,  \e., 
and  was  also  eleet<'d  to  a  seat  upon  the  bench,  iciideriii;;  the 
(toiirt  democratic.  The  supreme  Jnd^^cs  had  to  iK-rforin  eir»'uit 
duty,  l)oii;ilas  beiii;;  assij;iied  to  theC^idney  district. 

I:i  the  tth  volume  of  the  '"Law  IkCportei',"  lioston,  1S4L',  may  be 
found  a  letter  from  a  lawyer,  wlio  had  emi;;rate(l  to  Illinois,  yiv- 
in;;  the  Ibllowinj'  deseiiption  of  liim  on  the  beneh  : 

"Tiie  judKt'  of  ourcnvuit  is  S.  A.  Dou^^las,  a  youth  of -'8,  wlio  wns  the 
democnitic candidate  for  coiiKress  in  IH.'ts,  in  opixwition  to  [J.  T.]  8tuiirt, 
tlu'  lute  nii'inlxT.  He  is  a  Vermonter,  a  man  of  c(iiiHidt'ial>le  talent,  and, 
in  (lie  way  of  desiiatcldnj^  business,  is  a  i)ertect 'steam  enjfiiie  in  Incecli- 
es.'  Tins' (iispalcli  is  the  only  Iteiietit  our  circuit  will  derive  from  the 
ehaiijre.  He  is  the  m()j*t  democratic  jud>j;e  I  ever  knew.  VV'hih'  a  ease  is 
goiiiH'  on  he  leaves  the  bench  and  ^^>e»  among  the  people,  and  among  the 
inemlu'rs  of  the  i)ar,  takes  acigar  and  nas  a  social  smoke  with  them,  or 
often  sitting  in  their  laps,  i)eiiigiii  jjeisonsay  live  feet  nothing, or  tliere- 
ahouts.and  probably  weighing  alKUit  100  pounds.  I  have  often  thought 
we  should  cut  a  queer  tlgure  if  one  of  our  Sutlolk  l)ar  should  aeeidenlal- 
ly  drop  in." 

Ibit  Doujilas'  manners  ui)on  the  bencrli  wore  unexceptional.  He 
was  studious,  clear,  comprehensive  }in«l  expediti<)us,  smd  it  may  be 
said  that  a  nior*'  popular  Judge  never  wore  the  ermine  in  this 
State,  notwithstanding  his  youth  and  sli<;lit  tlgure. 

In  l<S4.'j  li(t  was  tirst  elected  to  congress  by  a  majority  of  about 
40(K  He  was  twice  re-elected,  his  majority  being'  increased  each 
time — the  last  time  to  .'},()(((>.  In  the  lower  house  he  is  said  to 
have  been  cautions  and  sparing  of  d(d)ate,  studious  ami  closely 
observant,  and  when  he  did  arise  for  a  sju'ceh  it  was  apt,  forcible, 
and  to  the  purpose.  His  early  education  was  not  so  thorough  and 
scholastic  as  it  might  have  been,  as  he  well  knew,  but  this  fact 
could  never  have  been  gathered  from  his  speeches.  Ashamed  to 
be  either  unintbrmed  or  misinformed,  he  was  a  studious  toiler 
throughout  his  busy  and  boisterous  political  life,  amidst  all  its 
engrossing  cares  and  unceasing  occnipation,  and  a  wide  and  vaiied 
reader  of  history  and  its  kindred  <d'  ])olitics  aud  law.  Contact 
with  public  atlairs  gave  s(!ope  to  his  understanding  and  de])tli  to 
his  Jiulgement,  and  his  knowledge  became  vast,  eomjjlete  and 
accurate.  Oik;  of  his  tirst  masterly  eftbrts  in  congress  to  attract 
national  attcutiun,  was  his  speech  on  the  bill  to  refund  to  Gen. 


BKNATORR  IN  CONOBEB8. 


099 


tliicUsoii  tli(^  tiiu^  imposed  iipDii  liiiii  lor  plariiio;  New  Orlcmis  iiiiilcr 
tiiiii'liiil  l;i\v  ;it  IIm'  lime  of  tlic  liatllt*  in  ii^  (l*-t'*'iic(«  on  llio  Sili  of 
flaniiiir.v,  ISI'J.  Tlie  vmcrulilc  licio  of  that  ;;loriou,s  rvcnt  siil»,s«' 
<|ii(-ntly  lliankt'il  l)oii<;las  foi'  tliis  iiltic  vintlication,  sa,vin},' :  I  kiMW 
uii*-n  I  pioflainn-<l  an<l  cnfon-fd  niartial  law  tiiat  I  was  (loin}{ 
ri;;lil;  Init  never,  until  I  read  vour  speeeii,  eoidd  I  express  tlio 
reas(»ns  wiiicli  actuated  in.v  eond.iet. 

Ill  I.S17  l)oii<;las  ei.ii  red  tlie  senate,  which  was  tiie  arena  of  his 
herculean  laixtrs.  His  imnie,  _voun«>'  ,;s  •:;  was,  Itecaine  sjieedily 
associated  with  the;;i<'at  national  is^^lles  which  alfecled  the  des- 
tiny of  this  people.  Il(>  inoiilded  and  anw  them  direction  in  pub- 
lic allairs.  iSelweeii  Mie  u;>';{iessi()iis  of  tiie  south  and  the  resist- 
ance of  the  north  over  the  anj;ry  siiltject  of  shivery  in  our  terri- 
tories, it  has  heen  said  that  there  is  no  escape  from  the  coiiclnsioii 
that  tin*  ;;i-iiius  of  l>ou;;las  offered  the  only  peaceable  solution  of 
■>  eomiiKUi  national  ^ii'onnd  upon  which  all  could  meet  in  the  tlietuy 
'  '  territorial  sovereif^nty.  To  it,  throii;;li  his  labors,  the  demo- 
cratic party  was  committed  in  isrwi,  <;ained  a  triumph  at  the  pollt) 
and  I  hell  was  basely  betrayed  by  Jiiichanan  and  the  south.  Ibit 
J)oii;{las  was  true  and  faithful  to  it  to  the  last  and  defended  it 
whenever  and  wherexei'  assaih-d.  And  while  lu'  was  peisoiially 
jiiirsiied  by  bitter,  implacable,  open  political  o]>ponents,  his  dar 
liiij''  idea,  wliiith  was  i!iiii>ire  or  niin  with  him,  was  more  yrossly 
betrayed  by  jx'ilidious  tViends  who  rode  into  powei-  upon  it. 

The  iiKist  slrikiiiji'  peculiarity  in  the  ])lii/.si<ii(c  of  Mr.  Doujila.s 
was  his  stature  which  was  <;reatly  below  tlu'  medium  hij;lit — not 
abovi'  ")  feet.  Mis  tiunk  was  ample,  compact  and  erect,  with  lull 
chest  and  s(|uare,  well  deliiied,  though  not  broad  shoulders;  but 
his  extremities  were  <lispi(»portioi  ately  short.  In  the  latter  ,\ear.s 
of  his  life  he  j;rew  stout,  tluMi^h  not  obese.  Mis  li;;ure  would  have 
been  fatal  to  the  divinity  of  the  Appollo  J>elve(lere.  Whih^  his 
<limiiiiiti\(^  stature  \vould  arrest  attention,  his  facile  aii<1  natural 
dijiiiity  of  manner,  not  to  say  <;race,  with  an  aii',  as  if  boni  to 
command,  would  cause  idle  curiosity  in  tlu^  contemplation  of  his 
jM-rsoii  to  ])ass  into  sp«'edy  for^^ct fulness  by  the  resjx'ct  and 
attention  which  he  inspired.  His  splendid  head,  covere<l  with  ii 
heavy  suit  of  dark  hair,  nicely  poised  upon  his  slioiddcrs  and 
connected  by  a  short  neck. w  is  massive  in  its  brain  develoj»ement, 
coii\«>yin<i,  under  animatior  the  impression  of  almost  inlinitc 
jiower.  The  ample  forehead  \\as  scpiarely  built  up  over  the  wide 
aiclies  of  his  heavy  blows,  under  which  rolled  a  pair  of  laryo, 
restless,  deep-set,  dark  blue  eyes, capable  of  shootiii};<)ut  j;luiices 
of  I'lectiic  tire,  wli.'U  under  the  imi)u]se  of  the  jxtwerlid  brain 
battery  back  of  them.  His  nose  was  broad  and  shoit,  with  llarinj;' 
nostrils,  denoting  coolness  and  courage.  At  its  junction  with  the 
l>r(»jectinji'  forehead  it  lefta  ])eculiar  traiis\-erso  <!rease.  His  mouth 
Avas  ample,  cleanly  cut,  with  lips  finely  ar(!hed.  the  whole e\iiiciiig 
decision,iind  by  the  depression  at  the  angles,  cokiveying  a  mingled 
idea  of  sadness  and  disdain.  His  cliin,  backed  by  a  lirm  Jaw, 
squared  well  to  the  general  outline  of  his  face,  indicating  ardor, 
strength  and  vigor,  llv  wore  no  beard,  but  [>resented  smoothly 
shaven  cheeks  and  handsome  throat  with  slight  double-chin.  The, 
general  contour  of  his  face  was  regular,  and  its  muscles  wonder- 
fully mobile,  giving  a  pleasing  and  winning  countenance;  his 
complexion,  though  somewhat  dark,  with  his  usually  good  health, 


roo 


IIISTOUY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


wsis  (;le;u';  the  cxiilK'ninceof  liis  iiiiiinal  spirits  was  oxtnioidiuiuy. 
lie  was  of  tiic  vital  tciiipcraiiiciit.  Such  is  a  brief  physical 
(Icscriptioiiof  tlu'  "Little  (Jiaiit.'"* 

As  an  oiiitor  Doiij^ias  possessed  the  pecnhar  niaji'iietisiii  of 
iiiil>artiii^'  to  iiis  auditory  tlie  hue  of  his  sentiineiits  and  \iews — 
swayiiiji'  liieir  will  or  diicctiu^'  llieir  sensibility  at  i»leasure.  He 
affected  no  senatorial  airs,  betrayed  no  aristocratic  spirit,  but 
natnially  and  easily  identilied  himself  with  the  denioeraey.  He 
had  Ween  the  ;^<-nial  companion  of  many  an  early  ]>ioneei',  and  his 
intinnite  knowledge  of  the  i)eoj»le  and  sympathy  with  them, 
enaliled  him  on  the  stump  to  convey  to  their  common  understand- 
in,u',  in  their  own  accustonu'<l  vehicles  of  thouj;iit.  his  reasoning 
upon  tlu'  political  <|uestioiisof  the  day,  often  enl'or<Mnj;an(l  cliiich- 
i}\<i  an  arj;uinent  to  those  who  remendiered  the  frtuitier  times  by  a 
peculiar  boitb-r  lijiure,  cairyinj^'  conviction  to  their  minds  as 
evinced  by  a  spontaneous  outburst  of  ajiplanse  at  fre<incnt  inter- 
vals. IJut  his  most  insei»arable  attributes  were  rapidiiy  and  l)()l(b 
iicss  of  thought,  and  his  dexterity  in  debate- — of  wliich  he  became 
a  consumnnite  nnistei- — ciopped  out  in  early  life,  <;ivin;;'  promise 
of  niKMjualed  ])ower  in  his  first  elfbrtson  thestuni]).  lie  had  the 
faculty  of  sumnioninjiiill  his  mental  resources  with  a  ]>i(»ni]»titnde 
uhicli  served  admiraltly  the  occasion,  even  if  re(pured  instantly 
in  reply  to  a  powerlul  anta,ii<)nist  in  the  senate.  Tlicrefore,  while 
bis  Ibite  lay  toac<'rtain  extent  in  his  nnitchless  [)ower  njion  the 
liuslinjis,  he  swayed  a  no  less  ]»ower  in  the  caucus  or  the  anj;ust 
jsenate.  His  manner  of  treatinji  a  subj<'et  was  bold  and  inde- 
(le[)en(lent,  always  St rikiuii' the  hai'd  and  stronj;' points.  To  halt- 
inji'  friends  he  appeared  at  times  to  be  overbearing';  ami  there 
■was  a  vein  of  cold  irony  in  his  nature  which,  with  a  defiant  tone 
in  his  I'cnnirks.  a  hauj^hty  maniu-r  and  a  curling  of  the  lip.  sunk 
deci»  into  the  heart  of  an  eiu'my.  Knergy  and  activity,  courage 
and  fortitude,  were  of  the  essence  of  his  nature.  The  assaults 
that  would  excruciate  sonu'  nu'U  only  excited  a  smile  of  derision 
on  his  intrepid  face.  Elastic  in  both  body  and  mind,  he  was  ca[)a- 
blc  of  perlbi'ining  an  incredible  amount  of  political  labor  in  the 
oiten    field.     Thus  with  sagacity  as  if  inspired  by  genius,  a  nnnd 


*  'I'liis  soiiVi  iquot  orisriiiateil  very  fiirly  in  liis  |)ul)lic  litV.  In  ISW  President  .Taek- 
snn  iidilcd  to  li.'i  rclusiil  to  rcoliiiiter  tlic  V.  S.  Uunk,  tlic  reiiioMil  of  tiie  deposits, 
{iieiit  Wiis  tlie  (■(flistcrniition  (d  tlie  people,  and  a  freneral  panie  prevailed,  Tarty  leel- 
IML'  I  an  extreii.ely  liititi,  tlii'  president's  .su)ip(irters  were  nn.«ettled  in  their  views  and 
thousands  ditfered  witli  him  on  these  mea.sures  Dontilas  had  just  located  at  .laeltson- 
ville  and  opened  a  law  olliee  in  a  room  in  tJie  eoiirt-hoii.se.  Tlie  wliiusot  Morwau 
coiiiil  •■,  from  t  heir  nimiber  n'  d  staiidinjr,  were  arrotrant  and  audiieioiis  in  tlieirdeinin- 
ciatloii  of  the  administration.  Doiijiliis  mintrled  freely  with  tlie  people,  who  usually 
>  Hjwded  tlieooiinty  seat  on  Saturdays,  and  amoiijr  tliem,  was  outspoken  in  liisiipiiro- 
liallon  (d'  tlieaels(")f  tlie  administration.  He  and  the  editor  of  the  deniocratie  paper 
at  .lacksoiiville,  deemiiiK  it  advisalile  to  rally  the  iindeeid"!,  elfeet  an  or)r»niz  ittoii  of 
tlu' administration  iiarty,  and  define  its  position,  in  opp  sition  to  the  views  of  many 
Irieuds,  called  a  mass  meet iiifr,  and  prepared  a  set  ol  re.  lotions  endorsinu- the  banlt 
p.ilicy  of  the  Hdmlnistration.  On  the  day  of  the  nieetiiiK'  the  eourl  house  was  throiijiied 
Acitli  peoide  of  both  parties,  Doiiyliis  lieinireoirpaiatividy  a  stnuiner.deelincd  to  offer 
resolutions,  Iml  as  i^  soon  liccame  aiiparent  unless  he  did  it  would  not  lie  done,  ho 
lioldly  lelvaneed  and  read  them,  followinji-  with  a  few  liricf  explanatory  remarks, 
Iiiniicdiatelj  upon  his  eoiieliision,  .fosiaii  I.nnilxirn,  a  whijr  of  nieat  influence  ami 
oratorical  powi  iv.  attacked  the  resolulions  and  their  reader  in  a  severe  anil  causlio 
manner.  The  Mood  of  Doiitrhis  was  up;  this  was  his  llrst  political  ell'ort,  liiit  he  met 
h|;  antauniiist  wit  h  such  aiMTiMiu'iits,  so  \-ehcment  and  clVective,  that  the  e.vcitemeiit 
ol  his  Iriends  reached  the  liijihcst  point  of  emliiiance;  they  cheered,  seized,  and  horo 
hliu  alolt  tliroiiKli  the  crowd  and  around  the  piililie  sciiiare,  in  gratitude  and  admira- 
tion. appl,\  iiip-  to  hi  in  sucli  ('(unplii'ictitary  I  it  Ics  as  '■hluh-i^omhcd  cock,"  ''liitli'  niant" 
&c  ,  wliicli  last,  liy  its  peculiar  appropriateness,  ailliered  to  him  to  the  last.  Ills  elVort 
thiit  day.  in  a  measure,  chan«ed  tlie  political  destiny  of  Moruaii  county.  It  was  lonjf 
ri'iiieniiie.ed,  an<l  the  old  veterans  of  Moriran  always  helil  that  DoukIus  lievur  eijuulled 
this  speech  of  March,  laH.—Slttahaii'n  Lift  iif  D(iuula». 


SENATORS   IN  CONGRESS.  701 


iiiiitiircd  l)y  careful  study,  si  JiKljiiiicnt  cloar  iuid  (h-cisivo;  a  cour- 
a;:('  wliicli  sliiaiik  tVoni  no  (laii;4('r,  aiiioiiiitiiiy'  at  times  to  apitareiit 
audacity,  yet  always  teniixTcd  with  discretion;  a  \^ill  to  yield  to 
no  diiliculty,  and  uiiapjialled  by  any  obstacle;  appreciation  of  tlio 
people  and  tlie  rate  faenlty  to  lead  tlieni,  J)ou};lus  was  a  .states- 
man of  the  very  lirst  order.* 

J)oiijiias'  speeches  contain  few  rlietorictal  tionrishes.  15iU  they 
are  models  of  exact  la iijuiiaji'e,  orderly  and  systeiaalic  in  thouuht, 
fall  and  com]trehensive  in  ^rasp  There  is  iievera  strained  elfort 
at  mere  beauty  of  word  paintiii<i'.  The  aichitecture  of  Ids  sen- 
tences, as  well  as  tlu'  ideas,  ar(^  solid,  massive  masonry,  w  ith 
broad  foundation  laid  on  tirm  rock,  and  the  details  and  workin<; 
plans  so  accurate  as  to  be  perfect  in  tlioir  adaptation,  with  notli- 
iiij;'  annss  or  foiei,yn  and  no  surplus  or  waste  nmterial.  So  well 
and  thoi'oiijuhly  are  his  sentences  w<»ven  tojicther  that  it  is  diili- 
cuU:  to  extraet  from  his  s])eeches  any  separat(!  sentence  con- 
veying', text-like,  a  summary  of  the  whole.  While  theyare  complete 
they  yet  seem  paits  necessaiily   connected  with  the  whole.     His 

•Ituv.  \V.  H.  Milburn. 

NnTK— To  fiu-tlii'r  illustrate  Dousln?"  power  ninonjr  the  people,  wo  sulijolna  rhalty 
1)11 1  uriiphie  sk(5t('li  by  the  editor  ot  t lie  Newlmry port  (M.iss.)  J u  raid  (repulilieaii),  wlio 
was  a  lellow  piissonner  in  the  ears  witli  Mr.  Omuflas  tlirou^'h  Illinois  on  ocertsion  of 
opciiiiif"'  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi  railroad,  and  afteiwards: 

'Tlmtnian  witlia  bife\  round  head,  a  brow  almost  as  l>roada9  Webster's,  and  a  ipiiok, 
aetivc  eye  that  rolls  under  the  heavy  pro.jeetiii}?  brow,  watehinirevery  othcu-  man,  and 
not  allowinfr  a.  motion  to  cseape  him  —wit  harms  too  short  I'or  his  body,  wlileh  is  lull  and 
round  as  though  it  nc'ver  lacked  tlie.iuictes  that  supply  life;  and  with  small  duek  lews, 
which,  had  tliey  Krown  as  thick  as  his  back-bone  (and  they  would,  ])robably,  it  I'rovi- 
dcncc  had  not  foreseen  that  he  would  want  back-bone  more  than  IcffS  in  his  buttle  of 
lile,)  would  have  nuido  him  of  respectable  statiu-e,- that  little  man  is  no  less  than  the 
^^rcat  polil  ieian  of  the  west,  who  has  attracted  more  attendon  in  the  last  lour  years 
than  any  other  man  of  the  nation,  and  done  more  to  jrive  direction  to  pul)lie  aifairs 
than  even  the  president,  with  a  million  and  a  half  of  voters  at  his  back,  and  the  army, 
navy  and  treasury  of  North  America  at  his  eonunand.  It  is  the  'Little  Giant.'  Stephen 
A.  Douylas,  with  whom  we  i)arted  company  at  VincenneH,  and  who  has  slowly  come 
alonsr,  feelinjf  the  public  pulso  to  learn  the  political  health  of  the  'Suckers'  up  to 
Spriiifrlleld,  the  capital  of  the  State. 

•'The  means  of  success  In  Senator  noiiirlas  are  very  apparent.  First,  he  is  really  and 
intellectually  a  >rreat  man.  Eastern  people  who  view  him  only  as  a  low  politician, 
should  disalius'' their  minds  in  relation  to  one  who  is  toexercis'  a  wide  inlbiencc  in 
theallairs  of  the  country,  and  very  probably,  for  he  is  yet  youiij?,  to  be  the  head  of  the 
ropublii!.  He  ifc  massive  in  his  conceptions,  broad  and  comprehensive  in  his  views,  and 
in  a  liciod  measure  is  endowed  with  all  those  powcrsot  mind  that  make  a  statesman. 

Ibit  he  is  ftreatcr  still  in  enerfry  of  eliarac;ter.  Tlierc  are  those  that  think  that  a 
defeat  of  him  next  year  would  be  his  death  in  polities  ;  but  the  man  who  sprutiH'  Irom 
a  cabinet-maker  shop  in  Vermont,  and  without  fatheror  friend  worked  his  way  to  an 
iionoralile  place  upon  the  liench  of  .iudircs,  who  entered  Illinois  with  less  than  riii  cents 
in  money,  and  not  one  cent  in  credit,  and  has  acquired  great  wealth,  and  the  hiyhest 
station  lind  iiilluencc,  is  not  ready  to  be  whippe<l  out.  Hut  if  he  is  M^reat  in  mind,  and 
frrcater  in  energy,  he  Is  (freatest  in  those  winnlnif  niannera  for  which  the  world  calls 
him  a  deinrtKojnie.  Scarcely  a  man,  woman  or  child  in  the  cars  eseajicd  his  attention, 
or  passed  liy  unspoken  to.  At  one  moment  he  talks  with  the  old,  stern  vlsatred  politi- 
cian, who  has  been  soured  by  a  thousand  defeats  and  di.sappointiiK.nts  :  in  the  ne.vt .  to 
th:d  well  formed  and  M:enial  Kentuckian,  who  has  just  fou;fht  a  fr^e  State  ;  now  he  .-its 
down  with  the  little  (firl  aiiproachiuR  her  teens,  and  asks  of  h'^r  school  studies  ;  and  ho 
pats  the  little  tioy  on  the  head,  and  in  presenceof  his  mother  and  proud  father  (what 
fath(;r  Is  not  proud  to  see  his  l)oy  noticed  V)  says  a  word  of  his  mild  eyes  and  (flossy 
locks.  Anain  t  he  lady  is  approached  with  a  fair  word  aud  a  bland  smile,  and  jioes  homo 
pleased  to  tell  her  father  how  he  looks,  and  then  half  a  do/.cn  are  about  him,  nil  stand- 
Injf  tottether.  He  can  talk  .elision  with  tiie  priest  as  well  as  polities  with  the  states- 
man; ho  can  conRratulate  the  iiewly  appointed  Buchanan  ollice-holdcr,  who  has  sup- 
plimted  his  friend,  tell  the  disi)lneed  friend  of  the  Kood  time  comlnpr.  when  his  wimr 
shall  he  up:  and  at  every  station,  more  retfularly  than  the  conductor,  Mr.  Doiitrlas  is 
iipiMi  the  platform  with  a  wrood-bye  to  the  loavintr,  and  a  welcome  to  the  dcpartintr 
traveler— u  shake  of  the  hand  with  one  man  that  stands  at  the  depot,  and  a  touch  of 
the  hat  to  another.  He  knows  everybody;  can  tell  the  question  that  aflects  each 
locality  ;  call  the  name  of  every  farm  owner  on  the  way;  tell  all  travelers  soinetl-.inK' 
of  the  homes  they  left,  that  they  nevm-  knew  themselves,  and  suffjrc.st  what  jilaco 
they  deserve  In  heaven.  Now,  such  a  man  as  that.  In  contact  with  everybody,  ktiow- 
Injf  evervl)ody,  and  at  the  bottom  wrapped  up  with  the  one  Idea  of  preferment,  power 
and  domfnion  amontr  men  is  not  easily  to  be  put  down;  and  his  opponents  niijfht  as  well 
believe  at  once,  that  when  they  fltrhr  him  they  tijfhta  strong'  man— a  little  Kiant  indeed. 
He  would  be  popular  in  Hoston  or  anywhere  else,  and  half  the  'three  thousand  clergy- 
men' ho  denounced  would  have  their  hearts  stolen  U  he  could  speak  to  them  a  halt 
hour.' 


(02 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


ar^imu'iils  si'ccccd  cacli  otiior  like  tlic  wcijjiity  blows  of  an  ciior- 
iiioiis  liip  liamiiior,  sliapiiifi- the  subject  in  liaiid  witli  irresistible 
l>t)\ver,  llatt('niii<;-  the  points  (»p[)ose(l  to  Lini,  and  possibly  the 
adversary  nnder  its  niijilily  tilts. 

In  the  eii'cle  of  Wasiiiii<:ton  life.  Douglas,  with  the  honors  of 
II  senator,  ai»peared  with  a  natnral  <;ra(,'e  and  dij^nity  larely 
excelled.  At  the  social  board  or  in  dinner  table  conversation, 
Col.  Forney  in  bis  sketches  «»f  i>nblic  men,  says:  "Don^Ias  was 
almost  imrivaled.  His  ri'partee  was  a  Hash,  and  his  courtesy  as 
kni"htlv  as  if  he  had  beeen  born  in  the  best  society."'* 


Abraham  Liiwohi. — The  life  of  one  who  hasbecomi^  so  exalted  in 
American  history  as  Abraham  Lincoln,  must  ever  possess  a  charm 
to  the  reader  in  its  minutest  detail,  ibit  the  j;i'eat  acts  with  which 
bis  name  is  associated  are  national,  and  it  is  foreijiii  to  the  scojje 
of  this  work  to  .yive  more  than  a  cursory  fjlancc^  at  the  nnm  as  lie 
apiK'ared  in  Illinois.  We  desire  rather  to  sj) -ak  of  Ids  mea/iie 
early  life,  his  '  ttributes  of  jjcrson,  character  a'ld  mind — his  cpial- 
itiesofliead  itl  heart — as  they  appeared  h<  re,  than  the  j;reat 
events  with  which  he  was  subse(iuently  connected,  liowever  the 
latter  nniy  have  liown  from  the  former.  His  bioad  executi\(' ca- 
pacity, so  su<ldenly  developed  under  fireat  trials. constitntinji' the 
bublimest  events  in  our  history ;  his  tidelity  to  the  rijiht,  and  ids 
couraj^e  and  firmness  which  {ire w  out  of  that,  it  amy  here  bi'  sidd, 
were  not  with<)ur  astonishment  to  those  who  knew  him  best  in 
Illinois,  and  who  iniaj^ined  that  they  (comprehended  all  that  was 
to  be  learned  of  his  ehariicter.t  Possibly  it  was  so  to  himself.  The 
great  lesson  of  nnm — know  tiiyself — is  ever  least  nmlerstood. 

The  nu)st  striking;' contrast  between  Mr.  Lincoln  and  his  antafjf- 
onist  for  semitorial  lioii(»rs,  was  in  their  physical  apjiearance.  It 
would  be  diflicnlt  to  lind  two  nu'n  with  the  reijuisite  capacity  for 
S(t  exalted  a  position,  more  opposite  in  physical  develoinnent  than 
these.  Mr.  Douglas, as  we  have  seen,  was  low  of  stature,  scarce  il 
feet,  erect,  with  trunk  lar<;(^  and  rotund,  and  extremities  unduly 
short.  JMr.  Lincoln,  on  the  other  Inind,  was  tall,  exceediii<>'  0  feet, 
si>.ire,  an<;ular  body,  with  a  slight  forward  inclination,  extrennties 
long  and  laidv,  the  ui)p<'i'  ternnnating  in  huge  iiands  and  the  latter 
in  large  feet,  llis  shoulders,  of  me<lium  breadth,  (hooped  slightly 
f(»rward, giving  him  theaiipeaiance  of  being  hollow-breasted.  As  it 
isa  fa(;t,  it  is  not  derogatory  to  say  of  him  that  hisai»pearance  was 
somewhat  nngaiidy.  He  was  of  the  nervous  bilious  teini»erament. 
llis  head,  covered  with  thick  masses  of  dark  hair,  was  large,  with 
a  reeeeding  but  ami)le  forehead,  well  and  prominently  developed 
at  its  base,  and  under  the  aiclied  and  projecting  brows  rolled  his 
clear,  dark-blue  eyes  of  nnue  than  medium  size,  with  a  ndld  and 
benignant  expression,  sjieaking  the  synii»athetic  soul  witldn.  His 
nose  was  his  most  prondnent  facial  organ — high,  thin,  straight, 
neither  long  nor  shoit,— a  line  nose,  expressive  of  even  force  of 
character.  His  ami)i(^  mouth,  wlnle  it  indicated  enough  of  decision 
and  strength  of  will,  was  totally  devoid  of  anything  like  disdainfid 
expression.  It  wouhl  liav(^  been  diilicult  for  Mr.  liincolu,  capable 
as  he  was  to  express  in  his  face  inindtable  grotes(pieness,  to  imve 
curled  Ids  lip  in  contempt,  deliance  or  dis(hdn.     llis  chin,  mostly 

•WiiihlntrtonSiindiiy  Chronicle,  1872. 

tSfu  Gov.  Palmer's luHoral  uddrfss  ut  ttic  rcburlal  of  Olsscll's  remaiaB,  May  31, 1871. 


SENATOnS  IN  CONGKEHS.  703 

covoivd  with  whiskers,  Wiis  of  fair  inoiiiiiuMico;  tli(»u,nh  it  lacked 
tliat  siiuaieiiess  whicii  j;ives  a  full  and  agreeable  devi'lopineiit  to 
tlie  lower  face,  while  at  the  same  time  it  is  indicative  of  ardemry  and 
c.onihativeness — it  was  not  tiie  niilitarv  «*hin.  I  lis  cheeks  were  jjan  lit, 
and  the  jicneial  outline  of  his  face,  as  lias  been  aptly  said,  was  that 
of  craji'uy  j;randeiir.  it  wore  a  habitual  expression  of  sadness; 
yet  his  countenance  could  beam  with  n  kindliness  oi"  heart  whicli 
fiave  license  for  the  ap|)roach  of  the  humblest,  and  revealed  a  hnj^o- 
iiess  of  soul  replete  with  a>  charitable  ami  forj;iviiij;'  dis])»tsition. 
llis  health,  thoiijih  never  apparently  robust,  was  uniformly  j^ood, 
and  he  was  capable  of  j^reat  physical  endurance. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  b(»rn  i>i  La  L'ue  (now  Hardin)  county 
Kentucky,  about  li  miles  south  of  the  \  illaj;e  of  Iloiiinsville,  Feb- 
ruary lUth,  I.S()!>.  (He  was  thus  the  seiiitu'  of  his  (;ompetitor  by  3 
years.)  Here  his  father  had  taken  up  a  lainl  claim  ol' .'}()(»  acres, 
roiinh,  broken  and  poor,  contaiiiin<;  a  line  sjuiiiji,  known  to  this 
day  as  the ''Liiikum  Spriiii;'."  L'nabhi  to  pay  for  the  unprodiictivti 
land,  the  claim  was  abandoned,  and  the  family  moved  from  i>lace 
to  place  in  tlie  iiei<;hborliood,  beiiij;' very  destitute.  These  icmoxals 
occurrin;^' while  Aliraliam  was  scarcely  more  than  an  infant,  has 
jfjven  rise  to  ditt'ereiit. statements  as  to  the  exact  i)lace  of  his  birth. 
Jt  is  said  that  in  that  part  of  Kentucky  four  places  now  claim  the 
lioiKU'.  In  l.SKj  the  family  started  westward,  fOllowin.n'  the  Ohio 
river,  and  settlin;;'  in  8])enccr  county,  Indiana.  Two  years  later 
the  mother  died,  and  also  an  only  sister;  the  thriftless  father 
imiiried  ayain,  and  Aliraham  work<>d  in  th(^  iieiyldiorhood  oil 
farms,  and  in  clearin<;'  away  the  dense  forest  underwent  the  stui'dy 
discipline  of  toil.  He  recei\ed  the  mea,nre  edu(tation  which  the 
new  country  afforded,  but  his  boyhood  had  few  advaiita,n('s  of 
culture,  aini  he  was  emphatically  self-made.*  '•!  have  not  a  lino 
education  ;  I  am  not  ca[»able  of  euterinj;'  into  a  dis(piisitioii  ui)ou 
dialectics,  I  believe  you  call  it" — he  himself  complained  in  his 
Cliica.no  speiM'li  in  answer  to  I)ouj;ias  at  tht^  oiteniny  of  the  sena- 
torial canvass  in  hS.18.  He  was  of,  and  j;rew  uj)  aiiion,y,  the  com- 
mon pcitple,  the  hardhanded  yeomanry  of  toil.  His  warm  and 
benevolent  heart  was  thus  early  tauj-ht  to  synipatliis<?  with  labor, 
and  later  his  brain  appreciated  the  importance  of  its  freedom. 

He  lirew  to  manhood  rapidly,  and  such  were  his  (pialities  of 
head  that  before  he  attained  to  majority  he  was  eini)loyed  as 
supercargo  to  take  a  tlat-boat  load  of  produce  to  New  Orleans, 
whicli  he  did  ^i\iii^'  full  satisfaction.  In  IS.'JO  the  family  rcmovecl 
to  lilimtis,  settling' on  thesouth  side  of  the  north  fork  of  the  8aii- 
jiainou  river,  10  miles  southwest  of  I)e(tatur,  in  Macon  county. 
IIei«?  youn<;' LiiH^oln  spent  his  first  winter  in  Illinois,  duriiin' whicli 
he  aided  in  biiildinj;'  for  the  I'amily  a  cal>in,  stables  and  other 
building's;  mauled  and  sjdit  rails,  clearecl  and  fenced  in  10  acres 
of  ground.  From  this  i)lace  the  rails  whicli  played  so  important 
apart  in   the  (!ami)aiyn  of  ].S(i({   were  procured. t     The  following 


♦  It  Isnsscrtetl  tliat  he  learned  to  cipher  on  n  smooth  clap  hoard  by  tholiR'ht  of  a 
ciitiin  Hri'  after  ReltiiiK  rliroii^'h  with  the  diiy'i:  ''ibor,  while  wiirknin'  on  tin;  Ciew  lariii 
iiilmliaiiil  When  the  board  was  written  over  wnli  llirures,  reeourwi'  wiis  hail  to  adraw- 
iiii^  knile  to  shave  it  down,  and  with  the  clean  surface  thus  prescMited  it  wus  I'eady 
tor  further  use.  The  hooks  that  he  could  get  to  read  were  very  tow,  but  the  Bible 
wai  evidently  one  of  them. 

+One  (Miarles  Hanks,  a  cousin  on  the  mother's  side,  who  had  nil  the  time  lived  within 
{'woanda  half  miles  of  this  place,  publlshediii  IHW  a  letter  sayinjf,  that  5  years  after- 
ward the  entir(M'en(!e  was  burneil  up,  and  that  he  helped  to  build  a  new  one;  but  his 
brother  John  niuintuiucd  the  geuuiueuuss  of  the  ruUs.    Sue  Uecutur  papers  180U. 


704 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


spiiii};,  boinj;-  now  of  aj?*',  he  aided  in  coiidiictiiis'  a  tiat-boat  down 
tlu'  Siiii.iHiniioii,  hociiiiic  a(M]iiaiiilcd  with  tlic  country,  and  hitcv 
found  ('Mii»h).vnicnl  as  cU'ik  in  a  country  store,  at  a-  vilia<i<'  on  its 
■west  bank  named  New  SakMn,a  nnh^  from  tiie  present  I'etersltuifi'. 
Aviiither  its  teiienients  were  finally  removed.  Lincoln,  with  a 
])artuer.  sru'ceeded  his  emitloyer,  tlie  slock  of  <;-oods  probably  not 
lari>e  and  the  purchase  beiuft-  inacki  on  time.  Tiie  merciiants,  as 
nu'rchiints  are  wont  to  do,  speedily  failed.  Ijincoln  now  turned 
his  jitleution  to  siirx'eyinji'.  but  wlieu  the  l>l:ick  Hawk  war  broke 
out.  in  bs;iii,  he  voluiiteei'cd  and  was  elected  cai)taiu  of  his  coui- 
l)auy.  Me  served  three  months  but  was  in  no  en<ia<i'ement  with 
theeuemy.  The  same  year  he  becaiue  a  candidate  lor  the  lejiis- 
hitiirc  luit  was  defeate(l.  Ih'  was  an  Adauis  man,  the  whi,y  party 
in)t  yet  iuivin*;'  assuuied  its  luime.  He  now  ])ursued  suivcyinj; 
and  occupied  liis  spure  tiaie  in  rcadiuji'  law.  In  1S,".4  lie  a^ain 
olfei'cd  f(»r  the  le;;isl;itui'e  and  was  elected  as  a  member  for  San- 
oaiuou.  the  \  iilaj^c  of  liisi'csidence,  sincti  Menard  county,  was  then 
still  in  Sanjiiimon.  He  was  for  four  sueeessive  terms  re-elected 
from  tlie  sanu>  couiity,  but  after  his  lirst  session,  by  the  ad\ice 
of  a  Iriend,  to  whom  lie  ever  felt  ;^'rateful.  lieyave  up  tlie  businessof 
surveyiii.ii'.  settled  in  Sprinylield  and  tlieiiceforward  j:ave  his  atten- 
tion wholly  to  the  law.  Diirin.iihisS  years  in  thele^iislature  lie  was  a 
serviceable  member,  belonj:iii,n'  to  tlie  minority  ])arty  all  tlie  time, 
and  attained  some  distinction.  Hewas  twice  the  whiii;' candidate 
for  speaker,  which  was  a  compliment  but  an  empty  lionor.  In 
ISoT  he  sustained  the  visionary  scheme  of  the  State  Internal 
Improvement  system,  which  nearly  b:iid<nii»te<l  the  State.  <loubt- 
less  like  all  others,  with  the  best,  but  mistaken  iiUi'Utioiis.  Still 
it  is  to  be  reinembeicd  tluit  as  one  of  the  "lonn'  nine"  from  San- 
gamon, who  actinii'  constinitly  as  a  unit,  artfully  contriNed  many 
combinations  durin;.;'  (hat  e\'entful  session,  always  with  an  eye 
sinyle  to  removinji'  the  capital  from  Vandalia  toSjirinjifield.  Out 
of  all  the  recklessschemes  of  that  session,  the  constitut-nts  of  Mr. 
Lincoln  in  S[)rinjitield  were  the  oidy  ones  who  ever  deiived  any 
])('riiiaiient  benefit  from  any  of  them.  He  was  a  vi<j'oi'ous  opponent 
of  the  ])artisan  reor<.iani7.;ition  of  the  supieme  court  in  KS41. 

Hi!  IM)W  (bS42)  devoted  himself  exclusively  to  the  practice  of  his 
])i()fess!i()n,  in  wliich  he  iittained  a  hi;^h  standin.ii;'  as  a  lawyer,  and 
piirticiilarly  as  an  advocate.  Uetbre  a  Jury  he  had  few  e(puils 
either  in  originality,  humor  or  i)ath()s.  His  most  effective  oratory 
^vas  of  the  i)ersuasive  order.  NVliile  he  sou<;]it  to  lead  a  jury  by 
the  force  of  lofiical  reasoniii<;aiid  strikinji' similes,  whatever  his  jios- 
tulate,  lie  seldom  attempted  to  drive  them  either  by  intimidation 
or  1  he  power  of  detailed  arj;unientation,  to  awaken  jierhaps  their 
obstinacy  or  tire  them  into  listlessness.  He  would  contrive  to  jmt 
them  in  j^ood  humor  by  ajit  and  ori<;ina1  turns  on  his  anta.t;'oiiist, 
his  inimitable  manner  ami  comiilete  actinjibeinji'  his  most  eil'e<;tivo 
aids  for  this  purjiose  ;  pain  their  favor;  enlist  their  inteii'st ;  then 
touch  their  sympathies  by  the  ])owerof  his  pathos,  and  wriiijifrom 
them  a  verdi(!t.  Jlis  nmst  etfecitive  weaiions  with  which  to  assail 
or  demolish  the  arj>uments  of  opposinj;- ecmnsel,  either  of  attack  or 
defense,  were  his  jiowers  of  ridicule,  orifjiiiality  and  quaint  lojiical 
reasoninji'.  To  the  be<>inner  at  the  bar  he  was  kind,  indulgent 
and  ever  ready  to  render  assistance  without  ostentation.  He  was 
full  of  humor,  overflowing  with  anecdote,  and  loved  a  neat,  harm- 


SENATORS  IN  CONGRESS.  705 

less  practical  Joke.  With  rare  capacity  fortreasiiiiii''- up  anecdotes, 
lie  liad  a  fund  to  aptly  illustrate  almost  every  circmnstaiiee  in 
life.  Many  were  orijjfinal  \vitli  liini,  as  lie  had  an  eye  «'onstaiitly 
on  the  l(»ok-ont  for  tlie  Innnoions  or  <irotes(pie  in  evcrythinj;',  and 
a  j;'oodp(»int  nev(  r  escaped  his  attenti()n.  nor  .snifered  in  the  ren- 
<lerinj;'.  Aniony'  the  ohh'r  members  of  the  Illinois  bar  his  hnniorous 
sayinjis.  oddities,  and  jiointed  aiH'cdotes  are  yet  enrrent. 

Dnrin^'  the  presidential  contest  of  1.S44,  Mr.  Lincoln  canvasse<l 
the  8tate  for  Henry  Clay,  the  beloved  chief  of  all  the  old  whifi-s. 
In  1S4(>  he  was  elected  to  con;;ress,  takinj;-  his  seat  in  the  lower 
houseat  the  same  time  that  I  )onj;las  entered  the  senate.  lie  was  tiio 
only  whiji'  in  the  Illinois  deh'f>a,tion,  and  in  common  with  his  party, 
oi>posed  the  Mexican  war.  He  introdnceda  set  of  resolntions  shortly 
after,  i)roj»osin<;'  an  incpiiry  as  to  the  exact  spot  npori  Texan  soil 
where  American  blood  was  liist  sitilled  by  the  [Mexicans.  These 
resolntions  j^ained  sinne  notoriety  for  their  cpiisical  and  witty  char- 
acter, and  have  been  j;"enerally  known  as  his  '-spot  resolntions.'"  He 
sni»i)ort<'d  the  ''Wilmot  proviso"  attached  to  the  bill  appiopriatini; 
$;{,(K)0,(KM)  for  the  war — beinj;  die  same  wlii(!li  Mr.  l)oii<;las  moved 
to  amend  by  prohibiting"  slavery  from  all  accpuied  territory  north  of 
of  .'KJd.  .'iOm.,  l>nt  which  waslost.  iMr.  LiiKtoln  de<!lined  the  candidacy 
for  re-election  in  I.S-IS,  In  1S4J>  he  first  received  the  coiiiplimeiitary 
vote  of  his  party  for  U.  S,  senator.  He  was  ayain  their  <'andi(late 
ill  l.sr».').  bnt  thron.n'h  the  obstinacy  of  a  handful  of  anti-Xebraska 
democrats,  Mr.  Trnmbnll  was  elected,  as  we  have  seen. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  trnly  };reat  in  many  traits  of  his  character. 
(Jliief  amonj;'  theses  may  be  mentioned  liis  fidelity  to  the  rijiht, 
firmness  to  principle,  fortitude  to  duty,  honesty  and  tenacity  of 
l)nipose,  and  moral  conraj>«',  united  to  such  amiable  attribntes  as 
kindness  of  heart,  forbearance  for  others,  endurinf>'  patience,  mod- 
esty and  jicntleiiess  of  disposition.  All  these  virtues  he  possessed 
in  an  eminent  deree.  Sonu'of  his  old.  intimate  and  loviiifi' friends* 
say  that  he  was  ambitious,  but  his  ambition  was  so  tempeied  with 
patience,  that  it  never  wouhl  have,  as  it  did  not,  overleap  itself. 

His  opposition  to  slavery  was  fjrouinled  upon  its  inherent  moral 
wroii<;iulness — that  it  was  a  jireat  evil,  socially,  politically,  and 
materially.  His  consciencie  revolted  at  its  injustice,  its  de<;rada- 
tion  and  cruelty.  His  heart  naturally  sympathized  with  the  op- 
pressed. Douj-ias,  born  and  reared  in  free  States,  while  ho 
doulitless  regarded  slavery  as  a  clog  and  hindrance  to  the  material 
advancement  of  a  people  or  State,  never  disclosed  by  any  expres- 
sion, either  written  or  spoken,  his  conception  of  its  moral  enor- 
mity. The  refrain  of  his  spee(;lies  was  ever  to  let  the  people  decide 
it  in  their  own  way — '•!  do  not  care  whether  shivery  is  voted  u[)  or 
down." 

Mr.  Lincoln's  speeches  and  writings  bear  the  stamp  of  stronj? 
individuality — peculiarly  Lincolnian — which  crops  out  in  nearly 
every  paragraph.  They  abound  in  short  pithy  sentences,  sejiarato 
and  distinct  in  themselves,  a])[U'oaching  to  aplumsms.  3Iany  of 
them  are  stamped  with  immortality.  They  are  sublime  concei)tions 
of  great  truths,  clothed  in  few  but  ample  words,  which  will  live  in 
the  remote  cycles  of  time,  when  his  more  painstaking  sentences 
and  carefully-studied  arguments  may  be  lost  under  the  nioldering 

'  Hon.  J.  K.Dubois. 

45 


70fl 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


i 


<lust  of  iifi'cs.  '•Slavery  is  foiiiiilcd  in  the  scHislincss  of  iiuin's 
iiiiturc — ojtpositioii  to  it  in  tlic  love  of  justice,"  lie  exelaiiiied  at 
J'eoria  in  lS,"tl:.  ''iiepeai  tiie  Missouri  eoniproniise — repeal  all 
compromises — repeal  the  Deehualion  of  Independenet^ — re|»eal  all 
]>asl  liisloiy — ,von  still  cannot  repeal  human  nature.  It  still  will 
be  in  the  abundance  of  mail's  heart  that  slavery  extension  is  wron;:', 
ami,  out  of  the  abundance  of  his  heart  his  month  will  continue  to 
speaU."  Evidently  he  was  deeply  read  in  the  book  of  b  )oks,  the 
JJible,  as  the  last  sentence  above  shows,  and  he  possessed  the 
happy  faculty  of  weavinj;'  its  sublinu'  sentiments  with  his  ^)\\u 
thou.ulits  and  expressions,  ills  speeches  bore  abundant  testimony 
to  this.  Politicians  shoidd  ever  bear  in  mind  this  broad  text  from 
1dm.  that  ours  is  a  "•fioverniiu'nt  of  the  people,  for  the  people  and 
by  the  people."  Unt  time  and  circnmsianci's  considered,  it  will 
be  diflicidt  to  lind  sentiments  outside  of  the  inspired  book  mor(>. 
tonchin<;'ly  beautiful  than  the  closini;-  paragraph  of  his  last  inaii- 
jiural  address  :  "With  nmliee  toward  iioni'.  with  charity  for  all, 
with  lirium'ss  in  the  riiiht  as  (lod  j^ives  us  to  see  the  I'iuht.  let  ns 
istrix con  to  linish  the  work  we  are  in, to  bind  up  the  nation's  woinids, 
and  care  tor  him  who  shall  ha\e  borne  the  battle,  and  lor  his 
widow  and  his  orphans — to  do  all  which  may  achieve  and  cliei'isli 
ajust  and  lastinj>'  peace  amonj;'  ourselves  and  with  all  nations." 

To  fidly  appreciate  JMr.  Lincroln  as  an  orator  he  must  be  both 
heard  and  seen  -he  conveyed  so  nim-h  meanin,u'  by  p-sture  and 
manner.  And  even  then  nniny  of  his  sentiments  were  so  terse 
that  it  was  im|)ossible  to  do  him  Justice;  nor  <!an  this  be  done  by 
a  casual  rcadinj;  after  him.  lie  seeine<i  to  be  aware  of  this  him- 
self, for  in  preparii!;;'  his  early  writings  or  s))eeches  Ibr  the  press, 
underslrokes  tor  italics  and  capitals  were  freely  resorted  to,  to 
give  them  power  and  emphasis. 

IJoth  these  senatorial  candidates  used  simple,  ])lain  but  exact 
lanj;ua!H(',  and  eschewed  mere  word-painting'.  They  sou^iht  to 
reach  the  nnderstandiii};' of  the  common  peoi>le,  aiul  iiulul^ed  little 
in  the  sweeiiing  rouinlness  of  grand  oratory.  The  best  si)eeches 
of  Mr.  liincoln's  life  are  said  to  have  been  made  fotir  years  jn-ior  to 
this  ('outcast,  when  the  Missouri  compromise  was  tirst  repealed,  in 
answer  to  J)ouglas,  who  sought  tojustify  himself  befon^  the  ])eo- 
l)le.  Mr.  Ijiiu'oln  was  looking  forwai'd  at  the  tiuu'  to  beconu>  the 
siu'cessor  to  Shields  in  the  seiuitc.  One  made  at  I'eoria.  ()(.'tober 
10,  isr)4,  is  recorded,  and  is  a  chaste  ami  jiowerful  argument.  It 
received  a  wide  circulation.  The  one  nnide  12  days  before  at 
Springfield,  in  debate  with  3Ir.  Douglas,  being  the  first  time  that 
these  champions  measured  their  strength,  is  not  recorded.  It  is 
said  to  have  greatly  exceeded  the  former  in  boldness  of  sentiment, 
force  of  argument,  beauty  and  moving  eloquence.  It  was  made 
in  the  re[»resentatives'  hall  in  presence  of  the  fiist  State  rei)ubli- 
can  convention,  when  that  party  was  in  its  chrysalis  state,  and  a 
great  throng  of  people  from  all  ]>arts  of  the  State  attending  the 
first  State  fair.  A  contemporaiy  writer  describing  it  says:  lOvery 
mind  i)resent  did  homage  to  the  num  who  took  heart  and  broke 
like  a  sun  over  tJie  umlerstanding ;  he  shivered  the  Nebraska 
ini(pdty  as  a  tree  of  the  forest  is  torn  and  rent  asunder,  by  hot 
bolts  of  truth.* 


•  See  III.  State  Journal,  Oct.  18,  1864. 


SENATORS  IN  CONGRESS.  707 

Siic.Ii  is  our  biicf  suniiniii;:;'  up  of  flic  livos  and  cliiinictcr  of  those 
iiivnt  icpicsciitativc  iiicii,  upon  wliosc  contest  in  Illiin>is  for  the. 
s«'nalorship  rested  tlic  eajicr  eyes  of  tlie  entire  nation,  so  important 
weic  the  political  issiu's  for  which  they  contended.  The  coinhat- 
ants  were  not  unac(pniinted  with  each  (tthcr's  stien>ith,  for  as  wo 
Inive  seen  they  had  previously  crossed  their  trenchant  blades  of 
ar<;innent,  loj^ic  and  debute  in  tiie  political  arena.* 

THE  CANVASS. 

We  have  seen  that  the  State  rei»ubli(!an  convention  in  June  de- 
«'lared  Mr.  liincoln  the  first  and  only  choice  of  its  party  for  the 
senatorial  seat  of  Mv.  Donj^las.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  not  unprepared 
for  this  acticMi  of  the  convention.  The  choice  of  Tiunibull  o\er 
iiini  in  bSordiad  gained  him  the  sym|)athy  of  his  party,  and  he  was 
thence  tacitly  looked  forward  to  as  the  successor  (»f  Mr.  i)ou<;las 
four  years  later.  This  he  apjucciated  himself.  When  Doujjlas, 
(who  well  understood  this  also.)  therefore,  in  ,Iune.  l.sr»7,  duriu,i;a. 
!idl  in  p(»liti<'al  excitement,  found,  or  (treated,  an  (K'casiou.  thi'ouiih 
the  in\itation  of  the  (■.  S.  ;irand  jury  sittiufi'  at  Si)rinfitield,  to  air 
his  politi<'al  views  and  possibly  forestall  ))ublic  opinion,  Mr.  lii*!!- 
e(»ln  was  on  the  alert,  and  after  some  time  for  prei>aration,  two 
weeks  latei- answered  Douglas' sjieech  from  the  same  stand,  and 
had  it  also  published.  The  convention  now  (dune  Hi,  ISoS,)  took 
a  recess  until  <S  o'clock  in  the  evening;',  when  Mr.  Lincoln  addressed 
them  in  a  carefully  prepared  sp«'ech,  whose  opeiiinji'  sentences — 
truly  Linc<dnian — aftewards  attained  so  much  celebrity,  we  sub- 
join : 

"If  we  couUl  first  know  vfme  we  are,  and  whUhcr  we  are  tending,  we 
could  tiieii  better  jud<?e  what  to  do,  and  iiow  to  do  it. 

"We  are  now  Car  into  the  fifth  year  since  a  policy  was  initiated  with 
tlie  <n"t/¥(/  object,  and  ronjiikiu  promise,  of  putting  an  end  to  slavery 
agitation. 

"Under  tlie  operation  of  tliat  policj',  that  agitation  has  not  only  no< 

iV'W(/,  Imt  has  roiistinit/i/  nncjinciilfd 

"In  r.iy  opinion  it  inll  not  cease  until  a  n-'nh  shall  have  been  reached 
and  passed— 'A  liouse  divided  against  itself  cannot  stand.' 

"I  believe  this  governiueut  cannot  endure  permanently  halfs/dir  and 
half  /'/•'(.  I  do  not  expect  the  IJidon  to  be  ili.ixo/ved — I  do  not  expect 
t lie  house  to  fall — but  I  do  expect  it  will  cease  to  be  divided.  It  will 
become  "//  one  thing,  or  »//  (he  other.  Kither  the  o/ip'Hifn/.f  of  slavery 
will  arrest  tlie  further  spread  of  it,  and  place  it  where  the  public  mind 
siiall  rest  in  the  belief  that  it  is  in  the  course  of  ultimate  extinction  ;  or, 
ilsiiifrocc.ies  will  i»ut  it  forward,  till  it  shall  become  alike  lawful  in  till 
the  States,  <*/(/ as  well  as /ifMi — north  as  well  as  xonl/i.  Have  we  uo  taufaiiy 
to  the  latter  condition?" 

— proceeding' to  arft'ue  that  we  had  under  the  Nebraska  doctrine 
and  the  Dred  8cott  decision.t 

These  at  thetinu'  bold  and  advanced  political  sentiments  wei-c 
uttered  4  months  prior  to  the  enunciation  of  Mv.   Seward's  cele- 

*'riio  I'dllowintr  figure,  to  illustnUe  the  rcliitivc  merits  of  the  lOiitestimts,  current  tit 
the  time,  views  this  civil  buttle  from  n"  inilititry  stamlpoint.  We  leiwe  the  reader  to 
estimate  its  fuirness:  DouKhis  marshnllefi  all  his  faeis  wilh  the  view  to  eoiicentrate 
tluMii  witli  teiril)leaii(l  iriesistil>le  onslaught  upon  a  i^lven  point  of  his  adyersiiiy's  line 
of  battle,  and  with  p-reat  power  and  etiertiy  attempts  to  rout  the  enemy  from  his 
Mronsrest  position.  Lineoin  in  his  argument  brealisont  all  alonj^  his  entire  buttle  line 
in  sudden  ehartfes,  misurpassod  in  billlianey  of  exi'cution,  ullording  subjeets  for  tho 
poet's  pen  to  live  in  heroic  verse  for  perhaps  countless  ages 

+Sec  111 .  State  .lournul,  June  18, 1858.  Tho  ubove  is  from  a  drutt  made  by  Mr.  Lincoln 
himself,  italics  and  all. 


ros 


HISTORY   OF   n.LINOIS. 


briitcd '•iiTciircssihU'coiiHict"  «lo(^triiM',  wliicOi  rciKU'ij'd  tliut  sriites- 
iiian  tlic  ('oiniiioii  tiir^'ct  for  all  the  opposition  political  sliat't-s 
IIii()ii};iioiit  tlic  land.  Ml-.  liincolirs  had  not  only  prcccdcnc*',  lint 
tlu'v  well' more  coniprcln'nsivc  and  <lir«'ct ;  and  is  it  an,v  wondt-r 
thar  political  sentiments  so  a\ioniati(;  <lwelt  in  the  liearts  of  thu 
]>eople,  and  sniisequentl.v  turned  the  nation\s  eye  upon  the  man 
whose  mind  conceived  them  ?  iJnt  they  also  furnished  Mr,  Don;;-- 
las  a  handle  with  which  to  rin^'  nptni  his  opponent,  with  incessant 
re)>etition,  all  the  chan^(>s  of  detest<-d  abolitionism,  disunion  and 
civil  war  with  its  horrid  (concomitants,  until  they  tohl  with  <leep 
etlect  ujion  the  masses. 

The  republican  jucss  di>nian(h'd  for  Mr.  Lincoln,  witli  frequent 
iteration,  a  free  political  liM'ht,  \vhi(!h  was  no  h'ss  fr«'ely  tendered 
by  Mr.  I)on;nlas,  who,  befonr  lu^  left  \Vashin;;1on,  nuituicd  his 
ltrei»aiations  for  a  vijiorous  and  thoroiijih  stumping;-  canvass,  to 
e.inl)race  the  amph'  held  of  the  entire  State,  ^iowithstandinj"  his 
o])en  ru|)tnre  with  tlxc  administration,  which  was  i>ursuin;>  him 
into  Illinois,  the  ;;rudj;in<;  supi>ort  of  the  State  democratic:  con- 
vention at  its  meeting  in  A]>ril  forced  him  into  a  )ilaii  of  cam- 
]>ai<;n  .somewhat  conciliatory  toward  the  administration,  but  war 
to  the  knife  against  the  anti-slavery  heresies,  as  he  called  them, 
enunciated  in  the  platform  of  ininciples  adt>pted  by  the  State 
republican  convention,  and  particularly  against  tlie  advanced  anti- 
slavery  i)osition  of  their  senatorial  nondnee.  The  republicans,  to 
]>romote  tliechism  in  the  dennxnatic  ranks,  encoura<;t'd  tlu'  iJiic- 
lianan  followers  in*  \arious  ways  by  favorable  notices  (»f  their 
meetings,  publishin<;'  their  i»roceedin}is,  tlatterinj;-  their  etlbrts, &(!. 

Donyhid,  on  his  arrival  from  Wasldnjiton,  was  received  at  ("hi- 
cajio  by  an  imnn-nse  concourse  of  i)eople  with  shouts  and  hn/,/,ahs, 
amidst  the  roar  of  (;annon,  musi<c  from  bands  and  the  escort  of  iv 
blaze  of  lire-w oiks.  Jle  entered  dirci^tly  upon  the  cam]iai<>'n  by 
a<ldressin^  his  lirst  si)eech  from  the  balcony  of  theTremont  Hotel 
to  a  jterfect  sea  of  hunuin  faces  upturned  in  the  throuj^cd  street 
below.  lie  re  allirmed  his  do(;trine  of  popular  soverei};nty  with 
great  foice,  stood  by  the  ](latform,  ami  ac(iuiesced  in  the  J)re<l 
Scott  decision  while  it  rennvined  the  law,  Jle  tlieu  jtaid  his 
respects  to  3Ir.  Lincoln,  who  was  present  on  the  balcony,  taking 
for  a  text  his  convention  speech,  that  a  house  divided  against 
itself  cannot  stand — that  the  government  could  not  endure  half 
.slave  ami  half  free,  which  he  assailed  with  a  logical  p()wer  and 
vehenu'nc*!  unsurpassed  in  his  generation,  leaving  a  de«'p  and 
abiding  impr«'ssion  upon  his  auditory.  He  further  denounced  the 
unholy  alliance  of  the  republicans  with  the  unscrupulous  pro- 
slavery  lluchanan  oHice-holders  to  (compass  his  defeat,  as  unnatu- 
ral, declaring  his  purpose  to  tire  hks  broadsides,  as  the  llussians 
did  !it  Sebastopol.  regardless  of  which  were  hit,  Turk  or  Christian. 

At  the  conclusion  of  his  speech,  loud  calls  were  made  l)y  the 
crowd  Ibr  iMr.  Lincoln.  lie  declined  speaking,  but  made  an 
ajipoiidnient  for  the  following  evening,  when  he  rei>lied  to  Mr. 
Douglas  from  the  same  stand.  A  larger,  denser  and  more  enthu- 
siastic (crowd,  if  that  were  possible,  greeted  Ww  republican  chief- 
tain, the  windows  and  balconies  of  the  houses  on  both  sides  of 
the  street  and  the  street  itself  being  literally  packed  with  men 
and  women.  Piocession  after  i»ro(;ession  with  bands  of  music 
arrived  on  tlie  ground  anndsta  brilliant  pyrotechnic  display.   Mr. 


SENATOU.S  IN   f'ONUUESS.  709 


Lincoln  on  his  a)>]>oiiriuice  wiis  liailcd  witii  a  storm  of  iipplause. 
He  denied  tlie  (;Iiiii'};e  of  an  alliance  between  the  i'e[)iil)lieaiis  and 
Die  federal  ollieeholders,  but  the  former  would  eeitainly  do  noth- 
ing to  i)re\ent  the  denuxnatic  sclnsm,and  reminded  l)ou<;las  that 
if  he  was  the  "ru^'^cd  Kussiau  l)ear,"  it  was  u  very  suyjiestive 
fireumsfaiu'.o  that  the.  "allies"  did  take  Sebastopol — which  was 
vi'ry  hapi»y.  He  declared  J)ouf,das'  <;reat  doctrine  of  squatter 
sovereignty  as  old  as  the  Declaration  <tf  Inde[»endeii(u'  itself;  that 
fiONernments  derived  their  Just  powers  from  the  consent  of  the 
j^overned;  but  ridicule<l  the  idea  of  its  ('ompatil)ility  with  the 
Dred  Scott  decision,  which  held  shivery  to  exist  in  all  the  territo- 
ries by  virtueof  the  constitnticni,  with  which  neither  coiif;r»ss  nor 
the  territorial  legislature  could  interfere,  llencu'  no  man  coidd 
consisti'utly  stand  both  by  that  decision  and  the  C'in(;innati  jtlat- 
form,  which  declared  the  soverei^^nty  of  the  territ(»ries  absolute 
usthatof  the  States.  He  maintained  the  power  of  congress  to 
exclude  slavery  from  the  territories,  uotwithstandinjf  the  (lecisiou 
of  the  supreme  court. 

IJut  Doujilas'  j^reat  assault  upon  his  (u)iivention  speech,  that  a 
divided  house  could  not  stand,  that  the  {government  (.-ould  not 
endure  half  slave  and  half  free — had  the  effect  to  throw  him  upon 
(he  defensive,  from  whi«*h  he  did  not  recover  duiinj;  the  canvass. 
He  |»lciid — "I  did  not  say  that  I  was  in  favor  of  anything'  in  it. 
I  only  said  what  1  expecttd  .vould  take  place.  I  made  a  predic- 
tion (Uily;  it  may  have  been  a  foolish  one  perhajts." 

Mr.  Lincoln  had  taken  bold  and  advanced  j;round.  We  who 
liave  lived  to  see  his  words  fultilled  can  hardly  api>reciate  their 
full  import  as  apjjlied  to  those  tinu's.  The  striUinj;'  deductions 
that  Douglas  made  from  them,  ajtparently  iriesi  i  »le  in  their  con- 
clusions then,  and  which  have  Itecouu'  history  since,  tended  to 
drive  their  author  into  the  then  detestf'd  ranks  of  the  abtdition- 
disunioaists,  hated  of  nearly  all  men,  and  need  we  wonder  at  Mr. 
Lincoln's  shrijikinjjf  from  tin;  position  thus  lof^ically  assij^ned  to 
lum,  or  at  the  defense  of  himself,  as  we  have  (pioted  If  Douj^las 
did  not  interrijit  his  blows  upcm  this  ])oint  durin^i  the  canvass,  but 
hammered  ami  batteied  away  at  it  continuously.  It  was  his 
stronjihold,  and  under  it  he  crowded  his  antagonist  un(!easinj;ly. 
Indeed  some  republican  papers  j;ot  to  denyinjj;  that  Lincoln  ever 
littered  the  sentiment.  It  lost  him  the  senatoishi|>  then,  but 
its  iiiKreasiiij,'  iteration  jdaced  him  prominently  betbre  thecoiintry, 
and  two  years  later  it  {gained  for  him  the  presidency.  A  pro[»het 
is  nor  without  honor  save  in  his  own  country. 

An  I  now  blazed  forth  in  full  splendor  that  remarkable  canvass 
all  over  the  State.  The  ju-airies  seeemed  animated  with  ))oliti(!aI 
fervor  and  discussions.  The  peo^de  did  or  talked  little  else.  The 
Ijusini'ss  (»f  railroads  increased  enormously.  The  trains  were  alive 
with  the  people  and  ■exciirsi(»ns  were  the  order  of  the  day.  In 
attendance  upon  the  <;reat  leaders  were  swaiins  of  politicians, 
replaced  from  time  to  time  as  rapidly  as  they  droi»j)ed  off,  besides 
joiiriialists,  reporters  and  others  drawn  by  the  excitement  of  the 
occasion.  The  ladies  not  unfre<pu'ntly  met  the  trains  (Containing 
the  leaders  and  atteiidaiitsand  s[»read  for  them  boiinteoiisicitasts. 
Indeed  cieatiire  comforts  were  occasionally  furnished  on  thecals. 
I'p  and  down  the  State  and  through  its  lengtli  and  breadth,  by 
rail,  by  carriage,   raged  th»?  great  political   battle   of  the  giants. 


710 


IIISTOIIV   OK    ILLINOIS. 


Tlir  people  Heemiiif,'ly  \v«'re  ajylow  witli  tlie  tire  of  their  respeetivn 
jmit.V  Iciiders.     The  eoiitest    was  the  most  exeitiiiy  in  our  liisloiy. 

As  ill!  illiistniliiHi  ol'wliiit  was  kepi  up  all  o\ei'  iIm'  Stah-,  ImiiIi 
on  occasion  of  the  joint  debates  and  lln;  sepaiale  dis<;nssi«inN,  \\ii 
will  (U'seribe  Doni^ias' llrsi  trip,  made  on  the  ('liiea;;(>  iV  Alton 
raili'oad  to  Spiiii^^llcld,  Mr.  Lincoln  bcin;;'  als<)  aboard.  Don^ilas 
and  a  jiait.v  <>!'  tiiciids  Icl'l  Cliica^^o  l''ridav  morning,  .Iiinc  i(>tli. 
The  (rain.  alllion«;h  it  was  tlie  re;,ndar  passen;:(*r,  was  taslils  dec- 
orated with  ila<:s  and  Itanners,  iiis«-i'ibed  with  the  name  ol'  the 
senator,  appropriate  mottoes,  such  as  ^'champion  ol  the  people," 
"p«»pnlar  soverei;;ntv."'  iJv:c.  At  l>rid;;'cport  a  nmiu'rons  Itodv  of 
laborers  <piil  their  work  to  cheer  the  senator  as  tlitr  train  swe[>t  l).v. 
At  LocUpoit  a  moment's  halt  was  made,  and  hearty  yr<'etinj;;s 
were  exclian;i('d  with  the  assend)Ied  IViends,  amidst  tlie  liandKer- 
eliiel' wa\  in;;s  otw»'lcome  iVom  numerous  ladies.  At  .lt>liel  itsaiiival 
wa.s  annoiMKH'd  by  the  boomin;;  of  cannon,  and  upon  the  senator's 
ai)pear.ince  the  thousands  assembled  rent  the  air  with  their  cheers, 
lie  had  only  time  to  thaidv  them  ibr  their  (-ordial  welcome.  A 
numeidiis  party  (»t"  I'riends  here  joined  them  Ibr  k5prin;L;licid.  A 
idatl'orm  car  was  attached  to  the  rear  of  the  train,  carr.siii^  a  can- 
non to  herald  their  approach  at  every  station  a  Ion  ;^  the  route. 
At  Wiliniii<it(»n  the  salute  of  a  (5  poiiihlcr  was  answered  by  this 
j»ieee  on  board,  A  hnjic  concourse  of  people  had  assembled,  ami 
as  tlu!  train  drew  up  a  tine  band  i>layed  '•Hail  to  the  <,1ii(^f !''  fol- 
lowed, on  the  ai)pearance  of  the  senator,  by  air  splittiiij;'  cIm'cjs 
from  the  crowd,  men  swiii;;inji  their  hats,  and  ladies  wa^iaj;'  tlu'ir 
liandkerchiefs,  mykin;;'  a  si^ene  of  indescribable  ('uthusiasin  ami 
joy.  Tender  jiicftinys  and  kindly  expiessions  were  exchan;;'ed 
with  the  reprcselllali^('  of  the  ^reat  juiiKMple  (tl' self-}j;overiimenl. 
At  every  station  these  j^iowinii  scenes  were  repeated. 

At  l)loomin;;toii,  where  it  was  appointed  tor  I)ouj;las  to  sjieak, 
suitable  arraiijicmcnts  for  his  welcome  had  been  made,  Tlie  day 
Avas  inauspicious,  but  the  peo])le  had  j;athered  in  hn>;e  nunrbcrs 
throu<;h  rain  and  mud,  Tlu^  Hloomin^ton  (iiiards  in  full  uniform, 
citi/eiis,  nn>uiited,  on  foot  and  in  carriai^es,  foriiu-d  into  line  as  an 
escort  to  the  civic  hero.  A  salute  of  .'>2  liiins  was  tired  on  tli(>  ap- 
l)roach  of  the  train,  and  theai»pearance  of  the  senator  was  followed 
l>y  the  usual  expressions  of  onlhusiasm  <;reatly  au^iuiented.  Douji- 
las  entered  a carria};'*'  and  a  pr(»cession  was  formed  which  moved 
through  the  principal  srreets,  lined  on  eithei-  side  witii  (b'U.so 
masses  of  ])eoi>le,  the  windows  an<l  balconies  of  the  houses  tilled 
with  ladies  wavin.i;' their  haiidkei-chiefs.  The  Laiidon  House,  the 
stoppinj^l)lace,  was  appropriately  decorated  w  ith  llaj>s  and  mottoes 
of  welcome  forthe  oc(;asion.  At  nij;ht  there  wasa  ^raiid  pyrot»'(;Ii- 
iiie  display,  the  court  house  was  brilliantly  illuminated,  and 
I )oujiIas  addressed  th<!  i)eo])le  in  tli(^  publi*^  sfjiiare,  3Ir.  Lincoln 
M'as  called  out,  but  excused  himself  on  tile,  ground  of  its  being 
Douglas'  ovation. 

On  the  following  morning  a  special  train  took  the  part}',  which 
was  fiirlher  joined  by  tin;  IJloomingtou  (luards  with  their  ^^•,u\■ 
lion  and  a  large  nund)er  of  (;iti/ens,  to  ISi>ringlield,  The  train 
was  appro))riately  decorated  with  beautiful  flags  and  inscriptions. 

At  Atlanta  both  Douglas  and  Lincoln  were  called  out  by  a 
larg(?  assenddage  of  ])eople,  and  both  (excused  themselves  from 
speaking.     At  Lincoln  a  halt  was  made  for  dinner.     The  towu 


HKNATOUa  IN  CONCJRKSS. 


711 


Wiis  crowded  Willi  iicopic,  and  tlic  icccplioii  was  .s|)I('iidid.  Tlio 
])iiii('i|»id  sfi'dfl  was  spaiiiicd  \)\  a  tiiiiiiipliiil  aicli  — a  ;;ia('r('iil 
«-uiiiliiiia(ioii  of  leaves,  tltiweis  and  excr^reens,  and  snndl  l)annerH 
willi  niolloc^s,  siinnonnted  by  a  lar;ne  one  inscribed  "Donylas  Kor- 
ever."  Tlie  laneoln  llunse  was  also  bcaiititiillv  decoialed,  and, 
alter  paitakin;;' of  ii  snnipl  lions  tepasl,  l)oii;;las  made  a  Itrii-f  but 
liappv  address,  received  tiie  conyialulalioiis  of  ids  Iriends,  wlieii 
Die  excursionists  sped  on  tlieir  way  towards  tiie  capital,  tlie  |)re- 
\  ions  scenes  liein;;'  icpeated  at  every  station.  At  W'iiliaiiisv  ille, 
••oniinittccs  from  counties  sontli,  east  and  west  of  Saii;iamoii,  met 
tlie  train,  and  the  party  beinj;'  <;rcally  increased,  two  eiijiines  weio 
broti;;lit  into  rccjiiisition ;  and  thus  with  cannons  lirini;,  bands 
playiii;;  martial  airs,  the  train,  amidst  the  ;;reetinys,  bhoiitiiijus, 
and, joys  of  a  lar;;(^  iimltiiMde,  sped  into  the  capital  city.  A  halt 
was  made  at  Eclwards' (irove,  where,  notwithstandin;;'  the  own- 
.sional  rain,  the  jieoplc  from  far  and  near  liad  waitt'd  by  thousands, 
and  wei«!  now  addressed  by  JJoughi.s  for  thiee  liours  in  one  of  his 
most  masterly  elfoi'ts.* 

At  iii^ht  Mr.  Lincoln  si)oko  in  tliP  city,  lie  had  not  hoard 
J)oii;;las.     We  subjoin  the  openiiij;'  remarks  : 

"Fcllow-CMti/.eiiH  :  Anotiier  election  which  is  deemed  an  iniportimt 
one  is  approucihiiif;,  and,  as  I  suppose,  the  repulilicaii  i)iuty  will,  with- 
out nuicli  ditliculty,  elect  their  State  ticket.  Hut  in  icpinl  to  the  IckIm- 
lature  we,  tlie  iei)ul»licanH,  labor  under  Home  disaiivantajies."  'i'his  He 
uttril)ute(l  to  a  want  of  change  i»  the  ai)p()rti<)nmeiit  of  iH'preseiilatives 
ill  the  legislature,  still  based  upon  the  census  of  I  Sod,  which  hore  with 
uiKMiua!  eflect  upon  the  north  part  of  the  State,  the  repul)lican  stroiiy;- 
l\()l(l,  wliicli  had  nearly  (loui)le(l  its  population  since  then,  while  in  the 
south  part  no  conesnoiuliii)?  increase  had  taken  place. 

He  further  alluded  to  some  disadvantages  of  a  personal  chanuiter,  in 
the  following  humorous  vein  : 

"There  is  still  another  disadvantage  under  which  wo  labor,  and  to 
wliich  [  ask  your  attention.  It  arises  out  of  the  relative  positions  of  the 
two  persons  who  stand  before  you  as  candidates  for  the  senate.  Senator 
Douglas  is  of  world-wide  renown.  All  the  anxious  politicians  of  his 
party  have  been  looking  to  him  as  certainly,  at  no  very  distant  day  to  lie 
the  president  of  the  Ihiited  States.  They  have  seen  in  his  round,  jolly 
fruitful  face  post-oltices,  land-ollices,  niarshalships,  and  cabinet  ap- 
pointments, chargeships  and  foreign  missions,  bursting  and  spouting 
out  in  wonderful  exuberance,  rea«ly  to  be  laid  hold  of  by  their  greedy 
hands,  ((jireat  laughter.)  And  as  they  have  been  gazing  upon  (his  at- 
tractive picture  so  long  they  cannot,  in  the  little  distraction  that  has 
taken  place  in  the  party,  bring  themselves  to  quite  give  up  the  charming 
hope  ;  but  with  greedier  anxiety  they  rush  about  him,  sustain  him, 
give  him  m  trches,  triumphal  entries,  »nd  receptions  beyond  what  even 
ill  the  days  of  his  highest  prosi)erity  they  could  have  brought  about  iu 
his  favor.  On  the  contrary,  nobody  has  ever  expected  nie  to  be  i)resi- 
deut.  In  my  poor,  lean,  lank  face  nobody  has  ever  seen  that  any  cabba- 
ges were  sprouting  out."   [See  Illinois  State  Ilegister,  July  -'2,  1(S.')8.] 

How  differently  two  year's  time  showed  the  result.  But  not- 
withstandin<>-  all  these  disadvantajjes,  one  week  later  he  addressed 
J)oii;;las  a  note  dated  CIiica<>o  July  24tli,  by  the  hand  of  tlie  Hon. 
N.  I).  »Indd,  for  an  arranjicment  to  "address  the  same  andieiices 
the  present  canvass.'.'  Air.  Douglas  answered  on  the  same  day 
that  under  the  advice  of  tlu^  democratic  State  central  committee 
a  list  of  apiiointments  running"  into  October  had  been  made  for 
him,  at  which  legislative  and  congressional  camlidates  would  also 


•Condensed  from  111.  State  Register  of  July  19, 1858. 


•13 


IIIHTOUV  OF   ILLINOIS. 


l)('])i»'8('iit   occtipyiiifr  tlu»  wlioh' tiiiH'.     His  wily  iiiitiin'  Ird  him 

I'lii'llicr  to  .sii;;;^('st  tiiiit    ill  coiiipiiiiy  witli    .Mr.  liiiicolii  would   Ik*  a 

lliiiil  (MiHliiliilc    lor  \\w  sciiiilc.  ciiiixassiii;;  llic  S.'iilc  Inr  tlic  soiti 

|iiirpo.sf  of  tlividiii;;  tlic  (Iciiiocriit it-  \o|i',  wlio  woiiM  iiiso  claiiii  a 

])oi'lioii  of  tlic  time  t'l'oin  tlit>  same  stiiiKl ;  ami  t'iirlii«'r  in  tlii>  saiiio 

polilif  vfiii  cxiMfsscil  ills  siirpi'isf   tlial    Mr.  Lincoln  slioiild   ii;i\(; 

waited  till  aflci'  his  iippointiiK'iiis  were  out    when  tlic.v   had  Ixcii 

to^ctlicr  a  niiinhcr  of  times  lu>fon> ;  hut  whih^  not  at  liliert.v  to 

chiin^e  his  iippointiiifiits   he  took  the   respoit.siltility   to  sli)iiihite 

for  joint  discussions  in  7  coiiyressioiiiil  districts,  one  iu  each,  tiiev 

lia\  inn  alrcjidy  '•'*'''  spoken  in  the  L'diiiidtllii — Chicajidand  Spiiiiy- 

tield.     lie  named  Oltiiwii,  Frceporl,  (^)iiiiicy.   .loneslioro,  Charlcs- 

t(»li,  (iiilcshili;;  iilid  Ailoii,  the   spciikiii;;    to  iiilciiiatc  l»_\  opciiiiij;' 

lor  1  lioiii',  iiiisweiin;;    U,  and  rcplyiiij;  \ — he  tukiii;;'  the  openiii<;s 

at  the  lirst  iind  last  places.     Mr.  Lincoln  replied  protestiiiji;i};aiiist 

the  insinnalions  of  iinfairness,  which,  he  ihoiinht  ;;roiiiidlcss  iiml 

unjust;  denied    any     know  !(■;;<'    of  his    |daii    of    appointments; 

thoiijilit  Douglas  hiid   the  iidviiiitii;:;e  in  tlie  openinj;s  and  closiii;f.s 

of  the  speaking',  iiml    iicce|ite(|   tli(>    pro|)osition.      lint   theirsepa- 

liite  iippointmeiits  were  siicli  also  that  lliey  usually  followed   cacli 

otherin  rapid  order,  in  one  |)iace,  Sullivan,  on  the  same  day. 

Thcchampioiistirst  met  for  Joint  disciissionat  Ottawa.  Tlu'y  were 

attended  liy  shorthand  reporters,  many  Icadinji'  n(^\vs|»apersal>roa(l 
i...,i  ti,.,;..  .!.......:..! .•....,. I. ...t^.  ....  il...  ........ I.. I     .....I  ti...  ^.. ....... 1...W 


iij>oii  a  re.s(»liitioii  that  he  mistakenly  siii>posed  the  lirst  Slate 
republican  convention  had  adojited  at  Sprin^tleld,  (K'to\>er  4, 
IS,")  1,  and  which  had  recognized  Mr.  Lincoln  l»y  jtlacin;;  him  on 
the  Slate  central  committee.  The  leadiii;^  ijiM'stion  was  wlielher 
lie  favored  the  unconditional  iei)eal  of  the  tiij;itive  slave  law  ? 
The  resolution  ]iropose<l  "  to  repeal  and  entirely  al»roj;ate  the  {'w/i- 
tive  slave  law;"  hut  .Mr.  Lincoln  had  already  declared  his  reluct- 
ant support  of  a  Just  and  ecpiitable  fii<;itive  slave  law,  hecaii.sc  the 
constitution  was  mandatory  upon  that  j)oiiit,  and  the  repuhlicaii 
conventions  of  1S,")(;-.S  had  omitted  to  declare  a<;aiist  the  rendi- 
tion of  fujuitives  from  lahor.  Doiijilas,  to  prove  Lincoln's  posi- 
tion extreme  (»r  incoiisisK  lit,  as  also  the  republicans  ;.teiierally, 
..,,..!..  ,.o..  ..I-  fi.:..  .......i..f ;....      ;..t..  ..  i.;..i.  i...  i...^  1...1  u.  ti...  si. . ..;..'..- 


ardly  iiifain\,"  &c.* 

At  T'lcejuut.  <!  days  after.  Mr.  Lincoln  answeretl  Douglas's  inter- 
roj;atories,  this  one  in   the  iie<;ative,    and  tlieii  itropounded  4  to 

*  Ti)  ,=hnw  the  iU'))tli  of  part}'  anrl  porsoniil  feelinj;:  nij'nin.st  DouKliis  iit  tlu;  time,  the 
Cliioiiyo /'/v.^.i  ,(•  Tn'/doic  spoke  of  hitii  lit  Oi  til wii.  ns  follows  :  "lie  liowle(.",  lie  rmitod, 
he  bellowed,  he  piiw(.(i  clirt,  lie  shook  his  lieuil,  he  turned  livid  in  the  fiiee.  ho  struck 
his  riplit  hiinu  Into  Ills  left,  he  toiiiiied  iit  tlie  mouth,  be  uimthematizeU,  be  cursed,  he 
exulted,  he  Uomineured— he  pluyed  Duuirlua." 


HKNATOIIB   IN   C'ONtJUKSS. 


713 


J)<)ii<;lii.s,  wliicli  the,  latter  procccdctl  to  iiiiswcr  iiiiiiictliiitcly, 
liiaUiii;;  llicni  tlic  siihjcct  of  his  spcrcli.  Wliilc  this  piovt-d  liis 
I't'atly  iiiid  woiMh'il'iil  powers  of  deltate,  it  woiihl  lui\e  perhaps 
been  well  to  have  delilM-rateil  some  time  as  Mr.  I.ineolii  had  done, 
'i'he  LM  intenoj;iiloi'.v  was  :  '•('an  tiie  people  of  a  I'nited  States  t<'r- 
litor.v,  in  any  lawfnl  way,  a;;ainst  the  wishes  of  any  eiti/.eii  of  tho 
I'nited  States,  exelnde  slavery  from  its  lindts  jtiior  to  the  forma- 
tion (d'  a  State  eonstitiition  T 

The  iMi'd  Seoil  d»'eision  was,  lliat  eoiiffiess  had  n()i'i}>'lit  to  pro- 
luhit  u  citizen  of  the  IJidted  States  from  takinjiany  proi>erty  wideli 
lie  lawfully  held  into  a  territory  (d'  the  I'nited  States;  iind  tiiat 
if  eoii;.;ress  (;t»uld  not  <lo  this,  it  eoidil  not  anthori/e  a  territorial 
j,'ov«'rnment,  in  the  absence  of  any  distinction  in  j>ro|ieity,  to 
i'Xelnde  slaves,  wid(rh  W('i(^  pro|»erty  under  the  constitution.  In 
his  ('liica;;o  speech,  I)ouj;la>  had  said  tiiat  to  tiiis  decision  of  tho 
aiu;;usL  triiinnal  of  the  sM|>reme  court  lie  bowed  with  deferi'uce, 
Now  he  said  :  *'l  answer  emphatically  that  in  my  opinion  thtr  peo- 
ple of  a  territory  can  l)y  lawful  UM'ans  exclude  slavery  before  it 
comes  in  as  a  State.  !\lr.  Lincoln  knew  that  I  had  };iven  that 
answer  over  and  overa^iain."  Jbit  in  the  \ery  next  breath  he  inti- 
mated that  this  could  only  be  done  by  th(^  adoption  of  unfriendly 
police  ic^idat ions,  by  the  territoiial  le<;islatuir  withholding-  tho 
needed  local  <u'  munici[)al  laws,  without  which  slavery  could  not 
exist  a  day  anywhere. 

The  Freep«>rt  speech  caused  J)ou^las  to  be  severely  denounced, 
not  onlyat  home  but  abroad,  by  repidtlicans,  for  his  ;.;ross  inconsist- 
ency and  (;lian<.;e  of  front,  an<l  throughout  the  south  as  havin;;'  at 
last  shown  his  cloven  foot  ;  they  could  ha\e  no  further  conlidenceiii 
SI  noithern  nnin  who  unnecessarily  espoused  their  interests  aj^ainst 
his  own  section. 

Alter  this  the  general  scojk'  of  their  discussions  was  not  inate- 
lially  enlarged.  It  was  slavery  in  thu  territories  and  the  rights 
of  tiu'  p«'oplc  in  rel;iti<Hi  thereto,  Mr.  Lincoln  insisting  that  <'on- 
gress,  notwithstanding  the  <)l>it('r  ilictinn  of  the  supreme  court  in 
tlie  Died  Scott  decision,  had  the  right,  the  same  as  when  the  ordi- 
nance of  ITS?  was  ado|»ted,  to  exclude  slavery,  and  ought  to  <'x- 
ereise  it ;  and  Mr.  Douglas  holding  that  the  vexed  (piestion  i>ught 
to  be  refeired  to  the  people  of  the  teiiitory  immediately  con- 
cerned, to  settle  as  their  otlier  domestic  institutions  in  their  own 
boveieign  way,  std>ject  only  to  the  constituli(Ui  id"  the  I'ldted 
States.  Mr.  Jiincolii  did  not  assume  an  attitude  (d"  hostility  to 
slavery  in  the  States,  other  than  that  he  desired  it  '"to  be  jtut  in 
course  of  ultimate  extinction,"  the  language  of  his  lbs'  c«»nveu- 
tion  speech.  He  did  not  repeat  or  enlarge  upon  the  extrenio 
ground  (d'  this  si»eech,  but  constantly  guarded  against  it,  though 
Douglas  throughout  tin*  debates  essayed  to  push  him  on  to  it. 

Whilst  there  were  but  7  joiid  discussions,  the  two  <'ham])ion.s 
Lad  their  separate  programmes  for  si»eaking  so  arranged  for  them 
that  they  addressed  very  nearly  the  same  crowds  in  nuiny  coun- 
ties of  the  State,  some  times  on  the  same  day,  but  oftener  with  only 
a  very  short  time  intervening.  In  Sidlivan,  ALoultrie (county,  where 
they  spoke  on  the  same  day,  a  serious  collision  bet  ween  their 
respective  (U'owds  was  innninent  for  u  time.  Mr.  Lincoln  had  pur 
po.sed  deferring  his  spee<!h  to  the  last,  but  asa  separate  stand  had 
been  erected  by  the  republicans  in  the   north  part  of  the   town, 


714 


IIISTOllY   (»!<'   ILLINOIS. 


tlu'v  ioniH'd  ;i  iJi-occssicni  of  tlieir  ibrci's,  aiid  in  Jiiarcliiiig'  tliiflicr 
iittciiiiitcd  \o  p)  lij^lit  tliioiijili  tlu'otlici'  crowd  in  tiii' stivct  \v1mm:o 
])oiij;Iii.s  was  spfaiciiij;.  and  out  of  tin-ir  way.  Tiiiswas  not  to  l»ii 
brooked  ;  a  parley  eiisuetl.  diirini;-  wiiicii  tini  band  wajion  was 
attempted  to  he  driven  tlironjili  tiie  crowd  and  a  contiict  was  tlie 
iiiiniedate  result.  l>ut  tliiouj^Ii  tlie  coMiniandiiij;'  voice  of  Doug- 
las, beyond  a  few  blows,  a  general  melee  was  averted. 

At  NN'incbester,  liis  first  li(»me,  Douglas'  entliusiastic  greeting 
Masdeei)ly  touching.  The  old  county  of  Scott  was  never  so  aronsetl 
before.  His  arrival  was  aiMKumced  by  tluM'oar  of  cannon  and 
the  glad  shouts  of  a  large  assendtlage.  Here  among  these  people 
the  now  great  senator  had  lirst  cast  his  lot  a  pennilt-ss  stranger. 
Here  he  had  taught  school,  ami  aiming  his  auditt>ry  were  gray- 
haired  siics  and  foiul  old  matrons  who  had  entrusted  to  him  the 
education  of  their  children,  and  ] in j tils  w  hom  he  had  taught.  All 
the  old  settlers  well  reinembei'cd  him  in  his  ]»overty  and  obscurity, 
and  doubtless  the  entire  community  weie  now  aninnitcd  liy  that 
l)leasant  pride  ami  alfection  which  said  "we  are  the  makers  ol'  this 
great  man" — glor,\iiig  in  his  fame  and  ])ros))eiity — and  with  that 
feeling  welconu'd  the  whilom  schoolmaster  in  his  present  character 
of  the  great  ^vinerican  statesman.  Let  the  reader  trust  both  the 
heart  and  mind  of  Douglas  to  suitably  deal  with  the  occasion  of 
sucii  a  kindly  reunion,  and  display  to  the  utmost  those  wondeil'ul 
powers  ot' ehHjneiice  whi<'li  were  placed  under  additiomil  tribute* 
l>y  the  time,  circumstance  and  ])Iace.  lie  alluded,  in  the  most 
touching  manner,  to  his  advent  and  residence  at  NN'inchester,  his 
early  struggles  and  hoiu'st  efforts  for  a  beginning  in  a  slrange 
hin<l  ;  the  ready  imagination  of  his  hearers  readily  suggesting  the 
rest,  while  many  a  tear  of  Joy  crept  down  furrowed  cliceks  as  the 
spontaneous  outburst  of  cheers  from  frieml  and  political  foe  rent 
the  air,  and  rdtcstcd  the  opinion  of  all  in  entire  approbation  of  his 
subs«'(picnt  career,  more  exalted,  but  among  true  Ameriv-ans,  m»t 
more  htinoralile.  The  audience  and  occasion  were  suggestixe  of  a 
rich  vein  of  sentimental  topics  to  tint  orator,  and  none  escaped 
him  or  were  omittcil.  It  is  a  source  of  regret  that  this  speech,  so 
Avell  calcidated  to  gi\e  us  a  fuller  insight  into  the  depth  of  Doug- 
his' better  nature,  was  not  recorded. 

The  result  <»f  the  election  I'eturiied  to  the  legislattire,  in  tlio 
house,  4((  dem(»crats  and  .').">  re])ul)licans ;  the  senate  stood  it  dem- 
ocrats and  11  rci»ul)licans.  giving  the  tbriner  <S  majority  on  joint 
ballot.  The  rc|»ul>licaiis carried  the  State  by  a  ])lnrality,  the  vote 
standing:  repuldicaiis,  ll't,(i!».S  ;  democrats,  J21,11M>;  Ituchanaii 
democrats,  and  s<'atteiing.  4..S(i.'). 

And  now  th(>  administiatioii  cli(pie,  defeated  in  their  etforts  f(» 
beat  Douglas,  fell  out  among  themselves,  ami  blamed  each  other 
for  the  icsidt.  It  seems  that  some  of  the  Ibn-hanan  ollice-holdcrs, 
like  Ike  Cook  ami  others,  favored  the  direct  su])])(nt  of  the  lepub- 
licans  at  the  polls,  while  others,  like  \l.  15.  (,'ari»enter,t  et<'.,  made 
the  tight  against  Douglas  and  the  rejaiblicans,  both,  on  ]>rinciple. 
Many  charges  of  subserviency,  gi'oss  dece]>tion  of  the  president  as 
to  their  strength,  blumlers,  tollies  and  \illainies.  were  bandied. 
back  and  forth.     C'ol.  -John  J)otigherty,  the  adnunistration  candi- 


•SeeUl.  State  Ht'trister,  Sept.  ^n,  ia."i8 

tSeo  hl8  letter  to  ChicuKO  Democrat,  Nov.,  1858. 


SENATORS   IN   CONGKKSS. 


715. 


(late  inr  treasurer,  wiio  liad  received  less  than  i"),0()0  votes  out  of 
tlic  one  loiiitli  of  ii  million  cast,  issued  a  manifesto  to  llie  jx'ople 
of  Illinois,  through  tlu'  Cairo  (iaztlt..,  '■'H'iuV\U}i  tiie  entire  demo- 
cratic party  out  of  tlu;  party,  and  insisting;-  that  their  (lelej^ates 
should  not  l)(^  admitted  to  the  Charleston  convention  [in  ISflO].''* 
1'lie  Uuclianan  party  now  atfeeted  to  believe  that  J)ou;;las  would 
he  defeated  before  the  lejiisiaturc;  but  wiien  the  time  came  tlu're 
Avere  no  o]>pom'nts  to  him  l)efore  the  <lemo('rati(!  eaueus,t  tliouiili 
he  was  absent,  and  he  was  re-elected  by  ~)i  votes  to  31r.  Lincoln 
4(5.  lie  telegiaphed  back  from  lialtimore — '"Let  tlie  voice  of  tlie 
people  rule." 

Tims  ternnuated  this  unprecedented  senatorial  contest,  which 
was  wa,i;»'d  throuiihont  with  a  vi>;<»r  and  spirit  which  ha<l  no  par- 
allel in  the  liistoiT  of  parties  in  this  or  any  otiier  fcltate.  JJotli  the 
yreat  politi(!al  or;Lianiziitions  fought  witli  a  liercjcuess  which  never 
]a,ui;c(l  for  a  moment,  but  increased  with  every  cominji'  day.  W'nh 
Douglas,  a[»pai(Mitly,  liis  political  fortune  was  ut  stake.  The  repub- 
licans, after  the  election,  complimented  3Ir.  Lincoln  for  the  strong 
and  noble  fn;ht  he  had  made,  vihat  no  otiier  man  in  the  State 
could  have  done  for  the  cause;  and  they  consoled  him  in  the  lau- 
guaye  of  Tope: 

"More  true  Joy  ISrarcellua  exiled  feels 
Tlmn  Ciesar  with  iixniu/int  his  //c/.v.'' 

]\rr.  Lincoln  was  thus  broujiht  consi»iciU)uly  before  the  uatioi)  as 
one  of  the  altlesf  leaders  of  the  oppt).sition  ;  and.  in  tlu'  humble 
opinion  of  tlu^  writer,  tliis  ^^reat  contest,  which  i)rinnirily  li'sultcd 
simpl\  in  the  nudcin<;'  ot  a  U.  S.  semitor  of  one  of  the  contestants, 
directed  the  pidtlic  eye  to  the  merits  of  the  otliei'.  and  caused  him 
to  bccouu'  the  standard  bearer,  two  years  later,  of  that  j»arty 
whose  cardimd  principle  denninded  freedom  for  the  public  donunn, 
and  wliicli.  aided  Ity  the  divisions  in  the  laidcs  of  the  democracy, 
carried  him  by  their  voices  trium|)hantly  into  the  jti'esidential 
chair;  which  the  south  deemed  asullicient  alfront  tor  disunion. 

ilavinji'  consunu'd  so  much  space  to  complete  the  sketch  of  our 
senators  in  con^i'css.  we  can  only  say  tinit  to  the  seat  of  l)ou<:las, 
aft«'r  his  death  in  lS(iL  succeeded.  1st,  the  lion.  ().  II.  I'.rowninj;' 
by  appointment  fr(un  ()o\-.  Vates;  2d,  the  legislature  in  lS(i."».  be- 
inji  democratic,  and  iierce  in  partisan  si>irit,  IJrownin;;  failed  of 
conlirmatiiMi.  and  the  Hon.  \\'.  A.  IJichardson  was  elected  for  the 
remainder  of  i>ouj;ias'  unexpired  teiiu.  in  the  three  e\ccuti\i- 
appoinlnu'iits  to  seimtorial  vacancties  in  the  history  of  the  State — 
Jlaker  in  l.S.'5(>,  Semple  in  IS4.').  and  Ibownin.n'  in  ]iS(ll  — only  one, 
that  of  Sem}»le,  has  Iteen  conlirmed  by  the  legislature.  In  ISO,") 
IJichard  Yates  was  elected  to  the  same  seat  for  a  full  t«'rm,  and  he 
in  ISTl  was  succeeded  by  (ieu.  .John  A.  L();;an,  who  i'^  the  second 
uutivc  lllinoisan  that  has  ever  tilled  that  exalted  c>,lice  for  thi.s 
State. 


*  "Not  linvintf  the  fear  of  nimiliers  licfort' his  I'.vos,  ho  bolilly  ruled  ttic  l:il, ((00  di'ino- 
cnits  who  voti'ti  for  Ooiiiflus,  out,  to  graze  ii|)on  the  (toinnion,  as  unworihy  n  associate 
Willi  him,  undsat  thetiutucrut  ot'tho  party  in  Illinois"— said  tlie  St.  LouIb  iVf/'"''"''""  at 
tho  tiiiio. 

+  Thonirh  in  Soptoiiilior  .Tiuipro  Bropso  inrtletti>rto  >Jr.  Tloyakiii.  of  the  Hcllevillo 
Demiivrot.  wrote  :  "rdeiiiaml  asa  rivlit  to  know  who  reiinested  you  to  say  as  you  have 
sail!  in  an  editorial  in  your  paper  of  the  4th.  that  ",1  udue  Ilreeso  is  not,  nor  will  hu  be, 
u  eundiUatu  for  the  U.  S.  senate  in  ooposltiou  to  Mr.  Douglas.'' 


Chapter  LIII. 

I«fil-18C5— ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  YATES. 

rurt}i  Conventions  of  18(50 — The  two  Great  Labor  Systems  of  the 
Country  in  Direct  Antaf/onism — Life  and  Character  of  Gover- 
nor Yates — Lieutenant  Governor  Hoffman — Condition  of  the 
State  and  Compatutive  Growth  since  1850. 


The  reimbliciiii  Stiito  coiiveiitioii  of  18G0  met  at  Decatur,  May 
9tli.  Every  (;<)unt,v  ex('ei)t  I'uliiski  was  represented.  The  Hon. 
Joseph  (Jillespie,  of  3Ia<lisoii,  was  ehosen  to  preside  over  its 
deliberations.  For  tlie  candidacy  of  "governor  there  were  tliree 
asi)irants:  Norman  IJ.  Jinhl,  of  Cook,  Leonard  Swett,  of  McLean, 
and  Jvicluird  Yates,  of  Morjian.  On  tlie  first  babot  Ju(hl  received 
24."»  votes,  Swett  101,  Yates  18.'{and  .Fames  Knox  12;  on  the  tliird 
ballot  Jnchl  received  liis  highest  number,  2(5;};  on  tiie  fourth  all 
the  Swett  men  but ;{()  went  to  the  su]>port  of  Yates,  jiivin<i'  liim 
3(5.'{  votes,  which  nominated  him.  Ju(l(l  had  incurred  the  Ibiinid- 
able  op[)osition  of  the  Chiciip,<)  ./>('H««c>vr^,  then  a,  power  with  the 
republican  i)arty  of  the  State.  Fraiu'is  A.  notfman,  of  DuPag^e, 
was  next  nominated  as  a  candidate  for  lieuti'uant  jioverm)r  by 
acclamation.  The  lenuiinder  of  the  ticket  was  :  For  auditor,  Jesse 
K.  Dubois;  for  treasurer,  AVilliam  Ibitler  ;  for  secretary  o^"  State, 
O.  M.  Hatch,  and  for  superintendent  of  jtublie  iiistnu'tion,  New- 
ton Jiateman — all  incund)ents.  The  JUoomin<;ton  idatform  of  4 
years  before  was  I'e-adoitted  with  a  stron^^er  i»lank  regardinji  the 
rij^Iit  of  tbrciyners,  doubtless  to  sweeten  the  slijihtly  remaininjjf 
taint  oi' know  nothinjiisni  that  democrats  mif^htsc'cnt  about  repub- 
lican jiarmcnts.  They  als(»  declared  lor  a  homestciul  act  by  con- 
gress, iind  the  imnu'diate  admission  of  Kansas  as  a  fiee  State.  A 
lesolution  was  adopted  that  Abraham  Lin(;olii  was  the  choice  of 
the  re]>ublican  ])arty  (»f  Illinois  tor  i»resident,  and  tlu'  delejiates 
from  this  State  were  instructed  to  use  all  honorable  means  to 
secure  his  nomiiuition  at  the  Chictajio  convention,  aiul  to  vote  for 
him  as  a  unit.  A  motion  to  strike  out  the  last  ehmse  was 
defeated. 

Ml'.  II  )ffriian,  candidate  for  lieul.  iiant  governor,  it  will  be 
rcmemlt(  red  by  the  reader,  was  nominated  lor  the  same  i>lace:  on 
the  republican  ticket  in  18r)(5.  but  shortly  after  was  found  not  t(» 
be  eliuihle  to  the  ollice  if  elected,  lie  being  a  (ieniian  and  not  a 
cili/.cM  for  It  years  as  the  constitution  re(piired.  lb  :iow  refused 
to  run  for  tlu^  position,  alleging  ill  health.  The  Slate  central  com- 
mittee put  the  name  of  Hon.  Vital  -lariot,  of  St.  Claii'.  (Ui  the 
ticket  in  his  stead.     iJut  the  congressional  convenlion  of  the  3d 

716 


YATES'  ADMINISTRATION.  717 


disti'ii't  iit  l)l()()iiiiiij>t(>n  li'fiiscd  to  nitify  liis  iioiniiiiitioii,  wlieie- 
ui)<)ii  li(i  also  (Iccliiicd  to  inn.  The  objciition  was  that  it  ^avcbotli 
jjnbi'niatoiial  caMdidatcs  to  tlie  sontlnMii  portion  of  tin;  kStati^. 
The  StattMtonvcntion  was  thcrcniton  rccalltMl  and  met  aj;ain,  tiiin 
time  at  Sprin^iiield,  An«;nst  (Stli,  on  occasion  of  tlic:  j;reat  republi- 
can mass  meetinjjat  tlieliomcof  Lincoln,  one  of  tlu'  jirandest  out- 
l»ourin<;s  of  the  people  and  largest  ci\  icdcmonstration  with  which 
any  public  man  was  ever  iionored.  In  convention,  on  motion  of 
i\lr.  Janot,  Air.  Iloti'man  Inul  leave;  to  withdraw  his  letter  of 
declination,  and  his  nomination  was  auaiii  unanimously  coidhined. 

The  State  democratic  coiivenrion  of  1S(»(>  met  at  Sprinjificld  in 
the  hall  of  the  house  of  reju'esentatives,  ,hine  l.'Jth.  Hon.  Wm. 
]\IcMuitry,  of  Knox,  presided.  On  the  lirst  ballot  to  nominate  a  can- 
didate for  <;()Vernor,  J.  (J.  Allen,  (»f  Crawford,  received  loT  votes  ;  S. 
A.  ]>u(!kmaster,  of  .Madison,  SI  •,,!.  L.  I).  Morrison,  of  St.Clair.  SS; 
iS'ewton  Cloud,  of  Alorj^an,  (m  ;  W.  J>.  Scates,  of  Cook,  14;  ,J.  A. 
McCleinand  and  1».  8.  Edwards,  both  of  Sanj^amon,  2  each.  U\i 
the  second  ballot  it  was  soon  disclosed  that  Allen  was  the  favorite, 
and  all  the  other  comi>etitors  beinj;'  withdrawn  before  the 
annouiu'emeid  of  the  vote,  Allen's  nomiimtion  was  made  nnanim- 
ons.  The  balance  of  the  ticket  was:  i-'or  lieutenant  jiovernor,  L. 
AV.lvoss,  of  Fulton;  secretary  of  !State,(r.  11.  Campbell,  of  Loj;an  ; 
auditor,  Bernard  Arnt/eii,  of  Adams;  treasurer,  llnjih  Maher,  of 
Cook;  superinteuilent  of  public  instiiu-tion.  Dr.  E.  It.  Roe,  of 
McLean.  Their  resolutions  ivatlirnu'd  the  princii>les  of  the  Cin- 
cinnati i)latform  of  IS.KI,  approved  the  course  of  the  delej;ntes  to 
the  Charleston  convention,  and  expressed  their  contidence  in  Ste- 
phen A.  Doufilas  for  presideid. 

On  July  the  11th,  the  Ibu'hanan  or  15reckinrid<;(!  democracy  met 
in  convention  also  at  Sprinjitield,  and  put  the  followinj;'  State 
ticket  in  the  field:  For  governor.  Dr.  Thonnis  iM.  Hope,  of  a^Lldi- 
son  ;  lieutenant  fi'overnor.  Thomas  Sui'li,  of  DeAVitt;  secretary  <»f 
State,  13.  T.  IJurke,  of  Maitonpin  ;  auditor,  Henry  S.  Smi-'i,  of 
Ivnox;  treasurer,  W.  H.  Catlier,  of  Adams;  su])erintendei.t  of 
])nblic  instruction,  J.  II.  Dennis,  of  St.  Clair;  the  electors  at  la  r<ie 
beinj4'  John  Dougherty  ami  Thompson  C'ampbell.  illeven  coun- 
ties out  of  lOli  wen;  represented  by  o.'}  (U'lejiates,  41  of  whom 
V  ere  currently  rei)orted  at  the  time  as  federal  otti(;e-holders. 

The  IJell-Everett  State  convention  met  at  Decatur,  Auj-'.  1«»,  ISOO. 
Thirty  couidies  were  re])resented  by  an  aujiiejiate  of  ItU  delejiates. 
They  nonunated  the  followinj;'  ticket:  For  {i'overnor,  the  Hon. 
John  T.  Stuart,  of  Sanj;amon  ;  lieutemint  governor,  Heniy  S. 
IMackburn,  of  Kock  Island;  secretary  of  State,  James  Monroe,  of 
Coles;  auditor,  James  D.  Smith,  of  Sanyamon ;  treasurer,  ,Ioiui- 
than  Stamper,  of  Macon  ;  .sui)erintendent  of  public  instruction, 
D.  J.  Sm)w,  of  San<>amon  ;  electors  at  la  rye,  M.  Y.Johnson,  of 
JoDaviess  and  D.  M.  Woodson,  of  Cheen. 

Thus  4  tickets  were  in  the  field.  The  juditical  contest  of  18(50 
over  the  question  of  slavery  was  the  most  nH)mentous  in  the  his- 
tory of  this  nation.  The  two  great  labor  systems  of  the  country, 
free  an<l  slave,  rei)resentin}>-  their  respective  sections,  were  brought 
into  direct  antagonism  for  the  first  time  in  a  i)residential  election. 
The  southern  wing  of  the  denu)cratic  party,  si>urning  Douglas  and 
liis  theory  of  po[)ular  sovereignty  at  Charleston,  si)lit  from  ds 
northern    associate,   and    eagerly    brought    forward    the    labor 


718 


IIISTOKY  OF    ILLINOIS. 


M   .-' 


systoiii  of  its  section  iiiid  oi>|)os(i(l  it  to  that  of  tlio  north.  Tlie 
issue  thus  iii('S(*nt<'(l  was  so  clcaily  (U'lincd  tliat  it  was  impossi- 
ble to  lonj;'  oeciipy  any  iniddU-  jjronnd.  The  power  of  Donyhis 
tUone  liehl  his  foHowers  to  one  for  a  time,  but  it  was  apparent  liiat 
all  between  would  soon  l)e  but  a  eliaotie  mass,  whose  j)nrtieies, 
drifting  hither  and  thither,  nuist  find  lodyinent  on  the  side  within 
vhose,  sectional  or  loeal  focus  of  attracttion  lliey  ehaiieed  to  come. 
The  iiM'Xorable  logic  of  events  disclosed  the  completion  of  au 
inevitable  destiny.  The  house  was  indeed  divided  against  itself, 
and  the  irrepressible  contlict  was  at  hand.  The  canvass  jtroved 
both  an  exciting  and  determined  oiu",  and  the  fearful  cousecpieu- 
(picuces  ha\-e  jtassed  into  history,  ai)undantly  and  ably  written  up 
by  other  hands. 

The  victory  at  the  ])olls  for  the  rei>ublicans  of  Illinois"  in  bS(5() 
was  complete.  They  carried  the  presidential  and  State  tickets, 
ami  gained  both  houses  oi  the  legislature,  each  by  a  small  um- 
jority.  For  goveiiioi-,  Vates  received  J72.1JKJ,  Allen  ir>U,'2'>',>, 
istua'rt  l.fJlM;,  Hope  ]l,m\)  ami  Chickering  l.l-t(>.  The  vote  on  the 
presidential  ticket  was:  for  i.iucoln,  171. UKi;  Douglas,  l.">S,L'r»-t; 
IJcll-lOverctt,  4,.sr)l  ;  iind  lireckenridge,  2,L'!>2.  With  few  excep. 
tions  the  adherents  of  the  latter  two  tickets — i)articularly  the 
leaders  of  the  Hreckiuridge  faction— were  shortly  afterwards  ab- 
sorbed by  the  republican  party,  where  some  of  the  IJuchanan  nu'U 
have  sin(!e  attaiiu'd  <listiuetion,  both  for  their  radicalism  and  suc- 
cess in  obtaining  oHice, 


Iiichard  Yates  was  born  January  IS,  ISIS,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Ohio  river,  at  \N'arsaw,  (iallatin  county.  Kentucky.  His  fiithcr, 
in  1.S;{1,  moved  to  Illinois,  and  setth^l  (ii  ;er  stoitjiing  f(U' a  time 
in  Springtield,)  at  islan<I  (irove.  Sangamon  county.  Here,  after 
attending  school,  IJichard  Join;'d  the  family.  Subse(pu'ntly,  he 
entered  Illinois  College,  at  .Jaeksoiixille,  where,  in  1(S.'>7,  he  grad- 
uated with  first  honors.  lie  chose  for  his  profession  the  law,  the 
Hon.  .1. .).  Hardin  being  his  instructor.  After  admission  to  the 
bar  he  soon  rose  to  distiucticui  as  an  advocate,  (lifted  with  a 
fluent  ami  ready  oratory,  he  soon  a])peared  in  the  pcvlitical  hust- 
ings, and  being  a  passionate  admirer  of  the  great  whig  leader  of 
tli«'  west,  Henry  ('lay,  lu^  joined  his  jiolitical  fortunes  to  the  party 
of  his  idol.  In  1S4(>  he  engaged  with  gieat  ardor  in  the  exciting 
''hard  cider  ('ami)aign"'  for  Harrison.  Two  years  later  he  was 
elected  to  the  legislaluic  fro.i  Morgan  c(uinty,  a  democratic 
sti'(Uigliold.  lie  served  three  or  tour  terms  in  the  legislatuic, 
and  such  was  the  fascination  of  his  oratory,  that  by  IHiiO  hks 
larg<'  eougressioual  district,  extending  from  Morgan  and  Sanga- 
mon iKUtli  to  include  La  Salle,  unanimously  tendered  him  the 
wdiig:  nomiimtion.  His  opponent  of  the  democratic  ])arty,  was 
Major  Thomas  L.  Harris,  a  xcry  ]!opular  imin,  who  had  won  dis- 
tinction at  the  battle  of  Cerro  (Jordo,  in  the  late  war  with  Mexico, 
a4id  who,  though  the  district  was  whig,  ha<l  beaten  tor  the  same 
])osition.  tw(»  years  belbre,  the  Hon,  Stephen  T.  Logan  by  a  huge 
majority.  The  contest  between  Yates  and  Ilairis,  animating  and 
persevering,  icsidted  in  the  election  of  the  fornu'r.  Twt>  years 
later,  the  (b'Uiocracy  ungenerously  thrust  asi<le  Major  Harris  and 
pitted  .lolin  Calhoun  against  Yates,  and,  though  Calhoun  was  a 
man  of  great  intellect,  and  w  hen  aroused,  of  unsurpassed  ability 


YATKS'  ahaitntstkatiox.  719 

as  a  political  debater — wlioiii  Mr.  Miicniii  iiiid  siiid  lie  would 
dreiid  u^^)i•^'  in  dehiit"  than  sinv  niiiii  in  IliiMitis — tiic  it-sidl  \vi\H 
as  Itetbre.  It  was  dnrinj;'  V;ites'  second  term  tiiat  (lie  ^reat; 
question  of  the  repcid  of  tiu^  Missouri  (M>nii>ronnse  (^iinie  l)erore 
citn-iress,  ajjidnst  which  he  early  arniyed  ininseU',  iind  took  de- 
cided iind  advanced  anti-slavery  j;ronntl  in  a  speech  of  raro 
oratory  and  I'lMuarkalde  i)ower,  whicii  gained  idni  natianal  rej)- 
ntation.  IJut  we  have  seen  that  at  tins  formative  peiiod  of  tho 
republican  party,  the  whiji's  of  central  Illinois,  unwiiiinj;-  to  join 
their  fortunes  with  a  sectional  party,  went  with  the  democracy, 
and  in  l<S."il,  Major  Harris  beiu};' a<>ain  his  opponent  for  conjuri'ss, 
Yates  was  defeated  on  the.  >«'ebraska.  issuer  by  only  about  LMK) 
votes  in  the  district  which  had  ;.':iven  Pierce  two  years  before 
2,()(M>  majority  over  Scott.  Six  years  later  he  was  elected  {gov- 
ernor by  the  |)arty,  tor  tlie  aid  in  the  formation  (»f  which  he  had 
snlfered  this  defeat. 

liichard  Yates  occupied  the  (tliair  of  State  durin*;'  the  most 
critical  peiiod  of  our  country's  Idstory.  In  the  fate  of  the  nation 
was  invol\('»l  the  destiny  of  the  States.  Tlu^  lil;'-strujr,ule  of  the 
f'(»rmei'  derived  its  sustenance  from  the  loyalty  of  the  latter.  The 
position  of  j^overnor  of  a  j^reat  State  was,  therefon',  impoi'tant 
and  responsible,  as  it  was  capable  of  beinj;'  exerted  foi-  vast 
<>()od  or  inimens<^  evil.  Need  it  l)e  said  that  in  this  tryiui^' period 
lie  discliarj;«'<l  his  duty  with  i>atriotic  fidelity  to  tlu^  cause  of  the 
nation?  (Jov.  Yates  had  many  valuable  attributes  for  his  Injuh 
station  in  this  ordeal  of  the  (U)untry.  His  loyalty  was  as  undoul)ted 
as  it  proved  itself  true.  He  was  tlicM-lose  ])ersonal  fiieiul  of  Pres- 
ident Lincoln.  liis  ardent  devotion  to  the  I'nion  \^■as  founded 
upon  a  deep  love  for  it.  AVhih'  he  had  been  early  identilied  with 
the  formation  of  the  republican  party,  he  had  not  been  connected 
with  the  ohl  abolitionists,  a.nion<''  whom  were  persons  who  ])re- 
ferreilthe  success  of  their  lioltby  to  the  safety  of  the  I'lnon.  l>ut 
above  all,  he  had  a  deep  hold  upon  the  atfections  of  the  people, 
won  by  his  movin<i'  ehxiuence  and  jicnial  manners.  He  inspired 
stronj;-  attachments  anionj;liis  partisan  friends.  Nature  had  fash- 
i(»ne(l  him  to  be  a<lnnred  by  the  masses.  Handsome,  ei'cct  and 
symmetrical  iu  peison,  with  a  winnin,u-  address  and  a  magnetic 
power,  few  men  jtosssessed  moi'e  of  the  elements  of  popularity. 
Ilis  (»rat(uy,  into  the  spirit  of  which  he  entered  with  appaicnt  for- 
{t'ctfulness  of  self,  was  scholarly  and  captivatin<i',  the  hearer  hardly 
knowinj;  why  he  was  transported.  Thou<;h  less  logical  than  elo- 
quent, he  reasoned  well,  and  alway;  inspired  deep  and  en<]uiin<if 
partisan  attachments.  He  was  social  and  con  vivial  toanenniu'nt 
dej^ree,  traits  of  character,  which,  however,  were  sul»jecte<l  to 
little  of  puritanic  denial ;  but  in  the  very  excesses  of  his  appetites 
lie  has  cairie<l  witli  him  the  sympathies  of  the  people,  almost  irre- 
spective of  party,  on  account  of  liis  many  noble  attributes  of  head 
and  heart. 

The  very  creditable  military  eflforts  of  this  State  durinjj  the  war 
of  the  rebellion,  in  puttinj;'  her  (piotas,  aj>jnrej;atin;4  the  enormous 
number  of  about  2(H),00()*  soldiers  in  the  tield,  wereever[>roin[)tly 

"In  IHTiO Illinois  had  II  population  of  851,470,  iind  accordinir  to  tho  arniv  rc^iUicr  for 
IK.')!,  licr  militia  nuinl)eri;d  17i>,;V)9,  4,lt)H  of  vhorn  were  coinniissionerl  o'lliocrs:  m  IKdO, 
Blie  had  a  population  of  1.711. uril,  whicli  would  have  Kiven  her  at  the  breakin«-  out  of 
theiehellion.  In  18(11.  a  niilitiu  force  of  350,000,  uud  out  of  this  number  nearly  ^00,000 
volunteers  were  furnished. 


720 


niSTOKT  OF  ILLTNOrS. 


and  iibl.v  .so(!Oii(U>(l  li),v  liis  oxciillciuty  :  lie  was  iiinhitioiis  to  dosorve 
tilt'  title  of  tlie  soldiers' friend.  Ilis  proeliiniations  eallinji  for  vol- 
unteers are  iMii)assioniite  iippeids,  iirjiiii;;  the  <luties  and  recpiiie- 
ments  of  patriotism  njion  tlie])eopIe;  and  liis  special  nu'ssajics  to 
tlie  last  denuxrratie  le;;islatnre  of  this  State,  pleadinj;' for  material 
aid  for  the  sick  and  wonnded  soldiers  of  Illinois  i'ej;iments,  'oicathe. 
a  deep  fervor  of  noltle  sentiment  and  feelin<;-  rarely  ecpialled  in 
beanty  or  felicity  of  expression,  (li'iieially  his  messajicson  politi- 
cal or  civil  affairs  were  al>le  and  comprehensive;  tlionj;h  on  these 
suUJects,  i)articnlarly  th<^  formei',  his  style  is  perhaps  too  tlorid 
uikI  ditfuse.  There  were  no  (State  ci\  il  events  of  an  en^rossinj;' 
character  dnrinj''  (lov.  Yates'  adnnnistration  ;  two  years  of  it, 
however,  were  re])lete  with  partisan  (piarrels  of  j^reat  bitterness, 
dnrinj;'  the  sittinj^'  of  the  constitutional  conxcntion  of  l.S(J2,  and 
the  sessions  of  the  last  democratic  lej;islatni'e  in  I<S<I.'),  which  hit- 
ter body  he  finally  s(|nelclied  by  his  act  of  prorojiation.  These 
the  reader  will  find  summed  up  further  alonji'.  The  oi>eiiition.s 
of  Illinois  regiments  in  the  Held  are  also  elsewhere  recorded  in 
detail. 

Lieut.Gov.  TToffman  was  born  at  Ilerford,  Prussia,  1822.  He 
was  the  son  of  a  bookseller,  ami  educated  at  the  Frederich  Wil- 
liam (lymnasium  of  his  native  town.  At  the  age  of  bS  he  enn- 
grated  to  America,  lamling  i)euniless  in  IS'ew  York,  lionowing 
$8  he  started  west,  and  after  a  toilsome  Journey  re,a(;lu'd  Chi- 
cago in  1840.  INIoneyless  and  unable  to  speak  the  English  lan- 
guage, he  taught  a  simdl  (iernmu  school  at  Dunkh'y's  Grove, 
Dul'age  county,  at  $'>()  a  year,  with  the  privilege  of  "boarding 
ai'ound''  among  its  ]iatrons.  Next,  having  stmlie(l  theology,  ho 
was  ordained  a  minister  of  the  Lutheran  church.  l>i  J8r)2  he 
remoAed  to  Chicago,  .^^tudied  law,  was  successful  in  the  real  estate 
business,  became  a.  free-banker  in  18."»4,  and  as  such,  with  the 
secession  of  18<>1  and  the  downfall  of  our  "stumptail"  cuii'cncy, 
failed,  lie  had  annually  published,  in  German,  a  review  of  the 
commerce  and  finances  of  Chicago,  and  scattering  thousands  of 
copies  in  his  native  land,  nuitei'ially  benefited  her  growth  ;  and  ah 
commissioner  of  the  foreign  land  department  of  the  Central  IJail- 
road  Com])any,  he  was  instrumeidal  in  inducing  iminy  thousands 
of  Gernnin  fannlies  to  purchase  lands  and  settle  in  Illinois. 

lie  early  took  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs,  in  1847  he 
was  a  member  of  the  famous  Kiver  and  Harbor  convention  at 
Chicago.  In  1853  he  was  elected  alderman  for  the  8tli  ward  of  that 
city.  lie  was  among  the  first  of  the  prominent  Germans  of  the 
northwest  to  advocate  the  anti-slavery  cause  by  writing  tb:;- the  first 
German  newspaper  of  Chicago,  and  translating  from  the  (iermau 
for  tlm  Democrat.  In  1848  hesupjiorted  Van  lluren  for  the  i)resi- 
dency;  with  the  I'epeal  of  the  Missouri  coni])romise  he  aided  in 
the  orgaiiizatiou  of  the  republican  party,  and  in  185(5  canvassed 
the  State  for  Fremont.  Well  ediuiated,  a  clear  mind,  decision  and 
energy,  he  acquitted  himself  with  dignity  and  impartiality  as  the 
presiding  officer  of  the  Senate  during  a  period  replete  with  parti- 
san strife,  and  the  nu)st  perilous  iu  our  history.t 

Comparative  Growth  of  the  State  since  1850. — The  national  cen- 
sus of  18C0  revealed  for  Illinois  a  population  of  1,711,951,  against 

tSue  ''UiutjfruphiL'al  Skutchea  of  leading  luea  of  Chicugo,"  by  A.  Sliuinan. 


YATES'  ADMINISTRATION.  721 


H-IU^TO  in  l<Hr»() — iiu  increase  of  ovor  100  por  cent,  in  tlic  jnvcjod- 
in<;- «l('(M(i('.  Tiiis  rimkcd  licr  as  tlic,  lourtli  State  in  tiie  Union  in 
point  of  |io])iiIation,  and  entitl<>d  lier  to  11  mendx-rs  in  tlie  lower 
iionsc^  of  (•on<;ress. 

The  followinj;  table  from  the  census  re[)()rts  show  her  increase 
in  wealtii  during  tins  peiiod  : 

ClosAiK  iif  J'i«jiirty.  IHM.  ISOO 

Uciiliiixl   pcrsorml $ir)0.(KM),()00  $H71.(K)0.000 

ViiliK-  of  tiirina !«i,tK)(i,(HK»  4:):.'.(kmi,{)  0 

Viiliic  of  fiirir:lritf  iinplementa (i,(KK),(M)0  1S.(kh),(kio 

Viildc  of  on^lmnl  producfs 44(MMl»  1,1  t.V.tHil 

ViiliR'  of  livestock   24.()0(I,(KK)  7;t.4:»,(KiO 

Viiliie  of  aniiiials  sliiuiifhtered 4,»7~',UOO  15,0.  u.tHM 

Whont  nilsed.  No.  bushelB 9,414,000  L'l,ir.!t.00.1 

rorii  raised,  No.  I)\i8liel8 57,54(i.H(M(  lir),:.".ni,(XK) 

Hnrli-v.  No.  Inishfls 110,(i{K)  l,nr),(XlO 

Itiickwiieat,  No.  liushels 1H4,(HK)  ;il.")(K«l 

Potatoes,  N(i.  bushels 2,r)14,0(iO  .'),7!m,iH'4 

Hnv.tons  (iOl.a^S  l.KU.LMlj 

Hatter.   Il)s l.aKMMK)  2S,;!:t7,(KK) 

Tohaeeo.   lbs H41,:m4  7,(il4,2;U 

Total  No  of  acres  Improved 500,000  l;V~i>liDOO 

This  shows  the  a}j}.;rej;ate  wealth  of  ISoO  to  have  multiplied  live 
times  in  one  decade  ;  the  value  of  farms  4^  times.  P.ut  wiiile  the 
census  of  18(»0  j^ave  us  a  total  proi»ert,v  value  of  $871,000,000  the 
assessed  value  for  the  same  year  was  not  quite  $;j90,000,000.  Illi- 
nois was  the  first  corn  and  wheat  producing;'  State  in  the  Union  ; 
in  value  of  her  live  stock  she  was  .second;  in  cattle,  Texas  and 
Ohio  were  ahead  ;  in  the  number  of  horse.s,  Ohio  was  also  ahead, 
havinj;  022,829  to  Illinois  575,1(51  ;  in  the  number  of  improved 
acres,  Xew  York  alone  led  her  by  about  1,000,000  acres. 

The  permanent  debt  of  the  State  in  18G0  was  $10,277,101. 


46 


ClIAPTKK    T.IV. 

ILLINOIS  IN  TlIK  WAK  OF  THE  IfKUKLLION. 

Slavery — Sectional  Anta{foui.sm — Sevesnion — Inauffxratioit  i>/  Linci>hi 
— Call  for  Volunteers — Proclamation  of  (Jov.  Yaten — Uprisiny  of 
the  People. 


Ill  1801  the  (Ircat  Ikchcllioii  iissmiicd  ii  (Idiiiito  sliiipc,  iind  a  civil 
war  of  the  most  astoiiiidiii^'  iiiannitiKlc  roUowcd.  Tlic  |»iiiiiary 
cause  oftlic  aiitaji'oiiisiii  wiiich  existed  iietwecii  the  Noillieni  and 
Soiillieni  sections  of  the  rni(»n  was  the  institution  of  sla\t'ry. 
Other  afi'eiicies  doiibth'ss  served  proxiinatclv  to  intensify  tiie  Iios- 
tility  iinfortniiately  eiijiciKh'icd,  l»nt  in  e\ery  instance,  if  ii<tt 
directly  connected  with  this  yrear  national  evil,  their  remote  orij;iii 
could  he  tracked  to  it. 

The  fedei-al  constitution  i'eco;L;nized  slavery,  but  itsfrainers  su])- 
])osed  that  in  the  dinerent  States  where  it  existed  the  lu'ui<4ii  iii- 
tluences  (»f  free  institutions  and  the  palpable  advanta.^cs  of  iVee 
hibor,  would  extiri>ate  it  without  the  intervention  of  the  .ucneral 
government.  These  happy  anticipations  at  lirst  seemed  likely  to 
l)e  realized.  Cominenciiii;'  with  the  more  norlhern  of  tiie  slave 
States  the  work  of  emancipation  jiradually  extended  soutiiward 
till  it  reached  Virjiinia,  Maryland  and  Kentucky,  wliere  its  further 
|)ro,uress  was  stayed.  The  i^rowth  of  cotton  in  the  (liilf  States 
had  in  the  meantime  become  a  source  of  vast  wealth,  and  the  be- 
lief that  slavery  was  essential  to  its  (cultivation  jjcreutly  m<»dilied 
the  repu;inance  with  which  it  had  hitherto  been  re.yarded.  The 
remaininji"  sla\e  States,  now  actuated  In  pecuniary  considera- 
tions, abandoned  the  idea  of  emancipation  ami  acce])ted  shivery 
as  a  ]>ermancnl  institution.  The  invention  of  the  cotton-.iiin  and 
other  machinery  <;ave  a  new  impetus  to  the  cultivation  of  cotton, 
and  the  fabrics  maiuifactured  Irom  it,  and  those  eii.i;a<;'ed  in  this 
great  branch  (jf  industry  soon  resolved  not  only  t(»  protect  slavery 
where  it  existed,  but  demanded  new  territory  for  its  future  expan- 
sion. Ill  carving  new  States  out  of  the  vast  iinoccu])ied  porlioii 
of  the  national  domain,  a  bitter  sec'tional  contest  arose  as  to 
whether  the  new  members  of  the  confederacy  should  belong  to  the 
empire  of  freedom  or  slavery.  The  opponents  of  slavery  were  de- 
sirous of  restricting  it  to  its  original  limits,  but  the  cotton  States 
threatened  to  withdraw  from  the  Union  if  their  demands  were  not 
granted,  thus  causing  grave  a]>prehensions  for  tln^  satV'ty  of  the 
rejuiblic  unless  the  question  could  be  amicably  adjusted.  Pend- 
ing the  admission  of  Missouri  into  the  Union  a  compromise  wa;'  at 
length  eflected,  making  the  southern  boundary  of  that  State  tlie 


THE  WAR  OF  THE  IlEIIBLIitQN. 


723 


liiii' nC(l('iii;iikati<»ii  bctwi^iMi  free  and  sliivi'  territory.  Tliis  wiis 
siipiHistMl  iit  tilt'  tiiiu'  to  l)t'  :i  tiiial  scttlcirifiit  of  the  <laii<;fi'(>iis 
«|(ifsti(Mi,  tor  no  one  jtroposcd  to  intcitVn'  with  slavery  witiiin  its 
origin:)!  limits. 

The  reeomiition  and  jnoteetion  tlins  otlered  inspired  new  eontl- 
denee  in  tlie  advoeales  of  slaxeiy,  and  so  eidianeed  the  valne  of 
its  capital  thai  lliey  nltiinately  became  the  principal  elements  of 
sonthein  wealtii.  \\'itii  her  capital  thus  in\('ste«[  the  sonth  nee- 
«'ssarily  hecanu'  aj;ricnltiiral,  and  iience  the  a;;itation  that  arose 
in  regard  to  the  tarilf,  eidminatlMj^  in  the  attempt  of  Sonth  Caro- 
lina to  nnllify  the  laws  ol'the  I'.  S.  for  eolleetinj;  dnties.  ^'otwitli- 
standing:  ri'peated  threats  on  the  part  of  tliis  refractory  inenilMU' 
of  the  i"ni<tn  to  withdraw,  the  sturdy  deterndnation  of  .Jackson 
.sccuri'd  llie  enlbicenieiit  of  law.  Imt  the  cause  which  had  l»ro- 
dneed  the  distnri>ance  still  existed,  ami  soon  dis(;lose(l  itself  in 
nnother  form.  IJy  the  treaty  with  Mexico  vast  aeiiessions  of 
territory  wi<ire  made  to  the  national  domain,  and  sonthern  ])oliti- 
e.iaiis  insisted  on  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  eompronnse,  declarinj^ 
they  had  a  ri^ht  under  the  eonstitntioii  to  take  their  chattels  to 
any  part  of  the  west<'i'n  territory  an<l  compete  with  the  north  in 
the  Co;  m.ition  of  new  States.  The  «|iiestion  was  bronj^lit  before 
tiie  national  le}j;islatnre,  and  this  compact,  oriyinally  established 
for  the  benefit  of  slavery,  for  the  same  purpose  was  now  annulled, 
thei'eby  renew  inj"-  sectional  agitation  and  ainmosity.  The  fertili! 
plains  of  Kansas,  situated  within  the  re;;ion  which  had  bewn  con- 
.secrated  to  frecMlom,  were  rapidly  attraetinj;'  population,  and  a 
(ier<'e  stiiijii^le  imm«'diately  arose  t(t  decide  whether  the  territory 
sliould  be  admitted  int(»  the  I'nion  as  a  fr«'e  or  slave  State.  As 
its  elmracler  in  this  respect  must  now  be  determined  by  the  \ote 
of  actual  resi<U'nts,  eini^ranls  in  ureat  numbers  were  hurried  into 
it  IV(un  the  rival  seeti(»ns.  Altera  protra«'ted  (loiitest  tluM-ham- 
pions  ofshneiy.  liinlinj;-  themselvi's  in  the  minority,  ami  knowiiii-' 
jlie  result  of  the  ballot  aould  be  a<iainst  them,  endeavored  to<;aiii 
aseenden(;y  by  inti-i^iie  and  vi(dence. 

The  starllinj^- fact  ii<»w  becnnie  ai»]iarent,  even  to  the  southei-n 
mind,  that  while  slavery  euiiblcd  the  few  who  owned  and  con- 
trolled it  to  anmss  princely  foitunes,  and  live  idle  and  pi()tlj;ate 
lives,  it  correspondingly  imi»overished  the  States  in  which  it  ex- 
isted. At  the  adoption  of  the  lederal  constitution  both  sections 
.started  with  i)erhaps  etpial  natural  ad\  antajics,  but  one  havinj;' 
free  and  th<'  ctther  compids<»ry  laboi',  an  innnense  disparity  now 
existed  between  them  in  all  the  <'lements  of  power  and  civilization. 
Till'  Xoitli.  with  its  vastly  prei»onderatin.ii'  population,  (lould  now 
|)cople  and  control  the  j^ieater  ])art  of  the  un(K-eu[>ied  territory, 
and  with  the  repeal  of  tlu^  Missouri  (M)ni[>r<)mise  the  South  had 
•iivcn  the  lejial  ri<iht  to  it. 

Durinj;  the  years  of  inereasin<i-  excitement  the  general  govern- 
ment remained  unc(Hninitted  to  either  section,  but  the  States  in 
which  the  contest  originally  commenced  daily  became  more  hos- 
tile, and  in  some  instances  hiws  were  enacteil  calculated  to  further 
iuHame  the  laibiic  mind.  A  remarkable  fact,  however  anomalous 
it  may  ap>)ear,  was  that  tlu'  extreme  northern  and  southern  States, 
the  most  remote  from  the  evils  complained  of  and  the  least  likely 
to  be  atfected  by  the  issue  which  entered  into  the  controversy, 
maidfested  the  greatest  hostility.     In  many  northern  localities  the 


734 


IIISTOKY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


jtiipicssioii  ])i'('Viiil«-*l  that  \hv  iciiilitioii  of  slaves  to  tlicir  masters 
■was  wroii;,',  and  \\\v  fiil'oict'iiit'iit  of  tin:  fiij-ilivc  nlavr  law  met 
■with  stroiij;- opposition,  wliih' in  tin-  South  those  wiio  cxpi't'ssi'd 
tlicnisfivt's  (•(iii(lriniiiilor,\  of  slaxci'v  wcrr  siihjrrtcd  to  iii(li;;nitit'.s 
Avliich  «'Vcii  harhaiiibni  would  hrsitate  to  impose.  Ti'iitii  e\  er 
demands  investigation,  and  eiror  ever  siinns  it,  eonse(pientl,v 
those  who  in  the  interest  id'  slavery  inijtosed  lestraini  npon  IVee 
speech  \iilnali\  aeiuiowledjied  tlie,v  were  endeavoiin;;  to  nj>l)ol<l 
iin  institntion  intrinsically  wr()n<>.  This  mond  des|>()tism  set  np 
in  the  nndst  oftlu'.  repnhlie  further  exasperated  the  nortiiern  ndnd, 
the  indignation  beconnn^  so  nnmana^cahle  in  some  instances  as 
to  tianycend  the  recpiirements  of  law  and  order. 

Am  h  resnit  of  the  sectional  feelin<>',  eonveidions  assendiled  in 
the  dilleient  parts  of  the  Sontli  ostensibly  lor  eommer<Mal  pnr- 
poses,  hnt  in  reality  to  plot  treason  a;;ainst  the  ;;«'neral  jjovern- 
ment.  The  ehnreli,  foi' a  Ion j;  time  involved  in  the  j-oiitroversy,  in 
i'ome  of  its  hranches,endea\ored  to  maiidain  conservative  ;;roiind^ 
■while  others  were  torn  asnnd«'r  l»y  the  violence  and  sintaj;<»idsni 
of  the  contest.  Sonthern  cleijiymen,  while  i>reachin<x  r»'demptioii 
from  apiritnal  Ix.ndajic,  stran^jely  insisted  that  the  politi<'al  bond- 
age of  the  African,  which  indtrnited  both  the  soul  ami  body  of 
its  victims,  was  a  divine  institution.  Kouthern  disunionists  also 
endeavored  to  |)oison  the  public  uund  with  the  impression  that 
the  future  triumph  of  the  rei)ublicaii  i)arty  would  be  a  justiliablc 
pretext  foi'  dissolving;' th<^  Tnion.  tSaid  .lefl'erson  Davis  in  a  sjieecli 
at  .Jackson.  Miss.:  '4f  an  abolitionist  be  <-hosen  presidi'ut  of  tlio 
United  States  yon  will  have  i)resented  to  you  the  (piestion 
Avhetheryou  will  permit  the  overnment  to  i>ass  into  the  ''indsof 
your  avo\\«'d  and  implacable  enemies.  Without  i)ausiu};  for  an 
answer,  I  will  state  my  own  jxtsition  to  be  that  such  aicsult  would 
be  a  species  of  revolution  by  winch  the  i)urposes  of  the  j,fovein- 
ment  would  be  destroye<l,  and  the  observaiu'cs  of  its  mere  forms 
entitled  to  no  respect.  In  that  event,  in  su«'li  mainu>r  as  shoidd  be 
most  exi»edient,  1  should  de«'m  it  your  <lnty  tojnovide  for  yoi-r 
safety  ontside  of  the  Union."  Said  the  nnseriii»ulons  i»olitieian, 
AV.  ]j.  Yancy:  "The  remedy  of  the  south  is  in  a  dili};cnt  orjiani- 
zation  of  her  tru«'  men  for  prompt  resistanet;  to  the  next  ajijiies- 
.sion.  It  must  come  in  the  nature  of  thiiifis.  Xo  a<lditioiial  i)arty 
can  savi'us:  no  sectional  jiarty  can  everdoit.  I>utif  weeoulddo 
as  oiir  fathers  did,  oijianizecoiiDidtteesof  safety  all  over  the  cotton 
States,  and  it  is  only  by  these  that  we  can  ho\w  for  any  etlective 
movement.  We  shall  fire  the  southern  heart,  instruct  the  south- 
ern mind,  };ive  courage  to  each  and  at  the  proper  moment,  by  ono 
orjianized  concMted  action,  we  can  precipitate  the  cotton  States 
into  a  revolnti(Hi." 

While  the  political  horizon  was  assuming  this  alarndng  aspe«tt 
the  piesidential  contest  »d"  IStJO  gave  additional  intensity  to  sec- 
tional excitement.  The  su])porters  of  3Ir.  Breckenridge  evinced 
the  gri'atest  hostility  toward  the  republicans,  and  oi)enly  declared 
their  determination  never  to  submit  to  tlu: government  if  it  should 
pass  into  their  hands.  Formerly  similar  denunciations  and  threats 
caused  the  most  serious  alarm,  bnt  now  they  liad  become  so  com- 
mon that  in  the  fierce  storms  of  political  e\cit«'ment  that  swept 
over  the  country  tiny  were  little  regarded.  The  ]>rotracted  con- 
test at  length  terminated  in  the  election   of  Mr.  Lincoln.     It  was 


THE  WAU  OF  TRK  KKUKLMON. 


eviiU'iit  1(»  all  who  were  coiivorMaiit  with  tho  prtt^rcs.s  of  events 
thtit  the  Hiipiciiiiic.v  which  thu  tsouth  hud  so  Ion;;  iiiaiiitaincd  in 
tlu-  ;^<iv«Tnin*'iit  was  at  an  end.  Tiie  Nontlicrii  iiialcoiitcnts  iiiust 
now  *'itlit>r  Niiluiiit  t«>  irpuUlican  rule  or  put  in  piaclic*-  their  oll- 
lepeated  threat  todinsolve  tho  Union.  Tlie  latter  alternative  was 
eliosen. 

As  the  reHtilt  of  this  election  was  tlashed  over  the  telegraph 
wires,  it  was  hailed  as  a  pretext  lor  secession.  The  cities  of  tiie 
(iulf  States  were  nightly  illnniinat.'*],  and  jtreparations  icru 
iianiediately  coniineiiced  for  the  coming'  conlliet.  l;;Morin},'  tho 
moral  sense  of  mankind,  which  had  Ion;;'  since  condemned  slavciy, 
they  jtroposed  to  fonnd  a  inilion  rceo;;nizin;;  the  absolute  snpicin- 
jicy<»fthe  white  man  and  tho  perpetnal  l»onda;;e  of  tho  ne;;ro. 
lion;;'  accnstomed  to  the  exercise  of  arUilrary  power  over  the  body 
and  soul  of  the  bondman,  they  had  l(»st  all  syni|ialliy  for  free 
inslitnlions,  and  while  ostensibly  jnoitosing  to  establish  a  iepid»- 
lic,  their  nl(imat<' oi>jcct  was  donlitless  the  nitbnildin;;'  of  a  mon- 
archy. »Statcs  and  nations  when  snbjected  to  ;^r«'at  evils  which 
the  jioveinin;;' ]to>.v«'i"  refnses  to  rectify  have  the  ri;;lit  of  re\(»ln- 
tion,  bnt  th«'  al)ettors  of  the  present  moxement  had  no  snch  jnsti- 
tilicutiiHi.  The  dominant  party  had  come  into  jutwer  strictly 
within  the  pale  of  the  constitntion  and  law,  and  with  a  ])latform 
fully  reco;;iii/.in;^  the  ri;;ht of  each  Stale  to  mana;;t'  its  donicsti(5 
institutions  in  its  own  way.  It  is  true  the  ineomin;;  president  had 
i;iven  it  as  his  opinicni  that  the;;<»vernnM'nt  c.(»nld  not  remain  per- 
manently half  slaveand  half  free,  bnt  this  wasin  \  iew  of  the  fact 
that  nalnral  law  rendered  the  two  comlitions  wholly  incompati- 
ble, and  not  liecause  he  wished  to  nndie  tin'  (tivil  law  a  distnrbiii'jf 
ehMitent.  On  the  contrary,  he  had  said  in  a  speech  at  Cincinnati 
the  previ<Mis  year,  "I  now  assure?  yon  that  J  neither  had  nor  no\r 
have  any  purpose  in  any  way  of  interfering^  with  i!ie  institution 
of  slavery  where  it  exists.  I  believe  w«'  have  no  power  under  the 
eonstilntion  of  the  Tnited  States,  or  rather  under  the  fojin  of 
j^overnnu'Ut  under  which  we  live,  to  interfere  with  the  institution 
of  slavery  or  any  other  institution  of  our  sister  States." 

lint  independent  of  ;;rievances,  the  south  nniintained  that  tho 
several  Stales  on  entering;  the  rnion,  reserved  t(»  themselves  tho 
ri;;ht  to  secede  from  it  whenever  they  deenu'd  tlicii-  interest  ren- 
«lercd  it  exjiedient.  In  the  north  it  was  contended  that  the  power,  if 
not  expressed,  is  implied  in  thefundamental  law  of  all  ^iovernnnMits 
to  protect  ami  in<lelinitely  prolong;  their  existence  that  the  fraim-rs 
<»f  our  constitution  never  intemud  to  incorporate  in  it  any  pro- 
vision for  its  destruction  ;  that  its  checks  and  balam-es  for  pro- 
servin;;  harmony  in  thediU'erent  departments  of  ;;(>vernMient  were 
<lesi;;ne<l  to  make  it  ami;;hty  fabric  capable  of  resisting;;  the  nn>sb 
adverse  vicissitudes  of  coining;  tin»e;  that  the  doctrine  of  voluu- 
tary  secession  if  admitted  would  disintcirrate  all  existing;  ;;<>vein- 
nuMits,  and  reduce  society  to  a  ch;ios,  tlu'.t  nninkind,  wliethei-  in 
au  individnal  or  corporate  capacity,  must  therefore  submit  to 
just  restraint  iiionh'r  to  secure  the  benehcent  ends  contemplafed 
i»y  ^food  ;;overnment.  It  was  «'(nitended  nn)reover  the  States  of 
Louisiana.  Khn-idaand  Texascost  tln^  ;;en«'ral  ^iovernment  between 
$L:(M),(»00,()(»(»iind  !?:5(KK<>!m,0(m,  and  it  was  unreas(»nal)leto  suppose 
that  they  could  witiidraw  at  pleasn.re  after  the  obli;;ati(Ui  incur- 
red by  tho  o-vpenditiires  of  this  vast  sum   of  money,  tluirt  a  pri- 


726 


IIISTDUV   Ol'   ILLI.NDIS. 


iiiai'v  olijt'rt  III'  tlit'ii'  iirt|iiisitii)ii  nvms  to  ohtniii  miifrol  of  llir  Mis- 
uissippi,  iiiiil  III*'  |H'ii|ilc  ul'  llif  iioi  iliwt'.sl  <-oiilil  iifVrr  niii>fiit  llial 
it  .slioiiM  tlow  liiiiKlrnIs  of  iiiil"s  tliroii;;li  lorri;>ii  jiirisilictioii  iiiiil 
lliiis  I.I-  roiiipi'lli'il  to  siiluiiit  to  till-  iii'liitriii'v  iiiipositiiiii  of  iliitit-H 
ll|ioii  tli(-ir  (-oiiiiiii'iri-. 

W'lii-ii.  lio\vi>M>r.  till-  liiiiii'  liii:ill,\  i-iiiiK-  lor  roiiiiiiil  tin;:  IJii-  ovi-it 
iict  wiiii-li  slioiilil  ilisiiii-iiilii-r  till'  ;;r(-iil  i'i-|tiih!ir,  i-m-ii  iIh-  n-i-kli-ss 
coiispiialoi's,  who  liiiil  lor  vcai's  lii-riili-il  tin-  \Viiriiiii;;.H  ol'  stiitcs- 
iiii-ii,  mill  sti;:iiiiiti/ril  tliriii  :is  I'nioii  mi\4>I's.  tn-iiihlril  in  \  ii-vv  ot' 
till-  (-oii>i-i|lirii('c,s    \vlii(-|i     liilist     I'ollov. .      'I"li»'     p«-opli-    «'.spi-ri;ill\ , 

aiiioii;^'  \>|ioiii    tlii-rr  wiTc  Miiiiiy  loyalists,  lii-sitiitcd  to  «-iii«-i' ilii^ 
yaw  iiiii;;;   altvss.  wliusi-  dark   and  aii^^rv  di-pllis  tin-  ken  ol  lniiiiaii 
wi^ilotii  \>as  iiiiahli- lo  rallioin.     >Soiii«- of  tlii-ir  w  i.M-st  and  iiio.sl  pa 
triotic  U-adcrs,  till  lioriit*  down  Ity  Mm>  tide  of  revolution,  coiiliiui 
ally  ciidravori-d  to  avi-rt  tin-  iiiipi-iidiii;^  ralaniity. 

Said  A.  11.  Str|ili(-iis  in  tin-  (ii>or;;ia  conv riil ion  pciidiii;!:  Il>*' 
disnission  of  si-i-cssioii ;  '-'I'liis  sti-p  oiirt-  takrii  ran  n»-\«-r  i>i- it- 
callrd,  and  all  tlic  liali-liil  and  witlM-iin;;  i-oiisripii-iin-s  thai  will 
follow  niiist  rest  on  this  i-unvi-iitiun  foi-  all  i-omiii;;  liim-.  Wlu-n 
wi-  and  oiir  po.sti-rily  shall  si-i-  our  lovi>l\  land  di-suiali-il  h\  ilu* 
(k'liioii  of  war  w  hich  this  arl  of  yours  will  iiM-\  ital)l\  in\  il«>  ami  i-ali 
forth  ;  when  our  ^recii  licldsaiid  waving;  harvests  shall  be  troiitii  ii 
down  hy  a  iiiiirderoiis  soldieiy.  and  the  lieiy  car  of  war  swii-pin;; 
over  our  land,  our  teinples  of  jiistiee  laid  in  ashi-s,  all  the  Imrrors 
and  desolations  of  war  upon  us— who  hut  tiiis  (touvenlion  will  \h' 
held  responsilde  foi' it  ?  and  who  hut  him  who  shall  liave  ;;iveii 
his  vote  for  this  unwise  and  ill  timed  nn-asiiri' shall  he  lieiii  ii>  u 
striet  aeeount  by  this  suieidal  act  by  the  present  ^ieneralioii.  anil 
jirobably  t'lirsed  and  exeerated  by  posti-rity  for  all  lime,  for  I  he 
wide  and  desolating  I'uin  that  will  iii(-vital)ly  follow  this  at-t  u>\\ 
now  propose  to  perpelrate?" 

At  thiserilieal  period, pie^iiiant  with  the  uniiinnbered  woes  that 
jvftewiirds  befell  the  eomitry,  the  re]H'(-sentatives  of  Illinois  in 
eoiij^rt-ss  all  united  in  eoiidemiiinu  secession,  and  maintain;:  tlu^ 
ri;;lit  of  coercion.  Douulas,  in  his  last  spee«-h  before  thedistin- 
jiuished  body  of  whi(-h  he  was  ii  nieiulM'i',  remarked:  "JSir,  the 
word  ^iovernmeiif  means  coen-ioii.  There  i-an  be  no  ^joveiiiment 
'without  coercion.  Coercion  is  the  vital  jtriiiciple  upon  which  all 
yoveiumeiils  rest.  Withdraw  the  ri;;ht  of  i-oercion  ami  you  dis- 
solve your  ^iovernment.  If  every  man  would  do  his  duty  and 
resjiect  the  ri;;hls  of  his  iiei;;hbor  tlieie  would  be  no  necessity  for 
j;overnmeiit.  The  neci-ssity  ol  ;;overiiineiit  is  found  to  «-onsist  in 
the  fact  that  some  men  will  not  do  ri;;ht  unless  forced.  The  object 
of  all  <>()vernmiMit  is  to  coerce  and  compt-1  every  man  to  do  his 
(bity  who  would  not  otherwisi-  perform  it,  and  hence  I  do  not  sub- 
scribe to  this  doctrine  that  coercion  is  not  to  be  used  in  a  free 
{i'overnnient.  Jt  must  be  used  in  all  j;overnm;'nts,  no  matter  wiiat 
their  form  or  what  their  ]>riiicii>les.''  Mr, Trumbull,  his  <'ollea<iue, 
in  speakin;;' of  compromise  said,  iflliey  wanted  anythiii;;,  li-t  them 
go  back  to  the  ]\[issouri  compromise  and  stand  by  it.  All  ajireed 
that  con;;r«'ss  had  no  ri^^lit  to  interfere  w  itli  slavery  in  the  States  ; 
but  lie  would  never,  by  his  vote,  mak«^  one  shive,  and  the  ])eoplo 
of  the  ^jreat  Northwest  would  never  tronsent  by  their  act  to  estab- 
lish slavery  any  w  here.  Jle  did  not  believe  the  constitution  needed 
« 


TIIK   WAR  OK  TIIK  KKHKI.I-ION.  727 


utiH'iiiliM(r«  liiit  wttH  willing;  to  vote  u  rcconiiiifiHliii};  to  tii<>  Shitcs 
to  iiiiikc  a  pi'oposiil  to  rail  a  coiivt'iitioii  to  <>oiisi<lci' aiiM'iHliiK'iits. 

Dining  IIm>  iiitfiNa!  of  liiiu'lVoiii  tlic  rh>clioii  tot  Id-  iiian;;iii'atioii 
of    Mr.  iiiiicolii,  tlir  coiispiiatoi's  liiiiiifil  I'orwaitl  tlirii  iiiiliallow  t'll 
Mt'liciiu'.  'I'Ih!  .s«'v«'U  •'Xti'<'iih'  Soiitlicrii  Stal«'.s  a<t(i|)t(Ml  ortliiiaiircs  of 
sicrssioii,  cacii    (Icciariii;;'  it  liail   a^aiii    rt'siiint'd  its   placr  aiiioii<j^ 
till' iii(l*'pni(lciit  iial  ions  of  tli)>  world,  with   full  powrrs  to  tlt'ciaic 
war,  rslaltiisli  roiinii*-rc(>,  coiilrarl  alliaiict-s,  ami  prrfonn  all  otiicr 
acts  pcrtaiiiiiiu' to  iiidrpfialfiit  States.  In  order  tonn'«-l  the  I'varfnl 
responsiiiilities  tiius    inenrred,    tliev  iniinediately  sei/.ed  a   lar<;'e 
nnnilter  of  the  forts  and  aisenals  within  their  limits,  and  investe<l 
the  <»lliers  with  troops  to  enl'oree  their  snltmission.       in   nuiny  in 
.stances  those  in  coniinand  basely  betrayed    the  ;;oveinnient  that 
liad  edncated    and    ;;'iven    them    positions.     I)ele<;ates    from    the 
sevi'ral   lehellions    states  assembled    at    Monl;;(»meiy,    Alabama, 
and  or^^ani/ed  a  provisional   ju:overnment,  adopting;'  the  constitu- 
tion   of  the    II.  S.,    moditii'd    so  as   to  suit   ti'eason  and  slavery, 
and  ('lectin;;  .Fetferson    Davis  president,  and  Alexander  11.  Steph- 
ens vice  president.    I'lniiors  in  the  meantime  prevailed  that  armed 
r<>bels  were  abont  to  march  a;;ainst  the  national  ca])ita1,  and  (f(>n. 
8(M»tt  or;;anized   the   militia  of  the    District  of  Columbia,  placed 
re^^nlars  in  the  navy  yard,  and  ad<»]»ted  otiiei' preeaiitionary  meas- 
ures to  picvent  an  attack.     Vet    tin'   president,  while    admittin;; 
tluit  secession  was  treason   ami  revolution,  said  that  the  federal 
}i"oveniment   had    no  power  to  coerce   into  submission    rebellions 
States.     ICven  when    tin'    nation  was    crnmblin;;  into  fragments. 
and  an  ener;;etie  ellbrt   mi^iiit,  to  a  ;;reat  extent,  have  jirevented 
the  teniltle  oi'deal  of  blood  throii^iii  which  it  snbserpu'ntly  passed, 
he  i»l('aded  for  fnrlhei"  concessi»»ns  to  its  implacable  enemies.     Pa 
tri(»ts  all  over  the  land  had   keenly  felt  the  indi;;nities  and   insnlts 
so  deliantly   perpetiated   by  rebels,  whose   ai  ii  <;ance,   insteatl  of 
bein;:  severely  pnnished,  only  met  with  enconra^icment  under  the 
im!)ccile  rale  of  Ibichanan.     It  was,  theicfore,  with  no  little  anxi- 
ety and    impatience  that  all   KK)ked    forward  to  tluMucomin;;  ad- 
ministration,  hoping;  that  those   about  to   assume   the   reins  of 
jxovernment  would  have  the  wisdom  to  compr«'hend  the  situation 
of  the  country,  and  tli<^  couia^ic  to  i»unish    the  traitors  who  were 
iMideavorin^i'  to  ruin  it.     On  the  lltli  of  l"'ebruary.  IStil,  the  i>resi- 
<lent-elect  left  his  lionu'  in  Sprinnlield   preparatory  to  assume  the 
{i'rave  resiKtusibility   wh   'h    devolved  on  hiu)  as  ciiief  mayistiate 
of  the  nation    now  re?  '    with  ci\il    feuds  and  upon  the  excof  a 
bloody  war.     A  hn<i«'  number  of  his  old  friends  asseml)le(l   at  the 
depot  to  bid  him  farewell,  and  express  their  sympathy  in  view  of 
the  perilous  and  nuunentons  <luties  that  awaited  him.     Said  he: 

"My  friends,  no  one,  not  in  my  position,  can  appreciate  tlu'  sadness  T 
feel  attliis  parting.  To  tins  jjcople  I  owe  all  that  am.  Here'  I  have  lived 
more  than  aipiarterof  a  century,  liere  my  eliildren  were  l)orn,an(i  lure 
one  of  them  lies  buried.  I  Iviiow  not  iiow  soon  1  will  see  you  a^ain.  A 
duty  devolves  upon  me  wliieli  is  perlia))s  j^reater  tlian  tliat  wliieli  lias 
rested  upon  any  otlier  man  since  tliedayof  Waslnnglon.  Ih'  would 
never  liave  succeeded  exce))t  for  the  aiii  of  Jiivine  Providence,  on  wliich 
lie  at  all  times  relied.  I  feel  tliat  t  cannot  succeed  without  the  same 
divine  aid  whieli  sustained  Inm.  On  the  same  Almighty  Being  I  place 
my  reliance  for  sui)port,  and  I  liope  you,  my  triends,  wilTpra.N  that  1  may 
receive  that  divine  assistance,  without  wliii'li  I  cannot  succeed,  hut  with 
Mil icli success  is  certain.  Again  Ibi    you  allun  all'ectionate  farewell." 


728 


niSTOUY   OF   ILLI^'OIS. 


llitlicrto  ho  li;i(l  iiiiiintainod  a  (iiiiet  reserve  resijcetiiiji-  the 
luoiiit'iitoiis  crisis  in  iiatiouiil  atlairs,  but  now  as  he  Jomiieyed 
towiinl  tiic  <;apital  of  tiic  republic,  he  found  it  impossible  toUtuj^er 
reiuiiin  silent.  In  all  the  principal  cities  tliron>;h  which  he  passed 
vast  crowds  assembled  to  f^icet  him  and  listen  to  the  brict  speeches 
made  in  (ionneetion  wi'h  the  interc)iant;e  of  civiliti(^s.  In  these 
jiiiardcd  utterances  he  did  not  coni'iiit  himself  to  any  deliuite  lino 
of  policy  save  to  express  his  intention  to  leave  uninoleste<l  the 
institutions  of  the  disatt'ected  states,  his  devotion  to  the  Union 
and  his  desire  to  maintain  it  without  a  resort  to  arms.  The  vast 
extent  of  the  cons])iraey  was  not  yet  fully  understood,  and  he  in 
common  with  a  j;reat  many  others  still  hoped  lor  ii  peaceful  solu- 
tion of  thediftieulties.     At  (Jiiujinnati  he  said 

•'  Mr.  iMdi/or  and  Fel/<»r-ritizc>ts:  J  have  sjioken  l)ut  ouce  l)efore  this  in 
Cincinnitti.  That  was  a  year  previous  to  tlie  late  presidential  election. 
On  that  occasion,  inaplayful  nianiu""butwith  sincere  words,  laddrcssed 
mucli  of  wiiat  I  said  to  tlie  Keutuckiaiis.  I  jj;ave  my  opinion  tliat  we 
as  reoublicans  would  ultimately  beat  tliem  as  deniocrats,  l)ut  that  they 
could  postpone  tlie  result  lonjjer  by  nominating  yeiuitor  Douglas  for  the 
}/resi(iency  than  in  any  other  way.  Tlicy  did  not  in  any  true  sense  nom- 
inate Mr.  Douglas,  and  the  result  has  come  certainly  as  soon  as  ever  I 
expected.  I  told  them  how  I  expected  tliey  would  t>e  treated  after  they 
should  be  lieaten,  and  I  now  wisli  to  call  their  attention  to  vvliat  1  then 
said.  AVhei.  l>eaten  you  perhaj)s  will  want  to  know  what  we  will  do 
witli  you.  I  will  tell  you  so  far  as  I  am  authorized  t()s])eak  lor  the  opposi- 
tion. We  mean  to  treat  you  as  near  as  we  possibly  can  as  Waslungton, 
Jetferson  and  Madison  treated  you.  We  mean  to  leave  you  alone  and  in 
no  wa.y  interfere  with  your  institutions.  We  mean  to  recognize  and 
bear  in  ndnd  that  yon  have  as  good  hearts  in  your  l)osoms  as  other  pco- 
])le,  or  as  we  claim  to  have,  ami  treat  you  accordingly.  Fellow-citizens 
of  Kentucky,  brethren  may  I  call  you,  in  my  new  jjosition  1  sec  nooeca- 
sion  and  feel  no  inclination  to  retract  a  w'ord  from  tins.  If  it  shall 
not  be  made  good  l)e  assured  the  fault  shall  not  be  mine." 

Arriving  iu  New  York  he  said  :  . 

"In  my  devotion  to  the  Uidon  lam  liehind  no  man  in  the  nation,  but 
I  fear  too  great  confidence  may  have  been  placed  in  my  wisdom  to  i)re- 
serve  it  I  am  sure  I  bring  a  heart  devoted  to  the  work,  and  there  is 
nothing  that  could  ever  inihice  me  to  consent  willingly  to  the  destruction 
of  this  Union,  in  which  not  only  the  great  city  of  New  York,  l)ut  the 
whole  country  has  accpured  its  greatness,  unless  it  should  be  the  object 
for  which  the  Union  itself  was  made.  I  umlerstand  that  the  ship  was 
nuule  for  the  carrying  and  preservation  of  the  cargo,  and  so  long  as  the 
ship  is  safe  with  the  cargo  it  shall  not J)e  abandoned." 

Wliile  thus  speaking  to  large  assemblies  in  dilferent  (dties, 
rumors  reached  him  that  an  attempt  would  be  made  to  assassin- 
ate him  on  the  way  to  the  eai)ital,  or  if  he  reached  it  an  armed 
nu)l)  would  assemble  and  pieveiit  his  inauguration.  These  icports 
were  at  first  regarded  with  incredulity  but  when  he  reached 
IMiiladelphiii  he  was  warned  by  (Jen,  Scott  that  if  he  attempted 
to]>ass  through  IJaltimore  in  thcHlaytinu'  his  life  would  be  exjiosed 
to  imminent  danger.  Acting  on  the  advice  of  tlios'  who  knew 
the  extent  of  the  danger  and  the  vast  importance  of  his  reaching 
the  seat  of  government  in  safety,  he  left  his  fandiy  at  llarrisburg 
and  jn'oceeded  in  disguise!  on  the  nighttrain  to  Washiiigtcm.  Had 
it  been  known  that  such  malignity  existed  that  such  a  criinii  was 
meditated  against  the  life  of  him  whos(!  only  cause  of  ollense  con- 
sisted in  assuming  the  important  responsibilities  to  which  he  had 
been   constitutionally  called  by  a  majority   of  his  countrymen, 


THE   WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION.  729 


a  liiilf  a  inillioii  of  iiumi  would  liave  voliiiitccrcd  to  escort  liim 
tlii()ii<;li  tlic  rcht'llioiis  city.  I'licxju'ctcd  by  tlic  conspiiators  who 
linil  iiKiikcd  liiin  lor  their  l»i'cy,  iiiid  liis  Iriciids  wlio  were  iiiMkiiij^' 
]M<'ii;iratioii,s  lor  liis  rece|itit>ii,  he  iiirived  in  ^^';^slliIlJ;toll  on  tho 
inoiiiin.i;"  of  tlie  L'.'id  of  Febniiiry.  On  tlu^  4tii  of  .March  lu'  was 
in;ni.yur;ited  i>r<'.sideiit  of  tlie  ['nited  States  in  tlie  itreseiice  of  a 
Aiist  niidtilnde  wlio  had  iissenihled  to  witness  tlie  iniposinj;'  sj»c(v 
tilde.  His  iiiau^iiiiil  address  is  a  state  paper  of  more  than  ordi- 
nary ability,  and  whatever  may  have  been  the  suspcions  jirevi- 
oiisly  entertained  in  the  South  in  rej^ard  to  his  policy  after  this 
expicssion  (»f  his  views,  the  rebellion  was  wholly  without  ajiistili- 
able  pretext.  \\'liih'  the  most  amiile  assiuances  aic  ^ixcn  of  pio- 
tection  ill  the  Union,  lie  also  refers  to  his  obligations  to  maintain 
it,  and  his  determination  to  do  it.  Its  <;reat  leiijith  renders  it 
impracticaiile  to  rep<'at  it  ill  full,  but  the  following  passages  arc 
characteristic  of  its  spirit : 

"Api»relit'iisi()ns  Hoein  to  exist  amoiifi;  tlie  people  of  the  Southern 
Stales  that  liy  the  accession  of  a  repul)lican  adiuiuistratioiL  that  their 
property  and  their  peace  and  personal  security  are  to  he  eiidanj^eied. 
There  has  never  been  any  reasonable  cause  for  sueli  a))i)iehension. 
Indeed,  tlie  most  anij)le  evidence  to  the  contrary  has  all  the  while  ex- 
isted and  been  open  to  their  inspection.  It  is  found  in  nearly  all  the 
piil)lic  si)eeclies  of  him  who  now  addresses  you.  I  consider  that  in  view 
of  the  constitution  and  laws  the  Union  is  uiil)rokeu,  and  to  the  extent 
of  my  ai)ility  I  willtake  care  as  the  constitution  expressly  enjoins  ujion 
nie  tliat  the  laws  of  the  Union  l)e  faithfully  executed  in  all  the  States. 
Doinjf  this  I  deem  it  only  a  simple  duty  on  my  part,  and  I  shall  i)erforni 
il  so  far  us  practicable  unless  my  rightful  nnisters,  the  American  |ieoi)le, 
shall  witlihold  the  re(iuisite  means,  or  shall  in  some  other  authoritative 
niaiiiu'r  dii'e(!t  tlie  contrary.  ]'hysically  speakiiiff,  we  cannot  separate. 
We  cannot  move  the  re8i)ective  sections  from  each  other,  nor  build  an 
impa-ssjible  wall  between  them.  A  luisl)and  and  wife  may  be  divorced 
and  go  out  of  the  presence  and  beyond  the  reach  of  each  other,  but  the 
different  parts  of  our  eountrj' cannot  do  this.  Theycannot  but  remain 
face  t<)  face,  and  intercourse  either  amicable  or  hostile  must  contiue 
between  them.  Is  it  possible  then  to  make  that  intercourse  more  advan- 
tageous or  more  satisfactory  after  separation  than  before?  Uan  aliens 
make  treatise  more  easily  than  friends  can  make  laws  among  friends? 
SupiM)seyougo  to  war,  y<ai  cannot  tight  always,  and  when  after  much 
loss  on  both  sides,  and  no  gain  on  either,  you  cease  fighting  the  identical 
old  questions  are  upon  you.  In  your  hands,  my  dissatistied  fellow  coun- 
trymen, and  not  in  mine,  is  tiie  momentous  issue  of  civil  war.  The  gov- 
ernment will  not  as.sail  you.  You  can  have  no  conlliet  without  l)eiiig 
yourselves  the  aggressors.  You  liave  no  solemn  oath  registered  inlieaven 
to  destroy  the  goveriMnent,  while  I  shall  have  the  most  s  '^1:1  one  to 
preserve,  protect  and  defend  it.  I  am  loth  to  close.  We  are  not  enemies, 
but  friends.  W^e  must  not  lie  enemies.  Though  passion  may  ha',  e 
strained  it  must  not  break  our  bonds  of  atleetion.  The  mystic  chorda 
of  memory  stretching  from  every  battle  field  and  patrio't's  grave  to 
every  living  lieart  and  hearth-stone  all  over  this  broad  land  will  yet 
swell  the  chorusof  the  Union,  wlieu  again  touched,  as  surely  tliey  will 
be,  by  the  better  angels  of  our  nature." 

At  tlie  time  of  Mi".  Lincoln's  accession  to  power  several  nu  iii- 
bers  of  the  Union  claimed  that  they  had  witlnlrawn  from  it,  and 
styling  tliemselves  the  "Confederate  States  of  America,"  had 
orgaFiized  a  seiiarate  government.  The  reinaiiiing  slave  States 
were  convulsed  with  exciteineiit,  and  traitors  iakiiig  advantage 
of  the  magiianiinity  which  the  new  administration  would  fain 
liave  exentist'd,  with  fit'ndish  i'agerness  wi'i'c  endeavoring  to  pre- 
cipitate them  also  into  revolution.     The   confederate   authorities, 


730 


IllSTOllY    OV   ILLINOIS. 


('inl)()l(l('ii«'(l  In  tliis  (orhcaraiicc,  and  actiiiji' on  tlic  assnini>f  ion  of 
their  independence,  sent  eoniniissioners  to  Wasliin^ton  to  aniiealtly 
ananjic  all  ditlerenees  "•rowjii}'' out  of  their  .se[>aiatioii  from  the 
United  States,  They,  iiowever,  failed  toreeeive  any  i'eeo<;nifion, 
an  I  were  informed  by  'Sir.  Seward,  Secretary  of  State,  that  the 
action  of  their  Statt's  was  an  unJustiHable  and  niiconstitntional 
aii'uression  upon  the  authoiity  of  tiie  I'ecU'ral  jiovernment.  The 
convt'iition  of  Virginia  heiii<>-  in  session  at  the  time,  also  sent  eoin- 
missioners  to  ascertain  from  Mr.  I^incoln  the  jtolicy  he  intended 
to  i>ursue  in  re>;ard  to  the  ( -onfeiU'rate  States.  In  reply,  tiie  pres- 
iiU'ut  reatlirmed  the  opinion  i»re\ioiisly  expressed  in  his  inanuu- 
ral  that  he  woidd  repossess  tlu'  i)roi)erty  and  places  Itelonyini;  to 
the  I'ldted  States,  and  collect  the  duties  on  imports.  lie  like- 
wi  ^  informed  them  that  he  would  uot  needlessly  invade  any 
State,  yet  Avhen  sucheoiuluct  as  the  tirinji'  upon  Fort  Sumter  ren- 
(h'red  it  n<'cessary  he  would  rei)«'l  foice  by  fon^e. 

This  celebrated  fortress  was  situated  in  Charleston  harbor,  and 
just  ])rior  to  the  assault  had  been  occupied  by  Major  An(h'rsoii  as 
a  place  of  jiii'ater  strenj^th  and  security  than  Fort  Moultrie,  from 
M  Inch  lie  remoxcd.  >.'otwitlistandin<4'  tlu'  fact  that  South  Caro- 
liiui  was  in  oj>en  icvolt,  Mr.  Jhu-hanan  had  allowed  the  most  for- 
midable works  to  be  erect<'d  aioued  the  fort.  Had  jiermissiou 
l)een  planted  to^Majcti'  Anderson  with  his  heavy  artillery  lie  could 
ha\('  swept  the  adjacent  shores  and  thus  have  i»revented  tin"! 
l»reparations  which  he  (huly  witnessed  for  hisovertiirow.  As  tlie 
batteries  commanded  the  entrance  to  the  harbor  cut  olf  sujtplies 
from  the  s(>a,  and  the  hostile  shore  refuse<l  to  furnish  provisi(»ns,  an 
attack  for  the  rediu'tion  of  the  fort  was  wholly  unnecessary.  When, 
Iiowever,  the  ju'cparations  were  completed,  l>eaure<;ard,  who  luul 
desdted  the  tiaji  of  his  ccumtry,  liurriedly  optMU'd  fire  upon  it, 
as  if  fearful  that  starvation  mi<;ht,  by  jiivinj;'  him  i)ea(!('able  pos- 
session, frustrate  his  desire  for  an  oppoitiinity  to  inaugurate  civil 
war  l)v  a  bloody  assault.  After  a  furious  cannonade  of  ."54  hours 
the  fort  was  wrapi>ed  in  flames,  and  Major  Anderson  and  his 
small  band  of  heroes  were  forced  to  capitulate. 

Thus  had  been  struck  the  tirst  blow  of  the  <!onrtict  which  suni- 
luoned  vast  armies  into  the  flehl,  brouj>ht  State  into  collision  with 
State,  and  drenched  the  himl  in  fraternal  blood.  When  the  news 
of  the  bond)ardment  and  surrender  reached  the  Xortli,  the  whole 
country  rocked  with  excatement.  Lonfj:er  forbearance  was  now 
impossible,  and  I'resident  Liiutoln  immediately  issued  a  procla- 
mation callinj;'  for  7r),(KK)  volunteers.  The  prochinuition  stated 
that  combinations  existed  in  several  of  the  States  too]»owerful  to 
be  suppressed  by  ordinary  judicial  proceedings,  and  that  the 
force  to  be  raised  would  Iw  employe<l  to  re])ossess  the  projierty  of 
the  United  States  in  the  hands  of  the  insurjjents  and  enforce  the 
observance  of  law.  It  also  sumnu)ned  coiijuress  to  meet  on  the 
4tli  of  Jidy  to  institute  in  view  of  the  extraordinary  condition  of 
])ublic,  atfairs  such  measures  as  the  safety  of  the  nation  inij;ht 
demand. 

The  details  connected  with  raisin;;-  the  troops  having  been 
arianjicd  by  the  war  de])artment,  (lov.  Yates  was  infornu'd  that 
the  (|uota  of  Illinois  was  six  reginu'ids.  On  the  loth  of  Apiil,  the 
day  on  which  the  inielliyence  wascommunicated  by  Mi'.  (Jameron, 


THE   WAll  OF   THE  KKBELLION.  731 

tlic  sccicliiiy  ot"  war,  tlic  yovenior  issued  tlic  lollowiiiji'  pioclaiiui- 
tioii  : 

"I,  RicluiriJ  Yutea,  jijoveriior  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  by  virtue  of  tiie 
autliority  vesteii  in  nie  liy  tlie  constitution,  liori-hy  conveni'  tlie  leirisiu- 
tnre  oftiu'  State,  and  the  nieniliersofllie  ijiid  ;;eneral  assembly  ari'  lH'i"ei)y 
re(|Uired  to  lie  and  appear  in  their  respective  i)iaees  in  tlie  capital  on  'I'ues- 
(lay,  tlie  2,U\  day  of  April  A.  J).  l.S(il,  for  llie  purpose  of  enacting  such 
laws  and  adoptiiif^sucli  measures  as  may  be  deemed  necessary  upon  the 
folio\\in,iisul(jects:  Tlie  more  perfect  orfi,ani/,atioii  and  t'cjuipment  of 
the  militia  of  the  State  and  placing  the  same  on  the  l)est  footing  to  ren- 
der assistance  to  the  general  government  in  preserving  tlie  Union, 
enforcing  the  laws,  and  protecting  the  projierty  and  rights  of  the  jieo- 
jile;  also,  the  raisingof  such  money  and  other  means  as  may  be  required 
to  carry  out  the  foregoing  object,  and  also  to  provide  for  the  expense  of 
such  session." 

CJeiieial  orders  on*^'  ami  two  weie  issued  from  liead((uarters  at 
Spiinji'lield,  the  lirsteomniauded  disisiiUis,  l>iij>ades  and  li'^inu'Uts 
to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  tor  actual  service,  and  the  second 
providiu;;'  lor  tiu'  iinniediate  oryauization  of  six  rej^iments. 

Tiie  i>resident's  proclamation  at  the  Soutli  was  re<;ard«'d  as  a 
declaration  of  war.  and  l)a\is  issued  a  similar  one  eallin,u'  lor 
volunteers  and  .yrantin^'  letters  of  mar(|ue  lor  privateers  to  lU'ey 
on  imrtlu'rn  eonnnerce.  The 'shouts  of  approval  witii  which  it 
was  received  everywiiere  in  the  north  showed  tim  people  weie 
jireatly  in  advance  of  the  fioverniueiit  as  to  the  projiriety  of  usiujj 
military  forcie.  They  inid  louj^' writlu-d  undertlie  murderous  stabs 
thrust  by  traitors  at  the  vitals  of  tin;  nation,  ami  now  when  this  re- 
straint was  removed,  and  thetiiiu'  hadconu'forai^tiou,  tlierebouml 
of  popular  feelinji'  ami  indi,ymitiou  was  overwiu'lmin^i'.  Tiie  prai- 
I'ies,  liainlets  and  cities  of  Illinois  became  ablaze  with  excitement. 
Tulliits  tliiindered  with  anathemas  a<;aiust  tluM-iinu'  of  treason, 
secular  orators  s]>oke  e]o(pieutly  of  the  Haj;'  which,  as  the  symbol 
of  the  nation's  majesty,  had  lieeii  so  ruthlessly  insulted,  and 
newspaiiers  teemed  with  proclamations  and  jireparations  for  war. 
All  ayes,  sexes  and  conditions  as  if  moved  by  a  eommon  impulse 
jiartook  of  the  enthusiasm.  The  ajicd  ami  feeble  ayain  assumed 
lin^  burdens  of  civil  life  that  the  youiiy  and  vijiorous  mijilit  f^rap- 
jile  witli  the  sterner  duties  of  war;  the  wealthy  provided  for  the 
i'amilies  of  the  imligeiit  whose  natural  jirotectors  were  guarding 
the  life  of  tlie  nation.  Fair  woman  laid  the  incense  of  her  syin- 
jiathy  and  devotion  on  the  altar  of  her  country;  and  even  chil- 
dren, imbibiii};'  the  iiisjiiration,  converted  their  jilay  yioiinds  into 
i-aiiil)  and  parade  j;roumls,  and  miniature  drums  and  cannon 
became  the  common  toys  of  their  nmsery. 

A  similar  uprising  oc(uirre(l  in  all  the  hiyal  States  of  the  Union, 
and  men  ami  money,  the  sinews  of  war,  were  furnished  with  lav- 
ish ]»rofusion.  Witiiin  two  weeks  after  the  p.vesident  issued 
his  ])roclamation,  beside  a  large  surplus  of  rejected  applicants, 
there  were  a  Iminlred  thousand  men  preparing  for  active  ojiera- 
tions,  while  more  than  thirty  millions  of  ilollars  had  been  otl'cred 
by  private  individuals,  corporations,  tuul  legislatures  to  procure 
arms  and  iiiuuitious. 


ISOl-lHOl  — ILLINOIS  IN  TJIIO  UKUKLMON. 

Unpninetleiitrd    Hnc.cfHH    in    Fiuninhliiij    Mt n-l'uhiotic     KJJ'tnlH  of 
Wnnu.H — Millldri/  O/it'iolluiin    W'lllilii  llii;  SInh:. 


I'hiliHlnifnlH. — Almost  Kiiiiiilliiiicoii.il.v  willi  IIm-  <;iII  for  troops 
«'iili>liiM'iits  <:oiiiiiiciM-i"(l,  ;iinl  uilliin  ten  <lii\.s  1().(MK»  \olmilfcrH 
ojlrrcrl  si')\  ice,  iiiid  I  lie  Mini  of  iiciir  Jj  I  ,(MK», <»()(»  \\ii,>  IciKlcird  liy 
])iiti'ioti«;  citixctis  to  prordit-  siii^plirs,  for  wliii-ii  tlx;  tStiitc,  in  tiu^ 
t>inl(lfii  ('iiH'r;;<'ii<'V,  liiiil  imimIi-  iio  |(ro\i>ioii.  At  tin-  tiim-  tin; 
r<'<|ui-it  ion  u;i.s  iiijkIc  IIic  mililiUN  liiw  of  (lie  .Sliilc  wjis  ini)ni  fcf|, 
;in<i  in  iniinv  rcspi'ctts  in  coiiliifi  wnh  t  In-  ;<';4iiliil  ion.i  of  I  In-  \\;ii' 
(l<-|t:ii  I  ni<-nl,  while  p<-rli;(ps  not  nion-  tiiiin-'iO  niililiirv  <'onip:iiii*-s 
w  <•!■(■  to  Im-  foiMMJ  in  tl/c  en  tile  Sliitc  In  sonic  of  tin-  i;ii^cr  low  ns 
:in<l  cities,  Intwcscr,  there  were  :i  nnnihei'  of  w ell  ilnih'ti  com- 
piitiies  which  \  olnnteeii'd,  iind  proved  ;i  \  :ilii:il*le  iictpii.silion  in 
t  he  or;;;iniziitioii  of  the  i  in  nn-nse,  forces  Hiii».se(pientl.v  sent  lotln; 
ticld.  It  w  iis  e;irl\  I  lioM;;hl  th:it  (';iiro  \.'s  in  diiii;;er  of  sei/.iirc 
l»V  the  lehels,  ;ind  these  companies  formed  1  k*  IHK^Icms  of  I  he  force, 
liMrriedl\  yiilhered  :uid  sent  thitl.ier  for  its  defense.  On  tlie  llliii 
of  Apiii,  LSOI,  Simon  ('iimeron,  secret ;ir\  of  w;u',  telei^riiplied  <io\ . 
lilies  to  liike  )»osses>ion  of  this  import;int  stnileiiic  point  iis 
so(Hi  ;is  ii  foi<'e,  itonid  he  raised  for  that  pnrjtosc.  The  j^ovcrnor 
foilhwilh  sent,  a  dispatch  to  (Jen.  Swill,  of  (!hica}<o,  to  raise  and 
e(piip  as  lar;;e,  a  ixuly  of  men  as  jtossilth-  foi'  immeiliate  sei\  ir-c, 
:iiid  sent  a  messeii;;er  Itv  rail  with  fall  insti'Mctions  foi  the  oeeiipa- 
tion  of  (lairo.  With  c(»nimcndalil<'  pi<»mi»tness  this  ollit^ei',  on  IIk; 
lilst  (d'  tli<^  month,  ;^ot.  on  hoard  the  sonlhern  honnd  tiaijn  of  the 
(Central  lailroati  with  four  pieces  of  cann<ni  and  the  foliowin;^ 
<'ompanies:  ("oinpan,\  A,  ('hica;;o  /onaxes,  r;iplain  I  la,\den,  .S!l 
men  ;  (Company  l{,  (!lijcau<»  /onaves,  (.'aptain  (;i\l»onrne,  K.i  men  ; 
Chica;:!)  liiylM  Art  illerv,  < 'aptain  Smith,  lot)  men;  ('aptain  Hard- 
iny's  compaiiv,  HO  men;  'riiinei's  Cnion  Cadets,  {»7  men;  and 
iiincoln  iJilles,  Taptain  .Miiiaiol/.v,  f»«i  men.  These  \\(-u-  followed, 
onlheL!Ud,  hv  Captain  I lon;jhlellin;:\  Myld  Artillery,  of  Ottawa, 
Hli  men  ;  Cajdain  Haw  lin;.;'-  l/i;,dil  Ai  lillers ,  of  Lockpoit,  and  (^aj*- 
t<nn  .McAlisler's  liij^ht  Aililleiy,  of  I'lainlield. 

Of  llie  voiiinte«'is  whooireied  their  services  niider  tiie  call  of  the 
{Governor  only  0  rejiinn-nts  conhl  l»e  accepted  under  the  (|iiota  of 
tiie  Slate,  'i'hcse,  in  accfadaiice  with  an  act  of  ihe  le;^!  ial  inc. 
whicji  met  on  the  li.'M.  were  de>i;;iialcd  l»y  the  nMml»ei>  commen- 
cing; with  7  and  ending  with  ll'.  a.s  a  mark  of  respect  for  the  <! 
re^^imenls  whicJi  had  served  in  the  Mexican  war.    The  entire  foicc 

7^2 


'I  III;  \\  ,\\i  oi'  riii;  i;i;iii;i,i,I(>n. 


TMi 


WHS  mIvIciI  llii'  l,st  iJiitiiKlc  (»r  llliiioi.s  NoliiiilfcrN,    'I'lm  n'tiiiliilioiirt 
urilif  \\;ir  tlrj);ii  liiiciil  rr(|iiii((|  ciirli  rc;:iin(lit   to  foii.si.sl  oT  I  r<»lo 
lifi,  I  li<-iilrii:iiit  coloiK-l,  I  iiiiijoi',  I  iiiijiitiiiil,  i  rc;:iitt<-iil:il  (|ii:ii'l<-r 
llliislcr,  I     HillJifdii,   I     siir;fci)ir.s    iniiti-.  I    .scf;4c;iiit  liiiijor,  I    iliiilii 
iiiiijoi.,    I    lil'i'  iiiiiJoi'.    10    <':i|>l:iiiis,    ID    lit-iili-iiiiiil.s,    10    i'ii>i;iiih,    10 
•  IniliiiiHTs,   10  lilci-,   10  roriMiiiils.   10   .sfr;;ciilit  s   :iii<l    0 10  jiii  \  iiti-s. 
'i'liiis  or}iiiiii/.<-)|  ;i  i'<-^iiiii-iil  iiiiiiilx't'fil  T'SO  iiii'ii,  r;iiil<  iiinl  til)',  iiikI 
t  In- fill  ii<-  iiii^iHJi-  l.dSO.      ( icii.  I'rciili.-»,s    wiis   pliui-d  in  fiimiii;iii<l, 
iiml    jiioci-cdiii;^    to    (';iiiu  willi    lln'  liir;^i'i'  |i;iil  oj'   tin-  ioicf.  In-  n- 
lif\  <•<!  <  iiii.  Su  ill.     TIk-  coimiiiiiMliii;,'^  kIVhmt  of  <;icIi  n  ;jiiii(iil.  I  In- 
r;ill  iiiii|i-i'  w  liif'li  il,  was   ()|-;;aiiizril,  I  lie  linii'  a  lid  |ila<-f  it  \\;i^  iniih 
tcifd    into  .'CIV  ice,  and    tin-    a;:;:ir;:al<-   st  iiMi;:t  li  an-  ;;i\<-ii  in    \\\i: 
Milijoind  .sclii-dnlf,  taken  IVoiri  tiic  i<-|.'»il  oltlif   adjutant    ^^t-iHMal. 
'1  In-rc  was  a  laf;^c  siir|»liis  of   men    in    raniji,  and  .-^iirli  was  liic  |»a 
1i  iol  jc  di'siic  Id  cntfi'   tln' Kf)\  icf,  lliat,  /naii,\   of  l.licin    wi-jd  wlicii 
icriiscd  adiiii-^ion. 

'I'lii'  N-;;islal  lire,  antici|)at  iiij^  aiiollici'  call  lor  troops,  uiit  Inn  i/iii 
IIh'  I'onnalion  of  10  additional  if^^itncnls  oriiiranti'\,  I  of  <-a\aliy, 
and  a  lialtalion  (daft  ilicrv .  Tiic  law  |iio\iilf(|  that  oin-  H';;iiMi-iil, 
should  Id-  riiinidn'il  l»>  ca)-,!!  conj^n-.s.sional  di^ti  i(-t,  and  oin-  li,\  tliti 
tStalc  at  lar;i<-.  Over  liOO  coin)  (allies  iiMincdiat(-l.\  \  olnnh-iicd,  and 
I'loin  this  laryc  nnnilicr  tlic,  i*-<jiiirc<|  loicc  was  selected  and  oi- 
deied  into  cainj).  The  jicl,  ciealin;;  the  lej^inieids  had  liaidly 
passed  the  le<<;isl;ilnre.  he-Core  the  |)iesideiit,  IhsikmI  a  call  lo)'  rj,000 
volunteers  to  serve  (or  three  years  unless  sooner dischar^M-d.  'I'Ik; 
(jiiota  of  Illinois  iui<ler  this  call  was  only  <i  r(  /iineids,  aii<l  :i  iiieK- 
Keii;,''er  was  sent,  lo  \\'asliin;,'toii  to  \n<^i-  upon  tlie  war- de|(artineii(, 
Hie  iiii)iorfaiic.e,  ol"  a(;ceptiii;r  the  entire  force  or^uiii/.ed  l»y  tin; 
Stale.  It  was  helieved  Ihal.  more  men  would  he  needed,  and  jih 
they  were  already  in  camp,  and  had  made  coiisideralde  piolicieney 
in  <irill,  to  disband  tiiem  would  cause  distiiisl  in  the  wisdom  of  Ihe, 
j^ovcnimeiif.     As   Die    result,  of  pcrsisleiit    importunity   the    j'oiir 


HcilKlin.K — Hhiiwinn  Hlatrinmt.  iif  mlimteer  Uuirpii  iiriiitnizril  within  the  SluU,  antl  nfiit  to  Ihe  flflil, 

c.iiiiiiiii'iiiiitii  April,  Xfi'A  anil miliiiii  llniinhir'M.  If-firi,  nill,  iiiiiiilirrnf  nfiiini'nt,  nniiieiifnriiiiiinl 
vi/initniii'luui  ulllfff,  fuiii  iiiiili'r  nhi'-li  rt'mnli-il  tinU  f,rifiini/i-'l  tluli-  i,f  imfniti/alntn  inul  niUHlitt 
into  1,'niffd  iSlah;tf    tinrvU'f,  jUwr  uj  /nititlfr,  nnfJ  thr  i.-f/ijtfi/ati^  Mtfunf/fh  itj  ttimh  ttr[jaiiuiittitn. 

INKANTKV. 


No. 


Cninmiiii<llii|{   ri()lr<;r  at '.'itll    iinrtpr   wlilcli    rn-  I)al<- ufiiiKiiii- 
oi';{;iiil/.:itl<iii.  <  I  iiiti;<l  iiliii  i<i;{itlil/.i:il.     i/iilimi      uiiil 

liiiinliti     liiUi 
i;.  K.  »(!rvii:<! 


7 

Col 

f. 

' ' 

II 

10 

V<    " 

VI    " 

i;r  •• 

U     " 

ir.     ' 

l«    ■' 

17     " 

IK      " 

lit      " 

a,   .. 

tti    " 

IH     " 

K)     •■ 

IM     " 

an 

' ' 

.foil  II  Cook 

Kii  It'll  .I.OkIi'nIiv 
Kl«-it/..i  A.    I'liliMi 
•lux.  I).  Moi'iruii 
W.  il.  I-.  WhIUi;.! 
.loliii  .Mi:Ailiiiir 
.liiliii  It.   WyiiiHii 
.loliii  M.    J'ttliiii'i- 
'IIh'H.  .).    'I'lil'lM^r 
Jli.li  I  !'■    .Siiiltli     . 

I. ('Oil  till     I'"     Il'lHH    - 

Mill.  I  K.   I.awlfi' 

.lollll     ii.   'llll<l>',l. 

OliaH.C.  Iklurnli   . 
riyitw!*  H.  (ti'uiit. 
Jl-nrv  l)oiiulii!ily, 

■Inn.  A  Mllflii^HII  I 
Kri-il'k  Hi-.:k<r. .  | 
Win.  N.  Color 


Au|{.  Il,  1H4I. 


May  \r,,  \mi. 


May  15,  IHfll. 


May  15,  IWI. 


July  'A   IWll 


May  !i4,  I  HOI 
May  «.'>,  iwn 
May  'H,  Mii 


IMnr.fi  whcrn  mnh  '  g --^J 
Imi'il  into  I  II  >■  ^-^  » 
I'liitiiil  Ktatnn  iii'i  "  ^  T 
vl.:i,.  a. 'IX 

■  n  V 


Cairo,  IlliiioU. 


May  !M,  IHfil 


1)1X011 

.lai:kHOiivtlln. 

l''ri'i!|iort 

Cjoliii:y 


Anna . 


A  iitliipi l/.i'il  hy   the  K«i: 
of  War,  July,  I  no  I   . 


Jniii^ 
Jiitii' 
'Jiitii- 
Jtini- 
July 


•I- 


i:i,  iftii  .f.ili.-t   ... 

I.'.,    |wa   .Mat loon  .. 

'£,.    1H,I    |il:Ul!vlll«  . 

II,    Iffil  ChicaKo. . . 
>!,    l««l.|CljlcttKO... 


1747 
UIS3 
liMS 
17.'i9 
i:(K4 

itn.'s 
ni'4 

stoaH 

I  KM 

vea 
ao4:i 

1U».'} 

imn 

1906 
IIM 
\Wi 
980 
lOtRi 


lU 


II18T011Y   OF    ILLINOIS. 


rcmiiiiiiiif;  li'fiiiMoiitH  were  iicccptcd,  aiid  tlic  ciitire  ibire  was  inus- 
ten'<l  intosi'ivice,  as  shown  in  tin'  scliciliiK'. 

Owinji' to  till' ^rcat  j'xpcnsc  coMiU'ctcd  witli  tlic  iMinipnicnt  of 
cavalry  and  tilt'  opposition  ol'  (icii.  Scott  to  tlic  eiiiplox  iiiciit  of 
any  considcinlilt'  loicc  of  tliis  mim  of  tlic  scin  ice,  tlic  jidvciiior 
a('<M'pt»'d  only  ."»  coiiipanii's  but  (li'sij;iiat('d  the  rcinainiii.n  "»,  w  liicli 
jslioiild  he  i('(!('iv('d  in  case  tlic  {governor  slioidd  need  tlieiii.  TIk^ 
battalion  of  artillery  aiitlioii/cd  l»y  the  l«'j;islatiii'e  was  iicxcr  or- 
f^faiiizcd  as  coiitciiiplatcd  in  the  law,  yet  several  coiiipanies,  some 
of  which  were  in  (ieii.  Swift's  expedititni,  were  received  into  tlic 
service,  as  per  schedule. 

The  more  than  kiiijihtly  ardor  with  which  the  yoiinj;'  men  of  tli(i 
State  at  first  exhibiteil  \>as  still  unabated,  and  several  thousand 
beinji'  denied  the  i»rivile<:'e  of  serviiiy'  in  rejiimcnts  of  their  own 
State,  went  abroad  and  enlisted  in  the   Ibices  of  other  States. 

In  view  of  the  alariiiinu  aspect  of  the  iebclli<»n.  the  secretary 
«>f  wai',  in  .May,  .Iiiiie  and  .Inly,  ISIIl,  ant horized  some  17  ie;ii- 
nieiits  of  infantry  and  .">  of  cavalry.  These  re;.;iineiits  w«'re 
siicedily  filled  up,  and  in  answer  to  an  application  tor  fnriiishinj;' 
additional  ibrces,  the  secretary  of  war  replied  that  no  more  troops 
would  be  received  till  authorized  byeoiifiress.  Ooiijiiess  convened 
.Inly  4tli,  and  coiisetpient  upon  the  iiatlles  of  liidl  K'nn  and 
\N'iIsoirs  t'reek  with  the  national  <  ipital  imiierilled  and  I'"ieiiioiit's 
force  thieateiied  by  superior  niimliers,  empowered  the  president  to 
call  into  the  service  ."»(HI.(»(IO  volunteers;  l.'J  reiiiments  of  infan- 
try, ;J  of  cavalry,  as  a  itait  of  the  (piota  of  the  State  under  the  call 
were  forthwith  tendered;  the  peo|ile  impatient  at  the  slow  jirojiress 
of  the  war,  would  ha\t'  increased  this  force  by  thousands  had  they 
been  permitted.  From  ilie  14tli  of  August  till  the.'Jd  of  December,  it 
was  a;4reed  to  accept  all  the  infantry  wlii(di  should  be  williii!;'  to 
enter  the  service.  As  the  result,  If  re>;iiiients  of  infantiy,  4  ot 
cavalry,  and  8  compaiile.s  for  the  lid  ref;inient  of  artillery  voltin- 


'.Hi  Col 

37 

88 

89 

30 

.31 

3'i 

•Xi 

34 

35 

36 

37 

38 

39 

40 

41 

42 

43 

44 

45 

46 

47 

4H 

49 

50 

51 

58 

53 

54 

.55 

56 

57 

58 

•SH 

60 

Hovcy.  1 
X.  Kirk 

, Smith..  ^ 

Nidi,   (irmisol. 
Julius  Wliitii. . .  J 


Jdliii  M.  Ldoiins. 
Nap.  I{.  Uiit'ciril.. 
A.  K.  iToliiisiiii... 
Jas.  S.  Ufardmi.. 
I'liilij)  li.  jMmke. 
.Icilm  A.  Li)j;au. .. 

ildliii  L(ij;aii 

Clias.  E   Hoycy 

KcUvaid 

(>ii8.  A.  Smith. . 

N 

J 

Will.  P.  Carlin. 

Austin  Lijiliti... 

Stt-pli.  (>.  Hick8. 

Imiiic  ('.    I'li-fh.. 

Wni.  A.  Webb.. 

.Julius  Raitli 

(.'bun.  Xiililt'sdiirff  ^ 
.lohn  K.  Smith. .  3 

tlohii  A.  Davis 

.Tobu  HiyiHT 

iHhaiu  N.  Ilayiii*) 
Will.  K.  Miin'imiu. 
MiiHpg  M.  Ham-. .. 
(J.  W.  ('iiiiiniiujf. . 
Isaac  <).  Wilsdii.. 
W.lI.W.Ciisliniaii 
'Pliiis.  W.  Manis  .. 
David  Stuait  ... 
HiibiM't  Kirkbaiii 
Silas  I),  lialdwiii  , 
Will.    V.  LviM'li . . . 
I'.  Sidiii  y  i'ost  . . . 
SiliiBC.  'filler 


Julys.'),  ICOl. 
julv  25,'  "I'sei. 


Authorized  by  the  See- 
n^tary  of  War,  in 
Hay,  June  and  July, 
ISiii '.. 


July  25,  1861 

Author  zed  by  the  Se.f- 
retary  of  War,  in 
Slav,  June  and  July, 
18(ii 

Jiily-r),  1861 

Autlicirized.  Sec,  War, 
May.  June,  July,  1861 

July  2.'),   l.-Til 

Sec.  War,  July,  1861... 

July  '25,  1861 


Oct.  31,   1861.|Caniii  Jiiitler. 


Aiij:.  3, 
J  Illy  27, 

Sept.  30, 
Sept.  8, 
Dec.  31, 
Aiiji,  1.'), 
Sept.  7, 


1861. 

1861. 

1801. 

1861 

1861 

1861. 

1861. 


Camp 
Cani]> 
Camp 
Caiii]! 
(,'aiiip 
Cam|> 
Camp 


Uutler. 
Butler, 
lliitler. 
Uiitler. 
Htitler. 
Jbitler. 
Butler. 


Autho! 'zed  Sept.  '20,  '61 
Authorized  July  1,  '61 
.AiitlKiiized  Sept.  I(i.  'til 
Aulbcpiized  Oct.  3,  'til 
A  ulliiirized  .ruly,  1861 
Aiithiiiized  All};.  14.  '61 

Authorized  Seiit.  '25,  '61 

Julv  2.-),   ntil    

Authorized    Oct.    3.  '31 


Sept.  23,  1861 
Sept.  18,  1861 
Aug.  15, 
Decemb. 
A  UK.  10, 
All};.  9, 
Sept.  17, 
Dec.    Id, 

13, 

26, 

28, 

1, 

18, 

31, 

1'.', 


1861 
1861 
1861 
1861 
1861 
1861 
1861 
1861 
1861 
1861 
1861 
1861 
1861 
Dec '61  Feb''i2 
Xov.  19,  1861 
March  1862 
Fell.  18,  1862 
Oct.  31, 
Feb.  27. 
Dec.  86, 
Dec.   21, 

AllgUHt, 

Feb.   17, 


Sept. 

Dec. 

Dec 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Dec. 

Sept. 


1  Aurora 

iChicajio 

!Camp  Butler. 

Chicago 

Salem 

Decatur 

iChicRgo 

(/'amp  Butler. 

1  Chicago 

(ialeiia. 


Caniji  Butler. 
I'eoria 


IWil 
1862 
1861 
1861 
1H6I 
1862 


(Jamp  Butler. .. 
(.'amp  Butlar. .. 

IJiiiiicv 

Camp  Douglas. 

(ieneva 

Ottawa 

Anna 

(Jaiii]i  Douglas. 
Shawucetowii.. 
('amp  Douglas. 
Camp  Douglas. 
St.  Louis,  Mo.. 
Anna 


1603 
1193 
1939 
1.^47 

1878 
1973 

nil 

1660 
lii.'iS 
1018 
1593 
1157 
1388 
1807 
1277 
1811 
1824 
1903 
1513 
1716 
S0I5 
'2051 
1874 
1488 
1761 
15.50 
1519 
1434 
1720 
1'287 
1180 
17.54 
2'202 
1762 
1647 


TlIK   WAR  or  TlIK  UEKKLI-ION. 


735 


teerod  and  were  iicccptcd.  On  tlif  ."xl  of  Dccciiihcr  an  ordci'  was 
l)i«»inMl;^at('(l  w  liifli  si(i|»|»t'd  all  riirtlicr  rcrniitini;,  cxcciit  lor  tlu? 
c()ni|ilcli(Mi  of  (Miiiipanifs  alit'adv  in  process  ot'  rorniation.  With 
tilt'  fnlistniont  of  over  4,(l()()  lor  this  piirpost'duiiny-  tlic  remainder 
of  the  Mionlh,  the  record  of  tlie\ear  was  completed.  Despite  Iho 
rehiitfs  and  op[»osilion  freqiuMitly  nninilesled  l»_v  the  war  depart- 
ment, the  States  at  the  dose  of  the  year  inid  in  camps  of  instruc- 
tion o\cr  I7,(MK)  men,  had  sent  to  the  Held  neaily  ."iiKOOO,  ami  con- 
ise(|Menlly  had  exceeded  hei' qnolas  abont  1"), ()()(». 

On  I  lie  I'd  of  Apiil,  ISlJl',  all  the  corps  authorized  previons  to 
Decemlier,  were  full  and  the  ollicers  who  had  been  delached  for 
rccrnitiiij;  purposes  were  ordered  to  rejoin  their  re;L;iiiients.  ,'Many 
of  the  old  rt'.uimenfs.  however,  as  the  residt  of  disease  and  recent 
battles,  had  been  reduced  lielow  the  proper  standard,  and  recriiit- 
iua  was  still  (•(iiitinin'd  foi'tiic  purpose  ol'  icpleiiisliin^  liiem  with 
their  complement  of  men.  JOaily  in  .May  Wasliiiijilon  was  thieat- 
oiied  by  a  lar;;e  force  of  tiie  enemy,  and  .Mr.  Stanton,  secretaiy  of 
Avar,  telegraphed  (lovernor  Yates  on  the  iMlh  instant,  for  inoro 
troojts  and  several  rejiimeiits  of  infantry  and  cavalry  were  lilh'd 
ii|>  and  sent  to  the  Held. 

On  the  «ith  of  -Inly,  1S(;l>,  the  president  issued  a  call  for  ;;()(»,00() 
V(diintecrs  to  serve  for  M  yt^ars,  and  on  the  Tlh  of  .\u;iust  another 
call  for  ."iOO.OOO  militia,  to  serve  for  a  peiiod  of  nine  moiitlis.  Tlui 
secretary,  believiiij;'  that  ,i  draft  would  be  necessaiT.  oidered 
tilt*  enrollment  of  the  militia  that  it  mij^ht  take  eUcct  on  the  l.Stli 
of  Aniiiist  if  the  tjut)ta  under  tin?  first  call  was  nt)t  c,t)mi)leled  by 
that  time,  'I'liis  vij^orous  tletermination  ttn  the  part  t)f  llui  jiov- 
(.'ruinent  was  hailed  with  demonstratituis  tif  a[)i»rt)val  by  the  pi'ople 
of  the  State,  and  everywhere  i»reparations  were  eommencetl  to 
make  a  res))onsect)minensurate  with  tiie  ma<;nitutU}  of  the  iftjuisi- 
tion.  The  atljutant-ytMieials'  oilice  was  at  once  thron<>etl  by  mes- 
senyer.s  from  every  part  of  the  State,  demanding  for  their  several 


61 1 

Col 

62 

' ' 

63 

' ' 

64 

T-t. 

6r> 

Oil 

6t> 

' ' 

67 

' ' 

68 

' ' 

60 

1 1 

70 

t  < 

71 

' ' 

72 

1 1 

73 

1 1 

74 

1  4 

75 

'  ' 

7« 

'   ' 

78 

.. 

79 

'  ' 

80 

1  t 

81 

'  ' 

8-J 

1  1 

h;i 

'  ' 

84 

'   ' 

8.-. 

'   ' 

8C 

'  ' 

87 

'  ' 

8H 

'    ' 

8!) 

'  ' 

90 

1  t 

91 

'  ' 

92 

'  ' 

93 

t  1 

04 

'  ' 

.  Jiicol)  Fry 

Jhiiu's  M.  Triio. .. 

KianciM  Miira  . .  . 
CI.  D.I).  Williamsi 
.  Dunipl  C'iiiiit'Miii  . . 

I'atiick  K.  Burke 

KoHfll  M.  Iloiiffh  . 

EliaN  .Stuart 

JoH.  II.  Tii'rkiT... 

t).  T.  IJcevcs 

OtliiiicI  Gilbert  . . 

Kri'il'k  .\.  Starring 

Jn.s.  F.  Ja(iufHH  .. 

Jawiii  MarMli 

CitMirtfu   U.van 

Alimzci  AV'.  Muck.. 

David  I'.  tJricr.  ,  . 

\Y.  II.    lieiiniHon. . 

L.vmaii   (iuiniiip. . 

TJKIH.  ti.  AIll'II 

Ja.H.  J.  DiiIIiiiM 

Krcclcrick  llnckcv. 
Abticr  (,'.  Ilardiiij;. 
I.oiiiH  H  Wtttors. 
Kobt'rt  S.  Mooro.. 

Daviil  I).  Irons 

John  E.   Whiting. 

F.  'r.  Shcrnuin 

John  Chr(8toph(M'. 
Timothy  O'Mera 
llinry  .Si.  Day.... 
Smith  I),  .\tklu8.. 
Uoliltin  I'utnam. . . 
Wm.  W.  Ormo.... 


Authori/.iMl  Aiij;-  H,  '61   March  7,  1862 
.Vuthorizcil   Oct    3,  '61  .Vpril  10,   Istia 

Authorizpil  Aug.  14,  CI  Dtc.  31,  1862 
!lay  15,  1862 
Tnuisf'd  from  Mo.  14th  .,i|)ril,  1862  .. 

May  25,  1862 J  uno  l.'t,    lHfi2 

Juno  20,  1862 

"  lune  14,   lpl)2 

"  ..uly    4,     1862 

July    26,   1862 

July,  1862 jAug.  21,  1862 


Sept.  4, 

1862 

Sept.  2, 

1862 

Aug.  22, 

18(i2 

♦Sept.  2  9  ciKs. 

Sept.    1, 

Ir(i2 

Aug.  28, 

1862 

Aug.   25, 

1862 

Aug.  2(i, 

1862 

Aug.  21, 
Sept.    1, 


1862 
186v 


I  Aug.    27,  1862 

Sept.  22,  1862 
Au;r.  27,  1862 
*Aiin.25,9coH 
Nov.  -22,  1862 
Sejit.  8,  18(i2 
Sr|it.  4.  1862 
Oct.  13,  1862 
Aug.  20,  1862 


CarroUton 

'Anna 

1  Anna 

Camp  Butler 

(.'amp  Dougla.s 

;St.  I.ouis,  Mo 

Camp  Dougla.s 

Camp  IJutler  

('amp  Douglas 

(^amp  Butler 

(."nni|)  Douglas 

('amp  Douglas 

it 'amp  Butler 

iHockford 

[Dixon 

Kankakee 

I'eoria 

(jtuincy 

I  Danville 

.Ceutrulia 

I  Anna 

jCanip  Butler 

'  Monmouth 

Quincy 

Peoi'ltt" 

Peoria 

Shawneetown 

(^nmi)  Dmiglas 

Camp  Oougliis 

Camp  Douglas 

(amp  Butler 

Kockford  . ., 

I'rinc'tn  &  Chicago. 

Blouwiugtou 


1385 

1730 

1228 

1624 

1684 

1694 

!)-9 

889 

912 

1006 

940 

1471 

968 

989 

987 

1110 

1051 

1028 

974 

928 

1187 

961 

1286 

956 

9.59 

993 

994 

907 

1285 

95» 

1041 

1265 

1036 

1091 


7.1(5 


niSTOUV   OF   ILIJNOIS. 


counties  tin'  piiviU'se  <>t'  vnliiiitccrin*;',  iiiid  tlicrcby  sccmiiif; 
exPiiiptitMi  from  the  dnift.  Tliis  prercrcncc  for  volmitccrin;:,  iiiid 
iin  iir.U('iit  i'c<|ii('st  tli:it  llic  <|iiot;i  of  tlic  Slate  iiiidei'  Itotli  eidls 
iiiijilit  he  iiiiiiiediiitely  ascciliiiiicd.  was  made  known  lo  tlieseci*'- 
tnry  of  war.  Infoiiiiatioii  was  duly  received  that  tiie  entire  num- 
ber was  ."»L*,2!)(I,  and  volunteers  would  l»e  aeeepted  till  the  l.">tli  of 
Au;i'ust  for  forminji' new  rf;^iments.  and  after  that  for.  lillini;  old 
ones  already  in  the  field.  The  State  had  now  furnished  U».!»7S  in 
excess  of  previous  (piotas.  and  it  was  at  liist  intended  that  this 
siiri)lus  should  he  dediH'ted  from  the  ])rescnt  I'cipiisition.  This, 
however,  was  afterwards  countei  inaiided  and  it  was  therefore, 
iu'ce«sary  to  raise  the  eiitiic  nundier  in  !.'>  days  or  submit  to  the 
{ilteniative  of  a  draft.  The  r<'sult  is  tiius  elocpiontly  yiveii  in  the 
h>iijiua<ie  of  AdJutant-(Jen.  Fuller: 

"  Tlit'sc  new  volunteiM'M  must  come,  if  ('onic  at  all,  from  the  farmers 
and  mechanics  of  the  State.  'I'lie  farniers  were  in  tiie  midst  of  liarvest, 
and  it  is  no  exafr^eration  to  say  lliat,  inspired  liy  a  holy  zeal,  animatetl 
by  a  coMuuDU  purpose,  anil  firmly  resolved  on  rescuin.ij  the  goverument 
from  the  very  iiriiik  of  ruin,  and  restorin>r  it  to  the  condition  our  lathers 
left  it,  tliat  over  .')!), 00(1  of  llu'ui  left  their  harvests  un^aUhered,  tlieir  tools 
and  their  henehes,  tl>e  plows  in  tlieir  furrows,  and  turning  tlieir  Lacks 
on  their  houu's,  and  lielore  11  days  expired  the  ilemands  of  the  )4()\'eru- 
nieiit  were  met  and  lioth  (piotas  were  tilled.  Proud  indeed  was  the  day 
to  all  Illinoisaiis  wlien  the  aiinouucemeiit  was  made  tiiat  the  enlist- 
ments were  full.  And  when  the  historian  sliall  reconi  tlie  eventful 
days  of  August,  hSfiii,  no  j)rou(ler  record  can  he  erected  to  the  honor  and 
memory  of  a  free  people  than  a  plain  and  full  narrative  of  actual  reali- 
ties. Jt  is  not  my  j>rovince  in  this  rejiort  to  liestow  fulsome  praise  or 
write  glowing  eulogies,  hut  when  I  reiuemher  what  we  all  witut'ssed  in 
those  days;  when  1  rememl)er  the  patriotism  and  unselllsh  inijtulse 
which  aninuited  every  soul,  and  the  universal  liherality  of  tlume  wlio 
were  either  too  young  or  too  old  to  enlist  to  aid  tiiose  who  were  eager 
to  join  their  bretiireu  iu  the  tiehi ;  when  I  remember  the  holy  ardor 
wliicti  aged  mothers  aud  fair  daughters  infused  into  husbauds,  sons  and 


95  Col.  Lawp'n  S.  Chiircli. 

96  "  Thou.  K.CIiaiiipioii 

97  "  FS.    Riitlififord.. 

98  "J.  .T.  Fiiiikliiiimbr. 

99  •'  G.  W.  K.  Kiiilnv.. 

100  "  Fred.  A.  liarUesoii 

101  "    ClinH.  II.  Fox 

108  "  AVm.  McMurtry., 

103  "  Aiiios  C.  Uabcock. 

104  "  Absalom  15.  Moore 

105  "  Daniel  Uustin.... 

106  "  Koli'tlJ.  Latham.. 

107  "    ThoniBH  Siiell 

108  "    John  Warner 

109  "  Alex.  , I.  Nlninio.. 

110  "    ThoH.  S.  Casey 

111  "  JanwH  S.  Martin. . 
lis  "  T.  J.  Ilendernon... 

113  "    Ge^).  B.  Hoge 

114  "    Jaa.  W.  .'uUy 

115  ' '  ,Teti»e  II.  Moore. . . 

116  "  Nalhanll.Tupper 

117  "  IJiHdeuM.  Moore. 

118  "  .Tnhn  G.  Fonda. .. . 

119  '•  Thos.  J.  Konney. . 

120  ' '  Geo.  W,  McKeaig. 

121  Never  Organized 

132  Col.  John  I.  Kinaker.. 

123  "    Jaineg  Moore 

184  "  Thomas  J.  Sloan.. 

125  "  OHearF.   Harmon. 

136  ' '  Jonth'n  Kichniond 

107  "  John  VanArnian.. 

1S8  ' '  Kobert  M.  Hudley 

129  "    Geo.  P.  Smith 


3, 
26, 
30, 
,S. 

Oct.     8, 
Aug.   27, 
Sept.    2. 

Sept.  17, 

Sept.  4, 
Aug.  28, 
Sept.  11, 

t  I 

Sept.  18, 
Sept.  12, 
Oct.    1, 
Sept.  18, 
Sept.   13, 
Sept.  30, 
Sept.  lit, 
Nov.   29, 
Oct.     7, 
Oct.   29, 


im'i  Kockford 

IWia  Kockford 

18G2  Canij)  15uUer 

Icfls!  Centralia 

1W>2  Florence,  Pike  co. 

1tf«l!  Joliet 

1 862 1  .lackBon  ville 

iKnoxville 

1862  Peoria 

1862  Ottawa 

1H62  Chicago 

lt!62i  Lincoln 

1862  Camp  llii tier 

1862  Peoria 

1861:Anna 

'Anna 

1862'Salem 

1862  Peoria 

1862  Cam|i  Douglas 

1862  Camp  Bntler 

1862  Cami)  Butler 

1862  Decatur 

1862  CampBuUer 

1862  Cam])  Butler 

1862  Quincy 

1862  Camp  Butler 


July,  1862 ISept.   4,  1862 

Sept.    6,  1862 

Sept.  10,  1862 

Sept.    4,  1862 

♦Sept.  5,  9co8 

Dec.    18,  1862 

Sept.  8,  1862 


Carlinville ... 

Mattoon 

Camp  Butler. 
Danville . . . 

Chicago 

Camp  D(mgla 
Camp  Butler. 
Poutlao 


1427 

1200 

1083 

1078 

936 

921 

911 

998 

917 

977 

1001 

1097 

944 

927 

967 

873 

994 

1095 

1238 

990 

!)60 

952 

995 

1101 

958 

844 


934 

1050 

1130 

933 

998 

957 

866 

1011 


TiiK  \Y\n  or  TiiH  im;hkllion. 


737 


lu'dtlKTH — T  sny  wlu'ii  I  roniombor  all  these  things,  I  eaiinot  hut  feel 
jiistilicit  ill  il('|i^ii'tjii<^  IVoiu  tile  iliili  I'uutiue  of  stiitislics  uiid  l)est()W 
iil)i>n  llie  suliji'cl  tills  palling  notice." 

A  vast  army  was  tlnis  suddenly  iisjiered  into  oxiHtcnee,  and 
the  udveiniuent  hein^'  unahle  to  supply  tents,  how  to  provide  coni- 
Ibitaith^  (punters  hecaine  an  inii)orlant  consideration.  In  iiiaiiy 
<'ouiities,  tlMTclore,  iar^e  nmnlieis  were  temporarily  lodged  uuiUt 
11m'  sheds  ol'  lair  grounds  till  l)arraeks  eonld  he  elected  at  the  pi'iii- 
cipal  cauijis  of  instruction  at  .Sprin;;lield  and  (^iiicajio.  1(  was  •,[\^o 
dilllciilt  to  i)ro(!ure  ch)thin<i'.  Tiu!  vast  inultitU(U'  of  recruits  in  iIk; 
ditlerent  States,  and  llu^  sudden  enier,uency  wliicii  liad  called  llieiri 
I'orlh,  taxed  the  <;()\('rnineut  to  its  utmost  capacity  to  liiiiii.-;Ii 
e(piipments.  15el'ore  the  <;losc  ot"  tin;  year,  however,  there  were 
(•lot lied,  ai'med  ami  sent  IVom  the  State  ."»!>  rej;iments  of  inl'antry, 
and  I'our  batteries  of  artillery,  a.u',urej;alinj;'  a  I'oice  of  o.'J.Sl!)  men. 
There  was  also  eidisted  durin,t;-  tlii^  same  time  for  the  I  Ith 
cavalry,  and  for  old  re;;iments  an  additional  number,  whi(di,adde<l 
to  the  foruK!!',  makes  a  f^rand  total  of,  58,H(J  men,  an  excess  of 
L*.'5,0!t7  o\er  the  (piotas  of  the  State. 

The  last  call  for  troops  wason  the  lOfli  of  December,  IStU.  The 
number  re<piired  was  ;{(M>.(M»(I,  and  if  not  raised  by  voluntary  en- 
listments, by  the  loth  of  February  followinji'  the  State  was  to  bo 
<lrafted.  Tast  expcsrience  had  shown  that  troops  coidd  be  more 
I'cadily  secured  by  the  formation  of  new  or<;ani/ati()ns,  and  appli- 
(tation  was  made  to  the  war  department  fori  he  i)rivile^(!  of  raising 
ten  additional  i'e,i;'iinents.  l*ermission  was  <iranted,  and  a  number 
of  i)ersons  wh(»  had  dislin,<;uished  themsehes  in  the  service,  but 
Avliose  tvrms  of  eidistment  had  expired,  commenced  recruit inj^, 
each  auth(»rized  to  raise  a  sinj^le  company.  Formerly  one  iiersou 
had  been  i)ermitted  to  raise  a  whole  re<;imeiit,  but  it  recpdred  a 
much  lonj^cr  time  for  its  acc()m])lisliinent  than  where  the  work 
was  sub-divided  amoii<4'  a  number.  TJiis  modification  in  the  i)rac- 
ticc  wliich  had  hitliertoprevailed  o])erated  with  astoiiisliinf>'  success. 
The  adjutant  {;eiierars  oflice  was  aj>aiii  thronged  with  applications 


130 

i:ti 
i:w 
]3:i 
i;i-i 
i;t:. 

136 
137 
13S 
139 
140 
141 
142 
143 
144 
IC) 
140 
147 
14S 
140 

mo 
ir>i 

132 
1!)3 
]r>4 
155 
156 


Col.  Katliaiiicl  Xili*... 

(r01ir<I(!  W.  Ni'clov. 
'  Tlios.  0.  I'iikc^tt." 

Tliad.  riiillips... 

AV.W.McCli.'HMoy 

John  S.  Wolfo... 

Fred    A.  Johns.. 

John  AVooil 

J.  W.  (loodwiu.. 

I'otcr  Davidson. - 

L.  JI.   Whitney.. 

Stppiipn  lironwin. 

Uollin  V.  Ankney 
'    Dinlley  C.  Smith 

Cyrns   Hall 

(i(,'(>r;;o  W.  Lackey. 

•'    itonrv  II.  Donu 

"  IliramF.  Sickh>s... 
"  lloraco  JI.  Wilsio.. 
"  Win.  (;.  Kni'trner.. 
"  Goo.  W.  Keener. .. 
"  French  H.  Woodall 
"  V.  1).  Stepln>nn(Mi.. 
"  Sfeplien  jiron.son.. 
"  ^lel.ean  I''.  Wood.. 
"  On.stav  11.H  A.  Smith 
"    Alfred  K.  Smith... 

"    J.  W.  Wilson 

"    Jidin   A.  lirnss 

Capt.  John  Cnrtis 

Simon  J.  Stookey 
■'      Jauie.s   Stuelo 

47 


July,    1862. 


100  day  orpanizntiona 
tcncU'Ved  liy  tin;  Gov- 
ernor ot'IUinois,  April 
21,  'C4.  and  aceepteil 
by  tho  I'rosident, 
April  23, 1864. 


Jnly.    18C4 

100  day'H  ori^anization.. 

Jiilv,    1804.. 

December  19,    1864 


War. 


Spec  auth'ty  Soo. 

,*Sepf.24,  1863 

ilOO  day'.s  organization. 

100  da'v'.s  orgauizatiou . 
i  April  15,  1861 


Oct.  25, 
Nov.  13, 
June  1, 
May  31, 

June  C, 
Juno  1, 
June  .5, 
Juno  21, 
•fiino  1, 
June  18, 
June  16, 
June  18, 
Juno  11, 
Oct.  21, 
June  9, 
Sept.  20, 
Feb.  18, 
Feb.  18, 
Feb.  11, 
Feb.  14, 
Feb.  25, 
Feb.  IH, 
Feb.  27, 
Feb.  22, 
Feb.  28, 
March  9, 
Dee.    1, 


1805. 
1802. 
1864. 
1864. 

1804. 
1864. 
1864. 
1864. 
1864. 
1864. 
18.M. 
1864. 
1864. 
1H14. 
1864. 
1864. 
1865. 
1865. 
1865. 
1865. 
1865. 
1865. 
1865. 
1*:65. 
1865. 
1865. 
1861. 


June  21, 
June  21, 
June  15, 


1864. 
1864. 
1864. 


Cam])  Duller 

Camp  JIas.sac 

Camp   Fry 

('amp  liiitler 

Camp  Fry 

JIattoon  

Centralia 

Quincy 

Qnincy 

I'l'oria 

Camp  IJutler 

Klfiin 

jCainp  Butler 

Mattoon 

Alton.   Ills 

(/"anij)  ISutlor 

(.'amp  llutler 

(;hica.!;o 

(Juincy 

(:ani])  Hutler, 

<'anii>  Ituth^r , 

(Juincy 

Camp  l5utler 

(Jhicafro 

(.'amp  Itutler 

Cam])  liutler 

Chicago 

('hicajio 

(^uiney 

(.'am])  llutler 

Camp  Butler 

Chlcaijo 


932 
8f0 
853 
851 
878 
8.52 
842 
849 
835 
878 
871 
842 
851 
8U5 

11, -.9 
8i^0 

10.^,6 

1047 
917 
983 
933 
970 
915 

107S 

994 

929 

975 

985 

903 

91 

90 

86 


738 


IIISTOllY  ()!•'  ILLINOIS. 


for  iuittioi'ify  toviiiHc  (;()iii])iiiii('s,  iiiid  as  fast  as  a  .siiniciciit  niiiiilx'r 
•\vas  HCHMHt'tl  tor  a.  rc^-imciit  it  was  orji;aiiiz('(l  and  inantlicd  to  llio 
IVoiit.  I')aily  ill  I'N'lti'iiiiry  it  was  rcarrd  that  rccniiliiij;  was  ;^<tiii,'4 
on  so  rapidly  Dial  more  Noiiiiilccrs  would  oil'*-!'  tliiiii  could  |)ossil)ly 
eiitortlic  10  rcfiinu'iits,  and  tlic  draft  was  temporarily  postponed. 
These  re^^iments  were  soon  eomplete(|,aiid  it  was  diieeled  that  llui 
reniaiiiiii<;'  eoiiip:iiiies  aniviii;;'  under  voliinlary  enlist  nieiils  should 
!)(>  disposed  of  in  tilliiijn'  up  old  reuinieiils.  This  course  was  con- 
tinued till  the  l.'ith  of  April,  ISli."),  when,  l>y  an  order  ofthe  war 
department,  recriiitiiij4' ceased  tIironj;liout  the  U.  S.  'I'lie,  State  now 
only  lacked  ■l,S!l(!  of  eompletin;;'  her  (piota.  These  would  lia\e 
been  speedily  obtained  had  not  the  termination  of  tiie  war  nil- 
dered  it  unnecessary. 

Toward  the  close  of  tlie,  war,  in  eonse(|uence  of  an  impel  Cect 
enrollment  of  those  subject  to  military  duly,  it  becaiin^  e\  ideiit 
tliat  thci  State  was  fnriiisliiii;^-  tlioiisiinds  in  exci'ss  of  what  a  cor- 
ri'ci  estimates  would  liave  re(juire(l.  So  lilarinj;'  had  this  dispro- 
])ortioii  become,  that  under  the  last  call  the  tpiola  in  a  number  tA' 
sub-districts  exceeded  tlu^  number  of  able-bodied  iiieii.  Vet  tlio 
people,  when  it  was  found  inexpedient  to  (torrect  the  enrollment, 
(h'termiiied  to  raise  the  nundier  re<iuii'ed,  believiii*'-  that  in  liie 
extraordinary  exijieiicies  of  the  times  the  sal'ety  of  thecoiinliy 
demanded  tlu^  saitriliee.  Let  the  thoiisiinds  of  i)rave  men  which 
the  State  thus  vohmtarily  hiid  on  the  altar  of  the  eoiintry  forc^ver 
remain  a  proud  monumentof  thepatriolism  which  so  triumphantly 
sustained  it  in  the  hour  of  (hin};er. 

Theoffiee  ofthe  Adjutant  GcneraJ^  wliicli  ]»layed  such  an  iini>ortaiit 
part  in  the  or<;'anization  of  the  troops,  was  ocrenpied  at  the  com- 
nuMUHMiient  of  the  war  by  Thomas  S.  .Mather.  The  duties  ofthe 
olfiee  were  then  executed  l)y  viitue  of  the  militia,  law  of  bS45,  and 
acts  amendatory  thereof.  J\Ir.  lAFather  held  the  ollifie  till  November, 
1S(!1,  when  (!en.  Allen  C.  Fuller  assumed  (tontrol.  The,  latter  in- 
cnnil)ent,  possessing  superior  (pialilications,  soon  redi'.-ed  the 
military  records  of  the  State,  hitherto  si)arse  and  confused,  to 
order,  and  systematized  the  business  of  tln^  oflice.  A  fruitful  source 
of  disorder  grew  out  of  the  aece])tance  by  tlu'-  war  dei)artnientof 
what  were  termed  indepcMident  regiments.  The  corresi)ondeiico 
of  the  first  22  regiments  of  infantry  and  4of  cavalry  were,  addressed 
direetlyto  the  war  department,  and  for  a  time  their  otticers  were 
disiucjlincd  to  furnish  the  adjutant  general  with  muster  rolls, 
and  other  official  information.     To  remedy  this  evil  and  promote 


CAVA  Lit Y 

Auth'd  by  Sec'y  War. . 

July  2,   \k\\ 

July  2.'),  IWil 

Autlioiizcd  July,   '01. 
AutU'd  Aui:.  27,  1801... 

Julyan,  1801 

July  25,  1801 

Authoii/.(i(l  July,  1801. 
Authoiizi'd  July,  1801, 
AutUMSppt.  5,  1801.... 

*July.    1801 

Auth'd  Sei>t.  28,  1801. 
Autli-d  Ni)v.  27,  1801... 

July,  1802 

July,  1801 

April,  l8fll,  July,  1802. 
1863 ■ 


Col.  T)i()8.  A.   Marshall 

Silas  Niililo 

Ku)i<'ue  \.  Carr 

T.  Lyhi  Dickey 

John  J.  rj],..lcgri)ff 
ThoH.  n.C'avanaui;li 
AVni.  I'itt  KolIofiL' 
John  F.  Fam.sworth 
A  Hunt  G.  Hra<^I<ett 
JaniiM  A.  Barrett 
IlolicrtO.  Insersoll 

Ajiio  Vo.sn  .'. 

Joscpli  W.  Ihdl.. 
Horace  (.'apron . . 
Warreu  Slewart- 
Christiau  Tliiolniaii 
John  L.  Boveridge 


June,  1861 

Auj;.  24,  1801 
Sept.  21,  1801. 
Sejit.  ;I0,  1801. 

Dee.  IfOl 

Nov.Ol  Jan'02| 

Au}!.  1801 

Sept.  18,  1801. 
Oet.  2(i,  18IU 
Nov.S.'i,  1801 
Dee.  20,  1801 
Dcc'OlFcb'Ca; 

Jan.  7,  180;i 
or^'d  Dee2.'i'o;) 
Jan.Apl,  1803. 
Jan.  •£»,   1804. 


Hlooniington 

1206 

('amp  Butler 

1801 

Camp  iiutler 

2183 

Ottawa 

Iti.'iO 

Camp  Butler.., 

1009 

Camp  Butler 

2248 

Camp  Butler 

St.tJliarlea 

2282 

2412 

(lamp  Douijla.s 

2019 

(Jamp  Butler 

Peoria 

11134 

2302 

Camp  Butler 

2174 

Camp  Diuiijlas 

n.w 

l*eoiia    

1,-|C5 

(Jam))  Butler 

1473 

Camp  Butler 

1162 

St.  Charles 

1217 

THE  WAR  OF  THE  llEnELLTON. 


r;{0 


liiinnoiiy  Ix'twj'cn  tlic.  fcdcriil  ami  Stiitc  antlKuitics,  tin'. scci-ctnry 
of  war  proimil^'iitcd  «(r(lt'i'  IS,  which  coiitaiiis  1li(>  tollowiii};'  pro- 
A'isioii:  '''riic  :4<>V('iii(irs  of  th<'  States  nvc  l('j;iilly  the  authorities 
for  laisii)'^  voiiiiileiT  iej;iiiieiit.s  and  eoiiiiiiissioiiiiiy  tlieir  ollicei's. 
Aceoi'diii^iiy  no  iii(h'|ieii(h'iit  orfiani/atioiis.  as  siieli,  will  lierealter 
he.  n'e,o;ini/ed  in  tiin  IJ.  S.  scuvice.  (Copies  of  tlie  i(»lisoi'  ninster 
into  service,  will  he  sent  as  soon  as  pnielicahh' to  llie  ;;()veiiioi'f^ 
of  tiie  Stales  to  uliich  they  )'.eioii;Li'  l»y  I  lie  eoniniandeis  of  In-i- 
j;a(h>s,  refiiineiit  (»f  corps,  iieretofore  n'co;inized  as  independent 
of  Staty  oi';4anizationH,  and  all  va(!ai;".ies  of  eonindssions  in  snch 
re<;inients  and  corps  will  he  heiea'.ter  fdled  l>y  tlie  res[»eclivo 
j>-oV( mors  ai-cordiufi'  lo  law."'  Mr.  I''nller  retained  possession  of 
the  ollice.  till  .lanuary  1.  lS(i;{.  '{"hence  lo  the  installation  of 
(len.  I.  N.  llaynie,  .lannary  M,  isori,  the  duties  of  the  ollice  were 
dischai',iL;c(l  hy  Lieut. Col.  Kdward  !'.  Niles.  who,  I'rotn  the  eoni- 
inein-enient  of  I  he.  war.  had  heen  intinialely  connected  with  its 
ronline.  i»y  the  pro\  isions  of  an  act  to  piovide  for  Hie  ajtpoint- 
nient,  and  tr,  prescrihe  the  ilnties  of.  the  adjutant  ^icneial,  ap- 
proxcd  fohiiiary  lid,  1S(;,"»,  the  ollice  hecanie  an  orjiani/ed  de- 
jiartnient  of  tiic  State  j^oveiiinient.     in  ucconlaiice  with  the  law 


KIKST  KKCJIMENT— ILLINOIS  LIGHT  AUTILLEUY. 


A 

(; 

1) 
K 
V 
(! 
11 
I 
K 
L 


Kiflil  nnd  Start' ' 

CiiiPt.  ('.  M.  Williiiil iApiil,   18(il. 

••       Kzni   ■rnvliir  ....[ 

"   ■   (;.  Uiin-hlaliiii;..  I 

"    ■  Kil.    .McAllister..  July,    IHf.l 

"  .    A.  ('.  Willi-llliillsr 

"      .Idliii  T.  Clicni'v.. 

"      AilliiM    O'l.ciu'y. 

"      Am'I  SilvciHimrr. 

"      KilwMiil   liduliin  . 

"      A.    Kriiiikli.!  .... 

"       iliilin    KoiirUc   . . . 

"      .Jiiliii  li.  .\Iillfi-...|Jia.v, 
Itci'rult.s 


.1 . 


mvi. 


Oct.  :ii, 

.Ian.  II, 
]).<•.  I!l. 

Kci).  -r.. 

Kfll.  'JH, 

Krii.  -Jl. 
K.b.  I.'.. 
Jan.  !l, 
Kcl).  ii-J, 
Ann- 1--J, 


|("1iI<;h>jo 

Cliirauo 

IWll     Ottawa 

Irli-^     I'lainlli'ld 

l.-'lil,    flil.a«i( 

IHivi    ('nin|i  Butler.. 

Irti'J    ('aim 

lci;-i    Cliuajio 

IHtlJ    Cliira;:!! 

IHiU    SliawMoctown. 

IrtW    (liica^o 

If'W    ('liiia''(> 


7 
KiM 
UUJ 
173 
141 
MS 
l.VJ 
113 
147 
KiO 
!I6 
1.'.3 
l.'>4 
8e'3 


SECOKI)  REdlMENT— ILLINOIS  LIGHT  AUTILLERY. 


Capt 


.  I'ctci'  Daviil.son..  July,     It'iil 

Uilcv  MiH  ison .\|ivil,    Ir'OI 

Calili  lliiiikiii.'i iJiilv.  If'lil 

.laspci- M.  incssrrAntU'd,  St-pt,  IrfCl... 

Adiilpli    Scliwartzl  " 

Joliii  W.   I'liwcll.    I  " 

('lia.s.  J.  StiiUirand:  ' ' 

Andrew  Steiiiliec'U  Aiith'd  Sept.  15,  IMl. 

Charles  W.  iCeitli.j 

Wni.  11.  ]toltcin...:Anth(irized   IHfil 

John  ('.  IMiillipH..   Authorized   I.'^IU 

Field  and  .stall". .  i 

Keuruits ' 


Ani;.  17.  IWU. 
.lime  MO.  Irtil 


■I  All};, 
.  ;l>ee. 
.  I  Kel>. 
.Ore. 
. illee. 
.  IDer. 
.  I  Dee. 
.lOec. 
.  i  Fell.  'M. 
.  Mnnn  (i. 


IHIil 
Irlll 
IHIi-.' 
Irfil 

im;i 

lf<lll 
l.-(il 
l.^lil 

l.*J. 


I'l'onii 

Springfield 

Cairo 

(.'airo 

(!aiio 

Cape  (iirardenil.Mo. 

Camp  IJiitler 

("iinip  liiitler 

iCaiop  IJutler 

'Caiii|)  Hiitlcr 

jChica;;!) >.. 

jChii'iiKo 


116 

l'J7 

l.-vi 

117 

i:i6 

1110 
1(18 
11.5 
107 
108 
14.5 
lUO 
10 
1171 


INDEPENDENT  HATTEIUES. 


Hdcd- Trade 

Cajit.  JaiiKis  S.  StoUes.  July     IWiS IJulv  ill,  1H02.  iChieaao 

ar.R 

Sprinulleld 

"      Tints.  F.  Viinelni ,             "        !  Awji.  91,  Wi-i 

(lamp  Butler. 

l!l!» 

Jlereantilo 

"      ("lias.    (}.  Coi.lev,  1             ••         lAu;:.  9!l,  iwy 

('liieaco 

270 

r.litfin 

"      (ieo.W.  IJenwiclv'              ■        1  Xov.  1."..  l.-li-J. 

Eljlin 

242 

CofTjlswoir. 

"      Wni.    Cjiv'swclLAiitli'dSopt.  l.'i,  18fil.  Sep.  2:!.   IWil. 

("'nip  Dnuijlas 

221 

Ilonshaw's 

"      Ed.  C.  Ilenshaw.  Jiilv.    IHti-J Oi-,t.  l.'),   l.^li-J. 

Ottawa 

1(16 

Hrid;;es..  .. 

"      Lvniaii  lirid^M.s..  Authd  Jan.  I,  1862..  Jan.    1,   lf<(i2 

(.'hieago 

2..2 

Colvin's  ... 

"      John  ir.  'Jolvin..  Auth'd  .fnly,  18(i;i...  Oct.  10,   If-m. 

C'liiea;r(i 

HI 

BuHtued'H . . 

', 

Chicago 

127 

KECAPITULATION. 

Infantry 18.")  941 

Cavalry 3\082 

Artlllerv 7,277 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGPT  (MT-S) 


A 


/ 


A 


O 


i/.X 


1.0 


u 


1^ 

i^ 

IIIIIM 

■;£ 

|a2 

ill  2.2 

lU 

124 

us 

1^ 

i^° 

1.  ^ 

■mUi 

1.8 


1-25  lil.4   ill  1.6 


m 


<9! 


7: 


o 


7 


/A 


i  1 


^ 


740 


nrSTOKY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Gen.  Hivyiiio  provided  n  sejil  of  ollice.  Previously,  to  give  validity 
to  (!()imiiis.sioiis  iind  other  olli(;iiil  iiistniineuts,  it  Avas  necessary 
to  ])ro('iire  tlie  seal  and  siniiatnre  of  the  secretary  of  State. 
After  a  suitable  iin]>rii)t  was  provided,  this  indirect  method  of 
transacting- the  business  of  the  office  Mas  discontinued.  The  ex- 
tensive re])orts,  issued  under  the  supervision  of  (Jen.  Kaynie, 
contain  all  the  military  information  that  can  be  interesting  to  the 
reader  or  iiseful  in  the  organization  of  future  armies,  and  may 
justly  be  regarded  as  a  monument  of  industiy,  of  which  the  State 
should  be  ])roud. 

From  data,  thus  furnished,  the  whole  number  of  enlistments 
(luring  the  war  was  L'o(>,(KK),  average,  strength  -!.(!►,!)(>;},  nuiiiiier 
killed  in  action,  5,888;  died  of  Avounds,  3,0;{L';  of  disease,  11),4U(), 
in  prison,  1)07  ;  lost  at  sea,  205  ;  aggregate,  2!),588.* 

Medical  Depart ment. — At  the  instance  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 
tlie  governor  a[)i)ointe(l  a  board  of  medical  examiners  consisting 
of  A.  11.  elohnsvtn,  president,  and  O.  M.  Ityan,  secretary.  The 
medical  i)rotession  sharing  the  enthusiasm  that  animated  the 
masses,  tendered  their  services  to  the  government  with  a  zeal 
Avliich,  in  many  instances,  sui'i)ass('d  their  (p^alilicatioiis  for  tlio 
work  they  were  I'equired  to  ix'rfoiiii.  They  went  forth  in  large 
numbers  from  the  prairie,  the  village  and  country  where  their 
undiversilicd  practice  little  qualilieil  theUi  for  the  more  arduous 
and  extensive  duties  of  the  army. 

The  board  nu-t  on  the  18tli  of  June,  1801,  in  Spi'ingfleld,  and  in 
accordance  with  the  aimy  regulations  they  i)roceeded  to  "inves- 
tigate carefnlly  the  i>hysi(;al  ability,  moial  character  and  2)i'<»fes- 
sional  attainments  of  ciwh  candidate.  To  accommodate  the  large 
number  who  applied  for  ]tositions,  sessions  were  held  in  Chicago, 
Alton,  ('airo  and  the  field.  Tlu^  imi)ortance  of  the  work  which 
they  pcilbriHC'd  may  be  inferred  from  tlu^  fact  that  much  the 
larger  part  of  the  nH)rtality  connected  with  armies  results  from 
diseases  instead  of  the  sword,  and  that  many  of  those  who  i)ro- 
posed  to  assume  the  resijonsibilities  of  physicians  had  never 
received  the  first  rudiments  of  a  medical  education.  It  is  but 
justice  to  state  that  the  selections  made  by  the  board  were  judi- 
cious, and  that  the  medical  treatment  enjoyed  by  our  volunteers 
was  clHcient.  Many  not  only  evinced  a  high  order  of  skill  in  the 
practi(te  of  surgery  and  therajieutics,  butwliat  was  of  nu)re  import- 
ance, witli  a  i)aternal  solicitude  instituted  the  most  rigid  sanitary 
regulatiojis  for  the  prevention  of  disease. 

Camps. — The  two  ])rinci]»al  camps  in  the  State  were  Camp  But- 
ler, at  Springtield,  and  Camj)  Douglas,  at  Chicago.  The  immedi- 
ate lo(;ation  of  tlu^  former  was  near  v.  here  tin;  Toledo,  Wabash  & 
"Western  raili'oad  crosses  the  Sangamon  river,  and  that  of  the  lat- 
ter just  by  tlie  last  resting  place  of  the  great  statesnuin  alter  whom 
it  was  named.  Each  was  ])rovided  with  commissary  and  ordnance 
warehouses,  general  piison  and  small  pox  hospitals,  companyand 
])risoii  bairaclfi^,  olticers' <piarters  and  other  structures  necessary 
for  the  outlit  of  an  extensive  encampment.  IJoth  places — espe- 
cially Camp  liutler — became  the  princii)al  points  for  the  rendez- 

'Computatioii  by  Adjutant  General  E.  L.  Higgins. 


THE  WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION.  741 


1 


von.s  tiud  iiistriictioii  of  volunteers  and  uuisteriiig  them  out  of  ser- 
vice after  the  war. 

As  the  result  of  the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson  some  10,000  i)ri.so- 
iiers  were  sent  to  these  eainp.s,  aud  thereafter  they  became  places 
of  custody  for  otiier  prisoners  captured  in  the  war.  Their  treat- 
nuiiit  by  the  ollicers  in  charge  was  always  humane,  though  if  the 
statements  of  rebel  writers  could  be  caedited,  they  sulfered  more 
hellish  barbarities  than  were  perpetrated  in  the  i»rison  pens  of 
the  South.  Of  the  30,000  prisoners  received  at  different  times  at 
Cam])  Douglas  3,500  died,  about  10  per  cent.,  while  of  the  number 
of  prisoners  received  at  Belle  Isle  m(ne  than  50  per  cent,  died 
from  exposure,  starvation  and  brutality.  The  site  of  Camp  But- 
ler is  still  preserved  as  a  natioiuil  cemetery,  in  which  man}'  of 
i\w  galhiut  sons  of  Illinois  sleei)  in  honored  graves.  Other  camps 
were  formed  in  different  parts  of  the  iState,  but  they  iu  general 
Bubser\'ed  only  temporary  i)urposes. 

Women  of  Illinois. — We  have  spoken  of  the  parriotic  sons 
of  Illinois,  her  daughters  must  not  be  omitN'd.  i'erhaps  the 
brightest  page  in  the  history  of  the  State  is  that  which  records 
tlieir  ettbrts  in  behalf  of  the  soldier.  Their  devotioi'  to  the 
national  cause  was  rather  the  pronii)tings  of  insi)iration  than  the 
oidinary  impulse  of  patriotism,  and  its  defenders  weve  objects  of 
their  deepest  sympatliy.  AVomen  in  all  ages  have  i)rompted  men 
to  deeds  of  noble  daring,  while  with  the  progress  of  civilization 
in  modern  times  her  intlueiiee  has  become  more  i)otent  tl'an  ]»resi- 
dents,  cal)inets  or  crowns.  ]t  is  a  true  adage  that  she  who  rocks 
the  cradle  rules  the  world.  In  the  hallowed  associations  of  home 
are  born  and  nurtur<'d  the  great  intellects,  large  hearts  ami  the 
staiuuth  integrity  Avhich  has  accomplished  all  that  is  noble  in  the 
liistoiy  of  the  race. 

Tlie  women  of  Illinois,  in  common  with  others  all  over  the  land, 
were  the  lirstto  commiserate  the  sutferingsof  the  soldier,  and  the 
first  to  make  ett'orts  to  nttbrd  relief.  In  this  they  were  actuated 
not  oidy  by  a  heroic  love  of  country,  but  their  kiudi'ed  were 
endnriiig  the  privations  of  war,  and  who  like  them  could  feel  for 
their  distress?  Though  jihysically  inca})acitate(l  to  share  with 
them  the  toil  and  ])i'rils  of  battle,  yet  before  its  smoke  and  the 
eciu)es  of  its  artillery  i)assed  away  they  could  bind  up  their 
wounds,  and  by  their.self-denial  inspire  them  with  a  holier  ardor 
for  the  cause  they  were  defending.  How  many  weary  suflerers  on 
the  held  of  carnage,  in  the  lonely  hospital  relieved  by  their 
bounty  and  cheereil  by  their  presence,  none  but  the  recording 
angel  can  tell. 

Their  labors  soon  assumed  an  organized  form  ;  hundreds  of  relief 
societies  s])rang  u])  all  »'er  the  State,  and  proportionately  as  the 
ten ihle  eifects  of  the  war  increased,  the  warm  current  of  their 
sympathies  and  cliarities  augmented.  These  consisted  of  food, 
clothing,  medicine,  hospital  delicacies,  reading  nnitter  and  thou- 
sands of  (tther  articles  in  such  quaidities  as  to  necessitate  the 
chartering  of  cars,  and  in  some  instances  steamboats  to  carry 
them  to  their  destination. 

The  counties  of  the  State  next  became eidisted  in  the  Avork  of 
benevolence.  In  tiie  (>'.)  where  records  were  nnide  and  reported, 
the  sums  domitetl  as  bounties  to  Aolunteers  for  the  sui)port  of  sol- 


742 


HISTOKY  OP  ILLINOIS. 


dici'.s'  fiiinilics  iind  otiii'r  (thjccts  aiiioiiiitcd  to  iiioic  tluiii  8l.-")0(>,- 
()(K>.  Jii  tliis  cstiiimtc  llic  (Inimtioiis  of  .■>;>  coiiiitics,  iiiirl  flic  imic- 
conlcd  bciicvoU'iict.' of  tliotisiiiidsof  individuals  all  over  tlic  State, 
i.s  not  included. 

Anotlicr  form  wliicli  (he  work  assumed  was  llie  establislii/ieut 
of  soldiers'  homes  in  tlie  jtriucipal  cities.  In  tliese  places  of  I'cf- 
lijic  tlic  travcliiii;-  soldier,  when  he  had  no  (»ucclse  to  care  lor  him, 
uas  pio'.ided  with  hoard  and  lodjiiuji  free  of  cost.  Durin,^'  tin; 
Avar  the.  several  homes  in  Illinois  and  other  parts  af  the  West  fur- 
lushed  lodfiiu-i- for  (>()0.(Ml(»  nu-n  aud  aieals  valued  at  8-;,.")(l(M)t»0. 
The  relief  thus  alfor<led  was  not  intended  as  a  substitute  hut  as 
supplemental  to  that  of  the  ^iovcrnment.  The  troojis  of  Illinois 
]»articipatcd  in  sonu'  of  the  most  jji^antic  struj;,nics  of  the  wai', 
in  which  no  };<)veriinient  system,  however  jnovident  or  elastic,  can 
do  nnu'c  than  niiti<;atc  the  sulf«'rinj;'.  In  these  bloody  conllicts 
the  i)ri\  ate  benevolence  of  the  peo))le  nobly  seconded  the  ellbrts 
of  the  j;overnmeiit,  and  could  the  relief  a  llbrded  by  both  have  been 
tenfold  moie  elVective,  the  wounded  would  still  have  suifered 
iiusi)eakable  pri\atious  and  a^^'ony. 

Tlie  sanitary  commission  <;n'atly  assisted  in  arousinji'  and  ^iv- 
iiiji'  direction  to  the  benevolent  enteri)rise  of  the  State.  The  tirst 
luendters  of  the  society  were  appointed  on  the  iUli  of  .June,  ISIll, 
by  the  Secretary  of  Wai'.  They  met  and  or<;anized  in  Washinj'- 
ton  the  same  month,  and  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  J)r. 
Kewberry,  one  of  the  most  eflicienC  mend)ers,  organized  the 
Northwestern  bnnicli  at  Chica.i;(). 

"  This  Wiis  one  of  the  most  etticient  of  all  its  anxilaries  in  colli'ctinp; 
supplies,  and  its  various  tril)Utaries  scattcrid  l]ir<)nf;iinut  tiu'  States  of 
Illinois,  Iowa  iuul  \\'isci)nsin,  did  more  fur  the  it'lief  of  the  soldier 
j)r()li;ilily  in  propdrlion  to  their  means,  tluin  tiio^-e  of  any  oilier  section 
of  the  country.  Nowhere  liadthe  eonunission  warniei'or  iMoreeiithusias- 
ti«'  Iriendsthan  at  Chieajro.  llwasmost  fortunateiri  enlistiui^at  an  early 
period  tlie  active  sympathy  of  some  of  the  most  iiitluential  and  trusted 
men  of  that  im])orlant  place.  The  names  of  the  'icntlemeu  who  cou- 
dueted  its  operations,  .Judj;e  Skinner,  K.  li.  MeCaj^  '  and  K.  W.  Hlateh- 
ford  were  alone  a  tower  of  stren.uth  to  its  cause  throughout  the  Nortli- 
west  and  the  commission  reajied  the  heiielU  in  the  vast  eontrihutions  of 
that  rejiion  of  their  widi'  si)read  reputation  and  active  exertions."* 

The  most  successful  effort  in  turninji'  the  groat  tick;  of  i)oi)u]ar 
sym]>!>tli.v  into  the  clmniM'l  of  tin  commission,  occurred  at  <"hica,no 
in  Miiy,  IStJ.").  The  means  emi)loyed  was  a  fair  in  whii;h  not 
otily  Illinois,  but  her  sister  States  of  tlie  West,  were  larj^ely  rep- 
resented. Thon<;h  all  j^axe  it  a  hearty  support  the  conception  of 
ita  plan  and  the  success  with  which  it  was  carried  out  was  mostly 
due  to  the  efforts  of  Madiims  Ilof^e  and  Livennore.  These  ladies 
Avho  are  the  persoinlication  of  benevolence  and  ener<>y  wrote 
ai»]>eals,  distributed  circulars,  and  addressed  public  meetiujis  till 
the  .yi'cat  heait  of  the  Northwest  was  m(#ed  to  its  utmost  dejiths. 
Union  Hall,  the  princii)al  buildinji',  occu[)ied  the  whole  of  Dear- 
born I'ark  and  was  brilliantly  illnminated  with  ,nas  from  floor  to 
apex.  In  the  centre  were  tasfefidly  arran;L;i'd  in  booths  ami  on 
tables  the  consecrated  otferin^^s  of  churches,  and  rare  and  beaidi- 
ful  contributions  from  the  nations  of  Enro])e.  In  the  two 
A\in,i>s  business  and  industry  were  rejiresentcd  by  f;oods  and 
nntchinery,  less  ormimental  but  more  usefid.     Eastward  a  whole 

*  History  of  the  Sanitary  Commisaion. 


THE   WAR  OF  THE  REBELLH  N. 


743 


"block  was  covcvcd  by  Fl(»ral  ITall,  wiiose,  contciits  a  pj  tea  red  likcu 
ci'v.stalizcd  vision  of  beauty,  in  wiiicli  both  iiatiux'  and  art  liad 
been  laid  under  contribution  for  tlioir  most  exquisite  productions. 
Bryan's  ilall,  tlien  tiie  largest  room  in  tlie  city,  was  used  as  a 
dejiository  for  battle-torn  banners  and  other  tropliiesof  the  war, 
indicative  of  llUnoisand  western  valor. 

(Jenerals  (Iraut  and  Hooker,  Senator  Vates,  ami  a  lai'<;e  number 
of  otlier  distin^i'uished  ])ersoua,ues,  j^ave  the  presti.^e  of  tlieir 
presence  totiu^  occasion.  A  vast  multitude  thronii'cd  the  dilfercut 
avenues  of  approach  to  tlie  city,  and  thou;ih  the  relicliion  had 
■suddenly  collapsed  and  tlui  necessity  tor  raisinj;'  funds  had  greatly 
ceased,  the  i^ross  |)roc('eds  amounted  to  more  than  $o(H>,0(K)  and 
the  net  prolits  to  $250,000. 

Military  Movc)ne)itHi)i  the  State. — The  operations  of  the  imnuMiso 
hosts  furnished  by  the  State  within  her  borders,  was  liuiitcd  in 
extent.  We  have;  already  s]M)ken  of  th(»  occui)ation  of  <Jaii(», 
located  at  the  jinu'tion  of  tlu^  Ohio  and  ^Mississippi  rivers  and 
Illinois  Central  I'ailroad,  which  was  early  re]i;arded  as  a  stratej^ic 
]>oiut  of  moi'c  tlian  ordinary  si^iiilicance.  Its  near  ]U(ixiiiiity  to 
Kentucky,  ^Missouri  and  Tennessee,  whose  jjoveiinnents  were  con- 
trolled l>y  disloyal  men,  rendered  it  liable  to  seizjire.  One  of  the 
first  acts  of  the  .garrison  was  to  sujjpress  the  trallic;  in  lead  and 
other  contraband  mei-chandise  carried  on  by  (.rah'na,  St.  Louis 
and  Cincinnati,  with  the  rebellious  cities  on  the  Lower  Mississippi. 
Amon<i' other  contraban<l  shipments  (Jov.  Yates  received  intelli- 
gence tiiat  two  steaiueas,  the  (J.  K.  llillman  and  John  1).  Peiry, 
carryinj;-  arms  and  amMiunition,  were  about  to  descend  the  river 
from  St.  jjouis  and  telej^raphed  Col.  Prentiss  to  stop  liiem  and 
take  possession  of  tlieir  carj^oes.  In  due  time  the  vessels  made 
their  ap[)earance  and  weie  iaimediately  boaided  and  bi'ou.uht  to 
the  wharf.  A  larj^e  nund)er  of  arms  and  otlu'r  militaiy  stores 
were  seized  and  confiscated,  a  i)roceedin_!;' at  the  time  soiuewhat 
infoi'und,  but  subsc(pu'ntly  a])i)roved  by  the  Si'cretary  of  war. 
To  prevent  the  recuri'ence  of  similar  attemi)ts  on  the  part  of  the 
rebels  to  obtidn  sui)plies  all  fuither  shipments  to  posts  tiuder  in- 
surrectionary control  wei'e  interdicted. 

The  State  was  almost  destitute,  of  arms,  and  the  Cairo  expedi- 
tion had  been  ecptipped  to  a  j^reat  extent  Avith  sh<)t  <;uns  ami  ritics, 
taken  from  the  stores  in  Cliica,i:;'o.  Accordin.u-  to  the  report  of  the 
ordinance  qartcrniaster,  the  arsenal  contained  oidy  ."(»-  muskets, 
10.")  rities.  i;>.''i  muskctoons,  and  I'OT  pistols,  lii  addition  to  tlitso 
there  were  a  nund)cr  of  other  armsin  jiossession  ofditl'erent  militia 
coini)anies  of  the  State, of  anticpu' patterns,  and  tar  inferior  to 
wea]»onsof  a  more  nuMlern  (construction,  lender  these  circum- 
stances an  eflbrt  was  nnule  to  obtain  arms  from  the  arsenal  of 
>rew  York,  and  a  messenjier  was  sent  to  Washington  for  a  similar 
purpost!.  It,  liowev(>r,  soon  became  evident  that  this  destitution 
Avas  not  coiilined  to  Illinois,  but  as  tlu'  re.>Mlt  of  Floyd's  treacheiy, 
common  to  all  the  XorHiern  States.  Accordinj>' to  rebel  newsjia- 
pers,  there  had  been  ileposited  at  different  i)oiuts  in  the  South 
1(?7,00()  stand  of  muskets,  and  200.000  pistols  for  the  avowed  ]>ur- 
pose  of  overtui'uinj;'  the  <i()vernnu'nt  to  which  they  rij;htfidly  be- 
lonjicu.  ]''urtlieruu)re,  of  the  home  squadron,  consistin,:;-  of  12 
vessels,  carrying'  187  gnus  and  2,000  men,  oidy  4  snudl  vessels, 


:u 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS^. 


B'- 


f;in,>  iiij;'  !'.">  ^iiiiiss  and  -SO  iiicii,  were  available,  the  others  having 
been  dispersed  to  distant  seas. 

Wliile  the  subject  ol'  procuring  anus  was  under  advisement,  the 
UH'ssenger  who  liad  been  dispalclied  to  Wasiiinglon  returned  with 
an  order  on  tlie  arsenal  at  St.  Louis  for  1(),()()0  muskets.  Tliisre- 
jiosilory  of  n;ili I a'.y  stores  was  now  clo.>ely  watclied  by  traitois, 
ami  a  mob  of  tliem  were  ready  to  seize  tlie  arms  wlucli  it  contained 
the  monu'Ut  an  attempt  slionld  be  made  to  remove  them.  Wiiiie 
those  in  charge  ofliie  recpiif^ition  weie  lool^ing  about  for  (iompe- 
tent  men,  and  couisidering  an  a\ailable  j)]an  tor  getting  possession 
of  them.  Captain  Stokes,  of  C'lu(;ago,  volunteered  to  undertake  the 
hazardous  enterprise.  (lov.  Yates  at  once  put  into  his  liands  the 
order  issued  by  tlie  secretary  of  war,  and  hastening  to  St.  Jiouis, 
he  found  the  arsenal  surrounded  by  a  disorderly,  treasonable 
rabble.  After  a  number  (if  nmivailing  alteni[>ts  to  pass  through 
the  crowd,  he  at  length  r< ..( lied  tlie  building,  and  communicated 
to  the  ollicer  in  clnu^ie  the  ol)ject  of  his  visit.  Tiie  commamler  in- 
formed him  thai  the  arsei'al  >vus  surrouiuled  by  hundreds  of  spies 
iucommunicatu)U  with  the  ^.■ct^ssionists  of  the  city,  and  that  the 
most  trivial  movement  might  excits  sus[>icion,  and  bring  an  over- 
powering force  ujton  the  garrison  at  any  nu)ment.  Although  he 
doubted  the  possibility  of  complying  with  tlie  requisition,  it  Avas 
evident  that  delay  would  render  it  more  dillicnlt,  and  pernussiou 
was  given  to  Captain  Stokes  to  make  the  attempt.  These  appre- 
hensions were  well  founded,  for  the  next  <lay  information  was  re- 
ceived that  Gov.  Jackson  ]ia<l  oi'dered  2,(M)0  armed  men  dowu 
from  .lefferson  City,  and  was  evidently  contemplating  by  this 
movement  the  cai)ture  of  the  arsenal.  Two  batteries  had  already 
been  planted  by  his  friends,  one  near  the  arsenal,  and  one  on  the 
St.  Louis  levee,  and  were  eitlier  designed  for  this  purpose,  or  some 
other  treasonable  ob,?';c.  Captain  Stokes  inunediately  telegraphed 
to  Alton  to  have  a  steamer  descend  the  river  and  about  midnight 
land  opposite  tlie  arsesnd,  and  proceeding  to  the  same  place  with 
700  men  of  the  7th  Illinois,  soon  commenced  lowering  the  heavy 
boxes  containing  the  guns  from  the  ui)per  to  the  lower  portion  of 
the  building.  At  the  same  time,  to  divert  attention  from  his  real 
design,  he  caused  500  ttnserviceable  muskets  to  be  openly  placed 
on  a  different  boat.  As  intended,  this  movement  was  soon  de- 
tected, and  the  shouts  and  excitement  upon  their  seizure,  drew 
most  of  the  crowd  from  the  arsenal.  Cai)tain  Stokes  ordered  the 
remaimler,  who  were  acting  as  a  i)osse,  to  be  shut  up  in  the  guard 
house,  ami  as  soon  as  the  boat  came  along  side  commenced 
freighting  her  with  guns.  When  the  10,000  muskets  were  aboard 
he  asked  pernnssion  to  empty  the  entire  art,enal,  and  was  told  to 
go  ahead  and  take  what  he  wanted.  lie,  therefore,  instead  of 
coniining  himself  to  the  re(juisition,  besides  cannon  and  a  large 
uumber  of  other  valuable  accoutrements,  took  500  carbines,  500 
pistols,  and  20,000  muskets,  leaving  only  7,000  to  arm  the  St. 
Louis  volunteers.  When  all  was  on  board  and  the  order  was  giveu 
to  start,  it  was  found  that  the  innnense  weight  of  the  cargo  had 
bound  the  bow  of  the  boat  to  a  rock,  which  at  every  turn  of  the 
wheel  was  crushing  through  the  bottom.  Tlie  arms  had  been  ])iled 
in  large  quantities  about  the  engines  to  i)rotect  thm  from  the  bat- 
teiy  on  the  levee,  ami  assistance  was  immediately  summoned  from 
tlie  arsenal  to  remove  them  to  the  stern.   Fortunately,  when  this 


THE  WAK  OF  THE  KEBELI.ION.  7i5 

was  piiitiully  I'ftoctcd  the  boat  loll  iiway  fioiii  tho  shore  and  tloated 
into  deep  water. 

'•Wliicli  way  V  said  (.'aplaiii  Mitchell,  ofthe  stt'amer.  '•S(rai,i;ht 
ill  the  rej;iilar  channel  to  Alton,"  replied  Captain  Stokes.  '>N\liat 
if  we  an;  attacked  T  said  Captain  Mitcln-ll.  ''Tiien  we  will  lij;lit,'' 
Avas  tlie  re]ily  ofC.iptain  StoUes.  '-What  if  we  are  oveipowcnMl '"' 
said  31itchell.  "linn  tin;  boat  to  the  deepest  part  of  tiie  liver  and 
sink  her,"  replied  SSiokes.  ''I'll  do  it,"  was  the  heroic  iinswer  of 
3Iitehell,  and  away  they  went  ])ast  the  secession  battery,  i)asl  the 
!St.  Louis  levee,  and  in  the  r<'<;'nlar  channel  on  to  Alton,  Mhcre  they 
arrived  at  o  o'clock  in  the  niorninj;'.  When  they  touched  the  huul- 
in<j',  Captain  Stokes,  feaiin<i"  pursuit  by  some  ofthe  secession  mili- 
tary conii)aiiies  by  which  the  city  of  St.  Louis  was  disj^raced,  ran 
to  the  market  house  and  ranj;'  the  five  bell.  The  citizens  caino 
Hockiii,i>'  pell-mell  to  the  liver  in  all  sorts  of  habiliments.  Captain 
Stokes  inl'ormed  them  as  to  the  state  of  affairs,  and  pointed  to  the 
frei;4lit  ears.  Instantly  men,  women  and  children  boarded  the 
steamer,  seized  the  freight,  and  clambered  up  the  levee  to  the 
cars.  Kich  mid  poortn^j;ed  together  with  mijiiit  and  main  for  two 
Lours,  when  the  car^o  was  all  dejMjsited  on  the  cars,  and  the  train 
moved  off  to  Sprinj;lield  amid  the  most  entliusiustie  cheers."*Theso 
arms  thus  rescued  from  the  very  j'rasp  of  traitors,  served  to  ecpiip 
the  tirst  rej;iments  of  the  State,  anil  on  many  a  bloody  field  be- 
came the  terrible  avengers  of  those  who  sought  to  use  them  against 
their  country. 

•  Putrlotism  of  Illiuois. 


CnArTER  LYI. 

ISCl— 18G2.    ILLINOIS  IN  INIISSOURI. 

Batiks  of  Lcxiuy  ton,  Monroe,  Cltarlenton,  Fredcricltoivn,  Belmont  and 

I'ea  Ridije. 


ITnviiic;  sivoii  a  luirf  slcotch  of  llio  opoi'atioii  of  Illinois  at  homo 
let  us  look  abroad  at  tli«>  exi)loits  of  Ikt  soldiiTs  in  the  field. 

Ill  till'  valley  of  llie  Mississippi,  east  of  llie  Alle^lianies,  and  on 
tlie  Sontliern  seahoaitl,  every  eohiiiiereial  liiiL;ii\vay  was  blockaded 
l\v  the  terrible  en<;iiiery  of  war,  and  every  inoiintaiii  pass  and  sa- 
lient out-post  echoed  with  the  traiiii*  of  liostile  sa'i.adrons.  In  the 
disposition  of  the  Union  armies,  Illinois  troops  were  mostly  cou- 
fine(l  to  operations  on  the  .Mississippi,  the  Tennessee,  the  Cum- 
Ixaland,  the  White,  the  lied,  the  Savannah,  and  in  the  battles  of 
JJelinont,  Pea  Kid;;!',  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Perryville,  Vi(;ks- 
luirj;',  Jackson,  Stone  river,  Chickaman,<,a  and  Lookout  Mountain, 
jMissioiiary  ltidj>e,  I'each  Tree  Creek,  Jonesboro,  Atlanta,  Savan- 
nah, Franklin  and  Nashville,  aiul  they  won  fame  for  themselves 
and  a  proud  record  for  the  State. 

Military  operations  in  the  West  coninieneed  with  the  occiii)ation 
of  Cairo.  Alissouri  lyini;' westward,  with  a  treasonable  executive 
and  a  i)opulation  ))artly  disloyal,  soon  became  involved  in  civil 
strife.  (Jov.  Jackson  appointed  Storliii<>'  Price  bri;;;'adier  f^eneral 
of  the  State  troops,  which  were  to  be  oijianized  and  ecpiipjied  for 
action,  lie  niana<i('d  to  j;et  the  i>oliceof  St.  Louis  under  his  con- 
trol, and  endeavored  to  [)ersuade  the  people  of  the  city  and  State 
to  cuist  their  destiny  with  their  brethren  of  the  Soulhern  Confed- 
eiacy.  Actinj;'  ni)on  his  advice  a  body  of  armed  men,  notoriously 
hostile  to  the  }>(>ve]'nmeiit,  and  in  communication  with  traitors  in 
the  seceded  Stat(>s,  met  near  the  city,  styling'  their  place  of  ren- 
dezvous Cain]>  Ja<;ks()n,  in  honor  of  the  ji()\ernor.  Captain  Lyon, 
then  in  command  of  the  arsenal,  had  in  the  meantime  been  em- 
powered by  the  president  to  enroll  1(>,(K)()  loyal  men  to  maintain 
the  authority  of  the  f>overnment  within  the  limits  of  the  State. 
With  the  i)romptitude  which  the  emerjicncy  demanded,  he  ap- 
peared on  the  niorninjn'  of  jNFay  10th  with  a  force  of  (>,<*()()  men  before 
the  hostile  camp,  and  deman<h'd  its  surrender.  Taken  wholly  by 
surpiise,  and  threatened  by  a  superior  force,  there  was  no  alterna- 
tive but  to  submit,  and  accoidinjily  L'O  cannons,  1200  rifles,  and  a 
larj^e  amount  of  ammunition  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Unionists. 
Till'  force,  after  dispersiiifif  tlie  rebels  retired  to  the  city,  and  l)eing 
assaulted  with  showers  of  stones  and  i)istol  shots  from  disnnion- 
ists,  tliey  (ired  into  their  ranks  and  killed  some  of  their  leaders. 
Great  excitement  ensued,  and  but  for  the  vigorous  interposition 
740 


TIIR  WAR  OV  THE  llEBELLION.  747 

ol"  Lyou  the  conniicnMiil  metropolis  of  Missouri  would  liiivc  hccoiiio 
IIk' s<'ciie  of  slriti'  hctwccii  Wiuriiij;'  iactioiis.  His  cuiiisc  hciiin' 
liii;lil\  ji|>i»1'ov»m1  ill  \Viisliiii;;toii,  lie  Wiis  raised  to  the  rank  of  bri- 
jjadiei"  jiciierai,  and  jtlaced  in  coiiiniand  of  the  government  forces 
then  oin-ratinn'  in   llie  State. 

I'ereeix  in;;' tliat  \]h'.  militia  force  tinder  I'liee,  altlioii^h  organ- 
ized witii  the  i)rofessed  intention  of  preserving'  jteace,  was  also 
treasonal)le  in  its  sympathies  and  ulterior  designs,  he  ordered  them 
to  surrender  theii"  arms.  NVhen  this  (leman<l  was  made  .lacUsou 
issut'd  a  ]>rociamaHon  (iallin;;"  .lO.dOO  Slate  militia  to  repel  t\'d- 
eral  invasion,  thus  further  disclosing- th<^  real</«//«H.v  of  the  or;;an- 
izafion  undei'  his  contiol.  With  ii  view  of  arrestin;;-  further 
proceed i u ;is  (»1'  tins  kind,  Lyon  started  in  steamers  for  .Jelfersou 
City  with  a  force  of  L',(HK>  men,  and  arriving'  thither  he  found  that 
Jackson  had  evacuated  the  city  and  ictreated  to  IJoonexille, 
lii;;hei'  uptlu^  river.  Following'  him  to  tlu^  latter  i»lace,  he,  on  the 
]7lli  of  dune,  uiet  aiul  completely  routed  the  rebel  t'orce,  and  most 
of  their  military  stores  tell  into  his  hands.  With  the  Union  force 
in  lapid  pursuit  Juc-ksou  and  his  followers  Hed  to  the  southwest- 
ern part  of  tlie  State,  wln-re  he  expected  assistance  Ironi  I'lice. 
lie  was,  however,  met  in  daspei' county  by  irt,()0(>  men  undci' (!ol. 
Fianz  Si^cl,  a  si)irite(l  oflicer,  who  was  ]»ushin^'  forward  to  [»ri!Vent 
Ids  juucriou  with  I'cinfoi'cements.  On  the  4th  of  duly  Si^^cl  had 
an  cii,i;a.u'emeiit  with  his  force  near  (lartha^e,  and  although  out- 
]iuiid)ere(l  two  to  one,  inllicted  upon  him  a  severe  blow,  the  rebel 
loss  bein.i;  ."iO  killed  anil  loO  wouniKd,  while  his  own  was  only  13 
killed  an(l  .')!  wounde<l.  Si.ii'cl's  ammunition  bein;;- exhauslcd,  he 
Avas  coni]M'lle(l  to  fall  back.lirst  to  iMt.  Vernon,  and  then  loSprin;;- 
iield,  where  he  met  (Jen.  Lyon.  The  retreat  was  fortunate,  for 
the  next  day  I  ■'wv,  reinforced  by  several  thousand  men  from 
'J'cxas  and  Arkansas,  under  (U)mmand  of  .AlcCulloch,  advanced  to 
tlu'  support  of  Jackson.  This  force  continued  its  inarch  in  the 
direction  taken  by  Sijuel,  and  took  ii  position  on  Wilson's  creek, 
vith  the  intention  of  moving'  a^aiustSpriii^tield,only  t(Mi  miles  dis- 
tant. Lyon's  forceat-  tin;  latter  place  was  oidy  r),()(Mtmeii.aiKlmany 
of  these  were  inexperi<'nced  recruits,  who  had  just  taken  the  [ilace 
of  .'••months  troops,  wliile  he  was  confronted  with  l!(»,(H)()  enemies. 
A  coiircil  of  war  was  held,  and  in  view  of  the  demoralizing  ell'ect 
a  retreat  would  havi^  iii»on  the  I'niou  cause, it  wii^  '^"cided  to  risk 
a  battle  with  even  this  superior  fon^e. 

Accordingly  on  the  Stli  of  Aiij^iist  Lyon  led  his  forces  against 
the  enemy.  A  bloody  li^iit  ensued,  iii  which  Ly(»n,  at  the  head  of 
one  of  his  re;.;iineiits,  in  ii  heavy  charge  a,iiainst  the  foe,  was 
pit'iced  through  the  he-art  by  two  bullets,  and  fell  liJeless  from  his 
srciMl. 

The  (Command  now  devolved  on  Major  Stur^is,  and  after  three 
hours' hard  ti^yhtiny  the  enemy  was  (Iriveii  from  the  iicld.  The 
rnion  troops,  bein<4'  now  without  ammunition,  retired  to  S]U'iujn- 
ficid,  where  Si^el  took  command,  and  condncted  them  to  JJolla. 
The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  rejiorted  at  1,.'»17,  ours  at  i.2;5.">,  besides 
the  death  of  Lyon,  who  was  himself  a  host,  llis  j^lorious  ])ast, 
the  ")urity  of  his  life,  and  almost  reckless  daring,  had  made  him 
the  idol  of  the  peo])le,  and  when  stricken  down  the  nation  was 
lillcd  with  mournin;;'.  llebel  authorities  endeavored  to  ma^nity 
this  battle  into  a  victory,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  L'0,000  of 


748 


HISTORY  OF   ILLINOIS. 


their  incii  liiul  been  iiict  by  "),()()()  federals  and  so  badly  disiibled 
llial  tliey  coald  not  pursue  tlie  lalter  wlir-ii  tliey  retreated.  As 
I'l'iee  was  unable  t<»  resume  oiteialions  for  more  tliaii  a  moiitli.  it 
vas  evidently  a  irnion  triumidi,  altliouyli  dearly  pureliased  at  the 
cost  of  Lyon's  life. 

I^arly  in  -Iidy,  lS(il,  ••'remont  was  entrii.'ste<l  with  the  chief  eoni- 
inandof  the  westei'n  de|»artment,  embracini;-  the  iState  of  Illin(»is, 
and  the  States  iiiul  territories  between  the  Mississii>i>i  and  the 
liochy  Mountains.  He  found  the  situation  (tf  alVairs  in  his  lU'W 
held  of  labor  veiy  unproniisini^'.  Pope  was  in  northern  .Missoiiri 
Mith  asnuUl  foire,  Prentiss  atCairo  with  a  fewre;;inu'nls.  Confront- 
inu' these  and  rea(\v  to  ]>ounee  u))on  them  uith  irresistible  mi.ulit 
Aviienevertiu'varyir  j;-  fortunes<.f  war  furnished  an  opportunity,  were 
l.'(».(»(KMnen  under  Pii'ow  at  ^^ew  .Madrid,  and  ;5(>.(l(l(»  under  Price  in 
the  southwest  part  of  tl."  State.  One  of  •<''■;  .nont's  lirst  acts  was  to 
reintbrce  Cairo  and  I>ird  s  I'oint,  on  theo]>posite  sideof  the  Missis- 
sipiii,  both  imiK'iiled  by  the  overwhelmiu';'  •'orces  on  the  river 
below.  On  tlu^  oOth  of  Auj^iist  he  issue<l  a  proelannitien  plaeinj;' 
the  whole  State  of  ^lissouri  und*.  r  martial  law,  ami  declariiif;  the 
l)roperty  of  relu'ls  confiscated,  .".d  tiieir  slaves  free  men.  Pitl  'i(! 
opinion,  however,  was  not  yet  jucparcd  for  emancipation,  and 
President  Lincoln  annulled  that  portion  relating'  to  slavery. 

BaitU  of  Lexington. — After  reeoverins  from  the  battle  of  "Wil- 
son's creek,  Price  started  northward  to  the  ^lissouri  ri\er,  it  was 
.Mi])]»osed  to  jiet  possession  of  .bdierson  ("ity,  and  reinstate  the  au- 
tliority  of  Gov.  Jackson.  Despite  small  detachnu'nts  sent  out  to 
intercept  his  nu)vemeids,  he  turned  his  coui'scr  to  the  northwest, 
and  on  the  11th  of  September  set  down  before  Lexinjiton,  <jn  the 
]\lissouri,  .'500  miles  above  St.  Louis.  Col.  ]\lulligan,  in  command 
of  the  L'.'Jd  Illinois  infantry,  1st  Illinois  cavalry,  and  about  1,L'(K» 
IVlissouri  troops,  had  previously  taken  position  between  Old  and 
New  Lexin;>ton,  distant  about  half  a  mile,  and  c(»mmeneed  fortify- 
ing' it.  His  entire  force  was  less  than  ;},()(>(),  Avhile  the  assailants 
Mere  estimated  at  nearly  L'(»,(KK),  and  consisted,  according'  to  rebel 
statements,  of  the  elite  of  the  Confederate  army.  As  early  as  the 
12tli  an  assault  was  made  on  his  works,  but  the  lien  e  and  derter- 
niined  manner  in  whi(;h  itwasmet  soon  ecuivinced  7  rice  that  even 
Avitli  his  overwhelming'  numbers,  it  would  not  be  prudent  to  at- 
temi)t  to  carry  the  i)Iaee  by  storm.  Accordingly,  as  a  means  of 
gradual  approach,  bales  of  hemi),  saturated  with  water,  to  i)reveiit 
ignition  from  the  hot  shots  of  IMulligan's  guns,  were  rolled  in 
front  of  his  batteries.  Mulligan,  in  the  meantime,  had  burnt  a 
portion  of  the  old  town  to  i)revent  the  enemy  taking  shelter  iu  it, 
and  sent  messengers  by  different  routes  for  more  troops. 

Piice,  who  had  been  waiting  for  ammunition,  receivi'd  a  su])))ly 
and  on  the  18th  13  guns,  posted  in  eommanding  jiositions,  opened 
their  fiery  throats  upon  the  federal  intenchmeiits.  The  I'liiou 
commander  had  five  small  biass  i)ieces  which  were  brought  into 
l)osition  and  worked  with  great  gallantry,  being  eharge<i  with 
rough  shot  manufact'.red  for  the  occasion  in  a  neighboring  foundry. 
Piice  having  previously  seized  the  boats  in  tliv  river,  and  fortilied 
the  adjacent  bluffs.,  the  besieged  trooiis  were  cutoff  from  water, 
and  suffered  the  most  intense  agonies  of  thirst.  This  hardship 
was  further  aggravated  by  the  stench  arising  from  the  putrid  ear- 


THE  WAR  OF  Tlir  UKTIKLIJON.  71!) 


ciisscs  of  liorscH  wliicli  in  liivfrc  iminln'r.s  liiul  been  slaiifilifciiMl  l>y 
tlic  liri'of  the  rt'bcl  j;iiiis.  It,  however,  liiiiied  ;it  iiiterviils,  iiiiil 
the  thirsty  men,  by  si»reii(liii,u  tlieir  hhiiikels  till  tliey  Ix-ciiiiie  snt- 
iiuiled  witli  wilier.  Mini  tlieii  wiiiiuiii.L;  t iieiii  in  ciinip  disiies,  were 
eiiiiltled  to  prohtlij;'  tiie  sei;;e  till  tlie  L'Oth,  when  tiiey  suricmiered. 

Col.  .Muiiijiiin  fiieelKMisly  reniiirivs  of  tlie  iionie  jumirds,  a  portion 
of  the  Missouri  troops  under  Ids  eoniniiind  wlio  icfnsed  to  fi.uht, 
tinit  they  were  "invinciltle  in  ite;iee  ;ind  in\isil»ie  in  war."  Col. 
l"^st\iin,  of  thereltei  service,  in  writin^i'  of  tiie  eapilulation,  said  : 
'•TiiissurremU'r  (h)es  not  cast  the  «lijihte.st  «lise,redit  on  ("oi.  Mnl- 
]ij:an,  his  oMieers  and  men.  After  iiavini;'  exliansted  all  their 
nn-ans  ajuainsi  an  enemy  three  times  tiieir  strength,  they  had  no 
(•lM»iee  hut  <!aiiitidation.  Tiu^  booty  wits  (•<»iisideral>le.  In  addi- 
tion to  arms,  ejothin;;'  and  annnnnition,  we  took  more  than  a  mil- 
lion dollars  in  hard  easii.  These  dollars  nearly  rendered  our 
fellows  frantic,  for  this  was  theoliject  which  had  induced  the  ma- 
jority of  them  to  take  up  arms  ajiainst  their  former  government."* 

A  writer  in  the  ('liica;;(»  /'r>,v/tlius  sjyeaks  of  Mulligan's  command 
known  as  the  Irish  r.ri,i>ade,  of  whicli  he  wa.s  a  i»rivate  : 

''(In  tlie  17th  the  enemy  commoiioed  erectinsj:  lireastworks  of  hemp 
liali's  from  liehuul  wliidi  tlu'y  contimu'd  to  (ire  as  tiiey  rolled  them  to- 
wan  Is  us.  Aliiiut  .'{o'clock  of  the  same  (lay  tlu'y  charged  over  our  eii- 
treiicliMU'iits,  upon  ("ol.  lVal)oily's  lioni(>  gaanis,  ami  planted  their  lla;^s 
on  the  toj)  ot'oiir  breastworks,  Th'-Jrish  JJriyade  was  ordered  to  have 
its  position  on  tlieopixisite  wide  lo  retake  the  ground  which  Piahody  had 
lost.  NN'e  tired  on  the  run,  and  continued  on  the  doulile  (|Uick.  The 
reliels  scattered  and  tied  liki'  a  tlock  of  slieep,  but  left  tlie  top  oftiio 
breastworks  covi'red  witli  dead  and  wounded.  Ju  this  single  charge  we 
killed  and  wounded  some  .")•">  and  lost  aliout .'!!).  They  had  no  i)ayonets, 
and  most  of  their  wea])ous  being  sliot  guns  we  did  not  give  them  time  to 
use  them.  Tliey  tired  at  ran<ioni.  Col.  ^lulligau  received  a  Imck-sliot 
through  one  of  Ids  legs,  which  lanu'd  but  did  not  disable  inm  ;  si.x  or 
seven  |)assed  through  iiislilouse.  Six  dillerent  times  during  the  ensuing 
night  the  rel)els  were  allowed  to  aiijiroach  the  ditch  on  tlie  side  next  the 
city.  When  they  f?<>t  sutlicieutly  near,  our  boys  on  the  inside 
would  exj)lode  a  none,  hurling  them  jtromiseuously  in  every  direction, 
and  shuiglitering  tlu-ni  by  hundreds.  Six  mines  were  tlius  s})rung  un- 
der their  feet,  and  tln.'y  evidently  began  to  regard  that  side  of  the  en- 
tr"uchment  as  a  dangerous  locality." 

Col.  Mulli<;an,  who  by  the  jiullant  thou<;lniiisnc(;o.'«.sfu]defensc  of 
lA'xington,  won  thr  esteem  of  Illinois,  was  born  in  182!),  in  the 
city  of  irtica,  Xew  York.  While  a  child  his  father  died  and  his 
mother  moved  with  him  to  Chicaj;().  At  the  a;;e  of  L'l  he  eom- 
meiieed  studying  law  in  the  othee  of  Isaac  X.  Arnold,  .M.  C  from 
the  Chicago  district,  and  in  ISotl  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  At  the 
commcMU'emeiit  of  the  war  he  was  captain  of  a  militia  comi)any, 
the  Shiehls  Guivrd,  in  the  drilling  of  which  ho  accjuired  a  knowl- 
edge of  military  tactics.  At  the  fall  of  Sumter  he  threw  his 
.soul  into  the  cause  of  the  Union,  assisted  in  foiniing  the  Jrish- 
Anierican  companies  of  Chicago  into  a  regiment,  known  as  the 
Irish  brigade,  of  which  he  was  elected  colonel.  The  conduct  of 
the  regiment  at  Lexington  and  elsewhere  was  brave  and  eflicient. 

Fremont  had  sent  reinforcements  to  ]Mulligan,  and  nn fortu- 
nately his  men  had  hardly  laid  down  their  arms  when  the  .succor- 
ing force  made  its  appearance  on  the  opi)osite  side  of  the  river. 


*  Tliif?  admission  but  Illy  ooiiirnrts  with  the  oft-repoatorl  stiitcmcnt  of  rebols  that 
they  Imd  taken  up  arms  to  resist  the  a^Bfressioas  ol  the  north. 


700 


HIST(>I^^'    <»l'    IMJNOIH. 


TTrtloffc  St.  Loll  I H  oil  tlH'.L!7tli,  fur  llic  piiiposc  ol'  iiiiclin.L;  I'lico 
unil  K>v>>>K' I'i'o  '»>)''*' »l  sniiM' )Miiiil  on  til)'  Missoiii'i.  His  I'ukm; 
Mils  »'(»m|Hisi'(l  of  li\c  divisions,  ('iiininaniltMl  r<'S|M'rti\ cIn  I>,\  (lens, 
l'<i|>(',  Si;;rl,  IIiinhT,  A.siiii)»tli  ;in(i  Mrl\instrv,  iini(Hinl iii;^' in  liic 
jinj^icoj,!,,  I,,  ;;!»,(i(((i  men.  'I'lic  wary  i-cIm-I  ;:;('iifr;il,  iiowrv  cr, 
Hdoii  iip|)i'isr<l  1)1'  liis  inlciitintis,  (■niniiiriiccd  r<-ti'<':iliii<;  soul  liwiiid 
illid  l».\ oH  iisiv<'  <';i\iiliv  Icinls  siicrccdcd  in  iiliiciii"  (lie  <)s;i;;(! 
bet  wri'ii  liini  ;iiid  liis  |»iiisnt'is.  ImcmihiiI  still  lull'  ' 'ii^,  on  llic, 
L'Sili  of  Octohcr  (lie  ;id\  miicc  divisions  of  his  iirniy  cnuifd  Sprin^- 
lirld  iind  drove  a  poilion  of  the  icltcl  loriH'  iVoin  tin-  town.  As 
soon  :is  Im' riiirn' lip  preprint  ions  (■oiniiicncfd  to  ;;i\ c  I  lie  ciirniy 
l"::!!!',',  hilt  iinloi  I  iin;it<'l.\  iit  t  his  jiinci  iiic  when  thciiiniy  wns 
<'ii;i<'r  lor  tin-  contest  :ind  «'\  «'r_ytliiiij;  seemed  to  pioinise  sikm-css, 
he  wiis  I't'lii'vcd  of  his  eoinin:ind. 

This  \\;is  not  entirely  iine.\|)ecied  iis  Iiis  lehitioiis  willi  the  \\;ir 
depiiitiiient  had  lor  some  tinu^  lieeii  iinsiitislaetoiy.  Its  oei  iir- 
reiiee  at  this  critical  time,  howexcr,  was  a  matter  of  re;.;ret,  for 
wliatevi'i'  i'rrors  may  have  been  committed,  the  retreat  of  the  army 
ami  the  ahaiidonment  of  this  portion  of  the  Slate  to  reliels.  w  liieh 
I'ollowcd,  w;w  far  more  disastrous.  The.  failure  to  promi)liy  send 
troops  to  tin'  relief  of  .Mulligan  eaiiscil  a  stoiin  to  hreaU  out  ajL-aiiist 
liiin,  and  his  eiiemies  m'\er  aflerwards  lie<-ame  leeoiieiled.  lie, 
was  ehar;;cd  with  defraiidiii.L;  the  j;(i\  erniiieni  in  piiicliasiii;;  sup- 
jilies  for  the  army  ;  with  siirioiiiiHiii;;  himselt"  with  fa\(trites  to  llii! 
exclusion  of  inerilorions  ollicers,  and  limilly  ineompeleiiey  in  tin', 
!naiia;:;ement  of  his  deparlineiit;  it  should,  however,  lie  iiuii- 
lioiied  in  exteiiiialion  of  these  eharjics,  that  the  failure  to  jcliext! 
Le\iii;;ton  was  rather  the  result  ol'  adverse  circiinistanees  than 
the  iaiilt  of  l-'reinont  ;  that  ids  attempt  to  free  the  slaves  (d' rehel 
masters.  alllnMiiih  rejected  at  the  time,  snl»se(pieiitl\  heeiiine  I  lie 
policy  of  the  ;L;(i\crnmeiit,  and  that  had  lie  Iteeii  cnaiilcd  to  carry 
Old  his  plans  i'ov  tiie  descent  of  the  .Mississippi,  wliieii  his  succes- 
sors moiillis  afterward  adopted,  it  would  have  saved  the  coiiiilry 
thousands  of  lives  and  millions  of  treasure. 

litdllc  (if  Mouroc. —  I'esides  tlie  hattle  of  Lexin/^toii,  a  niimlier 
of  minor  en;;a;;<'meiits  occurred  in  .Missouri  during  P'remoiil's 
administration,  in  w  liicli  tlie  troops  of  Illinois  I  tore  a  distin^iiished 
Jtart.  A  spiiited  ti.i;ht  occnrred  helvveeii  Col.  if.  T.  .Siiiilh  of  the 
Kith  Illinois  and  the  rehel  (iov .  Harris,  in  eemniand  of  -,r)(IO  con- 
federates statioiieil  at  I'lorida.  Tlie  federal  ollicer  with  a  force  of 
(>(•()  men  detached  from  his  own  r<';4iment)  ami  the.'Jd  Iowa,  lel't 
Ills  (;iun}>  at  Monroe,  .iO  miles  west  of  llannihul,  to  eii;L>a;;'e  tliii 
enemy.  On  Hearing'  tiie  ford  itii  Salt  river,  lie  was  siichlcnly 
attacked  and  ('a])t.  McAlister  of  the  Hitli  Illinois,  mortally 
uoiiiMh'd.  Finding;  himself  confronted  1>.V  f;reatly  superior  num- 
bers (.'ol.  Hmitli  fell  hack  to  .Monroe  and  statione«l  his  force  in  an 
academy.  Here  he  maintained  his  position  till  the  arrival  of  r(;- 
inforcements  fioni  (^)uiiicy,  iindei'  ex-(iov.  Wood,  when  the  enemy 
was  cliai'.iicd  and  lonted  with  a  loss  of  70  men  and  '  lar^c,  iiuiii- 
ber  of  horses. 

llattlc  of  VharlfHton. — On  tlie  liMli  of  Aii.iiiist  an  en<;a;4eincnt 
oe(;iirred  at  Cliarleston,  of  wliicIi  (Jen.  Ficmont  j^ives  tlie  follow- 
ing account:  "  IJeporl  Irom  cummandiny  ofiicer  at  Cairo  says  tliat 


TIIK  WAIl  OK  TIIK  Kl'.UKI.I.ION. 


751 

('<»l.  I)oii;;lin't\  of  (lie  UlM  Illinois,  with  ."{00  mni  snit  out  yt'strr- 
(l;i,v  III  7  o'rliirk  Ikiiii  liird'.s  I'uitit,  iit hicUcd  the  Miniiy  at 
< 'liiii'Ifstdii,  l,L20l)  .sti'oti;;,  tlrovc  liiin  ItacU,  Uilhil  10.  tuoK  17  piiso- 
iK'i's  iiii*l  I.")  horses  iiiiil  icIiiriHMl  ill  12  A.  AI.  to  liiiiTs  I'oiiil,  willi 
ii  loss  of  I  Uillcd  1111(1  (»  woiiinh'd."  A  <MUii'S|Mm«l('iit  ol'lln'  New 
York  Tiihidti  irhlli'S  till- I'ollow  in;;  of  Ll.  Col.  Iiillisoiii  ol' llir  Mill 
IlliiiolM:  ''  lie  was  iii';;iii;;  Ills  iiii-ii  to  lli<-  (tli!ii';;c  wlirii  a  man 
roilr  lip  anil  callnl  out  "Dovoii  know  voii  ate  killiti'^  our  own 
incur  K'ansoin  ifplinl  '•  I  know  wlial  I  am  doiii;;  ;  w  ho  arr  youT' 
'J'lic  reply  was  "  I  am  lor.lcIV  Davis."  Ikaiisom  nplicd,  '»  Voii  aro 
the  man  I  am  after,"  and  inslanlly  two  pistols  were  drawn.  'I'lic 
rehi'l  tired  tirsl.  takiii'^  elfeel  in  < 'ol.  Itaiisom's  arm  near  lliu 
Klioiilder.     The  (-oloiiel  tired,  killin<;' ills  aiita;;oiiist  iiistanlly. 

Iltilllc  of  Frcthriclcfoioi. — Another  [spirited  eiiya^fement  eaimi 
olT  on  the  1,'lst  of  Oelolier  near  l-'iederiektown.  <ieii.  (liaiil  llieii 
coinmandiii,!;  the  southwest  distiiel  of  Missouri,  wii  h  headipiarlers 
iitCairo,  Ilea  rill!;  that  tin'  town  was  oeenpied  by  a  eliel  foriio 
undersell.  .lelV. 'I'lioinpson,  sent  Col.  IMiiiiiiiier,  of  the  lith  .Mis- 
.soiiri.  to  operate  against  them.  'I'liis  re;;imenl  was  eom|iosed  of 
Illinois  men  who  enlisted  in  .Missouri.  'I'lie  eoinpletion  of  tho 
<|iiota  rendered  it  impossiitle  to  olitaiii  admission  to  the  ser\  ice  at 
lioiiie,  and  hence  they  went.  >a.d.  The  force  of  the  latter  con- 
sisted of  his  own  regiment,  tin  ITlli  Illinois,  Col.  K'oss,  the  LMMli, 
Col.  .Marsh,  White's  secti(»n  of  'I'aylor's  (;iiica;;(»  Itaftery  ami 
('aptaiiis  Stewart  and  Saunders'  compan.cs  of  Illinois  cavalry. 
On  his  airival  at  i-'rcdcricktowii  he  found  it  in  possession  of  Col. 
Carlin,  .'!S|h  Illinois,  whose  command,  in  addition  to  the  ."iSih, 
included  the  21st  and  L't'td  Illinois,  Colonels  .Vlexaiider  and  Har- 
vey and  several  companies  of  infantry  and  cavalry  from  W'ls- 
consin  and  Iowa.  Tlie  entire  force  under  tlie  leadership  of  ( !ol. 
I'liimlier  rapidly  iiiirsiied  and  oveitook  the  enemy,  when  a  scNcro 
<'n;;a,L;emeiit,  followcil,  'I'lie  I7tli  Illinois  and  Taylor' s  battery 
(tommenced  the  attack  in  the  rear,  wlii'e  th(!  other  rc;;iments  dc- 
]»loy<'d  to  the  ii;;lil  and  left  as  they  came  up  and  delivered  their 
lire,  'i'lie  left  of  thereiicl  force  soon  ;;avc  way,  and  their  retreat 
was  converted  into  a  I'oiit.  The  ri;;lil  under  Thompson  sii|>port('<l 
by  a  battery  mainlained  its  position  longer,  but  the  battery 
Avas  at  length  captured  and  the  rout  became  ;;eiieral.  The 
retreating  loe  was  pursued  a  distance  of  20  miles,  and  lost  in  the, 
en^a;;('!neiit  200  men  ity  death  and  iSO  by  ca]»tiire.  'i'lie  federal 
loss  was  (I  killed  and  tlO  wounded. 

(icii.  Hunter,  who  was  sent  to  succeed  (!eii.  I'"  remont,  arrived  on 
tlie  .'»d  of  November,  and  declining'  an  en^a;;enienl  with  I'lici-  coin- 
meiiccd  I'ctreatin^in  the  direction  (d"  St.  Louis.  Price  followed  him 
and  eiidea  voied  to  deslroy  t  he  Northern  railroad  for  the  purpose  of 
ciillin,^on'  commiinicalion  v  ithSt.  Louis.  On  the  iStli  of  .Noxcm- 
ber  (Jen.  Ilalleck  rea<-lied  that  city,  and  relieving;'  (len.  liiintcr, 
took  ((tnimaiid  of  the  Western  Department.  lie  immediately 
issued  a  proclamat i<»n  lixin;;'  the  penally  of  death  against  all  per- 
sons en^a;;cd  in  destroying'  railroads  and  telegraphs,  and  by  sii|)(i- 
rior  stratejuy  succeeded  in  circaiiiiventin;;'  the  designs  (»f  Prico. 
On  tln^  7th  of  December  Pope  was  ])laced  in  (Mimmand  of  llu; 
troops  ill  Xorthern  Missouri,  and  i»ushiny'  forwa.  '  lie  occnjiied  ii 
position  between  Warrensburg  ami  Clinton.     Oiierating  from  this 


niSTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


i 


position  lie  ('ii!il»li'<l  (Jol.  T,  i\  Diivis  to  iimct  and  (•oin])lot('lv  ront 
the  enemy  near  tlie  nioiitli  ol'  ("Icar  cicck.  U'iiis  victory  was 
iitniuMliiiti'ly  foDo'ved  l)y  an  ejx'dition  to  JJ(^\in^■t()n  for  the  i>iiii)ose 
of  (h'sti(»yin,u'  a  loiindiy  and  a  small  lleet  in  jiossession  of  rebel 
troops.  This  was  speedily  accomplished,  and  witli  it  aim."-  the 
'  ntire  rejiiitn  between  the  Missouri  and  Osage  rivers  fell  liil)  the 
hands  of  the  federals. 

Battle  of  Belmont. — In  tlie  meantime  Gen.  Grant  made  an 
attempt  to  eai>ture  the  rebel  foree  at  Jielmont,  on  theAlissouri 
side  of  the  ]\Iississip]»i.  Henceforth  the  history  of  this  olhccT 
is  too  well  known  to  re(iuire  recital.  AVitli  his  ])ast  history  Ave 
are  not  so  familiar.  I'lyssesS.  Grant  was  born  in  (Merinont  county, 
Ohio.  April  27,  LS21!.  At  the  aye  of  17  he  was  adndtted  to 
the  nulitary  academy  at  ^Vest  I'oint,  and  giaduated  .June  .'<<>, 
184.'{,  Immediately  after  his  jiiaduation  he  rec^'ived  the  l)revet 
of  2(1  lieutenant,  and  was  i)laced  in  the  4th  re.uinient  of  United 
iSt^'.tes  infantiy,  then  stationed  in  Missouri.  J)urin<4'  the  war 
with  .Mexico  his  i'e,niment  was  ordercil  to  join  the  army  of 
oeeui>ation  under  (ien.  Taylor,  and  sMbsecpu'Utly  he  ])articii»ated 
in  the  battles  of  Palo  Alto,  IJeseea  de  la  Talma  and  Monterey. 
On  the  arrival  of  Gen.  8('ott  he  was  transferred  to  his  (;ommand, 
and  in  the  battles  of  Vera  (Jiuz  and  JMolino  del  Jfey  his  brsivery 
was  soc()nspi(;uous,  he  was  nuide  Jst  lieutenant  on  thebattle  field. 
In  the  battle  of  Cliepultepec;,  which  followed,  he  further  distin- 
guished himself  and  wasaj;ain  ])rom<)ted,  receivinj;'  the  brevet  of 
captain  in  the  reji'idar  army.  "\Vith  the  cessation  of  the  war  he 
returned  home, resi}>ned  I'^-- "ommission  and  lived  a  private  life  till 
the  commencjement  of  rhe  rebellion. 

In  April  ISIJl,  he  waited  on  (iov.  Yates  and  tendered  him  his 
services,  modestly  statin;;' that  he  had  been  educnted  at  the  ex- 
j.ense  of  the  {^overnnu'ut ;  that  lie  now  thought  it  his  duty 
to  assist  in  defending  it,  and  would  regard  it  a  privilege  to 
be  assigned  to  any  position  where  he  could  render  himself  use- 
ful. The  first  important  duty  with  which  he  was  entrusted  was 
the  organization  of  the  first  regiments  furnished  by  the  State 
under  the  call  of  April  ir»,  18(51.  Evincing  in  the])erformance  of 
this  work  his  sujierior  military  qualitications,  the  governor  placed 
liim  in  command  of  the  21st  Illinois,  his  commission  as  colonel  dat- 
ing from  the  lath  of  June,  18(51.  Atthetime  he  took  command  the 
regiment  was  demoi'alized  and  in(!om]>lete,  but  in  10  days  after- 
ward he  tilled  it  to  the  maximum  standard  and  brought  it  to  a 
state  of  discipline  seldom  attained  in  so  short  a  time.  JJeing 
ordered  to  Korthern  Missouri,  his  regiment  proceeded  cm  foot  from 
Springtield  to  the  Illinois  river,  thence  on  the  cars  to  (^uincy, 
where  its  tirst  (bity  was  the  protection  of  the  Quiney  &  Talmyra 
and  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Jose[>h  railroads. 

On  the  31st  of  July  Grant  was  placed  in  commandof  the  troo])s 
atlNlexico,  in  the  North  Missouri  District,  commanded  by  Ibig. 
Gen.  roi)e.  Early  distinguishing  himself  in  the  held,  his  claims 
ft  »•  increased  rank  were  recognized  by  his  friends  in  Illinois  before 
bis  worth  was  fully  ai)preeiated  in  Washington.  His  vigorous 
prosecution  of  the  campaign  in  North  ]\Iissouri,  liowever,  soon 
won  universal  recognition,  and  he  was  promoted  August  23d  to 
the  rank   of  brigadier  general,  his  commission  dating  from  May 


Till')  ■WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION.  753 

ITtli.  Alter  liis  promotion  he  was  pliiced  in  eoiiimandof  tlie  Dis- 
trict of  Cairo,  einhraciii^  in  its  Jurisdiction  Soutlieni  Illinois  and 
]Missouri  and  that  i)ait  of  Kentucky  west  of  the  Cuniherhind. 
Tlic  iorce  now  under  liis  coniinaiid  consisted  of  two  hrif-ades  nnni- 
berinj;'  2,.S,")0  men.  Tiie first  undei-  (leu.  John  A.  JMcCMernand  con- 
sisted of  the  L»7tii,  Col.  JJuford  ;  ;!Oth,  Col.  Fouke  ;  .'Ust,  Col.  .1.  A. 
Lo^^an  ;Cai)t.  Dollins'  company  of  4th  cavalry  and  Tayloi's  batterj^ 
of  li,i;ht  artilleiy.  The  second,  under  Col  II.  l)ou<ili,iiy,  coin- 
l>ris('d  his  own  rejuiinent,  the  L'lst  Illinois,  and  the  7th  Jowa,  Col. 
Jiaunnm.  The  entire  force  except  the  last  regiment  was  from  Illi- 
nois. 

(1  rant's  first  movement  was  to  .seize  Smithland  and  Padticah 
respctively  at  the  nnrnths  of  the  Cumberland  and  Tennessee,  and 
use  them  as  the  base  of  future  operations  in  the  rebel  States. 
Having  garrisoned  these  places,  his  next  movement  was  to  dis- 
lodge a  rebel  force  stationed  at  JJelmont,  on  the.JMissouri  side  of 
the  Mississippi.  The  entire  force  under  his  command  was  em- 
barked on  board  the  gunboats  Tyler  and  Lexington  and  landed 
November  7th,  1801,  at  Lucas'  beinl,  about  two  miles  from  the 
canii)  of  the  enemy.  As  soon  as  debarkation  was  effected  a  line 
of  battle  was  formed,  Jiuford  commanding  the  right,  Fouke  the 
centei'  and  Logan  the  left.  The  advance  toward  the  camp  was 
a  continueus  running  tight,  in  which  a  storm  of  the  enemy's  mis- 
siles battered  and  tore  down  the  timber  in  the  faces  of  our  men. 
Passing  over  all  obstacles  and  surmounting  all  oi)i)os'.tion  the 
three  divisions  vied  with  each  other  for  the  honor  of  tiist  reach- 
ing the  rebel  positi(m.  The  scene  became  terrific,  men  grappled 
with  men,  cohimn  charged  uiK)n  column,  musketry  rsittled  can- 
non thundered  and  tore  frightful  gai)s  in  the  contending  forces. 
Piesently  the  57th  planted  i<^s  colors  in  the  midst  of  the  hostile 
encampment,  and  a  loud  and  i)rolonged  shout  was  heard  above 
the  din  ofbattle.  Next, the  21st  captured  a  ll*-pound  gun  battery, 
one  of  the  enemy's  i>rincipal  defences,  when  a  final  im])etuous, 
irresistible  charge  drove  him  'n  every  direction  and  left  the  field 
in  possessioji  of  the  federals.  The  victory  was  complete.  The 
captured  canij)  was  immediately  fired,  and  all  the  rebel  baggage 
and  ammunition  destroved. 

In  the  meantinu^  a  heavy  rebel  force  was  thrown  across  the 
river  from  Colund)us  and  moved  up  to  repair  the  disaster,  while 
batteries  opened  upon  our  men  from  the  opposite  shore.  Unable 
to  cope  with  such  formidalle  nund)ers,  a  retreat  became  necessary 
to  avoid  being  cut  off  from  the  boats.  The  command  Mas  there- 
fore given  to  retire,  but  before  it  could  be  executed  the  passage 
became  blocked  up  with  rebel  forces.  The  boys  of  Illinois  and 
Iowa,  iu)wever,  had  fought  their  "nay  forward,  and  they  now  in 
opposition  to  a  foe  of  greatly  superior  numbers  fought  their  way 
back.  Every  regiment  suffered  severely,  but  it  was  believed  the 
enemy  suttered  worse.  Grant  in  his  official  rei)ort  gives  the  loss 
of  the  former  at  84:  killed  and  150  wounded;  that  of  the  latter  was 
not  known. 

The  object  of  the  battle  was  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  send- 
ing reinforcements  to  Price  Jind  Thompson  in  Missouri. 
IJut  how  this  was  to  be  done  does  not  appear,  when  the 
impossibility  of  holding  the  position  under  the  heavy  guns  of 
Columbus  wasai)parent.  Though  the  propriety  of  the  expedition 
48 


754 


HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


iniiy  bo  questioned  the  valorof  Illinois  -was  uiuloulited.  den.  INFc- 
Cleniiind  was  in  tliiunidstof  (liinj;er<lispla.vin<ijiieiit  eoolness  and 
skill  in  liandlinjj  liis  forces,  (len.  Lojuan  e.\liii)ited  the  inti<'|)id- 
it,v  and  Jtidf;iaent  which  distiiiji'nished  him  in  su'l)se(iiient 
battles,  and  Col.  Donjjheity  at  the  head  of  his  bvij;ade  was  three 
times  wounded  and  at  lenj;th  taken  jaisoner.     Says  McClernand: 

"I  cannot  bestow  too  hijjh  commendation  upon  all  1  luul  the  honor  to 
conniiand  on  that  day.  Sui)])Ile(i  witl>  inferior  and  defective  arms,  many 
of  wliicii  could  notl)e  discluirgcd,  many  l)urstinf;f  in  use,  they  fou^>iit  an 
an  enemy  in  woods  witli  which  h"  was  fauuiiar,  liehind  defensive  works 
which  he  Iiad  hccn  preparing  fo  onths,  in  the  face  of  a  Itattery  at  Jiel- 
niont  and  under  the  huge  jfuns  .it'ohuubus,  and  although  nunil)erinj» 
thrc^e  or  four  to  our  one,  we  heat  him  and  ca|)turcd  several  stand  of  colors, 
destroying  his  camp  and  carrying  otfa  large  amount  of  property  already 
mentioned.  To  mention  all  who  did  well  would  include  every  man  of 
my  command  who  came  under  my  jjcrsomd  notice.  Jioth  otiicers  and 
privates  did  their  whole  duty,  nobly  sustaining  the  character  of  Ameri- 
cans and  Illinoisans.  They  shed  new  luster  upon  the  flag  of  their  country 
by  holding  it  in  triumph  Mirough  the  shock  of  l)attleand  thedin  ofarms. 
Tlie  lilooil  they  so  freely  poured  out  proved  their  devotion  to  tiioir  coun- 
try and  serves  to  hallow  a  just  cause  witli  glorious  recollections.  Their 
success  was  that  of  citizen  soldiers." 

Bditle  of  Pea  Ridrjc. — The  fim^os  operatinjr  in  Missouri  at  the 
eloseot  .lannary,  1<S()2,  were  (combined  under  the  comnnind  of  (ien. 
S.  H.  Curtis,  II  distinjiuished  otlicer  of  the  U.  H.  army.  Early  the 
following;'  month  they  pushed  rapidly  toward  Sprin^ti<d(l,  wiiere 
on  tiie  iL'tli  they  encountered  I'ric-e  with  about  4,(HK)  men.  Siiarp 
skiiinishin<;' ensued  and  the  rebel  f-eneral  lieeins;'  dininj;'  the  ni^ht 
to  a\()i(I  an  en<;a}4enH'nt,  was  jtursued  for  )nore  than  100  miles. 
kStoppiiij;-  in  the  vicinity  of  tla^  Boston  mountains  he  was  re-intbreed 
by  McCulIoch  and  Van  Dorn,  Avher(d»y  his  army  was  an^niented 
to  near  40,000  men,  and  lie  was  ayain  enabled  to  resume  oftensive 
operations.  Curtis  thus  threatened,  had  distributed  jjortions  ol 
Lis  command  for  ftarris<»n  duty  alon<;  Ids  extensive  line  of  com- 
niuiiication,  ami  now  Ii.mI  leftoidy  12,(t00men  and  about  ")()  ])ieces 
of  artilleiy.  His  several  divisions  had  been  sent  in  various  diice- 
tions  ibr  the  purjio-se  of  (d)tainin<;'  ibraj;e  and  dispeisinj;-  ](d)el 
bands  !;atliering  at  different  points  in  the  s(»utheasteni  part  of  the 
State.  TIk!  bst  ami  lid  were;  under  Sij>('l  near  IJentonviile,  the  .'Id 
under  Davis  near  Suyar  Creek,  and  the  4(h  under  Carr  at  Cioss 
]b>liow,  Early  in  March  intelli};ence  was  received  that  Van  J)oiii 
who  assumed  chief  command,  was  advaiu'iuf;'  to  nmke  an  attack 


A  correspondent  of  the  ChicBjro  Piwt,  wrltinjr  of  nelmont,sn}H  :  "An  incidont  wor- 
thy of  iK'in^r  recorded  oecurn^d  during'  the  recent  battle.  Col.  I'hil.  U.  I'ouke,  of  the 
31st  niinois.  and  Col.  JohnV.  WrlKht,  of  the  13th  Tennessee,  both  members  of  the  last 
con>;ress,  w»ue  warm  friends  and  oci^iipled  seats  tojrethtr.  When  the  war  liroki^  out 
beloro  Ihey  had  left  Washington,  Mr.  Writfht  received  the  appointment  of  colonel 
from  the  Bovernor  of  Tennessee.  W'"n  about  to  separate  Mr.  Wrijrht  said  ;  'Phil.,  I 
am  iroinff  into  the  war.  and  I  suppose  joii  will  be  in  italso,  and  I  promise  if  we  meet 
on  the  battle  field  that  I  will  take  care  of  your  men  if  you  will  take  care  of  mine.' 
The  pledire  wasinutual,  and  the  '  cxt  time  they  met  wason  the  bloody  Held  of  Ilelinont. 
At  one  time  during  the  %ht  Col.  Foukes  men  were  lyinK  down  waiting  for  the  enemy 
and  he  was  stnndiniron  a  log- in  full  view  wnltinpr  for  them,  when  about  twenty  or 
Wrijrht's  men  leveled  their  musketsat  liini, which  movement  belnjrseen  by  Col.WriRht, 
he  looked  in  tlie  direction  and  rcco^'■nizedCol.  Fouke,  ordered  his  men  to  desist,  sayini? 
that  man  was  his  friend  and  lie  did  not  want  him  harmed  This  interposition  iloiibt- 
less  saved  Col.  Fouke's  life  n.s  these  Tennesseeans  are  crack  shots.  Col.  Wrinht  was 
was  afterwards  severely  wounded,  but  the  next  day  sent  his  ad.iutant  to  inform  Col. 
Fouko  that  he  had  not  forsotton  his  pled^;o.  Ueforc  the  battle  was  ended  Cf)l.  Fouke's 
regiment  took  a  number  ol  Col.  Wright's  men,  and  he  relijrously  <>bsesved  his  share  of 
the  pledge,  looking  after  tbo  wants  of  the  prisoners  as  though  they  were  his  own 
men." 


THE  WAR  OF  THK  REBELLION. 


7.)a 


and  the  .sovcral  divisions  of  tho  Union  fonnvs  were  ordered  to(U)n- 
(HMitrate  on  8n<(ar  Creek,  a  point  re^^arded  favorable  for  effeetive 
resistenee.  Sij^cl  in  brinjiin?;'  up  liis  division  Avas  assailed  hy  larjio 
niiinhers  of  the  enemy,  and  for  live  hom\s  <;oni))ellod  to  cut  his 
way  throiifih  theii'  midst  to  etfeet  a  Jnnc^tion  witii  tiie  othei's. 

On  th(^  (ith  of  Mareh,  ISdl',  the  entire  foree  was  l)ron.niit  to,nether 
on  tiie  western  ed/^e  of  i'ea,  Jli(l>it',  and  in  nnlieipation  of  au 
enj;a,!4ement,  slept  on  their  arms.  Tiie  battle  <%')mmeneed  at  early 
dawn  and  rajicd  furiously  tlu^  whole  day,  daiiiiy  which  Van  Dorii 
su(;ceeded  in  marehinj;'  round  the  Federal  army,  ami  took  a  i)()si- 
tion  in  the  rear.  Curtis  was  thus  compelled  to  chanjie  his  front, 
and  allhoii^h  exposed  to  the  continued  tire  of  the  enemy,  the 
movement  wa.s  executed  with  the  most  intrepid  j>allaiitry.  In  the 
(H'Utre  and  on  the  left  the  battle  ra^'ed  with  inci-eased  fury,  and 
wlien  eveninj;'  put  an  end  to  the  carnage,  McCulloch  and  Mc'lntosh, 
two  of  the  nu)st  efticient  rebel  oilicers,  were  amonj;-  the  slain.  The 
weather  was  cold  and  the  army  lay  down  to  pass  a  comfortless 
iiifilit,  beiny  unable  to  kindle  lires  without  drawing;'  the  attention 
of  the  enemy.  During  tlie  nij;ht  the  rebels  etfeete(l  a  Junction  of 
their  I'orces,  and  as  the  rising'  sun  lighted  up  tlie  battle  pound, 
they  recommenced  the  contliet,  contident  of  overwhelmiiij;'  the 
federals  by  superior  numbers.  The  latter,  however,  were  handled 
witii  jiiciit  skill  and  Sij^cl  served  the  artillery  with  such  accuracy 
that  the  rebel  line  in  ashorttinu^  was  seriously  shaken  and  finally 
fcaced  from  the  iield.  The  routed  army  llecl  in  the directtion  of 
Keitsville  and  was  followe<l  a  distance  of  12  miles,  when  further 
pursuit,  in  conseijuence  of  the  woodeil  and  broken  country,  became 
impracticable.  That  portion  of  the  battle  field  jiounded  by  our 
artillery  presented  a  j;hastly  sceiM>  of  dismounted  cannons, 
shivered  c;irriaj;('s  and  mangii'd  bodies.  Price's  loss  was  estiniatecl 
at  .■),()()()  in  killed,  wounded  and  missinf>'.  A  novel  featuie  intro- 
duced at  this  battle  was  Ihe  eni])loyment  of  some  2,r)()()  Jndiiins 
sediu'cd  from  tiieir  alieyia-nee  by  the  rebels.  They  were  of  little 
sei'vi<'(>  to  their  allies  in  fij;htinj;' the  livinj;- but  vented  their  brutal 
fenxaty  in  mutulatin;;-  the  bodies  of  the  dead. 

Tlie  Illinois  troops  particiitatinj-'  in  the  en<:'a<>'enuMit  were  the 
3r>th,  Col.  (J.  A.  Smith  ;  oOth,  Col.  \ireusel  ;  ;{7th.  Col.  .T.  White  ; 
.'jTth,  .Major  Post  ;  iU\  cavalry.  Col.  E.  A.  Carr  ;  a  battalion  of  the 
lath  cavaliy,  Ciipt.  Jenks,  and  Davidson's  Peoria,  battery.  All 
a('(piitte(l  (Iiemselves  in  such  a  manner  as  to  I'cflect  honor  ui)ou 
the  State.  Day  Klmore,  a  drumnu'r  of  the  .'{(ith,  exchan,i;ed  his 
drum  for  a  musket  and  fouylit  with  the  bravery  of  a  veteran  dur- 
ing;' the  intire  battle. 

After  this  enf^'a.u'enuMit  lai'j>e  numbers  of  the  ]Missourians  who 
had  fou.iilit  with  the  rebels,  were  [tei'mitted  to  return  home,  and 
on  takinji'  tlu^  oath  of  allegiance,  the  State  for  a  short  tinu^  en- 
Joyed  comparativequiet.  In  .lune,  at  tli(^su<i|H('stiou  of  Cien.( -urtis 
.Missouri  was  erected  in  to  a  sejtarate  military  district,  and  (Jen.  J.  j\r. 
Scholield,  who  had  served  with  distinction  as  chief  of  the  hunented 
Lyon's  staff,  was  ]>laced  in  command.  JMarandiufi'  bands  again 
began  to  be  troublesome,  iind  Scholield,  on  thel'L'd  inst.,  issued  a 
l)roclamat ion  holding  rebel  sympallii/ers  and  their  projiery  re- 
sponsible for  the  depredations  committed  in  their  respective  dis- 
tricts. lOncouiaged  by  Price  at  Helena,  nunu'rous  rebel  emissaiies 
next  spread  themselves  over  the  8tate,  and  while   openly  profess- 


750 


HISTORY  OP  ILLINOIS. 


ing  Union  sentinnMits,  they  secretly  oi-f^iini zed  a  force  estiniated 
at  40,(K)0  men,  and  aj>reed  upon  sif^nal.s  whereby  tliey  could  sud- 
denly seize  all  the  important  points  in  the  country.  To  prepare 
for  the  conspiracy  Schotield  obtained  from  the  general  government 
authority  to  orji^anize  the  militia,  and  as  the  loyal  people  readily 
submitted  to  the  e'lrollmt.it,  ami  tlie  disloyal  refused,  thus  dis- 
closing the  real  character  of  each  nnin.  Some  20,000  men  -vvero 
rei)orted  for  military  duty,  ami  lo  raise  funds  for  their  support, 
the  wealthy  in  St.  Jjouis  county  <vlio  refused  to  serve,  were  re- 
quired to  furnish  $500,000.  A  bloody  struf'-gie  was  now  goinj?  on 
in  the  northeast  i)ortion  of  tlie  State  between  bands  of  guerillas 
and  the  militia.  By  the  1st  of  Septeiid)er  as  many  as  a  hundred 
small  engagements  had  occurred  in  which  Illinois  troops  largely 
])articii)ated,  and  some  10,000  rebels  were  killed,  wouiuled  or 
driven  from  the  State.  At  this  date  the  rebels  imder  llindman, 
in  northern  Arkansas,  numbering  50,000,  Avere  also  conteni])lating 
an  invasion  of  south-western  Missouri.  As  the  result,  battles  of 
considerable  magnitude  were  fought  at  Fort  Wayne,  Cane  Hill, 
and  Fayetteville,  in  which  the  rebels  sustained  such  serious  losses 
that  Uiudmau  abandoned  his  designs. 


...i  . 


Chapter  LVII. 

1801-18G2— ILLINOIS    ON    THE   CUMBERLAND,  TENNES- 
SEE AND  MISSISSIPPI. 

Battle  of  Forts  Henry  ami  DoneUon — Capture  of  Columbus.  New 
Madrid  and  Island  No.  10. 


We  must  now  jjo  ])ack  to  the  commencement  of  the  oj)erations 
for  oiHMiins"  the  Mississippi.  The  course  of  this  maj,Tn'ficont  river 
from  north  to  south  and  the  intercourse  necessarilj-  existing  among 
the  inhabitants  of  its  fertile  valley  will  always  render  it  impossi- 
ble to  form  them  into  separate  nationalities  by  arbitrary  boumla- 
ries.  Kunning  entirely  across  the  rebel  confederacy  and  making 
it  vulnerable  to  the  assaults  of  a  fleet,  the  government  at  an  early 
day  commenced  making  preparation  for  ottensivo  naval  operations. 
Columbus,  Kentucky,  situated  on  the  east  bank,  20  miles  below 
Cairo,  had  been  seized  as  early  as  Sept.  1801,  and  so  fortified  as 
to  be  termed  the  rebel  Cibralter.  Its  massive  works  and  heavy 
giuis  rendering  capture  by  a  direct  assault  almost  impossible,  it 
was  determined  to  cut  ofl:'  its  supplies  and  thus  compel  its  aban- 
donment by  an  expedition  up  the  Tennessee  and  Cumberland 
rivers.  Near  where  these  streams  flow  across  the  northern  boun- 
dary of  Tennessee,  the  rebels  had  erected  two  strong  fortiflcitions 
known  as  Forts  Henry  and  Donelson.  After  nuiture  delil)eration, 
Gen,  Halleck  decided  first  to  attack  the  tbrmer  of  these  strong- 
holds, and  then  moving  across  the  intervening  land,  attack  the 
latter.  For  this  purpose  ('ommodore  A.  H.  Foote,  as  gallant  au 
oflicer  as  ever  sailed  the  deep,  with  a  fleet  of  7  guid)oats,  the  St. 
Louis,  Cincinnati,  C^arondelet,  Essex,  Tyler,  Lexington  and 
Mound  City,  ami  Gen.  Grant,  with  a  co-operating  land  force  from 
Cairo  and  I'aducah,  were  sent  up  the  Tennessee.  On  the  5th  of 
February,  18<!2,  the  land  fonies  disembarked  from  their  transports 
and  pi-epared  to  spend  the  night,  during  which  a  thunder  storm 
burst  on  the  encampment,  portraying  in  its  terrific  grandeur,  the 
fury  of  the  coming  battle.  Grant  ordered  Gen.  Mc'Clernand  com- 
manding the  flrst  division,  to  take  a  position  in  the  rear  of  the 
fort  for  the  two-fold  purpose  of  guarding  against  reinforcements, 
or  preventing  the  escape  of  the  garrison  as  the  exigencies  of  the 
engagement  might  require.  His  division  consisted  of  2  brigades 
commanded  res])e(!tively  by  Cols.  Oglesby  and  W,  H.  L.  "NValhu'e; 
tlie  iirst  comi»rising  the  8th,  18th,  "27tli,'the  29th,  30th  and  31st 
Illinois  infantry.  Dresser's  and  Scliwartz's  batteries;  the  2d,  the 
11th,  12tli,  4r)tii  and  48th  Illinois  infantry,  Taylor's  and  McAhs- 
ters'  batteries  and  4th  cavalry. 
757 


7r>8 


IIISTOIIY   or   ILLINOIS. 


The  LM  division  iiiidcr  (m'P.  ('.  V.  Siiiitli,  was  thrown  across  the 
riviT  anil  ordcicd  to  i)roct"fd  up  tin-  Kfiiiiick^v  siiorc  and  occnpy 
till*  ht'ijihts  adjact'nl  tiic  foil,  whicii  the  oncniy  had  hi';;nn  lol'oi-- 
tify.  Thi- yth,"lL'th,  L'Sth  and -list  Illinois  constitntcd  a  part  of 
the  force. 

Owinj;  to  the  badness  of  the  I'oads,  none  of  tlie  land  foices 
arrived  soon  enonjih  to  share  in  its  caplnic.  Alxait  10  o'clock 
Foote  steamed  n|)  toward  the  fort,  which  standinji  in  a  Itend  of 
the  river,  had  eonii»lete  eonmnind  of  the  channel  for  a  lonj;'  dis- 
tance below.  JWiinji'  ■\  bastioned  earth  work  and  inoiintin,ii  17 
guns  of  the  largest  calibre,  it  was  deemed  ea|>able  of  resisting  any 
assailing  force  however  formidable.  An  island  lav  in  the  stream 
abont  a  ndle  below,  under  eov«'r  of  which  the  licet  advanced 
Avithoiit  becoming  exi)osed  to  the  lire  of  its  long  ranged  rilled 
guns.  The  wooden  vessels  r«'maine<l  at  the  island  while  the  iron- 
clads emerging  from  behii  1  it,  and  proceeding  in  the  direction  of 
the  fort  were  met  by  the  ponderous  shot  of  the  fort.  The  boats 
immediately  I'eturned  this  greeting,  ami  their  screaming  missiles 
fell  with  such  rapidity  in  and  around  the  fort  as  to  cause  some 
4,000  infantry  to  tiee  with  i»recii»itation.  Coming  within  (tloscr 
range  the  breastworks  were  pU)wed  u[)  and  dashed  in  the  face  ot 
'the  garrison,  gun  after  guu  was  dismounted,  and  within  an  hour 
from  the  commencement  of  the  engagejnent,  tin;  stronghold  was 
surreiulered.  Sixty  jjrkvonersainl  a  large  amount  of  nulitary  stores 
fell  into  our  liands.  Unfortunately  the  infantry  wliich  tied  at  the 
commencement  of  the  eugagement,  were  beyoml  the  rtiu^li  of  pur- 
suit, before  Mc'Clernand  and  his  Illinois  men  (!ould  arrive  ami  in- 
tercept tli<  The  principal  danmge  inllieted  on  the  licet  was 
.sustained  b\  tlie  Ksf ex.  A  24-poun(l  shot  passing  in  at  a  i)oit- 
hole,  and  plunging  iido  one  of  her  boilers,  caused  the  steam  to 
escape  and  comi)letely  envelope  the  crew.  JSonie  in  their  terrible 
agony  throwing  themselves  out  of  portholes  iuto  the  river  while 
others  struggling  in  vain  to  escape,  sank  gasping  for  breath, 
scalded  in  the  liery  vapor. 

This  important  \  ietory  was  the  first  won  on  the  western  waters; 
the  telegram  announcing  the  event  was  read  in  both  houses  of 
congress,  and  a  vote  of  thanks  tendered  Commodore  Foote.  The 
fleet  under  Lieut.  Pheli)s  was  sent  uj)  the  river  to  <!a]>tuie  two 
rebel  boats  which  were  pursued  so  closely  that  their  crews  blew 
them  up  to  prevent  their  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  ])uisuers. 
The  expedition  sailed  up  the  river  as  far  as  Florence,  destroying 
the  bridge  of  the  M.  «&  O.  railroad  connecting  IJowling  (jieen, 
]\Iemphis  and  Columbus,  and  compelling  the  rebels  to  burn  live 
of  their  valuable  steamers.  All  along  the  route  I'helps  met  willi 
many  cheeiing  evidences  of  loyalty  among  the  peojde  of  Tennes- 
see and  Kentucky,  old  men  and  women  Hocking  to  the  shoie,  and 
shedding  tears  at  again  beholding  the  old  flag. 


Donehon. — The  fall  of  Henry  ojiened  the  way  for  an  advjince 
upon  Donelson.  This  formidable  rebel  stronghold  was  situated 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  Cumberland,  and  served  as  an  ouli)ost 
for  the  defense  of  Nashvill  •.  80  miles  higher  up  the  river.  The 
ground  upon  which  it  Wfis  situated  is  about  100  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  river,  which  at  tiiac  point  bends  toward  the  west,  and 
after  running  a  few  hundred  yards  turns  agaiu  and  i>ursues  its 


THE  WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


gciicriil  conrsc  iiortliwivnl.  To  conunaiid  tlio river  iiortliwiird  niid 
guard  against  a  naval  atta(;k,  two  Ijattcrics  of  heavy  ordiiaiiee  had 
been  phinted  at  tiie  Coot  of  the  hliiff  near  tiie  edge  of  liie  water. 
Tlie  fort  itself  was  an  irregnlar  work  enclosing  aliont  1(K>  acres, 
and  except  on  the  river  side  swrronn<led  at  the  distance  of  a  milo 
with  ritle  pits.  On  the  west  sid(^  a  forniidalde  altatis  ran  between 
the  tort  and  riHe-pits,  widle  from  every  (^oiiinianding  point  along 
the  whole  line,  howitzers  and  lield-i)ieces,  itointed  their  grim  muz 
zles  directly  at  the  fa(;e  of  the;  besieging  army.  These  almost 
imi)regnable  v  orks  were  occupied  by  HO.OttO  impetuous  lire  eaters 
from  the  southwest  under  (tommand  of  Floyd,  Pillow,  J5u<"kuer, 
and  Joimson.  Additional  trooi)s  being  necessary  to  effect  its 
reduction,  (ieu.  Grant  ordered  forward  all  the  availa)»le  Ibices  in 
his  district,  wliilo  troops  Irom  (Cincinnati  and  the  right  wing  of 
Gen.  Unci's  divisior  from  ICentucky,  underden.  Crittenden,  wei'e 
hurried  forward  an<l  i»laced  at  his  disposal.  The  army  thus  aug- 
uuMited,  consisted  of  .'!  divisions  under  McClcruaud,  Smith  and 
AVallace  and  numbered  some  25,000  men,  the  elite  of  western 
troops. 

Oil  the  nu)rning  of  the  IL'th,  Gen.  Grant,  with  Snuth's  and  AFc- 
Clcrnand's  di\  isions  started  for  Fort  Doiielson  and  by  noon 
arrived  within  two  miles  of  the  enemy's  outposts,  ^/ter  driving 
in  the  rebel  pi(!kets,  and  investing  the  works,  Col,  Mayine  of  W, 
11.  \j.  Walace's  brigade,  MeClernand's  division,  witli  the  17th, 
48th  and  4!)th  Illinois,  was  sent  to  make  an  assault  on  the 
enemy's  middle  redoid)t,  "Forming  a  line  of  battle  they  moved 
in  tine  order  across  the  intervening  ravines  and  mounted  with  the 
coolness  of  veterans  the  steep  heiglit  on  which  the  redoubt  stot)d. 
The  enemy  screened  behind  their  embankments,  pouied  into  the 
exposed  ranks  ii  terrible  fire  of  iiuisketry.  Still  the  brave  llli- 
noisans,  undaunted,  steadly  advanced.  lUit  at  this  (;ritical  Jiuu;- 
ture  it  was  fouiul  tluit  the  line  was  not  long  enough  to  envelope 
the  works  and  the  -l.'ith  Illinois  was  ordered  to  their  su[)j>ort. 
While  these  movements  were  being  (!arried  out  the  enemy  sent 
forward  heavy  reinforccnu'iits  of  men  and  field  artillery,  which 
soon  swept  the  advancing  line  with  nuirdeious  effect.  J>ut  onward 
pressed  the  undaunted  reginu'uts  leaving  their  dead  and  wounded 
strewing  the  slope  till  they  came  to  the  foot  of  tlu^  works,  where 
an  abatis  presented  a  tangled  wall  of  jagged  ]>oints,  through 
which  no  soldiers  under  heaven  could  forcj  their  way  in  the  f;u'c  of 
su(?h  ii  Hre,  liriiver  oflicers  never  led  men  to  death,  but  they  found 
they  had  been  sent  to  accomidish  impossible  work,  and  gave  the 
reluctant  connnand  to  fall  back,*" 

This  determined  assault  remhn-edit  evident  thattlie  task  l>efore 
the  army  was  one  of  no  ordinary  magnitude,  and  it  was  d«'cmed 
best  to  await  the  arrival  of  Wallace's  division  and  the  fleet  under 
Foote,  before  attempting  any  further  denu)ustrations,  ^lean- 
while  the  pleasant  weather  which  had  previously  cheered  the  army 
suddenly  changed-  A  coutinous  storm  of  sleet  and  snow  pre- 
vailed during  tlu^  night  of  the  l.'Jth  and  tl.e  army,  destitute  of 
blankets  and  tents,  was  com])eIlcd  to  suffer  the  unmitigated  rigors 
of  winter.  On  the  14th  an  irregular  fire  of  sharp-shooters  occa- 
sionally interluded  with  bursts  of  artillery,  was  kept  up  but  uu- 


Headley's  Rebellion 


700 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


attended  by  iiiiportiuit  results.  Tlie  saiiio  day  the  ex])e(!ted  re- 
in Ibiceiiiciit.s  eanie  up  and  the  coininiUKU'r  «>['  the  lh>el  ])iit  his 
btKits  in  motion  for  an  assanil  on  liic  hattciies  at  IIm;  fool  of  tiie 
biulf,  tlie  wooden  vessels  in  llie  rear  and  tli(!  ii'on-clads  in  IVont. 
Coming'  wit  inn  ranj:;e,  the  eoutest  <'onMneneed«iind  eontiinu'd  to 
increase  as  tlie  distance  between  the  combatants  dindnished.  Thci 
h)ii(l  explosions  of  tin' jiuiis  siiook  tiie  adjaeenf  sliores  and  revi-r- 
beratiuf;'  far  inland,  spread  disma.v  ani()ii<;'  the  icbellitais  inhabi- 
tants. Still  fartlier  ami  farther  tiu'y  advanced,  disehar^inj;  their 
lieaxy  ordnance  dia-ctly  into  the  batteries,  and  in  turn  exposed  to 
the  storm  of  shot  and  shell  rained  down  ni)on  the  rixcr.  The  tire 
of  the  batteries  at  lenj;th  be<;an  to  slack,  but  unfortunately  bcforii 
they  were  entirely  sileiu'cd,  a  shot  destroyed  tin-  steering  ai>para- 
tus  of  the  Louisv  ille  and  another  disabled  the  St.  Louis,  and  both 
cralts  unmanajicalde,  lapidly  drifted  with  the  swift  current  from 
under  the  enemy's  j;uns. 

(irant  miw  deternnned  to  stien^then  his  line  of  investnu'ut  so 
as  to  render  ej;ress  impossible,  and  await  the  repair  ami  farther 
co-oi)eratiou  of  tin;  boats.  The  rebels,  however,  beconunji'  alarmed 
at  tindinj;  themselves  ahnost  literally  vvalied  in  by  the  besicyinj;' 
lV)rces,  resoh  ed  to  o])en  an  exit  and  t-scajie  to  the  country.  Accord- 
inj;ly  early  in  the  nu)ridnj;-  of  the  \'}\\i,  the  enemy,  sonu'  7,.")((0 
sti'on^,  eim'ij;i'd  from  his  works  and  in  separate  cidinnns,  huiled 
himself  aj;ainst  McClernand's  division  on  tlu'  ri};ht  (tf  the  fedeial 
line.  Ojilesby's  bri-:ade,  the  Sth,  IStli,  L'Htli,  .'iOth  and  ."Jlst  Illinois 
recei\('d  the  lirst  concussion.  Is'cxt  \N'allace"s,  the  11th,  -(Mh,  4,'»d 
and  hSih  ;  Morrison's,  the  J  7th  and  4!)th,  and  ^Ic Arthurs',  the  l»th, 
llitli,  L'iUh  and  Ust  weic  slriu-k  by  the  anj^ry  foe,  and  the  entire 
division  Ibr  four  hours  alone  coidendcd  with  his  overwhelming 
numbers.  It  was  an  irrejiular  baTtle-tield  of  hill,  ia\  ine  and  forest ; 
and  concert  of  action  anion;;'  the  several  rcj^iuu'Uts  en^^a^ifd  at 
dilVerent  j)oints  of  attack  was  diihcult.  Stid)bornly,  /.^idlautly, 
enthusiastically,  howe\er,  tlu^  sons  of  Illinois  nu't  the  (Uislau.uht, 
till'  advauiauy  ami  ivt-edin;;-  roar  of  musketry  and  cannon  throu;;h 
the  Ibrest  nuirkinji'  theshiftin;;'  tide  of  battle.  At  length  from  the 
incessant  jioundinj;-  of  shot,  shell,  and  canuister,  tlie  exticme 
right  t>f  the  line  began  to  crumble  away  and  the  I'xullaut  enemy 
com^entrating- at  a  single  point, an<l  hurling  himself  in  overwhelm- 
ing masses  against  the  dixision,  it  was  compelled  to  fall  back,  not 
howcNcr,  till  the  regiment 
some  of  them  had  lost  near  a  third  of  their  men. 

2\evei'  fought  braver  men  than  ours  on  ihar  bloody  day,  some 
of  the  coiii[»aiiies  remaining  rooted  to  their  position  till  the 
enemy's  forces  rolled  about  and  swallowed  them  up.  Some  of  the 
regiments  were  literally  cut  to  [ticces,  while  the  loss  of  othcea.s  was 
great  beyond  proportion.  Col.  (ijuinn  of  the  L'Oth,  IMajor  J'ost  of 
the  8th,'Cai»tain  IJigby  of  the  olst,  laeut.Col.  Smith  of  the  4<Sth, 
Capt.  Craig,  and  Jjieuts.  Skeats  and  ]Mansker  of  the  18th,  Capt. 
Shaw  and  Liefits.  Ifoyce  and  Vore  of  the  11th,  Adjutant  Kirk- 
patrick  of  the  lUth,  Capt.  ^lendell  of  the  7th  and  Cai>t.  IJrokaw 
of  the  4{)th,  were  among  the  many  who  laid  down  their  lives  oil 
the  fatal  Held  that  liberty,  right,  and  progress  might  live.  In  the 
retrograde  movement,  McAllister's  battery  having  exhausted  the 
!">(>  rounds  of  iimmunition  with  which  it  went  hito  action,  was 
captureil  while  waitujg  a  fresh  supply. 


had  exhausted  their  ammunition,  and 


TTIK  WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION.  701 

III  the  I'iiily  ])iirt  of  tlio.  assanlt  MctCk'niiiiid,  fcaifiil  lie  niifjlit 
be  ()\ crhoiiie  by  superior  niiiiibtM's,  sent  to  Wiilliiee,  whose  division 
o('ciii»ie(l  tlie  center  of  the  line,  for  reinforcements.  Tiie  liitti-r 
si'nt  Ciiift's  bripule  to  his  assistiince,  bnt  beinj;'  iinperfectly 
jinided,  it  was  carried  too  far  to  the  rijiiit  to  ren(h'r  siiccessfnl  aid. 
The  enemy  still  advancin};'.  he  n«'.\t  interposed  Thayer's  brijiado 
between  them  and  the  retirin;;'  re;4inients,  which  liad  expended 
their  ammunition.  The  force  was  immediately  placed  in  11, le  by 
pusliin<4  forward  Wood's  ('hica<;o  battery  to  the  road  alon<>'  which 
tiie  foe  was  ntovinj;',  jyostinn'  the  .'hStli  Illinois  and  Ist  Ne- 
braska on  th(^  rijiht  of  the  battery,  and  ."iiSth  Ohio  ami  a  portion 
of  the  .{I'd  Illinois  on  the  left.  I>ehiml  the  line  thus  formed  at 
rifiht  anj-les  with  the  road,  the  7()th  Ohio  and  4(!th  and  oTtli  Illi- 
nois were  stationed  as  reserves.  Hardly  wi-re  tln'se  arrajicments 
complete  bi'fore  the  rebels  emerged  from  the  woods  and  dashed 
lip  in  front  of  the  bn<>ade.  A  blimlin<>'  sheet  of  Hanie  burst  forth 
from  cannon  and  nnisketry,  cansin;;'  the  exultant  foe  to  recoil  and 
fall  back  to  the  elevated  ;:;round  previously  taken  from  IMcCIernand, 
Battered  and  buffeted  by  the  lilows  which  had  been  i)reviously 
dealt  him,  his  furthor  advance  was  stayed,  and  this  was  the  last 
otfensive  movement  he  was  able  to  make. 

At ."}  oVdockCJen.  (Jrant  made  his  appearance  on  the  field,  having 
been  in  consultation  with  Commodore  Foote  in  reference  to 
another  attack  by  the  fleet,  lie  immediately  ordered  the  division 
of  (len.  Smith,  containiiifi-  the  7th,  4.")d,  iJOth,  o'th  and  3<Sth  Illinois 
to  move  ajjainst  tlie  enemy  in  their  front,  and  a  renewed  attack 
on  the  rijilit.  •  At  tlie  refpiest  of  Gen.  McClernand,  whose  divisiou 
had  borne  the  brunt  of  the  battle,  (Jen.  Wallace  took  the  advance. 
Placinji  theSth  Missouri  and-itli  Indiana  in  the  lead,  and  pushing 
the  17th  and  40tli  Illinois  far  ah)nji'  the  enemy's  flank,  he  <;avethe 
command,  'Mbrwaid."  Knowing' well  the  fearfulobjeet  hismen  liad 
to  accomplish,  he  ftuve  them  the  simple  insti'U(;tiou  to  ascend  the 
lieijiht  in  coluinnsof  rejiimentsand  then  actas  circumstances mijiht 
su<i<;est.  The  men  pleased  with  the  contidence  reposed  in  their 
judjiinent,  and  nerving  themselves  for  the  bloody  work,  moved 
forward  and  commenced  ascending  the  hill,  when  plunging  volley 
after  volley  tore  through  and  decimated  their  ranks.  Nothing 
short  of  annihilation,  however,  could  stay  their  advance,  and  in 
the  face  of  the  murderous  tire  they  bounded  to  the  summit  and 
diove  the  rebels  behind  their  inner  works. 

While  this  imiiortant  success  was  achieved  on  the  right,  (len.S. 
F.  Smith,  with  the  -M  and  7th  Iowa  and  oL'd  Indiana,  performed 
an  ecpially  brilliant  exjtloiton  the  left.  After  feigning  an  attack 
in  a  ditterent  direction,  he  commenced  ascending  the  steej)  hill  on 
which  was  posted  the  rebel  force  he  proposed  to  attack.  The 
enemy  perceiving  his  design  at  once  opened  a  destructive  fireui»()u 
the  advancing  regiments,  yet  without  discharging  asingle  gun  in 
reply,  tJiey  swept  iq*  the  slippery  heights.  ^lounting  higher  and 
higlier  they  at  length  gained  the  summit  from  Avhich  volcano-like 
had  been  hurled  tlie  storm  of  fiery  })roJectiles  encountered  in  the 
ascent.  A  determined  bayonet  charge  (piickly  ended  the  contest, 
and  high  above  and  within  the  rebel  rami)arts  their  colors  Mere 
flung  to  the  breeze,  while  a  prolonged  shout  announced  the  wel- 
come victory  to  their  comrades  on  other  parts  of  the  field.    The 


7<:'> 


7<;i 


IIISTOUY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


position  Wits  iiniiuMliiit«'ly  fortiflcMl,  niHl  wlu'ii  tlio  sun  wt'nt  down 
the  oiu'Miy  was  iij;ain  conruKMl  witliiii  his  works. 

('on\  iiict'il  tiial  thfv  could  not  hohl  tiic  works,  I-'iovd  and  I'il- 
h)W  passed  tiic  coniniand  over  to  KiickMcr,  and  diuin;;'  tiie  ni;;iit 
Avitli  about  r»,(l(l<)  men  (*inhai'ked  on  board  steandioats  and  escaped 
up  the  river.  The  lollowin};  niornin;;',  ltiionj;ii  (»ur  ti(»ops  iiad 
niarclied  from  Fort  Henry  with  only  such  food  as  liiey  conid  carry 
in  their  haversacks,  and  for  three  ni;^lils  Innl  been  exposi'd  to  the 
rigors  of  winter,  yi'l  at  early  (hiwn  they  eaficrly  awaited  orcU-rs  to 
renew  the  conlliet.  The  liesi(';;cd  antieii».ilin;;'  an  imme(Uato 
attack,  and  satislied  that  all  fnrtiier  attempts  to  extricates  them- 
schcs  from  tlie  iron  ;;rasp  with  wliieh  they  were  bound  woidd  be- 
futile,  ran  up  ii  Haj^  as  evich-ncc  of  subudssion.  CorrespomU'Ut'O 
uas  immediately  intcrchan^^cd  respe(;t  in;;' terms  of  surrender,  (iiant 
to  the  overtures  of  the  rebel  general  said  :  "  iS^o  tirmn  othvr  than 
nui'otnlitioHdl  aiul  bumcdinte  Hvrrvnder  V(in  he  dcnplcd.  1  propose 
to  niorr  immtdidtclj/  upon  ijour  n-orhx.'''  T.uekner  thou;;ht  the  terms 
nM;;('nerous,  but  was  compelled  to  submit,  and  Sunday  inornin;;' 
February  Kith,  ISOi',  Donelson,  of  abnost  fal)nlous  stren;;th,  fell 
intotluslu  !dK  of  the  fedcial  coiMpu'rers.  The  spoils  obtained  con- 
sisted of  4(5  cannon,  l.'0,()(Kt  stand  of  arms,  ."»,(KK>  horses  and  a  lar.n'o 
amount  of  commissary  stoics;  while  as  the  result  of  the  victory 
J){)wlin^'  (rreen,  Nashville  and  C'olinnbus  became  untenable.  The 
federal  loss  in  men  was  44<»  killed,  I,?.'}.")  wounded ;  that  of  the 
enemy  2'M  killed,  l,(t()7  wounded  and  l.l.OOO  captured. 

The  people  of  the  North  oxi»ress<'d  t lu'ir  apjireciation  of  this 
j^reat  victoiy  by  public  meetings,  illunnnations  and'Other  sindhir 
(h'monstrations  ;  (Jraut  <'onj;ratulate(l  his  soldiei's  njion  the  lii 
U)npli  ^aini'd  by  their  valor  ;  while  Davis  and  other  rebel  autlioi'- 
ities  were  deeply  mortitied  at  their  disyrace,  and  Floyd  ami  IMl- 
low  were  suspended  from  conunand. 

IJesidcs  the  Illinois  infantry  already  ennnu>rated,  Scliwart/'s, 
Dresser's,  Taylor's,  Wood's,  .AIcAlister's  and  Willard's  batteries, 
]Mc('lermind's  division  a  ml  8le  wart's,  ()' 11  arnett's,('ariiMchaers,  Ivt-l- 
lo^fi's  and  Dickey's  cavalry  of  the  same  command  also  participated 
in  the  battle.  The  want  of  space  renders  it  imi)ossible  to  mention 
the  many  instances  of  Illinois  valor  noticed  in  \\w  reports  of  the 
battle.  Says  ]Mr.  Stevenson,  authorof  Jndiami's  Itoll  of  llonoi': 
"U])on  IMcClernand's  division  was  first  hurled  the  rebel  thunder. 
Under  lire  from  seveial  batteries  an  innnense  nuiss  of  infantry 
char^icd  n])on  his  line.  Sudden  as  was  the  attack,  the  j;allant 
sons  of  Illinois  weie  ready  to  meet  it.  Into  the  enemy's  teeth  they 
poured  a.  steady,  deadly  fire.  Taylor's  battery  and  JMcAlistei's 
guns  met )  hem  with  a  storm  of  ;4ra[)e  ami  shell,  and  a  bri<i,adc 
charyiny  drove  four  times  their  nund)er  back  into  their  embank- 
ments. The  strn<ii;le  was  haml  to  hand.  The  bayonet,  the  bowie- 
knife  and  the  but  end  of  the  musket  were  freely  use<l.  Sirarct  a 
leginu'nt,  company  or  battery  from  the  State  failed  to  distinj;uish 
itst'lf,  and  if  there  was  failure  it  was  for  the  want  of  opportunity. 
A  New  Enjiland  poet  readinf--  the  telej^rams  of  the  battle  as  they 
came  in,  and  adndring'  the  audacity  of  Illinois'  daring,  wrote  the 
following-  stanzas: 


THE  WAH  OP  TIIK  REIIKLLION  703 


''Oil,  f^alt'H  tliiit  (IiihIi  tli(>  Atluntic'aHwell 

A  loin;  '""■  r<)cUy  slioros, 
Wliosf  llMiiulfr  (iiaiiii.Hdii  swell 

Nt>\v  KiikIuikI's  glail  hmniliH. 

"Hear  to  llu;  praliieHof  the  WeHt 

'IMii' I'clioi'Hol' our  Joy,  *    • 

Tlu'  piaviT  tiiat  spriiijis  in  every  breast, 

Godbk'KH  thee,  Illinois. 

"Oil,  awful  lioiu'H  wiii'M  urapc  isiid  shell 

Tore  tln'oii;>li  the  iiiillincliiii;;  line, 
StaM<l  lirni,  remove  the  men  who  fell, 

Close  up  and  wait  the  sign. 

"It  came  at  last,  now  lads  the  steel. 

The  rushing  hosts  deploy, 
<'lnn;ic  l)oys,  the  Itrolien  traitors  reel, 

iln/./a  for  Illinois. 

"In  vain  thy  ramparts,  ])()nelson, 

'J'he  iiving  torrent  hars. 
It  leiips  tlie  wall,  the  fort  is  won, 

lll>  jj;o  the  strijies  and  stars. 

"Thy  proudest  mother's  eyelids  till, 

As  dales  hergallantl)ov, 
And  I'lymouth  Uoek  and  Hunker  Hill 

Yearn  to  thee,  Illinois."* 

Tln>  news  of  tlic  siirrendiH'  rcuclMMl  Xiislivillo  as  tlio  ])('oj)lo, 
ueic  ;is,seinl)linji  ;it  clmicli.  A  (lisiiatcli  Imd  been  i('<'('i\iMl  tlic 
]ii('\  ions  ('Veiling  liom  I'illow  flaimiii^' the  victory,  ami  now  tln'y 
wcie  iM'-etiny  in  the  saiicttiaiy  to  oll'ci'  thanks  to  tlieCJod  ol'  battles 
I'of  liie  success  ol'  their  cause.  Tlic  tnitli  I'cll  like  a  tliiiii(lcr- 
bdlt.  doy  and  exultation  j;av('  i)la(;e  to  alarm,  and  tin^  whole 
])oiMiialioii  ill  a  slioit  time  was  in  commotion,  (lov.  Harris,  it  is 
said,  nisln'tl  wildly  throiijili  streets  cryinj;',  tln^  enemy  will  soon  be 
in  the  city,  and  the  tcrrilied  iidialiitants  seiziiij;'  every  available 
means  of  conveyance  Hed  as  if  from  certain  (b'striiction.  Says 
I'olhii'd.  "An  cartli(|iiake  conhl  not  have;  shocked  the  city  more." 
The  con<;re<;atioMs  oi"  the  chiirciies  wi-re  broken  it])  in  coiifnsion 
and  (bsmay.  Women  and  (diildreii  riislied  into  the  stnu'ts  wailiiifj 
witii  terror,  trnid<s  were  tlirown  from  three-story  windows  in  the 
rush  (d'  the  fugitives,  and  tlnnisands  hastened  to  leave  tlieirbeau- 
tiiul  <'it..  in  the  midst  of  the  most  distressing  scenes  of  terror  and 
confusion  and  plunder  by  tlie  mob. 

On  the  24tli  of  I'ebrnary,  the  Union  forces  under  Buell  entered 
and  took  ]»ossession  of  tluj  city.  A  jicneral  order  was  issued 
promising'  protection  to  all  peaceably  <lis])osed  citizens,  and  on  tlui 
refusal  of  the  municipal  aiitiiorities  to  take  tlie  oatli  of  allcf'ianee 
they  were  ejected  from  otlice.  Andrew  Johnson  Avas  appointed 
mililary  ^((vernor  of  the  State,  and  while  lie  was  enterinji'  on 
the  vij;(»rous  i)roseention  of  iiis  (luties  the  federal  army  was  slowly 
nioviiij;'  southward  in  the  rear  of  tlie  fugitive  enemy. 

Occiipafionof  Cohimhus. — Colambns,  from  the  formidable  cliar- 
aeti'r  of  its  fortifications  called  the  Gibralter  of  the  West,  was 

•Atlantic  Monthly^  ~ 


70t 


IIISTOUY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


1  t 


s«'I»'cl«'(l  as  tlie  lu'xt  pliU'(<  of  iittiu'k.  Tlio  force  <l«'si<.fiiiih'<l  to 
operate  n^fiiiiisti*  was  tli<^  fleet  niider  CoiiiiiKKloie  I'odle,  and  a 
eoopciatiiij;  lorce  of  iiiliiiitr.x  iiiMlei'  (Icii.  \V.  'I'.  Slieiiiiiiii.  Tlie 
lalter  coiisistetl  of  tlie  1*71  li  and  .Mill  Illinois  and  TttliOhio,  llie 
loiiner  oft*  ;;iin  and  I  nu)i'tar  boats  in  ehai-^e  of  Capt.  I'lielps,  of 
the  I'nited  States  navy.  Tlie  ponderons  mortars,  of  wldeli  tliere, 
was  onl.v  one  on  each  l»oat,  \\eij;lied  17, (MM)  pounds,  and  llircw 
shells  of  more  than  LMM)  pounds  a  distance  of  three  miles.  Such 
was  the  deal'eiiinn'  elVect  of  the  concussion  when  liicd,  the  ;iun- 
iiers  \\er«'  c(»nipelled  to  take  refujic  behind  the  limber  work  which 
enclosed  them  to  escajte  the  shock. 

With  evcr.vthinj;-  in  readiness  the  entire  forc<',  the  infantry  on 
transpoits,  slowly  ami  cautiously  descended  the  Mississippi,  till 
on  the  till  of  March  the  bluffs  of  Columbus  becanu*  visilde. 
I'lcparations  weie  <'ommenced  to  open  liii-  when  n  strai'<^('  ihij^' 
v.as  discovered  floating'  above  the  works,  different  frou>  the  rebel 
coloi's,  an<l  it  became  (pU'stiomible  who  were  in  jiossession  of  th(^ 
jdace,  our  own  forces  or  t la »se  of  the  enemy.  To  sohc  the  mystery 
Ciipt.  I'hel]>s  and  oO  Illinois  voluideers  nuuh^  a  dashing'  recoil- 
lioisance  in  a  tuj^directly  under  the  watei'  batteries,  but  failed  to 
elicit  a.  sin;;l«'  li(»stile  shot.  It  was  now  evident  that  the  town  had 
b«'en  evacuated.  A  rush  was  nnule  loi'  tli»'  shore,  and  in  less  than 
live  minutes  the  tlaj^' of  the  L' 1st  Illinois  proudly  waved  over  the 
fort  which  the  chivalrous  soulhrcuis  re<;ar(h'd  as  imprejiuable. 
Ciiecr  aftercheer  fiom  soldier  and  tar  rent  the  air  at  this  hajipy 
eonsumnnition  of  the  e.\[)edition.  The  strange  buntinj;'  which  liad 
been  discried,  proved  to  be  a  tia<;'  imitrovisecl  from  pii'ces  of  calico 
by  soldiers  of  the  2d  Illinois  cavalry,  who  the  i)revio.is  day,  to  the 
nund)('r  of  4(M),  had  <ialloi)(;!  from  I'adueah  and  taken  jiossession 
of  the  town.  (ien.  I'olk  with  LM),(MH)  men  had  been  intrusted  with 
the  (custody  of  this  almost  impre};nable  fortress,  but  lindinu  him- 
self <!ompletely  turned  on  itotli  sides  of  the  .Mississippi,  the  residt 
of  I'nion  tiiumphs  in  Missouri,  and  the  compiests  ol'  Henry  and 
J)om'lson,  he  was  compelled  to  evacuate  it  without  strikinj;  a 
single  blow  in  its  defense.  Says  an  oflicer  in  the  expedition:  '•! 
could  not  resist  landinji'  to  examine  the  works,  which  aie  of  im- 
mense strenj>th,  consisting;'  of  ti<'rs  upon  tiers  of  batteries  on  the 
river  front,  and  a  strong;'  parajtet  and  ditch  strenjithene<l  by  a 
thick  abatis  on  tlie  hind  side.  The  fortifications  appear  to  have 
been  evacuated  liastily  considerin;;;'  the  (iiiantities  of  ordinance 
stores,  a  number  of  anchors,  the  remnant  of  the  chain  which  was 
one(^  stretched  across  the  river,  and  a  larye  siii)]»ly  of  torpedoes 
remaininfi'.  J>es(»lation  was  visible  eveiywliere,  huts,  tents  and 
barricades  juesenting  their  blackened  remains,  though  the  town 
was  spared." 

Capture  of  Kcw  Madrid. — The  tide  of  victory  folhtw  ing  the  cur- 
rent of  the  ^Iississipi)i,  New  ]\Iadiid  and  Island  No.  10,  w er(  soon 
added  to  the  list  of  Union  triumi)hs.  On  the  li2d  of  February, 
the  anniversary  of  Washington's  birth  day,  (Jen.  l'o]»e  was  ordered 
by  (b'li.  Ilalleck  to  dislodge  a  large  rebel  force  stationed  at  New 
jNIadrid.  On  the  l'4tli  of  March  his  force  arrived  at  ("ommeice, 
and  on  h'arning  that . left' Thomiison  with  a  rebel  force,  was  in  the 
neighborliood,  it  was  determined  to  give  him  battle.  Accordingly 
two  companies  of  the  7th  Illinois  <"ivalryj  and  the  20tU  Illinois 


TIIK  WAll  OP  THE  UKIIKLLION.  703 


Infmitry  wan  wilt  in  piii-snil  iiiid  sdoii  •■ncoimlt'n'd  (lie  loc,  Iiii\iii<,' 
a  inniiiiK'd  t'nrcc  ol'  L'.IXM)  mrii  :iihI  >">  pirrrs  of  iiit  illriv.  A  tliisli 
iuji  cliiir;:!'  \v;is  iiiiiiictliiilcl.v  (tnlficd.  'i'lic  icIm-Is  iil'lcr  drliNciiii;; 
II  .sr:itt<>i'iii;;'  vollc.v,  liiinicdlv  tlrd,  witli  our  iiicii  in  itiirsiiit.  As 
tlic  rliiisf  Wiis  «'oiitiiiiii'd  111  slioil  iiitcrv  ills,  s(|iiiid.s  ol'tlif  I'liciiiy 
brokf  iiilo  tli<>  woods  mid  liifd  ill  our  iiicii  iis  llirv  piisscd,  till  not 
nioi'f  tliiiii  one  t'oiii'lli  of  tli*'oii;^iniil  iinnilii'i- rcniiiiiicd  in  tlio  roiid. 
TIh'sc  Io  cxpcdilc  tlicir  fiiinlir  tli.ulil,  Icfl  tiicir  tiiick  slicwcd  w  itli 
coil  Is,  1  lilts,  Idiiiilxcts,  ;iiiiisiiiid  olin'i'  itii;i;:iij;(' ;  ."»  piccfs  of  iiililiciy 
M'ci'c  nin  (low  n  iiiid  riiplMi't'd,  iiiid  tiiiis  for  _()  ndlrs  tiit'  pii't-ipi- 
tiilc  lli;;iit  iind  piirsiiil  wiis  iu-pl  up  lill  tlic  tl.yiiijH'  foe  soiijilil  siud- 
tiT  iiiidt'r  llic  flic  idly  ;;iiiih  of  New  iMiidiid. 

TIm'  niiiiii  ('011111111  of  our  I'orccs  iirrivcd  on  tlic  .'!d  of  Miircli, 
wlicii  Pope,  not  kiiowin;;'  tiic  cxiKd  posilioii  of  the  ciu'iiiy,  sent 
forwiird  .')  rcjilnicnts  iiiid  ii  Imltcry  of  iirlillcry  to  iiiaki!  a  rccoii- 
lioisiiiict'.  On  .-0111111;;  witiiin  riiii;;iii;;' dis'-iiicc  llicy  were  met  l»y 
siicils  from  ;;iinl»oiits  sliitioncd  in  t lie  river,  wlicii  tlicy  fell  itiicic 
and  (>tu*!iiii]ic(l  beyond  their iciudi.  Tlie  rebel eiitrenelini"ntsiiii;'lit 
li;i\('  lieeii  eiisily  ciirried,  but  it  \voiiid  liiive  been  iiii|»ossiide  to 
liold  liieiii  in  eolise(|iieiiee  of  tlie  (leslriietiv(r  lire(dllie  ;;iin  boiits. 
It  Wiis  tiierefore  deemed  best  to  orib'r  t  sei^jc  ;;iins  from  Ciiiro 
before  niiikiii;;'  the  iilleiiipt.  In  the  iiieantiine  ii  force  uiKb-r  Col. 
IMiininier,  consisting; of  tiie  lllh  .Missouri  and  the  L'tttli  iiiid  ITlli 
Jlliiiois,  Wiis  sent  with  all  speed  to  occupy  i'oiiit  ricasiint,  lli 
miles  below,  for  the  i»iiri»ose  of  blockadin;;-  the  river  iied  cut  tin;;' 
ott"  reinforcenieiits.  This  was  successfully  iicconiplished  tliou;;li 
not  till  the  rebel  force  was  increased  to  11  ;;iiiiboats  and  !•,((()(>  iu- 
I'antry  and  sevcnil  batteries  (d'  artillery.  The  relxd  tieet  was  'inii- 
inaiuled  by  (.'ommodore  llollins,  and  the  liiiid  forces  by  ^Ict.'own, 
Stiiiirt  iiiiddiint.  'I'lie  sie;;e  yiins  iinive(l  iit  sunset  on  the  J-'tli, 
and  tiie  Idtli  and  lOlli  Illinois,  Cols.  .Mor;;iiii  and  kSniith,  were  de- 
tached to  cover  th(^  iiositioii  chosen  for  the  batti-ry,  and  iissist  in 
its  ere(;ti()ii.  Alth()u;;h  (Exposed  to  constiiiit  V(»IIeys  of  musketry, 
ritle  pits  were  excavared,  iind  tlie;;iiiis  moiiiitcd  reiuly  for  action, 
within  .'}.■»  hours  after  tiiey  Inid  been  shipped  from  Cairo.  At 
early  dawn,  on  the  l.'Uh,  the  battery  oi>eiied  with  tellin;;'  elfeet, 
and  in  a  few  hours  disabled  S(!veral  ot  the  {>un-b()iits  and  dis- 
mounted the  heavy  i»ieces  of  artillery  in  the  enemy's  niiiiii  works. 
While  this  tirioiis  ciinnoiiiide  was  maiiitained  throiijihout  the  day 
on  the  ii;;ht,  I'aiiie's  division,  (uiiitainin;;'  the  iilstand  (!4tli  Illinois, 
supported  liy  I'jilmer's,  forced  their  wii,\  up  to  the  rebel  works  on 
the  ri;;ht,  (HimpelliiijH'  the  rebel  [lickets  to  seek  shelter  within  their 
works.  At  ni;;htfall,  diiriii;;-  a  blinding;' thunder  storm,  thj  hostile 
force  hurriedly  tied,  Iciivinj^  their  dead  iiuburied,  their  supi>ers 
untiisted  on  tlie  tabl(\s,  their  ciindles  burning  in  their  tents  and 
other  evidences  of  a  disjiiiU'eful  i»anic. 

Tlie  details  of  the  biittle  show  that  the  Illinois  troops  who  par- 
tiei])iite(l  in  itfon;i;ht  with  no  ordinary  bravery  and  success,  iind 
added  aihlitional  lustre  to  their  previous  record.  Gen.  l*oi)e  in  his 
official  report  says: 

"The  10th  and  16th  Illinois,  commanded  respectively  by  Cols.  Morgan 
and  J.  R.  Smith,  were  detailed  as  guards  to  the  proposed  trenches,  and 
to  aid  ill  constructing  them.  Tiiey  marclied  from  camp  at  sunset  on  the 
12tli,  and  drove  in  tlie  pickets  and  guard  of  the  enemy,  as  they  were  or- 
dered, at  shoulder  arms,  and  without  returning  a  shot,  covereil  the  front 


766 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


of  tlio  entrenching  purties,  and  occupied  the  trenches  and  rille  pits  dur- 
inf.i;  tlie  wliolc  day  and  nijjht  of  the  l.'Uli,  under  a  furious  and  incjessant 
eannonadin^  from  lOO  pieces  of  licavy  artillery.  At  tlie  earnest  request 
of  their  colonels,  their  rejiiniental  (l:iji;s  wwe  kept  Hying  over  our 
trendies  thougli  they  ottered  a  <'Ouspicuous  mark  to  the  enemy.  'l"he 
coolness,  courage  and  cheerfulness  of  lliese  troops,  exp(>sed  for  two 
nights  and  a  day  to  tlie  incessant  fire  of  tne  enemy  at  short  range,  and 
the  severe  storm  wliich  raged  the  whole  night,  are  ahove  ail  praise.' 

Capture  of  Isldiid  No.  10. — I'opo  now  i)laiito(l  liis  butteries  on 
tlie  hunks  of  tlie  river  iiinl  slnit  n|>  the  rebel  Heet  between  iiiin- 
seli"  uikI  Isluinl  No.  I(».  the  next  i>luee  of  iittack.  TIm^  isljind.  sit- 
uated just  above  New  Madrid  and  4r»  iniies  below  Colmnbns,  was 
I'oitilied  with  eleven  eaitii  works  and  70  heavy  caiinoii..  'J'lie  day 
after  the.  ('a[»tiire  of  New  .Alailrid,  Koote,  with  the  fleet,  made  his 
ai>peaiance  above  it,  eHeeted  a  re('onnoi-;sain:(M)f  the  adjacent 
siiores  jiml  placed  his  mortar  boats  in  position  foi' attack.  n  tlic 
morninj;'  of  the  Kith  of  ;\Iarch,  1S(52,  the  boinbardmeiit  eom- 
menced,  but  the  rebel  batteries  were  targets  too  small  to  be  hurt 
by  shells  thrown  at  an  aiij^leof -lo  dejirees  a  distancof  three  miles. 
The  sli,uhtest  breath  of  air  oi)eratiiiji'  on  a  ))roJe(ttiIe  thrown  so 
great  a  flistainre  was  sutheient  to  frustrate  the  nicest  mathemati- 
cal <'alculations.  and  hence  the  caniionadiii<;' continued  day  after 
day  without  lienelicial  results.  The  jiiinboats  eoitld  easily  have 
prevailed  against  the  hostile  works  but  for  the  dan/^icr  of  becom- 
in.y  disabled  and  diiftiiiin'  helplessly  in  the  swift  ciirrent  directly 
under  the  enemy's  jiiiiis.  i'ope  was  expected  to  co-operate  with 
the  fleet,  his  plan  beiiij;'  to  jiaiii  the  Keiitiicky  shore,  where,  he 
could  oi)erate  directly  af^ains  the  foe  and  cut  off  his  retreat  in  ease 
of  ail  attempted  escai»e.  The  want  of  transports  beinj>'  the  only 
(linicnlty  attending  the  execution  of  this  plan,  the  tbllowini;'  expe- 
dient was  adopted  : 

Xear  where  the  fleet  lay  there  was  a  slou<;li  rnniiiny  inland  uliich 
coiiiK'cted  with  a  stream  einjityiuu' into  the  river  below  the  island, 
not  far  from  New  ."Madrid,  l*ope  determined  to  oju'ii  this  for  the 
passaji'e  of  transports  round  the  island,  haviiij;'  pievitiusly  sent 
(.'ol.  nissell  to  aseeitain  the  praeticabilitv  of  the  umlertakinti'. 
The  levee  was  cut,  and  the  surface  inland  beiiifi' lower  tlaii  the 
bank  of  the  river,  when  tlu;  openinj;'  was  effected  water  passed 
thronyh  in  a  stream  of  sntlic.ieiit  depth  to  tloat  ordinary  trans- 
ports. The  route  to  be  oi»ened  was  ILJ  miles  in  leiijith,  on»'-lialf 
of  it  extendiii}^  tliroiij;h  a  j^rowth  of  trees,  nuiny  of  which  W(ie 
two  feet  in  diainetei',  Toadmit  thejiassageof  boatsitwasnecessary 
tosawthein  off"  four  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  waterforthe  spa<re 
of  oO  feet  in  width.  The  maeliiueryem]»loyed  for  this  pur])ose  was 
placed  on  boats  a  id  operated  by  twenty  men  who,  in  some 
instances  consumed  several  hours  in  theretiioval  of  one  tree.  The 
traiis[)orts  slowly  advancin<>'  as  the  channel  was  opened,  at 
leniith  a<:ain  entered  the  turbid  ]Mississip[ti,  the  crew  chant  iii<4' 
"On  the  other  side  of  Jordan"  in  lieu  of  ".Jordan  is  a  haid  road  to 
travel,"  witii  which  they  had  previously  be<;iiiled  their  labors. 

Duriiijn-  the  accomplishment  of  this  splendid  achiev<'meut  of 
eiij;iiieering  skill,  two  other  feats  were perfonnedecjually  biilliaut, 
but  of  a  different  character.  The  rebels  in  possessiim  of  rnion 
City,  bec<)iniii<;- very  tronblesonu',  Col.  Jbiford,  of  tiie  lUth  Illinois 
infantry,  with  his  own   regiment,  two  couiiianies  of  the  lid  Illinois 


THE  WAR  OP  THE  RERELTJON. 


707 


cavalry  iuxl  KM)  otlicr  troops  was  oidi'icd  to  <lislo(l<;o  thoin.  En- 
teriii.y  the  t(»\vii  by  forced  iiiantlics  lie  siirpiiscd  and  dispersed  a 
lai<;('lbi('eof  tlie  enemy  under  (lie  coin  ma  nd  of  t  lie  notorious  Henry 
Cliiy  Kiiij;'.  i'anie-striekentliey  tied  lit  everydireetion,  leavin^itlieir 
liorses,  arms  and  a.  considerable  amount  oT  otiiei'iiroperty  asspoils 
for  tile  victors.  On  tlie  Ibilowiiij;' day  Col.  Jkoberts,  of  the  4LM  Illi- 
nois, with  twenty  of  his  most  dariiif;-  men,  ha\in<;  ])rovided  boats 
with  mutlledoars,  made  for  the  island  I'or  the  purpose  of  destroy- 
in<;-  the  up[)er  battery.  As  the  ni^ht  advanced  the  suri'ace  of  the 
river  became  rnitled  witli  iitful  f^iists  of  wind;  i)i'eseiitly  the  eor- 
ru<>ated  edj^c of  a  cloud  rose  up  from  the  west«'rn  horizon,  and  the 
niutterinji'  of  distant  thunder  presaijed  an  a|)proaciiinL;'  storm. 
Faxored  by  thedarkness  and  the  roar  ol"  the  coining;  storm  they 
reached  the  shore  and  started  for  the  battery  about  L'OO  y aids  dis- 
tant. When  arrivinj;'  at  the  ditch  in  front  of  the  works  a  >  ivid 
Hash  of  lijiiitniii^i'  made  their  presence  known  to  the  sentinel,  Vi  lio 
lired  liisj;iiii  and  tied,  evidently  thinkiiij;' the  whole  Lincoln  army 
was  alter  him.  The  flash  also  revealed  the  situation  of  the  ]L;uns, 
and  hardly  had  the  reverberatiini-  thunder  died  away  in  the  dis- 
taiici;  before  that  which  a  ibrtni^^lit's  boniliardineiit  had  failed  to 
accomplish  was  consummated.  Six  heavy  jiUiiS  weie  si)iked, 
amonj;'  which  wasa  superb  !)  inch  i)ivot  ji'iin,  calh  d  Lady  J)avis,  in 
honor  of  the  rebel  lucsideiit's  wife.  The  romance  of  war  does 
not  furnish  a  deed  of  more  dashinj;'  <;alla!itry  than  the  perforni- 
aiice  of  these  men,  who  all  returneil  niiharmed. 

lU'fore  th(^  trans])orts  could  be  made  available  in  niovinj>"  troops 
t(»  the  ojyposite  shore  of  the  river,  it  was  necessary  to  fi'ct  some  of 
the  <iiiiii)oats  below  the  island  to  ])rotect  them  in  case  of  an  attiick. 
Accordiiijuly  on  the  ni<;ht  of  the  3d  of  April,  the  Carondelet  with 
her  \  ulnerable  parts  protected,  was  cut  loose  and  started  down 
the  river  for  the  i)urpose  of  riiiiiiinj;'  the  rebel  batteries.  A  storm 
of'ureat  fury  had  aj^ain  burst  on  the  river,  and  completely  siiroud- 
inin'  the  boat  in  darkness,  it  raj)idly  mo\('(l  forward  on  its  ])erilous 
mission.  As  it  approached  tlu^  island  the  soot  in  the  chiniiiey 
caught  fire  and  suddenly,  with  spectral  j;!are,  lijihted  up  the  river. 
The  tliie  caps  were  immediately  opened  and  forlunately  thethimes 
sid;si(U'd  before  the  en, my  discovered  their  real  character  in  the 
blindinji'  daikness  of  the  storm.  A  second  time  while  Ihecrew  were 
con,i:ratulatin<;'  themselves  on  their  miraculous  escape,  the  Hiimes 
burst  forth,  casting'  a  brilliant  liju'ht  in  the  face  of  the  foe, 
rendering;'  further  concealment  iinj)ossible.  Huddeiily  signal 
rockets  from  the  island  and  Kentucky  shore  streamed  n]»  in  the 
darkness;  drums  beat  to  quarters  and  cannon  and  musketry 
opened  upon  the  bout  in  deafeiiinji"  roar.  The  storm  was  still 
un:ib;ited,  and  wairin^'  elements  jihiyed  in  wild  response  to  hos- 
tile batteries.  Klashinj;-  }^uns  alternatinji'  with  {fleams  of  li<;lit- 
ninj:',  peals  of  thunder  answerinj;"  to  boomiiij;'  cannon,  and 
dreiicliin,y  torrents  of  rain,  iiiterminjiled  with  lallin;;'  missiles, 
enxcloped  the  ciew  in  a  i)af4eant  of  tei'ific  jiiandeur.  Ciilm, 
h(>W(!ver,  as  if  about  to  enter  a  peaceful  harbor,  they  put  (Ui  steam 
and  steered  dire<!tly  under  the  enemy's  jiuns.  Owing  to  the  dif- 
ficulty of  dei)i'essin,u'  their  <>uns  so  as  to  cover  the  vessel,  she  ran 
the  ih'ry  juaiintlet  without  sustaining  the  sli<:htest  injury.  The 
lirinjj  of  a  sij>'iial  jLjun  announced  to  friends  ab(»ve  and  below  the 
island,  the  .successful  result,  and  as  the  boat  neared  the  wharf  at 


768 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


New  Miidrid  it  was  jjreottMl  witli  the  wildest  (Mitimsiiism.  Soldiers 
nlniost  Intiitie  witlijoy,  seized  llie  suilors  and  ean-ied  tiieiii  up  tlie 
banks  of  the  river  to  tlie  nearest  hotel,  where  they  l>e(;anie  ohjects 
of  absorbinj:^'  intei'est.  On  the  nij^ht  of  the  (!lli  th(^  rittsbinj^h 
also  sne(!essfnlly  performed  the  same  feat,  conipletiu};- the  prepa- 
rations for  the,  reduction  of  the  island. 

Taine's  division,  in  which  were  the  L'2d  and  alst  Illinois  was  now 
embarked  and  crossed  over  the  wild  floods  of  the31ississipi)i,  pre- 
sentinjj;'  in  its  i)assaf;e,  one  of  the  most  ma;;riificent  spectacles  ever 
witnessed.  Stanly  and  JIaniilton's  divisions  followed,  "ud  by  12 
o'clock  the  ensuiny  nijiht,  Ai)ril  7th,  all  the  force  re(piired,  was 
safe  on  the  Iv<nitncky  shore.  As  soon  as  the  rebels  <lis(tovered 
that  a  iodj^nient  had  been  effected  they  evacuated  'he  island  as 
untenable  and  (;oncentrated  at  Tiptonville,  situated  at  the 
lower  extrenuty  of  the  lli  miles  of  batteries  which  stretched  along 
the  Kentucky  side  of  the  river.  The  three  divisions,  Pain«!'s 
command  in  advance,  immediately  started  in  pursuit.  The  enemy 
7,0(K)  stron<;',  under  McCown,  Avas  encountered  and  driven  back 
into  the  swamjjs,  where  he  was  forced  to  unconditionally  surren- 
der. Says  Pope:  "Gen.  l^tiine  tVu'tunate  in  havinf^' the  advance, 
exhibited  unusual  vigor  and  courage,  aiul  had  the  satisfaction  to 
receive  the  surrender  of  the  enemy.  Three  generals,  ,5,000  pris- 
oners, 17  steamboats,  74  heavy  pieces  of  artillery,  10,000  lbs.  of 
l)owder  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  victors." 

Besides  the  Illinois  regiments  mentioned,  the  7th  (cavalry)  and 
the  GOth  also  particii)ated  iu  the  battle  and  demeaned  them- 
selves with  the  alacrity,  courage  ajid  i)rudence  which  shoidd  ever 
characterize  the  citizen  soldiery  of  the  republic.  Their  acknowl- 
edged elliciency  furnishes  ample  proof  that  the  soldier  is  not  a 
nutchine  moved  and  contrplled  independently  of  liis  volition,  but 
that  intelligence  and  moral  worth  are  as  essential  to  his  success 
as  they  are  in  other  pursuits  of  life,  however  exalted. 

IMaj.  Gen.  John  Pope,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  the  two  pre- 
ceding brilliant  victories,  Avas  born  at  Kaskaskia,  Illinois,  March 
12th,  1823.  His  father,  Nathaniel  Pope,  was  a  prominent  actor 
in  the  early  history  of  Illinois.  His  son  John  graduated  at  West 
Point  in  18-42,  fought  his  way  through  the  Mexican  war,  and  for 
his  meritorious  conduct  was  made  captain  by  brevet,  his  commis- 
sion dating  from  Feb.  23d,  1840.  In  1841)  he  commanded  an 
expedition  sent  out  from  Minnesota  to  test  the  practicability 
of  obtaining  water  by  artesian  borings  iu  the  great  plain  Avhich 
stretches  Avith  sm;h  terrible  aridity  between  Texas  and  New 
JMexico.  The  enterinise  proved  a  failure.  The  interval  from  1804 
to  1839  he  spent  in  exploring  the  liocky  Mountains  and  was  pro- 
moted to  a  cai)taincy  in  the  corps  of  topographical  engineers. 
When  the  rebellion  commenced  he  was  nnule  brigadier-general  of 
volunteers  and  assigned  to  command  the  district  of  North  ]\Iis- 
souri,  where  after  dispersiiig  the  predatory  rebel  bands,  he  made 
bis  way  to  New  Madrid  and  Island  No.  10. 


Chapter  LVIII 

1862— ILLINOIS      IN     NORTHERN      MISSISSIRPI     AND 

ALABAMA. 

Battle    of  Pittsburg     Landing — Mitchell's     Camjjaign — Siege    of 

*   Corinth 


While  tliese  events  were  transpii-ing  on  the  Mississippi  a  battle  of 
much  grander  proportions  was  rajjingon  thebanks  oftheTennessee. 
The  rebel  line  of  defense,  extending  from  Columbus  eastward 
through  Forts  Henry  and  Donelson  to  the  Alleghanies,  havingbeeu 
broken  by  federal  forces  the  enemy  fell  back  and  established  a  new 
one  farther  southward  on  the  Memphis  and  Ch;  'leston  railroad. 
This  great  thoroughfare  runs  eastward  from  Memphis  through 
Corinth,  Florence,  Huntsville,  Chattanooga  and  other  im])ortant 
places,  hence  the  rebels  regarded  its  defense  essential  to  the  pre- 
servation of  Northern  Mississippi,  Alabama  and  Georgia.  The 
Union  forces,  after  having  secured  possession  of  the  Tennessee,  kept 
it  oi)en  by  means  of  gunboats  as  far  as  Eastport,  Mississippi,  and 
made  it  the  base  of  operations.  The  rebel  autliorities  aware  of 
the  tremendous  issues  at  stake,  commenced  concentrating  all  their 
available  forces  at  Corinth,  situated  at  the  intersection  of  the 
Memphis  and  Charleston  and  the  Ohio  and  Mobile  railroads. 
Johnson  after  bis  escape  from  Donelson,  led  his  forces  through 
Nashville  to  this  strategic  point,  and  hither  also  came  Price  from 
Western  Arkansas,  Bragg  from  Pensacola,  and  Polk  from 
Columbus. 

For  the  purpose  of  tapping  this  great  central  line  of  transpor- 
tation reaching  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  sea,  on  which  the 
rebels  were  rallying,  Ilalleck  ordered  forward  the  difl'erent  divis- 
ions of  the  Union  army.  About  the  middle  of  March  Grant,  with 
the  conquerors  of  Donelson,  moved  forward  to  Savannah,  when 
the  division  of  Lew.  Wallace  was  thrown  across  the  river  at 
Crumps  landing,  about  2  miles  above,  and  those  of  Prentiss, 
Smith  and  McCitjrnand  at  Pittsburg  landing,  5  miles  higher  uji 
the  stream.  Buel,  who  \vith  a  separate  army  from  the  department 
of  the  Ohio,  had  taken  possession  of  Nashville,  and  on  learning  in 
the  meantime  the  destination  of  Johnson  also  started  to  co-operate 
with  the  forces  on  the  Tennessee. 

Pittsburgh  Landing,  where  most  of  Grant's  arfny  was  now 
posted,  was  the  point  of  debarkation  for  Corinth,  Purely  and  some 
other  towns  on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  The  bank  hero  rises 
to  a  height  of  80  feet  and  is  cloven  by  ravines,  through  one  of 
which  the  Coriuth  road  {».sceud8  to  the  general  level  of  the  coun- 
49  7C9 


770 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


li 


try  where  it  sonds  ott"  bniiiclu'S  to  iicij^liboriiifj:  towns,  l-^ioin  tlio 
river  an  irrogulnr  iiliitt'iui  sweeps  inland,  l)()nnded  on  the  noith 
and  west  by  iSnalve  Creek,  on  tlie  soutli  by  Liclv  ereek,  both  small 
streams,  emptyin*;'  into  the  Tennessee  a  niih's  apart,  0MeJ;)eh»w  and 
tlie  otlier  above  tlie  huiding.  Variegated  witli  ravines  and  ridges, 
l)artly  wooded  and  partly  eiiltivated,  it  lay  like  a  ])ietnre  in  a 
frame,  green  with  the  oi)ening  verdnre  ot'  April.  Three  miles 
from  the  landing,  on  the  Corinth  road,  near  the  eentre  of  the  tield, 
was  a  small  ehureh  styled  Shiloh,  from  which  the  snbsiMpient 
battle  received  its  name.  On  the  -Ith  of  March  (Jrant  had  been 
superseded  by  C.  F.  Smith,  one  of  his  commanders,  who  shortly 
afterwards  was  attacked  by  a  fatal  disease,  when  his  ilivision  was 
transferred  to  W.  U.  L.  "Wallace  and  Grant  was  re-instated. 

Sunday  morning,  April  (ith,  the  several  divisions  of  his  arnty 
were  situated  as  follows  :  Couunencing  on  the  right  near  the  river 
below,  and  sweeping  round  in  the  form  of  an  irregular  semi-circle 
to  the  river  above  were  the  divisions  of  W.  H.  L.  Wallace, 
M(;Clernand,  Slierman,  Prentiss  and  llurlbut,  while  that  of  Lew. 
Wallace  was  still  at  Crump's  Landing.  The  confederate  army 
consisted  of  3  corps  and  the  following  principal  ofiicers: 
A.  Sidney  Johnson,  first  in  cominan<l,  P.  T.  G.  Beau- 
regard second,  and  Polk,  Bragg  and  Hardee,  cori)s  com- 
manders. It  was  well  known  in  the  rebel  camj)  that  Buell  was 
rapidly  advancing  from  Nashville  to  reinforce  Grant,  and  it  was 
determined  to  attack  and  defeat  the  latter  before  he  was  strength- 
ened. By  the  aid  of  spies  Johnson  was  apprised  of  the  daily 
progress  made  bj'  Buell,  and  when  on  the  3d  of  April  his  junction 
with  Grant  became  imminent,  he  started  with  all  his  available 
forties  for  Pittsburg  Landing.  Owirig  to  bad  roads  the  whole  day 
was  consumed  ni  reaching  the  Union  outposts,  and  after  some 
slight  skirmishing  the  army  encamped  with  the  exi)ectation  of 
making  an  attack  on  the  morrow.  Fortunately  a  severe  storm 
fell  the  next  day  and  the  contemplated  attack  was  postponed  till 
the  Sabbath  morning  following.  Buell  in  the  meantime  i)ushed 
forward  with  all  ijossible  dispatch  over  the  nuuldy  roads  and 
gained  a  day,  which,  as  the  sequel  shows,  was  of  vital  importance. 
The  rebels,  although  unable  to  make  an  attack  moved  up  to 
to  within  a  mile  of  the  Union  pickets,  and  though  some  skirmish- 
ing had  occurred,  their  presence  in  force  was  unsuspected. 

As  previously  arranged,  with  the  early  gray  of  the  Sabbath's 
dawn,  the  confederate  army  started  across  the  narrow  belts  of 
woods  which  separated  them  from  the  unsuspecting  federals.  On 
emerging  from  the  timber  such  was  the  impetuosity  of  their  onset 
they  swooped  down  in  comp^!t  masses  on  our  advanced  out- 
posts before  the  snmll  force  which  had  been  sent  out  to  reconnoi- 
tre could  return  and  apprise  them  of  their  danger.  So  sudden 
and  complete  was  the  surprise  of  the  federals  that  some  of  them 
were  overtaken  preparing  for  breakfast,  some  sitting  listlessly  iu 
tlieir  tents,  while  others  still  wrapt  in  unconscious  slum- 
bers, were  bayoneted  before  they  had  time  to  rise  from  their  beds. 
Prentiss  and  Sherman  who  were  considerably  in  advance,  thus 
rudely  awakened  by  the  thunders  of  battle,  immediately  dis- 
patched messengers  to  the  other  divisions  to  apprise  tliem  of  the 
enemy's  ajjproacli  and  recpiest  their  co-operation.  The  latter  by 
Lis  stirring  appeals  and  the  reckless  exi)osure  of  his  X)ersou  iu  the 


THE  WAR  OP  THE  REBELLION.  7  <  1 

midst  of  the  greatest  dangers,  siK'oeeded  in  restoring  conftden(!e. 
and  ]iis  divisions,  in  wliieli  were  the  40th  and  Hath  Illinois,  halt 
dressed,  fell  into  line.  The  swhlen  charge  of  the  foe  Jind 
the  want  of  prei)aratidii  to  recei\e  him,  cansed  one  of  his 
brigades  to  fall  back  in  confusion  and  McClernand  came  ii])  with 
the  11th,  30th  and  43d  Illinois  to  fill  the  gap.  Convinced  from 
the  roar  of  cannon  that  the  engagement  was  liecoming  general,  he 
ai>i)rised  Hnrlburtof  Prentiss'  danger  and  requested  his  assistance. 
The  contest  along  Sherman's  line  be(!nme  desi)erate  and  bloody, 
the  rebels  dashing  up  to  the  very  muzzles  of  Waterhouse's  guns, 
and  in  a  hand  to  hand  tight,  contending  for  their  possession. 
Although  further  re-infoi'ced  by  the  14th,  loth  and  4(>th  Illinois 
froju  I lurlburt.'s  division  and  Schwartz's,  Dresser's,  Taylor's  and 
iMcAlister's  batteries  from  McClernand's,  his  battered  and  bleed- 
ing forces  were  driven  from  their  position  and  their  camp  des- 
l>()iled  by  the  the  shouting  enemy.  I>y  his  protracted  stand  iind 
friglittulsacrittce  of  men  tlie  enemy  was,  however,  partially  checked 
and  the  army  escaped  the  calamity  of  being  driven  into  the  Ten- 
nessee. 

In  the  meantime  the  division  of  Prentiss,  containing  the  filst 
Illinois,  had  become  involved  and  alnu)st  annihilated.  At  the  first 
intimation  of  danger,  he  hastily  formed  his  line,  but  nnfor- 
tnnately  it  was  in  an  open  field.  The  enemy  soon  came  stream- 
ing tlnoiigli  the  woods,  an<l  taking  advantage  of  the  sheltci- they 
afforded,  poured  volley  after  volley  into  the  ranks  of  the  exposed 
ti<)i>i»s  and  coverrd  tlu».  field  with  their  slain.  While  Prentiss 
stubbornly  refused  to  retire  before  this  wasting  slaughter.  Har- 
dee massing  his  impetuous  brigades,  forced  them  through  the 
gn]»  l)etweeu  him  and  Sherman,  and  flanked  him  on  the  right, 
while  Jackson  with  his  Mississippi  flre-eaters,  sweeping  round 
in  an  oi)posite  direction,  turned  his  left.  Hurlburt  hastened  to 
his  assistance  but  came  too  late.  liatteries  were  immediately 
opened  on  both  sides  of  the  division,  and  ploughing  a  passage 
through  it  Prentiss  and  3,000  men  were  surrounded  and  taken 
))risoners.  As  the  captured  troops  were  borne  to  the  rear  of  the 
victorious  foe,  the  remnant  of  the  division,  in  a  c^  .ifused  nniss, 
was  driven  in  the  opjiosite  direction. 

We  have  seen  that  wheit  the  con'^'ict  commenced  the  convexity  of 
the  llniv/U  line  was  turned  from  the  river,  now,  by  the  beating  l)ack 
of  the  center,  it  formed  an  arc  in  the  direction  of  the  stream. 
Prentiss  and  McOlernainl,  constituting  the  two  wings,  still 
retained  their  positions,  ami  Ilurlbut  moving  to  the  center  had 
been  forced  back.  The  conflict  had  been  fierce,  terrific,  deter- 
mined and  bloody ;  great  forest  trees  were  riven  into  fragments 
by  the  incessant  crash  of  artillery,  and  the  fatal  field  lay  ghastly 
with  huge  piles  of  victims,  (irant,  as  at  Donelson,  was  absent, 
and  each  command  was  compelled  to  act  upon  its  own  responsi- 
bility. 

The  division  of  McClernand,  containing  the  8th,  11th,  17th, 
18th,  20th,  L'9th,  31st,  42d,  43d,  4r>th,  48th  and  49th  Illinois,  which 
had  supported  Sherman  in  the  first  onset  of  the  battle,  when  the 
hitler  feil  back,  became  exposed  to  a  dangerous  liank  movement  on 
the  right.  Dresser  was  ordered  forward  with  his  rified  guns  to 
the  vulnerable  point,  and  for  a  time  checked  the  infiowing  tide  of 
assailants.    Schwartz  and  McAllister,  in  other  parts  of  the  line, 


772 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


rciidcrod  cfliciciit  aid.  and  rebel  cliariie  after  cliar^e  was  repnl.sed, 
but  oidy  to  make  room  for  IVesli  rej;)meiits  to  pour  in  and  repeat 
them  with  redoubled  fury.  Wiu'U  at  len;;th  it  became  necu'ssary 
tt»  retire  before  tlie  (>verwlielniin;;i)res.sure,  there  were  not  artillery 
lunses  remaininj;  alive  suttieient  to  renu)ve  the  batteries,  and  por- 
tions fell  into  tlu'  hands  of  the  enemy.  By  11  o'clock  the  divisiou 
was  driven  back  t(»  a  liiu'  with  Hurlbut. 

The  division  of  the  latter,  comprising  the  14th,  loth,  28th,  .'52d, 
41.st  and  Kith  Illinois,  as  the  others  were  fallinji'  back,  took  a 
position  in  the  ed<;e  of  a  wood  frontiii};  an  open  iield  over  which 
the  enemy  unist]»ass  to  attack  him.  Thither  also  Sherman,  with 
a  faint  hoix'  of  savinj;-  the  army  from  annihilation,  led  the  bat- 
tered fra<inients  of  his  command.  The  rebel  otlicers,  <Ietcrmined 
not  to  be  checked  in  their  advance  toward  the  river,  into  which 
they  i)roposed  to  hurl  the  <lefcnders  of  the  Union,  threw  forward 
tiieir  victorious  lej^ions  with  almost  resistless  momentum.  Three 
times  they  emerged  from  the  timbtrr  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
open  spacer,  and  three  times  were  tlu'y  swe])t  back  by  the  huiri- 
cane  of  lire  which  nu't  them,  leaviii<;  their  jiory  track  covered 
■with  the  dead  and  dying'.  Clallantly  leading  his  columns  in  these 
tr«'men<lous  charges,  ilolm.son  was])ierced  with  a  ball,  and  stretch- 
ing out  his  arms  fell  on  one  of  his  aids  and  exi)i]ed.  Unde- 
terred by  loss  of  men  or  leader,  fresh  regiments  dashed  into  the 
deadly  vortex  with  renewed  vigor,  and  tiiuvlly  exhausted  and 
overwhelmed  by  numbers,  the  federals  were  comi)elled  to  retire 
and  join  their  discomfited  companions  in  the  rear. 

After  Urentiss  had  been  driven  from  his  position,  the  onset  of 
the  enemy  fell  with  tremetidous  force  on  the  7th,  5>th,  12th,  oOth, 
52d,  57th  and  .jSth  Illinois,  a  part  ef  the  division  of  ^V.  11.  L.  Wal- 
lace, which  had  been  nu)ved  to  an  advanced  jjosition  in  the  Union 
line.  Serving  his  batteries  planted  on  commanding  ridges  with 
great  skill,  and  his  infantry  fighting  with  the  determination  of 
battle-scarred  veteians,  four  times  he  repulsed  the  enemy  with 
teriific  slaughter.  The  other  divisions  had,  however,  given  way, 
and  his  also,  under  the  concentrated  tire  of  Polk's  and  Har- 
dee's united  coluunis,  was  compelled  to  yield,  its  brave 
commander  falling  mortally  wounded  in  bis  atteuijits  to  resist  th'^ 
overwhelming  tiood. 

It  was  now  5  o'clock.  All  day  the  battle  had  raged,  but  the 
field  cleft  by  ravines  and  obstructed  by  timber,  ha«l  rendered  the 
contest  irregular  and  indecisive.  When  it  commeiu-ed  Grant  was 
atiSavannah,  and  until  his  arrival  on  the  field  each  division  com- 
mander managed  his  own  force  to  suit  the  exigencies  of  the  en- 
gagement. There  was  little  unity  of  action.  Ilearing  the  heavy 
and  continuous  booming-  of  artillery,  he  hurried  to  the  scene  of 
conflict  and  arrived  about  I)  o'clock,  but  skillful  generalship  could 
not  then  avert  the  evil  caused  by  surprise,  nor  screen  him  from 
the  angry  criticism  Avlnch  he  encountered.  In  the  desultory  con- 
llict  the  i)rinci]»al  resistance  was  afforded  by  McClernand,  W.  II. 
L.  Wallace  and  Hurlbut,  the  divisions  of  Sherman  and  Prentiss 
Laving  become  too  mucli  demorali.ed  by  the  nuuning's  surprise 
to  render  the  aid  which  otherwise  would  have  been  furnished. 
Lew.  Wallace,  at  Crump's  Landing,  had  been  ordered  to  form  on 
the  Union  right,,  but  nnfortunately  was  misled  by  a  change  in 
the  position  of  the   army.     What  in  the   morning  had  been  the 


THE  WAR  OF  THE  REBELLIOX.  773 

fcdoiiil  rij;cl't  was  now  tlie  enemy's  reiir.  Thoufjii  apparently  he 
niijjfht  liave  hurled  his  tVesli  ti'0(>i)s  afjainst  tlie  jaded  enemy, 
doubled  up  liis  left  and  thus  ha\'e  j^iveii  a  nunv  fiivorable  issue  to 
tlie  eoutest,  he  retraced  his  steps,  and  moviiifj;  along  the  river 
did  not  arrive  till  ni<,'littall,  when  the  battle  was  over.*  Had  the 
enemy  known  the  vulnerable  eondition  of  our  rif>ht  aiid  made  his 
principal  attack  iu  that  direction  instead  of  the  Ieft,'his  success 
■would  doubtless  have  been  more  complete. 

The  tide  of  battle  which  had  hitherto  drifted  adversely,  was 
now  to  clianjj^e.  The  exultant  threat  of  treason,  that  it  would 
overwhelm  the  defenders  of  the  Republic  in  the  dark  waters  of 
the  Tennessee,  was  never  to  be  executed ;  but,  beaten  and  hum- 
bled, its  iliiuions  were  to  be  driven  from  the  tield.  The  army 
in  the  morninj?  was  extended  out  in  a  semi-cirt^le  of  5  miles; 
now  it  was  in  a  com])act  body  around  the  landing,  and  though 
bleeding  aiul  reduced  in  numbers,  it  still  presented  a  bold  front. 
There  was  a  lull  in  tli.(;  contJi(!t,  caused,  perhaps,  by  preparations 
of  the  enemy  for  the  tinal  charge  which  was  to  execiute  his  threat. 
This  pause  was  also  iiuproved  by  our  jaded  and  imperilled  men. 
Fortunately  there  had  been  deposited  on  the  bluif  a  number  of 
siege  guns  and  other  heavy  ordnance  designed  for  future  opera- 
tions against  C-orinth.  These  with  the  fragmentsof  tield  artillery 
which  had  escaped  capture  Col.  Webster  chief  of  Grant's  stait* 
hurriedly  placed  in  i>osition.  This  defense  was  rendered  more 
etffctive  by  a  deei)  ravine  which,  on  the  left  sei)arated  the  Union 
from  the  Confederate  army,  the  latter  now  concentrated  in  that 
direction.  Hardly  had  our  guns  been  mounted  when  a  shower 
of  projectiles,  some  of  which  exi»loded  on  the  oi)posite  baidc  of 
the  river,  announced  his  coming,  and  presently  eveiy  avenue 
of  ai»i)ro;u'.h  was  cro*vded  by  Ids  dark  masses  of  infantry. 
Streaming  across  the  raAine  they  scaled  the  opposite  gun-crowned 
slopes,  liutas  soon  as  they  had  gained  the  summit  they  were 
met  by  a  blinding  tire  and  swei)t  back  bleeding  into  the  gorge. 
I'lushed,  however,  with  previous  success,  they  were  easily  rallied, 
and  while  they  were  advancing  and  recoiling  iu  a  series  of  linal 
charges,  the  gun-boats  Lexington  and  Tyler  opened  upon  them 
with  their  heavy  guns.  All  day  they  had  been  anxious  spectators 
of  the  combat,  moving  restlessly  up  and  down  the  river  in  vain 
seeking  an  op[)ortunity  to  cooperate.  Now,  liowever,  the  foe  was 
in  range  and  they  sent  their  ponderous  shells  screaming  disnndly 
and  deathly  into  his  ranks,  oi)ening  huge  gaps  ami  exerting  a 
moral  effect  ui)on  the  hostile  army  more  fatal  than  the  physical 
results  of  their  death  dealing  explosions.  The  rebel  olhcers  tried  iu 

•  Wall-.ioo's  arrival  w.is  nwaitod  with  all  the  nnxicty  which  an  imperiled  eondltion'of 
the  iinny  <!oul(l  inspire.  The  suspenso  incroHsiiiR,  about  H  o'eloelc  a  stall' officer  rode 
lip  til  tile  ;.M  battalion  of  the  4th  Illinois  cavalry  and  asked  for  volunteers  to  no  an  the 
|i(Milivii8  iiiisfsion  of  moetinpr  and  ur»rintr  upon  him  the  importance  of  hurryin>r  ior- 
wanl  Ins  division.  Lieut.  Frank  Fislt  and  HerKcant  Henry  Stnr(fC8  ininiediately  rode 
to  t!u' fi'ont  and  culled  for  others  tojoin  them.  A  party  of  seven  was  soon  formed, 
and  dashinsr  l)y  the  enemy's  left  in  easy  rantic  of  his  musketry,  nnd  lioiindinjf  over 
Owl  Creek  they  I'ound  Wallace  near  its  intei-soction  of  the  Corinth  road,  made  knowa 
their  errand,  a'nd  advised  a  direct  attack  upon  the  enemy,  He  replied  that  his  artil- 
lery had  not  yet  eotne  up  and  the  movement  would  leave  it  exposed  and  liable  to  eap- 
tiire  They  also  pointed  out  the  elevated  (fround  oeeiiplcd  by  the  rebels,  nnd  the  im- 
possibility Of  his  nsin^r  his  artiller.v,  and  insisted  that  it  was  better  to  alnindonhis 
own  ^luiis  than  lose  the  udvantajre  of  an  assault  on  the  expcsed  rebel  tiank.  These 
aruuments  were,  however,  rejected,  nnd  the  heroic  little  band  safely  returned  and 
reported  the  result.  They  were  then  instructed  to  ride  amonur  the  soldiersand  pro- 
claim that  Wiillace  was  at  hand  with  li>,0<)0  fresh  troops.  The  effect  was  electric,  the 
loud  uuawerlnyr  shout  of  our  almost  overpowered  men  rielni;:  above  the  din  of  battle. 


774 


HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


vain  to  get  tln'ir  nicii  to  taco  tlie  new  tMif-iiios  of  dcstriiclion,  but 
wt'it'  <!OiiiiU'll('(l  to  fall  i)a('k  hcyoiid  tlu'ir  raiijic  !S1m»ii1.v  alter  tlic 
{iiiii-boats  came  into  action  tin*  ;;littfiiii;4  arms  of  IWicl's  advanced 
division  were  .seen  across  tile  river.  It  iiad  arrived  at  Havannah 
3(»  iiours  before,  and  Nelson,  the  <!()niniandi'i'.  (b'tectin^-  in  liie 
deep  and  continuous  roarof  artillery  tlieexislence  of  i»attle,i»nslied 
forward  to  render  assistance.  A  brij^ade  immediately  erossinj; 
tilt!  streauj  and  rushing  directly  to  the  front,  j;reatly  revived  tiie 
(Spirits  of  the  exiiausted  army. 

Tlie  sun  now  as  if  to  end  the  shiujihter,  withdrew  his]i<;lit  from 
the  };ory  field — a  lield  literally  covered  over  with  piles  of  victims, 
some  torn  into  fraj;inents,  otlu'rs  exhibitinj;'  but  liltU^  e\  idencc^  of 
the  nu'ans  by  which  they  had  lost  their  lives;  sonu'  still  writliinj; 
in  the  aj;onies  of  death,  ami  others  less  injured  crying  for  help. 
Interspersed  among  them  were  the  fragments  of  guns  and  tln-ir 
carriages,  si)liutered  trunks  and  branches  of  ibrest  tices,  nil  indi- 
cating the  fury  of  the  battle  storm  whi(^h  luul  wrought  their  <le- 
st ruction.  Xight  came  on  but  the  period  of  repose  which  it 
brougiit  alforded  little  rest  to  either  belligerent.  As  soon  as  the 
position  of  tlie  enemy  was  ascertained,  the  two  gun-boats  again 
commenced  throwing  among  them  immense  shells  whieli,  exjjlod- 
ing  far  inland,  gave  back  reports  resend)ling  those  of  replying 
guns.  This  heavy  cannonade,  with  slight  inteimission,  was  con- 
tinued the  wbole  inght,  and  the  exhausted  enemy  aroused  from 
bis  imperfect  slumbers,  was  forced  back  farther  and  farther  from 
the  river. 

The  landing  also  became  the  scene  of  importiint  oi)erations. 
Crittenden's  division  of  Buel's  army  having  reacl"'d  Savanah,  was 
brought  up  on  steamers  and  placed  in  jiosition.    xlieiu'xt  news  re- 
ceived was  that  McCook's  division  had  also  arrived  at  iSavanah, 
but  owing  to  the  lateness  of  the  hour,  it  was  not  brought  up  till 
the  next  nn)rning.     The  heavy  explosu)ns  of  artillery  reveiberat- 
ing  far  up  aiul  down  the  Tennessee  had  ai)i»risedthe  coniman<lers 
of  these  gallant  divisions  of  what  was  going  on,  and  regardless  of 
almost  impassable  roads  they  pushed  forward  to  ])articipate  in  the 
battle.    With  this  augmentation  of  its  forces  the  Union  army  was 
able  to  act  on  the  offensive  and  a(!cor<lingly  the  several  divisions 
w  ere  assigned  places  for  an  attack  the  next  morning.     Commenc- 
ing on  the  right  and  extending  to  the  left  were  the  coinniands  of 
Kelson,  Crittenden,   llurlbut,   McCleiiiand,  Sherman,   and    Lew 
"Wallace,  the  latter  including  the  divisions  of  I'rentiss  and  W.  II.  L. 
"Wallace.     Each  took  the  place  assigned  it,  and  as  is  usually  the 
case  after  a  heavy  cannonade  a  storm  arose  and  the  remainder  of 
the  night  was  spent  in  a  drenching  rain.     AVhen  morning  dawned 
the  Confederates  beheld  with  surprise  Buell's  handsomely  deployed 
columns  and  doubtless  with  increased  anxiety  thought  of  the  work 
still  before  them.  Their  consternation  was  farther  increased  when 
the  strains  of  martial  music  announced  the  arrival  of  McCook's 
division  which  at  once  advanced  and  took  a  position  between 
Crittenden  and  llurlbut. 

Nelson's  and  Crittenden's  divisions,  eager  to  measure  their 
strength  with  the  foe,  first  commenced  the  attack.  For  a  time 
the  contest  was  an  artillery  duel  of  grand  porportions  and  pro- 
portionately bloody.  Notwithstanding  the  severe  fire,  one  of  Nel- 
son's brigades  charged  across  the  open  space  between  the  two  lines 


THE  "WAK  OF  THE  KEBELLION.  775 


and  captured  one  of  the  hostile  batteries.  Before  the,  i)rize,  how- 
ever, eotild  be  reinoved,  its  eiii)tors  were  driven  back  with  u  U)S8 
of  one-third  their  number.  Tliis  reverse  only  partially  checked 
the  forward  movement  of  the  division  over  the  ground  which  their 
less  fortunate  comrades  had  lost  the  daj'  before.  Crittenden 
ni'xt  became  involved;  one  of  his  ln-i<;ades  made  a  dcsi»crate  at- 
tac^k  on  a  battery  of  the  enemy,  and  tliis  tiiue  after  captiirinj;'  re- 
tained it.  Exasperated  by  the  loss  of  his  j^uns  he  char<;-ed  with 
redoubled  fury  to  recover  them,  stubbcuidy  rcfusinjito yield  till  the 
{i'rouiid  was  strewn  with  the  victims  of  the  bloody  stru;;j;le.  The 
tide  of  battle  sweeping  farther  on  the  right  at  length  fell  upon 
McC/ook,  whose  men  fought  witli  the  heroism  of  veterans,  driving 
the  enemy  before  them  as  they  moved  forward. 

About  10  o'clock  the  rebels  rallied  in  some  heavy  timber,  and, 
under  cover  of  a  furious  cajnionade,  threw  themselves  with  great 
impetuousity  mostly  against  Nelson  and  Crittenden  and  turned 
them  back.  At  this  juncture  the  artillery  was  taken  to  the  front 
and  oi)ened  a  murderous  fire  directly  in  the  face  of  the  shouting 
foe,  dashing  uj*  in  pursuit  of  the  retreating  Federals.  The  nu)ve- 
immt  of  both  lines  was  arrested,  but  the  incessant  jday  of  artil- 
lery and  musketry  went  on  with  increased  ettect,  the  commanders 
on  bothsideshohling  their  men  to  the  grim  work  as  if  to  determine 
which  could  stand  pounding  the  longest.  In  the  meantime  ]>uel 
came  up,  and,  seeing  that  the  enemy's  line  was  badly  shaken  by 
the  continuous  volleys  ploughing  through  it,  ordered  a  charge  as 
the  nu)st  successfid  method  of  endingthe  contest.  Cheer  after  cheer 
rent  the  air  as  the  war-begrimmed  legions  of  the  two  divisions 
swept  down  like  a  dark  cloud  on  the  recoiling  foe  till  all  the  ground 
whicii  h'uX  been  lost  in  this  ])art  of  the  iield  the  day  before  was 
regaineu.  Still  unwilling  to  lose  all  the  prestige  of  previous  suc- 
cess, the  rebels  again  halted  in  front  of  JMcCook's  division  in  a 
clump  of  tind)er  near  Shiloh  Church  where  for  an  hour  they  stub- 
bornly maintained  their  position.  Kehiforcements  from  iShennau 
and  McClernand  were,  however,  sent  n^),  when  an  irresistible 
charge  swept  them  from  their  place  of  refuge  and  the  battle  on 
this  part  of  the  tield  was  over. 

On  the  right  the  contest  had  been  equally  severe  and  bloody. 
As  Wallace  in  the  morning  moved  forward  he  halted  on  an  eleva- 
tion overlooking  the  tield  in  front,  and  suddenly  a  strong  rebel 
column  emerged  from  the  woods  and  formed  in  lire  of  battle  par- 
allel with  his  own  division.  JJoth  immediately  became  engaged, 
and  Wallace  threw  forward  shar])-slio()ters  to  pick  off  the  rebel 
art'.Ierymen  till  he  could  get  his  batteries  with  infantrv  sui)i)orts 
on  the  open  fteld  in  front.  For  an  hour  the  tlash  and  roar  of  guns 
was  incessant  when  Sherman  with  the  remnant  of  his  heroic  di- 
vision, came  up,  and,  regardless  of  danger,  dashed  forward  across 
the  tield ;  midway  between  the  two  lines  he  met  such  a  destruct- 
ive tire  he  was  compelled  to  return,  having  received  a  wound  and 
lost  his  horse  by  the  fearless  exposure  of  his  person.  Leai)ing 
into  the  saddle  of  another,  and  arousing  the  enthusiasm  of  his 
men,  he  gave  the  order,  "forward,"  and  again  they  started  on  the 
perilous  mission  with  the  brave  Col.  Marsh,  of  the  20tli  III.,  as 
their  leader.  Sweeping  across  the  field  and  gaining  in  the  woods, 
beyond,  a  i)osition  that  lianked  the  enemy,  the  latter  retreated  iu 
hot  haste  to  another  part  of  the  timber  farther  from  danger.  Here 


776 


niHTOUY  OF   ILLINOIS. 


lie  iiiiidc  ii  (Ictcniiiiicd  stand  ajid  u  K('<!<»iid  time  coiuiu'llcd  Slier- 
man  to  rccuil  l>i-tort>  iiis  iniirdrroiis  lii.c ;  hut  a  second  tinu'  lut 
rallied  liis  men  and  iiislied  into  l>altle  tlioUiL;li  lileedin};  iVom  2 
uonnds,  and  lia\  in;;  had  L'  hoises  slM)t  under  him.  (Mliei'  foiccs 
in  the  meantime  eann-  up,  the  jiusition  was  taicen  and  the  diseom- 
lilted  lelu'l  ln>sts  driven  IVom  the  Held.  Thus  the  action  com- 
meneed  on  the  lel't  and,  as  if  the  foe  was  I'eelin;;'  Cor  a  vulncrahlo 
point,  s\v«'[»t  al(»n;;  each  dixision  to  the  ri^ht  wlien  he  struck  ln.s 
last  l)lo\v  and  retired.  In  the  iinal  char;;('  on  this  ])art  ol'  tlio 
field,  .McClcrinind's  and  lluillmt's  divisions  participate*!  and 
iuhled  new  laurels  to  those  which  they  had  picviously  won. 

On  the  I'ollowin;;  nuunin^' (leu.  Siu'rnmn  witli  his  cavalry  and 
two  l»ri;^ades,  were  sent  in  i)Ui'suit  of  the  enemy.  J'roccedin^ 
alon^'  tlu'  Corintli  road  they  encountered  the  cavalry  of  the 
enemy  which  temporarily  checked  their  ad\anee.  A  liiu'  of  battle 
Avas,  however,  somi  formed,  and  (.'ol.  l)iek.\'s  4th  111.  cavalry, 
leading'  in  a  dashin;;'  char,i;('  on  the  rel»el  foice,  put  them  tolli;;lit. 
After  ci'.rin^' for  the  wounded  and  buryinn  the  dead,  the  weary 
troops  returned,  finding'  the  road  strewn  with  blankets, haversacks 
und  muskets,  which  the  rebels  had  abandoned  in  their  lli^ht. 

!No  ollicial  statenu-nts  of  the  numbers  cn^a;;('d  in  this  I»attle 
was  nuule  by  either  party.  In  the  first  day's  li^ht,  however,  tho 
Confe(U'rate  army  was  considerably  in  excess,  whileon  the  lid  tho 
Federal  having'  been  reinforced  by  r)iu'll,was  largest.  Tlu'  loss 
of  the  fornu'r  was  l,7liS  killed;  8,0115  wounded,  and  O.V.)  missin;;  ; 
that  of  the  latter  1,7."».")  killed;  wounded  ('.SSU;  and  i{,{).'")(>  taken 
l)risoners.  The  rebels  ha\in;^' lied,  the  mournful  task  of  burying 
the  dead  of  both  armies  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  con(iuerors.  Nearly 
4,()(K)  vi(!tims,  recently  brothers  of  the  sanu'  ^reat  national  family, 
hiy  pulseless  ami  still  in  the  sleej)  of  death.  They  were  consigned 
to  their  graves,  and  would  that  the  demon  of  hate  and  the  ear- 
iiiXiii',  of  war  had  been  buried  with  them. 

Gov.  Yates,  who  had  already  earned  the  ai)i)ellation  of  "soldiei's' 
friend"  by  his  devotion  .to  the  interest  <»f  those  eiijL;a;;('(l  in  the 
peilbrmance  «»f  military  duty,  immediately i)roceede(l  to  the  battle 
Held  to  look  after  the  wounded.  His  ajipi-als  for  the  means  of 
a ti'ordin}4' relief  met  with  a  response  from  the  people  c(unmensur- 
ate  with  the  extraordinary  lu'cessities  that  existed.  Every  city 
and  village  of  the  State  poni'cd  forth  contriliutions ;  i)hysiciaus 
and  nurses  volunteered  their  services,  and  steamboats  ladeu 
with  every  appliance  for  nunisteriny-  to  the  distressed,  were  sent 
on  their  errands  of  mercy.  Such  an  extensive  slaughter  had  been 
unknown  in  the  history  of  the  war,  and  n()twitlistamlin;n  the  pro- 
fusion of  means  which  had  been  furnished,  many  ot  the  soldiers 
still  sufl'ered  from  unavoidable  neglect.  The  Cioxernor  therefore 
returned  honu',  and,  procuring  another  corps  of  surgeons  and 
additional  stoi'es,  a  second  time  repaired  to  the  scene  of  suffer- 
ing. As  fast  as  transi)ortation  could  be  obtained,  the  wounded 
were  conveyed  to  northern  homes  and  hospitals  where  facilities 
for  im)re  skilll^ul  treatment  could  be  furnished. 

Illinois  was  more  lai'^ely  represented  in  the  battle  than  any 
sinyle  State.  On  its  death-smitten  Held  her  citizen-soldiers  traced, 
in  characters  of  blood  a  record  of  deeds  which  will  be  read 
not  only  in  the  i)atriotic  homes  of  the  broad  i)raixues,  but  wherever 
free  institutions  have  a  votary  or  the  honor  of  the  reimblic 
awakes  an  echo  in  the  human  heart. 


THE  WAR  OP  THE  REBELLION.  777 


It  was  ii])(>ii  the  troopH  of  llliiioifi  iiiid  tliosc  iiiiiiicdiati'ly  asso- 
ciiitcd  with  tlicm  ill  the  llrst  (lay's  halllc,  tiiat  the  ciiciiiy  (h-alt 
his  iiravicst  blows  ami  ivccIv^mI  in  turn  a  stroke  which  rendered 
his  siil»se(inent(leteat  eoinpaiatively  easy,  lioth  siistaiiiiii;:'  u  loss 
liithei'to  without  a  parallel  in  the  history  ot'tlit^  war.  Tlioii<;h  our 
dixisions  were  driven  haek  as  the  result  td'  surprise  and  siii>erioi' 
niiinbers,  the  advaiHie  of  Ihci'iieiiiy  was  (liially  cheeked,  and  when 
the  gallant  cohorts  of  l>iiell(;aiii(^  to  their  rescue,  were  prei»ariii<;'  for 
otVeiisive  ()])eratioiis,  and  hugely  shaicd  in  tin-  nia^iiiiliceiil  ciiarj;'es 
which  snl»se(piently  bore  our  blood-stained  banners  triiiini»haiit 
over  the  tield. 

The  contest  was  one  in  wliich  (;aiinon  and  musketry  i)layed  the 
most  conspicuous  part.  Yet,  in  the  constant  shiftin^iof  bii<iad»'S 
and  divisions  the  cavalryjiuardedtheirmoNciiients, protected  their 
exposed  winjisor  dashed  <»ver  the  Held  with  iiii])ortaut  disi»atclies. 
The  Ud,  ttli,  t!harmicliaers,  O'llarnett's  and  holliiis',  were  ainon<? 
the  oi'{;aiiizations  from  Illinois,  and  distinguished  themselves  by 
their  soldierly  conibu't. 

Amoii}:;  the  bravest  of  the  heroes  who  died  on  the  bloody  field 
ofShiloh,  that  their  country  mif^ht  live,  was  (len.  William  lleiiry 
L.  Wallace.  He  was  bm-n  on  the  <Sth  of  duly,  ISL'l,  at  Trbana, 
Ohio.  Jlis  father,  in  JS.'};5,  removed  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  the 
vicinity  of  LaSalle.  After  4  years  residence  he  removed  to  Mt. 
IVIoiiis,  ()<.';le  county,  for  the  i>urpose  of  yiviny  hisfamily  the  ben- 
etit  of  tuition  in  Jiock  Hiver  seminary.  Younj;'  Wallace  <*ompIeted 
a  course  of  study  in  the;  institution  and,  after  some  preliminary 
study  of  the  hvw,  repaired  to  S])rin<itiel(l  to  enter  the  ottice  of 
Lof-an  and  Lincoln,  lawyers  of  j;reat  celebrity  and  lej-al  ability. 
AVliile  in  the  capital  he  formed  the  acfpniintancc!  ot  T.  LyleJ)icky, 
also  a  lawyer  of  ability,  to  whom  he  became  attached  and  shortly 
afterward  went  to  Ottawa  and  entered  the  otlice  of  hisnew  friend. 
Hi;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  ].S4n,  but  the  Mexican  war  break- 
iiifi'outthe  followin<;year,  Wallace  abandoned  his  profession  and 
enlisted  in  the  ref^iinent  raised  by  the  brave  andelociuent  Hardin. 
He  was  mustered  in  as  orderly  seryeant,  Co.  1,  commanded  by 
iludfi'e  Dicky,  whom  they  eknited  as  cai)tain.  After  their  arrival 
in  ]\rexic(),  the  .Tiid<>e,  in  consequence  of  his  ill  ho-  1th,  was  com- 
])elled  to  resign,  and  was  succeeded  by  Ids  1st  Lieut.,  L.  M. 
Prentiss,  and  Wallace  became  adjutant.  In  this  capacity  ho 
bravely  encountered  the  thunders  of  IJueiia  Vista  and  was  by  the 
side  of  his  gallant  colonel  when  he  was  stricken  down  in  this 
menu>rable  conflict.  When  the  rebellion  commenced  he  was 
among  the  first  to  i-espond  to  the  call  of  the  government  for 
troops,  and  exerted  himself  to  arouse  the  people  to  the  magnitude 
of  the  struggle.  In  May  ho  was  chosen  colonel  of  the  11th  regi- 
ment, and  June  2()th,  18(51,  was  placed  in  command  of  J>ird's 
Toint.  In  February  following  he  was  promoted  to  the  command 
of  a  brigade  in  jMcClernand's  division,  participated  in  the  capture 
of  Forts  Henry  and  l^onelson  and  aciquitted  Inmself  Mith  great 
bravery  in  the  heavy  charges  in.the  last  day's  battle.  From  Hon- 
elsttn  his  brigade  was  onlered  to  Pittsburg  Landing,  and  u^xm 
the  death  of  the  brave  C.  F.  Smith,  AVallace  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  his  division.  In  the  appalling  fi'ry  of  the  first  day's 
(.'oidlict,  his  division,  in  conJun(;tion  with  TTurlbnt's,  for  a  time 
stood  between  the  army  and  destruction,  but  without  suin^rts 


778 


niSTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


it  ( 


m 


tlit'ir  isolated  iuhaiicf  liad  to  lie  altaiHloncd.  IN'cklcssly  cxposiiifj 
hiij  iK't'soii  ill  tlit>  arcoiiiplisiiiiiciit  of  this  iiiovciiiciit  lie  was  sliot 
tlii'oii;;li  tilt'  head  and  I'ril  iiisciisililc  IVoiii  liis  lioi's(>,  llis  coiiiradcs 
csaa.vrd  to  canv  liiiii  iVoiii  tlif  Held,  Inil,  picsscd  hy  tin-  piirsiiiii;;- 
fiiciiiy,  tlic,v  sadl.v  laid  liiiii  down  on  tli«-  licldand  abandoned  liini 
to  llis  late.  On  tlie  lollowinj'- day  tlie  lost  ;ii(nnid  was  rcnaiiied 
and  Wallace  Mas  toiiiid  still  alive.  The  enemy,  ju'vliaps  out  of 
respect  for  his  Itraxcry,  had  placed  a  jiilloN  under  his  head  and 
covered  liis  body  with  a  blankiit.  His  wound  was,  however,  mor- 
tal and  he  died,  ;;reatly  ie;;iettcd  by  the  army  whose  conlidence 
and  atVectioii  he  had  won  by  his  many  noble  ipialities. 

r.eiijainin  V.  I'lj-ntiss,  the  brother  in  arms  of  Wallace,  was  the, 
first  lllinoisan  to  secure  the  commission  of  a  bri;ia(lier};eneral,  tlio 
first  to  (M)mniand  a  division,  and  tlu^  first  to  lie  ca)>tnred.  lie  was 
born  in  1SI!>,  at  llelleville,  Va.,  whence  his  father  removed  to  Mis- 
bonri,  and  thence  in  ISU  to  (^nincy,  III.  His  lirst  military  cxjn;- 
rieuce  was  in  the  Mormon  war,  beiiif;'  1st  liieiit.  of  tln'  t^iiin<*y 
rifles,  comniaiided  Itydcii.  Moiji'aii,  wliicli  visited  Hancock  comity 
dnriii;;  the  prevalence  of  its  civil  lends.  In  the  call  for  volunteers 
to  s<'ive  in  tlu'  Mexican  war,  he  entered  tli(^  same  conii»aiiy  with 
AVallace,  and  as  w«'  have  already  seen  by  the  resi<;iiation  of  ('apt. 
Dicky,  lie  was  elected  to  till  his  jilace.  In  tiie  liattle  »d"  IJueiia 
Vista  his  company  won  merited  distinction  for  its  superior  drill 
and  soldierly  «'llicieiicy.  Jtctniiiiii};'  to(i)iiiiicy  lie  eii^a^^cd  in  nier- 
caiitiUi  pursuits  until  the  i'ommeiiceiiient  of  the  rebellion.  \\'lien 
intcllijicnce  was  received  of  tli(^  outrage  on  the  national  lla^' at 
Sumter,  lie  rcor;ianized  the  Qiiiiicy  ritles,  and  within  a  week  af- 
terwanl  was  on  his  way  to  Cairo.  Here  as  soon  as  tliere- was  a 
sullieiency  of  men  to  or};anize  a  brij;ado,  1h'.  was  elt'cte<l  its  ;>en- 
eral.  At  the  close  of  the  JJ  months  term,  for  which  his  men  liad  en 
listed,  1h!  was  made  brij;adier  {general  l>y  a])pointmeiit  of  the 
President  and  sent  to  Southern  Missouri.  2s'ext  he  was  or- 
dered to  report  to  (len.  (Irant  at  IMttsbnrj-' Landiii<r,  whither  he 
arrived  .'}  days  before  the  battle,  and  was  selected  to  take  coin- 
niand  of  a  division.  W(^  have  already  spoken  of  his  cai»ture  in 
the  battle.  Jn  his  ]»assa^e  thi()uj;h  the  Southern  towns  as  a  i)ris- 
oiier,  it  is  said  the  Soutiirons  crowded  to  see  the  Yankee  jjeneral, 
and  that  ho  made  them  a  number  of  rousinj;-  Union  speeches  siurh 
as  had  not  for  many  months  been  lieard  in  their  sunny  latitude. 
He  and  his  men  were  conveyed  to  Montjjonirry,  Alabama,  where 
they  were  parolled,  after  which  they  returned  home  by  way  of 
Nashville. 

]Major  Gen.  Stephen  A.  llurlbut,  the  commander  of  the  4tU 
division  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  was  born  at  Charleston,  S.  C, 
Nov.  2yth,181;").  Having  studied  law  in  his  native  city,  he  moved 
to  Belvidere  Illinois,  and  comuseneed  the  i)ra('tice  of  his  profes- 
sion. Two  years  afterward  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  con- 
stitutional convention,  and  subsequently  sei'ved  several  terms  in 
the  legislature.  Lincoln,  aware  of  his  ability  and  patriotism,  aj)- 
jwinted  him  one  of  the  first  civilisiu  commanders  of  the  war.  lie 
was  Hrst  ordered  to  North  ^Missouri,  where  he  rendered  efHcient 
service  in  protecting- railroads  against  rebel  marauders  by  holding 
the  districts  througli  which  they  ran  resjionsible  for  their  destruc- 
tion.   After  having  taught  the  "  borderers "  that  treason  was 


THE  WAR  OP  TIIK  TlKHKLLrON. 


r7« 


expensive  as  well  u.s  (limiu'tTons  »uul  iinliiwf'iil,  lie  was  tiaiisifeire«l 
to  (iraiitV  coiiiiiiaiKl,  itarlicipattMl  in  the  biittle  of  Donelsoii,  uiid 
tlieliee  iiinvcd  to  I'iltsltni'^  liaiidili;;. 

iSaltles  may  he  (Uvi<le<l  into  .'{  chiMses :  (l''(^i»ivc  ciiKiin'>>*'i>t^'^> 
Hiicli  as  Itriii;;'  tlitMii  on  and  tlios(>  tiiat  tlorv  IVoiu  tl.eni.  I'lonr 
int'iit  anion;;  llie  ;;r('at  batllt's  oltlie  first  ehiss  was  tiie  coiiteist  of 
Sliiloli ;  not  only  liccanse  it  elian<;('d  tlu*  eoin|ile\ion  of  llie  «■  ar  in 
tlie  West, hut  (nfaccomit  of  tiie  permanent  ad\antaj;i's ch-rived  from 
it.  I'.otli  parties  elaiined  it  as  a  victory,  hut  it  was  some  time  after 
tlie  immediate  levj'rheratioiis  of  the  hatth-  liefore  its  tine  sij^niti- 
caiice  was  tiilly  appieeiated.  l>eanre;;ar<l,  the  hero  of  Siiint  iiid 
JNIanassas,  had  lieeiicalled  westhya  deputation  of  eitizeiiH  too  ..ri- 
eatethem  from  ini|)eiidiii;;' dan};'er,detei'niiiied  upon  a  elian;te  of 
Itolicy.  llillieito  tlie  ( 'onfederates  had  lidj^cd  theiihroa«l  valleys 
with  parallelsof  earthworksand  scattered  tlieir  tioops  fordefeiisivo 
Opel  at  ions,  hut  lleaiirejiard,  reversing:  the  <»rder,  coniiiieiiced 
tlicir  conceiitiation  for  a;;';i;ressive  inoveiiieiits.  lie  proposed  first 
to  move  a;!;aiiist  Ihiell,  hut  the  pioinpt  denionstratioiis  of  (iiant 
on  I  lie  Tennessee  made  a  eonntt-ractiii}^  force  in  that  direction  a 
more  pressiii;^' necessity.  Accordinj;ly  he  assembled  his  troops 
at  ("oriiith  where  they  were  hurled  upon  (Jraiit  at  Shiloli  with  tlio 
inleiitioii  next  of  overwhelmiii;:  l>uell,  and  tiiially  swe»'pin<;iiorth- 
>vard  thronjih  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  to  the  Ohio.  Shiloli  was 
then  in  a  ;ireat  measure  a  contest  for  sni>remacy  in  the  valley  of 
tlie  Mississippi,  and  the  terrilile  tierceness  with  which  it  was 
l'onj;ht.  only  eorresiioiided  with  the  momentous  interests  involv- 
ed. l"'rom  its  terrible  shock,  the  rebel  army  recoiled,  too  much 
bi(»keii  to  afterwai'd  act  on  the  ot1'ensiv«>,  while  its  commander 
bitteily  rejii'ctted  the  necessity  which  compelled  him  to  abandon 
his  lon^'  clierislu'd  schemes  of  Northern  conquest.  Jbit  for  this 
success  it  would  have  been  impossible  to  check  the  rebel  army 
till  it  had  recovcii'd  all  that  jiortion  of  the  j;reat  valley  from 
which  they  had  recently  bci'ii  driven,  and  the  war  would  liiivo 
thus  been  indelinitely  prolonjicd. 

N'ictory  not  only  forced  the  foe  to  abandon  all  further  {ittem)tt8 
to  overrun  tln^  North,  but  caused  the  loss  of  a  larji'e  addi- 
tional scope  of  teriitory.  As  the  fall  of  Donelson  comiielled  the 
icIiiKpiishment  of  the  tirst  Confederate  line  of  defense,  so  the  re- 
]Hilse  of  Shiloli  resulted  in  the  abandonment  of  the  sei'ond.  Thus 
the  whole  of  Middle  and  Eastern  Tenni'ssee  became  exposed  to 
the  rnion  army,  whose  columns  could  now  penetrate  to  the  very 
eentre  of  the  Confederacy  ;  but  even  here  the  etVeetdid  notecase. 
The  Confederate  authorities  becominj;  alariiietl  at  the  claiij-ers 
threateiiinfi'  their  defenses  on  the  upper  JNIississippi,  commenced 
the  concentration  of  their  naval  forces  at  Memiihi-s.  This  transfer 
])roi»ortionally  \s  akened  the  means  of  ])roteetion  at  the  mouth  of 
the  river,  and  thus  jiieatly  facilitated  the  capture  of  Kew  Orleans 
Mhicli  occurred  shortly  afterward. 

Mit(-h<n\s  Campaipn. — At  the  same  time  the  3  divisions  of  RueU's 
army  left  for  Nashville  to  cooperate  with  Grant,  10,000  men 
started  southward  under  the  command  of  Gen.  JMitchell.  The 
obje(;tive  ])oint  of  the  expedition  was  Hnntsville,  Ala.,  where,  by 
Severing'  the  Memphis  &  Charleston  Eailroad,  it  was  in-oposed  to 
cut  off  reinforcements  and  supplies  destined  for  Corinth.  After 
arri\  injj  iu  Nashville  he  remained  there  till  the  4th  of  April,  en- 


780 


niSTOKY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


giif;v<l  in  or<>aiiiziii}«'  his  army,  bnildiiift-  bri(l};os,  and  otliciwiso 
pivi)ai'inj;' for  liis  (jainpaij;!!.  When  cvcr.N  fliiiij;'  was  ifi  readiness 
tlie  mareli  was  resumed  on  tlie,  7th,  and  Fayettevillc  was  reaelied 
and  occupied  witliont  opposition.  Jlere  mu(!]i  anxiety  was  felt  in 
rei:ardto  tlic  issues  of  the  exix-dition,  i'or  sliouhl  our  army  either 
in  Tennessee  or  Virginia,  meet  witli  a  reverse,  tlie  destruction  of 
JMilciiell's  force  would  be  almost  unavoidable.  While  harrassed  by 
rliese  forebodiufis,  Col.  Turchin  of  the  lOth  Illinois  came  forward 
and  asked  permission  to  moveat  once  upon  JIuntsville  before  <le]ay 
sliouhl  add*  new  i)erils  to  those  which  already  threatened,  (ien. 
]M  i  tcliell  assented  and  with  the  18th  and37thlnd.,  4th  O.  cavalry  and 
the  l!»th  and  2ttli  lllinoii'',  he  left  Fayetteville  on  the  moriiin.i>'  of 
April  loth,  l)S(i2.  With  the  Illinois  re.i-iments  in  advance  the 
bri;;ade  toiled  over  roads  vendered  extremely  dillicidt  by  the  pre- 
cipitous hills,  swampy  yiades,  and  tanyled  forests  of  the  country. 
I're(|uently  it  became  necessary,  in  consequeiuie  of  its  impassable 
condition,  to  harness  two  or  three  teams  to  a  sin<ile  wa<;()n  and  in 
some  i)laceB  to  drag  the  guns  by  hand.  The  indomitable  energy 
of  Tiirehin,  however,  pervaded  his  men,  and  they  struggled  on 
over  almost  insurmountable  obstacles  without  complaint.  When 
night  came  on  they  partook  of  a  hearty  rei)ast  and  threw  them- 
seh  es  round  their  camp  tires  till  the  moon  went  down  and  the 
march  couhl  be  resumed  with  greater  se<'urity.  The  roads  now 
beciime  better,  and  the  progress  being  more  ra])id,  in  the  grey 
ligiit  of  morning,  the  city  became  visibU;  behind  a  grove  of  (;e- 
dars.  A  battery  was  immediately  ])laced  in  ])osition  and  present- 
ly two  trains  came  dashing  up  on  the  railroad  toward  Stevenson. 
Tlic  one  in  advance  was  cliased  a  distance  of  ten  miles  by  a  scjuad 
of  cavalry,  but  the  engineer  crowded  on  steam  and  the  iron  horse 
proved  too  fteet  for  those  bestrode  by  the  cavalrvmen.  The  one 
in  the  rear,  less  fortunate,  was  brought  to  by  a  shot  from  the  l.'at- 
tery  and  all  its  passengers  were  made  prisoners. 

Ill  the  meantime  Col.  Maliilotzy,  of  the  24th  Illinois,  dis- 
patched a  Ibrce  to  tear  ui)  the  ti'uck  in  the  direction  of  IJecatur, 
to  prevent  the  esca[»e  of  other  trains  in  the  future.  The  ordei'  was 
then  given  to  advance  on  the  town,  and  an  exciting  cavalry  race 
ensued  for  the  honor  of  tirst entering  it.  Three  trooiiers  became  the 
wiiiiiers,  who,  dashing  far  in  advance  of  the  other!'.,  entered  and 
(•aptiired  170  rebels  betbre  they  had  time  to  rise  from  their 
coiiclies.  The  inliabitants  of  the  city  were  still  wrai)t  in  sleep, 
dreaming,  ])erhaps,  of  "Southern  Independence  or  troubled  Avith 
Yankee  nightmares,  "  when  the  clatter  of  cavalry  in  the  streets 
tirst  ai»prised  them  of  danger.  On  being  awakened  they  rushed 
half  naked  into  the  streets  to  ascertain  the  character  and  object 
of  the  unexiiected  visitors,  and  learned,  with  deep  mortilica^ii;:), 
that  tluMr  beautiful  city  was  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  A  reign 
of  terror  succeeded,  all  classes  being  seized  with  consternation, 
except  the  negro(!s,  who,  though  naturally  the  most  timid,  on  tliiS 
occasion  maintained  a  wonderfiile(juanimity.  The  mayor,  Jifter  re- 
gaining to  some  extent  his  coiii]»osure,  determined  toex])el  tlie  in- 
truders, but  the  other  forces  soon  came  uj)  and  he  abandoned  his 
design.  As  the  result  of  cajitiinng  the  (Mt.v,  17  locomotives.  b')0 
cars  and  a  large  amount  of  war  material  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
victors.  The  rolling  stock  was  soon  put  in  motion  for  the  traiis- 
jiortation  of  troops,  and  within  three  days,  not  only  llunts\ille, 


■; 


THE  WAR  OP  THE  REBELLION.  781 

l)Ut  8ti'\eiisoii,  Deciitur,  Ttisciiinbiii  and  107  miles  of  rail  road  were 
ill  tlie  i»()sse.ssioii  oftlie  IJiiioiiists.  The  .sif^jiial  Villus  of  Tnrcliiii'8 
force  wiiieli  liad  oi^eupied  Tu.scuinbia,  eould  now  be  heard  at  Cor- 
iiitli,  the  centre  oftlie  enemy's  operations. 

The  ;;reat  disi»ersion  of  Mitchell's  division  for  the  pnrpose  of 
holdiiij;- the  captnred  towns  and  such  a  jjreat  extent  of  railroad, 
soon  rendered  his  situation  precarious.  The  enemej'  began  to  gather 
ill  force  and  threaten  him;  no  reinforcements  had  reached  him, 
and  a  large  part  of  the  subsistence  which  had  been  sent  by 
llallecilc  was  burnt  to  prevent  its  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  en- 
emy. (Ten.Turchin,  finding  his  position  at  Tnscnmbia  becoming 
untenable,  fell  back  to  Decatur,  where,  after  crossing  the  Tenn- 
essee river,  he  burnt  the  bridge  Just  in  time  to  i)rev4'nt  the  enemy 
from  following  him.  This  was  the  only  crossing  between  Bridge- 
port and  Florence,  hence  its  destruction  was  a  severe  blow  on 
rebel  oi)eratioiis  in  that  part  of  the  vjonntry.  On  the  27th  of  April 
Tnrchin  evacuated  Decatur  and  continued  his  retrograde  move- 
ment to  lluntsville. 

Shortly  after  an  episode  occurre(<  at  Athens,  on  account  of 
uliicli  the  10th  Illinois  was  seventy,  but  unjustly,  censured.  The 
town  had  previously  been  occupied  by  anOliio  regiment,  to  which 
the  inhabitants  made  loud  professions  of  loyalty.  >\liile  in  peace- 
able custody  of  the  place  the  regiment  Avas  unexi)ecte(lly  fired 
upon  by  a  squad  of  rebel  cavalry,  and  returned  to  lluntsville 
under  the  impression  that  the  attack  was  made  by  a  large  force 
of  the  enemy.  As  they  left  Athens,  notwithstanding  the  pre- 
•  ions  juofessions  of  the  inhabitants,  guns  were  discliarged  at 
them  from  dwellings*,  women  derided  them  with  the  vilest  eju- 
tliets,  while  a  crowd  of  rebels  followed  in  the  streets  and  threw 
ui)on  them  the  most  disgusting  garbage.  Turchin's  brigade  was 
nt'xt  ordered  to  take  possession  of  the  town,  but  no  enemy  was 
found.  The  inhabitants  were  again  loyal,  but  the  19th  Illinois, 
remembering  the  indignities  which  had  been  offered  their  (com- 
rades, retaliated  by  the  destruction  of  proi)erty.  This  outrage,  as 
it  was  termed,  was  the  legitimate  fruit  of  the  previous  pi'ovoca- 
tioii,  and  would  never  have  occurred  had  not  the  i)eople  who  so 
loudly  complained,  been  the  aggressors. 

In  the  meantime  the  rebels  were  concentrating  a  force  at  r>ri(lge- 
poit,  a  small  town  near  Chattanooga,  which  gets  its  name  from 
the  bridge  over  the  Tennessee  at  that  point.  Mitchell  having 
ascertained  the  position  of  the  force,  on  the  29th  of  April  ap- 
proached their  encainpnient  under  cover  of  a  hill,  and  made  his 
lu'esence  known  by  liring  a  volley  ot  grape  and  cannister  into 
their  midst.  Some  immediately  iled,  while  others,  seizing  their 
gnus,  endeavored  to  make  a  stand,  but  the  Federals,  with  fixed 
bayonets,  charged  upon  and  (piickly  put  them  to  flight.  In  their 
retreat  they  attempted  to  blow  up  the  bridge,  but  were  too  closely 
pursued  to  succeed.  Another  portion  of  the  enemy  stationed  on 
the  railroad  after  the  firing  commenced  debouched  into  an  open 
Held  ami  formed  a  line  of  battle.  By  mistake,  he  moved  u]»  to- 
ward one  of  MitchelTs  batteries  Avhicli  had  been  planted  for  their 
reception.  When  within  easy  range  a  terrific  fire  of  cannister  was 
poured  into  their  ranks,  and  both  cavalry  and  infantry,  taken  by 
surprise,  threw  down  their  arms  and  tied  in  confusion.  Tlius  ended 
the  battle  of  Bridgeport,  and  with  it  virtually  terminated  Mitch- 


782 


HISTORY  OP  ILLINOIS. 


ell's  caniitai;'!!.  In  his  icjxnt  to  the  Secietiiry  of  War  lie  .said : 
''The  cainpaifj:!!  is  ended  and  I  now  oeciipy  Iluntsville  in  ]terteet 
secnrity,  while  in  all  Ahibanni,  north  ofthe  Tennessee,  theie  floats 
not  a  iiag;  bnt  that  of  the  Union. "  As  the  .seqnenee  of  his  ojtera- 
tions  and  successes  innorthern  Alabama,  a  nninberof  niin«)r  exjie- 
ditions  were  sent  in  various  directions  after  rovin;;  baiuls  of  reliel 
cavalry,  but  the  numbers  engaged  and  the  results  accomplished 
Avere  not  important. 

Gen.  Basil  Turchin,  whose  genius  and  energy  contributed  so 
Inrgely  to  the  success  of  the  campaign,  was  born  in  the  vallpy  of 
the  Don,  Kussia,  Jan.  18, 1822.  At  the  age  of  li  he  entered  the 
military  school  of  St.  Petersburg,  and  nfterhis  graduation  his  re- 
markable military  talent  rapidly  gained  him  pr«»motion,  At  the 
outbreak  of  the  Crinu'an  war  he  received  an  appointment  on  the 
stall'  of  tlie  Crown  Prince,  the  present  Emjjeror  of  Kussia,  i)lanned 
and  superintended  the  coast  defenses  of  Finland,  among  the  most 
elab(>rate  and  scientific  feats  of  military  ingineering  in  Kur()]»e. 
Ila\ing  in  early  life  formed  a  ])artiality  for  free  institutions,  in 
1850  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  and  was  eniployed  as  an 
engineer  on  the  Illinois  Central  railroad.  When  he  saw  that  the 
libei  ,,  xv»r  which  he  had  abandoned  his  fatherland  was  in  danger 
of  being  blotted  out  by  the  overshadowing  power  of  slaxcry,  he 
at  once  rushed  to  its  rescue.  He  was  apjiointed  Colonel  of  tiie 
IDth  Illinois,  one  of  the  most  maligne(l  though  ellicient  regiments 
in  the  service.  Immediately  after  its  organization  it  became  not«'d 
for  the  excellence  of  its  drill ;  nor  was  it  long  in  the  lield,  as  Me 
have  seen,  before  the  fighting  qualities  of  botli  men  and  conunand- 
er  made  it  the  synonym  of  success. 

Siege  of  Corinth. — While  Mitchell  was  thus  engaged  in  severing 
the  rebel  communications  between  theeastand  the  west,  two  hostile 
armies  were  gathering  at  Corinth  for  another  deadly  struggle.  So 
long  as  this  strategic  point  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  r(4»els, 
it  (mdangeved  Nashville  on  the  one  haml.  and  retarded  operations 
against  Memphis  on  the  other.  Hither  Peauregard  had  led  his 
army  from  the  fatal  field  of  Shiloh,  and  hither  Ilalleck  had  come 
to  suiierintend  in  person  the  operations  of  the  Union  forces.  Hav- 
ing ordered  Pope  and  liis  army  from  New  IVladrid,  and  reoigan- 
zed  his  other  forces,  he  assumed  the  leadershij)  of  tli"  whole, 
])laced  Grant  second  in  connnand  and  transferred  his  army  to 
Thomas.  Pope's  comimmd  was  placed  on  the  right,  liuelTsin  the 
centre,  ami  that  of  Thonuis  on  the  left,  the  entire  army  o(;cupy- 
ing  a  semi-circle  of  six  miles  and  numbering  108,00(1  men.  Tlins 
arranged  the  army  began  to  advance  but  moved  cautiously,  it 
being  a  part  of  Ilalleck's  plan  to  approach  the  rebel  wcnks  in 
front  after  the  iminiu'r  of  a,  siege  while  he  cut  the  railroads  in  their 
rear  and  on  each  Hank. 

On  the  ;U)th  of  April,  1802,  a  reconnoisance  was  made  toward 
Pui'dy,  on  the  Ohio  &  Mobile  railroad,  about  20  miles  north  of 
Corinth.  The  force  detailed  for  this  i»nri)ose  was  commanded  by 
Lew  Wallace,  consisting  of  2  batteries  of  artillery,  2  regiments  of 
infantry  and, J  of  cavalry,  2  of  the  latter  being  the  4th  and  11th 
Illinois.  At  night  the  infantry  and  artillery  encamped  midway 
between  Pittsburg  Lamling  and  Purdy,  while  the  cavalry  com- 
manded by  Col.  T.  Lyle  Dickey,  pushed  on  till  I  hey  arrived  at  the 


THE  WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


783 


town.  The  prevalence  of  a  storm  and  the  intense  (hirkness  of  the 
uiylit,  liowever,  rendered  inexpedient  any  attempt  at  the  redac- 
tion of  tlie  place,  and  they  relnrned  to  the  eneami)ment.  The 
next  morning  Col.  Dickey  again  advanced  on  the  town,  and,  having 
severed  its  connection  with  Corinth  by  destroying  a  i)ortion  of  the 
railroad,  the  principal  object  of  the  expedition  was  accomplished. 

Farmiiigton. — A  second  reconnoisance  was  made  on  the  'M  of 
May  in  the  direction  of  Farmington,  a  commanding  position  four 
miles  east  of  Corinth,  in  possession  of  a  rebel  force  of  ;"»,000  men. 
The  men  engaged  in  this  expedition  were  almost  entirely  from 
Illinois,  consisting  of  the  lOtli,  KJtli,  l'2d,  I'Gth,  27th,  4lM,  47th  and 
5Uth  regimentsof  infantry,  Yates  shurp-shooters  and  lioughtaling's 
battery  of  light  artillery,  the  whole  under  theeomnnuidof  Paineand 
Palmer.  The  force  moved  forward  live  ndles  on  the  Farmington 
road  where  they  met  the  enemy,  and  in  a  skirmishing  light  drove 
him  back  some  distance  to  an  endnencefrom  the  sumndtof  which 
his  artillery  for  a  time  checked  their  advance,  lioughtaling's 
battery  moved  immediately  to  the  front  and  ojtened  such  destruc- 
tive tire  on  his  position  that  he  fell  back  to  Farmington.  Here 
he  again  made  a  stand  when  the  same  battery  was  brougiit  up 
and  opened  on  his  lelt,  and  an  Ohio  battery  on  his  right,  fr<»m  the 
cond)ined  tire  of  which  he  retreated  with  the  federal  cavalry  in 
hot  pursuit.  Farnnngtou  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Unioidsts. 
The  enemy  returned  on  the  Otli  and  made  a  deternuued  elfort  to 
flank  and  (!ut  off  from  themain  army  the  forces  which  occui)i('d  it. 
A  tierce  battle  of  live  hours  duration  commenced,  in  whicii  l*aiue 
ami  I'ainuu',  who  were  perem{)toriIy  ordered  not  to  bring  on  a 
general  cMgagement, slowly  retreated.  This  wasprennnenlly  an  Il- 
linois battle,  and  an  exhibition  of  Illinois  i)rowess,  although  the  2d 
Iowa  cavalry  greatly  distinguished  itself  in  charging  on  the  ene- 
my's batteries. 

Finally,  on  the  2Stl«  of  May,  after  some  other  fighting  by 
detached  portions  of  both  arnues,  llalleck  sent  forward  three 
heavy  reconoitering  columns  against  Corinth  to  feel  the  strength 
of  the  enemy's  entire  line,  and  unmask  hi  .  battel  ies.  The  rebels 
hotly  coidesting  the  grouiul  at  the  several  points  of  appioach 
on  tlu^  right  centre  and  left,  but  were  driven  back.  On  the 
2{)th  I'oj)e  and  Siierman  oi)ened  upon  the  rebel  entrenchments 
with  their  powerful  guns  and  drove  the  enemy  from  his  advan(;ed 
battery.  But  while  the  movement  of  the  federal  army,  entrenched 
in  su(;cessive  parallels,  was  slowly  converging  on  the  hostile 
works  with  their  heavy  siege  guns,  IJeanregard,  aware  that  he 
was  unable  to  cope  with  such  a  formidable  force,  was  secretly 
withdrawing  from  the  town  to  prevent  capture.  During  the 
entire  succeeding  night  from  Ilalleck's  advanced  position  could 
be  heard  the  rund)ling  of  ears  and  the  shrieking  locomotive 
whistles,  terndnating  at  daylight  with  several  h)nd  explosions. 
kSkirnnsh  parties  were  immediately  thrown  out  and  a  general  ad- 
van<!e  being  ordered,  the  troops  entered  (jorinl)  and  found  it  de- 
serted. All  the  heavy  ordnance  had  been  carried  away  while  com- 
ndsary  stores,  powder  and  other  valuable  property,  which,  for  the 
want  of  transportjition  could  not  be  removed,  was  destroyed. 
The  news  of  the  evacuation  soon  spread  from  regiment  to  regi- 
ment and  from  division  to  division  till  the  air  eehoeilwith  jubilant 


784 


HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


shouts  ill  every  jmrt  of  the  wiclcly  extended  fiehl.  The  mnyoreiiine 
forward  iiiul  surrendered  tlie  towu,  and  tlie  njitional  ensifjn  was 
hoisted  over  thepubhc  buihlinjis  wlu're  the  i'(d)el  tlaj^liad  sohnig 
delhuitly  floated  its  treasoiuible  folds.  The  rebels  fled  with  givni 
preeij>itatiou  notwithstanding  their  oft-repeated  boasts  to  iitiiuo- 
late  tiie  Yankees  if  they  ever  ventured  beyond  the  Tennessee.  The 
jmrsuit  of  the  fugitive  enemy  wasiuiinediate  and  the  same  day  a 
cavalry  force  overtook  his  rear  guard  on  Tuseund)ia  creek  S  miles 
south  of  Corinth.  The  retreat  and  pursuit  wascontiuued  for  sev- 
eral days  with  skirmisliing  at  various  points,  and  linally  ended 
in  the  occupation  of  Gnntown  and  Baldwin  by  the  federals,  and 
Tupello  by  the  confederates. 

The  lengthening  list  of  regiments  wliich  Illinois  added  to  the  cat- 
alogue of  battles  in  the  siege  of  Corinth  attained  its  greatest  dinien- 
The  following  array  of  numbers  constitute  a  roll  of  honor 


sions 


7  /  i  7  in 

and  otticered  as  at  Sliiloh  and  Island  No.  10,  and  advanced  upon 
Corinth  in  Thomas'  (!orps.  Prominent  among  the  many  organiza- 
tions which  were  distinguished  in  the  fighting  about  tlie  besieged 
city  were  a  portion  of  the  2d,  4th,  7th  and  11th  cavalry,  and  the 
batteries  of  Waterhouse,  Ilonghtaling,  IJouton  and  ttilverspare. 
Lieut.  Baker,  of  Yates'  sharp-shooters  was  the  first  to  enter  the 
rebel  works,  and  Col.  Stuart,  of  the  o'tth,  was  the  flrst  to  hoist  the 
federal  flag  over  the  capture<l  city.  Gen.  Sherman  thus  .alliules 
to  Logan:  "I  feel  niuler  sjiecial  obligations  to  this  ofticer,  who, 
during  the  two  days  he  served  under  me,  held  the  entire  ground 
on  my  right  extending  down  to  the  railroad.  All  the  time  he  liad 
in  his  front  a  large  force  of  the  enemy,  but  so  dense  was  the  for- 
est he  could  not  reckon  their  strength  save  what  he  could  see  ou 
the  railroad. " 


Chapter  LIX. 

i8G2— ILLINOIS  m  KENTUCKY,  NORTH EEN  MISSISSIPPI 
AND  MIDDLE  TENNESSEE. 

Battles  of  Ferryville,  Bolivar,  Brittoti's  Lane,  luha,  Corinth  and 

tStone  Biver. 


Shortly  after  the  reduction  of  Corinth  important  changes  oc- 
curred ill  the  Army  of  the  West. 

On  the  27th  of  June,  1802,  Pope  left  to  take  command  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  On  tlie  23d  of  July  Halleck,'  by  order  of 
the  President,  assumed  command  of  the  armies  of  the  United 
States,  and  Grant  occupied  Northern  Alabama  and  West  Ten- 
nessee. 

Buell,  on  the  10th  of  June,  started  eastward  to  counteract  the 
designs  of  Bragg,  who  was  colJecting  a  large  force  for  an  otfeiisive 
movement  northward.  One  corps  of  his  army  was  stationed  at 
Kuoxville,  under  the  command  of  E.  Kirby  Smith,  and  two  Jit  Chat- 
tanooga under  Polk  and  Hardee.  The  troops  under  the  immediate 
command  of  Buell  numbered  25,000,  with  an  auxiliary  force  of 
13,000,  at  different  places  in  Northern  Alabama  and  Middle  Ten- 
nest  ',  under  the  command  of  the  gallant  Mitchell.  Buell's  lirst 
object  was  to  repair  the  railroads  which  had  previously  been  de- 
stroyed by  raiding  parties  of  rebel  cavalry,  and»  thus  maintain 
read  J"  access  to  his  depot  of  supi)lie8  at  Nashville.  The  perform  ■ 
ance  of  this  important  work  was  eutrusted  to  Mitchell,  who  soon 
restored  the  road  between  Nashville  and  Murfreesboro  j  but  un- 
fortunately, Forrest,  with  3,000  cavalry,  immediately  afterwards 
made  a  descent  on  the  latter  place,  captured  the  small  garrison, 
again  destroyed  the  railroad  and  escaped  with  his  prisoners  and  a 
large  amount  of  booty  to  Chattanooga.  Next  the  startling  intel- 
ligence was  received  that  the  force  under  Smith,  had  burst  tlirough 
a  gap  of  the  (Jumberland  Mountains,  for  the  purpose  of  invading 
Kentucky.  Passing  without  opposition  through  the  State,  he  ap- 
approached  within  seven  miles  of  Cincinnati,  but  finding  the 
city  prepared  to  receive  him,  he  retired  without  attempting  its 
capture. 

When  war  exists  one  of  the  belligerents  must  be  subdued  before 
peace  can  be  restored;  and  however  prudently  it  may  be  conduc- 
ted, the  destruction  of  life  and  property  is  unavoidable.  The 
forces  employed  if  divested  of  the  restraint  common  to  regular 
military  organizations,  frequently  foi'get  the  object  of  legit- 
imate warfare,  and  plunder  indiscriminately  both  friend  and  foe. 
Such  was  the  character  of  the  nmrauding  parties  which  the  rebels 
now  emploved  as  a  means  of  obtaining  sui)i)lies  and  a\enging 
50—785 


ill: 


78G 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


their  iniafiiiiiiry  wrong's,  rirqnoiitly  tlicy  daslicd  into  ii  villii<;e 
01' district  iuid  hiiviiifj  sci/A'd  tlie  property  of  tlie  iuiisibitaiits,  if  any 
dsired  to  resist  they  were  eitlier  shot  or  dra<;j;ed  into  captivity. 
Lyiiiy  in  wait  for  railroad  trains,  they  were  not  content  witli 
destroying"  tlie  road  and  robbing  tiie  mails,  bnt  ninrdered  the 
passengers.  If  dispersed  at  one  point  they  snddenly  api)eared  at 
another,  and  renewed  their depr<'dations,  seriously  interfeiint^' with 
the  business  of  the  country  without  leading  to  any  decisive  mili- 
tary ad\antages. 

Ahnost  simultaneously  with  the  passage  of  the  Cumberlaml 
Mountains  by  Smith,  IJragg  with  an  army  of  (iO,(MH)  nu'ii,  crossed 
the  Tennessee  for  a  similar  otfiMisive  movement.  IJuell  ha<l  ex- 
tended his  line  of  operations  along  the  Memphis  and  Charleston 
railroad  tolluntsville,  where  he  had  established  his  headciuaiters. 
Owing  to  the  manifold  dangers  which  now  beset  him,  instead  of 
penetrating  farther  eastward  as  contemplated,  he  found  it  neces- 
sary to  return  for  the  J)urj)ose  of  guarding  the  movements  of 
Bragg.  The  latter  proceeding  by  way  of  rikeville,  Sparta  and 
Carthage,  entered  Kentucky  on  ;he  oth  of  Sei)teml>er.  During 
the  march,  Buell  harrassed  his  rear  ;  on  ilie  17th  drove  his  forces 
out  of  jMumfordsville,  and  deducing  from  his  nu)vements  that  he 
was  aiming  at  Louisville,  he  hastened  thither  in  .advance. 

The  inhabitants  were  laboring  under  the  most  serious  appre- 
hensions for  the  safetj^  of  the  city,  and  w  hen  his  advancing  col- 
umns awoke  them  fromtheirnightly  slumbers,  the  cry  "Buell  has 
come,"  was  repeated  as  when  his  advent  Avas  greeted  by  the  im- 
I)eriled  army  at  Shiloh.  Anticipating  an  attack  by  the  rebel  army, 
a  large  number  of  fresh  troops  had  been  liurriedlj'  pushed  forward 
from  Illinois,  ludiana  and  Ohio  for  the  protectiou^of  the  city, 
when  some  niisunderstanding  arising  between  Gens.  Davis  and 
Nelson,  as  to  whose  comnnind  they  belonged,  the  latter  was  shot 
and  killed  by  the  former.  After  the  adjustment  of  this  difficulty, 
Buell's  army  was  reorganized,  he  being  first  and  Thomas  second  in 
conuuaud,  and  its  three  corps  being  commanded  by  Generals  A.  M. 
McCook,  Critteudeu  and  C.  C.  Gilbert. 

Battle  of  PerryviUe. — Thus  officered  and  numbering  near 
100,000  men,  the  army  on  the  1st  of  October  left  Louisville  in  i>ur- 
suit  of  Bragg,  who  being  unable  to  proceed  farther  northward, 
commenced  returning.  Btiell  following  in  his  wake  by  way  of 
Bardslown,  heard  there  was  a  large  force  of  the  enemy  at  Perry- 
viUe. He  determined  to  move  against  him  and  accordingly  or- 
dered his  three  corps  to  advance  without  <lelay  by  different  roads. 
On  the  7th  of  October,  1802,  Gilbert's  corps  moved  along  the 
Springtield  pike  to  within  5  miles  of  PerryviUe  when  lieavy  skir- 
mishing commenced.  Mitchell's,  the  leading  division,  was  tbrmed 
in  line  of  battle  across  the  road  and  Sheridan's  division,  contain- 
ing the  3(5th,  44th,  73d,  Soth,  8(»th,  88th  and  125th  Illinois,  was 
shortly  after  brought  np  and  stationed  beyond  Doctm's  Creek 
on  Mitchell's  right.  This  movement  brought  McCook's  brig- 
ade of  Sherman's  division,  within  2J  miles  of  the  enemy's  position 
and  early  in  the  morning  of  the  8th  he  deployed  the  8.jth  Illinois 
on  his  right,  the  52d  Ohio  on  his  left,  while  the  12oth  Illinois  was 
placed  as  a  reserve,  and  the  80th  Illinois  pushed  forward  as  pickets. 
The  rebel  xnckets  uow  commenced  the  contest  by  a  severe  lire  on 


THE  "WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION.  787 

tlie  85tli,  whicli,  without  hiiviiif?  previojisly  boon  under  fire,  cliiir;iC'd 
up  the  liill  on  whicih  the  enemy  was  iK)ste(l,  and  drove  iiiin  Iroiu 
his  position.  Exasperated  at  their  disconititure  tiie  rebels  now 
massed  their  forces  on  the  rijjht  and  left  of  the  brigade,  and  for 
an  hour  ])oured  upon  the  devoted  men  a  furious  tire  of  shrapnel. 
Stubbornly,  heroically  they  breasted  the  storm  till  Barrets'  Ud 
Illinois  battery  was  brouj^lit  into  position  when  the  rebels  were 
three  times  driven  from  their  fiuns,  which  at  leiiffth  were  i)eTma- 
uently  silenced.  The  125th  Illinois  had  in  the  meanwhile  been 
ordered  up  to  support  tlie  battery  and  so  etticiently  was  the  task 
performed  tluit  the  rebels  retired  leavinjj:  the  federals  in  i)osses- 
sion  of  the  field  which  they  had  so  heroically  won. 

In  the  meantime  .Jackson's  and  lloussnau's  divisions,  A.  M. 
McCook's  corps,  the  forniercontaiiiinj;'  theJUth,  80th,  8!)th  and  123d 
Illinois  and  the  latter  the  lUth,  L'4th  and  39th  ML,  were  brought  up 
and  formed  on  Gilbert's  left.  Bragg'  fearing  the  arrival  of  (Jritteu- 
den,  determined  to  take  advantage  of  his  al>sence  by  an  immediate 
assault  with  his  entire  force.  Acconliiigly  about  11  o'clock  hia 
batteries  opened  from  G  different  positions,  and  were  answered  by 
the  federal  artillery,  but  no  efie(!t  being  produced  on  either  side, 
the  filing  ceased.  The  lull,  however,  only  presaged  the  coming 
storm.  Again  the  rebel  guns  opened  with  redoubled  furj'  and 
presently  the  dark  masses  of  the  enemy  were  seen  emerging  from 
the  woods.  Bragghad  concentrated  the  flower  of  his  army  against 
the  left  center  of  the  Union  line,  while  Buckner  massing  another 
force,  moved  against  Jockson's  division  further  to  the  left.  The 
latter  gave  way  and  lionsseau  next  becoming  involved,  for  half 
an  hour  the  fighting  was  terriffic  and  the  carnage  fearful.  In  the 
heat  of  the  contli(;t  the  24th  Illinois  was  ordered  nj)  for  the  de- 
fense of  a  vulnerable  point  in  tlie  line,  and  although  frequently 
assailed  by  overwhelming  numbers,  they  tenaciously  maintained 
their  i)osition.  While  tlie  battle  was  thus  raging  on  tlie  left 
Gens.  JMitchell  ami  Sheridan  ■.itta(!ked  the  enemy  on  the  right  and 
driving  him  from  the  field,  ended  the  contest. 

During  the  afternoon  Mitchell's  division,  in  which  were  the  21st, 
25th,  35th,  38th,  42d,  58th,  .51Hh,  74th  and  75th  Illinois,  had  been 
moved  up  to  the  supi)ort  of  Gen.  Shei-idan,  who  was  hard  pressed 
by  the  enemy.  Col.  Carlin  of  the  38th  Illinois,  with  a  brigade, 
pushed  forward  on  the  right  aiul  upon  ascending  a  hill,  dis- 
covered a  strong  fonuA  of  the  enemy  reJidy  to  hurl  themselves 
against  Sheridan's  overtasked  men.  Ordering  a  charge  his  men 
met  the  advancing  rebels  with  such  irresistable  momentum  as  to 
completely  pierce  their  (ientre  and  i)ut  them  to  flight.  He  then  pur- 
sued the  fugitives  a  distance  of  two  miles,  when  finding  in  the 
ardor  of  pursuit  he  had  isolated  himself  from  the  other  forces,  he 
returned  before  the  confused  enemy  could  take  advantage  of  his 
situation.  While  in  this  advanced  position  his  own  regiment,  the 
38th  Illinois,  (laptured  an  ammunition  train  of  the  enemy,  and  its 
guard,  nund)ering  14()  men.*  As  an  evidence  of  the  heroism  with 
which  the  .jOtli  and  75th  exposed  themselves  and  the  deadly 
ordeal  through  which  they  passed,  the  former  lost  153  out  of 
325,  and  the  latter  221  out  of  700.  In  another  part  of  the  field 
the  80th  and  123d  behaved  with  great  gallantry,  the  first  having 
11  killed,  32  wounded,  and  13  missing  and  the  2d  35  killed,  119 
wounded  and  35  missing. 


♦  Mitchell's  Heport. 


788 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Otlier  rcjiiiiuMits,  tlioujjh  not  spccMiilly  iiiciitionoil  in  tlie  reports 
of  tlu^  battk',  tbii;ilit  as  l)niv('ly,  loved  tluMtaiise  as  devotedly  aiul 
are  a.s  iiiucli  entitled  to  our  rosi)ect  and  <;ratitude  as  tliosc;  wiio 
Lave  a  more  pieteiitious  reeord.  Tiiat  none  eoidd  have  siiiuined 
dan;;er  is  evident  from  tlii^  fatal  effects  of  the  battle,  wliieh  Mc- 
Cook  says,  for  the  number  enjiajjed,  was  the  bhxxliest  eoiitliet  of 
modern  times.  Aeeordiiifjc  to  IJuell's  report,  th.e  entire  federal  htss 
in  kiUed,  wounded  and  missinj;-  was  4, (»()(>;  that  of  the  enemy 
beiiifi"  abont  the  same.  Had  Crittenih'ii's  corps,  which  did  not 
arrive  till  after  the  lighting-  was  t)ver,  been  present,  the  result 
ini;^ht  have  been  diftereiit. 

As  nraji}""  retreated  it  was  snp])osed  he  would  nnike  a  stand  on 
Dick  river,  and  IJuell  accordingly  sent  Critten^leii  forward  to  en- 
{ia,ne  him  in  front  wljile  M('Cook  and  (iilbert  were  to  turn  his 
flank  and  compel  him  to  tijiht  or  surrender.  The  sagacious  Con- 
federate, however,  suspecting  the  design  of  his  adversary,  evac^u- 
ated  his  position  and  resumed  his  march.  Possessing  an  aitcurate 
knowledge  of  the  country  and  skilfully  nsing  the  advantages 
which  it  afforded,  he  managed  to  elude  the  Union  troops.  The 
pursuit  was  continued  as  far  as  London,  when  its  farther  prose- 
cution Mas  deemed  inexix'dient.  Bragg  thus  es(!ai>ed  laden  with 
the  rich  spoils  gathered  in  Kentucky;  and  Buell  falling  back  to 
Nashville,  was  superseded  by  Kosecrans. 

The  l{iclinu>nd  autliorities  evidently  supposed  that  the  people 
of  Kentucky  were  ready  to  espouse  the  cause  of  the  confederacy  if 
they  could  have  some  assurance  of  i)rotection  when  the  decisive 
step  was  taken.  One  object  of  the  invasion  was,  therefore,  to  in- 
si)ire  the  necessary  contidence,  and  much  disai)pointment  was  felt 
at  the  apathy  with  which  these  overtures  were  received,  and, 
therefore,  except  a  large  amcmnt  of  supplies  JJragg  carried 
with  hiuj  to  Tennessee,  he  derived  no  advantage  from  the  expe- 
dition. 


Battle  of  Bolivar. — After  the  reduction  of  Corinth  Grant's  army 
occupied  Northern  Alabanui.  His  forces  having  been  seriously 
weakened  by  detailing  a  iiortion  of  them  for  the  defense  of  Lou- 
isville, a  strong  rebel  force  of  cavalry,  under  the  command  of 
Armstrong,  undertook  the  capture  of  Bolivar,  for  'he  i)uri)ose  of 
severing  the  railroad  at  that  i)oint  and  thus  interrupting  the  fed- 
eral lines  of  communication.  Col.  Crocker  with  a  small  L^^nion 
force  Avas  in  command  of  the  town,  and  as  soon  as  he  learned  the 
intentions  of  Armstrong,  he  dispatched,  on  the  30tli  of  August, 
18()L!,  two  comi)anies  of  the  llth  and  four  of  the  2d  III.  cavalry, 
Cols,  i'uterbaugh  and  Hogg,  and  the  20th  and  78th  Ohio  infantry, 
to  give  him  battle.  About  noon  Col.  Leggett,  who  had  charge  of 
the  force,  met  a  large  body  of  rebels,  who  immediately  endeavored 
by  a  flank  movement  on  the  I\Iiddleburg-  road,  to  get  in  his  reai". 
Here  with  the  two  conji)anies  of  the  llth  111.  cavalry  and  some 
mounted  infantry  he  engaged  the  enemy,  and  after  an  liour's  fight- 
ing, drove  him  back.  After  the  tirst  struggle  was  over  a  ])ortioii 
of  the  Ohio  infantry  arrived,  and  Leggett,  leaving  a  suflicient 
force  for  the  })rote(!tion  of  his  left,  massed  the  remainder  of  his 
troops  on  the  load  where  it  was  evident  the  enemy  was  making- 
preparations  for  a  second  attack,  for  the  purpose  of  gtiining'  his 
rear.     Hardly  had  this  disposition  of  the  forces  been  made,  when 


THE  WAR  OP  THE  REBELLION.  789 

tho  ononij'  charged  with  ii;i\'at  iinpotuosity  down  tlie  road,  but 
Avas  twico  iv)»ulsod  by  tlio  <U'adly  tiro  of  tlio  intantry.  Fiiidinj[>; 
tills  i)art  of  tlio  lii'ld  impregnable,  tl»e  foe  next  turned  on  tlie  left, 
whcrci  had  jirevionsly  been  posted  the  four  companies  of  the  L'd 
111,  eav<:lry,  under  Col.  lloj,';;.  Col.  Lejjjiett  soon  discovered  that 
a  full  r('<;ime.nt  of  rebel  cavalry  was  preparing  to  swoop  down  upon 
and  gobble  u[)  his  small  force,  and  sent  him  word  to  fall  back  if 
he  had  any  doubt  as  to  his  ability  to  resist  the  intended  charge, 
"  For  God's  sake  don't  order  me  back,"  were  the  nuMuorable  words 
of  the  daring  cavalryman.  "Then  meet  them,"  replied  Leggett, 
"and  may  (lod  bless  yoiir  effort."  Imnu'diately  giving  the  com- 
mand "  Forwanl"  to  his  men,  and  putting  spurs  to  his  steed,  with 
a  daring  that  heeded  not  the  dangers  to  which  he  exposed  himself, 
dashed  forward  in  advance  of  his  for(!e.  Thus  isolated,  he  became 
a  consi)icuous  mark  for  rebel  sharpshooters,  and  fell  pierced  by 
nine  bullets.  The  next  moment  the  two  lines  came  together  with 
a  crash,  fr(un  the  effects  of  which  both  recoiled.  In  the  meantime 
reinforcements  of  infantry  came,  ami  a  battery  opening  upon  tho 
hostile  force,  drove  them  from  the  lield.  The  victory  was  com- 
l)U'te,  but  dearly  Ixmght  at  the  sacrifice  of  the  heroic  Colonel. 
Chivalrous,  generous  and  daring,  in  his  death  Illinois  lost  one  of 
her  noblest  sons,  liberty  an  admiring  votary  ami  the  ]>rofessiou 
of  arms  a  hero  of  more  than  ordinary  courage.  Says  Col.  Leggett 
in  his  otlicial  report:  "The  lid  III.  cavalry  was  on  the  field  so 
.short  a  time,  1  can  only  particulaiize  their  commander,  the  la- 
mented Col.  Hogg.  A  l>raver,  truer  man  never  lifted  his  sword 
in  defense  of  his  country.  lie  was  brave  to  a  fault,  and  fell 
while  leading  one  of  the  most  gallant  cavalry  charges  of  the 
war 


> 


Battle  of  B)-ittnn\'i  Lane. — Armstrong  next  attacked  a  force  of 
S(K)  men  under  command  of  Col.  Dennis,  while  on  his  way  from 
Estinaula,  Aug.  .'iO,  lS(i2,  to  Jackson,  Tenn.  Having  been  (udered 
to  the  latter  place  with  his  force,  consisting  of  the  2()th  and  30th 
Illinois,  two  ])ieces  of  artillery  and  two  companies  of  cavalry,  on 
the  1st  of  !Se]ttember  his  vanguard  encountered  at  Uritton's  Lane 
a  rebel  cavalry  force  of  ij,0((0  men.  A  battle  immediately  com- 
nic'nce<l,  in  which  he  lost  his  trains,  yet  after  fighting  heroically 
for  four  hours  he  remained  master  of  the  field,  and  infiicted  a  loss 
on  the  enemy  of  4(U(,  while  that  of  his  own  wasoidy  a.  The  great 
dispnrity  in  numbers  engaged  in  this  contest  and  the  results  which 
followed  fully  refutes  the  rebelidea  that  one  Southron  was  equal 
to  five  Northern  men.* 

'  Battle  of  Tula. — After  the  reduction  of  Corinth,  Giant's  line 
of  commiinication  with  Buell  was  threatened  by  the  rebels 
under  I'rice,  who,  after  their  destruction,  propos-^.l  to  cross 
the  Tennessee  and  cooperate  with  IJragg  in  his  invasion  of 
Kentucky.  With  these  designs  in  view  he  had  already  taken  pos- 
session of  Tuka,  a  small  town  on  the  jNlemphis  and  Charleston 
railroad,  about  20  iuiles  southeast  of  Corinth.  To  dislodge  hiiu 
from  tliis  position  Grant  directed  Gen.  Ord,  with  lS,OuO  men,  to 
move  forward  by  way  of  Urownville,  and  to  make  a  direct  attack, 
while  Gen.  Uosecrans  with  another  force  was  to  proceed  by  way 

*  ISoss*  lleport. 


700 


MISTOUY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


of  Jiicinto,  to  ojM'riito  on  the  flniik  of  tlio  ciieni.v  jiihI  cut  off  his 
i«'tn'iil  in  ciisi'  lie  .sliould  iiiiikt'  liis  cscuim'  soiitiiwiud.  At  10 
o'clock  oil  tilt'  iiioiiiiii;>  (»r  tiic  null  of  Sc|»lciiil>cr,  I.S(i2,  lliiiiiiil(»ir.s 
division  of  Itosccriiiis'  force  fiicoiiiitcrcd  tlic  rebel  piciu'ls,  and 
drove  tliein  buck  a  dislinu-e  of  .six  miles.  The  pnisnit  was  llieu 
discontiiined,  and  liosecians  wailed,  at-cordiii^  to  prex  ions  under- 
standinj;,  to  hear  tlu'  sound  of  Ord's  aitilU'r.v  as  a  sij;nal  to  iiio\c 
forward.  About  noon  a  dispatch  was  received  from  (Iran t  rever.s- 
jii;;'  the  previous  ord«'r  of  battle,  and  llosecraiis  now  becoming 
the  attackinj;  i)arty,  pushed  forward  till  he  discovered  the  enemy 
posted  on  a  (Hinimandin;;  rid^c  about  two  miles  I'rom  tlu'  villa^ic 
iSIcirmisliers  were  immediatel.v  thrown  out,  undercover  of  which 
Hamilton's  division  moved  up  and  commenced  an  attack.  'I'he 
Ciijia^iement  soon  became  f;eiieral;  (he  rebels  in  oNcrw  lielniin<j 
numbers  tlghling  with  j^reat  detiuininalion  till  ni<:ht  put  an  end 
to  the  contest.  The  lltli  ^Missouri,  composed  of  Illinois  soldiers, 
distinjiuished  itself  in  the  battle  by  the  terrible  blows  which  it  in- 
tlicted  on  the  enemy.  At  the  time  the  brave  men  of  this  rej;imeiit 
ottered  their  services  to  the  };(»v('rninent,  the  <[Uotiiof  Illinois  was 
complete,  and  they  went  to  Missouri  wlierc  tliey  souj^ht  and  ob- 
tiiined  admission  into  the  service. 

Diirinj;  tlieiiij;lit  the  troops  lay  on  their  arms  expectint>'  to  re- 
new the  fij;ht  the  next  moinin>;,biit  when  the  time  arrived  they 
found  the  enemy  had  lied.  Iiosei'ians  immediately  sent  hiscavalry 
iind  the  47th  Illinois  after  them,  but  not  Iteinj;' snihcieiitly  strong;' 
to  elfeet  any  important  result,  after  a  pursuit  of  'S>  miles,  the 
force  leturned.  Owinj;'  to  some  unforlmiate  mistake,  the  force 
under  Ord  ditl  not  arrive  at  luka  till  the  next  day,  and  the  enemy 
thus  doubtless  escaped  an  overwhelming  defeat. 

Battle  of  Corhtth.—Cion.  Crant  with  a  portion  of  llic  forces  re- 
tired to  Jackson, Cien.  Ord  to  I5olivar,aiid  on  the  L'Otli  Jvosecrans  fell 
l)ack  to  Corinth,  where  he  soon  learned  that  the  enemy  was  col- 
lecting;' his  forces  to  aj;ain  olfer  him  battle.  I'rice,  ^'alll)orn  and 
]iOvell  were  <!oncentratiiij;' (heir  forces,  amounting' in  the  aj4^rej;atc 
to  over  4;(),00(>  men,  for  the  jiurpose  ol' crushing'  the  compa.atiM'ly 
small  Union  force  befoie  it  could  l)e  reinforced.  Jvosecrans,  in 
in  his  prei)arations  for  an.  attack,  so  arranged  his  defenses  that  if 
he  could  draw  the  rebel  forcesnnder  them,  theymightbe  defeated, 
notwithstanding  their  superior  numbers.  For  this  purpose  as 
they  ai)i)ioached,  Davis'  division,  containing  the  7th,  l>tli,  iL'th, 
notli,  oL'd  and  r)7tli  Illinois,  was  thrown  out  to  meet  them,  and  after 
t;ome  heavy  skirmishing  and  considerable  loss,  retired  in  thedesired 
direction,  followed  by  the  enemy.  The  next  day  Price  moved  his 
forces  lip,  as  contemplated  by  the  strategy,  directly  toward  the 
])oiiit  coveied  by  the  heavy  artillery.  Wlieu  within  range  they 
were  met  l)y  a  destructive  lire,  but  despite  the  frightful  rents 
Avhich  were  oi)ened  in  their  ranks,  they  steadily  moved  on  till  they 
reached  the  crest  of  the  liill  where  Davis'  division  was  now  ])oste(l. 
I'nder  the  heavy  pressure  the  division  gave  way  and  the  assailing 
force,  seeing  the  ad\  antage  gained,  rushed  forward  with  redoubled 
speed,  Itosecran's  headquarters  being  entirely  engulfed  by  the 
inflowing  tide.  Hamilton's  division,  containing  the  uOtii  Illinois, 
Avas  next  compelled  to  retire,  and  instantly  the  rebels  made  for  Fort 
Stevenson,  the  key  of  the  position.    Here  their  first  onset  was 


THE  WAn  OP  THK  REBKLLION.  71)1 


vopulscd,  l)iit  (iiiicUIy  nillyiiij;,  tlit'v  iif-aiii  ciiiiu^  lorward  with  iii- 
cn'iisid  (h'lcniiiiiiitioii  jiiid  coiniiH'ii.'cd  Icapin;;  ov«'i'  tlu'  linhvaiks 
into  tlu'  loit.  At  tliisjuiictun'  tlu'TiOtli  Illinois,  wliicli  liad  Itccii 
(•onc«'ai('d  in  a  ravine,  insiicd  foith  as  if  lisiiin'  (Voni  tlic  earth, 
and,  ciniifiinj;'  into  tiie  fort,  drove  tiie  astonished  reltels  out  as 
rapidl.v  as  they  liad  entered.  'I'his  onsIan;;ht  was  immediately 
Keconded  hy  llamilton's  whole  division  which  swept  forward  with 
snch  ri'sistless  niij;ht  tliat  the  rehel  host  broke  wildly  for  the 
woods  throwing  awav  their  arms  as  a  useless  eneimdirance  in  their 
tli-ht. 

While  Trieo  was  tlins  foiled  on  the  rijjht,  Van  Horn's  men  came 
up  on  the  left  in  front  of  Stanley's  division,  ami,  facing' the  heavy 
{i'uns  of  hatterries  Willaims  and  Hobinette,  Col.  l\o};('rs  h'ading" 
the  cliarj;t'  with  a  body  of  Mississippi  and  Texas  troojis  with  a 
heroism  worthy  of  a  better  cause,  colors  in  hand,  leaped  to  the 
top  of  the  bi'eastworks,  when  he  was  ]»ierced  with  bullets  anil  fell 
back  lifeless  into  tlie  ditch.  A  concealed  Ohio  re<;iineiit  next  rose 
up  and  ]>onrin<;  into  thi^  ranks  of  his  followers  a  continuous  nuis- 
ketry  lire  at  short  ran,i;e,  put  them  to  tlij;ht. 

A  sui»portiii;n-  bri;iade,  maddened  by  the  terrible  fate  of  Koyers, 
Avith  wild  shouts  dashed  ni)on  tiie  llth  Missouri,  c<»mposed  of  Il- 
linois men,  and  some  Oliio  re<;imeiits,  and  instantly,  friend  and 
foe  were  locked  in  a  hand  to  hand  death  strugj^le.  Whef)  bayo- 
lu'ts,  pistols  and  sabres  failed,  the  list  was  used  as  a  substitute, 
while  the  yells  and  imprecations  which  were  uttered,  sonndi'd  as 
if  wiiMi};-  from  the  throats  of  demons.  >.'(»rthern  brawn  i)rove(l  too 
uuM-li  tor  the  impetuosity  of  the  Southronsandthe  latter  <iave  way. 
As  they  tied  the  batteries  double  sliotttul,  i)layed  ujton  and  decima- 
ted their  ranks;  arms  were  thrown  away  to  exi>edit(^  their  lliyht, 
which  soon  become  a  rout,  and  termimited  the  battle.  The  federal 
loss  was  estimated  at  ii\'>  killed,  1,S12  wounded  ;  ami  tlnit  of  the 
enemy  1,42;>  killed,  and  from  ."i.OOO  t(H).(KM>  wounded.  AnM)n<'the 
Avoundeil  Union  oHicers  were  (tcus.  Oj^lesby  and  McArthur,  both 
of  whom  exhibited  undaunted  bravery  and  {•reat  skill  in  tlie  man- 
ajiement  of  their  commamls.  Yates'  sharpshooters  went  into  the 
lijjht  on  the  monnn>;  of  the  4th,  ami  cam?  out  with  a  loss  of  73 
men  killed,  showinj;-  that  rajiardless  of  consecpuMUH's  they  had 
braved  the  l>attle's  tieicesv  storm,  adding  new  laurels  to  the 
military  renown  which  the  troops  of  the  State  had  i)reviously  ac- 
quired. The  magniticent  charue  of  the  oOth  lias  already  been 
mentioned.  The  7th,  oOth  and  oTtli,  for  a  lougtinu^  sustained  the 
pressure  of  a  greatly  superior  for(;e  of  the  enemy,  drove  them 
ba(;k  and  recaptured  several  guns  previously  taken  by  the  enemy. 

The  rebels  left  closely  pursiu'd  by  a  fresh  brigade  under  thecom- 
nuind  of  McPherson,  wlio  captured  a  large  number  of  prisoners 
and  valuable  nuiterials  of  war.  To  ensure  the  safety  of  the  fugi- 
tive army  it  was  necessary  for  it  to  detail  a  force  to  occui)y  the 
Uatcliie  river  bridge  over  which  it  niust  pass  to  prevent  its  fall- 
ing into  the  hamls  of  the  federals.  This  movement  was,  however, 
too  late.  Gens,  llurlbut  and  Ord,  aware  of  this  necessity,  had 
sent  a  force  in  advance,  and  when  the  rebels  came  up  and  made  a 
stand  on  the  north  l)ank  of  the  river,  they  were  inunediately 
charged  by  the  Union  troops  ami  driven  across  the  river,  losing  2 
batteries  and  several  hundred  ])risoners.  In  this  onset  the  2Sth, 
32d,  4:1st,  aud  ood  Illinois,  bore  a  conspicuous  part  and  Geu.  Liiu- 

( 


702 


IIISTOKY  OF   ILLINOIS. 


iiiiiii,  ulio  foiiiiiiiiiMlctlthc  bi'i^iHlc.  ill  liis  ofliciiil  rcpoit  lii;;lil,v 
conipliincnts  liis  .siilxtrdiiiiiU^  Illinois  olVu-crs  lor  their  grcut  sUill 
and  Uruvfiy  in  loadin*;'  tlu;  men  in  the  cliiii'^c. 

IStoiu^  lihur  or  Mitr/'irtxhoro. — As  picvioiisly  statcfl  Kost'craiis 
NUpci'ccded  liiicll,  and  on  tlic  L'Ttli  of  ()ctolM>i'  coninicnctMl  ivor^aii- 
i'/.'u\ii  tlic  arniy.  liis  coniniand  Wiis  tlic  icninant  of  tlif  luavc  incii 
^vilo,  niidci  Andfison,  .Milclicil,  am!  I'.ncli  had  ri'pciicd  tlic  iii\a- 
sion  of  Kentucky  and  (;arried  tlie  iialional  hanneis  almost  to  the 
cenlit'  (»rtlie  eoiirt'dcraey  lliroiij;li  Middle  'l\'iinessee.  A  new  mil- 
itary (listriet  styled  tlu^  Depai'tnieiit  of  the  Cnmlieiland  was  erea- 
te*!  in  whi(^h  it  was  to  operate,  eonipiisiii;;'  Middht  and  lOast^ 
Tennessee,  and  such  portions  of  Noil hein  Alabama  and  (ieor;;ia, 
as  mij;ht  be  wrested  from  the  power  of  tin*  rebels.  With  his  army 
an;iiiiente(l  and  streii;;tlieiied  by  new  recruits  ht^  left  LonisN  ille, 
liis  base  of  supplies,  and  procccdiii;;'  by  way  of  J»o\\lin<;'  (Irecii, 
leached  Nash\ille  on  the  loth  of  No\('inber  and  took  a  iiositiou 
n(>ar  the  city.  Krom  this  time  till  Christmas  he  improved  in  dis- 
cipliniii;;'  the  army  and  fiiriiisliin;;'  it  with  clothing'  and  other  in- 
disi»((iisil»le  snpi)lies. 

The  rebels  on  the  other  hand,  were  not  idle,  and  before  tla;  close 
of  Noveiiibi'r  liad  massed  at  iMurfrcesbtao'  an  army  of  aiioiit 
50,000  men  under  lJra;;j;.  The  rebel  coiiiiiiiinder,  under  the  im- 
l»iession  that  Kosecjaus  was  ji'oin^i'  into  winter  quarters,  sent  a 
]arj;e  cavalry  force  into  Jventiicky  under  iMor;;aii  and  another 
under  Forrest,  into  West  Teniiess«'e,  for  the  puii>ose  of  «U'stroyinj>; 
the  railroads  and  (aittin;;  oil'  the  communications  of  the  advanced 
Union  forces  from  their  respective  bases  of  supplies.  J>raj:j;'.s 
army  bcin<;  weakened  by  these  (h'tiKthinents,  Kosecransjud};('d  it 
an  opportune;  time  to  fiive  him  battle,  and  a('(M)rdin;ily  on  ("lirist- 
iiias  eve,  l.SfHJ,  a  consultation  was  held  to  concert  measures  for  an 
ajijircissive  m(»vement.  Arran<;'eiiieiits  beinj^-  iierfectcd  the  next 
liioiniiij;',  in  torrents  of  rain  the  army  started  for  Miirfreesboro', 
Thomas'  corps  moviii};'  in  the  centre,  McX)ook's  on  the  ri};lit  ami 
Crittenden's  on  the  left.  As  the  diiy  wore  away  the  tedium  of  the 
march  was  relieved  liy  the  occasional  rattle  of  musketry  or  the 
explosions  of  cannon,  heraldinji'  encounters  with  advanc<'d 
Sipiads  of  rebid  i»ickets.  Heavy  rains  prevailed  and  the  army 
was  compelled  to  feel  its  way  over  the  muddy  roads  throujih  a 
foj4{iy  atmosjihere  in  opposition  to  skirmishin<;'  i>arties  of  the 
enemy.  Sunday  December  2iSth  the  army  I'ested,  llosecrans  beiiif;' 
averse  to  active  opinationson  the  Sabbath  unless  the  exigency  of 
his  situation  urj;ently  demanded  it.  In  the  afternoon  of  Monday, 
(Jen.  Palmer  leadinjf  the  advance  of  Crittenden's  (;(a'ps  moved  up 
in  si;;lit  of  Murfreesboro'  and  sent  a  dis])atch  back  that  the 
enemy  wasretreatin<ij,Critteiiden,  thereupon  was  ordered  to  occui)y 
tlie  town  but  advancing  and  liinbiij;'  the  rebels  siill  in  iKissession, 
lie  fell  back  liaviny  exposed  liimself  to  great  danger  in  conse- 
quence of  the  misai»i)i'elieiisioii. 

A  stormy  night  supervened  which  so  saturated  the  ground 
that  the  following  day  the  artillery  carriages  in  passing  over  the 
fields  sanlv  up  to  their  axels  in  mud.  Ilose(!rans  rose  at  an  early 
hour  and  carefully  pushed  his  columns  forward  over  the  miry 
ground  through  cedar  brakes  in  front  of  the  enemy,  liy 
uoou  the  aruiy  was  in  position,  stretching  froiu  Stone  lliver  across 


THE  WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION.  793 


tliuroiiiilry  in  a  .soiitlicil.v  tliirctioii  ii:s  tar  as  tlic  Franklin  pike,  a 
<listau('i>  of  ■'{  miles,  ('I'ittfntlt'M  on  tlic  Ict'l  willi  .'I  <li\  i^ions,  N'an- 
clcvf,  \V(H»(I,  and  I'alnicr,  Tlionias  in  llic  ('cntic  with  two  divis- 
ions, N«'}ilt'y  and  IJonsscan,  and  McCook  on  the-  ii;;iit  with  3 
divisions,  Sheridan,  Davis'and  .Johnson's.  Ontstretehed  between 
the  l-'^nion  ai'ni,\  and  Mnilreevl.oii;' and  paiailel  v  ith  tlu^  foiiner 
was  the  n^liel  line.  I>i('(;ke'irid;;-e's  (Jivision  lay  leross  the  river 
on  the  exlrenu'  ri;;lit,  nii-'er  I'olk  in  Mm;  ceidir  wi're  U  divis- 
ions, Wither's  and  ('heat ininTs,  and  nn(h'r  !lii!.ieeon  the  extrenio 
left  were  L'  divisions,  (!iehnrne  and  McCown.  The  rebel  eentro 
was  niiisked  in .  dense  cedar  i'orests,  while  the  rixcrwas  in  tho 
rear,  whieh  bein^'  lonhdde,  <!ould  in  case  of  muiessity  readily  bo 
ciossed  and  made  available  as  a  nu'ans  of  defense.  I)iirin<;'  tho 
iii;^lit  the  rebels  nnissed  their  for(M'S  on  tiui  rij;ht  of  IfoseeraiiH, 
who  inferrinj;'  their  intention,  met  with  his  corps  coninnunh'rsand 
planned  the  battle  of  .MnrtVeeslxno.  It  was  decided  to  hold  tho 
ri;:;ht  tationery,  while  th(^  left  nnder  Wood  and  N'anchnc  cross- 
iiij;'  Sione  river,  Wi're  to  diive  l>re(;kenrid^e  from  his  position, 
oecn]>y  Murfreesboro  and  flimlly  j;et  in  the  rear  of  tlit^  enemy, 
lira-;';;'  had  also  decrided  to  act  on  the  otfensive,  his  plan  b(!ing 
similar  to  that  (»f  his  adversary.  Jloth  intended  to  strike  with  tho 
left  of  their  respective  lines,  and  had  accordingly  massed  their 
forces  to  suit  their  plan  of  operations. 

At  early  dawn  on  th(^  last  day  of  tln^  year,  whiles  IJosecrans'  left 
was  crossin;^"  the  liver,  .McCown's  division  emer^in;;'  from  the  fojj 
which  had  settled  on  the  battlelield  and  strikinj;'  our  rij^ht  under 
.Tohnscni,  hnrled  it  back  at  a  sinj;le  blow  and  captured  two  of  tho 
batteries  beforeaji'iin  could  belired.  The  next  division  u.ider  Davis 
in  which  were  the  ;5.'>th,  r»!)tli,  7.">d  and  7r)th  Illinois,  after  a  thiter- 
inined  resistance,  met  with  a  similar  fate.  It  was  only  when  tho 
exultant  foe  came  in  contaet  with  Sheridan's,  coiitainiiij>-  tin;  JJOtli, 
44th,  "(Ist  and  SStli  Illinois  that  its  terrilie  onset  was  stayed. 
Directly  in  front  of  a  battery  vomitinj.?  forth  death,  and  exposed 
to  a  cross  fire  from  two  others,  the  hostile  eolnmns  moved  till 
within  close  ranji'e  when  a  musketry  lire  poured  into  the  faces  of  the 
men  sent  them  sta-ijierinj;'  back.  Itallyinj;  aj^ain  and  streiijithened 
by  the  victorious  divisions  whi<^h  had  crumbled  Johnson's  and 
Davis'  command  to  fra<;ineiits,  tln^v  a^ain  bore  down  on  Sheridan 
with  the  determination  tooverwhe  m  liim.  Hastily  attacliinj;'  his 
riji'Iit  to  the  rear  of  Ne<;ly's  divisit  i.,  ami  placing  his  artillery  in 
the  atijii'le  formed  by  the  two  lines,  lanes  were  plowed  through  tho 
advaiKung  masses,  llepnlsed  they  three  times  renewed  the 
assault  but  Avitli  such  appaling  slaujihter  that  Vaughn's  brigade 
of  Tolk's  division  lost  one  third  of  its  men  and  all  the  horses  of 
its  brigade  and  stall"  officers  excei)t  one  were  killed.  Sheridan 
Mas  seriously  damaged,  having  all  his  brigade  cominanders  killed 
and  losing  1,6.'}()  men.  AVith  his  ammunition  exhausted  he  also  was 
comi)elle(l  to  retire,  losing  0  guns,  owing  to  the  dillieulty  of  getting 
them  through  the  dense  cedar  thickets  which  covered  his  rear, 
^egly,  exposed  by  the  movement,  was  soon  outllank^'d  and  com- 
pelled to  cut  his  way  out  of  overwhelming  numbers.  A  magnifi- 
cent charge  by  the  10th  Illinois,  11th  oMichigan  and  LMst  Ohio, 
forced  the  enemy  back  in  confusion  and  the  environed  divisions 
passed  out,  renio\ing  their  guns  in  safety.    The  force  of  the  rebel 


701 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


onset  next  fallinjioii  tlie  division  ol'  Palmer,  his  two  rijiiit  biijUiulos 
\v(MV  soon  juislicd  back  with  the  otlieis,  leaving'  Hazen  alone  to 
cope  with  the  hostil(^  snrji'ing-  masses. 

By  the  sudden  and  territi^!  assanlt  of  the  enemy,  Eoseerans'  of- 
fensive movement  on  the  left  was  ])aralyzed,  and  lie  commenced 
massing  his  artillery  on  a  knoll  in  the  plain  whither  his  shattered 
divisions  had  r  !treated.  lie  also  commenced  forming  a  new  line, 
on  the  comi)letion  of  which  entirely  depeinled  the  ability  of  Palmer 
to  maintain  his  position  till  the  broken  forces  could  be  restored 
to  order  and  placed  in  position.  He  saw  at  a  glance  the  danger 
Avhich  threatened  the  entire  army,  and  with  a  detormination  com- 
nieiisiirate  with  the  stupendous  interests  involved,  determined  to 
maintain  hi.s  position  or  perish  in  its  defense.  The  rebels  on  the 
other  hand,  aware  that  he  was  the  only  obstacle  between  them  and 
victory,  rushed  on  him  with  tenfold  fury,  only  to  bo  swept  back  by 
the  terrillc  lire  which  met  them. 

Time  was  thus  gained  and  the  new  line  sufliciently  peifected  to 
receive  the  enemy,  and  presently  the  gray  costunu'd  confederates 
emerged  from  the  cedars,  their  long  lines  of  burnished  weapons  like 
a  forest  of  glittering  steel  Hashing  in  the  sunlight,  as  they  swept  for- 
ward over  the  plain.  With  fearful  gramleur  the  pageant  moved  up 
w  illiin  range,  when  the  federal  batteries,  which  had  been  previously 
posted  on  the  eminence,  opeiu'd  ui)on  them  with  merciless  volleys, 
gasjiing  and  distorting  their  compact  ranks.  Kosecrans  observing 
the  etfect  of  the  tire  on  the  enemy, dashed  up  to  the  line  where  hos- 
tile shot  wei'e  falling  like  a  hail-storm,  and  ordex'ed  a  charge.  The 
men  catching  ttie  inspiration  of  their  leader,  sprang  to  theirfeet 
and  with  a  shout  swept  them  back  to  their  cedar  coverts.  Four  times 
they  rallied  and  returned  to  the  contliet,  but  the  tempest  which  as- 
sailed tlier.i,  more  fatal  than  the  blasts  of  the  simoon,  piled  up  the 
plain  with  heaps  of  their  mangled  carcasses.  Finding  at  length  that 
lu'irher  numbers  nor  desperate  daring  could  prevail  against  Kose- 
crans'  front,  the.v  determined  to  make  a  tinal  attempt  on  his  left. 
]jre(d<enridge's  division  of  7,000  fresh  troops  was  brought  into  the 
contest.  Advancing  in  an  im[)osing  manner  till  they  en(!ouiitered 
the  lire  of  the  Union  artillery,  when  they  turned  and  disa])])eared 
from  the  field.  The  day's  fighting  was  over;  many  a  dying  sol- 
dier looked  for  the  last  tinu'.  on  the  azure  sunset,  and  soon  the 
ghastly  field  was  enshnmded  in  the  pall  of  night. 

A  council  of  war  was  held  during  the  night  to  consider  the  pro- 
priety of  continuing  the  contest.  There  was  a  scarcity  of  ammu- 
nition, seven  generals  and  20  colonels  had  been  killed,  and  7,000 
men  or  about  one-seventh  of  the  entire  army  were  either  killed, 
wounded  or  missing.  It  was  fouiul,  however,  that  there  was  am- 
mnnition  sutlicient  for  another  day's  battle,  an ^  after  making 
slight  changes  in  the  disposition  of  his  forces,  l{o.-.ecrans  waited 
till  morning  feu-  a  renewal  of  the  contliet.  JMorning  came,  but  the 
enemy  had  been  too  severely  punished  to  make  another  aggressive 
movement,  and  New  Year's  day  was  mostly  spent  by  both  armies 
in  recruiting  their  exhausted  energies  for  another  death  straggle 
on  \\w.  morrow.  At  .'3  o  clock  Jan.  LM,  a  double  line  of  skirmishers 
was  seen  advancing  from  P>reckenridge's  position  across  the  river, 
•with  heavy  columns  of  infantry  a  short  distance  in  the  rear.  Soon 
the  moving  mass  burst  like  a  swollen  torrent  on  VanCleve's  divis- 
ion, and  partially  forced  it  back  into  the  stream.    Prior  to  the 


THE  WAxl  OF  THE  REBELLION.  795 

assault,  Koseeraus  was  inakiii};'  pirparations  to  exocMite  tlio  orig- 
inal i»liiii  of  s\viii<;iii<;'  his  left  loiind  aj^aiiist  lircckiniidgt',  and 
si'ciiriiig  till'  liiglit  oil  wiiicli  Ids  division  was  posted.  For  this 
l)uii>os»'  he  had  mounted  58  guns  on  an  eniinenee  enlilading  the 
attacking  foire,  and  so  destructive  was  the  cannonade,  that  in  less 
than  half  an  hour  Hragg  lost  2,000  men, 

Jilccding  and  torn,  the  enemy  turned  and  lied  as  if  from  the 
crater  of  an  exploding  volcano,  closely  pressed  by  the  L^nion 
troops.  A  violent  storm  [)revented  the  renewal  of  hostilities  on  the 
3d,  and  the  succeeding  night  Bragg  retired  to  Tullahonia,  lea\  ing 
his  antagonists  in  the  possession  of  tlie  field.  The  L'nion  army  was 
again  victorious,  but  another  such  a  victox-y  would  have  ruined 
it.  It  had  lost  one-third  of  its  artillery  and  one-fourth  of  its  men, 
nearly  l.',(**'*^  *^t  them  being  killed.  Tlie  loss  of  the  Confederates 
was  equally  severe,  being  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing  14,700. 
Just  prior  to  the  battle  they  had  celebrated  the  festivities  of 
Christmas  by  dancing  in  halls  carpeted  with  American  Hags;  now 
defeated  and  humiliated,  they  were  compelled  to  dei)art,  leaving 
the  n;vtional  emblem  which  they  had  insulted  proudly  Moating  over 
the  city  of  their  giddy  revels. 

The  battle  of  Stone  Eiver,  with  its  fearful  perils,  persistent 
fighting  and  deeds  of  desperate  daring,  furnished  a  rare  oi)])ortuni- 
ties  for  the  troops  of  Illinois  to  further  distinguish  themselves. 
Nor  was  it  misimproved,  as  the  pioud  record  of  their  skill  and 
bravery  in  the  midst  of  the  most  appalling  dangers  abundantly 
])r(>ve.  ^laiiy  of  the  Illinois  regiments  were,  however,  placed  in 
situations  where  overpowering  rebel  assaults  in  greatly  sujx'rior 
ninnbers  rendered  success  frcipiently  impossible.  Yet  there  is  as- 
sociated with  the  stern  resistance  which  was  oli'ered  a  moral  sub- 
limity that  almost  surpasses  the  glory  of  victory  itself,  especially 
when  we  renu'mber  the  patriotism  which  prompted  and  the  adveise 
ciicumstances  attending  it.  ^ 

No  regiment  in  the  battle  evinced  more  intre]nd  ecmrage  or  ren 
dered  greater  service  than  the  old  regiinent  of  (len.  Kirk,  the.'!  1th 
Illinois.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  first  day's  conllict,  when 
the  icbt'ls,  in  overwhelming  numbers  assaulted  the  right  of  the 
Tiiion  line,  Ivirk's  brigade  became  exposed  and  the  .'Uth  Illinois, 
stationed  in  front,  soon  became  engaged.  Although  exposed  to  a 
teirilic  lire,  they  stood  as  if  rooted  to  the  earth,  and  by  their  well 
directed  volleys  kept  the  rebel  liost  at  bay  till  reinforcements 
could  come  to  their  supi>ort.  A  Hank  movenu'Ut  of  the  enemy  at 
length  rendered  Kirk's  position  untenable,  and  brought  the  .Uth 
into  a  hand  to  haml  contest.  Jn  the  bloody  strife  which  ensued  i\\a 
c(  lor  bearers  heroicrally  laid  down  their  lives  to  prevent  the  stand- 
ards of  their  reginu'iits  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
Ibit  neither  courage  nor  skilful  generalship  could  coi)e  with  supe- 
rior nnnd)ers,  and  the  old  fiag  was  at  last  seized  by  traitois,  and 
Kirk  compelled  to  fall  back.  In  directing  his  troops  he  had  two 
hoi'scs  shot  under  him,  when,  alter  receivnig  a  .severe  wound  and 
faint  from  loss  of  blood  he  was  carried  to  the  rear.  Col.  Dodge 
took  command,  and  with  a  iHH'tion  of  the  men  fell  back  to  the 
Xasliville  Pike.  The  remainder  joined  the  20th.  .'?Oth  and  o4th 
Indiana,  supjxtrted  by  the  70th  Illinois,  and  hurriedly  prejtared  to 
again  meet  the  advancing  rebels.  The  latter  coming  ui)  and  hurl- 
ing themselves  with  great  vii>lence  on  the  Union   Uank,  the  70th 


roG 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


recoiviiiji' the  prin.Mpal  shock,  was  coiupcllcd  to  fall  hacik,  followed 
by  the  re.st  of  tlie  foice.  Another  stand  was  iiiiiiiediately  made, 
aiul  ajiaiii  the  79th  was  exj^osed  to  a  destructive  artillery  fire,  and 
Avithdrew  to  the  Nashville  Pike,  where  liosecraiis  was  iorininy  a 
new  line.  Anion<>-  the  fallen  heroes,  with  which  the  track  was 
strewn  was  the  mortal  remains  of  its  Colonel,  the  brave  8heridau 
P.  licad.  While  f>allantly  k^adinjj  his  men  regardless  of  menacing 
danjjcrs,  he  was  shot  and  instantly  expired. 

When  on  the  morninj'"  of  the  first  day's  battle  Gen.  Kirk's  brig- 
ade was  broken  to  pieces  by  the  fierce  onset  of  the  enemy,  the 
fragments  fell  back  through  the  SUtli  Illinois,  which  brought  that 
regiment  into  action.  The  men  lay  down  on  their  faces  till  all  the 
fugitives  had  passed  from  their  front,  when  they  arose  and  deliv- 
ered a  well  directed  tire  into  the  ranks  of  the  foe  only  oO  yaids 
distant.  Before  this  volley  the  colors  of  the  rebel  advance  were 
lowered,  but  the  other  regiments  were  falling  back  and  the  <Sl)th 
was  ordei'ed  to  follow. 

From  this  time  ti'l  inght-fall,  at  every  available  i)oint  they  in- 
flicted heavy  blov> :  on  the  enemy,  aud  suttered  terribly  from  the 
incesi^ant  tire  of  reoel  musketry  and  artillery.  As  an  evidence  of 
the  fiery  ordeal  to  which  they  were  exposed,  they  came  out  of  the 
conflict  with  a  loss  of  149.  Though  warring  against  fate  itself 
and  success  impossible,  the  regiment  seriously  damaged  the  enemy 
and  won  a  proud  name  by  its  lieroic  and  determined  resistance. 

lUit  to  no  regiment  from  the  prairie  State  nor  to  any  engaged 
in  the  baitle  does  the  country  owe  a  greater  debt  of  gratitude  for 
what  it  accomplished,  than  the  19th  Illinois.  Reference  has  al- 
ready been  made  to  its  magniticant  charge  on  the  moining  of  the 
flrst  day's  battle.  A  nu)re  daring  feat  was,  however,  executed  in 
the  afrernoon  of  the  second  day.  Yancleve's  division  having  l)een 
thrown  across  the  river  to  operate  against  lireckenridge,  the  lat- 
ter at  the  head  of  his  own  and  two  other  divisions  hurled  them  with 
irresistible  force  against  his  antag<mist.  Two  of  the  Union  brigades 
"were  instantly  shivered  by  the  con(!Ussion,  and  the  other  pushed 
back  into  the  river,  when  Negley,  riding  to  the  front  and  compre- 
hending the  situation  shouted,  "  Who  will  save  the  left?"  "  The 
19tli  Illinois,"  was  the  immediate  resi)onse  of  Scott,  the  com- 
nmtuler  of  the  regiment.  Then  giving  the  command,  "forward," 
his  men  sprang  to  their  feet  and  pouring  a  destructive  lire  into  the 
face  of  the  foe,  leaj)ed  forward  with  fixed  bayonets.  Plunging 
into  tiie  river  they  scaled  the  o[)posite  baidvs  despite  the  volleys 
and  bristling  bayonets  of  a  whole  rebel  division  posted  on  tlio 
stream  to  dispute  their  advance.  On  gaining  the  summit  of  the 
shore,  the  rebels,  astounded  at  the  audacity  of  the  charge,  turned 
and  fle<l  for  the  protection  of  their  batteries.  The  19th  Illinois, 
11th  Michigan  and  7<Sth  Pennsylvania  in  close  i)ursuit.  In  vain 
the  Confederates  endeavored  to  rally  at  every  available  point,  or 
sought  to  secure  themselves  by  intervening  timber,  but  deter- 
mined men  were  after  them,  and  not  even  an  army  of  devils  could 
have  interi)osed  an  obstacle  to  their  juogress.  With  accelerated 
velocity  charging  up  to  the  nuiz/.Ies  of  the  enciuy's  guns,  and  lcai»- 
ing  tlie  parapets,  the  battery  was  captun  d  The  victory  was  com- 
plete, but  moic  than  a  third  of  the  men  had  fallen  oi'  disappeared 
along  the  highway  of  death  which  they  so  gallantly  trod. 


THE  WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION,  797 

Aiiotlier  diarjie  splendid  in  cxi'cutioii  iuid  iiiii)ortiint  in  rcsnlts, 
■Wiis  niado  by  tlic  HStli  and  o(»tli  Illinois.  A  li',:!vy  icl»'I  colnniu 
vas  adviinc.inj;' across  im  ()i)en  ticld,  on  tiic  IohUt  of  which  these 
re};inients  were  drawn  up  to  receive  th'-ni.  The  SStli  lay  down 
till  the  enemy  approa(!lied  within  40  yj'.rds,  when  they  arose  and 
after  ilriiij;'  two  rounds,  both  re>;inients  bounded  forward  and 
swept  their  adxcrsary  frt)in  tlieli<'ld. 

(len.  AVoodrnlV,  mIio  was  on  the  ri<;ht  of  the  Union  line,  hif^hly 
complimented  the  ollicers  and  men  of  the  25tli  ami  3r)rh  Illinois. 
Tlir<'e  of  their  comi)aiiies  under  Major  Mcllvain  as  skirmisheis  in 
front  of  the  brij^ade,  behaved  with  j^reat  gallantry,  and  both  rej;!- 
ments  duriiij>'  the  entire  battle  intlie^.d  heavy  blows  on  the  enemy, 
lie  says  :  "I  desire  to  call  tin;  attention  of  the  commandinj;-  olli- 
cer  to  the  jjallant  conduct  of  Lt.  Col.  Chandler,  connnandinj;  the 
3.")th  Illinois,  whose  cool,  steady  coinage,  admirable  deportnu'ut 
and  skillful  management,  evin<;ed  the  soldier  true  and  tried; 
and  who,  at  all  times,  proved  himself  worthy  of  the  trust  he  holds. 
jMaJor  3Icllvain,  of  the  same  regiment,  who  had  the  supervision  of 
skirmishers,  I  cannot  praise  too  much.  His  good  judgment  and' 
skillful  handling  elicited  encomiums  of  well  merited  compliments 
at  all  times,  lie  was  cool,  di'termined  and  i)ersevering.  Ca])t. 
AV.  Taggart,  who  succeeded  to  the  comnuiml  of  the  25th  Illinois, 
behaved  as  a  soldier  should,  eflicient  and  ever  ready  to  execute 
orders." 

"While  we  renieniber  the  nobhi  dead  let  us  pay  a  tribute  of  re- 
spect to  the  gallant  Col.  L.  J).  Williams,  of  the  2.jth  Illinois,  who 
died  in  the  performance  of  his  duty.  lie  fell  with  his  regimental 
colors  in  his  hands,  exclaiming:  "'We  will  i)lant  it  here,  boys,  and 
rally  the  old  2;"»tli  around  it,  and  here  will  we  die!"  The  25th 
lost  in  killed,  wound(!d  and  missing  142  men,  the  35th,  81  men. 

The  74th  Illinois,  Col.  IMarsh,  while  on  its  way  to  Murfreesboro, 
intlicted  serious  danmge  on  a  greatly  sujierior  force  of  the  enemy, 
and  in  the  subesecpuMit  battle  it  established  a  rei)utation  for 
braver;y  and  other  soldierly  (pialities.  The  100th  and  110th  in  con- 
jui)(!tion  with  the  41st  Ohio,  kept  back  the  heavy  masses  of  the 
enemy  in  his  ellbrts  to  overwhelm  the  brigade  of  Gen.Ilazen.  The 
amunition  of  the  llOtli  be(;oming  exhausted,  the  men  clubbed  their 
unisketsand  fought  with  the  coolness  of  veterans,  although  they 
bad  never  before  been  under  tire.  The  21st,  22d  and  S4th,  in  com- 
mon with  other  Illinois  reginnnits,  passed  through  the  battle's 
carnage  and  came  out  reduced  in  nujubers  but  with  increased 
rei)utation.  Where  the  shafts  of  the  enemy  fell  thickest,  or  valor 
most  needed,  they  were  found  with  strong  ai'ins  to  battle  for  the 
nation's  life. 

The  moral  prestige  attending  the  battle  of  IMurfreesboro  was 
greater  than  the  resulting  material  benelit.  The  rebel  authorities 
during  the  early  part  of  the  summer  had  pushed  forward  their 
aggressive  movement  with  comparative  immunity  beyond  the 
bounds  of  the  Confederacy.  Expectation  raised  by  the  brilliant 
spring  campaign  in  the  West  had  become  (''sai)pointed  at  the  results 
of  the  army  in  the  East.  The  public  mind  was  brooding  over  the 
rejudse  and  frightful  slaughter  of  Fredericksburg.  When  there- 
fore the  tidings  of  Murfreesboro  were  read  inthecities  audhandets 
cf  tin  North,  the  people  becanu'  more  hopeful,  and  with  increased 
detenuinatiou,  resohed  that  the  nation's   honor  and    integrity 


798 


HISTORY  OP  ILLINOIS. 


should  be  maiutaiued.  If  the  Union  army  had  received  a  bhjw  it 
was  eviiU'iit  it  had  dealt  a  counter-stroke  which  sent  its  reeling 
and  disabled  enemy  from  the  field  antl  its  sacrifice  was  not  iu 
vain.  Moreover  the  skillful  {^jeneralship  ami  detei'uiined  lij^liting 
Avliich  had  triumphed  when  the  first  onset  of  the  battle  had  i)laced 
success  almost  in  the  grasp  of  the  foe  j;ave  additional  lustre  to  the 
victcny.  lint  while  its  moral  eftect  j;ave  confidence  to  the  fed- 
erals it  correspondingly  depi'essed  the  confederates.  In  the  shock 
of  Stone  Kiver  the  spirit  of  Jiragg's  army  was  broken  and  subse- 
quent efforts  were  feeble,  compared  with  the  dash  and  vigor  of  its 
first  campaign.  As  a  remote  sequence  Kosecrans  next  planted 
liis  standards  within  the  rocky  bulwarks  of  Chattanoooga  from 
which  the  enemy  was  unable  afterward  to  dislodge  him.  The 
Union  army  thus  entrenched  in  the  liefirt  of  the  confederacy  won 
new  trium[)hs  under  Grant,  and  subsequently  Sherman  sent  its 
veteran  columns  to  Atlanta  and  theuce  to  the  sea. 


Chapter  LX 

ILLINOIS  IN  THE  VIOKSBURG  CAMPAIGNS. 

18G2-18G3 — Movements  on  the  Mmissippl — Battle  of  Coffecville, 
Holly  Springs,  Parlcer^s  Cross  lioads,  Chkkasaic  Bayou  and 
Arkansas  Post. 


Topographically  considered  North  America  must  ever  be  the 
home  of  oiie  people.  The  destiny  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  the 
repository  of  the  vast  resources  which  past  a^es  have  accumulated 
for  the  benefit  of  man,  will  be  the  destiny  of  the  continent.  The 
immense  river  system  by  which  it  is  drained,  haviu'-'  its  source  iu 
the  regions  of  the  remote  north,  and  its  outlet  in  the  distant  south 
will,  through  the  agency  of  commercial  intercourse,  neutralize  the 
diversity  of  race,  caused  by  climatic  difterences  and  thus  i»revent 
the  rise  of  separate  nationalities.  Further  more  the  wide  area 
thus  bound  by  commercial  ties,  is  not  only  inseparable  but  will  so 
dominate  in  population  and  power  over  the  continental  borders  which 
surrontui  it  as  to  extend  over  them  the  same  institutions  and  a 
common  government.  Should  an  attempt  be  made  to  close  the 
gateways  to  the  Paciflc  through  the  Kocky  ^lountains,  there  are 
not  elements  of  power  in  the  region  beyond  to  cope  with  the  force 
that  would  be  arrayed  against  it.  The  St.  Lawreiu;e,  the  priiicii)al 
outlet  to  the  Atlantic,  although  now  subject  to  foreign  Jurisdic- 
tion, must  ultimately  become  wholly  subservient  to  the  great  val- 
ley. Nor  is  access  to  the  sea  through  the  Mississippi  any  more 
likely  to  be  permanently  disturbed  by  a  rival  power  on  the  south 
than  are  its  resistless  floods  to  be  held  hy  artificial  barriers.  Tiie 
great  lieart  of  the  continent  with  its  exhaustless  resources  must 
through  the  vast  river  systems  with  which  its  surfacie  is  furrowed, 
send  life  sustaining  supplies  to  its  most  distant  extremities. 

At  least  so  thought  the  hardy  race  of  freemen  wiio  dwell  on  the 
Mississippi  and  its  hundred  tributaries,  when  the  rebels  attempted 
to  obstruct  its  navigation,  and  in  their  might  resolved  tliat  its 
conunerce,  iu  common  with  its  waters,  should  flow  undisturbed  to 
the  sea.  Measures  for  the  accomplishment  of  this  object  were 
first  projected  by  Fremont,  and  commenced  by  the  formation  of  the 
fleet  an«l  army  under  Foote  and  Grant  at  Cairo.  Subsequently  it 
gave  character  to  the  military  o[>erations  of  the  West  and  ended 
with  some  of  the  most  brilliant  victoiies  of  the  war. 

In  erecting  defences  for  the  Mississippi  the  confederate  authori- 
ties had  to  make  them  sutti(!iently  formidable  to  withstand  the 
attacks  of  the  Union  fleet  on  tlie  one  hand,  and  the  operations  of 
the  land  forces  on  the  other.  In  the  first  particular  they  were  far 
more  successful  than  in  the  second,  as  the  fate  of  nearly  all  their 
fortified  forts  was  determined  by  contests  between  armies  on  the 
field,    Columbus,  the  first  position  taken  by  the  rebels,  although 

799      ♦ 


800 


HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


iiiviiicil)li!  in  ii  iiiival  assault,  wlicii  uncovered  by  the  capture  of 
])(>ii('ls<)ii,  its  ji'uus  aiul  fianisou  were  tian starred  to  Island  No. 
10.  Koote  with  the  navy,  followed  to  the  same  place,  hut  after  a 
l)oinl)ardnient  of  three  w«'cUs,  he  was  uual)le  to  prevail  a<,fainst  it. 
l'oj)e'.s  victory  on  th(^  Kentucky  shore,  in  the  meantime,  however, 
rendered  it  untenable  and  its  munitions  were  sent  to  Fort  IMllow, 
sitiuited  on  Chi(tasaw  blutf.  To  miles  above  Memphis.  This  strong- 
hold withstood  a  bombardment  of  six  weeks  without  sustaininj^ 
serious  injury,  lint  at  length  becomin<;'  entangled  in  the  evil  for- 
tunes attending  the  Confederate  army  at  Corinth,  it  was  like  the 
other  places  unavoidably  abandoned. 

Commodore  Foote,  suttering  severely  in  the  meantime  from 
a  wound  received  at  Donelson,  was  ndieved  of  his  com- 
mand and  Capt.  Davis  appointed  in  his  place.  The  latter 
immediately  started  in  puisuit  of  the  rebels  who  next  tied  to 
Memphis,  and  on  the  5th  of  June  anchored  his  scpnulrou 
above  the  city  and  prepared  for  an  engagement  the  next  day. 
Five  boats  and  two  rams  constituted  his  naval  force,  while  the 
rebels  had  7  boats,  which  in  addition  to  their  armament  of  guns 
"were  so  constructed  as  to  act  as  rams.     Tin;  following  morning,  as 


the  lofty  spires  of  the  city  were  glittering  in  the  rising  sun,  the 
federal  Meet  slowly  drifted  d(»\vn  the  river  till  that  of  the  enemy 
was  dii^covered  near  the  western  shore.  IJavis  then  ordered  his 
boats  to  steam  np  the  stream  to  give  the  men  an  opportunity  to 
breakfast  before  going  into  the  tight.  The  I'cbels  regarding  this 
as  a  retreat  and  elated  with  the  hope  of  an  easy  victory,  imme- 
diately started  in  pursuit,  tiring  round  after  round  as  they  ad- 
vanced. The  contest  now  commenced  with  terrible  earnestness, 
and  in  an  hour  and  twenty  minutes  the  entire  rebel  tleet,  except 
one  boat,  was  either  captured  or  destroyed.  Van  ])orn,  the  rebel 
leader,  who  sat  upon  his  horse  a  spectator  of  the  tight,  exclaimed: 
"  It  is  all  over  with  us,''  and  galloi)ed  away.  The  federal  tars, 
none  of  whoa  had  been  killed,  were  now  ready  for  breakfast.  On 
the  4th  of  June,  1802,  the  fleet  proceeded  southward  to  tlie  mouth 
of  White  river,  which  it  ascended  for  the  purpose  of  removing 
rebel  obstructions  an<l  opening  communications  with  northwest- 
ern Arkansas. 

The  first  movement  for  opening  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi 
was  the  occupation  of  Shii)  Island  in  December,  ISOl.  The  fol- 
lowing winter  Gen.  Bntle"  took  charge  of  the  land  forces,  number- 
ing 8,000  men,  an  I  prepared  to  cooperate  with  the  Heet  nnder 
Commodore  Farragiit.  The  latter  arrived  at  the  Island  on  the 
20th  of  February,  1802,  and  by  great  labor  got  his  heavy  shii)s 
over  the  bars  into  the  river  and  commenced  ascending  its  turbid 
currents.  At  3  o'clock  on  the  2ith  of  April  he  came  within  I'ange 
of  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip  and  the  rebel  navy,  when  500 
cannon  opened  with  deafening  roar  their  ponderous  missiles, 
weaving  a  fiery  net  work  on  the  face  of  the  sky,  and  falling  with 
a  thuiulerous  crash  into  the  midst  of  the  opposing  forts  and  fleets. 
Breasting  the  furious  battle  storm  the  federal  scpuidron  continued  on 
its  way  toward  the  city  of  New  Orleans,  whither  it  arrived  on  the 
25th  to  the  great  astonishment  of  its  rebellious  inhabitants.  C>en. 
Butler  took  immediate  possession  and  a  portion  of  the  fleet  was 
sent  up  the  river  under  Conunodore  Lee.  It  was  not  known 
what    obstructions    the     enemy    had    interposed    in    the    long 


THE  WAR  OF  THE  REIIELTJON.  SOI 


stretch  of  niilos  tlii()ii<;li  t\w  confcdcnuiy,  iviul  the  expedition 
moved  slowly  iiiid  ejiiitioiisly.  Tiikinj;  possession  of  IJatoii  Koiifj^e, 
Natchez  tuul  other  places,  on  the  15th  of  May  arrived  at  VicUs- 
burs"  and  tho  city  at  once  became  famous  in  the  annals  of  the 
rebellion. 

Only  three  days  before  the  arrival  of  Lee,  Beauregard  liad  com- 
menced the  erection  of  batteries  on  the  hi-jh  bluffs  overlooking 
the  river.  Had  he  come  three  days  sooner  the  vast  expenditure 
of  tn^asure  and  blood  which  the  subsecpient  reduction  of  the 
jdact!  cost  the  country,  nii<;ht  have  been  saved.  The  w«)rk  of  for- 
tifying' was  prosecuted  with  such  enerj^y  that  when  Lee  demanded 
the  surrender  the  rebels  were  ready  to  defend  it  and  refused  to 
comply.  ConcIudin<,'  that  hisVon-e  was  insutlicient  for  the  reduction 
of  the  works  he  wated  till  t]H>  28th,  when  having  received  addi- 
tional boats  from  New  Orleans,  he  commenced  the  bond)ar(lment. 
Still  the  force  proved  inadequate  for  the  enemy  meanwhile  liad 
proportionally  increased  the  strength  of  the  fortifications.  The 
seige,  nevertiuiless,  was  continued  till  Farragut  with  the  entire 
fleet  of  gun  and  nu^rtar  boats,  about  the  middle  of  June,  aiuihored 
in  the  river  below  the  city.  Four  regiments  of  infantry  under 
Gen.  Williams,  also  came  up  up  and  commenced  cutting  a  canal 
across  the  narrow  i)eninsula  west  of  the  city  that  the  boats  iu 
passing  might  avoid  the  batteries  located  on  the  channel  of  the 
river.  The  fleet  of  Commodore  Davis  next  came  down  tlu^  river, 
and  it  was  determined  with  the  combined  force  to  again  attemi)t 
the  reduction.  Accordingly  the  bombardment  was  renewed  at 
close  range  and  broadside  after  broadside  was  fired  into  the  bat- 
teries without  apparent  effect.  Although  the  gunboats  were 
unable  to  silence  them,  several  succeeded  iu  running  by  them  and 
joining  the  fleet  above. 

July  the  15th  the  monotony  of  naval  warfare  was  broken  by  the 
api>earance  of  the  ])owerfixl  iron  jdated  ram  Arkansas,  which 
steamed  down  the  Yazoo,  and  after  disabling  two  of  the  federal 
gunboats,  sought  safety  under  the  fortifications.  It  was  now 
feared  the  ram  might  destroy  the  niorter  fleet  below,  and  the  boats 
Avhi(;h  had  passed  up  the  river  ^'frc  ordered  to  return,  and  Anally 
on  the  27th,  the  entire  squadron  withdrew  from  the  city.  Farra- 
gut fell  down  the  river  to  New  Orleans,  while  Davis  in  connection 
with  Curtis,  made  a  successful  expedition  up  the  Yazoo.  The 
canal  also  proved  a  failure,  ami  Williams  retired  with  his  force  to 
Baton  Kongo  ami  the  TOdays  of  the  Vicksburg  seige  were  at  an  eml. 
During  its  continuance  some  25,(K)0  shot  and  sliell  were  thrown 
into  the  town  by  the  fleet  \vhen  it  became  evident  that  like  the 
other  strongholds  on  the  river  fibove,  it  \vonld  require  the  co-oper- 
ation of  the  land  forces  to  eft'ect  its  reduction.  Let  us  now  see 
how  this  was  to  be  effected. 

We  have  seen  that  after  the  second  battle  of  Corinth,  Ken- 
tuckj^  and  Middle  Tennessee  became  the  lu'incnpal  theatres  of 
western  military  movements,  and  a  large  portion  of  Grant's  force 
was  sent  to  augment  the  army  of  Buell  and  that  of  his  successor, 
Eosecrans,  and  hence  he  found  it  impossible  to  co-operate  with  the 
naval  operations  for  the  opening  of  the  Mississippi.  When,  how- 
ever, in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1862,  he  could  command  the 
requisite  number  of  men,  a  movement  against  Vicksburg,  the 
great  stronghold  of  the  river,  again  became  the  principal  military 
51 


802 


HISTORY  OP  ILLINOIS. 


'^ 


I 


eiitcjpiisc  of  the  west.  Tlu'  line  held  ;it  this  tiiiioliy  tlic  ITiiioii  aniiy 
WiiH  tlic  Mciiipliis  ;in(l  ("liailcstoii  railrond,  llu;  ii;^lit  wiiif;'  rcstiiijr 
on  .Memphis  iiiid  tlie  h'I't  on  Coriiitli.  In  front  iiniloeeup^x  in;;  tlie 
line  of  the  Vazoo  and  TaUainilciliie  its  principal  tiilnitaiy,  weretlio 
forces  of  \'an  Dorn  and  i*rice,  whicli,  durin^i'lhe  month  of  >«'ovem- 
ber,  \V(!re  concentrated  under  (len.  I'emherton.  To  eiindnate  this 
force  th(;  real  defense  of  Vicksbnr;;'  from  tiie  numberless  bayoius 
and  swamps  i»eculiar  tt»  the  country  occupied,  was  now  the  prob- 
lem which  (hunt  had  to  solve. 

He  aceordinjiiy  ordered  Sherman,  commandiuf;'  tlie  ii;;ht  wing 
of  the  army  at  Memphis,  to  fall  down  theri\er  and  operateayainst 
the  rebel  liiieuear  Vicksl)ur;;,acavalr\  Ibrce  from  the  trans-Slissis- 
eippi  army  to  cross  the  river  and  menace  the  railroad  connections 
in  Pemberton's  rear,  while  he  proi»()sed  to  press  him  in  front.  The 
cavalry  force  under  (lens.  Jlovey  and  Washhurne,  as  arran;;ed, 
crossed  the  river  at  Helena  and  destroying  the  railroad,  I'em- 
berton  was  forced  to  fall  Itack  to  (Ireinida  KM)  miles  further 
south.  Grant  immediately  followed  and  on  the  .'5d  of  I)eeend)er, 
established  his  lieathpiarters  at  Oxford,  nnikiny  Holly  Springs 
through  which  he  passed,  his  principal  depot  of  supplies.  As  tlie 
result  of  these  movements  o  engagements  occurrecl  with  the  ene- 
my, in  rapid  succession. 

Battle  of  Cofceville. — After  the  occupation  of  Oxford  Colonels 
Dickey  and  Lee,  with  the  4th  and  7th  Illinois,  and  three  other 
regiments  of  cavalry,  on  the  (>th  day  of  Decendier,  1S(!2,  advanced 
from  Watervalley  for  the  ])urpose  of  cai>turing  Cotfeeville,  sii- 
uated  11  miles  north  of  Grenada.  A  short  distance  from  the  town 
they  encountered  the  enemy,  and  after  vainly  endeavoring  to  dis- 
lodge him  from  his  i)osition,(!ol.  Lee  i)ushed  forward  a  lOpounder 
and  opened  upon  them.  A  full  rebel  battery  innnediately  rei)lied 
and  soon  after  a  large  force  of  infantry  rose  ui>  from  the  ground 
where  they  had  been  concealed  and  poured  volley  after  volley  into 
the  ranks  of  the  federal  skirmishers,  compelling  them  to  retire 
witli  severe  loss.  The  Union  oflicers,seeingtheir  inahiiity  to  cope 
Avitli  su(!h  a  large  force  i)repared  to  fall  back,  leaving  part  of  the 
4tli  Illinois  to  cover  their  retreat.  This  small  ]>roteeting  force, 
however,  was  innnediately  driven  by  five  regiments  of  rel)el  in- 
fantry who  soon  overtook  the  principal  force  and  a  retreating  tight 
commenced.  For  a  distance  of  three  miles  the  contest  was  stub- 
bornly maintained,  the  retiring  force  halting  at  ditterent  i)oints, 
suHiciently  long  to  iKuir  a  volley  into  the  ranks  of  their  pursuers 
and  then  resume  their  march.  Night  at  length  terminated  the 
work  of  death  and  the  federals  retired  without  further  molestation 
to  their  camping  ground.  The  loss  of  the  4tli  Illinois  in  killed, 
wounded  and  missing  was  17 ;  that  of  the  7th,  34,  and  that  of 
the  entire  force  99.  Among  the  killed  was  the  veteran  McCulloch, 
Lieut.  Col.  commanding  the  4th,  who  fell  at  the  head  of  his  regi- 
ment. 


Battle  of  Holly  Sjmnffst. — Among  a  number  of  other  important 
cavalry  exi>editions  thrown  out  in  different  directions,  that  of  Col. 
Dickey  was  sent  to  destroy  a  portion  of  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  rail- 
road. He  left  camp  with  the  7th  and  a  portion  of  the  4th  Illinois 
cavalry  and  subsequently  joined  by  some  trooi)ers  from  Iowa,  ou 


-'«'^°—«"~ 


THE  WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION.  SO.'] 


the  Kith  and  17th  thoy  (Icstroyod  tho  raihoud  from  C)kah)iia  to 
Baltillo,  a  disraiicc  of  M  miles.  'IMic  force  was  now  ready  to  re- 
turn but  hearinj;'  tluit  there  was  a  hirf;(!  body  of  reb(^l  (!avalry  at 
P'idtotoc,  Di(ilcoy  (h^termined  to  move  in  tliat  direetion  and  lake 
jb.servations.  In  the  re('(»nnoisaii('e  some  li2  rej^iments  were  (lis- 
;!overed  wl)i<!h  sul)se(|uently  proved  to  be  tlie  cavalry  of  Van  Doru 
who  was  on  his  way  to  capture  Holly  Spiino-s.  The  next  <lay  the 
foi'ce  hastened  to  return,  and  witlioiit  furtiier  detention  arrivi'd  at 
Oxford  and  reporte<l  the  movement  of  the  rebel  cavalry  to  (len. 
Grant,  The  latter  immediately  divined  \'anl)orn's  oitject  and 
telef;rai»hed  (1<>1.  iMnrphy,  the  commandant  of  Holly  Spiin<;s  that 
he  would  be  attacked  tiie  next  day,  and  that  reinforccMuents  would 
be  sent  to  him. 

As  intimated,  on  the  2()tli  of  l)ecend)or  the  rebel  cavalry  dashed 
into  town  and  the  infantry  {iiiardinj;  the  fi'overnment  stoirs,  only 
100  in  numl)er,  were  soon  ovei  whelmed  and  forced  to  submit.  The 
remainiuf-'  infantry  disi)ersed  in  dirt'erent  i>arts  of  the  town  on 
l)icket  duty,  unable  to  act  in  concert,  were  captured  in  snuUl  de- 
tachments. The  cavalrv,  (J  companies  of  the  2d  Illinois,  were  com- 
l>elled  to  cut  their  way  tiirouj-ii  thousands  to  avoid  a  sindlar 
fate.  The  r«'bels  had  come  prepared  with  canteens  tilled 
with  tnri)eiitiiie  and  immediately  used  it  in  llrinj,''  the  rail- 
road trains,  one  of  wlii(!ii  was  laden  with  cotton.  Soon  all  the 
railroad  buildinjis,  some  30  dwelliiiys,  1,800  bales  of  cotton,  and 
the  j^reat  arsenal  whi(!h  the  rebels  themselves  had  built,  and  in 
wliicli  (Irant  had  de])osited  innnense  quantities  of  army  su])i»Ii<'s, 
were  wrapjied  in  Haines,  By  dej;rees  the  contlaijTation  spread  to  the 
s(|uaie  where  larjie  (piantitiesof  powder  iiad  been  st'i  d,  and  snd- 
<lenly  an  explosion  o(!Curred  which  shook  the  earth  ai<a  t<u'eall  tiie 
adjoiuiufj;  biuldinji^s  to  frajiinents.  Whiskey  was  found  amoiij>'  the 
spoils  and  the  rebel  soldiery  i)reviously  intoxicated  by  vi(;toxy 
and  now  maddened  by  the  effects  of  si>irits,  shouted  and  yelled 
in  unison  with  the  rii<;iny'  elements.  It  was  kiuiwn  to  Van  Doru 
that  a  niunber  of  cotton  buyei's  were  in  town  and  srpiads  of  cav- 
alry were  detailed  to  j^o  roun<l  and  con<luct  them  to  his  head- 
(luarteis.  Each  was  closely  <pu'stioiuMl  as  to  his  business,  then 
searched,  and  his  money  handed  over  to  ai  receiver.  Jn  this  nuiu- 
iier  more  than  8100,000  were  taken  from  i)rivate  individuals.* 

As  Murphy's  force  of  1,S00  men  was  sntliciently  larjjfe  to  defend 
the  place  till  the  arrival  of  aid,  he  was  severely  and  Justly  censured 
for  his  culpability.  In  pleasant  contrast  with  his  cowardice  was  the 
con<luct  of  the  Illinois  cavalry,  which  was  thuscomi)linuM)ted  by  the 
corresi)ondent  of  tha  Missouri  Democrat:  "  Six  comi»anies  of  the 
LM  Illinois  cavaby  were  completely  surrounded  in  the  town  by  at 
least  as  nuiny  thousands,  ami  were  called  ou  to  surrender, 
to  which  demand  they  made  rei)ly  by  dashing  on  the 
eiuMuy's  forces  and  nobly  cuttiuic  their  way  out.  Not  a  more  gal- 
lant deed  has  been  done  durin<;'  the  war.  Six  hundred  aj^iiinst 
8,000,  and  still  they  hewed  their  way  throuj^h  them  and  escai)ed.'' 

♦  Some  of  the  speoulntors  managed  to  save  their  fuiwls  by  phiclnjf  them  in  the  cus- 
tody of  the  lii(lio8  witli  wliom  tliey  were  lioardiiin:  On<!  jrentleiiian  wlio  had  arrived  in 
town  only  the  day  iieforc,  entrusted  some  S4t),0(K)  to  his  landlady  who,  althoutrh  a  stronsf 
seeeBSionist,  faitlit'ully  returned  it.  It  is  said  a  numtier  of  ladies  wore  Itelts  during 
the  rebel  oeeiipiition  of  tlic  town,  eontaininsr  northern  funds  amountinj^in  some  in- 
stances to  $5U,UU0,  and  in  no  instunco  was  the  trust  reposed  iu  them  betrayed. 


m-i 


IIISTOUY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


liiitllr  of  I'iirhrf'H  Cross  liotuls, — ^(iraiil's  coiiiriiiiiiiciitioiis  wci*^ 
iilsd  ||ii'c:iI<'iumI  I)\  tlic  opfiiitioiis  of  l''orrt>.sl.  On  tlir  istli  of 
Di'cciiiImt,  (ini.  Sullivan  ill  <;(MiiiiiiiiMl  of  fliicKsoii,  learning;  tliat 
I''on'('.s|  ill  cliar;;*'  »»f  a  IkumI  of  icWcl  casalry,  liad  crossed  tlic  Tcii- 
iH'sscr  lo  capture  llic  (own,  coiiiiiiciiccd  prcparalions  to  picvciil 
tlic  coiisiiiiiiiiatioii  of  liis  (lcsi;;'ii.  IIavin<;  lu'cii  icinfoiccil  liy  two 
lni<;atics  iinticr  (Jens.  I<'iillei' anil  i'.iayiiiaii,  llic  next da.v  Im'  sent 
on!  tiie  l.'Sd  Illinois  to  oppose  the  ad\aiice  of  the  eneiii.v.  Tluf 
i'e;;iiii(>iit  liaviii;;'  (Miiicealcd  itself,  awaited  the  appearaiKu;  of 
I<'oi'est,  when  it  tired  a  desi riicliv c  volley  inl*>  the  midst  ol'  his 
men.  Not  i»eiii;i'  siidicieiitly  stroii;^  toclicck  the  reltels  it  slowly 
retired  till  ( ieii.  i>ra\  man's  hri;.;ade  was  thrown  out  and  drove  them 
back.  Ilavin;;  heard  on  the  L'IsI  that  detaclimeiits  of  l''ori'est\s 
men  had  destroyed  ;i  portion  of  IIm^  Moliile  and  Ohio  lvailroa<l, 
and  eaptiired  I Inmholdt, 'f rciilon  and  a  niimher  (d'  other  sta- 
tions, (leii.  Ilayiiie  was  onleied  to  repair  the  damaj;es.  With  tin? 
lOllili,  llielP.Mh  Illinois,  1  company  of  the  IStli  iiiid  *.M)meii  of  Mio 
lllli  Illinois  cavalry,  and  a  hii^iade  of  Iowa,  froops,  he  itroceeded 
on  the  railroad  t«>  the  lirst  break  and  commenced  repairin;^'  it. 
ilaxin:;  pill  the  road  in  riinnin^onUu' he  moved  to  llninboldt, 
where  he  was  rciiiforiu'd  by  the  iL'Otli  and  the  iL'L'd  Illinois  ami 
the  Till  'I'ennessee.  Theiic(!  iiiovin;;  io  Trenton  he,  learned  IIh; 
isitiialion  of  l''orest  and  (communicated  the  information  by  tele- 
graph to  (ieii.  iSnllivaii,  who  immediately  joined  him  with  all  his 
available  force.  Forrest,  was  ail vaiiciii;^  toward  the'reniicsse  whitili 
he  desired  to  cross  and  (Icii.  Sullivan  at  once  seized  the  brid^^CH 
on  th<>  most  available  routes,  and  tln^  enemy,  as  the  only  alterna- 
tive, moved  soiUliwcst  and  yol  on  the  Li-xin^foii  road.  The;  fed- 
eral cominander  soon  b(>camc  apprised  of  this  mov  einent  and  sent 
Col.  Dunham  of  the  otii  Indiana,  with  a  bri^ailc,to  intercc|it'  him. 
On  the  inoniiiifi'of  tlie.'Wst  of  December,  I.S(iL',  the  force  reached 
J'arker's  (Iross  iioads,  a  short,  distance  south  of  (-'larksbiir^,  and 
(.\il.  Dunham  was  sni'inised  to  find  himself  confronted  by  several 
thousand  rebels,  commanded  by  the,  redoubtable  Forri'st,  and  the 
road  throii;;li  which  lu^  must  pass  nearly  encircled  by  rebid  cav- 
alry. I'jscapc^  beiii<>-  impossible,  Col.  Diiiiliain  formed  his  men  in 
solid  coldinn  ami  soon  they  wiTC  enveloped  in  a  .storm  of  shot  and 
shell. 

A  lllioiij;li  out  numbered  two  to  one,  they  returned  the  tin;  with 
such  well  directed  aim  and  invincibli^  determiiiat-ion,  that  the  en- 
emy was  kcjtt  back  till  theii'  amnnition  became!  exhausted  when, 
by  a  sudden  llank  movement,  they  were  <!onii»letely  surrounded, 
JJaycmets  were  now  substituted  for  powder  and  bullets,  and  still 
they  persis((Ml  in  lifilitiii;^'.  lM)rrest,  bclieviii}'  their  position  hope- 
less and  not  kiiowinj^  whether  it  was  jiossibk;  for  a  Yankee  };en- 
jjcral  ever  to  coiisiiler  himsi'lf  whipiied,  ordered  a  cessation  of 
hostilities  and  sent  a  llaji'  of  truce  to  demand  a  surrendii.  J)iiii- 
ham  replied,  ''(iivc  my  compliments  to  the  general  and  tell  him  [ 
never  surrender.  II  he  thinks  he  can  take  me  let  him  try."  Some 
of  this  jiliick  and  indejuMideiice  was  doubtless  based  on  an  expec- 
tation of  rcinfoi'i-ements.  ^ior  was  this  antieiiiation  unfounded, 
"\NhiIe  the  rebel  jicneral  was  <'onsideriii};'  what  conr.se  to  pursue, 
(b'lis.  Sullivan  and  llaynie  came  iij)  with  their  forces  an<i  i)re- 
l»a red  foi' action.  Stricken  with  ama/eineiit  at  their  sudden  aj)- 
pearance  the  rebels  lied,  despite  the  almost  frantic  exertions   of 


THE  WAR  OF  THK  IMCnKLUOK. 


805 


ili(>ir  oflici'i's  lo  liold  tlicin  in  ]>()siti()ii.  Tlu>,  loss  of  tlin  (Mutiny  in 
killi'd,  womnlcfl  ;iiiil  piisoncis,  ;is  ri'intrlcd  l»y  I'Nucsl,  liiiiiMt'lf, 
to  :i  «-:i|)liii-c(l  iVdcraJ  olliccr,  Wiis  I'lilly  n  tlioiisiiiid.  Tlic  iiiitioiiiil 
loss  was  one  liiiiidrcd,  mostly  sustained  l>y  tli<>  lL"Jd  Illinois.  This 
gallant  i-i'^irnt-iit  and  a  portion  of  tlie  ISth  Illinois,  constitntcd 
pail  of  C'ol.  Diinliani's  l>i'i;^Md«-  and  were  tliUK  conipliUH-nttMl  in 
jiis  report  :  "The  iL'L'd  III.  deserves  especial  noti(te.  It.  is  (tonipam- 
tively  a  new  i'e;;iment  and  pait  of  it  vviis  at*  one  time  more  exposed 
to  the  enemy's  lire  than  any  other;  at;iny  rate  it  isnUei'ed  more  in 
killed  and  wonnded.  Its  t^allant  coImmO  fell  severely  wounded, 
yel  its  (',onra;;e  never  tla;;j;ed  and  it  mot  every  duty  and  dan;;er 
with  nnwaverin^j;  resolnti(»n.  The  detaehment  of  the  JSth  Illi- 
nois acted  Cor  the  most  part  with  it  and  <lcservc8  the  hamocoia- 
nieiidation." 

The  fnMpient  raids  on  (Irant's  eommnnications  and  tln^  destriu!- 
tioii  of  ills  stores  at  len^'lh  compelle<l  him  to  fall  back  to  Holly 
Hprin.i,'s  and  ai>atidoii  his  orij^inal  plan  of  formiiiif  a  junction  with 
Siierman  (wi  tlio  Yaz<«». 

liiittir  of  (■liiraHdw  Jhijioii. — The  latter  in  tluMneantime  had  em- 
barked his  division  in  tiaiisports  at  Memphis,  steamed  down  tin) 
IMississi|>pi,  formed  a,  Junction  with  the  llect.  of  t;iin  i>oals  under 
Admiral  I'oiier,  asc'cnded  the  Va/ooand  atC'hicasaw  bayoii  made 
an  assanll  on  the  enemy.  This  Itayoii  is  tln^  northern  portion  of 
an  old  channel  of  the  Yazoo  exteiidin;;;  from  the  present  river  to 
the  Mississippi  near  Vicksbnr;jf  and  with  the  excreption  of  oiui  or 
two  places  wasstill  (illed  with  water.  Immediately  east  ai'e  the, 
Walinil  Mills,  a  lii>;h  laiiLje  of  land  tn'iidiiif;' iKntheasterly  from 
X'icksbiir;;  to  Haines'  binlf  where  they  impinge  aj;aiiist  t  he  Yazoo. 
l''rom  tin'  Mississippi,  a.  distanceof  lo  miles,  the,  sides  and  siim- 
iiiitsofllie  lii^dilands  IVowned  with  rebel  lille  pits  and  batteries, 
while,  at  llieir  base,  ran  the  N'icksbiii;;-  and  Yazoo  (!ity  road 
aloii^  which  the  eiKMiiy  could  push  his  artiiley  and  infantiy  if  any 
attempt  should  be  ma<le  to  cross  the  bayon. 

It  was  this  exterior  line  of  the  Vicksbur^jf  defenses  that  Sher- 
man inleiided  to  ]>ierce  when,  on  the  2(»th  of  December  iSIJl',  Ikj 
debarked  his  army  of  some  40,(MM)  men.  The  bayon  could  only  bo 
(•rossed  at  ."{  points,  vvliere  the  torrents  from  the  hills  had  washed 
sulhcienl  tpiantity  of  material  to  form  a  natural  (causeway  for  the 
l)assa;;(M)f  troops.  On  the  niorninjj;  of  the  L'Tth  Steele's  division 
on  the  riiijlit,  |»assinji;  around  the  north  end  of  the,  bayon,  endeavor- 
ed to  move  alonj,' the  west  side  to  silence,  a  battery  <!ommandiii}^ 
»>ne  of  the  i)a,ssa^<'s,  Morfiiin's  division,  (•(•ntainin;''  the  IlSth  Il- 
linois, proc<'e(led  around  the.  south  cud,  while  jMor;.;an  L.  Smith's, 
and  A., I.  Smith's,  tin?  former  contaiiiin;;'  the  o.ltli  and  li;{th  Illi- 
nois, and  the  latter  the  77lh  and  lOSth,  further  southward  ad- 
vanced loward  the  la>:;oous  (connect iiifj;  the.  bayou  and  the  .Missis- 
sippi. Mefore,  however,  the  eiif^aiceinent  properly  comiiKMiced, 
Steele  found  it  impossible  to  reach  the  hostile  battery,  and  was 
ordered  lo  return  and  reinforce  Mor;;an  L.  Smith,  th«'  united  force 
mo\cd  lapiilly  foiu:ird  and  soon  c(»mmenced  skirmishin}^'  with 
tlii' enemy  who,  during'  the  entire  day,  stubbornly  resisted  but 
were  slowly  dri\en  back.  Ulair's  brigade  of  Steehs's,  and  De<;our- 
ce.v's.  of  Mor;iaii's  division,  while  feelin<jtlie  enemy,  unmask  'd  a 
buttery  which  immediately  opened  on  them.     The   battery   was 


806 


IIISTOIIY   Ol"    ILLINOIH. 


BOOH  si]i.>iic(>(l  iiiul  th(>  l.'Uli  iiii(]  KSth  Illinois  niii<lo  a  uiillaiit  cliiir^ife 
on  llii^flM-ls,  and  wlu'ii  ni;;iill'iiil  <'n»l»'(l  \hv.  conU-st  they  Wfio 
(li'i\(-n  a  (|narl('i' of  a  mile  iVoni  tiicir  ori^iMal  linr. 

Dni'in;;  tli*Mii;;iit  the  cncin.v  icccivi'd  ii-inturccuiciit.s,  and  at 
diiwM  on  t lie  2.Stli,  heavy  cannonadin}''  was  coniniciu-i>d  on  l>lair\s 
brigade  and  Mor;;an'.s  divisimi.  Tiu' latter  also  i»ronj;lit  I'oruard 
liitillery,  ami  alter  a  sliarp  e.\(!lian;;e  of.siiot  ami  sliiapnej,  pii'iia- 
rations  were  nnide  for  a  «'iiar>;('.  IJIair's  i)riyadeand  (len.  Wyniaii 
witli  tile  I'ltli  and  Killi  Illinois,  were  diawn  ii|>  tor  tlie  a.--saMlr. 
Tlie  order  was  j;i\('n  to  advance  and  (len.  W'yniaii  iilaein;^  liini- 
8ell'  at  tlie  la^ad  of  tlie  Kilii,  arrived  witiiin  <S0  yanls  of  liiereltel 
batteries  and  sneeeeded  in  unmanning  L'  of  tlie  ^^iiiis.  Here  rats- 
iii;i  Ills  sword  in  the  air,  as  he  was  alioiil  i^ivin;^  tlie  eoniiiiand  to 
(•liarj''e,  ho  was  pierced  thntiijiii  the  body  by  a  ininnie  ritle  l)all. 
Col.  (ioifjas  ininiediately  lan  to  ids  assistance,  when  he  raised 
liiinself  ii|)  and  seeinj;'  his  re;iiinent  in  eoiifusion,  exidaiined,  "  For 
(tod's  sake  Coioiiel,  leave  nie  and  attend  to  these  nieii."  As 
directed(!ol.  (ior;;as  at  once  rallied  the  men,  took  the  battery  and 
in  coiiiiinction  with  Gen.  lUair  dntve  tlie  enemy  from  llie  Held. 
Wyman's  wound  jiroved  to  be  mortal  and  lie  died  in  the  arms  of 
an  attendant  on  the  battle  ground  immortali/eil  by  his  valor,  lie 
liad  entered  the  service  as  (^olonel  of  the  l.'Jtli  Illinois,  and  for 
liis  bravery  on  the  Held,  was  commissioned  bri;;adier-j;('iieral  by 
the  |)r»'sid(Mit  and  was  hi;;hly  estei'ined  for  his  many  virtues  by 
all  \\  ho  knew  liim. 

On  thelilUh  it  was  proposeil  to  make  a  concerted  attack  with  a 
view  of  crossinj;'  the  bayou  and  carryin;-'  the  hei;;lits  beyond. 
]\Ioij;an's division  reinforced  by  the  bri;;ades  of  Illair  and 'Ihayer 
moved  forward  as  a  storming' column  under  a  furious  eaiinoiiade. 
Blair's  men  siujceeded  iu  ctrossinj;'  tlu;  bayou  and  eaptnriii|i>'  two 
lines  of  riHe  ]»its,  and  while  he  returned  to  fict  reinlbicemeiits. 
foii;;lit  with  desperate  enerj;y  to  reach  the  saiiimit  of  the  hills. 
The  rebel  lillemeii  whom  they  had  driven  back,  retired  into  a 
growth  of  willows  higher  up  the  hill.  Into  this  covert  the  the  loth 
Illinois  fearlessly  charj;('d,  and  in  a  hand  to  hand  contest  (jui/kly 
dislodged  them.  Thaver's  bri<;ade  also  j;ained  the  ritle  pits,  but 
beiii;;  unable  to  };el  siipiiorts,  both  bii^iades  were  compelled  to 
retire.  Au  assault  by  M.  L.  Smith's  division  waslikewis"  uiisiic- 
sessful.  One  rej;imeiit,  the  (itli  Missouri,  crossed  the  ba; ou  but 
the  oi)posite  bank  was  too  abrupt  to  be  ascended  and  the  suceed- 
iiij;'  niyht  it  was  ordered  ba(^k.  A.  J.  Smith's  division  bridj;ed  the 
liayou  within  two  miles  of  Vicksbury,  but  the  enemy  was  so  strong 
in  Ids  front  an  assault  was  not  deemed  ad\isable.  The  d<iy  thus 
ended  with  defeat,  a!tliouf;h  the  national  trooi)s  foujiiit  and  ex- 
posed theuiselves  with  almost  reckless  daring.  The  loth  Illinois 
esi)eeially  exhibited  a  bravery  which  ueitlier  overwhelming  num- 
ber', nor  the  terrilic  lire  to  wiiich  they  were  exposed  during  most 
oV  the  battle  could  ett'e(;t.  The  loss  of  the  federal  troops  was, 
killed,  11)1 ;  wounded,  982  ;  missing,  750. 

The  position  oftheeiiemy  naturally  strong,  was  rendered  almost 
ini[)regnable  by  every  appliance  of  nulitary  art.  Siy.ials  were 
established  on  the  highest  peaks  and  batteries  })lantid  on  every 
available  bluli'and  their  guns  wherever  an  assault  wfis  attempted, 
could  be  turned  with  destructive  ettect.  Sherman,  therefore  con- 
cluding it  imi)ossible  to  force    the  confederate  line  of  defences 


THE  WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION.  807 


(Ictrrmiiicd  to  throw  a  Iiii';,'»'  toicc  in  transports  n|t  tlic  Ya/oo  to 
pass  roiiiitl  lliciii.  It  was  proposed  to  cllrct  a  hiiiiliii;;  af>  ilainrs' 
ISIiitl'  tliirin;;'  tlic  iii;^lit,  and  Stcch-'s  ilivision  was  cndtarluMl  tor  tins 
pnip(»s«',  hut  a  ln'avy  fog  scttlt'd  on  llic  river  and  the  cntcrpriso 
was  abandoned. 

The  cntiiJ'  army  now  };ot  altoard  transpoits  and  sailed  down  tlio 
Vazoo  to  tlie  Mississippi  wliere  (len.  Me'Clei  iiaml  awaited  in  llio 
steann-r  Ti^iii'ss  to  assume  eoniinand.  The  eonceplion  and  or;4an- 
i/alion  of  lln>  e\pe<lition  was  in  a  •;real  measure  tin*  result  of  his 
sa;;acit,v  and  lahois  and  he  was  now  rej;ai'd(Ml  as  a  suitaltle  peivon 
to  conduct  its  I'utnre  operations.  As  early  asthcL'Sth  of  Seplem- 
her,  while  on  a  visit  to  Washington  lie  sulnnitted  an  elahoiato 
plan  for  the  openin;;- of  the  Mississii>pi.  It  not  only  contem)»la- 
ted  th(^  rediu'tion  of  V^ickshury-  hy  nntvinij:  a  column  of  soum 
0(),(tO(>  men  l)y  way  of  the  Mississippi  and  Yazoo,  hut  jiroposed  to 
follow  up  the  advanlaj;«'s  of  victory  hy  sieziii;;'  important  cities, 
railroad  (renters  and  other  ])(>ints  of  military  value,  east  (tf  the 
river.  Its  aiithoi',  as  the  suhsetpu'Ut  events  of  the  war  in  the 
Southwest  ahiindantly  proNc,  had  i^raspcd  the  full  sijiiiilicance  of 
the  enterprise  and  the  hest  met  hod  of  condnctin;!;-  it  to  a  suv-cess- 
ful  completion.  He  .sums  up  its  inii)ortan(;«'  in  a  military  view  as 
follows: 

1st.  Ik'Otuise  it  would  uffoni  the  nunoH  ofcheni)  ""*'  easy  coninuiiiica- 
tlou  lietwecn  our  troops  dispiTsed  at  (lillereiit  points  on  tlie  Mississippi 
river  and  its  navif^ahle  triimtaries,  and  liecause  it  would  facilitate  their 
eonct'iitratiou  at  any  one  or  more  of  those  points. 

lid.  Ik'cause  it  would  cheapen  the  cost  of  sui)i)iyiMj;  our  men  and  ani- 
mals at  or  near  Xew  Orleans,  with  provision  ami  forage.  It  would  do 
tliat  hy  suiistitutinjjf  the  overllowiu^  jjranaries  of  the  Nortliwest  for  the 
rt'moter  sources  of  sucii  supplies  in  the   Va\M. 

;!<1.  HtM'ause  in  seeuriuK  to  us  tlie  command  of  the  ?.Iississippi,  it  would 
enalile  us  to  stop  tlie  communication  between  the  revolted  States  and 
tlieir  armies  east  and  west  of  Ued  river,  thus  isolating;  eacli  section  as  to 
the  other,  destroyiiij^  the  unity  of  tlieir  iilaiisaiid  combinations  and  cut- 
tiiiji  olf  tlui  Hibel  forces  east  of  tiuit  river  from  their  wonted  source  of 
supplies  in  Texas. 

Tlu'  presid(Mit  and  secretary  of  war  havinj;'  approved  his  plans 
as  early  as  October,  he  received  the  foUowiiij;-  dispatch  IVoni  the 
lattei',  urjiin^him  to  hasten  forward  the  expedition.  ]Mr.  Limuilii 
in  the,  order  which  (conferred  upon  him  the.  authority  for  this  pur- 
l)()se,  thus  sjieaks  of  this  enterprise:  "I  feel  a  deep  interest  iix 
the  success  of  the  expedition  ami  desire  it  to  he  pushed  forward 
with  all  }»ossihIe  despatch,  consistent  with  other  i)arts  of  the  mili- 
tary service." 

In  a(!cordance  with  these  instructions,  Gen.  McClernanu  for- 
warded from  Illinois,  Indiana  and  Ohio,  some  4(>,(M)()  men  for  this 
purpose,  and  on  tlnr  18th  of  l)ecend)er  the  following  despatch 
was  sent  from  the  War  Departnieid  to  (len.  (Jrant  at  Oxford, 
jNIiss.  "The  troops  of  yonr  de])artnient  including'  those  from 
(len.  Curtis' commainl,  whi(!h  Join  tlu^  down  river  expedition  will 
he  divided  into  i  (iorps.  It  is  the  wish  of  the  i)resident  that  (len. 
McClernand's  cor[)s  shall  constitute  a  i)art  of  the  river  ex[»edi- 
tion  and  that  he  shall  have  the  immediate  comnnind  under  your 
direction."  (len.  ]Mc(Jlernand  left  iSi)rin.t>lield  <m  the  L'oth  of  l)e- 
ceud)er  for  Memphis  where  he  received  communications  from 
Grant  in  relation  to  his  new  command.  Thence  descending  the 
Mississippi  to  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo,  he  assumed  commaud  as 
previously  stated. 


808 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


lie  now  .styled  lii.s  forces  t  ho  Army  of  the  Mi.ssis.sii)i)i,  iind  desiring 
to  devote  hi.s  undivided  attention  to  the  };eneral  interests  of  the 
expedition,  retained  Gen.  Sherman  in  eommand  of  tlie  15tli  army 
corps,  and  assigned  the  l.'Uh  to  (rcn.  Mt)rgan.  The  former  con- 
sisted of  two  divisions  commanded  by  Steele  and  Stuart,  the  lirst 
containing  the  Kith  Illinois  infantry,  the  ."id  and  acomjtanyof  the 
L')th  Illinois  cavalry;  and  the  Ud  the  U.'jth  and  IltJth  Illinois  in- 
fant rv,  Willard's  and  Taylor's  batteries  and  two  comi)anies  of 
Thielnian's  battalion  of  Illinois  cavalry.  The  latter  eori)s  also 
consisted  of  two  divisions,  tiie  1st  (!ommanded  by  A.  J.  Snnth, 
containing  the  77th,  l)7th,  lOSth,  l.'Jlst  Illinois  infantry,  and  the 
Chicago  Mercaidile  battery  ;  the  lid  commanded  by  1*.  J.  U  ter 
Laus,  of  the  118th  Illinois. 

Capture  of  Arkansas  Post. — The  same  day  he  Assumed  command 
Lc  started  with  the  army  for  Arkansas  i'ost,  or  Fort  llindman, 
situated  on  a  bend  of  the  Arkansas  river  about  lifty  ndles  from 
its  mouth.  It  was  a  strong  bastioned  fort ilieat  ion  surrounded  by 
a  deej)  moat  and  furnished  with  ten  guns.  Two  of  them  were 
Columbiads  surrounded  by  immense  casciiuiuts,  one  on  the  river 
side  and  the  other  in  the  northeastern  bastion.  On  the  bank  of 
the  river  below  was  a  line  of  ritle  i)its  and  a  lunnber  of  embra- 
sures made  in  f'O  levee  for  the  use  of  cannon.  This  rebel  Htrong- 
hold  formed  the  kej' to  Little  liock,  117  nules  above  and  was 
the  source  whence  a  launber  of  rebel  detachnu'nts  had  proceed- 
ed for  the  purpose  destroying  the  sup[)lies  destined  for  the  forces 
operating  on  the  Mississippi.  Only  a  few  days  before  the  Blue 
Wing  a  governmont  transport  laden  with  valuable  stores  had 
beeiid(\stroyedby  a  predatory  party  of  this  kind  and  (Jen.  .MeCler- 
nand  now  proposed  to  end  these  annoyances  by  the  capture  of 
the  fort. 

The  expedition  ascended  the  !Mississip[>i  to  the  mouth  of  "White 
Itivev  and  after  a  shoit  pause  entered  its  narrow  channel  which 
wound  serpent  like  through  dense  forests  centuries  old  and  grey 
bearded  with  Spanish  moss,  whose  dim  aisles  strangely  rever- 
berated with  the  whistles  of  the  struggling  engines  and  sent 
back  in  weird  echoes  the  voi(;es  of  men  on  board  the  lleet.  Af- 
ter threading  this  mere  ribbon  of  waters  the  boats  turned  into 
the  Arkansas  where  the  channels  of  the  two  rivers  unite  and  con- 
tinued to  ascend  the  latter  stream.  On  arriving  within  three 
miles  of  the  fort  they  drew  near  a  great  plantation  on  the 
eastern  side  of  the  stream  for  debarkation.  Xight  came  on  be- 
fore this  could  be  elfeeted  an<l  a  strong  i)icket  force  was  thrown 
out  between  the  Heet  and  the  rebels  who  could  be  heard  busily 
engaged  in  felling  trees  in  the  woods  beyond  to  strengthen  th  ;ir 
defense. 

At  early  dawn  the  work  of  landing  commenced,  each  boat  ap- 
proaching tlie  shore  and  [touring  forth  its  (aowds  of  soldiers.  Reg- 
iments, brigades  and  divisions  soon  collected  and  eonnnenced 
stretching  out  in  line  to  the  right  for  the  puri»ose  of  investing  the 
works.  After  toiling  for  several  hours  in  this  direction,  impassa- 
ble bayous  and  swamps  were  encountered  and  the  right  ami  cen- 
tre of  the  line  were  compelled  to  return.  When  niglit  came  ou 
they  entered  a  more  practicable  route  near  the  enemy's  works 
and  by  o  o'clock  the  next  morning  reached  the  opposite  side  of 


THE  WAU  OF  THE  llEBELLION.  809 


the  bend  and  woiv  able  to  (joiiiiiiaiHl  tlic;  liver  above  and  be- 
low tlic  fort.  When  the  investing  bne  was  tlius  nia(h'  eoniiylete, 
Steele's  divisou  ocenpied  the  rij;ht,  and  those  of  iStuart,  Smith, 
and  Osterhaus  extended  towaidthe  left  in  in  rheonler  mentioned. 

Admiral  Porter  witii  threes  iron  clads  and  a  Heet  of  liylit  draft 
gunboats  had  ae('omi)anied  the  expedition  to  co-o[)erate  with  the 
land  forees.  While  the  latter  was  inakinj^  the  neeessary  detour  to 
surround  the  fort,  Porter  pushed  forward  the  fleet  to  ascertain 
the  raiiji'e  and  strenf>th  of  the  enemy's  nuns.  0])enin<;'  within  4(K) 
yards  of  the  works  he  soon  demonstrated  the  superiority  of  his 
lire  by  partially  silencinj;-  the  hostile  batteries.  Duiin^'  the  en- 
gajiement  the  Katler,  one  of  the  light  draft  boats,  ran  by  the  fort 
and  eommeneed  an  enfilading  fire,  butbeeomingentangled  among 
snags  was  compelled  to  return.  The  attaek  was  made  late  in  the 
afternoon  of  Saturday,  and  night  soon  (toming  on  ended  tlu;  (ton- 
test.  Sunday  morning,  the  ilth  of  January  lS(i.'{,  the  enemy, 
tinding  himself  greatly  outnuml)ered,  had  retired  to  his  inner 
defenses,  where,  owing  to  their  great  strength  he  hoped  to  make 
a  su<'(;essful  resistaiute.  All  the  federal  batteries  having  lieea 
placed  in  position  at  1  o'clock,  a  simiultaneous  assault  commenced 
by  both  navj'  and  army.  The  tire  was  terrific,  the  rebel  batteries 
swee[)ing  the  plain  in  front  of  the  works  witheaimister  while  they 
hulled  at  the  gnnl)oats  their  own  shot  recently  taken  from  the 
BlueAVing.  Twice  charges  were  made  by  different  coinniand.s, 
but  so  destru(!tive  was  the  fire  they  were  compelled  to  returu 
without  reaching  the  coveted  goal.  ^Meanwhile  a  tremendous  con- 
centrated fire  from  the  surrounding  federal  batteries  on  land  and 
water  was  rapidly  silencing  those  of  the  fort.  Their  huge  shells, 
after  continual  liouuding  at  the  great  casemates  at  length  affected 
an  entrance,  and,  exploding  within,  tore  the  rebel  artillerists  into 
fragments.  As  the  afternoon  wore  away  the  fire  was  increased 
till  the  bomb-proofs  were  battered  to  ]>ieces  and  all  the  heavy 
guns  were  either  broken  or  dismounted.  The  infantry  had,  in  the 
meantime,  fought  its  way  foward  and  just  as  it  was  about  to 
charge  into  the  fortawhit<'  flag  was  run  up  and  the  battle  ceased. 
At  4^  o'clock  the  national  troops  took  possession  of  the  works. 
Seven  stand  of  colors,  17  cannon,  o,()00  ])risoners,  besides  large 
imnd)ers  of  other  munitions  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  compierors. 
The  loss  of  the  latter  was  12!>  killed,  S;}1  wounded,  and  17  missing. 

This  signal  triumph  coming  after  the  reverses  of  (irant  and 
Sherman,  greatly  encouraged  the  army  and  thus  prepared  for  the 
arduous  labors  yet  to  be  performed  in  the  ledncitiou  of  Vicksl)urg, 
the  primary  object  of  the  campaign.  The  goveinmeiit  became 
more  hopeful,  and  its  chief  magistrate  returned  thanks  to  Gen. 
McClernand  and  his  brave  army  for  the  iini)ortant  services  which 
they  had  rendered  the  country.  One  fourth  of  the  troo]>s  who 
fought  in  the  battle  and  shared  in  the  glory  of  victory  were  from 
Illinois.  The  commanding  general,  John  Alexander  McClernand, 
Avas  born  in  Kentucky  of  Scot(!h  parents,  who  while  he  was  young, 

•moved  to  Sliawneetown,  Illinois.  Here  he  studied  law  and  soon 
rose  to  distinction  in  the  practice  of  his  ju'ofession.  His  lirst  mil- 
itary exiH'iience  was  aopiired  in  tlu^  P>lack  Hawk  war,during  which 
in  the  ])eift)rmance  of  a.  number  of  gallant  actions,  he  evinced 
superior  address  and  daring.  In  1S;5(J  he  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  legislature,  in  which  he  was  made  commissioner  and  treas- 


810 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


nrer  of  the  Illinois  ;iiul  Michigiin  Ciiuiil.  In  liS.'58  he  was  ten- 
dered the  otHce  of  lieutenaiit-yovernor,  which  he  declined,  not 
hii  viiij;-  attained  the  constitntional  a<;eof  30  years,  lie  served  two 
additional  terms  in  the  lej-isiatnre,  and  while  still  ii  member  in 
1.S4;},  was  elected  a  rei)resentative  to  the  L'.Sth  eon<;ress.  Dnring 
the  session,  as  one  of  the  committee  on  public  lands,  he  bronjLjht 
forward  a  bill  donatinfi"  land  to  aid  in  the  completion  of  the  Illi- 
nois and  Mi(!his'an  Canal.  He  was  four  times  reelected  to  con- 
jiiess.  Dnrinj;'  the  summer  of  1850  ho  prepared  and  introduced 
tne  first  draft  of  the  famous  compromise  measures  and  the  same 
yeai'  drafted  a  bill,  <-niiitinj;'  land  to  aid  in  the  construction  of 
the  Illinois  Central  liailroad.  While  still  a  member  of  congress, 
in  1801,  at  the  instance  of  Gov.  Yates,  he  took  command  of  a 
volunteer  force  at  Cairo  and  assisted  in  suppressing  the  contra- 
band trade  then  carried  on  by  means  of  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio 
ri\'ers.  We  have  already  spoken  of  his  operations  at  Donaldson 
and  Sliiloh.  As  a  sold'er  he  was  vigilant,  sagacious  and  brave. 
As  a  memorial  of  Illinois  valor,  one  of  the  broken  guns  of  the 
fort  was  sent  to  Gov.  Yates,  and  is  still  preserved  as  a  State 
relic* 

1'  The  folloTTintr  corrospondence  occurred  in  connection  with  Its  presentation  : 
"His  E.rccUcncii  litc)iard  i'af<'.s,   Uinr.rimr  of  i/(i/«ji.s; 

"I  liavo  the  honor  toseiul  you  a  brolcen  Pi'irrott  piece,  captured  liy  the  forco  underray 
coninumd  at  Arliansas  I'ost.  'I'lie  i)iec(>  was  l>ri)lion  by  ii  shot  from  one  of  the  guns  ot 
my  batteries.  Please  accept  it  on  l)elialf  of  tlio  noble  State  you  si>  worthily  represent, 
as  an  hmnblc  testimonial  of  the  esteem  and  admiration  of  the  brave  men  whose  valor 
wrested  it  as  a  trophy  Irom  tho  enemy.  J.  A.  McCLBUNAND, 

"Major-General  Commanding." 


^'Maj.  Gen.  J.  A.  McClrrmvui,  Viekshurv,  Mhn. 

"  Dkaii  sik  :  I  ha\  e  the  honor  to  acknowletlje  tho  roccipt  of  tho  broken  Parrot  gun 
captured  by  the  army  under  your  couuuand  1 1  Arkansas  Post,  and  to  express  my  ac- 
knowledgenu'nt  in  the  name  of  the  peoi)le  therefor.  It  also  givt-  me  great  pride 
and  satisfaction  to  do  so,  from  the  fact  that  I  regai'd  the  victory  at  Arkansas  Post, 
gained  imder  able  and  enera-etic  generalship  of  a  distinguished  olHcer  and  citizen  of 
Illinois,  as  second  in  importance  and  conseiiuenee  only  to  Fort  Donelson,  In  which  that 
olHceralso  piommently  participated.  Fort  Donelson  and  Arkansas  Post,  dear  general, 
I  regard  as  the  two  great  and  positive  victories  of  the  war  in  the  West.  May  your  par- 
ticipation in  the  tliird  be  equally  promnient  and  attended  by  as  substantial  advanta- 
ges and  glorious  results. 

"With  sentiments  of  respect  and  esteem,  lam  your  most  obedient  servant. 

KICHAKD  YATES,  Governor." 


Chapter  LXI. 

1S03— ILLINOIS  IN  THE  V.CKSBURG  CAMPAIGNS. 

Baffles  of  Port  Gibfton,  Rnymond,  JacLson,  Chfoiipion   Hills  diul 
Black  liiver,  Gnersoti's  liaid — (Siege  and  Capture  of  Vicksburg 


M(!'(^Iernaii(l  next  proi)oso(l  to  strike  a  blow  at  Little  Rock,  but 
Gen.  Grant  arrivinj;-  at  the  fort  a  few  days  after  1  he  battle,  or- 
dered the  army  to  Yttung's  Point  ojjposite  the  niontli  t»f  the  Yazoo 
whither  lie  arrived  on  tlie  -*Jth  of  Jannary,  l.S(J3.  llis  forees, 
greatly  strengthened  by  the  addition  of  ^hilMx'rson's  eorps  from 
tiie  river  above,  and  the  Heet  under  Coniniodcne  Porter,  he  was 
reai'.y  to  resume  more  immediate  operations  for  the  reduction  of 
Viekslmrg".  For  tiiis  ]>urpos(^  it  was  necessary  to  get  liis  army  on 
the  cast  side  of  the  ]\lississij)pi  and  in  the  rear  of  the  city,  u  feat 
which  he  found  extremely  ditlicult  to  i>erf()rm.  Five  dilfereiit  ex- 
pedients were  tried,  tiiree  of  which  wen^  to  get  around  tiu'  bat- 
teries on  the  ^Mississippi  at  Vicksburg,  and  two  round  those  oltiie 
Y'azoo  at  Haines'  JJlutf.  The  lirst  was  an  attempt  to  comiilcle  the 
eaiKil  commenced  by(ien.  ^Villianis,  but  unfortunately  when  maily 
liuislied  a  tiood  in  the  ^Mississippi  rendered  it  iiupracticable.  The 
second  was  a  canal  fi'om  Millikin's  P>end  through  a  iinmber  of 
bayous  communicating  witii  the  Tensas  river,  and  thence  to  tlie  .Mis- 
sissipi)i  at  New  Carthage.  The  third  was  an  inland  i)assage  by 
way  of  Lake  Provid«'nce,  the  Tensas,  AVashita,  IJIack  and  IJcl 
riveis.  The  4th  and  most  promising  plan  was  to  get  from  the 
]Mississii>pi  into  tlie  Y'azoo  above  the  batteries  at  Ilaines'  I>luft 
through  5loon  Lake  ami  the  Coldwater  and  Tallahatchie  rivers. 
The  oth  was  to  ettect  a  circuit  of  the  Haines'  JJIurt"  batteries  by 
way  of  Steel's  bayou,  connecting  with  the  Yazoo  7  miles  above  its 
mouth  thence  by  JJIack  bayou,  Dear  Creek  and  Suntiower 
river  to  the  Yazoo,  some  00  miles  above  its  mouth. 

Siu'h  is  the  remarkable  hydrographical  character  of  the  region 
in  which  the  army  was  operating,  that  by  cutting  the  levees  of  the 
IMississippi,  and  removing  obstructions  from  the  chaniu'ls  of 
bayous,  jtassages  could  be  o])ened  for  the  advance  of  the  gun- 
boats and  transi)orts  along  the  several  routes  mentioned.  \"ast 
latxMs  were  expended  and  the  whole  of  February  and  jMarcli 
eonsunu'd  in  attempts  to  axoid  the  iiostile  batteries  by  these  idutes, 
and  when  in  two  or  three  instauces  success  was  abnost  attained, 
some  unexi)ected  or  unavoidable  obstacle  inrervened  and  they 
were  all  tinally  abandoned.  A  man  of  less  <leterniined  tibre  tiian 
Grant  would  have  been  overwhelmed  by  the  repeated  failures. 
Defeat,  however,  only  nerved  him  for  renewed  exertions.  When 
one  expedient  failed  auother  was  «piickly  substituted,  and  at 
length  the  city  which  had  so  long  delied  the  approach  of  his  army 
was  laid  under  seige  and  com])elled  to  surrender.  Sll 


812 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Tlie  number  of  probable  openitions  for  its  reduetion  was  now 
reduced  to  one,  that  of  moving  tlie  army  on  tlie  west  side  of  llio 
river,  erossin<>'  below  the  rebel  fortilieations  and  ascending  on  the 
Vicksburj;'  sidt".  The  eoneeption  of  this  plan  was  easy,  but  its 
execution  a[)pallin<;-.  As  a  requisit  j^unboats  and  transports  must 
descend  the  Mississippi  in  oiiposition  to  the  hostile  batteries  to 
furnish  facilities  for  crossing;',  and  the  army,  when  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  rivei',  must  cut  itself  otf  from  its  base  of  supi)Iies  and 
depend  upon  the  contingency  of  beatinj;"  the  enemy  in  the  lield 
before  another  could  be  established.  The  eommamling  general 
unmoved  by  these  perils,  determined  to  hazard  a  trial.  Accord- 
ingly the  l.'ith  army  corps,  comnninded  by  McCleriumd,  consisting 
of  4  divisions  in  charge  of  Gens.  Osterhaus,  A.J.  Smith,  Carrand 
Ilovey,  and  containing  the  ;{3d,  77th,  !)7th,  IJOtli,  KKSth  and  lliOtU 
Illinois  infantry,  portions  of  the  2d  and  'M  Illinois  (tavalry  and  the 
IVctria  and  Chicago  JMercantile  batteries,  on  the  L'Oth  of  March  left 
Milliken's  IJend  above  Vicksburg  for  Kew  Carthage  below. 
McPlierson  with  the  17th  corps,  followed  us  fast  as  the  imperfect 
roads  would  permit.  Vast  bogs  intersected  with  bayous  were 
encountered,  and  it  became  necessary  to  construct  causeways  over 
the  one  aiul  bridges  over  the  other.  Arriving  at  Xew  Carthage  it 
■was  found  to  be  an  island,  the  rebels  having  tlooded  the  entire 
region  round  by  cutting  the  adjacent  levees  of  the  jMississiiipi. 
Under  these  circumstancies  the  march  was  continued  to  (Irand 
Gulf  farther  down  the  river,  wheie  the  lowest  of  the  Vicksburg 
works  was  located. 

In  the  meantime  Porter  was  making  i)reparations  to  execute  the 
fearless  enterprise  of  descending  the  river  with  a  portion  of  the 
fleet.  It  being  deemed  best  not  to  compel  the  crews  of  the  boats 
designated  for  this  jmrimse  to  accompany  th  n,  volunteers  to  man 
them  were  called  for.  Soon  moie  men  ottered  their  services  tlian 
coidd  be  accepted.  Logan's  division  of  the  17th  cori)S,  a](»ne 
furnishing  the  num1)er  reipured.  Of  the  O.")  men  furnished  by 
the  Illinois  troops  for  this  daring  feat  the  81st  furnished  10,  the 
5th  1-4,  the  -loth  13,  the  31st  9,  the  20th  8,  the  3()th  4,  and  the  11th 
1.  It  was  arranged  that  8  gunboats  should  proceed  in  si:i- 
gle  tile  down  the  river  and  engage  the  batteries,  while  3  accom- 
l)anying  transports  should  pass  unnoticed  near  the  western  shore. 
A  little  betbre  midnight  the  boats  with  their  lights  concealed, 
moved  like  huge  phantoms  down  the  stream.  l)es[)ite  the  at- 
tempt at  concealment  they  were  discovered  and  suddenly  a  sheet 
of  llame,  keeping  pace  with  the  advancing  boats,  flashed  ahmg 
the  8  mile  of  rebel  batteries  which  lined  the  bank  of  the  river. 
Simultaneously  the  fleet  replied,  and  for  miles  distant  the  tor- 
tuous windings  of  the  JMississipi»i  echoed  with  the  tlunnlers  of 
artillery.  It  was  hoped  in  the  general  commotion  the  frail  trans- 
ports might  escai)e  unobserved,  but  suddenly  a  huge  bonllre  threw 
a  glare  over  the  waters  with  such  brilliancy  that  the  most  minute  ol)- 
jects  could  be  seen,  and  they  soon  became  targets  for  the  enemy's 
guns.  From  the  ett('(!ts  of  shot  oneof  them  was  set  on  Are  and  soon 
became  a  mass  of  flame,  while  another  was  remlered  unmanagnble, 
but  Ibitunately  a  gunboat  towed  it  beyond  the  range  of  the  bat- 
teries without  further  injury.  The  rest  of  the  fleet,  altliongli  ex- 
jiosed  for  an  hour  to  an  incessant  fire,  i»assed  through  in  safety, 
and  with  the  exceptiou  of  cue  killed  and  two  wounded,  tin;  crews 


THE  WAR  OF  THE   T^EnELLION.* 


813 


AviMC  fiivorod  witli  like  iiniiuuiity.  Tliis  unexpected  siieeess  in- 
duced (Irant  to  order  (»  inon;  transports  and  IL'  barj;e.s  to  run  the 
blocicade,  and  troni  tiie  list  of  ea<;er  aiiplit-aiits  wiio  at  once  volun- 
teered to  man  them  in  tlie(hin};'erouse.\])eriment,the  requisite  num- 
ber \vaseh»»sen  by  lot.*  With  the(;oinplelion  ot'tliei»reparations  the 
boats  started  down  the  river,  ami  witli  stranj;(i  <;'ood  foitune  most 
of  them  <40t  below  witliout  injury.  Ilavin;ii-  now  a  sulliei<'nt  num- 
ber of  transports  ami  fjmd)oats  to  allbrd  the  necessary  pioteetiou 
it  was  determined  to  effect  a  passa;>e  of  the  river  at  (irand  Cip.lf. 
The  rebels  in  the  meantinu',  had  erected  batteiies  on  the  a<lJa(H'nt 
heights  and  a  eond)ined  land  and  mival  atta(!k  was  planned  for 
their  leduction.  Porter  (lommenced  the  assault  but  a  bombard- 
nu'nt  of  o  hours  failin<;'  to  make  any  serious  impression,  and  (Irant 
beini>-  unwilling  to  expose  his  men  in  an  attack  by  land,  ordered  a 
continuance  of  the  manih  to  Uruinsburji',  farther  down  the  river. 
AVlu'u  ni<>lit  came  ou  the  gunboats  again  oix'ued  on  the  batteries, 
and  umlercover  of  thelirethetransi>orts, safely  passed  below  while 
the  land  forces  passed  unobserved  through  thc^  foivst  to  the  jdaco 
selected  lor  crossing.  The  next  day,  without  farther  <listurbance, 
the  army  was  ferried  to  the  opposite  shore,  and  Grant  as  the  re- 
ward of  unparalled  perseverance,  at  length  had  the  satisfacttioii 
of  seeing  it  in  a  situation  ^vhere  he  (!ould  effectually  oi)erate 
against  the  enemy.  This  result  was  i>artly  due  to  the  vigor  with 
■which  it  had  been  executed,  and  partly  to  the  success  with  whicU 
the  attention  of  the  enemy  had  been  drawn  in  a  dilierent  direc- 
tion. Sherman,  with  IJlair's  division,  had  steamed  uj)  the  Yazoo, 
and  feigning  an  atta(!k,  successfully  diverted  the  attention  of  the 
rebel  <H)mmamler  from  the  real  object  which  Grant  sought  to 
accom[»lisli  at  Uruinsburg. 

After  the  passage  of  the  river,  McClernand  with  the  13th  corps 
pushed  forward  iu  the  direction  of  Port  Gibson,  ami  ou  the  18th 
of  May  encountered  the  enemy  four  miles  from  the  town.  The 
force  proved  to  be  11,000  men  under  Gen.  IJowen  whohad  marched 
from  Grand  Gulf,  when  it  becanui  known  that  Grant  had  suc- 
ceeded in  crossing  the  river.  Carr's  division  in  advance  was  met 
by  a  light  tire  of  artillery  and  musketry  which  it  soon  silenced. 
The  troops  rested  on  their  arms  the  short  renuunder  of  the  night, 
wliere  at  <lawn  the  enemy  was  found  strongly  posted  on  a  narrow 
ridge  with  impassable  ravines  on  either  side.  McClernand  having 
made  a  reconnoisance  of  the  situation  at  an  early  hour,  a  portion 
of  the  35th  Illinois  was  nioved  to  the  rear  of  the  position  signal- 
ized by  the  night  attacik  with  orders  to  hold  it  till  relieved  by 
Gen.  Osterhaus.  In  a  few  minutes  their  skirmishers  were  at  the 
outi»osts  of  the  enemy  and  a  sharp  tire  of  artillery  and  musketry 
ensued.  Osterhaus  soon  marcihed  to  their  relief  and  in  a  lierce 
struggle  of  an  hour's  duration  suc(;eeded  in  driving  the  enemy 
from  this  position.  While  he  was  thus  engaged  on  tlie  right  (Jen. 
Carr  made  an  assault  ou  the  left  which,  after  several  hours'  furi- 
ous lighting,  terminated  in  a  maginticent  charge  by  the  division 
of  Gen  Ilovey.  As  the  result,  the  enemy  was  driven  back  several 
miles  and  lost  one  stand  of  colors,  two  guns  and  400  prisoners, 

•  One  Incident  wiU  illustrate  tlie  spirit  whicli  animated  the  troops.  A  small  l)oy 
whom  the  fates  had  favored  with  a  successful  number,  was  ottered  8100  for  his  privi- 
Iciro  which  he  refused  to  accept  and  afterwards  lived  to  tell  ot  the  part  he  performed 
ill  the  duugerous  feat. 


:ij] 


814 


HISTOUT  OF  ILLINOIS. 


A  second  jtositioii  was  takcMi  by  the  letrL'iifiii.i''  iirniy  in  the  bot- 
toiii  ofa  (Mt'ck  wlicreit  was  sheltered  by  timber  aiidliadthcaflvaii- 
ta^i'e  of  an  <)i»eii  liehl  in  front.  Tiie  e(»niniands  of  Carr  and  Jlovey 
Ibilowed  till  they  arrived  at  the  slope  overlookinj;'  theereek  when 
the  battle  af;ain  coinnienci'd.  The  rebels  massed  a  hu\ye  fon-e  for 
the  purpose  of  turniiifi'  the  federal  rijulit  but  their  exposed  Hank  was 
promptly  snpi»orted  by  Smith's  division  till  Ilovey  j^ot  his  artillery 
in  position  and  drove  them  baek.  A  second  time  they  (!oiieentratt'(l 
their  Ibrees  for  a  sinnlar  purpose  but  Carr's  division  with  detach- 
ments irom  llov<'y's  and  Smith's,  and  after  an  obstinate 
strnjif^ie  aj-ain  beat  them  ba(;k,  when  nij^lit  ended  the 
coldest.  Tlie  confederates  hastily  retreatinj;'  under  cover  of  dark- 
ness across  IJayou  I'ierre,  burnt  the  bridjies  in  their  rear, 
uhile  the  Union  army  the  next  day  occupied  Fort  (iibson. 

The  loss  of  the  latter  in  killed  and  wounded  was  some  (iOO,  but 
the  victory  was  worth  the  cost.  Five  <j,uns  and  4,000  piisoners 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  victors.  Furtliernn)re,  (Irant  Iwid  now 
isecured  a  firm  lodj;('ment(jn  thehij;h  [)lateau  east  of  the  river  upon 
Avhi(;li,  as  exij^ency  mij;ht  deMuiiul,  he  could  nH)ve  ajiainst  any 
point  of  the  rebel  line.  Also  with  the  retreat  of  the  vanquished 
army  the  j>arrison  withdii^w  from  (Jrand  (Julf  and  it  became  the 
base  of  snp[tlies  for  the  I'niou  army. 

Illinois  was  largely  repieseiited  in  the  battle,  ami  its  auspicious 
tei'mimition  was  larjidy  (twin  j;-  to  the  sturdy  blowsdealt  by  her  hardy 
sons.  As  Lo.i;an's  division  of  .MclMierson's  corjiscame  up  in  time 
to  partiei[)ate  in  the  action,  the  Illiiniis  troops  eiij;ayed  were  de- 
tachnu'nts  of  the  2d  ami  .'3d  cavalry,  the  I'eoria  li<;ht  artillery  and 
rhica-io  Mercantile  batteiy,  and  the  -Sth,  lltli,  L'Oth,  .'JOth,  '  .'ilst, 
;j;{d,  "4rjth,  77th,  «lst,  !)7th  llOth,  lO.Sth,  iind  118th  rejiinu-nts 
of  infaidry.  Of  the  latter  the  ;}3d,  DOtli  andllSth,  are  meii- 
tioiu'd  in  the  otlicial  rei>orts  of  the  battle  as  having  fought  with 
great  sm;cess  anci  daring. 

Jiowen,  after  his  defeat  at  Port  (Iibson,  crossed  Big  JJIack 
river  ami  was  ordered  thence  by  Pend)erton  to  the  vicinity  of 
Vicksburg.  As  the  residt  of  the  victory  Grand  Gtdf  was  evacu- 
ated and  (Jrant  changed  his  base  of  supplies  from  IJruinsbtirg  to 
that  place,  ami  followed  the  retreating  rebels  as  far  as  Ilankin- 
son's  ferry,  where  they  crossed  the  river.  Here,  while  awaiting  the 
arrival  of  Sherman's  coips,  he  made  afeint  in  thedireetion  of  Vicks- 
burg to  com-eal  his  contemplated  o[)erations  eastwai'd.  General 
Johnson,  who  at  this  time  had  supreme  comnuiml  of  the  confed- 
erate forces  of  the  West,  was  with  Ikaggin  Tennessee,  but  in  con- 
staid  c(MnniuiMcation  with  I'emberton.  Grant  was  therefore  afraid 
to  move  directly  on  Vicksburg  lest  Johnson  with  a  force  f nan  the 
East  should  assail  him  in  the  rear.  To  avoid  a  contingency  of 
this  kiml  he  (lirect<'d  McClernand  and  Shennan  to  nK)ve  along  the 
eastern  side  of  IJIack  river  so  as  to  strike  the  Yic^ksburg  raiii-oad 
at  Edward's  station,  while  McPherson  was  to  make  a  detour  far- 
ther eastward  ami  destroy  the  rebel  stores  and  lines  of  commnni- 
eation. 


Battle  of  h'aymomJ. — On  the  nn)rning  of  May  12th  McPherson's 
advanced  cavalry  metnear  Jiaymomla  strongbodyof  rebelinfantry. 
A  severe  engagement  ensued  in  which  the  2d  Illinois  cavalry  be- 
haved with  great  gallantly  and  lo>t  several  men.    Owing  to  the 


THE  WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION.  '  815 


situation  of  tlio  foe  in  tlic  woods,  it  was  found  iinpossiblo  for 
niountcd  iiicn  to  disIodj;T  liini,  and  Ijoii'iiii's  division  was  oi'dcivd 
forward  to  make  an  attack.  Tiie  <'(»liinin  adxanccd  toward  tiio 
wood  and  foiifilit  witii  j;reat  dt't<'rniination  aitiiouyli  exposed  to 
the  murderous  lire  of  ail  almost  concealed  enemy.  Slioitly  after 
tlie  fiiiiitiuiy;  commenced  a  battery  was  pnslied  forward  to  assist 
in  dislodjiiii};'  liimand  made  su(!li  Jiavoe  that  after  an  attempt  to 
cliarj^e  and  take  it,  lie  was  <;omi>e]U'd  to  fall  back  to  a  new  ])osi- 
tion.  Jlere  lie  was  a;4ain  assailed  by  the  same  troops  strenj;tli- 
eiied  by  additional  fon^es.  In  resist iiiji' an  attemi»t  to  turn  our 
left  Hank  the  UOth  Illinois  foufiht  with  Spartan  conraji'e.  llavinj; 
lost  their  colonel,  Stevenson's  brij;ade  coiitaininy  the  Sth  Illinois, 
Avitli  tixed  bayonets  bounded  forward  to  the  rescue  and  the  rebels 
were  driven  in  wild  disorder  from  the  Held. 

Battle  nfJacJcson. — Ketreatiup,'  to  Jackson  they  were  followed 
by  the  ."{d  corps  of  the  Union  army.  Sherman  and  M(;Clernand 
had  been  ordered  to  Edward's  station  but  (irant  in  the  mean- 
time learnin,i>'  that  fresh  actcessions  of  rebel  troops  were  daily  ar- 
rivinj>at  Jackson,  and  fearin;^:  that  McLMierson's  force  mi<;lit  not 
beadecpiate  to  (U)pe  with  them,  countermanded  the  ordei'.  On  the 
niornint;'  of  the  14th,  MxtlMierson's  advanced  divisons,  closely  fol- 
lowed by  Sherman's,  came  up  with  the  main  force  of  the  enemy 
about  three  miles  from  the  city.  Artillery  was  ojieiied  on  both 
sides  and  after  tiring  for  sometime  without  any  decisive  results,  the 
infantry  were  led  into  action.  "With  measured  tread  and  colors 
tlyinj;' the  Union  columns  slowly  ascended  the  hill  on  which  the 
rebel  force  was  posted,  sutferiny  terribly  from  the  trenu'iidon.s 
volleys  hurled  at  them  from  the  summit.  When  within  .'{()(»  paces 
they  delivered  their  first  lire  and  with  a  shout  that  rose  above 
the  report  of  artillery  rushed  upon  the  astonished  confedeiates 
Avilo  broke  and  tied  in  the  wildest  terror,  throwinj;-  away  their 
knapsacks,  blankets  and  muskets,  to  accelerate  their  tlijiht. 

This  was  one  of  the  most  spirited  charjues  of  thecam}»aign  and 
no  re<;iinent  eiifiiif^'ed  in  it  foujiht  with  more  bravery  and  success 
than  the  uuth  Illinois.  The  ;i(»th,  Had,  4Sth,  lUth  and  ilStli  also 
parti(;ii)ated  in  and  largely  contributed  to  the  successful  issue  of 
the  battle.  Among  the  generals  of  this  and  the  two  ]>rece(ling 
engagements,  Gen.  Logan  was  c<)ns])icuons  for  the  indomitable 
energy  and  skill  with  which  he  handled  his  men. 

The  rebels  retreated  northward  on  the  Canton  road  and  the  re- 
bellious capital  of  Mississipi)i  became  the  prize  of  the  cuiKiuerors. 
The  governor  and  others  holding  odicial  relations  with  the  local 
and  confederate  governments  left  the  day  before  with  the  funds 
and  archives  of  the  State. 

Battle  of  Champion  Hills. — Grant  leaving  Sherman  to  destroy 
the  railroads,  bridges,  arsenals  and  other  [lublic  property,  turned 
the  remainder  of  tlie  army  westward  to  pay  his  respects  to  Peni- 
berton.  The  latter  illy  conceiving  the  military  necessities  of  his 
situation,  now  rapidly  became  entangled  in  toils  from  which  at 
length  extri(;ation  was  impossible.  Johnson  in  the  meantime  had 
arrived  and  beheld  with  regret  the  confederate  army  separated  in 
detachments  with  that  of  (irant  between  them.  He  saw  that  with 
his  interior  communications  now  cut  off  by  the  destruction  of  the 


810 


inS'lOUY  OP  ILLINOIS. 


railroiid  to  •liK'ksoii,  tlint  Vicksbiiij;' miglit  bccoiiic  tin*  firavo  of 
an  iiniiy  but  eoiild  hoof  no  possible  use  to  tin;  (!onl"t'(U'riu\v.  Ilo 
tlu'it'loic  oidcrctl  l'«'nib('i'ton  to  make  a  detour  noitliward  ronnd 
the  federal  army  andl'oiiM  a, jiiiicl  ion  willi  the  forces  wiiieh  had 
been  expelled  from  daekson.  I'endteiton,  liowcvor,  had  a  i)lau 
of  his  own  which  was  to  move  in  the  op]tosite  diicetictn  and 
cnt  oil"  (Irant's  supplies.  With  tliisintent  In*  set  his  eoinnnis  in 
nM)tion  in  the  afleinoon  of  the  ir)th,  mo\  in;;'  from  Kdwaid's  sta- 
tion in  the  direction  of  iiayinond.  lint  (irant,  inn  had  no  base 
of  snpplies,  lia\  in;;'  ent  himself  loose  from  (irand  (Inlf  as  early 
as  the  11th,  and  was  uo\y  pnshin;;'  forward  with  the  intenti(»n  of 
overpowering;' all  opposition  and  openin;;' a  new  base  on  the  Mis- 
sissij)pi  by  way  of  the  Yazoo.  Little  reeked  ho  of  commnnieat- 
ing  with  (Irand  (Jnlf,  and  thelnckless  l\Mnberton  wassallyin;;'  forth 
on  a  bootless  errand.  Mor  had  he  ;;'one  far  before  the  advancini? 
Union  pickets  convineed  him  that  his  movements  instead  of  harni- 
\ug  his  adversary,  was  only  comprondsin;;'  his  own  safety.  Ho 
therefore  resolved  to  retniu  to  tin;  station  and  then  move  north- 
ward in  the  direction  of  Urow  nsville  in  eontbi'inity  with  the  pi'e- 
vions  adviceof  his  snperior  oHicer.  'J'his  wasaji'ood  resolntion  bntit 
came  too  late,  for  while  hv  was  dallyin;;',  the  Union  army  had  moved 
u])  to  the  same  place  and  was  reaily  with  its  lu-avy  ;;'nns  to  dis- 
jmte  his  advance.  As  the  only  alternative  the  confederate  force 
■was  hastily  drawn  np  for  action,  the  left  division  nnder  Steven- 
son occni»yin;;-  a  thickly  wooded  hei;:lit  of  Champion  Hills,  while 
the  centre  and  ri;;ht  divisions  nnder  l>owen  and  Loriny  extended 
across  IJaker's  creek  to  a  munberof  abinpt  elevations  and  yawinng 
ravines.  Lo;;an\s  and  Crocker's  divisions  of  JNhd'herson's  eor])s, 
Avere  thrown  ronnd  the  above  mention»'d  hei;;ht  so  as  to  Hank  the 
confederate  left.  JJovey's  division  of  ]\Ic('lernand's  cor]»s  ad- 
vanced a;;ainst  Stevenson  leaving  the  other  division  of  the  corps 
to  engage  liowen  an<l  J^oring. 

A  conrier  was  sent  to  Jackson  with  oiders  for  Sherman  to  has- 
ten forward  with  his  comnnind,  and  in  less  than  an  honr  he  Avas 
on  the  road  to  the  scene  of  coidlict.  Hovey's  division  Avhich 
first  engaged  the  enemy  was  in  (h'adly  grajiple  with  him  before 
the  others,  owing  to  the  nnfavoral»le  natnre  of  the  ground,  could 
come  in  striking  distance.  The  situation  in  which  he  oi)erated 
compelled  him  to  contract  his  lines  and  expose  his  men  to  the 
tierce  tire  of  the  rebels  who,  under  cover  of  heavy  tind)er,  suffer- 
ed little.  After  facing,  m  ith  heroic  tenacity  for  an  hour,  the  re- 
lentless fire  of  anenemy  greatly exceedinghim  innund)ers,  and  hav- 
ing every  advantage  of  i)Osition,  he  was  compelled  to  give  way. 
He,  however,  retired  only  a  short  distance  when  two  brigadt'S  of 
Crocker's  division  were  sent  to  his  aid  and  he  reformed  and 
again  went  into  action.  Logan  in  the  meantime  had  turned  the 
enemy's  left  and  commenced  operating  in  his  rear  which  partially 
relieved  the  ju-essure  in  front.  Seeingtheadvantagesof  theposition 
he  had  gainedhe  rode  up  toGrant  and  informed  him  if  Hovey  could 
make  another  dash  atthe  enemy,  it  would  enable  him  to  come  ui)and 
capture  the  greater  part  of  the  confederate  forces.  Preparations 
for  this  purpose  were  made,  but  before  it  w  as  executed  l'end)er- 
ton,  seeing  his  position  was  compromised,  commenced  drawing 
off.  Sinmltaueously  the  national  troops  presse<l  forward  and  the 
rebel  host  breaking,  tied  in  a  panic  iiud  rout  from  the  field.    Al- 


llliililliiiiMMifcMliilll 


TUB  WAR  OP  THK  UEIIKLLION.  817 

tlioiijili  the  brunt  ol"  tlic  biittlc  I'l'll  on  riOjiJin  and  Hovcy.  Ilicro 
was  severe  li;;litinji<»M  the  eiieni,\',s  iij;lit  by  (^arr  and  Osteiliaiis. 
The  ini]>assal>le  character  of  th(^  f-roiind  on  wliieli  tliey  Innjulit 
l)revent«'d  them  from  netting'  into  action  as  soon  as  tiie  others, 
but  wiieii  at  lenj'tii  this  dillicnlty  was  overconu',  tliey  yreatiy  as- 
sisted in  turninj;' tlie  ti(h'  of  battle  in  our  favor. 

A  fjreat  many  instances  of  iieroism  are  mentioned  in  tlie  rei)ort3 
of  tiie  battle.  Ijo<;an's  di\isi()n,  comi)osed  laij^cly  of  Illinois 
ti'oops,  en,i'a;;<'d  the  enemy  on  Iiis  h'ft  and  sncceedcil  in  capturinj;' 
moire  than  1,()(M)  prisoners  and  12  ]»ieces  of  artillery.  An  ollicer 
was  sent  to  iii(|uire  how  tlie  contest  was  ji'oinj;'  on  in  ids  fiont. 
"Tell  (Jen.  (Jrant,"  he  replied,  "my  divisictn  can't  be  wliii)ped  by 
all  tlu"  rebels  this  side  of  hell.  We  are  ^oinj;-  ahead  and  won't 
stop  till  we  set  orders."*  (Jen.  Leji'ji'eff  ^'""'""""''"ri"  ''i'*  second 
brigade,  containing  the  .'{Otli  Illinois,  was  ordered  up  to  ])rotecttho 
ris'ht  of  Ilovey's  division,  seriously  threatened  i)y  the  enemy. 
Tlie  rebels  suddenly  emerged  from  the  woods  and  iu'ei)nred  for  au 
attack,  when  the  IJOth  Illinois  charged  u])on  them  an(l  drov<'  them 
hiwk  in  (ionfusiou.  In  the  afternoon,  on  th(>  extrenu^  rij^ht.  the 
8th  Illinois  and  .'JlM  Ohio  charged  U]»on  and  rei)ulsed  one  of  the 
enemy's  most  elfective  batteries.  A  section  of  Co.  D,  Illinois 
artilleiy  is  also  favorably  mentioned  in  the  reports. 

IJesides  the  vesiments  nieiition<'d,  the  I7th.  .'>Ist,  r^tli,  .^Stli.  7LM, 
Toth,  77th,  7mh,  81st,  !»;}(!,  <)7tli,  l«»8th,  IKJth,  llSth  and  lUltli 
were  a  part  of  the  troops  en.iiased  in  the  battle,  and  with  the  aid 
of  their  comrades  from  other  iStates  added  another  victory  to  the 
list  of  Union  triumphs. 

I'endierton's  force  was  estimated  at  .'50,000,  somewhat  exeeediufj 
the  Union  troops  eii<>'ajj'ed,  as  all  of  (Jrant's  divisions  did  not 
arrive  in  time  to  i)articipnte  in  the  battle.  The  victory  cost  us  in 
killed,  wounded  and  ndssinji',  2,500  men,  but  gave  in  exchange  200 
pieces  of  artillery  and  1,000  prisoners,  l)esides  intiictinya  serious 
loss  of  killed,  wounded  and  misaing  on  the  enemy. 

Battle  of  Blade  River  BrUhje. — So  quickly  was  the  retreating 
army  followed  that  Loring's  division  became  completely  detached 
and  was  compelled  to  make  a  circuit  in  a  soutlnvest(Mly  direction 
round  the  federal  army  and  report  to  Johnson.  The  main  force 
retreated  to  lUack  Kiver,  and  with  the  excei)tion  of  two  brigades, 
crossed  the  stream.  The  latter  to  dispute  the  advance  of  the  pur- 
suing army  took  a  position  within  a  bayou  which  leaves  the  river 
abo\e  and  sweeping  round  in  the  form  of  a  semi-circle,  unites  with 
it  below.  In  addition  to  the  natural  defences  offered  bv  the  mirv 
channel  of  the  bayou,  breastworks  were  thrown  up,  and  cannon 
placed  within  the  enclosure  swept  the  plain  beyond  and  com- 
manded the  bridge  a(!ross  the  river.  On  the  nuirning  of  the  17th 
of  ]May,  McClernand's  and  JMcFlierson's  corps  move<l  directly 
against  the  position  of  the  enemy,  while  that  of  Sherman  ad- 
vanced in  the  direction  of  Bridgeport,  higher  up  the  river  for  the 
purpose  of  crossing  at  that  point.  The  rebel  pickets  were  sor>n 
encountered  and  McClernand,  who  was  in  advance,  hastily  deploy- 
ing his  division,  on  each  side  of  the  road  brought  on  ahot  engage- 
ment in  the  forest  which  skirts  thebaidvs  of  the  river.  Artillery 
was  placed  in  position  and  served  with  such  effectiveness,  that 

*  Ciiiciunati  Commercial  " 


818 


UlSTOUV    OK   ILLLNOl.S. 


11m>  ciu'iiiv  boon  lied  Itt'liiixl  liis  works  lo  csciiim'  its  I'iiit.  Mf(!Icr- 
iiiiihI  now  r«'solvc»l  lt>  ciirrv  the  wctrks  l»y  stoirii  ami  (Icii.  hawlci's 
lui^iidc  of  (y'ari'b  (li\isi«»ii  iiiiiiu'dialcl.v  si.i^iiilicd  tlu-ir  readiness  lor 
tiie  eliar;^e.  l\\  nioxin;^'  round  on  llie  ri;^iil  nnder  eo\cr  of  tlut 
rivei'  Itank,  he  had  gained  a  |iosilion  iVoni  uliieli  I  he  reWel  del'enees 
mijilit  be  easily  assaulted.  'I'lie  order  loiwaid  was  ;;i\en,  and  the 
ea^er  men  pinn^in;;  across  tin-  Itayon  and  sealing;  the  lucasl works, 
re;;ardless  of  the  fatal  rir(^  that  I'oM-red  their  traek  with  fallen 
coinradcB,  with  lixed  lia.xonels,  drove  the  reliefs  from  their  j^nns. 
The  \  ietory  was  eoniplele.  To  <  arr,  one  of  liliimis  Wiavest  oflieers, 
and  ids  ;>'alliuit  division  more  than  any  otiier,  its  iionors  are  dne. 
Constilntiny  th(^  advance  of  .MeClernand's  corps,  1  hey  not  only 
eonnnenced  the  en^^auement,  linl  ended  it  in  the  spienditl  charge. 
Avhi(di  placed  them  in  possession  of  the  skillfidly  const riiel(*(l 
M(»rks.  I'romiinmt  anion;'' the  re;^iments  whitrh  distinguished  Ihem- 
.sel\«'s  wei'c  the.'5.')d,  4St|i  and  77lh  Illinois.  The  fruits  <»f  the  \  ii;- 
tory  W('i»!  l,r)(l()  prisoneis  and  IS  pieces  of  artillery. 

The.  aiiny  on  the  opposite,  side  of  the  river,  wilnessin;;  the  de- 
feat, set  liie  to  tlu'  luidj^c.  iiiid  hastily  retreated  in  llu'  direction 
of  ^'icksl>ur^^  The  afternoon  of  the  same  day  the  inhaWilants  of 
the  city  weie  startled  l>y  theinlliix  of  the  fu;^iti\cs,  who,  exhaust- 
ed by  privations  and  iuirdships,  tuud)led  almost  helplessly 
into  t  h(^  surrounding;' entreucliUMMils.  The,  ni;;hl  after  the  battle 
brid;;(\s  w('r(^  thrown  across  Hiack  river,  and  Sherman.  Nlill 
holding-  the  riyht.  took  possession  of  llaine.s'  lilulf,  as  the  denntr- 
ali/ed  eonfedeiates  departed,  while  .MctCyleinaud  an<l  Mcl'herson, 
movin;;'  farther  southward,  (tlosed  in  on  the,  doouu'd  city. 

In  the  daring  and  siutcessful  passage  of  the  \'i(^ksbnr^'  and 
Grand  (lulf  Ijatteries,  in  the  audacity  wliic^h  at»audoned  one  base 
of  supplies,  with  the  necessity  of  crushing;  an  enemy  of  uid<n<>w'u 
strength  befoie  am)t her  <'oul(l  be  established,  and  in  the  deter- 
mined (;oura,n(',  ami  endurance  wlii(;h  wrun.t;'  siu;c,ess  from  the 
most  untoward  cireumstanecs  in  live  eonse(;utive  victories,  the 
campai;;n  may  be  regarded  as  one  of  tin;  most  brilliant  furiuslied 
by  the  aniuds  of  the  war.  The  celerity  of  movement  and 
strategy  l»y  wlii<!h  the  enemy  was  se[iarated  ami  beaten  in  detail, 
rank  it  with  iSajtoleon's  celebrated  Italian  campaign.  I'oit  (iib- 
son,  Ivaymoiid,  .laekson,  (Miampion  ILills,  and  lilack  river,  will 
always  o(!CUi>y  a  proud  jdace  in  the,  history  of  the  nation,  endure 
as  a  muniiiiu'nt  of  Illinois  \alor,  and  perpetuat(>  the  names  and 
{•'(Mieralship  of  Grant,  ]M<;CIernaud,  Carr,  M(;Artliur,  and  other 
brave  men  of  Illinois  whoso  gallantly  maintained  the  reputation 
of  the  State. 

It  was  now  evident,  if  the  sie^e  was  successfully  maintained  that 
famine  would  ultimately  brin;i;'  the  garrison  to  t«'rms.  .Johnson, 
howcvci',  was  making  j^reat  elforts  to  (ioUect  a  relieviii;;'  force,  ami 
(irant,  therefore,  to  avoid  all  possilde  eontin;;en(;ies,  d(!termin«'d 
to  make  an  attempt  to  carry  the  jdaee  by  storm.  The  deniorali/ed 
condition  of  the  foice  within  favored  immediate  a(;tion,  and 
atu'ordiiiyly  an  assjlult  was  made  in  the  afternoon  of  tlm  ITtli. 
]S'o  permaiuoit  advanta^ti  was  gained,  although  the  127th  Illinois 
and  M.'id  Indiana,  succeeded  in  planting  their  colors  on  the  exte- 
rior slope  of  the  enemy's  entrenchments.  Not witlistamlinu'  the 
want  of  snce(^ss,  it  was  beleved  under  more  favorable  eircum- 
jstauces,  a  second  attempt  might  be  attended  with  better  results, 


Eii^mmm 


TUK  WAR  OF  THE  UKI»KIJ-I()N. 


.SlU 


anil  tlic  f  wosiiccccdiii;;' (liiys  were  s|iciit  in  inakinii'  tlic  Mfccssiiry 
incpiiiations.  At  10  (("clock  on  llic  nioniin;;  ol'  liic  L'L.'(I  llic  ."mI 
coips,  Sherman's  on  Ilic  rif,dit,  .Mcl'licison's  in  tiit^  centre,  and 
Mc( 'lenianil's  on  tliu  lel'l.  niovcil  lorwanl,  linl  sncli  was  the  iialnvu 
of  the  ^I'onnd  that  only  naiiow  IVonts  could  lie  l)i'oii<;lit.  into  acr- 
tion,  'I'iie  juanisoii  reserved  its  tircit.ill  the  storniin;;  lorci^  wen^  in 
close  ranye,  when  they  opened  with  the  most  deadly  elfectt.  Many 
turned  hack  as  it'  IVom  insianl  deslrnction,  hutolhei-s,  disdainin;;' 
to  let  ii'c,  pushed  on,  and  port  ions  of  ea(th  corps  siu'ceeded  in  reac'i- 
in;;'  the  lu'eastworks.  ('onspiciU)Ms  in  Mcl'lierson's  corps,  was 
the  1)1  i!;a(l(M)l' (ien.  Kansom,  containin^v' the  llih,  7lM,  *Xt\\\  and 
1  Ititli  Illinois.  The  hri;;adc*  s|)raM<;' forward  with  a  slioiit  when 
the  order  was  ;;iven  to  ad\ane,e.  At  the.  distance,  of  a  U'W  paces 
a  storm  of  jirape  ami  (bannister  toic  throu.iih  thedifl'erenl  re.i,Mments 
disahlin;;' Col.  Humphrey  of  the  !»."»ili,  killing  (!ol.  N'evins  (»f  tho 
1  It  h,  and  for  a  sluul  time  clieckinj;  the  ad  \  a  nee.  At  this  junclur(! 
Clen.  h'ansoni  rushed  forward  to  the  head  of  the  liri;;ade  and, 
seizin^'  the  colors  of  tlu,'  !>r)th.  and  wa\  iny;  them  .ixcrhcad,  sliout- 
ed,  "l''orward  men,  we  musl  and  will  ;;('l  into  the  fort.  Who  will  fol- 
low f  'i"he  column  a^ain  nioxcd  foiw  a  rd  directly  in  I  he  face  of  the, 
wastiiijnv(»lleys,and,  on  reaching;  tiur  works,  foujiht  for  half  an  hour 
1o  e|]('('t,  an  entranite.  I''indinj;' at  lenulh  this  was  ini|»ossihle.  the 
re;;inu'nts  w<'ie  rctornu'd  and  marched  hack  without  the  sli;Lihlest 
c(»nfusion  or  the  apj)earance  of  a  sin;^I(^  stru,u;;le.  Within  I"*  nnn- 
utes  after  tlie  cliai';i<'  was  ((rdered,  (Hens.  liaw  lei's  and  Ijandrum's 
hri^ades,  tlnUatter  (tontainin:;  the  !)7tli.lOSth  and  l.'Slst  Illinois, 
W('i(iat  the  W(»rks.  Twi'lve men  entered  a  bastion,  II  of  whom 
were  killed,  while  the  sur\ivor,  aided  l»y  shaip-shooters  (Ui  tlu! 
jiaiapet,  captured  and  l»i'ou;;ht  out  Ili  reltels.  It  hein;.;  instant 
death  to  the  force  within  to  expose  themselves  above  the  works, 
they  lit  the  fuse  of  shells  and  Ihi'cw  them  amon.n'  the  fe<lerals  who 
coolly  picked  them  up  and  threw  them  back  in  tinu>  to  explode. 
'J'ne  Mercantile  batteiy  of  (Jhica^i'o,  approached  within  a  few  feet 
and  tiled  into  an  embrasure,  and  as  a  reward  for  their  brav<'ry 
(leii.  .McCleriiand  presented  ihemwith  tw(»  Najioleon  guns  cap- 
tured at  J)la<;U  river.  No  permanent  eiitranco  could  be  effected 
and  at  iiiyht  the  Ibrces  were  recalled. 

(iraiit,  now  coiiciiidin;;  that  the  position  of  the  enemy  was  too 
stroiifi',  both  by  nature  and  art,  to  be  carried  l»y  storm,  sat  down 
before  it  in  regular  sieye. 


(irifr.soii''.s  UaUJ. — Leavinj>-  the  l)elea,<>Mired  stronghold  to  tho 
c;ire  <if  the.  iiivestiiifi'  army,  we  will  now  rclati^  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  episodes  of  the  war,  the  raid  of  (leii.  !».  II.  (iriersoii. 
NN'hile  (Iraiit  wasclosin.u  round  Vicksbiirji'  with  his  gallant  troop- 
ers, he  was  dashing  througii  .Mississippi  to  destroy  the  railroads 
and  prcn'ent  the  enemy  frcuii  sending  forwiird  supplies  and  rein- 
tbrcemeiits. 

On  the  17th  of  April  with  3  regiments  of  ciivaliy,  the  Gtli  and 
7th  Illinois,  and  the  I'd  Iowa,  he  left  Ijagrangc  'i'eiinessee.  Arriv- 
ing at  IJouston  on  the  2(Ml:,  Col.  Hatch  wiih'llic  2iid  Iowa  was 
sent  to  Columbus  to  di'slroy  a  portion  ol  the  .Mobile  &  Ohio  J^ail- 
road.  and  it  ai»le  to  capture  the  tow  n.  On  the  way  he  was  at  tacked 
i>y  StK)  rebel  caAalry,  which  he  reiuil.sed,  and  at  night  reacdied 
the  railroad  at   Okuloiia.     Having    burnt    the    depot,  barracks 


620 


IIIS'JOUY  ()!-'    II.LIXOI.^. 


(IihI  lios|iital,  lie  .stiirlcd  on  liis  lioiiirwiii'il  iiiiirrli.  r><'riii-(>  •^oiii^ 
fill,  ii  luit'c  of  (MMiliy  iiiii<l»':i  tlii.sli  ill  liis  i»Mi-,  iiinl  ii;;iiiii  hv  ovrr- 
tlirc'W  tliciti,  iiillirtiii;;  on  lliciii  a  loss  til'L'ti  mni  wliilc  liis  own  sns- 
taint'd  littlo  injury.  Tlui  icniiiiiitlcr  of  the  Miarcli  was  without 
0[)|M)siti()M  iiiid  llic  rt>;;ini('nts  anivctl  in  li:i;;i'an;;(!  willi  L'O  piiso- 
luis,  .")()  nfj;r(M'S  and  ."iOd  lioiscs  ami  innlcs. 

Col.  (iiinson  was  now  Icl't  w'illi  only  tin;  Illinois  i«';;inu'nls  to 
copi'  Willi  tlic  iiiiincrons  lorccs  of  iclxd  cavalry  wliicli  were  scour- 
in,u  llif  coiinlry  in  every  diiccti<»n  lo  intcrcc|»!  Iiiiii.  Their  oppo- 
isilion  and  t lie  attending;  daii;;('rs,  however,  instead  of  discoiira;;'- 
in;;  hiiii  and  his  hi'iivo.  followers,  only  <;ave  /est  to  the  enterprise 
^vllicil  they  now  proposed  to  linish  by  a  heiidlon;^(lash  to  liatoii 
lioiiuc,  tliroii^h  the,  heart  of  .Mississip|»i.  'Jo  diveit  attenlioii 
from  their  principal  movements  and  diima^^^'e  the  enemy,  Ciipt. 
J"'orlies,  with  .>.")  men,  were  sent  on  a  detour  east  ward  to  destroy 
the  lele<;'rai)li  and  another  portion  of  the  M.  and  ().  \l.  it.  at 
JMaeoii.  Tliey  left  their  comradeH  with  stout  hearts  hut  little 
hope  of  sc(!iii;;  tlu'in  a;;ain,  as  tlioy  would  lia\»'  to  pass  throiitili  a 
country  swarmiiif;'  with  enemies  and  march  at  least  ."iO  miles 
laither  than  the  main  force.  Ci'ot.  (Jrahani.  with  a  battalion  was 
also  sent  to  l»urii  a  shoe  fa(!tory  in  the  iiei^^hborliood,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  destroyinj;-  a  larj;e  amount  of  leather  and  stiveral 
tlntusand  boots,  shoes,  hats  ,iiid  ca])s,  b«'sides  capturing:  ii  cpiar- 
terniasler,  \\lio  had  come  to  ;;('t  supplies  for  the  rebi'l  army  at 
I'orl  Hudson. 

With  these  i>reliniinary  arrangements.  Col.  (Iriersoii  ]»ushed 
forward  for  Pearl  river  bridjic,  the  r<'acliiii;i' of  which  was  now  an 
object  of  vital  importance.  Hostile  bands  of  ca\alry  were  on  the 
alert,  and  should  their  scouts  who  preceeded  him  destroy  it,  the 
result  wouid  be  fatal.  With  an  earnestneHS,  therefore,  commeii- 
8urate  with  the  risk  involved,  they  urjicd  their  way  forward. 
(Irierson  with  his  kindlinj;'  eye  ami  thounhtl'ul  face,  leading;'  the 
van.  Xeariiijf  the  bridj^c  and  hearing'  the  sound  of  ])ersons  en- 
ga.iit'd  in  its  destruction,  they  firove  spurs  into  their  foamin<? 
fharjicrs  to  increas(;  their  spe<'d,  and  swoopin*;'  down  on  the  de- 
ist royers  as  an  eaf-h;  in  lairsiiit  of  his  prey,  <piickly  dispersed 
them.  TIk^  entirci  party  reaching'  the  opposite  shore  in  sal'ety, 
again  (hislied  forward,  and  on  the  I'ttli  rea(;hed  Newton  iStatiou 
on  M.  &  ().  R.  Iv.  Here  they  cai)tiired  7.">  rebels,  tore  u]i  the 
railroad  track,  biirnt^  4  car  loads  of  ammunition  and  '2  ware- 
houses tilled  with  commissary  stores,  and  destroyed  the  bridges  > 
on  the  west  side  of  tlie  station.  Tarrying  oidy  long  enough  to 
complete  the  work  of  d(!struction,  they  were  again  on  the  wing, 
and  after  an  exhausting  ride  by  way  of  (larlaiKlville,  JJaleigh  and 
AVestville,  were  ready  t(t  recross  the  river  at  ^Georgetown  terry. 
Gaining  tlu!  ferry,  as  in  (lase  of  {liel)ridge,  was  a  matter  of  life  or 
death;  f(»r  altlioiigh  they  moved  with  gr(;at  rapidity,  ^he  miws  of 
tlu'ir  exploits  usualy  pre«'eded  them,  and  it  was  believed  that  the 
citizens  were  now  arming  to  stoj)  their  progress.  Arriving  at  the 
river  the  i)roi)rietor  of  the  ferry  made  Ids  ai»[)earance,  and  in  a 
careless  way,  asked  if  they  wanted  to  cross,  siip[)osing  them  to  l»e 
a  foi-ce  of  Alabama  cavalry  which  was  exiieeted  in  the  neigh- 
Itorliood.  (.'ol.  PriiKM'.  (tf  the  7th,  imitating  his  ])ro\'incial  vernacu- 
hir,  replied  in  tin;  atlirmative,  and  added  that  "it  to<tk  more  time 
to  wake  up  his  negro  ferryman  than  to  catch  the  d — d  conscripts." 


TlIK   WAll  OF  THK  UKllELLION. 


821 


'l'li(ii(»ii;;lily  «l«'C('iv<i(l  l>,v  his  Yiiiikcc  iiitcilociifor,  ;ui(l  ii|»ol(»;;iy.iii<;; 
tor  tlifir  (It'tciitioii,  lie  :i\voUt>  liis  lu'i^iocs,  \vli(»  Icnifil  tli*>iii  ovrr, 
iiiMl  tlt«'ii  Willi  tnic  Noiitlicrii  linspitiilifv,  iiivitcti  tlinii  t(»  hi't>iii;t'iiHt, 
lu'licviii^  he  wiisciitcrtaiiiiti;;'  tin-  Ist  rc;;iiiit'iit  oC  Aljiliiiiiiii  ciiviiiry. 
As  soon  as  llic  rcpiisl  was  owv  llic  ]»ait\  n'smiit'd  their  niairli 
1111(1  shortly  a1't('r\vai<l  captured  a  courier,  Hyinj^'  with  liu'  start  liriff 
iiitelli<i('ii('e  tliat  tlie  Yniik«'es  were  coiiiiiij;'  and  tliat  tlu^  I'eriy  ninwt 
l)e  destroyed.  At  Ila/.h'hiirst  on  the  New  Orh-ans  and  .laeixsoii 
railroad,  the  next"  j)hice  visited,  ii  hirjic  nnnil»er  of  ears  were 
destroyed,  containiii};'  powder,  shell  and  other  supplies  Cor  the  con- 
federate army. 

At  this  jM»int  ('apt.  I'\»rl)es  sent  to  destioy  the  railroad  at  Ma- 
con lejoined  them,  in  his  retnrn  heunwittinjuly  lieeame  tlie  hero  of 
a  darinj;'  adventnre.  lOnteriii^i'  Newttni  stati<»n  wiiere  he  expected 
to  meet  with  the  men  nnder  (irierson  he  was  astonished  to  find 
liimself  in  tiie  midst  (»!'  ;!(H»0  reltels  in  the  act  of  debarkinii  from 
the  cars.  With  remarkaltle  presence  of  ndnd  lie  hoisted  a  Ha/;"  of 
truce,  and,  Iioldly  ridin;;'  up.  demanded  the  snrreiider  of  the  loiHte, 
in  the  nameof  Col.  (iiieison.  The  rei)el  otiieer  in  ennimand,  siip- 
l)osi II ij  (irierson's  whole  foi'ce  wlii(rli  inmor  ha«l  nia;;nilied  to  a 
niii^liiiiy  host,  was  close  at  hand,  asked  an  hour  to  consider  tho 
demand.  Forlies  yranted  the  re(piest  with  feij;ned  reluctance, 
and  starte*!  for  the  itreteiided  troops  in  reserve  to  whom  the  con- 
federate was  to  semi  his  I'eply  at  the  expiration  of  the  time,  Tho 
raiders,  amused  at  the  sell,  dashed  away,  j^ivinn'  the  enemy  a  l(»n;^ 
time  to  consult  in  regard  to  terms  of  the  capitulation,  and  a 
Ion;;' distance  to  travel  before  they  could  make  them  known.  Tho 
entire  c<nnmand  left  llazleliiirst  on  the  L'Tthand,  iiiisliiiij;alonj;the 
>'. <).&.!.  Iv.  1{.,  thi'ou^ih  the  stations  of  IJahala,  Hrookhaven  and 
Summit,  t(U'e  up  the  railroad  destroyed  its  rolliii;;'  stock,  and 
iiiimeiisi^  (piantities  of  <'ommissary's  st<H'es  and  munitions  on 
tlie  way  to  N'ickshurj;,  J'ort  Hudson  and  (iraiid  (lulf.  On  leavinj;; 
the  railroad  they  reached  I'.aton  liouyc  on  the  L'd  of  May,  the  oh- 
j<'('live  point  of  the  expedition.  Within  the  last  .'50  hours  with- 
out eatiiij>'  or  sleepinji',  they  had  ridden  80  miles, destioyed  a  num- 
ber of  bridj^es  and  larfi;e  (piantities  of  inilitaiy  stores,  swam  one 
river,  had  three  skirmishes  with  tiie  enemy,  and  took  42  itrisonens. 
So  exhausted  were  th«'  men  that  they  slept  on  their  horses  till  tho 
report  of  (carbines  roused  them  to  actum,  and  wlieu  tho  fray  was 
over  afiiiiu  relapse  into  slun  Iter. 

A  resume  of  their  opera  -ms  sh«)ws  that  in  the  brief  interval 
of  KJ  days  they  had  ridden  from  the  iHUthern  to  the  southern 
part  of  .Mississi]»pi,  and,  altlioiijih  opei'atinj;'  between  tw(>  };reat 
rel»el  lines  of  communication,  tlicMoitile  vS:  Ohio  aiidXew  Orleans 
and.Iacksoii  railroads,  by  skillful  mameuNers,  usually  su<'ceeded  in 
eiudiiii;  the  enemy.  In  their  march  of  .SOU  miles  they  took  oOO 
prisoiiei's,  destroyed  fromoOtoiJO  miles  of  railroad, li  locomotives, 
L'OO  ear.^  and  milit.iry  stores,  and  other]>i"oi)erty  valued  at$40,(K)0  ; 
while  tluy  crossed  into  tho  Union  lines  with  1,200  horses  and  nudes 
and  oOO  iietrroes. 

The  most  determined  efforts  were  made  to  capture  tliem. 
A  thousand  cavalrynu'ii  from  south  of  I'oi't  Hudson,  l,;iOI>  from 
;M()l»ile.  and  2.000  fiom  the  vicinity  (»f  Columbia,  were  sent  for 
tiiis  purpose,  but  (Irieison's  strategy  I'eiidered  their  elforts  abor- 
tive.    Their  safe  arrival  in  IJaton   iiouye,  whither  the  story  of 


822 


nrSTOllY   OF  ILLINOK^. 


tliciradNciiliirc  li;i(l  ])r('('('(l('(l  tlicm,  crcjitcil  the  uiciitcst  ciitliiisi- 
jisiii  and  rcjoiciii,!;.  .Maiiv  ^(■^ll^.(Ml  to  l>('li('\(^  what  liicy  liad  licaid 
till  tlicy  saw  the.  iiicii  and  lislciicd  toarccilalol'  tlicir  feats.  .So  iiii- 
iiieiit  were  the  dangers  and  so  eoMii»lele  tlie  .sueeesSjit  seems  more 
like  a  leatof  romance  tlian  an  oeiMirreiiee  of  actual  life.  The  reb- 
els were  tanjiiil,  not witlistandin,!;  the  elliciencN  of  their  ea\;ilry, 
tlie.v  could  be '"outrode,  oi  twitted  and  out  l'ou,uht,"  and  hence  the 
moral    results  achieved  were  no  less  im]»ortant  than  llie  ith,vsieal. 

Si('!ic  and  Siirrciider  of  Vivhahto-ff. — From  the  in\-esiment  of  the 
city  till  the  surrender,  little  occurred  to  dixcrsify  the  routine  of 
duty  performed  by  the  investinj;'  army.  On  the  22d  of  ,Iuiie.  the 
r«'bels  in  a,  sortie  drove  the  11th  Illinois  from  their  trenches  which, 
!is  a  worUiujH'  i»arty,  they  were  enj;a,u('d  in  exca\atin.i;'  round  the 
city.  Tim  succeedin<4'  ni;4lit  the  41st  Illinois  and  some  other  forces, 
'Acre  ordered  to  the  sanu' trenches  and  the  rebels  a,iiaiu  sallied 
I'orMi  and  demanded  their  surrender  The  colonel  of  theJist  in- 
stantly ordered  the  artillery  to  open  and  in  a  severe  li^ht  the  reb- 
els were  driven  back  to  their  wcnks. 

On  the  2."')tli  the  miners  of  INIcPherson's  cor])s  blew  up 
the  rebel  F(Ut  Ilill.  Haviuj;'  dejxtsited  a  Ion  of  ])owder  in  an  ex- 
cavation under  the  fort,  and  selected  the  4.")th  Illinois  to  occupy 
the  breach,  the  ndne  was  sjfrunji'.  Almost  noiselessly  the  <;rouud 
"was  lifted  ui>asifsome  subierrancan  luonstt-rhad  suddenly  risen 
from  his  lair  and  toss«'d  asid*- his  coveiinj;()f  earth.  Ayawninji' cra- 
ter some  20  feet  in  width  was  oiiened,  and  hai'dly  had  tiie  cloud 
of  white  smoke  which  issued  from  it,  cleared  away, before  the  bat- 
tle-scarred veterans  of  the -tritli  were  at  their  post.  'I'lie  reliels 
crowded  up  to  the  breach  with  j^reat  rajjidity,  and  the  lijilit  on  both 
sides  was  one  of  (les])eration.  For  want  of  room  the  federal  regi- 
ments subsecpu'ntly  enj;af;('d,  went  in  one  at  a  time,  and  as  each 
exhausted  its  amunition  another  took  its  phu!(^  In  this  manner 
the  2.)d,  2."Kh,;>!)th,  ;Jlst,  Kith,  5<>th  and  I24th,  Illinois,  success- 
ively entered  the  vortex  of  lire  and  stru,n<;led  like  demi-j^ods  to 
quench  its  tlanu'S. 

The  object  of  these  minin;i;oi)crations  was  t(»  ])ossess  important 
points  in  the  enemy's  line  of  defenses  and  thereby  i)ress  himbaek 
toward  the  riv^r.  When,  however,  it  l)ec.«nie  evident  that  the 
gariison  was  short  of  provisioi:s,  the  excavations  of  i)aiTalleltJ 
and  nnnes  was  discontinued.  The.  supply  of  food,  thoujih  it 
had  l)eei)  carefully  husbanded,  ami  the  tl(;sh  of  nudes  extensively 
used,  was  now  lu'arly  exhausted.  A  failure  of  amunition  also  en- 
sued, Mie  ardoi'  of  the  pirrison  was  dampened  by  protracted  pri- 
A'ations,  and  the  citizens  livinj;' in  caves  to  avoid  danger,  found 
their  suffering'  too  great  to  longer  continue  the  siege. 

induced  by  these  stiingent  ne(!essities,  I'endierton,  on  the  2d  of 
July,  disjdayed  a  white  tlag  on  the  rami)arts  in  view  of  the  invest- 
ing army,  and  an  oHlcer  being  sent  to  ascertain  its  meaiung 
learned  that  he  wisheil  to  confer  in  regard  to  terms  of  vapitula- 
tion.  Corresi>ondeiU!e  was  iiderehanged,  resulting  in  a  i)ersonal 
inicrview  between  the  two  chiefs  of  the  contending  forces,  and 
finally  in  the  uncomliliomU  surrender  of  the  city  and  confederate 
army.  So  great  was  themnnberof  ]»risoners  to  avoid  theex[)ens(^  of 
theii  luaintainanceand  trans|io''talion  to  northern  prisons,  they  were 
parolled.     It  was  also  believed  that  the  demoralization  consecjuent 


\t'' 


THE  WAR  OF  TIIK  llEBELLION. 


823 


upon  their  return  lioiiie  after  dcitViit,  wonll  ^nore  tliaii  connter- 
balaiicre  the  ertorts  of  tliose  who  iiii;;lit  be  a,iiaiii  iiidiu^ed  to  take 
up  anus.  The  stars  and  stri])es  were  lioisted  over  tlie  (!oiiqiier(!d 
stroii,nliohl,  thus  symbolizing  tiie  nation's  majesty  in  the  presence 
of  her  errinj;'  and  rebellions  (Odldren, 

Only  three  days  after  tlie  tall  of  Vieksburj^,  as  the  innnediate 
result  of  the  vietory,  l*ort  Hudson  surrendered  to  the  besiejiing 
force  under  Banks.  Tlie  eainpai,i;ns  for  the  ojtening  of  the  Mis- 
sissi])pi  were  now  at  an  end.  To  Illiiutis  far  more  than  to  any 
other  State,  the  nation  is  indebted  for  this  successful  termination. 
Her  rei>resentatives  in  the  lon<;'  list  of  bloody  battles  and  brilliiint 
victorieswerethe.Sthjl  1th,  l.'Jth,  Utli,  17th.LM>th,l';}d,L'r)th,l*,Sth,L".tth, 
oOtli,  ;{lst,  ;i2d.;«(l,  ;55th,  ;J8th,  41st,  4r>tli,  4(»th,  47th,  4<Sth,  olst, 
aad,.Mth,o7th,()3d,  7L'd,  7")th,  7f)th,  77th,  81st,  l>3d,!)."»th,  l>7th,  IMttli, 
lOSth,  ILJth,  n4th,  110th,  IbStii,  120th,  IL'lth,  12(ith,  127th  and 
l.'Jlst  rejiinn'uts  (»f  infantry,  Willard's  I'eoria  and  the  Chi(!aji<)  mid 
^Mercantile  battery,  theOtii,7th  and  jtortions  of  tlie2i{d,  loth  and 
Til iel man's  ca\  airy. 

Step  by  step  they  Imd  liew(Ml  their  way  toward  the  ^ulf,  stroiijj;- 
hohl  after  stronjihold  hiid  fnllen  beneath  their  stalwart  blows,  iiiid 
now  the  liist  fetter  which  treiison  ]iadfor<;-ed  to  bind  the  Father  of 
Waters,  was  riven  asun<ler.  No  victory  of  the  war  was  so  decisive 
in  its  results  as  the  capture  of  N'icksbur};'.  It  lias  been  truthfully 
said  that  the  i)ossession  of  the  Mississip[)i  valley  is  the  i»ossession 
of  America.  Had  tin'  Riclinioiid  jiovernment  been  able  to  maiiitiiin 
the  power  it  set  up  in  the  lower  part  of  the  ijreat  valley,  the  upper 
portion  woidd  have  •;ravitated  into  the  confederacy  as  naturally  as 
its  waters  fall  iiitotlu!  j;ulf.  I'nrthei'inore  the  river  not  only  served 
as  a  means  of  defense  but  was  the  dividing  line  between  two  great 
sections  of  the  revolted  territory.  That  lying  on  the  west,althongh 
less  imimrtant  tlmn  the  Atliinti(!  region,  was  uevertheless  the 
vast  storehouse  whence  suppli(ss  had  l)een  drawn  for  the  supi»ort 
of  the  arnues  in  Virginia  and  Tennessee.  Now  isolated  Texas 
could  no  longer  (!ontribut(i  her  vast  herds  of  cattle,  Arkan.^as 
her  serials  and  Louisiana  her  siigiir.  Witii  a  tieet  of  federal  gun- 
boats patrolling  the  river,  (iohcert  in  the  military  operations  oitlie 
severed  JStates  was  impossible,  and  in  those  of  the  west  the  war 
Avas  virtually  at  aii  end. 

To  the  material  ett'ects  of  the  blow  the  moral  must  be  added  to 
fully  appreciate  the  extent  of  the  damage  sustained  by  the  con- 
federacy. The  surprise  and  constermition  consequent  ur  m  the 
Mississippi  disaster  fell  like  a  thunderbolt  from  iv  clear  sky  viii  die 
people  of  the  south.  The  spirit  of  their  high  vaulting  chivalry 
was  broken,  and  gloon;,>  lioubts  l)rooded  in  the  minds  of  many  as 
to  the  possibility  of  ever  realizing  the  success  of  their  cause.  The 
confederate  authorities  were  early  convinced  of  the  importance  of 
the  Mississipi)i.  At  the  time  Ciraiit  commenced  liisdeseent  against 
Vicksburg,  Jefferson  Davis  harangued  the  people  of  Jackson  on 
the  necessity  of  i)reserving  the  Mississippi,  as  the  great  artery  of 
the  country  and  the  only  means  of  securing  the  i)erpetuity  of  the 
new  government.  Pollard  in  referring  to  its  loss,  saj's:  "It  com- 
pelled as  its  necessary  consequence,  the  surrender  of  other  posts 
on  the  Mississiiqti  and  cue  the  confederacy  in  twain.  Its  defense 
had  worked  exposiu-e  and  wcnkness  in  other  quarters,  it  had 
about  stripped  (Jliarleston  of  troopsj  it  hail  taken  many  thousand 


»r 


824 


IIISTOUY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


of  incii  iVoiii  ]>raj;<;'s  aiiiiy,  iiiid  it  had  made  such  r(!(|iii.siti(H)  on 
Iji-s  l'()i'c(!  loi'tlic  newly  (Hjianizcd  lines  in  .Mississipjii  that  lu-  was 
(•(»ni[ii'lle(l  or  induced,  wisely  or  unwisely,  to  fall  hack  from  Talla- 
hassee, Tullalioniii  to  ;;ive  u\)  the  country  on  the  jMeinphis  and 
Charleston  railroad  and  probably  to  abandon  the  defences  of  .Mid- 
dle Tennessee." 

JJrijiadiei-Cienoral  John  A.  Losan,  whose  deeds  and  liune 
are  so  inseparable  blended  with  tlu!  openinji  of  the  Mississijtpi, 
was  born  at  ]\lurfieesboro,  Jackson  county,  February  Utii, 
].SL'(>.  Jn  connnon  with  others,  ;it  that  early  day  in  Illinois, 
his  educational  privilej^es  were  liniite<l.  Xatural  ability,  however, 
tiiuMii)lied  over  all  obstacles,  and  he  early  become  noted  for  the 
luoriciency  of  his  attainnu'uts.  At  tlu!  outbreak  of  thi^  .Mexican 
Avai'  he  entered  as  a  lieutenant  in  the  Jst  rejiinu'ut  of  Illinois  vol- 
unleers,  and  valiently  fouj;iit  with  his  comrades  till  they  retuined 
hoi.  .  Itesumin;;'  the  duties  of  civil  life,  lie  conimencecl  the  study 
of  law  in  the  otiice  of  his  uncle  A.  M.  .leidvins,  formerly  lieuteii 
ant  jioveriior  of  the  State.  On  the  complelioii  of  his  studies  he 
rapidly  r(>se  in  his  profession  and  obtaiiu'd  a.  wide-s|>rea(l  poi>u]arity. 
In  lS.j.'i  1k'.  was  ele(;ted  piosecutinu'  attorney  of  the  M  Ju<licial  dis- 
trict. In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  was  chosen  to  represent  the 
counties  of  Franklin  and  .Jackson  in  the  legislature,  and  was  re- 
elected in  LS.jG.  After  the  exi>iratioii  of  his  last  term  in  the  le<;is- 
lature  he  was  twice  elected  to  conj^ress,  ami  while  still  a  nu'mber 
in  1,S()1,  he  returned  home,  and  ui)on  the  organization  of  the  ;»lst 
Illinois,  was  cliosen  its  colonel.  Of  his  subsccpient  operations  in 
the  war  we  have  already  si)oken.  From  the  iron  libre  of  liis  (torn- 
position  and  his  deeds  of  lieiy  valor,  he  has  been  styled  the  ]\Iurat 
of  Illinois  bravery 


Chapter  LXII. 

1SG3— ILLINOIS  IX  TUE  (JlIATTANOOdA  CAMPAIGX. 

Battles  of Chicamauf/a —  Wauhtvhic — Loohtut    Mountidn   and    Mis- 
sion likhje — RdieJ'  of  Knoxvillc. 


After tlic battle  of  Mnrfreesboio  .scvt'ial  inontlis  wore  spent  by 
liosecnui.s  in  recruitiiij^'  his  iinny,  jd'ociiriiij;'  supplies  and  opcniiij;' 
u[>  lines  of  coniiunnieation  to  again  advance  on  liiaji'^'.  lvij;i(l 
discipline  was  enjoincnl  aiul  no  effort  spared  to  create  in  the 
minds  of  his  men  a  proper  appreciation  of  the  work  before 
them. 

AVIiile  these  prei)arations  were  }>()inf>()n  a  number  of  minor  en- 
gajienients  occnried  in  JMiddle  Tennessee,  in  whieh  Illinois  troojis 
were  prominent  actors.  On  the  3(1  of  Febriuiry,  IStJ.J,  Forrest 
made  a  determined  attack  to  recapture  F(nt  Doiu'lsoii,  garrisoned 
by  (he.S.'Jd  Jliinois,  but  was  repulsed.  iMarch  2(tth  the  .Stli..S(Hh 
and  123d  Illinois  and  some  other  tioops  under  Col.  Hall  had  a  se- 
vere en(;ounter  with  Morgan's  cavalry  near  .Milton,  and  the  latter 
were  forced  to  rctveat.  Again  on  the  I'Oth  of  Apiil  the  L'tth.  S(»th, 
9Sth  and  12,3(1  Illinois,  assisted  by  a  force  of  cavalry,  overtook  a 
body  of  rebels  at  Woodbury  and  drove  them  trom  the  town. 

At  length,  the  Washington  authorities,  believing  that  Ibagg's 
army  had  been  weakened  to  strengthen  that  of  Lee's,  insisted  on 
a  forward  movement.  The  rebel  commander,  after  his  defeat,  re- 
tired to  Tullahoma  and  Shelbyville,  making  Duck  Kiver  his  line 
of  defense.  His  position  in  the  towns  was  strongly  fortified,  while 
the  occupation  of  the  roads  leading  south,  as  well  as  the  natural 
featiues  of  the  country  gave  him  additional  security  in  case  of 
an  atta(ik.  liosecrans  determined  to  neutralize  these  advantages 
by  a  Hank  movement  on  the  left  and  c()m])el  him  either  to  retreat 
or  light  outside  of  his  fortifications.  Ac(rordingly  on  the  24th  of 
June  the  Union  army  set  out  from  Murfreesboro,  Thomas'  corps 
in  the  centre,  McCook's  on  the  right  and  Crittenden's  on  the  left. 
By  a  feint  on  Shelby ville  with  a  portion  of  his  army,  ho  deceived 
the  eiuMuy,  causing  him  to  uncover  Liberty,  Hoover's  and  other 
principal  gaps  in  tlie  Cumberland  Mountains  through  which  the 
main  advance  was  to  be  nuide.  After  hard  tighting  these  were 
possessed  by  the  national  troops,  the  enemy's  position  at  Shelby- 
ville  Hanked  and  Bragg  com[)elled  to  evacuate  his  works  and  es- 
cape toTidlahoma.  l)is[>ositions  were  immediately  nuide  to  get 
in  his  i-ear  and  destroy  his  (communications  at  the  latter  place,  but 
he  immediately  abandoned  it  and  retired  in  the  direction  of  Chat- 
tanooga, pressed  as  far  as  pra(!licableby  the  Union  troops.  Thus  in 
a  cam]>aign  of  nine  days,  during  which  the  roads  were   remlered 

825 


«■! 


820 


IIISTOIIY   OF   ILIJNOIS. 


iiciirl.v  iiiipassiiblc  by  one  of  tlic  most  cxti'iiordiiuii'y  laiii  storms 
VM'V  known  in  the  country,  tlic  cnciny  wns  drivt'ii  from  his  eu- 
trcncliod  p(»sition  and  ^Middle  Tennessee  relieved  from  rebel  domi- 
nation. Also  in  tlu;  various  renc.ouiitres  wliieli  occurrcil,  there 
were  captured  l,(5;3i  prisoners,  six  pieces  of  artillery  iiiid  a  largo 
amount  of  stores, 

Tlie  next  ste|)  in  following  up  the  enemy  was  Chattanooga,  the 
approa(;hes  to  which  were  strong  by  mitui'e  and  rendered  more  so 
by  art.  llosecrans  having  put  the  railroad  in  operation  to  8te- 
ACiison  for  the  tiansportation  of  su])plies,  comniemHul  ciossingthe 
Cumberland  Mountains,  whose  towering  nuisses  of  rock  lay  be- 
tween him  and  the  stronghold  he  wished  to  snbdue.  Availing 
himself  of  the  mountain  passes  previously  cai)tured,  he  reached 
the  Tennessee  and,  descending  it,  ])repare(l  to  cross  in  thevicinity 
of  Chattanooga.  The  city  being  imjuegnable  to  a  direct  attack, 
Itosecrans  decided  to  Hank  it  on  the  west  and  south,  and  either 
force  Ibagg  to  evacuate  it  or  suffer  isolation  from  his  base  of  sup- 
l»lies.  With  the  ex(*ei)tion  of  llazeii's  division  the  enemy  crossed 
tiie  liver  below  the  city  and  commenced  moving  into  Lookout  val- 
ley. This,  with  the  parallel  valleys  of  ChattanoogaandChicamauga, 
extends  soutinvanl  from  the  Tennessee,  which,  at  this  point,  runs 
in  a  westi'rly  direction.  Creeks  bearing  the  mimes  and  coursing 
through  each  valley  fall  into  the  river,  the  two  most  western  be- 
low the  (iity  and  the  one  farthest  east  above  it.  Separating 
the  watei's  of  the  creeks  are  Lookout  Mountain  and  Missioii  liidge, 
the  former  abutting  on  the  river  opposite  Chattanooga  and  the 
latter  a  short  distance  above. 

Ilazeii  was  instructed  to  watch  the  fords  and  make  Bragg  be- 
lieve that  till'  nniin  body  of  the  national  troops  was  still  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  river.  His  force,  although  numbering  only  7,(K)() 
nu'U,  was  accordingly  so  dispersed ;  the  hea>\s  of  columns  and 
canip-lires  (!<)uld  be  seen  simultaneously  at  th.  fords  along  the 
river  a  distance  of  70  miles.  So  adroitly  was  die  ruse  managed 
that  .M<!(  'ook's  corjis  had  advanced  up  the  valley  45  miles,  and 
Thomas'  l.'i,  while  Crittenden  was  on  the  river  only  8  miles  from 
Chattanooga  before  it  was  discovered  by  liragg.  He  was  now  iu 
a  (piandary.  lie  could  easily  maintain  himself  against  any  as- 
sault of  his  adversary  witliin  his  fortiticatioiis,  but  how  lorg  could 
lie  defy  starvarion  when  the  investing  army  had  cut  off  his  sup- 
jilies.  If  he  attempted  to  defend  both  Chattanooga  and  his  com- 
munications his  army  would  be  divided  and  easily  beaten  in 
detail,  and,  if  he  abandoned  the  city,  it  would  provoke  a  clamor, 
amoiigtliei»eoi)le  of  the  South  eigerly  watching  his  movements.  The 
last  expedient  wa.^,  however,  chosen  as  the  least  of  three  evils,  and 
^abandoning  the  city  and  its  well  constructe«l  fortiftcations,  he 
moved  his  army  up  Oiicamauga  valley  in  the  direction  of  Lafa- 
yette. 

Crittenden  having  taken  possession  of  the  town  without  oppo- 
sition, was  ordered  to  leave  a  brigade  as  a  garrison,  and  with  the 
remainder  of  his  cor[)s  pursue  the  retiring  army  up  the  valley. 
Iiosecrans,  believing  that  13ragg  was  in  full  retreat,  and  that  his 
chief  oltject  should  be  to  intercept  him,  McCook  and  Thomas  were 
ordered  through  the  jiasses  of  Lookout  and  IMission  mountains  to 
get  in  a<lvance  of  him  on  the  south.  Li  making  this  disposition 
of  his  forces,  like  many  other  good  generals  before  him,  he  was 


I 


THE  WAR  OF   TIIK  KKBELLION. 


827 


(Icccivcd.  Hrajiju"  mjis  not  n'trcatiiij^'.  Imr  coiicciitiiitiiiji',  in  tlic  vi- 
cinity of  Ijiilaycttc,  tlie  most  nuiiu'roiisaniiy  liiat  iiad  evor  tou.iilit 
nndcr  rebel  standards  west  of  tin;  Allciiiiaiiie!!;.  IJnckner  iiad 
Itccii  siiimiioiicd  trom  Knoxville,  .loiinson  iiad  Ween  drawn  njion 
for  one  or'  liis  stroiiijcst  divisions,  and  Lee,  satisfied  tliat  Kicli- 
niond  was  not  in  danjicr,  dispatched  Lon^street's  heavy  corps  of 
veterans  from  the  l{aj)idan.  Kre  this  was  luiown  (hitteinleii, 
dellcciinj;' easteily,  had  collided  with  a  ])ortion  of  liii>  foice  in  llie 
A  ieiniiy  of  Kinfiiiold.  Tlnanas  had  develoi»ed  it  near  Lafayette, 
i,nd  -Ah^CJoolc  had  completely  turned  his  jjosition  on  tiie  soiitli. 

.'n  tins  detaclied  condition  of  the  Knion  (!orps  a  rare  oi)poi'tn- 
nily  was  offered  I)ra<ij>'  to  crush  them  in  detail.  All  it  reciuired 
■was  to  fail  on  Tlionias  with  such  a  for';e  as  to  overwhelm  him, 
tlicn  turn  down  C'liicamaufia  valley, and  throwin<;'  hiuiself  between 
the  city  and  Crittenden  crush  him,  and  finally,  turning;'  n\t  Lookout, 
valley,  inter(;ei)t  and  capture  .^IcCook.  l'\iilin^'  to  immediately 
avail  himself  of  his  advantajjes  our  fi(^neials  discovered  tiieir  mis- 
take and  I'apidly  ('omnu'nced  concentratin<!:  to  avoid  its  eonse- 
(pu'nces.  Tliomas  at  once  imshed  down  the  valley  to  within  sup- 
portiiij;'  distance  of  (h'ittendeii,  while  McCook,  whose  isolation 
Avas  greater,  marched  back  into  Lookout  Valley  and  (lesccndini;' 
it,  recrossed  tlui  mountains  at  Ste])heu"s  (iap.  I>y  tins  /iji  za^' 
course  he  etfected  a  junction  wiih  the  other  coips  and  eluded 
IJiauy,  who  had  ])osted  a  heavy  force  to  intercept  him  in  the 
dii'cct  route  down  the  Chicamauua.  Li  the  meantime  affairs  on 
the  ('hicamaujiii  had  assunu'd  an  alaruiin<>'  aspect.  JJraji'ji'  had  re- 
ceixed  r«'iiilbrcenu'nts,  and,endeavorin<4' to  j^ct  between  his  autajio- 
nists,  and  Chatanoo;iii,  a  ra(H'  commenced  between  tlieii-  respective 
armii'son  o[)i»osite  sides  of  the  (treek  in  thedire(;ti<)n  of  the  city.  This 
moveuu'.nt  evinced  a  determination  on  the  part  of  IJraii'n' to  turn  our 
left,  ami  Thomas  was  ordered  to  tliat  end  of  the  line,  K-avin^' 
Crittenden's  and  M(;Cook\s  on  the  ri^ht.  Its  7  divisions,  Wood's 
Van  Cleves',  L'almer's,  Iteyuold's,  .Johnson's,  Baird's  and  IJran- 
nan's,  now  concentrated,  extended  down  the  west  bank  of  the 
Chicamaujia  in  the  order  mentioned,  some  12  miles  southward  of 
Cliattanoojiii.  >.'e.nley's,  Davis'  and  Sheridan's  were  yet  seveial 
miles  south  of  tlu'  main  force,  ami  (Tran}>er's  at  Kossville.  but 
after  the  commen(!ement  of  the  battle,  they  came  up  and  partici- 
pated, swelliii};'  the  entire  force  to  some  r).~),0()(). 

Larly  on  the  nn)rninj?  of  the  lOtli  of  Septend)er,  1803,  clouds  of 
dust  were  seen  hau^in<>'  over  the  road  beyond  the  creek,  caused  by 
the  heavy  columns  of  the  emMuy  nu)vin<;'  in  the  direction  of  Chatta- 
nooga. At  10  o'i.'bx'k  the  loud  explosion  of  artillery  on  tlie  ex- 
treme left  sifi'iialled  the  commencement  of  battle,  and  Thomas, 
ridin.y  forward  to  ascertain  the  nature  of  the  attack,  found  ibau- 
nan's  division  hard  juessed.  To  his  surprise,  also,  the  enemy  had 
crossed  the  eieek,  and  all  the  advanta}.'es  which  it  afforded  as  ii 
means  of  defense  was  lost.  The  imjx'tiitsity  of  the  assault  came 
near  sweepi.ij:'  his  entire  corps  from  ciie  field  before  it  could  bo 
rallied  an<l  reiid'orceil.  When  at  leuj>tli  this  was  etfected,  its 
sturdy  rejiuliirs,  .--luns  by  the  disaster  they  had  sustained,  and 
eat(tliin<r  the  resolution  of  their  connnauder,  threw  themselves 
Willi  irresistable  force  a<>'aiiist  (heir assailants.  Kveii  Lon.nstreet's 
veterans  stroxcin  vain  to  check  the  advance,  and  were  swept  back 
the   distance   of  a  ndle,  and  all  the  lost  ground  recovered — the 


82S 


lILST()i:V    OF    ILLINOIS. 


iiliiu'fio  wliicli  stnieU  the  left,  cxteiidcil  towanl  tlie  vi^ijlif,  ciiiisiiiLy 
tliiU  end  of  tlie  line  to  sway  hiickward  and  forward  aceordiiiu'  to 
the  varyinfi' success  of  the  coiiihal ants.  At  tlie  centre  sucli  was 
tlie  violence  ()f  t!u',  assault  tliat  Davis,  who  had  come  into  the 
liuiit,  was  thrown  to  the  ri;iht  and  Van  Cleve  to  the  left, 
and  the  rebels  i)oniiiiiii"  into  tiie  j-ap  the.  battle  seemed  to  be 
lost.  At  this  juncture  llazen  massed  some  I'O  pieces  of 
ariiilery  at  the  threatened  point  and  dischar;>iny  a  cross- 
lire  of  {.^rape  and  canister  into  the  (ihar^^iinj;'  columns, 
forced  them  ba(;k.  On  the  extreme  ri^nlit  no  very  serious  denuni- 
stratioiis  were  made  till  the  afternoon,  when  several  n'bel  bri;4- 
ades  charj^ed  on  one  of  our  batteries  and  captured  .'>  of  its  };imis. 
These  were  afterward  retaken  and  the  assault  at  this  end  of  the 
line  in  the  end  ])rove(l  a  failure.  At  different  tinu's  dnrin<;'  the 
day  vi(;tory  was  almost  within  the  j^rasp  of  the  eiu'iny,  but  when 
niji'lit  ended  the  eoulliet,  the  two  armies  stood  face  to  face  on 
ground  that  offered  little  advantaj^e  to  eitluu-. 

Duriuji'  the  nij;ht,  Lonjistreet  with  additional  veterans  from  the 
army  of  Virginia,  reinforced  IJragg,  swelling  his  army  to  7().(M»(>, 
and  giving  him  an  exc^ess  over  liosecraus,  of  ir),OU().  The  latter 
made  some  slight  changes  in  the  disposition  of  his  divisions  to 
.streughten  the  left,  against  which  it  was  expected  the  n-bels  would 
next  liurl  their  greatly  i)reponderatinv  forces.  With  these  prepa- 
rations the  trooi)s  rested  in  the  bleak  September  air  of  the  moun- 
tain region  on  the  ground  where  they  had  so  ])ersistently  fought. 

At  daybreak  the  aiinies  were  ilrawn  np  for  battle,  but  a  dense 
fog  filling  the  valley  and  rendering  objects  invisible,  it  did  not 
commence  till  near  S  o'clock.  The  time  was  improved  by  further 
streiigteiiing  Thoiuas,  whose 'force  now  constituted  about  half  of 
the  entire  army,  liudo  breastworks  were  also  thrown  np  on  his 
fi'ont  which  altorded  great  )>rotection  in  the  subsecpient  battle. 
As  s  ;on  as  the  fog  disai»peared  the  rebel  s(pmdrons  moved  np  in 
an  overwhelming  charge.     Thomas  received  the  brunt  of  the  on- 


slaught. 


liragg 


was  agani  endeavoring  to  niterpose   his  army 


between  that  of  Kosecrans  and  Chattanooga,  Avhich  the  preceding' 
day  he  had  failed  to  effect.  For  a  time  the  battle  raged  with 
fright  fid  caiiiage  and  varying  success.  The  rebels,  hov>  ever,  when 
repulsed,  continued  to  swarm  np  with  fresh  troops  and  angmentecl 
numbers,  and  at  length  threw  themselves  with  such  momentum  on 
Tliomas  as  to  force  iiim  back.  A  new  position  Avas,  however, 
taken  and  all  further  attempts  to  turn  his  Hank  and  get  into  Chatta- 
nooga i)roved  abortive. 

The  right,  in  the  meantime,  had  suffered  irreparable  disaster. 
Negley's  and  Van  Cleves'  divisions,  having  been  ordered  to  the 
sui)port  of  Thomas,  oi)ened  a  gap  wldch  the  division  commanders 
on  the  right  were  ordered  to  close,  but  owing  to  a  misunderstand- 
ing in  regard  to  the  movement  and  the  consciiucnt  delay.  Long- 
street  threw  Hood's  command  into  the  breach.  The  result  was 
fatal.  Davis'  division  moving  iij)  forthesame  purpose,  was  struck 
and  severed  by  the  blow  which  smote  it.  I'almer  and  Van  Cleve 
Oil  the  oi)posite  side,  shared  a  similar  fate,  and  soon  the  whole 
right  wing  crumbled  into  fragments,  was  sent  in  impotent  dis- 
order in  the  direction  of  Chattanooga.  Jtosccrans,with  oilier  i)iomi- 
nent  ollicers  was  swept  along  by  the  tide,  and  on  ariiving  in  tin' city 
he  commenced  preparations  to  defend  tl.e  place  and  .sa\e  the  I'rag- 


TIIK  AVAK  OF  THE  UKllKLLION. 


8L»!) 


iiM'iits  of  tlio  iiiiiiy,  for  it  scciimmI  In  !)(' utterly  loiitcd  iuid  ;it  tlio 
iiificy  «»l'lli»!  t'lu'iiiy.  Till!  it'siilt,  (lioiij:ii  siiniciciitly  bad,  did  not 
prove  ill  the  end  s(»  disiistroiis  as  was  siipjKised. 

Tiioinas,  snl)se(|Meiitiy  styled  the  rock  ol'( 'iiieainaiijiii,  jiatheriiig 
his  l)leediii;4- forces  and  inassinj;"  his  j^iins  in  a  seiiii-eirele  on  the 
side  of  .Mission  Ixid^c.  stood  like  a  wall  of  adamant  l»et\veeii  the 
routed  divisions  and  the  eiieiny.  Si|iiadroH  after  scjnadron  at- 
tenii>t<'d  to  !)reast  tlit!  terrific  lire  of  his  artillery  hnt  were  melted 
away  like  I'rost  work  in  the  hia/e  of  the  inorniui;'  snii.  Four  of 
the  W  divisions  of  the  army  iiad  been  swept  entirely  away,  and 
with  the  remnants  of  the  remainder  he  kejit  the  entire  rebel  army 
at  bay.  About  4  o'clock  a  new  i»eril  threatened  him.  The  enemy 
[)ressiii<i' him  in  Iron t  and  on  both  Hanks,'  discovered  a  yorpi  on 
the  ri;4ht  crossinji' the  ridyi!  on  which  he  was  i)ost<'<],  and  coiii- 
ineiieed  streamin;^'  tlirouj:h  it  to  ;i'et  in  his  rear.  The  dan<;('r  was 
•!een,  but  he  could  not  spare  a  sin;;le  man  to  aA'ert  it.  In  a,  few 
minutes  he  would  be  surrounded  by  a  shoutinji'  foe  and  com- 
l)elled  either  to  surrender  oi'  i»e  cut  to  pieces.  Fortunately,  at  llie 
very  moment  on  which  liuii;;'  the  fate  of  his  army,  Clranyer  came 
up  and  otfered  the  necessary  assistance. 

J'osted  at  liossville,  and  iu'ariiij;'  the  continuous  tliunderof  bat- 
tle in  the  dire(;tion  of  Thomas,  he  waited  impatiently — anxiously  for 
orders  to  Join  the  conllict.  As  tin;  tumult  swelled  and  dee]iened, 
tliouiili  (contrary  to  orders,  he  was  unable  to  resist  its  loud  appeal 
for  iielp,  and  started  where  his  intuitions  told  him  assistaiure  was 
needed.  On  arri\  in^'  he  reported  himself  to  Thomas,  and  was  at 
once  ordered  to  the  i)oint  of  tlaiiji'er.  His  troops,  in  wliicli  was  the 
1  lotii  Illinois. altliouj;ii  new  recruits,  (•omprehendiii;;'  themomeiitoud 
issues  at  stake,  were  soon  breast  to  breast  with  the  veterans  of 
llindmaii,  now  ])ouriiiji'  through  the  gap  and  triumphantly 
shout iuji'.  In  20  minutes  the  j^or^e  was  carried  and  Thomas  was 
saved,  l)ut  l.OOO  of  our  brav('  men  had  been  killed  and  wounded 
in  the  (;har{;e.  Lonj^street,  the  rebel  Achilles  of  the  battle,  det(4'- 
mined  to  retake  it,  and  re[)eatedly  chariied  up  to  the  very  nin/zles 
of  our  guns,  double-shotted  with  gra])e  and  canister,  rinding 
at  length  this  ])oint  imi)regiiable,  Ibagfj  determined  to  improve 
thiMcmainder  of  the  day  in  a  tinal  assault  on  the  front  and  left. 
The  national  trooi)s,  having  exliausted  their  anmiunition,  waited 
in  the  gathering  gloom  of  twilight  with  lixed  bayoni^ts,  to  receive 
them.  When  within  striking  distance,  they  precipitated  them- 
selves on  the  enemy  with  sucli  vigor  as  not  only  to  rout  him  but 
cai>ture  some  -00  i>risoners. 

Itosi'crans,  having  informed  Thomas  to  use  his  own  judgement 
as  to  the  propriety  of  htnger  holding  his  position,  heconelnded  to 
fall  back  to  llossville — the  want  of  ammunition,  food,  and  watei 
being  the  prin(;ipal  inducements  for  the  change.  After  reaching 
this  place  a  new  line  was  formed  and  the  advance  of  the  enemy 
awaited.  Although  hovering  near,  he  had  been  too  severely  juiu- 
ished  to  renew  the  attack,  and  on  the  night  of  the  21st  Thomas 
fell  bark  to  Chattanooga,  liosecrans  estimated  his  losses  in 
the  bloody  conllict  at  30  pieces  of  artillery  and  1(J,()00  men  and 
claimed  the  cai)ture  of  2,000  prisoners.  Bragg  admitted  a  loss  of 
18,000  men  and  claimed  the  (tai)ture  of  51  guns  .'^nd  8,000  prison 
ers.  He  also  vauutingly  announced  a  gicat  victory,  yet  he  evi- 
dently either  lacked  tlie   ability  or  the  courage  to  improve   it. 


830 


IHSTOUY    OK    ILLINOIS. 


Tlioiiins  ()ll'ci('<l  liiiii  hiittlo  tlic  next  day,  mid  altlioii;;!!  oiitimm- 
Ix'iiiij;'  the  Icdciuls  two  to  one,  Ih^  (Ircliiu'd  it,  KiirtlH'niiorc,  if 
J'.ni,iij;'  hud  j;iiiii»'d  a  victoi'.v  its  IViiits  were  citiiliiicd  totiic  hiitllc- 
licld,  wiiilc,  Rosi'C'raiis  iiad  st'cmt'd  ('liattati()(»j;a.  tii(^  slralc^ic- 
objcct  of  the  viauipaijiii.  TIki  kc.v  to  tiic  nioiintain  systciu 
cMciidiiin' to  tlu'  heart  of  the  coiifcthTacv,  it  also  served  as  an 
iiiipn';;iial)U'  Itastioii  to  coiiimaiid  tiie  I'cbel  lines  of  coiaiiiiiiiica- 
tioii  w  lueli  traveised  its  ru,n<;ed  i)asses. 

Says  I'olhird:  "  Itosecaaiis  still  held  the  piize  of  Chattaiioo-'ii 
and  with  it  the  possession  of  East  Tennessee.  Two-thirds  of  our 
nitre  beds  were  in  that  re.uion  and  a  larjje  proportion  of  the  coal 
w  iueli  snpplied  onr  fonnderies.  It  al)onMded  in  the  necessaries  of 
life.  It  Was  one  of  the  stronj^'est  eonntries  in  the  world,  so  fidl  of 
lofly  iMonntains  that  it  has  l)eeii  called,  not  inaptly,  the  Switzer- 
land of  America.  As  the  possession  of  Switzerland  opened  tlio 
door  for  tiie  invasion  of  Italy,  (ierniiUiy  and  Franci',  .so  the  pos- 
sessi(»n  of  Kast  Tennessee  ji'ave  easy  access  to  Vir;;inia,  North 
Carolina,  (leor,i:ia  and  ^^labanni."' 

The  representatives  of  Illinois  in  the  bloody  conllict  were  the 
](ttli,  KJth,  ItMli,  lilst,  2L'd,  litth,  L'otii,  L'Tth,  .'iith,  ;j:)lh,  .'Kith,  .'JSth, 
4L'd,  44tli,  olst,  7;5d,  7-lth,  7.")th.  TSth,  Tilth.  SOtli,  Stth,  S.')tli,  S(ith, 
8.Srh,  .S'.Mh,  ILM.KSih,  lO(ltli,l()Hh.  1  Kith,  ll."")th,  lL'<jd,  lL'.')th  and 
iL'Tth.  Cols,  Chandler  and  Mihalotzy  and  a  loni;- list  of  others, 
were  anionji'  the  slain.  The  L'lst  lost  L'.W,  'Jld  L*.{5,  ."J-jtii  152,  3.Sth 
IS,  .■)lst'.IO,  and  Tilth  IL'I. 

Tin'  battle  of  Chicanianj;a  was  inade  the  sid>jeet  of  remark  both 
aihon<4  rebels  and  IJnioidsts.  Ilrajij;,  by  failin;;  to  take  ad\an- 
ta,n('  of  the  victory  which  he  so  |)om|>onsly  <'laimed,  completed  the 
overthi'ow  of  his  repntation,  whicii  had  been  totlerin.u'  since  the 
battle  ot  Stont!  liiver.  Kosecrans,  suffering' greatly  in  fame,  was 
Una  My  relieved  of  hi.s  command,  ami  Thomas,  whose  sniierior 
tijilitin^'  (inalities  had  saved  the  army  from  destruction,  was 
placed  ill  liis  stead. 

To  .secure  .greater  unity  of  desi^i'ii  and  co-operation. and  therel)y 
ji'ieater  efliciency,  the  .separate  armies  operating;'  in  the  region  of 
Chattaiiot)jia  were  jtlaced  under  the  coiiimand  of  Grant.  He  im- 
mediately teleiiiaphed  Thomas  to  liold  Clnittanooj^a  at  all  liaz- 
ard.s,  and  recteived  in  rejdy  assurances  that  starvation  was  the 
only  eoiitinj;ency  that  could  lead  to  its  abandonineiit.  Had  ho 
been  force(l  to  relimpiish  it, all  its  possession  had  cost  would  have 
been  thrown  away,  and  the  struj^gle  for  a.seendancy  in  the  valley 
of  the  ]Mississii)pi  again  to  re-eiiaitt.  To  prevent  such  a  disaster 
(Jraiit  immediately  eommeiiced  preparations  to  forward  .supplies 
and  leinforceiiients.  On  the  22d  day  of  September,  Sbermaii, 
then  on  liig  IJhu^k  river,  was  notilied  by  a  dispatch  to  send  over 
one  of  his  divisions,  and  the  next  day  Osterbaus  was  steaming  up 
the  Mississipi>i  v/ii  the  way  to  Chattanooga.  Four  days  after,  in 
jiccordancewith  further  instructions,  Sherman  and  bis  entire  corps 
embarked  in  steamboats  and  started  for  the  same  place.  At  Mein- 
]>liis  he  commenced  the  repair  of  the  ]\[emi>his  and  Charleston  14. 
li.,  with  the  design  of  using  it  for  the  conveyance  of  his  supplies 
as  he  advanced,  ^^■hile  vigorously  engaged  in  pushing  forward 
this  enterpri.se  directly  in  the  face  of  tlie  eiieiny,  he  was  ordered 
to  abandon  it  and  jiroceed  directly  forward  to  effect  a  junction 
with  the  other  forces  at  Cbattaiioogii. 


TUK  WAR  OF  TIIK  UKBELLION. 


.s;5L 


Tli(i  partial  i«'\cisi'  at  ( Miicamaii^ia  also  iiidiu't'd  Ilallcck  f<»  dc- 
tacii  two  divisions  IVoni  tli«>  ariiiv  ol'  tiic  I'oloiiiac  and  snid  tliciii 
under  Hooker  to  operate  in  tiic  same  Held.  (Irant  liiniself  arrived 
on  the  L'.'td  of  ()elol)ei',  and  seeinu'  t'"'  l»reearioiis  eondifioii  of 
8ni»plies,  instituted  nn'asiires  to  plact^  tlieni  hevoiid  the  rca<'ii  of 
future  contin^fucies.  Ilotli  troo|»s  ami  animals  were  already 
sntVerin;;' for  the  want  of  j)ro\isions  which  had  been  hroujilit  in 
waji'ons  (»ver  tlie  nuineious  mountain  ridges  sepaiatiuji:' ( 'hat  ta- 
nooj;a  from  Middle  Tennessee.  I'.ra.i;;;',  awaiethal  he  eoidd  neither 
think  nor  earry  l>y  storm  the  stronj;iiold  whieii  he  had  so  reeently 
lost,  wa,sendeavorin<;toy:etitossessionof  the  ri\ci'  and  theraiiroads 
leailiiiii'  to  it  with  the  intention  of  starving'  onr  aiiny  out  of   it. 

Foi'  the  two-fold  pur^iose  of  ohtainin;^'  relief  and  facilitatini;  the 
operations  of  Hooker,  who  was  api)roae,liinj;'  the  eity  hy  way  of 
Lookout  valley,  (ii-aiit  delei'mined  to  seize  the  heiuhts  on  tlio 
west  side  where  it  connects  with  the  Tennessee.  After  a  recon- 
uoisance,  1,."»(M>  picked  troops  under  Ilazen  were  sent  in  ))ontoon.s 
down  the  river  to  Jlrown's  feriy  adjacent  tln^  heij^hts.  wliile  a  co- 
operatin<; force  of  L'.oOO  secretely  followed  on  the  north  hank  of 
the  river.  The  i»ontoons  cairyinji  the  advance  paity  noiselessly 
Hoaled  down  the  stream  to  the  point  chosen  for  deliarkalion. 
Here  a  picket  alai'ui  aroused  the  nei}ild)orin<>- camps  of  the  enemy 
and  I  [a/en's  men  Jumped  (pii(;kly  ashore  and  formed  to  repel  an 
atta(;k.  The  former,  wl.olly  taken  by  surprise,  after  a  feeble  re- 
sistance retreated  up  the  valley,  and  the  siauson  the  east  sidi^  of 
it  were  seized  and  fortilied.  The  pontoons  were  next  employed 
to  ]»ass  over  the  force  on  the  ojjposite  side,  and  at  davli;:lit  the 
liei.ii'lits,  which  '^aw  (irant  the  key  to  Braji'n's  position,  were  made 
imprej^nable.  Durinji'  the  day  Hooker  came  down  the  valley, 
and  havin,i>'  disiiersed  the  rebel  forces  on  the  river  below,  it  was 
opened  to  navigation  and  all  fears  of  starvation  removed.  A 
bridine  was  thrown  across  the  river  opposite,  and  should  J>ia<;<]f 
nniss  his  forces  either  against  Hooker  or  Chattanooga,  we  now 
bad  the  shorter  line  of  concentration. 


Battle  of  Wauhatchie. — The  rebels,  alarmed  at  the  denninstra- 
tions  in  Lookout  valley,  determined,  on  the  night  of  the  L'Stli  of 
October,  to  interpose  a  connteracting  inovenu'ut.  Bragg,  unable 
to  cope  with  Hooker's  iMitire  corps,  made  an  assault  on  deary's 
division  encamped  at  Wauhatchie,  the  point  where  he  had  I'tfect- 
ed  an  entrance  into  Lookout  valley.  About  midnight  they  rushed 
forward  with  loud  yells  and  great  impetuosity,  but  found  their 
antagonists  wide  awake  and  ready  to  receive  them  with  a  lire 
tierce  and  deadlier  than  their  own.  Hooker,  hearing  the  rej^ort 
of  guns,  and  anxious  for  the  safety  of  Geary,  immediately  sent 
forward  Schurz's  division  of  Howard's  corps  to  his  aid.  As  the 
force  rai)idly  nnirched  forward  in  the  moonlight  they  wen;  sud- 
denly and  unexpectedly  fired  upon  by  2,000  rebels  posted  on  an 
adjoining  hill.  One  of  brigades  moved  on  to  the  assistance  of 
Geary  while  the  other  halted  to  charge  the  heights.  The  latter, 
imnuHliately  scaling"  the  steep  acclivity  with  fixed  bayonets. clear- 
ed the  ritie  pits  on  its  suinmit.  In  the  meantime  the  wild  hills 
wdiich  girt  Geary  about  were  ablaze  with  Hashes  of  musketry  and 
exploding  shells.     Although  several  times  nearly  overwhelmed, 


832 


IIISTOUY   OF   ILLINOIS. 


lie  clunu:  to  liis  position  iind  iit  Iciifilli  tnrccd  his  jiHsiiiliiiils  biick 
aiMl  roiiipcllcd  tiit'iii  to  seek  rt'l'ii^tr  in  tln-ii' woiUs  on  Lookout, 
]\loiiiil:iin. 

'I'lic  lOlst  Illinois  was   iinion^tlic  heroes  ot'tlio  biittlc,  and  nni- 
teiiallv  aided  in  the  enemy's  overthrow. 


Iltilllf  of  Lookout  Mountain. —  lliaji;^',  weakened  by  <Ieta('hinj>" 
Loii^istreet's  corps  to  operate  a/^ainst  IJnrnside  at  Knoxville,  now 
conclndcd  to  remain  in  his  trenches  and  act  on  the  del'ensive.  Mis 
jxisilion  stretched  across  the  valley  of  Chattanooga,  and  hiL:'li  oil 
the  western  and  lUM'thern  slopes  of  Lookout  and  Mission  KidjiO 
■was  one  of  fi'reat  natural  sirenjith.  The  \ali«'y  here  is  narr(»\v  and 
was  so  enliladed  by  hatteiies  planteil  on  the  sides  of  the  ad- 
jacent nn>untaiiis  as  to  render  it  wholly  impi(';;iial»le  to  a  direct 
assault.  1  looker,  holding'  the  valley  of  Lookout,  confronted  the 
enemy  on  the  adjacent  mountain.  Thomas  occupied  a  (central  po- 
sition in  the  valley  of  ('hattanooj^a  in  the  front  of  the  city,  and 
Sherman  was  ordered  to  seize  t Ik;  northern  extremity  of  Alissioii 
liidjic.  With  the  b'ith  army  <torps  he  moved  fi'om  lliid^cportand 
on  enterinj;'  liOokout  valley,  dispatched  Kwinji's  division  up  it  to 
threaten  l)ra^-,n'b  extreme  left  and  thus  divert  attention  from 
his  riuht,  wherelie  was  ordered  to  operate.  AVith  the.  remainder  of 
his  force  hecrossed  tin;  bridge  at  Hrawn's  ferry,  and,  pro(!cediii<;' 
unol»serve(l  alon<>'  the  north  bank  of  the  river,  he  recrossed  it 
lu'ar  the  mouth  of  the  ()liicamau<;a  ami  seized  the  position  assi/^ii- 
ed  him  before  the  rebels  had  time  to  interposes  any  serious  op[)o- 
sition.  JOwin;i's  division  was  now  ordered  back  to  rejoin  Sher- 
man, but  the  bridge  haviiijj;  given  away,  he  returned  and  fought 
under  Hooker. 

The  latter  in  tlie  meantime  climbing  the  precipitous  steeiis  of 
Lookout,  had  planted  his  veteran  standards  high  on  its  clond- 
cajiped  summit.  To  favor  Sherman's  movement  lie  had  been  di- 
rected to  threaten  the  enemy.  With  this  object  in  view,  on  the 
morning  of  the  L*4th  his  forces  were  in  motion,  but  the  rain  of  the 
previous  days  had  swollen  Lookout  creek  and  swept  away  the 
]M)ntooiis  prepared  for  crossing  it.  While  rebuilding  the  bridge 
Geary  was  ordered  to  move  up  the  valley  and  cross  at  a  more 
available  point.  Favored  by  a  heavy  mist  the  force  unobserved 
crossed  the  creek  and  secured  a  lodgment  on  its  western  bank. 
By  11  o'clock  tlie  bridge  was  com])leted,  and  the  force  augmented 
to  some  1),()0()  men,  swept  down  between  the  creek  and  the  moini- 
taiii,  carried  the  ritlei)its  at  its  base  and  captured  a  large  number 
of  prisoiier.s.  Next  commenced  the  fearful  ascent  of  the  mouii- 
tain,  our  men  enthusiastically  climbing  over  splintered  crests  and 
yawning  chasms,  directly  under  the  muzzles  of  the  enemy's  bat- 
teries. Soon  the  Hashes  and  thunderpeals  resembling  the  crash 
of  heaven's  artillery,  announced  the  storm  of  war  raging  in  the 
clouds  above.  Wlien  the  dense  masses  of  fog  that  liad  become 
banked  againstthe  side  of  the  mountain  rolled  away,  and  the  splen- 
did jiageantry  of  battle  burst  on  the  vision  of  the  thousands  who  had 
been  shrouded  iu  the  mist-clouded  valleys  below,  charging 
squadrons,  shouting  multitudes  and  clashing  arms  appeared  liigh 
abc-.e  them,  as  if  the  gods,  having  espoused  the  cause  of  the  con- 
tending armies  were  warring  to  decide  their  fate;.  Our  columns, 
flushed  bysuccess,iu  the  faceof  a  plunging  lire  of  heavy  ordnance. 


TIIK  WAR  OF  TlIK  REUELLION.  833 


lUHlicd  on  the  I'oc  ciiptiiriiij;  niuii,\  jh'Isoimts  jiikI  liuilinj;  llic  lo- 
liiiiimlrr  of  liis  loiccs  down  the  piicipilous  castt'in  (U'clivil.v  of 
tin- iMoimtiiin.  TluM'.ntin^  m my  witli  iilinost  iiainfiil  fxcitcnifut 
liavinn'  witnessed  tlit'snltliiiM'  scents,  rcspondetl  witli  loud  acrliiini 
to  tlie  hIioiU  wliich  rose  IVoni  tlie  «ron*|uei'in}{  eolunins,  till  the  wild 
mountain  «4()r},n's  liecanie  vocal  witli  tlic  echoes  and  seemed  to  par- 
tsike  of  the  rejoiein|^. 

'i'lie  Illinois  re;;iments  in  and  otherwise  connected  mIiIi  tin' bat- 
tle were  the  iL'th,  ;Uth,  ;r>th,  o'Jth,  (JOth,  73d,  Tilth,  lOlstand  lir)th. 

Battle  of  MisNion  liulin: — tSherman,  after  liaving  ;;aini'd  a  foot- 
hold on  Mission  J{id;;e,  irni>roved  the  succeedinjj  nij;lit  in  fortiiy- 
in;^  ills  position,  and  was  ready  on  the  niorninj;()f  the-.")tli  to  m(»vo 
a;;ainst  the  enemy.  The  i'id;;e  he  oecni)ii'd  was  not  continnon-s 
but  a  succession  of  eminen<;es.  A  <leep  <;ap  lay  between  liini  and 
the  elevation  on  which  the  enemy  was  posted,  and  shonld  he  j;et 
jjossession  of  this,  there  was  still  a  second  higher  and  fartlier 
back  whose  guns  commanded  it.  At  early  dawn  (Jen.M.  L.  Smith 
Mas  directed  to  move  along  the  east  base  of  the  ridge,  C'ol.  Loonns 
the  west  base  and  (len.C'Orse  with  the  lOth  Illinois,  supported  by 
the  UOth  and  4()tli  Ohio,  along  the  cn'st.  The  latter  advanced  to 
within  80  yards  of  the  enemy's  works  where  he  gained  a  secoiul- 
ary  crest  and  commenced  an  assault,  but  was  unabh^  to 
cany  the  works  of  the  rebels,  and  they  nimble  to  drive  him 
from  his  position.  Smith  and  Loonns  were  however  gaining 
on  each  tlank,  and  Jbagg  nuissing  his  for<!es  to  protect  the 
most  vulnerable  ])oints  of  hisi)osition,  the  battle  raged  with  con- 
stantly increasing  fury.  From  every  salient  point  and  ])roJecting 
(spur,  batteries  tlamed  an<l  thundered,  wrappingthe  combatants  in  a 
cloud  of  smoke.  As  the  day  wore  away  this  fearful  pounding  was 
continued  without  intermission  and  without  either  belligerant  gain- 
ing any  decided  advantage.  Grant  nu^unvhile  had  been  listening  to 
the  stern  work  in  which  his  favorite  lieutenant  was  engaged,  and 
anxiously  waiting  for  the  time  to  come  when  he  could  relieve  him 
by  a  move  on  the  centre.  At  length,  when  Bragg  had  weakened 
this  part  of  his  line  to  su])port  his  right,  and  Hooker  had  come 
down  from  the  heights  of  Lookout  without  a  co-operating  force, 
Thomas  was  ordered  to  advancie. 

That  portion  of  liragg's  position  which  he  was  uow  to  assail  lay 
on  a  bald  rugged  height  of  Mission  Itidge,  800  feet  above  Chatta- 
nooga. A  line  of  ritle  pits  protected  its  base,  while  on  its  summit 
were  batteries  which  had  achieved  fame  in  previous  battles  support- 
ed by  veteran  regiments.  As  soon  as  the  command  was  given 
Wood's,  Baird's  and  Johnson's  divisions  under  Granger,  immedi- 
diately  started  rapidly  forward.  So  openly  and  deliberately  was 
the  movement  that  the  enemy  regarded  it  as  a  review,  and  those 
in  the  rifle  pits,  surprised,  fled  precipitately  up  the  mountain  as 
the  assaulting  columns  approached.  The  rebels  greatly  astonished 
at  the  attack  made  at  the  base  of  the  mountain  wei'e  more  so  when 
theybeheldthe  national  troops  climbing  its  precipitous  sides  to  assail 
them  on  its  summit.  Nearly  30  pieces  of  artillery  commenced  hurling 
at  them  grape  and  canister  to  dispute  the  ascentyet  the  works  were 
carried  simultaneously  at  six  different  points.  A  shout  made  known 
the  result,  and  soldiers  clinging  to  steeps  and  spurs  and  deep  in 
the  vallev  below,  answered  with  a  loud  response.  Bragg,  seeing 
63 


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834 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


all  was  lost,  coiniiienccd  Avitlidiinviiifi',  iiloscly  followed  till  iii<ilit- 
t'all,  \vlii(;h  put  ail  end  to  fuither  movciiiciits.  The  next  day  tlio 
pursuit  was  eontiniied  and  the  eneniy  o\ertaken  in  a  ,i;ap  of  the 
niountaiiis  near  Kinj^jiold.  Here  he  made  a  stul)l»orn  resistanee 
but  was  tinally  forced  from  his  stroiii;'  position,  the  loth  Illinois 
bearinj;'  an  honorable  part  in  the  tight. 

The  Illinois  rejiiments  in  the  majinilieent  eharfres  of  ]\nssioii 
Eidj^e  and  tlie  co-operative  struggles,  were  the  iLMli,  the  IDth,  2l'd, 
2Gth,  L'7tli,3ath,  ■iL'd,  44th,  4.Stli,  olst,  i5!>th,  G;{(l,  7;5d,  TiUli,  SOth, 
S4th,  8(!th,  8>Sth,  HOtli,  {>3d,  104tli  and  115th.  The  liOth  lost  101 
men,  the  4lid,  45  and  the  51st,  3(h  They  were  lirst  in  kSheiiiuin'.s 
and  tirst  in  Thomas'  advance,  and  first  to  surmount  the  battery 
crowned  crests  of  the  ridge. 

Considering  Bragg's  almost  iinpre;;]iable  position  on  the  snm- 
niits  of  the  mountains  and  the  daring  a, id  skillful  generalshij)  used 
in  wresting  it  from  his  grasp,  the  battles  in  the  \  ieinity  of  Chatta- 
nooga must  be  regarded  among  the  most  reiuarkabie  on  record. 
Though  outnumbered  toward  the  close  of  the  campaign,  the  lofty 
eyry  in  which  he  had  perched  his  forces  gave  him  de(!idedly  the 
advantage.  Failing  to  hold  it  the  passes  which  it  overlooked  and 
commanded  now  became  salient  i)oints  for  the  farther  advaiute 
of  the  national  armies,  and  Chattanooga  became  henceforth  as  ser- 
viceable in  the  cause  of  the  Union  as  it  had  hitherto  been  defuint 
to  loyalty.  The  Union  loss  in  tlie  series  of  engagements,  termi- 
nating in  this  auspicious  result,  was  reported  5,(i0();  that  of  the 
enemy  in  killed  and  Avouuded  at -J,500  ;  prisoners  G,000;  artillery 
40  guns. 

Siege  and  Relief  of  Knoxville. — The  sequence  of  the  campaign 
was  the  relief  of  Burnside  at  Knoxville.  While  in  command  of 
tlie  department  of  the  Ohio  before  it  had  been  merged  into  that  of 
the  Mississippi  and  Grant  assumed  command,  Burnside  under- 
took an  expedition  into  East  Tennessee  to  relieve  the  loyal  inhabi- 
tants. The  iieople  of  this  region  had  been  devotedly  attached  to  the 
Union  and  as  aconsequencehad  suffered  terribly  from  conscription 
persecution  and  spoliation.  The  dungeon,  bullet  and  halter,  nsed  to 
crush  out  their  loyalty, had  only  served  to  intensify  it,  and  Burnside 
was  Avelcomed  among  them  with  every  expression  of  de- 
light. He  immediately  took  possession  of  Knoxville,  and  shortly 
after  the  battle  of  Chicamanga  Longstreet  was  sent  Avith  an  army 
of  20,000  to  crush  him  before  he  could  be  reinforced. 

After  severe  fighting  the  city  was  closely  environed  and  prepa- 
rations matle  to  carry  it  by  storm.  The  garrison,  consisting  in 
part  of  the  (JSth  and  112th  Illinois,  entertained  no  doubt  of  their 
ability  to  defend  themselves,  but  their  sui)plies  wei'e  nearly  ex- 
hausted and  the  danger  of  starvation  compelling  a  surrender  was 
iminent.  Messengers  had  informed  Grant  of  their  destitution 
and  as  soon  as  i\\Q  fate  of  Chattanooga  was  decided  Granger  was 
ordered  to  Knoxville  svith  a  relieving  force.  Grant,  however, 
on  finding  his  command  inadequate,  substituted  Sherman's, 
containing  the  27th,  44th,  48th,  GOth  and  80th  Illinois,  although  it 
was  imposing  a  severe  task  on  his  brave  but  exhausted  men. 
Leaving  their  surplus  clothing  behind  to  angment  their  speed, 
they  had  mar(!he<l  by  land  trom  Memphis,  fought  their  way 
through  the  battles  of  Chattanooga,  and  now,  without  a  moment's 


THE  WAR  OP  THE  REBELLION. 


835 

SimV  .^"/i.;?^''^  r"^''^"^  "l'I^^«^^^J~fo^the  altered  t^ 
J  ei.itiue  of  the  advanced  season-witliout  a  word  of  (•oiiii.hiint 
tliey  eheerfully  set  out  the  nifflit  after  the  order  was  issued  dbv 
morn.ng  they  had  made  15  miles,  a..d  at  ni«htoftlu3  s  ,Si  d'W 
20  more,  though  the  rebels  had'delayed  their  ad  inccX  t^n  " ^ 
bridges  and  otherwise  iiiterposin-  obstacles  ^  umumg 

Lo.iffstreet  had  entertained  hopes  that  starvation  wonid  induce 

;'f,:^  f  "  **'^'*'  Y'^'^  *ioinni-  determined,  on  the  2<)th  of  No- 
M^ mber,  to  carry  the  place  by  storm.  A  storining  column  aceoid- 
11  gly  "/'-^^l^  1  «  ;JPI>o^ir<;ii.ce,  and  for  hours  a  deadl ^truS  ensue 
M  re  than  1,000  m  kdled  and  woun.led  was  the  cost  ..f  tl  e  is^  1  ' 
but  the  lort  was  not  taken.  Sherman,  fearing  the  ganisorm  ht 
despair  oi  success,  when  his  anny  was  .vithin  40  nd  is  o  1 "  \)e- 
leagured  place,  sent  forward  a  biigaxle  of  his  fleetest  civalrv  to 
announce  h,s  connng.  The  clatteiM.f  their  h(>oft  were  leanl  on 
the  n.ght  ot  the  Jd  of  December,  and  the  beseiged  armv  w  h  in 
expvess. ble  del.ght  received  the  A^elcon.e  intelligenU  %ie  irch 
was  .K)nt.nued  till  the  night  of  the  5th,  when  L^\vat  received 

Shi^lsSii:^^^^^^ 


''Tf 


18(14— ILLINOIS    IN 


Chapter  LXIIL 

THE    ATLANTA 
CAMPAIGNS. 


AND   NASHVILLE 


Battles  of  Focly  Face  Mountain,  Eesaca,  New  Hope  Church,  Peach 
Tree  Creel:,  Atlanta,  Jonesboro\  Alutoona,  iSpring  Hill,  Franlxlin 
and  Nashville. 


'%■' 


(xrant,  tlie  former  colonel  of  the  21st  Illinois,  bad  now  fully 
■won  the  confidence  of  the  i)eoi)le,  and  congress  reviving  the  grade 
of  lieutenant-general  on  the  2d  of  March,  18G4,  he  was  connnis- 
sioiied  as  tiio  gcnerulissimo  of  the  nation's  armies.  For  a  long 
time  there  had  existed  a  feeling  of  dissatisfaction  in  regard  to  the 
want  of  concert  in  the  movements  of  the  armies  in  the  eavSt  and 
west.  It  was  to(»  frequently  the  case  when  a  success  occurred  in 
one  i)art  of  the  field  the  enemy  was  ])crmitted  to  send  a  relieving 
force  from  another,  and  thus  neuti  dize  the  ettect  of  victory. 
"Whether  this  was  the  fault  of  Halleck  or  not,  public  o])inion  re- 
quired a  new  liciul  for  the  army,  and  (Ti'.uit  whose  fitness  was 
wisely  estimated  l)y  his  past  successes,  was  raised  to  the  high  po- 
sition which  only  Washington  before  him  had  filled. 

If  the  task  befoie  him  was  not  more  diflicult  than  that  of  his 
predecessor,  the  field  of  his  operations  was  far  more  extensive. 
"Never  bef»)re  had  one  command'jr  surveyed  such  a  vast  field  of 
operations  and  looked  over  such  a  mighiy  array  subject  to  his  sin- 
gle control.  From  the  Potomac  xO  the  liio  Grande,  for  5,()(t0  miles 
arose  the  smoke  of  camj)  fires,  and  the  shouts  of  embattled  hosts, 
evoking  his  leadership.  To  aicl  him  in  the  gigantic  task  before  him 
600  vessels  lined  the  rivers  and  darkened  coasts  for  2,500  nnles, 
while  4,000  guns  lay  ready  to  send  their  stern  summons  into  rebel 
defenses.* 

As  a  conseijuence  of  Grant's  promotion,  Shernmn  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  department  of  the  Mississii»pi,  com- 
prising the  arnnes  of  the  ('umbeilnnd,  Tennessee  and  Ohio.  The 
army  of  the  Cuml)eiiand,  consisting  of  the  4th,  14th  and  20th 
Cori)s,  was  commanded  by  Thonms;  the  4th  corps  by  Howard;  and 
its  divisions  by  Stanley,  Newton  and  Wood,  the  14th  by  Palmer, 
and  its  divisions  by  Davis,  Joiinson  and  Baired;  the  20tii  cori)s 
by  Hooker,  and  its  divisions  by  Williams  and  IJutterlield. 
The  army  of  the  Tennessee,  consisting  of  the  loth  corps  and  por- 
tions of  the  10th  ami  1  Tth,  was  UTider  McPlierson;  the  loth  corps 
•was  uTider  Logan  and  its  divisions  under  'M.  L.  Snnth,  J.  F.  Smith, 


Heiidlc 


830 


THE  WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION.  837 

Ostcrluuis  and  Harrow;  the  IGth  corps  under  Dodge  and  its  divis- 
ions nnder  liaiisoni,  Corse  and  Sweeney;  tlie  17th  corps  unih^r 
lilair,  and  its  divisions  undei  (J.  K.  Woods  and  Lcgyet.  The  army 
of  tlie  Ohio  was  under  the  leadersliip  of  Scliotiehl. 

Tlie  (*avah',y  consisted  of  Kilpatrick's  and  Garrards'  divisions  of 
the  army  of  tlie  Cuniberhmd,  E.  JMcCoolv's  brij;a(h^  of  tlie  army  of 
the  Tennessee  and  McCook's  division  of  the  army  of  the  Ohio. 

Sherman,  the  central  figure  of  the  dranui  now  about  to  be 
enacted  iu  Georgia,  had  by  great  energy  and  skillful  generalship 
a('(|nired  a  prestige  of  great  value  and  assistance  in  playing  the 
ditili(ndt  role  that  fell  to  his  lot.  He  had  wou  high  scholastic  hon- 
ors in  the  military  curriculum  of  West  Point.  As  the  conunander 
of  a  brigade  at  IjuU  linn  he  exhibited  noticeable  soldierly  skill; 
at  Sliiloli,  as  the  head  of  a  raw  division,  both  Grant  and  Ilalleck 
declared  that  they  were  indebted  to  him  for  the  success  of  the 
battle;  and  finally,  in  the  well  earned  plaudits  as  the  commander 
of  a  corps  in  the  recent  battle  of  Chattanooga,  other  laurels 
Aven'  won  and  his  present  pronuttion  secured.  His  i)rincipal  sub- 
ordinate officers  were  men  of  repute,  generals  whom  the  stem 
ordeal  of  war  had  tried  and  proved  to  possess  a  high  order  of  mil- 
itaiy  talent. 

Grant,  before  repairing  to  his  new  field  of  labor,  had  a  long  in- 
terview with  Sherman,  in  which  the  plans  of  the  cam}»aigiis  it  was 
l>roi»osed  to  institute  against  Richmond  and  Atlanta  were  fully 
discnssed.  It  was  dct4(led  to  simultaneously  move  from  the  liapi- 
dan  and  Tennessee,  with  two  great  armies  southward,  and  so  vig- 
orously press  the  confederate  forces  both  east  and  west  that  re- 
lieving parties  could  not  be  sent  from  one  departmeut  to  another. 
It  was  also  settled  that  the  cami)aigns  should  comnu'nce  about 
the  first  of  May,  and  Sherman  acciu'dingly  set  out  from  his  winter 
quarters  around  (jhattanooga,  with  an  army  of  near  100,000  meu 
and  L',j4  guns. 

Johnson,  who  assumed  command  after  Bragg's  ill-starred  cam- 
paign, confronted  him  with  an  army  of  some  (iO,000  men,  consist- 
ing of  3  corps  under  Polk,  Hardee,  and  Hood.  To  compensate 
for  his  want  of  numbers  he  had  selected  and  fortified  his  position, 
and  the  national  army,  as  it  followed  him  into  Georgia,  was  forced 
to  kcej)  open  a  long  line  of  communications,  which  greatly  re- 
duced the  number  of  men  available  for  the  field.  His  army  liiy 
at  Dalton,  so  strongly  fortified  that  an  at<^ack  in  front  was  impos- 
sible.  Barring  his  approaches  in  this  direction  was  Bocky  l-'ace 
Jlounfain,  here  cloven  by  Mill  Creek,  on  the  banks  of  which  the 
railroad  found  a  passage  to  the  town.  This  narrow  defile,  the  only 
g;ite\viiy  to  the  rebel  position,  was  artificially  tiooded  and  swept  by 
artillery  placed  on  its  rocky  a})aulments,  wlide  inaccessible  spurs, 
frowning  with  batteries  proteclod  his  tiauks. 

litttUe  of  Rocky  Face  Mountain. — Sherman  now  commenced  that 
series  of  nunements  which  won  for  him  the  appellation  o.'"  the  "Great 
rlankei',"  and  by  which  he  jiroposed  to  turn  Johnson's  <'raggy  cita- 
del and  com])!'!  him  to  tight  outside  <»f  its  im])regnable  fjistnesses. 
Besiica  is  situated  IS  miles  farther  southward  on  the  railroad,  and 
for  this  j)urpose  .MclMierson  was  sent  on  a  westward  detour 
throngh  Ship  and  Siial.c  (i;ii»s  to  cut  off  the  conlederare  comnni- 
nicationsat  ihat  j>oint.     To  cover  this  movement  Ihonuis  eutered 


838  HISTOUY   OF    ILLINOIS. 

tln'  Mill  t'lccl'  (lai>,  and  on  llic  Stli  and  1ttli(»t'  May,  ISOi,  made  a 
bold  pusii  lor  tlie  sunnnit  of  tlic  mountain,  the  iL'd,  41tli,  ~>\s\, 
G!»th,  TDtli,  S.Stli,  SOtli  and  lOTtli  Illinois,  lijilitinj;'  with  jiifat  deter- 
mination, bnt  without  dislodjiin^'  the  enemy.  His  attention  was, 
liowever,  diverted  from  Mcl'hcr.son,  who  annu)lested  arrived  wiliiiu 
a  tew  miles  of  Kcsacsi. 

Battle  of  liesaca. — A  recoiinoisaiifio,  lH)wever,  showed  that  the 
town  was  too  strong;- to  he  carried,  .lohnson  havint;' provided  Ibr 
su('h  eontin<i('ney  l>y  sendiu'''  thither  troops  at  the  first  intimation 
of  (hinj^cr.  It  was  designed  not  only  to  unike  the  enemy  retreat 
southward  by  g-ettinj^'  on  his  basc^  of  supplies,  but  to  iiave  Mc- 
IMierson  strike  him  on  the  llaidi  and  the  rest  of  tin;  army  in  tiio 
rear  after  lie  had  been  dislod^icd  from  his  i>osition.  ^IcI'herson 
beinj>'  unable  to  aeeomplish  hispai't  of  the  j)ro<:rafnme,  all  the  re- 
maining' foi'ces,  with  the  exception  of  Howard's  eorjjs,  which  was 
left  to  watch  Dalton,  were  sent  to  his  aid,  and  ,b)hnson,  seeing  his 
position  was  no  longer  tenable,  siuldenly  evacuated  it  ancl  fell 
back  to  l\esaca.  Sherman  linding  him  strongly  ibrtilied,  deter- 
mined to  institute  another  think  movement,  and  turn  him  out  of  it. 
For  this  pur]K)se  on  thelltli  he  I'ontooned  the  Ostenaula,  which 
crosses  tlie  railroad  south  of  Kes  ica,  and  on  the  Jijtli  Sweeney's 
division  and  a  force  of  <-avalry  weic  sent  to  break  the  railroad  bc- 
liin<l  Calhoun  and  Kingston.  Simultaneously,  McJMierson's, 
Thomas'  and  Sehoiield's  forces  assaulted  the  right  and  centre  of 
the  rebel  line.  The  former  diiving  Polk  trom  his  i)osition.  jdanted 
his  artillei'y  on  coninuinding  heights,  and  swept  the  confeih'rate 
bridge  over  the  river,  while  Sweeney,  unmolested,  crossed  faither 
down  the  stream.  The  crossing  of  the  stream,  as  is  usually  the 
case  in  exposed  situations,  was  attended  w  ith  a  number  of  bril- 
liant incidents.  A«  Dodge's  corps  moved  u[)  to  Lay's  ferry  a 
heavy  lire  was  opened  upon  them  from  the  opposite  bank  to  pre- 
vent its  crossing'.  Six  companies  of  the  (Kitli  Illinois  and  Nlst 
Ohio  were  sent  across  in  pontoons  to  dislodge  them,  during  wliich 
a  storm  -^f  bullets  was  encountered,  top]»iing  many  of  tiiem  oxer 
into  the  water,  and  ruefully  singing  their  re(piienis  as  they  disap- 
peantd  beneatli  the  waves.  Undaunted  by  the  loss  of  their  com- 
rades, they  gained  the  shore,  and  charging  uf)  the  bank,  soon 
drove  the  enemy  from  his  position.  The  next  day  and  succeeding 
night  the  fight  was  renewed.  Hooker,  (lri\ingtlie  enemy  from 
several  points,  cai>tured  4  of  his  guns  and  a  large  number  of  pris- 
oners. A  short  time  aftt-r  nudnight  the  enemy  gave  way  and  re- 
treated across  the  Ostenaula,  leaving  liesaca  the  prize  of  tlie  in- 
vading army.  In  the  several  engagements  our  loss  amounted  to 
some  r),0()b,  that  of  the  confederates  being  much  less,  as  they 
fought  behind  breastworks. 

The  lllin(»is  regiments  present  uere  the  27tii,  42d,  44th.  4Sth, 
51st,  olM,  ."i'.tth,  tlOth,  (Uth,  Toth,  SOth,  84th,  Htltli,  88th,  S'lth,  JU'd, 
98th,  lOlst,  lOLM,  l()4th,  lO.'jth,  lOTth,  lllth,  112th,  lloth  and 
127tli.  Outnumbering  the  troops  of  any  other  single  State,  th«^ 
victory  was  largely  an  Illinois  triumi>h.  On  one  occasion  our  men 
had  been  ordered  back,  which  evoked  exultant  shouts  from  the 
enemy,  who  sup[)osed  we  were  repulsed.  The  color-bearer  of  the 
lliTth  Illinois,  becondng  exasperated,  and,  ri'gardless  of  danger, 
returned  to  au  embrasure  and  delnintly  Haunted  his  standard  in 


.  ■:<'£  ■     ■ 


TnK  WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION.  .S'59 

the  lace  orilic  iisloiiislu'd  ciu'iiir.  His  lil'c  Wiistlii^  forcit  of  his  tc- 
iiiciily,  lur  hit  and  others  ut'lcr  him  wlio  alleiiii)te(l  to  talvc  up  the 
colors  were  shot. 

Battle  of  Xcn-  Hope  Church. — The  main  body  of  the  army  now 
moved  afler  tlie  vclreatiii^' enemy,  wiiiie  Davis'  division,  lollowinjj 
tli('  Oslenaida  to  liome,  capture*!  S  iieavy  |>ieees  of  aitillery  and 
desti'oyed  roiiin;^'  miiis  and  fonndriesof  .yreat  valuta  totiie  enemy. 
At  Adaii's\  iljc  and  Kinjiston.  dolinson  lield  stronj;  positions,  hat, 
alter  a  siiar|»  l)nisii  witli  the  piirsiiin;:'  army,  in  wiiieh  tiie  tL'd, 
4itli,  olHi',  S(»th,  SUh  and  SSth  Illinois  heeame  enjiiijicd,  he  aban- 
doned tliem  and  occupied  Alloona,  a  ]>lace  sti'otij;' by  nature  and 
more  so  by  ait.  iJy -lolinson's  last  mo\<'ment,  tin;  valley  of  the 
Etowah  was  abandoned  to  Sherman,  who  now  bcf^an  to  think  it 
was  the  intention  ol"  ids  adversai'y  to  draw  the  I'nion  army  far 
into  the  interior  before  risking'  a  ^^'cneral  en^ancment.  lie  never- 
theless accepted  tlie  issue,  and  det<'iinined  to  make  another  at- 
tempt to  draw  him  out  of  his  entrenchments  for  the  purpose  of 
lijilit  in,n' him  on  open  .li'round.  Accoi'diiijily,  with  sui»|)lies  foi'liO 
days,  on  the  L'Otli  of  .May,  1h'  set  out  with  tiie  army  on  a  westward 
deloui'  to  Dallas,  intendinji',  afte<-  arrivinji'  thither,  to  seize  and  de- 
stroy the.  railroad  west  of  the  town.  .Foimson  quickly  divined 
the  (d»jeet of  the  movenu'Ut,  and  Hooker,  in  oui"  van,  encountered 
Ji  stubborn  I'esistance  at  New  IIojki  church,  in  the  vicinity  of  Dal- 
las. Alloona  had  been  evacuated  and  the  rebel  ai'iny  was  stretch- 
ed fi'om  Dallas  to  Marietta  on  the  I'aili'oad.  fn  •  rujiji'ed  character 
of  the  ground  oce,ui)ied^i\  inj^-  it  every  facility  foi- opposition  and  de- 
fensive operations.  Siierman,  i)usliin,!4'  up  his  forces  toward  the 
enemy's  entrenchments,  brouj;ht  on  heavy  skirmishin;;',  which,  on 
tlu'-Dth,  culminated  in  a  liei'(;e  assault  on  -lohnson's  position,  the 
assailants  sutterinj;'  heavy  loss  and  j;ainin^  no  permanent  advau- 
tajic 

The  next  day  the  rebels  made  an  assaidt  on  JNIeriierson,  oc(!U- 
pyiny- the  Cniim  riiiht.  Oui- nn-n  wei'e  sheltered  by  earth woiks, 
np  to  which  the  rebels  advanced  in  one  of  those  overwhelming^ 
ehai'ji'cs  ibr  wlii(;h  they  were  distinj^nislu'd,  and,  with  a  shout 
Avhich  rose  above  their  erashiii,n'  volleys.  The  federals  reserved 
their  lire  till  the  surjiins  masses  canu?  within  deadly  ran,m',  when 
they  opened  with  such  destructive  eifect  tinit  lln^  stormin:.;-  party 
was  comix'lled  to  retire.  A^aiu  andaji.vin  they  rallied  and  inaich- 
ed  up  alnu)st  to  the  muzzles  of  <nn' ,uuns,  refusiufi"  todesist  till  the 
ground  on  which  they  Ibu^ht  was  covered  with  heajts  of  dead 
and  (lyin^;  in  tiu' terrible  onslaujiht  the  former  colonel  of  the 
52(1  Illinois,  now  styled  IJull  Do<;'  Sween«'y,  on  aec(mnt  of  his  stui)- 
boi'ii  liyhtin;^'  (pndities,  with  his  division  twice  received  the  rebels 
ami  sent  them  in  disorderly  masses  froiu  the  field.  The  Illinois 
re<;iments  enjia.i;ed  at  New  Hope  church  and  its  vicinitv,  were  the 
4LM,  Uth,  -IStl'i,  r)lst,  ."il'd,  5!)tli,  (JOtli,  04th,  79th,  SOth,  84th, 
8(>th,  SSth,  lOlst,  104th,  ](>r>th  and  111th. 

Battle  of  Kcnuemw  Mountain. — After  this  death  grapple,  sev- 
eral days  were  s])ent  in  skirmishing;,  when  Sherman  again  (leter- 
iintied  to  turn  the  i)osition  of  the  enemy.  He  therefore  gradually 
moved  his  forces  in  the  direction  of  the  railroad  and  Johnson, 
closely  watching'  him,  led  his  troops  to  Marietta,  whence  he  fell 


840  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

buck  to  K('iiii('.>-;i\v  inouiitiiiii.  This  towciiiijjj  lici^^lit,  iiiul  its  iil- 
iiKJst  i'<iiiiilly  I'oiiiiiduhlo.  iici^ihbors,  IMnc  and  Lost  iiiouiitiiiiis,  now 
l<»onic(l  lip  hclbiv  llic  pursuini;'  aiiny,  duik  witli  panoplied  hosts 
and  tiicir  inacccssibU'  spurs  frown in.u'  witii  batteries.  Sliernian, 
alter  reconnoiterinj;  tiie  new  situation  of  tiie  enemy,  coninieiiceil 
forcing;  a  i)assa;;e  between  Pine  and  Kennesaw,  which  eaused  iiini 
to  concentrate  on  tlie  hitter  so  as  to  co\ cr  Maiietta  and  the  rail- 
road. In  eti'ectin<;-  these  chanj^cs,  the  liylitin;;  was  desultory,  but 
severe,  the  rebels  from  their  hiyh  i»osition  beiiij;'  ai»le  to  minute- 
ly scrutinize  the  movements  of  our  men  and  poiirdown  upon  their 
beads  a  pell  in;;'  rain  of  iron.* 

Johnson,  sceiii;;'  the  Union  army  ^racbially  appro;icliinj;'  his  i»osi- 
tion,  on  the  I'-d  of  .Inne,  ordered  Hood  to  malcc  aik  assault  on 
Hooker's  corps,  which  had  moved  to  aji  advanced  position.  The 
onset  was  lierce  and  delernnned  but  repulsed  with  heavy  loss  to 
the  enemy  in  killed,  wounded  and  piisoners.  iSlierman  now  de- 
termined to  deal  a  counter  blow,  and,  on  the  27th,  after  a  heavy 
cannonade,  Thomas  and  iMclMierson,  at  ditferent  points,  moved 
simultaneously  up  to  the  rebel  W(uks.  Soon  the  mountain,  volca- 
no-like, became  wrapped  in  tire  and  shook  fiom  base  to  sumndt 
under  the  incessant  jieals  of  heavy  guns.  Our  men  foughtwith 
unparalleled  <levotion,  and  portions  of  Newton's  and  Wood's  divi- 
sions succeeded  in  captnrinj^'  the  liist  line  of  leltel  works,  but 
the  side  of  the  mountain  above  them  was  abru]>l  and  inaccessi- 
ble, and  they  were  compelled  to  return. 

The  entire  loss  of  the  army  in  the  ^"iital  cliar<ie  was  o,0()0.  A 
large  part  of  this  fell  on  the  Illinois  troops,  as  nnght  beexix'cted 
fiom  the  long  list  of  regiments.  The  ll'th,  L'Tth,  ."ilst,  .'5l!d.  .'{."itli, 
o.Stli,  42(1,  41th,  4Sth,r)lst,  oL'd,  ."Mth,  oDth,  (lOth,  (!4th,  (loth,  7J)th, 
8(lth,  iSlth,  S(Jth,  S.Sth,S{)th,  lOlst,  l(>4tli,  lOTth  and  111th,  were 
ill  the  hottest  part;  of  the  engagement  and  correspondingly  suf- 
fered. 

Tins  was  Sherman's  first  defeat  and  perhaps  the  greatest  nus- 
take  of  till!  cami)aign.  lie  had  so  IVecjuently  out  Hanked  the  ene- 
luy  that  an  idea  prevailed,  l)oth  among  his  own  and  the  rebel 
otiicers,  that  he  would  not  nuike  an  assault,  and  he  says  he  or- 
dered the  attack  partly  for  the  moral  etVec-t.  The  l)est  nu'thod  o'^' 
procedure  in  every  (;ase,  isto  secure  victory  with  the  least  exi)eM- 
diture  of  life,  and,  tlu'refore,  his  jiretext  hardly  seems  satisfactory. 
Besides,  in  this  instance,  the  chanites  of  suci^'ss  were  in  favor  of 
the  enemy,  and  the  assault  proving  unsuccessful,  the  nioial  efi'eet 
was  in  his  fax'or  also. 

After  the  bloody  repulse  he  buried  his  dead  and  again  resorted 
to  Haidcing,  which,  as  the  result  shows,  should  have  been  tried  in 
the  lirst  place.  iNIcPhersou  was  sent  o)i  the  right  toward  the 
Chattahoochie,  and  Johnson,  as  soon  as  he  became  aware  of  tl,e, 
movement,  departed  from  his  fortified  heights,  and  also  hurried  to 
the  river.     Shernnui  pushed  after  hiiii  with  the  hope  of  striking  a 


•While  thus  tnakin^  observntions,  Gen.  Polk,  the  Episcopal  bishop  of  Loiiisiiina.  was 
struck  by  a 3-inoh  ball  I'roin  our  Kuns,  and  instantly  killca.  In  coiiipaiiy  with  John- 
son luid  Hardee,  the  jfroup  was  discovered  on  its  lofty  lookout,  and,  at  tlio  in- 
stance of  Sherman,  a  (f un  was  turned  upon  it  and  fired.  The  missile  passed  diiectly 
over  the  i)arty,  which  caused  them  to  dismount  and  retire  to  a  place  of  safety.  I'olk, 
howovc)',  rofusiuK  to  remain  undercover,  returned,  and  a  second  shot  directed  with 
unorrinif  aim,  struck  and  tore  his  body  into  frairinents.  Our  men  havintr  disuovcvcil 
the  niVaninjf  of  the  sifinals  employed  by  the  enemy  by  readinj?  the  dispatches  sent 
along  his  lines,  learned  suou  afterwards  that  bo  hud  been  killed. 


■■r)'' 


THE  WAR  OP  THE  REBELLION.  841 


fiitiil  blow  when  he.  iittom|>t<'(l  to  cross,  but  the  \v;iry  con  federate 
bad  provided  for  this(!OMtiii;>('iicy  by  .seizing-  and  lortifyiii;;'  a,  po- 
sition on  its  banks.    Tliis  was  licid  til!  tlic  ]»ass:,;4e  of  tiie  men  was  ( 
onc(!t(Ml  wlien  he  retired  into  liis  works  around  Atlanta,  where  bo 
was  tlestiued  to  meet  liis  final  overthrow. 

Baffle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek. — Tho,  Chatalioocliie  herois  a  liirijo 
strejini  runniu)^  in  a  sou! li westerly  direction  aiul  n»'ar  where  the 
railroad  cross<>.s  it,  receives  the  waters  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  a  deep 
tributary  fallinjf  into  it  from  the  west.  Within  tli''  anjule  formed, 
by  tlie  streams  and  8  miles  distant  from  each,  Atlanta,  thti  jjriu- 
eii»al  objective  point,  is  situated.  The  rebels,  taking-  advantage 
of  the  i)eculiar  conformation  of  the  streams,  had  arran;;ed  their 
lines  of  defense  with  a  view  of  disputinf;' the  passaj^e of  these  nat- 
ural barriers  which  lay  between  them  and  tla^  national  army.  To 
sui mount  this  ditliculty  was  the  problem  which  Sherman  had  to 
solve.  With  his  army  on  tlie  west  side  of  the  river  below  the 
mouth  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  he  could  easily  ajiproach  the  city  on 
the  south  and  west  where  it  was  comparatively  defenseless,  but 
to  cross  it  in  the  fa(!e  of  a  powerful  foe,  ami  risk  a  battle  with  ; 

it  in  his  immediate  rear,  was  adanyerous  undertakiiij;.     Another  j 

plan  was  to  cross  the  river  above  the  mouth  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  /    i. 

where  little  opposition  would  be  en(!ountered,  and  then  turning 
southwvrd,  risk  the  contingem'.ies  of  crossing  the  snudler  stream. 
The  latter  alternative  was  adopted  as  the  least  ditflcadt,  but,  du- 
ring its  execution,  Johnson  was  relieved  of  his  coi  inand.  , 

This  was  oidy  one  of  tlu!  many  acts  of  stupendous  folly  which      .  i 

characterized  the  Iticl.mond  authorities  during  the  latter  days  of  ! 

the  confederacy  and  materially  hastened   its  downfall.     He  had  j 

skillfidly  used  the  advantages  of  defense  offered  by  the  rugged  '■ 

moiiiitaiii  passes  through  which  he  had  been  driven  ;  yet,  because 
he  had  failed  to  annihilate  his  advei'sary,  who  exceeded  him  in 
iiumliers,  the  rebel  president  was  displeased  and  sui»erseded  him.  ; 

L.iys  Pollard:     "•  He  lost  10,000  men  in  kilhdaiid  wounded,  and  ; 

4,700  more  from  other  causes,  a  fact  which  ])Voves  his  men  ne\  er 
failed  to  meet  the  invaciing  army  whenever  an  op])ortunity  offered 
tostrike  a  danuiging  blow."  The  fiery  and  impetuous  Hood  was 
jdaced  in  his  stead,  and,  comuuMuanga  furious  offensive  warfare, 
and  remorselessly  slaughtered  his  men  when  there  was  little  pios- 
l)ect  of  success.  Hood,  in  takingcommandof  the  rebel  army,  louiid 
it,  in  (consequence  of  reinforcenu'iits,  some  .5,000  stronger  than  at 
the  comnu'iicement  of  the  campaign,  while  that  of  his  advei^ary 
had  also  been  kept  ui)tothe  original  standard,  and,  tlushed  with 
triumph,  was  better  prepared  than  at  first  to  gra[»ple  with  the 
foe. 

As  the  army  was  develoi)ing  a  line  along  Pea(;li  Tree  creek, 
Thomas  on  the  right,  Schotield  in  the  centre,  and  Mcl'herson  on 
the  left,  Hood,  on  the  20th,  massed  his  forces  and  endeavored  to 
penetrate  11  gap  between  Thomas  and  Schotiehl  which  Sherman 
Avas  trying  to  fill.  The  assault,  although  as  sudden  as  a  thunder 
clap,  was  received  by  Palmer's,  Hooker's  and  Howard's  corps, 
with  such  determined  resistance  tiiat  defeat  was  impossible.  .Mus- 
ketry ami  artillery  mowed  them  down  by  hundieds,  yet,  wit^h  a  de- 
votion worthy  of  a  better  cause,  they  continued  to  (rrowd  up  in  the 
wasting  fire  which  no  amount  of  blood  was  able  to  (luench.    The 


842 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


fjn'iit  sacrificcMlid  not  uviiil,  Cor,  aflcr  ji  flvc-liours'  battle  and  tlie 
loss  of  TijOOO  iiicii,  tlu'y  wore  driven  baek  to  tlieii-  entreiichnieiitH. 

BattlcH  of  Atlanta. — The  main  army  now  closed  in  on  the  I'ated 
city,  in  the  Ibrni  of  a  scini-eiicle  of  two  miles  radins,  and  lloodde- 
terMiined  to  strike  anotlier  oHensive  blow  to  extrieate  himself 
from  its  toils.  Movin*;-  upon  the  extreme  left,  llie  most  vidnera- 
ble  part  of  onr  line,  he  mass(>d  his  forces  for  an  assault.  MclMier- 
s(/ii,  in  coMimand  of  this  wiiij;-,  had  made  ai  wide  circuit  byway  of 
Decatur,  and  it  was  Hood's  intention  to  fall  on  and  crush  him  be- 
fore he  could  pro[)erly  }>et  in  position.  Accordingly,  on  the  ULM 
the  latter  was  impetuously  assaulted,  the  chai';;in<,f  squadrons 
sweeping;  alony  the  whole  line,  foratinu!  itseenu'd  abnost  irresist- 
able.  Tile  first  blow  fell  on  HIair's  corps,  but  soon  that  of  I)od<;e, 
which,  movin*;' around  him  in  the  rear  to  form  on  his  left,  became 
involved.  l)od;;e,  findiu};'  his  rif-ht  about  tobeturn<'d,  ordered  a 
charj^e  on  the  enem,\'s  Hank  by  the  JL'th  Illinois  and  Slst  Ohio, 
wiiicii,  s\\  'e])inj;'  up  to  the  foe,  captured  two  stand  of  colors  and 
left  the  fiioMud  e(»\(U'ed  wiil?  hio  dead.  lianU^e  had  entered  a 
gap  between  the  two  corps,  when  Sweeney's  division  met  him,  and 
by  stubborn  ti,uhtin,t;-,  in  wlii(  h  the  !)th  Illinois  bore  a  distingnisli- 
edpart,  kept  him  at  bay  till  other  forces  could  arrive  and  assist 
liim.  While  Dodge  roi'.ghly  haiulledtlie  rebels  and  took  many  of 
them  prisoners,  ther  assaults  on  JJlair  were  nu)r'  successful. 
^Vith  their  customary  daring  they  rushed  up  ami  both  armies 
fought  on  oi)posite  sides  of  the  same  bieastworks  on  which  were 
planted  their  respective  standaids.  The  orders  of  ofticers  were 
unheard,  and  each  cond)atant  rallying  rouml  his  colors  struck 
such  blows  as  seemed  likely  to  do  tln^  greatest  execution. 

In  the  meantime  a  heavy  force  of  the  enemy  got  in  our  rear  and 
captured  VI  guns.  Sherman  sent  word  to  Logan,  whose  corps  was 
on  Klaii's  right,  that  he  nuist  charge  and  retake  them.  Two  bat- 
teries [)laced  on  commanding  hills,  were  now  ordered  to  open  upon 
the  enemy,  and  under  cover  of  their  converging  tire,  he  massed 
and  i»nshed  irresistibly  forward  his  charging  columns.  AI;  the 
guns  were  retaken  except  two,  which  had  been  canie<l  from  ihe 
held,  and  when  night  i>ut  an  ciid  to  the  contest,  llood  found  him- 
self again  foiled,  ami  his  forces  exhausted. 

The  Illinois  jegiments  in  the  two  ])receding  battles  were  the 
Kith,  2<ith,  L*7th,  ;}()th,  ;{lst,;55th,  38th,  4l'd,  4-tth,  18th,  51st,  oL'd, 
5;5(l,  ."i-lth,  r/.Uh,  OOth,  (Uth,  73d,  74th,  Toth,  8(>th,  84th,  8()th,  88th, 
8!Mh,  l)2d,  101st,  KL'd,  104tli,  105th,  107th,  illth,  IV1X\  ILlth  and 
l!20th.  In  the  heavy  charging  and  counter  charging  of  the  opposinjg 
for<;es  in  the  battle  they  fre(pieutly  became  intermingled  in  hatul 
to  hand  contests.  On  one  occasion.  Col.  Flynn,  of  the 
12!)th  Illinois,  met  a  rebel  colonel,  and  while  their  regiments  were 
engaged  in  a  death  grapple  they  had  a  coir.bat  from  behind  trees, 
with  guns,  each  dodging  round  his  (M)vert  so  as  to  give  and  .avoid 
shots.  One  of  our  batteries  planted  on  the  Atlanta  road  did  such 
terrible  execution  upon  the  enemy,  a  heavy  column  was  sent  up  to 
cai»ture  it.  The  74th  Illinois,  stationed  on  the  right  of  the  road, 
and  the  88tli  on  the  left,  poured  into  the  assaulting  force  such  a 
destructive  lire,  it  was  compelled  to  forego  the  prize,  and  pay 
dearlv  for  the  attempt  to  get  it.  One  stand  of  colors  was  cap- 
tured" by  tb  i  12yth,  two  by  the  lOoth.    The  104tli  div>tiuguisUed 


«j^ 


THE  WAR  OF  THE  REUKLLTON. 


843 


itself  by  tlio  (lotcrmiiKMl  stand  it  iiiiulo  in  an  ndvaiifcd  imsitioii, 
wiicic  lli(^  tMicniy  lirst  cam*'  tiiiiiKlfrinji'  down  on  oiir  lines.  In 
tliis  .stubbornly  eontested  battle,  the  rebel  loss  was  IS  stand  of 
colors  and  .S,(KH>  men.  of  whom  .■{,(K»(>  wiwcOiilled  and  1,(>(K)  taken 
prisoners.  Onr  own  loss  iimonnted  to  .'},0()(),  of  wliom  1,0()()  were 
made  prisoners. 

AiMonx  the  dead  was  Gen.  IMeTlKTson,  wlio,  at  tbe  time  lie  lost 
his  iile,  was  ridinj?  unprotected  in  the  rear.  While  i)roeeedinj;  in 
fancied  secui'ity  he,  (;am(^  niu'xpecitedly  npon  a  detaclnnent  of 
reluls  who  shot  him,  ami  his  steed  escaping;  wounded  and  rider- 
less out  of  the  forest,  fjavc  the  first  intimation  of  his  tale.  lie 
•was  a  youny  man  of  lin<!  personal  appearance,  of  rare  iiltility  as 
an  ollicer,  and  possessed  a  heart  aboundinj;  in  kimlness  and  win- 
ning; foi'  him  the  esteem  and  atlection  of  all  who  came  near  him. 
It  is  said  Sherman  burst  into  tears  when  he  lieard  of  his  death, 
and  the  whole  army  e.\])ressed  the  nH)st  intense  sorrow.  l>y  order 
of  the  i)resident,  (len.  Howard  assu..,ed  (tommaml  of  the  Army  of 
the 'i'enncsscc.  (reus.  Hooker  and  Palmer  resii;;ned,  and  their 
respective  places  were  filled  by  Gens.  Stanley  ami  Davis. 

^Vith  this  assaidt  the  direct  oi»erations  on  the  north  and  east 
terminated.  Sherman  deteruuned  to  try  a  flank  movement 
on  the  south  and  west.  To  assist  in  this  movement  Stone- 
nmn,  with  r),(HU>  cavalry,  was  ordered  to  move  round  the  city  on 
the  left,  and  .McCook,  with  •4,000  on  the  rij;ht,  to  destroy  Hood's 
communications.  The  latter  nu)ved  alonj;'  the  west  bank  of  the 
Cliattalioochie,  aiul  (a-ossiny  the  West  Point  railroad,  tore  up  a 
portion  of  the  track,  and  proceedinf>'  thence  to  Fayetteville,  cap- 
tured L',"iO  i)risoners,  ."iOO  wagons  and  SOO  mules.  Next  Lovejoy,  <in 
the  -Macon  railnnid,  was  visited,  to  form  a  Juncticui  with  Stoueman, 
who  liad  ananned  to  meet  him  at  that  place.  The  latter  lailins;'  to 
come,  lie  destj'oyed  part  of  the  road,  after  whicli,  beinj;'  confronted 
by  a  Ibrcte  of  Mississippi  infantry  on  their  waj'  to  join  Hood,  lui 
was  forced  to  retuiii  with  a  loss  of  500  nu'U.  StoiuMuan  had 
started  with  tlic  maj^niticent  project  of  sweeping-  down  tlie  ^Iact)U 
road,  capturing;'  tlie  city,  and  then  turninj;'  on  Andersonville  and 
rcieasiuj'-  our  suffering'  soldiers  coidined  in  its  prison.  wSlu'rnmn 
<ia\('liis  assent  to  it,  with  the  understanding  that  he  should  meet 
l\Ic('ook  at  Lovejoy,  and  with  the  united  forces  juoceed  to  Andcr- 
son\  ille.  Stonenuiii,  however,  failed  to  comply  with  his  part  of 
tlie  engagement,  and  as  tlie  result  he  made  his  ai)pearance  l)efore 
jNIacon  with  an  inadecpnUe  force,  and  in  attempting  to  retire  he  and 
J,(>0()  of  his  men  wei'c  ca[)tured  by  the  cavalry  of  the  enemy. 

The  army  of  the  Tennessee  now  moved  round  the  (Mty  on  the 
riuiif.  and  Hood,  detecting  the  movement,  pn^pared  to  risk  another 
ollciisive  l)attle.  On  the  -<Sth  his  infantry  poured  in  dense  masses 
li(i:n  the  west  side  of  the  city,  and  moved  in  magnificent  style  up 
to  Logan's  corps  on  the  Bell  Ferry  road.  Our  troops  having 
leained  from  experience  Hood's  method  of  warfare,  huiriedly 
made  lu'eastworks,  and  with  comparative  immunity,  as  the  rcl)els 
came  within  range,  slaughtered  them  by  hundreds,  forcing  theiu 
to  retire.  Six  (liti'erent  times,  however,  they  were  reformed  and 
puslied  up  to  our  works  by  their  infuriated  oiticers,  and  it  was 
only  when  their  loss  reached  some  5,000  men,  and  the  survivors 
could  no  longer  be  driven  to  the  slaughter,  that  the  battle  ceased. 


844 


flIS'fOKY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Slicriniin  now  coiitiniH'd  the  inovcincut  of  his  force  on  tlicii^ilif, 
with  the  vii'wof  disabliiij;' tlic  niilroiid  on  whicii  tlu'  city  dcjK'iKh'il 
for  siippIicH.  Hood  also  dctcrtiiiiK^s  to  niako  a  siiiiihir  attempt 
a^iiiiiist  tho  coinniiMii(!iilioiisof  tlie  Union  urtny.  Whcch'i-,  in  com- 
iniiiid  of  liis  ciividry,  was  Ihcrcfori;  sent  noitlnvard  and  sncceeth-d 
in  Iticakinj;-  the  ('hattano(>j;a  railroad  and  i'apturin;^  KOO  heeves,  u 
I>ait  of  onr  snpplies.  Sherman,  howtncr,  foreseeiii};'  einer;;'eiicies, 
of  t  his  kind  had  i>iiilt  and  <;'arrisoned  hlockhon.;es  for  the  protection 
of  his  hridjics.  In  these  he  had  stored  vast  (pnuitiliesof  provisictns, 
V  hereby  he  conld  snhsist  his  army  till  any  ordinary  breaka;;i'  iu 
his  lin<'  of  eonininnic'ition  conld  be  resto  '^  The  withdrawal  of 
"Wheeler,  therefore,  whihi  it  wonld  not  lie  of  any  serions  coiise- 
qneiice  to  Sherman's  snpjdies,  was  on  the  whole  an  advanta;;c\ 
"NVithont  any  effective  opposition,  he  now  sent  his  own  cavalry  to 
operate  on  the  roads  in  Hood's  rear,  whih^  he  followed  with  tho 
rest  of  the  army  to  comi)let(^  the  work  of  destruction,  conii)el  hid 
adversary  to  abanilon  the  city. 

Buttle  of  JoncHhoro, — Sendiiifj  the  sick,  wounded  and  surplus 
stoics  to  his  entrenched  position  on  the  Chatalioochie,  and  Ic.'vii'y; 
{Sloiuin  withtlu^  2Uth  cori)s  to  fiuard  them,  the  advance  of  the  re- 
mainder of  the  army  was  continued  in  a  southwj'sterly  direction. 
JJelore  Hood  was  ai)i)rised  of  the  movement,  the  West  lN)int  road 
Avas  destroyed  and  the  army  ai)proiiclu'd  .Jonesboro  to  tear  up  tho 
!Maconroad.  For  the  want  of  cavalry  Hood  had  sent  one-half  of 
his  army  under  llardoeto  the  same  [dace  to  <;uard  liis  connnuni- 
calions,  and  on  the  nu)rninji' of  Anj^ust  .'Ust,  each  army  learniiij;; 
the  position  of  the  other,  lU'epaicd  forliattle.  Howard  was  on  tho 
]ij;iii,  Schofield  iu  the  centre  and  Thomas  on  the  left,  or  nearest 
Atlanta.  Hood  attacked  the  former  with  };reat  viyor  hopinj;-  to 
overwhelm  him  before  the  others  vunhX  va)Uw.  to  his  assistance. 
Our  men,  expe(;tinfj  an  assault,  had  hurriedly  thrown  up  breast- 
works, and,  with  compartively  slight  losses,  frijiht fully  slauf^hter- 
ed  the  char}>in}j:  columns.  After  two  hours  of  carnaji'e  the  assail- 
ants retired,  Imvinj;-  lost  in  the  attack  2,.")()0  uien,  of  whom  -HIO 
Avere  killed.  Sherman,  hearing;  the  din  of  liattle  ou  his  ri<;ht, 
pnslu'd  foi'ward  Thomas  and  Schotield  in  the  direction  of  the  con- 
llict.  At  t  o'clock  Davis'  corps  came  uit  and  at  once  char{4in<i ou 
the  enemy's  i)osit ion,  ca]>tiire(l  8  <iiins  and  intiictcd  ou  him  aloss 
of  ."i.dOO  men.  Almost  one  entire  briji'ade  was  captured. 

The  Illinois  iej;inu'nts  in  the  battle  were  tho  .■^.Sth,  42d,  44th, 
4Sth.  alst,  51.M,  r).")th,  0(»th,  (loth,  7i»th,  SOth,  S4th,  Sdth,  -SSth,  S!»th, 
l>L'd,  104th  and  111th.  Side  by  sid<j  with  their  equally  brave  com- 
rades of  other  States  t'hey  lbuj;ht  for  the  Union  which,  instead  of 
l)eint>-  disru]>ted  by  treason,  is  destined  to  expand  by  the  acces- 
sion of  new  States  till  one  lanjiuajic,  the  same  institutions  and  a 
common  j^'overument  extend  over  the  whole  continent. 

Tiie  siUMieedinji"  nijiht  ominous  sounds  were  heard  iu  the  direc- 
ti(m  of  Atlanta,  20  miles  distant,  which  proved  to  be  the  rebel 
uiayazines  which  Hood  was  blowing  ni)  prcpaiatory  to  leaving  the 
city.  After  destroying  a  large  amount  of  other  property  by  tho 
light  of  1,000  bales  of  cotton  to  which  he  had  applied  the  torch,  he 
led  the  bleeding  I'emnant  of  his  army  from  t"  •■  scenes  of  his  bloody 
and  bootless  assaults.  He  was  pursued  the  next  day  a  distanco 
of  .'ii")  miles,  when  our  army,  greatly  fatigued,  returned  ami  occu- 
pied the  stroughold  which  they  had  so  valorously  wou. 


TIIK  WAR  OF  THE  BKHKLLTON. 


SI.") 


Tlir  cll't'ct  produced  on  the  despondent  public  mind  by  tlieciuu- 
pai^in  nt)\v  closed,  was  abnont  nuiKical.  Wlu'ii  tlie  t\voj;reat  I'liion 
uiinies  started  sonthward  in  tlie  eurl.v  Mpriny,  it  was  believed  by 
many  the,  Mucceedin<ji  suninier  wonld  witness  the  eiul  of  the  rebel 
lion. 

lint  how  often  an  the  fondest  anticipations  dispelled  by  tho 
stern  loji'ic!  of  events.  Midsnninier  canu' and  Vir;;inia,  the  f;r«'at 
'•liarncl  liiouse  of  tln^  nation's  dcfcndcis,  was  u;;aiii  dnj;'  over  to 
maUe  graves  for  tln^  arniywhicii  had  cr»»ss«'(l  iicr  holders,  i.i  fore 
snniiner  was  ended  more  Union  troops  had  perished  than  in  all  the 
previous  (!unipaif;:ns  of  the  war  on  the  same  illfateil  Held. 

As  the  mimths  wore  away  hope  was,  sncci-edcd  by  sober  rcllci!- 
tion  and  linally  by  despair,  when  it  beann^  known  that  Lee  had 
destroyed  a  tbrc»»  etpiul  to  his  own  army,  ami  was  still  dcliant. 
In  the  midst  of  this  ;;loom  and  national  innniliation,  8hermairs 
series  of  victories  was  crownt'd  by  the  fall  of  Atlanta,  and  tho 
shout  which  rose  from  the  sturdy  sons  of  the  Wt'st  was  taken  u[t 
and  prolon<;ed  by  itealin;^  bells,  booming' cannon  and  the  loud  re- 
sponses of  ndllions  throuj;hout  the  North.  A  joy  as  hopeful  as  tho 
preceding;'  despair  had  been  j;ioomy,  succeeded,  ami  never,  alter 
the  autumn  of  l.SOt,  was  a  reasonabh' d(»ubt  entertained  that  tho 
republic  would  not  only  live,  but  maintain  intact  the  intej;rity  of 
her  wide  domain. 

l>ut  the  nmterial  advantages  must  not  beoverlooked.  Atlanta 
wasoneoftlu  Micipal  manufactuiinj;- (;ities  of  the  South,  from 
■s\iiose  rolling  n  s,  foundries  and  other  hibratories,  had  proceed- 
ed lar{;o  supjdi^s  of  munitions  for  the  rebel  armies.  Jt  was  tho 
centre  of  the  great  railway  system,  connneneing  in  the  eastern 
and  western  i)()rtions  of  the  coid'edi-racy,  and  the  heart  of  tho 
rich  grain-growing  region  of  Georgia  whi(;h  had  contributed  largo 
quantities  of  serials  for  tho  sustenance  of  Lee's  army.  All  these 
soui'('es  of  supply,  after  the  capture  of  the  city, became  tributary 
to  Sherman's  army.  A  rebel  newspaper,  in  expatiating  upon  the 
conse(iuences,  declared  that  the  fall  of  Kichmond  in  simati'rial 
point  of  view  could  not  have  been  half  so  disastrous. 

Nashville  Campaign  —As  the  result  of  Shornnin's  inroad  into 
Georgia  and  the  downfall  of  Atlanta,  tho  southwest  suddenly  be- 
came tho  principle  focus  of  confederate  alarm.  As  soon  as  its 
sigiiilicanco  become  fully  known,  tho  llichmond  president  hur- 
riedly made  his  appearance  at  tho  scene  of  danger  and  found  tho 
deliles  of  tho  Alleghanies,  which  he  had  claimed  would  furnish 
citadels  for  a  century's  warfare,  pierced  in  a  single  campaign,  and 
the  stalwart  invader  ready,  by  another  advance,  to  bisect  the  re- 
mainder oi  his  donuun.  By  frantic  api)eals  to  the  desponding  ( leor- 
gians  be  succeeded  in  reinforcing  llood,  but  still  being  unable  to 
cope  with  the  federal  army  in  open  liehl,  ho  proposed  to  draw  it 
out  of  Georgia  by  operating  ou  its  long  lino  of  communications. 
"With  this  intent  he  left  his  camp  at  Palmetto,  and  re-crossing  the 
Cliatahoochie  on  the  5th  of  October,  1804,  made  an  assault  ou 
AUatoona  for  the  purpose  of  breaking  the  railroad  and  capturing 
Sherman's  supplies.  The  latter,  sending  Thomas  to  guard  against 
demonstrations  north  of  tho  Tennessee,  and  leaving  Slocum  iu 
possession  of  Atlanta,  started  after  Hood,  and  came  up  in  time 
to  save  his  supplies. 


840 


HISTORY  OP  ILLINOIS. 


A  fierce  battle  had  been  vajiiiifj,  in  which  the  little  garrison  lost 
TOO  men  or  near  a  third  of  its  ;  iitire  nnniber.  From  the  Sjiartan 
valor  witii  which  the  liDrh  lonti  and  the  7th  and  !>;5d  Illinois  met 
the  enemy,  CUmi.  Corse,  their  commander,  was  styled  the  Leonidas 
and  Allatoona  pass  the  Tiierinopyhe  of  the  cami»aign. 

Hood  next  ai»i)eared  before  Kesaca,  bnt  lemembering' his  bloody 
reccp'ion  :it  AUatoomi,  he  Wiis  content  after  disabling- tlie  rnilroad 
to  leave  withont  molesting  the  town.  Sherman,  ndeavoring  to 
bring  on  a  general  engagement,  followed  him  as  far  as  Gaylesville 
on  the  Coosa,  when  it  became  evident  that  th(;  object  of  the  re- 
treat was  to  tiansfer  the  war  from  Georgia  to  Tennessee,  and  the 
pursuit  was  abandoTied. 

The  national  comnmnder,  acce])ting  the  issue,  ordered  the  4th 
and  I'.'id  cordis,  under  Stanley  and  tSchofield,  and  all  the  cavalry, 
excei>t  one  division,  under  Kilpatrick,  to  report  to  Thomas  at 
JS'asliville,  who  was  now  (entrusted  with  the  departmentof  theTen- 
nessee,  with  discretionary  powers  as  to  the  use  of  all  its  availiiblc 
military  resources.  Xot,  however,  intending  by  this  disposition 
of  his  forces  to  be  deprived  of  the  fruits  of  his  victories  in  the 
previous  campaigns,  he  lead  the  renniinder  of  his  comnnmd  back 
to  Atlanta  i)repiiratory  to  making  his  g.and  march  to  the  sea. 

Hood  apiiroached  the  Tennessee  at  Decnitur  and  made  an 
attack  on  it  as  a  feint  to  cover  his  crossing  at  Florence,  farther 
westward.  Schotield  and  Stiinley  were  ordi-red  to  keep  the  field 
and  check  his  advance  as  nnuth  as  possible  till  Thonnis  could  con- 
centrate his  forces,  scattered  at  widely  separated  points  of  his  de- 
partment. ]Sovend>er  24th  they  encountered  Jlood  at  Columbia, 
and  while  Schofield  remained  to  prevent  his  crossing  ])uck  river, 
Siaidey  followed  our  heavy  trains  to  Spring  Ilill,  whither  he  arrived 
just  in  time  to  save  them  from  capture  by  the  rebel  cavalry.  The 
enemy,  in  the  meantime,  effected  a  passage  of  the  river  0  miles 
above  the  town  :ind  when  night  fell,  Schotield  started  after  Stan- 
ley and  fouiid  the  rebels  encamped  in  force  at  Spring  Hill,  only 
half  mile  from  liis  line  of  retreat.  More  anxious  to  place  liarpcth 
river  between  tluMU  and  our  long  trains  than  to  interfere  with  their 
nocturnal  repose,  he  i)ushe(l  on  with  all  possible  dispatch. 

Battle  of  Franklin. — ^Marcthing  ami  fighting  the  next  day  and 
night,  November  30,  he  halted  on  the  south  side  of  Franklin  for 
his  trains  to  cross  the  llarpeth,  and  get  fairly  on  their  way  to 
IKashville.  The  river  on  the  north  and  east  sides  of  the  village 
forms  a  right  angle,  and  slight  breastworks  thrown  upon  the  south 
and  west  sides,  fornied  a  rude  square,  which  inclosed  and  protected 
the  most  of  the  Union  army.  Works  were  also  thrown  up  on  Car- 
ter's Jlill,  a  few  hundred  yards  in  advance  of  the  position  where 
it  is  crossed  by  the  Franklin  and  Columbia  pike.  Hood  in  close 
l)ursuit,  came  up  the  same  day  at  4  o'clock,  and  with  his  accus- 
tomed impetuosity,  commenced  an  attack.  Expecting  to  crush  our 
little  army  by  sheer  weight  of  numbers,  he  shouted  to  his  men : 
"  Ijr<'ak  these,  and  there  is  nothing  to  withstand  you  on  this  side 
of  the  Ohio  river."  So  o\erwhelming  was  the  onset  that  Wngon- 
er's  division,  occupying  Carter's  Hill,  was  swept  back  through  our 
general  line,  jwul  8  of  his  guns  captured  without  materially  check 
ing  its  progress.  The  exultant  victors  rapidly  formed  on  the  in- 
side of  the  ,Uuiou  works  to  follow  up  the  advantages  of  their  tri- 


1^^ 


THE  WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION.  847 


uni])li,  when  Opd.vkc'.s  brif>a(le,  of  Wood's  division,  suddenly  moved 
agiiinst  tlieui,  their  bayonet!:*  Hashing  baek  the  rays  of  the  setting 
sun  as  they  were  bronght  down  for  a  charge.  A  strnggh',  tierco 
and  bloody,  followed,  terminating  in  the  expulsion  of  the  enemy 
from  their  entrenelinu'nts,  the  recovery  of  all  our  guns,  the  eaj)- 
ture  of  10  battle-Hags  and  ."M)  prisoners.  Hood,  more  exaspera- 
ted than  disconcertiHl  by  liis  reverse,  nnjved  r::;::;','  to  the  right  of 
our  line,  and  made  a  nnmbei'  of  bloody  assaults  to  again  bieak  it, 
Tint  witliont  sue<;ess.  At  W  o'clock  the  battle  ceased.  H:>o(l 
Lining  sustained  a  loss  of  7(12  prisoners,  3,S(K)  womnU'd,  among 
whom  were  7  generals,  and  l,7oO  privates,  and  (J  generals  killed. 
The  Tnion  U)ss  was  oflicially  re])orted  at  ISD  killed  and  J,(H4 
wounded,  the  latter  including  Gen.  Stanley,  who  was  temporarilly 
sn]>ersede(l  by  T.  J.  Wood. 

The  severe  blow  inflicted  on  the  enemy  at  Fraiddin,  assuredhis 
defeat  atXashville.  To  none,  more  than  the  troops  of  Illinois,  are 
we  indebted  for  this  desirable  result.  The  t4tli,  7;5d,  74th  and 
88th  constituted  a  part  of  Oi»dyke's  brigade,  which  was  accorded 
th«'  honor  of  saving  the  battle.  Gen.  Wood,  to  whose  division  it 
belonged,  accompanied  by  Gen.  Thomas,  sought  out  the  colonel  of 
the  88th  ami  thus  addressed  him:  "Col.  Smith  1  desire  to  report  to 
you,  in  the  presence  of  Gen.  Thomas,  that  whi(;h  Gen.  Stanley  said 
to  me  respecting  you  and  the  troops  you  command:  that  with  the 
exception  of  Col.  Opdyke,  comnumding  the  brigade  with  who.a 
you  share  the  honor,  to  your  special  gallantry  and  exertions,  more 
than  any  other  man,  is  owing  the  repulse  of  the  rebel  columns  and 
the  safety  of  the  army."  T!ie  olst  lost  14!)  men,  and  the  71.M  9 
ollicers  and  152  men.  The  72d,  having  lost  its  colors,  subsecpiently 
retook  them  and  captured  2  flags  belonging  to  the  rebels.  The 
other  Illinois  regiments  in  the  engagement  were  the  38tb,  42d, 
4Uth,  50th,  Goth,  84tli,  89tli  and  112th. 

Battle  of  i/nshi'iUe. — Schofteld,  having  saved  his  valuable 
trains  and  dealt  the  enemy  a  fatal  blow,  drew  out  of  his  defenses 
about  midnight,  and  by  noon  the  next  day  was  safe  in  the  shel- 
tering fortiHcati«;ns  of  Nashville.  Hitherto  Hood,  with  a  force 
of  some  40,000  infantry  and  12,000  cavalry,  had  only  to  con- 
tend with  20,000  Unionists,  but  when  he  arrived  at  Nashville  the 
respective  strength  of  the  two  armies  was  reversed.  The  original 
garrison  of  the  city  had  been  reinforced  by  a  portion  of  the  l(Jtli 
corps  umler  A.  J.  Smith,  Steedman's  division  from  Chattanooga, 
and  now  by  the  accession  of  Schotield's  army,  so  that  when  he  ef- 
fected to  lay  the  placu  under  siege,  it,  was  evident  that  Thomas 
consideiably  outnumbered  him  in  the  way  of  infantry.  Ti»e  latter 
was,  however,  greatly  inferior  U\  cavalry,  and,  on  this  ac(!Ount, 
deferred  an  engagement  till  additional  ft>rces  could  be  procured 
and  he  should  be  able  to  follow  up  his  advantages  when  he  i)nt  his 
adversary  to  flight.  The  Secretary  of  War  was  immediately  ap- 
l)rised  of  the  fact,  and  Gen.  Wilson,  chief  of  cavalry,  was  ordered 
to  inii)ress  all  the  serviceable  horses  he  could  find  in  Tennessee 
and  Kentucky,  to  supply  the  detiicieu.''.y.  Grant,  becoming  ner- 
vous over  the  delay  and  the  displays  of  rebel  audacity  in  thelu»art 
of  Tennessee,  left  his  camp  near  Richmond  and  started  westward 
to  superintend  in  ])erson  the  movements  of  the  national  trooi)s. 
Ou  reaching  Washington  and  hearing  tlie  Nashville  reports,  he 


848 


HISTORY   OF   ILI-INOIS. 


■\vjis  .satisfied  that  lii.s  ToiniesscH'  lieutenant  was  i'liUy  eijual  to  the 
enicijiciicy  ot'ljis  situation,  and,  like  Sherman  of  (ieoigia,  did  not 
reiinire  any  supervision. 

The  employes  of  the  commissary,  quartermaster  aud  railroadde- 
partments  were  immediately  set  to  work  on  the  fortilieatious, 
and  soon  two  lines  of  defense,  furidshed  with  forts,  redoubts  and 
ritie  jtits,  encircled  the  southern  side  of  the  city.  Oi»  the  uoith 
side  the  Cuud)erland  was  patrolled  by  a  fleet  of  gunboats,  which 
served  as  a  defense  to  the  city,  and  to  prevent  Jlood  from  throw- 
in  }i' cavalry  across  the  river  to  operate  on  the  national  line  ol'coiii- 
luuiiication.  Hood  occupied  a  raii<;e  of  hills  some  four  or  live 
miles  from  the  city,  .'ind  evidently  wished  to  completely  invest  it, 
but  the  lieet  prevented  the  coiisnnnnation  of  his  design.  J5y  the 
14th  of  December,  the  day  preceding  the  battle,  Thonuis'  forces 
were  collected  and  j  hmI  in  position,  Steedmau  liolding  the  ex- 
treme left.  Wood,  ir  ^ijmniand  of  Stanley's  cori)s,  the  left  centre, 
SuMth,  w'th  thel(»thcori)s,  the  right  centre,  aud  Wilson's  cavalry 
the  right,  while  Scholield,  with  the  23d  corps,  was  held  as  a  re- 
serve. 

The  plan  of  battle  ordered  for  the  next  day,  December  ]r)t.h, 
was  to  nnike  a  feint  on  the  enemy's  right,  and  then,  falling  with 
an  overwhelming  force  on  the  left,  ftuce  it  back  on  the  centre. 
The  morning  broke  auspiciously,  and  Steedmau  pushed  forward  a 
heavy  force  ofskinnishers,  who  drove  back  the  enemy's  pickiits  till 
the  moven)eut  was  checked  by  a  deep  railroadexcavatiou  defended 
by  batteries.  Hood  at  an  early  hour  was  aroused  by  tiring  on  his 
right  but  before  he  could  ascertain  the  cause,  Wood  and  Smith  struck 
his  left,  which  now  became  the  focus  of  soli(!itude.  Crumbling  to 
])ie('es  under  the  heavy  concussion  it  was  soon  liurled  back  in  cou- 
fusion  on  the  centre.  Wilson's  cavalry,  mean wliile  hanging  like  a 
thunder  cloud  on  their  tiaidv  and  rear,  captured  twobatteries  and, 
dismounting,  turned  them  on  their  late  ownei's.  The  centre  and 
principal  salient  of  the  rebel  army  rested  on  Montgomery  Hill,  to 
which  his  hurrying  squadrons  of  infantry  and  artillery  wero  now 
sweei>ing  to  reverse  the  unpropitious  tide  of  battle.  At  10  o'clock 
Wood  moved  against  this  strong  i)osition  and  carried  it.  Col. 
Post,  of  the  oOth  Illinois,  leading  the  charge.  Eiibrts  in  other 
parts  of  the  lield  were  attended  with  similar  success,  and 
Hood  was  compelled  to  abandon  his  entire  line  of  defense  and 
seek  a  new  i)ositiou  at  the  foot  of  Harpeth  Hills,  two  miles  in  the 
rear  of  the  tirst. 

The  national  troops  fought  with  great  alacrity  and  success,  find 
their  day's  labor  was  rewarded  with  the  capture  of  several  battle 
flags,  a  large  number  of  small  arms,  10  pieces  of  artillery,  and 
1,200  prisoners.  The  disposition  of  the  Union  troops  for  the  next 
day's  battle  remained  the  same  as  on  the  first,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  S(!hofleld's  army,  which,  during  the  day,  had  moved  into 
position  between  Wood's  corps  and  Wilson's  cavalry.  Hood,  con- 
tracting his  line  from  six  to  three  lines  in  length,  took  a  strong 
position  on  Overton's  Hill,  whei'e  he  aw^aited  the  coming  battle. 

At  an  early  hour  the  next  day  Wilson  was  ordered  on  a  recou- 
noisance  round  the  enemy's  position,  and  if  practicable,  to  cut  off 
bis  line  of  retreat  in  the  direction  of  Franklin.  Hood  was  supe- 
rior to  Thomas  in  the  strength  of  his  ca\alry,  but  he  had  nnide 
the  mistake  of  seudiug  a  portion  of  his  force  down  the  Cumber- 


M 


TIIK  WAR  OP  THE  RKBELLION. 


S49 


lainl  iifhT  our  trans]»orts,  and  siift'crod  .i  portion  to  dash  itself  to 
l)ioc('.s  ajj;ain,st  the  iinprcjiiiahlc.  defenses  of  Mmfreeshoio,  wliicii 
left  Wilson  almost  witliont  ojjposition.  While  tlie  cavalry  was 
execMtinjjf  this  movement,  the  entire  front  of  the  Union  army  ad- 
vanced to  within  (»(>(>  yards  of  the  enemy's  line,  and  Wood  and 
Steedman  made  an  assanlt  on  Overton's  Hill,  Tost,  as  on  the  day 
befoi'c  leading'  the  charj^e.  The  enemy,  anticipatinjj  an  atra<-k, 
had  covered  the  sIojh's  of  the  hill 'with  abattis,  and,  oi)eninjji:  with 
ji'vape,  canistei  and  mnsketry,  repnlsed  the  assailants  with  heavy 
loss. 

."Meanwhile  Smith  and  Schofhdd,  farther  to  the  risht,  witli  level- 
ed l)cyonets  had  marched  strai<;ht  over  the  works  in  tlu^r  front, 
and  in  one  fell  swooj)  completely  tnrned  the  enemy's  Hank  Ilear- 
i)i<;'  the  victoiions  sliont".  Wood  and  Sti'ednian  immediately  re- 
formed their  broken  line  and  a  second  time  moved  auainst  ihe 
key  of  the  reb«il  ])ositior..  tScalins;'  the  hill  and  (;liarjiin<i'  over  the 
abattis  directly  in  the  face  of  aterrible  tire,  theycaptnred  the  fort 
and  its  !)  [»ieces  of  aitillery,  which  had  so  fearfidly  slanjihtercd 
their  comrades  in  the  (list  assanlt.  The  charjic  was  final ;  the 
dis(!omlitted  rebels  hnrriedly  tied  thron<?h  Urentwood  l*ass  lead- 
inj>'  to  Ilai'peth  river,  and  the  day  being  spent  the  Union  army 
rested  on  the  field  it  had  so  nobly  won. 

AVilson's  cavalry  started  in  ])nrsnit  early  the  next  day,  and  four 
miles  north  of  Franklin  cai)tuied  U.'5  of  the  rear  jiuanl.  A.i:ain 
iittackinfi' them  at  tiie.  viilaiic,  they  were  forced  to  decani)),  leavin<>; 
l.SOO  of  their  woniidcd  in  the  hands  of  the  pnrsuers.  The  fngi- 
tive  army  was  followed  till  it  crossed  the  Tennessee,  but,  as  it 
burned  the  bridfjes  after  it,  and  heavy  rains  rendered  the  roads 
almost  impassable,  it  was  not  aji'ain  overtaken. 

Amonj;'  the  batteries  which  achieved  distinction  at  tlie  battle  of 
Kashville,  none  thundered  hmder  or  sent  its  bolts  with  more 
deadly  effect,  than  that  of  Lyman  Mrid<>es.  During  the  euiiai^e- 
mentitwas  commanded  by  Lieut.  White,  Capt.  liridj^^es  having 
become  chief  of  artillery.  The  72d  Illinois  liad  a  number  of  severe 
encounters  with  the  enemy,  and  in  a  high  degree  exhibited  the 
soldierlv  qualities  for  whi(!h  it  had  been  previouslv  distinguish- 
ed. Tlie  47th,  4Sth,  114th  and  ILJLM  were  in  A.  J.  Smith's  ccmi- 
mand,  which  on  the  morning  of  the  loth,  made  the  magniti<;ent 
charge  on  the  enemy's  left,  crumbling  it  to  ])ieces  and  hurling  it 
back  on  the  centre.  The  oDth  Illinois  lead  the  storming  columns 
against  the  rebel  works  on  Montgomery  Hill,  and  was  tlie  first  to 
plant  its  colors  within  the  enti'emihments.  The  next  day  it  was 
in  the  famous  assault  on  Overton's  Hill,  in  which  it  lost  one-third 
of  its  number.  The  80th  captured  3  guns  and  100  prisoners  ;  the 
12iM  4  pieces  of  artillery  ancl  one  l)attle  Hag.  The  other  Illinois 
regiments  in  the  battle  Averethe  38th,  4LM,  44th,  4!>th,  olst,  Ootb, 
73d,  79th,  84th,  88th,  89th,  107th,  112th,  114th,  115th,  117th  and 
119th. 

To  the  confederacy  the  results  of  the  Nashville  cam])aign  were 
overwhelming.  Thomas,  in  auditing  his  accounts  after  its  bril- 
liant actions,  found  he  had  captured  1,000  ofluiers,  over  12,00(1 
men,  while  more  than  2,000  threw  down  their  arms  and  took  the 
oath  of  allegiance.  Among  the  spoils  were  3,000  small  arms,  72 
heavy  pieces  of  artillery  and  imiueuse  quantities  of  militarv  stores. 
54 


850  IIISTOllY  OF   ILLINOIS. 

lUit  the  crowning  stroke  was  tlie  (lestruction  of  tlie  con  federate 
army  of  tlie  West.  With  the  eliniination  of  the  invaders  from 
Tennessee,it  only  remained  for  the  Union  army  to  resolve  itself  iito 
separate  columns  and  i)roceed  to  other  fields.  Sherman,  with  his 
veterans  of  a  hundred  battle  fields,  was  now  enabled  to  reai^li  the 
Atlantic  almoi^t  without  opposition.  Scihofield,  with  si  heavy  body 
oi"  infantry,  ]n-oceeded  to  the  coast  of  Noith  Carolina  to  co-oper- 
ate with  iiim  and  converge  on  Kichmond  ;  and  Canby,  with  an- 
other large  force,  advanced  by  way  of  the  Mississippi  to  Mobile 
for  the  redu(!tion  of  the  adjacent  forts,  wliile  Wilson,  without  a 
foe  to  confront  i.i  the  W.'st,  dashed  in  a  raid  through  Alabama 
and  Ge<n'gia.  The  df.ys  of  the  rebellion  were  numben'd  and  the 
silver  tracery  of  the  dawn  of  peace  began  to  light  up  the  cloud  of 
war. 


Chaptku  LX  IV. 

1.S«;4—1S()5— ILLINOIS  IN  Tllh]  MERIDIAN  (LXMPAKIN— 
KHI)  KIVER  EXPEDITION— IJEDITTION  (>K  MOl'.ILE 
—SHERMAN'S  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA— REDUCTION 
OF  \VILMIX(iTON— MARCH  THROUOH  THE  CAROLI- 
NAS— CLOSE  OF  TII1<:  WAR. 


Coi)SP(]U(Mit  upon  the  rt'duclion  of  Vioksburj^and  tlif  oi)('iiin<; 
oCiIk!  Mississippi  some  iniiitJiry  inovcincnrsociciinvd  in  the  Soiith- 
wi'st,  in  wliicli  our  troops  wi'ieliononibly  enpiged. 

MaritJhtn  Campnign After  Sliprniiin  inimtliod  to  tlui  relief  of 

Kiioxville,  lie  returned  to  Viiiksbiufi^  iind  or<;anized  ii  foree  to  op- 
er;it(r  a;iainst  Bishop  (leu.  Polk,  in  (Command  of  an  army  at  Meri- 
diiiii.  iilso  t()  destroy  the  Sontliern  Mississippi  and  the  Ohio  and 
Moltiie  niilroads.  For  this  purpose  (len.  \V.  S.  Smith,  with  a 
la  rye  eavalry  foree  was  ordered  to  proceed  from  Memi»his  on  the 
1st  of  l-'fbruitry,  1804,  while  Shenmin,  with  li  divisions  of  the  Kith 
army  e(»ri>s  under  Ilurlbut,  ami  2  of  the  17tli  under  MePherson, 
left  Vieksburj'-  on  the  4th.  Meetiiifj  with  little  oi)])ositiou  they 
cMfei-ed  Morton  on  the  i)th,  where  IVIePherson  was  halted  to  tear 
up  the  siirro'indiuff  railroads.  Ilurlbut  moved  on  to  Meridian, 
but  Polk,  api>rise(iof  his  ai)proaeh,  decamped,  covering  his  retreat 
witii  a  cavalry  force  under  Lee. 

Siiiitii  i'ailiny:  to  arrive  with  his  cavalry,  pursuit  was  deemed 
useless.  Havinj;  no  enemy  to  figiit,  a  warfare  was  commenced  on 
the  railroads  enterinjj:  the  town— Ilurlbut  on  the  north  and  east 
fh'stroyiiiff  (50  miles  of  track,  one  lo(!omotive  and  ei<;ht  bridfjes, 
and  MePherson  on  the  south  and  west,  o.j  miles,  o.'i  l)ridf>('s,  11)  lo- 
comotives and  ii.S  cars.  TiieTond)if>be(U»ein,i'now  between  the  army 
and  Polk,  and  no  other  foe  in  sti'ikin<r  distance,  Sherman  headed 
iiis  columns  toward  the  Mississippi,  whither  he  arrived  without 
further  noticeable  incidents. 

His  losses  in  the  cani[tai<>n  were  Ul  killed,  OS  womuled  and  SI 
missinjj.  Tiie  Illinois  oifjanizations  in  the  expedition  were  tho 
srii,  l.-)th,  .'{()th,  ."Jlst,  4!)th,  .')Sth,  7r>th,  112tli,  Il7th,  llOth,  124th 
the  5th  cavalry  and  Powell's  battery.  Its  leader,  as  we  have  seen, 
next  rei)aired  to  Chattanooga  i)reparatory  to  entering  upon  his 
(Jeorgia  campaign. 

Red  River  ExpccJiHon. — During  the  spring  of  1S04  an  expedition 
was  j)rojected  to  drive  Price,  from  Arkansas,  Taylor  from  Louis- 
iana, ami  Magruder  from  Texas.  This  was  to  be  effected  by  the 
joint  ettbrts  of  three  columns,  one  moving  under  Steele,  from  Lit- 

851 


8r)3 


HISTOUY   OF   ILLINOIS, 


tic  Ikock,  allot iMTiiiidcr  lianUs  i'roin  ISntwn.svillc,  iiiid  a  tliinl  uii- 


liiissv,  SI  stroii^i'  (niii(liiiii<;iilai' \v(»ik  liiiiiislicd  witli  bastions  and 
covtMcd  witli  railroad  iron.  The  assailants  nio\in<i'  upon  tln^  14tli, 
Dick  Taylor,  in  <v)Minnind  of  the  fort,  marclicil  out  to  meet  tlieni, 
when  Smilli,  i>v  a  skillful  niovi-nient,  threw  himself  hetween  the 
rebels  and  the  fort,  which,  after  a  sharji  li^lit,  Ih^  forced  to 
surrender,  the  47tli,  411th,  nsth,  Hist,  DOlli,  117th  and  UDth  Illi- 
nois demeaning  themselves  with  jireat  ^allanti'v  in  the  en^a;;e.- 
mcnt,  the  .■),Stli  beiiifi;  the  first  to  plant  its  colors  on  th(^  works. 
As  the  expedition  afiaiii  moved  toward  Shreve]»ort,  the  ibrce 
under  IJanks,  en  route  for  the  same  point.  en(M)unter"d  a  rel)el 
lbi('(^at  Pleasant  II ill, and  Smitli,advis(Ml  of  the  situation,  nnirched 
to  his  assistance,  (ifu.  Jiobinson,  commiuidinn' tiie  advainie  I'nion 
cavalry,  had  en<;a};cd  that  of  the  enemy  under  (icneial 
(ii'cen,  after  which  the  latter  fell  back  t(»Saline(!ross  Itoads  wliei'e 

the  main  foice  umler  Taylor  lay  masked  in  the  foiest.  Thither  he 
1,',.,..  (v.n....,wi  ....  <!.,.  <fi.  Ar  A....;i  i..-  u...    i'i.i..i.  ...•.■.. it.<-    i...,.-  ....:,. 


0)) 


t 


)i  ineenem_\  were  imme(iiaiei,\  iiirusi  lorwaru  anu  iikc  nuj;e  len- 
acnlii  (closed  in  on  them  and  before  they  could  escape  lost  2, (KM) 
ueu  and  1(5  jiiiJis,G  of  which  belonj^ed  to  Taylor'.s  Illinois  battery. 

llnttle  of  Pleasant  IIUL — Tlu»-  remainder  of  the  forces  returned 
to  IMeasant  Hill,  whither  had  arrived  Gen.  Fiaidclin  with  the  llHli 
cor]>s  and  the  force  under  Smith.  The  trooi)s  of  the  latter  \vere 
jtiaced  in  jxsition  behind  a  low  lidjj'c  on  the  riiiht  the  lOth  cor))s 
on  the  left.  Kansom'smen  in  thereara.sare.sei've,and4,t;uns  of  Tay- 
lor's batteiy  on  an  eminence  comnnindinj;'  the  approaches  of  the 
enemy.  On  the  IMh  he  advan(!ed  and  nia.de  an  assault  on  Emery's 
(li\  ision  thrown  in  advance  of  Smith,  wliiiih,  acuiordinj''  to  pre- 
vious arranjicment,  fell  back.  This  brought  the  assailants  directly 
iij)  to  the  crest  of  the  ridge  behind  wlii(!h  wore  conceale<l  the 
Yicksbur^'  veterans  of  Smith,  who,  to  tiie  inimber  of  7.(KM),  imme- 
diately rose  up,  and,  poiirinj''  an  incessant  blaze  of  musketry  lire 
into  tiieir  fa(;es,  caused  them  to  stayj-er  back,  when  a  bayonet 
cliaruc  was  or<lered  which  swe]»t  them  from  tlni  held. 

TIie4!)tli,5Stli,  77th,  1 17th  and  1  H)tli  Illinois  bore  themselves 
honorably  in  tin;  (MUitest  and  larficly  contributed  to  the  result. 

The  Union  losses  in  the  two  battles  a <;';i related  the  enormous 
iniiiiber  of  ;!,0(M)  men,  lil  pieces  of  artillery,  l.'M)  wasi'ons,  and 
1,-00  horses  and  mules.  Stiude,  in  playinji'  his  i)art  of  tlu^  pvo- 
p,rainnie,  was  e(iually  unfortunate,  and  with  heavy  losses  iiiid 
great  ditliculty,  (ought  his  wa^'  back  to  Little  Itock,  whence  ho 


THE  WAR  OV  TIIK  REHKLL10N.  853 


Iiiul  stiiiti'd.  Tims  endes  iti  irretrievabU'  diMiistcr,  tlioill-stiirroKl 
»'\|M'(lilioii,  \vliicli,in  it^.  retiini,  c.iiiiu^  near  bc^iii};'  entirely  cut  oil'  ill 
(;oiise»|iieiice  of  a  low  staf^e  of  water  in  tlic  river. 

Hri^iadier-Cicneral  T.  KAr.  Kaiisom,  wlio  at,  Sahiiis'  Cross  Roads 
Wiiriied  his  supeiior  odieer  ofdaiij^ei',  and  n)ade  sncli  heroic  ettbrts 
to  repair  the  disiisters  ejinsedb.v  his  mistake,  wiis  born  at  Norwieh, 
Vermont,  Novendter  lii),  1(S;{|.  I liivin;^' completed  his  edneation  in 
the  nniversity  i>f  his  native  town,  in  1S51  he  rem<»ved  to  Pern,  Illi- 
nois, and  enis;a<>'ed  in  the  i)ra(!tice  of  enfijineifrinin'.  At  the  oi';;aiii- 
zalioii  of  liie  llth  Illinois,  in  April,  iSdl,  he  was  elected  a  major. 
For  his  bravery  and  skill  in  the  battle  of  Donelson,  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  (tolom'ley  of  his  rej;iment;  ayain,  as  the  rewai'd  of 
disliiiiinished  sei'v  ice,  at  Khiloh  and  Corinth,  he  was  raised  to  (he 
};\uk  of  major-fi'eneral.  After  the  battle  of  Pleasant  Hill, in  which 
lie  commaiideci  a  division  ami  received  a  Avonnd  fioni  which  he 
never  r«'(M»vered,  lie  temporarily  took  chartye  of  the  17th  army 
corps  in  (leorfjia.  While  <j:atlierin;i'  new  ianrels  in  the  Atlanta 
campaifi^n,  he  died  of  a  diseast^  contracted  by  ])revions  e\'])osnre. 
lie  was  retiring,  modest,  and  nnnsnally  brave.  Devotedly  at- 
ta(;lie(l  to  his  men,  while  an  invalid  lu^  was  fretpiently  advised  by 
his  pliysieia,!)  to  (pnt  the  field,  but  re])lied,  "/  will  stay  with  my 
command  till  I  am  carried  away  in  my  coffin.'''' 

Reduction  of  M'dnlc, — Aft(U"  the  disastrous  Hcd  River  expedi- 
tion, the  department  of  tin;  Arkansas  and  Cnlf,  inc^ludiii};'  Texas, 
and  Louisiana,  were  mnted  in  one,  styled  the  West  Mississip]»i, 
and  .Majoi'-den.  Canby  ]»laced  in  ('(tuiinand.  In  thespiinj*- of  IStU, 
all  the  rebel  posts  had  either  been  suc(;essfnlly  blockaded,  or  (!ap- 
tured,  ex<!e]»t  Wibniiijiton  and  Mobile.  To  Canby  was  now  as- 
si^iiKMl  tin;  task  of  redu(!in}f  the  latter,  while  the  fiu'UM'r,  as  we 
shall  see  further  on,  fell  beneath  the  sturdy  blows  of  the  con- 
(pierors  of  Naslnille. 

The  entrance  to  Mobih'  bay  is  by  two  iidets,  om;  on  each  side  of 
Diiupliiii  Island.  They  were  jiuarded  by  Forts  (raines  on  the 
island,  and  ?.[;)r<>an  ami  Powell  on  tin;  mainland  o)»posit«'.  Hither 
FarraiLiUt  led  his  fleet  of  some  IS  vessels,  and  as  a  co ojierating; 
land  for(u%  t'aid)y  in  .Tnly,  oi'dere<l  i'>,(HM>  men  under  <iran<>er, 
tVom  New  Orlean:-.  The  latter  wen;  <h;bai"ked  on  Dauphin  Island, 
on  the  4th  of  August,  to  operate  a;4ainst  the  adjacent  fort,  and  the 
followinfi'  mornin;4'  the  Heet  moved  nj)  the;  ))riiu'ipal  channel,  its 
•gallant  commander  lashed  in  (he  nn»into]>  of  the  llai'tford  to  over- 
look the  liehi  of  action.  Seeinj.^  his  vessels  arrested  by  torpedoes, 
lie  dashed  ahead  under  the  tremendous  volleys  of  the  enemy's 
}.;iius,  and  in  an  hour  and  a  (piarter  was  above  the  fcuts.  Tho 
otiiers,  animated  by  his  fearless-  heioism,  followed,  (Mnjityiiija; 
broadsides  after  broadsides  into  the  liostih^  works,  and  partially 
clicckiiii;'  their  tire.  Next  (Mimmenced  the  capture  of  the  tjreat 
iron-clad  i-ani  Tennessee,  whicth  Farra<>ut  declai'es  was  one  of  the 
"  (iei'c<'st  naval  enin;aj;ements  on  reciord."  Dnrinji"  the  month  the 
.'j  flirts  surreudei-ed,  and  the  door  waso]»ened  for  a  farther  advance 
toward  Mol)iIe. 

This  was  not  effected  fill  the  followiiifj  spi'inj;:.  In  the  mean- 
time the  l.'itli  corps,  under  (Iranj^er,  was  reiidbrced  by  A.  J. 
Smith  with  tin;  KWli,  arri\inii'  mosrly  by  way  of  New  Orleans,  and 
a  force  in  command  of  fSteel  from  i'eusacola.    The  army  marched 


i' 


854 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


ii|»  (HI  tlic  ciist  sU\v,  01  the  Uii.v  in  ilie  din-ctioii  <tr  I'oiis  SpaiiLsli 
iiiid  llliikcly,  which  it  \v;is  necessary  to  reduce  hel'ure  liie  licet 
could  rciu;!  tin  city.  'I"he  liist  heiuj^'  moic  acccssihit".  uu  invest- 
iu'^  force  iron  til  Ml)  n^'  ih  •  Siii,  I  Itii,  L'Siii,  lilHli,  .'>.'>d,  tTtii,  72d.  TTlli, 
«lst,  iUst,  i>r>th,  !»!)rli,  UWlli,  117th,  lllMli  iuid  iL'ttii  Illinois,  wns 
])uslied  up,  the  iirtillery,  a  part  of  which  was  ('oj^^swelTs  hiit- 
tery,  phice(l  in  position,  and  on  the  4lli  of  April  ii  trciiieiMlous 
boiiihardnieiit  opened  on  the  I'ort.  OiiIIh^iSiIi  ihc  assault  was 
renewed,  and  utter  a  I'lirious cannonade,  ut  ."5  o'clock,  U  l>ii;iad<'s  of 
Carr's  division,  containinj;'  the  7-d,  Slst  and  ll'4fh  Illinois,  moved 
forward  in  an  impetuous  charge,  and  niounlin;^;'  the  ramparts,  car- 
ried ;>00  yards  of  the  works.  The  advaiu^e  jiosition  was  held  till 
the  next  day,  wiien  the  garrison  lindiiij;'  that  further  oj)position 
■was  useless,  capitulated. 

Tlu^  same  day  (jieii.  .Steel  made  a  successful  assault  on  I'ort 
Blakely.  Amidst  a  furious  liartle  storm,  shells  explodiii;;'  ovei- 
liead,  and  torpeihies  underfoot,  (JarrinTs  division  made  its  way  u]> 
in  front,  and  Itiiinaker's  and  (lilhert's  brij^iuk's  on  the  rijihl,  and 
simnltaneonsly  Icapinj^'  the  parapets,  the  stron^^hold  was  won. 
The  iSth  Illinois  was  the  tir.st  to  entiu-and  lioist  its  colors  over  tlie 
works;  the  5.Sth  and  li7tli  are  also  honorably  mentioned  in  coii- 
iiection  with  the  cliarj;e.  The  other  Illinois  orjianizations  in  the 
(Mij;a«ement  were  the  1  ltli,l.'!ltli,;j;>d,  7lM,7(5th, 77th,  Slst,  JUst, '.t!»lh, 
ll!Mh,  ll'2d  infantry,  an<l  Coj;jiswell's  l>atter3'.  Our  loss  in  the 
assault  was  1,(100  men,  while  the  fruits  of  the  victory  were  more 
tlian  3,000  inisouers,  4,000  stand  of  arms,  and  3li  pieces  of  artil- 
lery. 

Mobile  was  uow  uncovered  and  the  national  columns  [iiit  in 
motion  to  effect  its  capture.  On  the  iLJtIi,  however,  news 
Avas  received  of  its  evacuation,  and  the  army  enter«'d  with- 
out oi)position.  its  approaches  had  been  cairied  with  un- 
jiaralleled  pallantry,  caused  l»y  the  excitinf;'  intelligence  of  the  fall 
of  Kichniond  and  other  j^reat  events,  marking  the  close  of  the 
war.     The  beginninn  of  the  end  was  at  hand. 

Brifiadier-General  Eiijiene  A.  Carr,  who  so  brilliantly  closed  his 
rebellion  record  in  the  assault  on  Fort  IJlakely,  was  born  in  Erie 
county.  New  York,  ^landi  .'50th,  IS.'JO.  In  1848  he  removed  with 
liis  lather  to  Galesburj;,  Illinois,  which,  up  to  the  time  of  the  rebel- 
lion, was  his  recognized  home.  At  the  age  of  1(>  he  entered  the 
IMilitary  Academy  of  West  Point.  After  his  graduation  he  was 
commissioned  2d  lieutenant  of  mounted  riflemen,  and  for  several 
years  was  engaged  in  sujipressing  Indian  hostilities  on  the  west- 
ern i)lains.  Sulisequently  he  was  assigned  as  aid  to  Gov.  Walker 
in  the  border  rufliau  war  of  Kansas.  As  a  ca])tain  in  the  regular 
army,  he  took  an  active  ])art  i'l  the  battles  of  S]>ringHeld  and  Wil- 
son's Creek,  ]\lissoari.  Xext  Ave  tind  him  at  the  head  of  the  3d 
Illinois  cavalry  and  a  division  comuiaiider  under  Curtis.  In  the 
latte)'  ]>osition  he  served  with  such  distinguished  success  that  on 
JVlarch  7th,  1802,  lie  received  the  commission  of  brigadier  general 
of  volunteers. 


March  to  the  Sea. — Shernuin,  after  sending  a  jtortion  of  Li.s  forces 
to  co-o])erate  with  Thomas  in  Tennessee,  still  retained  under  his 
immediate  command  .some  00,000  infantry  and  artillery,  and  .5,000 
cavalry.  These  forces  were  organized  iu  two  great  wings,  the  right 


THE  WAB  OF  TUE  BEBELLION.  856 

under  Howard,  coiiiprisiiijj  tlio  ITitli  corps,  Ccn.  Ostcrliaiib,  iiiid 
♦lie  ITtli,  Gen.  iJlair ;  and  the  left  under  Slocnni,  eonijtrisiny  the 
litli  corps,  (len.  Davis,  and  th(!  L'Otli,  (Jen.  Williams.  The  cav- 
ahy  was  h'd  by  (len.  Kilpalridc,  a  (hirinj;' trooper,  who  liadaheady 
won  distiii(;tion  by  his  I'earh'ss  encounters  with  the  enemy.  For 
the  results  of  the  canipai<;n,  so  valuable  to  the  cause  of  the  ITniou 
and  so  fatal  to  Unit  of  the  reb»'llion,  the  nation  is  larj'ely  indebted 
to  Illinois  organizations:  the  7rh,  !>th,  lOth,  12th,  11th,  "l.lth,  Kith, 
20lii,  L'(itii,;{(Hh,  ;{lst,  ;JLM,  ;Ut!i,  40th,  list,  lath,  4.Sth,  .^Oth,  oL'd, 
o.'Jd,  ornh,  .">()th,r>7th,  OOtli,  (>:M,  Olth,  (>(ith,  78th,  Slid,  <sr>th,  S()th, 
IXtth,  i»2(l,  O.Jd,  KUst,  KLM,  lO.'id,  l(»4th,  lO.jth,  110th,  111th,  llOth, 
lii.lth,  lL'7th,  iL'iHh  regiments  of  infantryi  companies  C  and  TI  1st, 
and  c()in[)any  I,  2d  aitillery  and  11th  cavalry.  As  his  trooi)s 
would  have  to  subsist  on  tlie(M)untry  through  which  they  marched, 
iSlierinan  issued  strin<^ent  regulations  to  prevent,  as  far  as  jmssible, 
the  excesses  incident  to  this  method  of  obtaiinng  supplies.  J»rig- 
ade  commanders  were,  ordered  to  organize  foraging  parties,  under 
one  or  nu)re  discreet  ollicers,  to  collect  provisions,  aiming  always 
to  kee[»  on  hand  10  days  supply  for  the  nuMi  and  .'J  days  for  tlie 
horses.  Soldiers  were  not  to  enter  the  houses  of  the  inhabitants, 
and  were  to  leave  with  each  family  a  reasonable  amount  of  foo<l 
for  its  maintenance.  The  cavalry  and  artillery  were  authorized 
to  press  horses  and  wagons  when  needed,  «liscriminating  between 
the  rich  and  the  i)oor.  Cori>s  comnumders  were  empowered  lo  ac- 
cept the  services  of  able-bodied  negroes,  ;ind  to  burn  mills,  bridgc-s, 
cotton  gins,  &c.,  whenever  local  hostilities  were  manifested ;  but 
no  such  devastations  were  to  be  sutiered  if  the  inhabitants  re- 
imiined  quiet. 

Could  these  humane  regulations  have  been  properly  enforced, 
many  unpleasant  occuirences  connected  with  the  expeditit)n  wouhl 
liiive  been  avoidiul.  Says  an  ottieer  who  comnuinded  in  it:  "In 
all  cases  where  the  foraging  parties  were  under  the  direction  of 
discreet  ofticers,  no  improprieties  were  committed,  and  only  neces- 
sary supplies  were  taken."  Following,  ami  preceding  them,  how- 
ever, were  swarms  of  strangers  and  vagabonds,  such  as  always  hover 
about  large  armies,  to  indulge  their  propensities  for  violen(!e  and 
plunder.  These,  wi'h  imi)unity,  fre(pu'Utly  entered  the  houses  of 
the  planters  and  relieved  them  of  their  silks,  Jewehy  and  other 
articles  of  value,  and  to  climax  their  dei>redati()ns,  burnt  the 
houses  of  their  victims  and  committed  acts  of  violence  upon  their 
persons. 

Before  Sherman  put  his  columns  in  motion,  Eome  was  set  on  fire 
and  its  fouiulries,  machine  shops,  hotels  and  stores  were  burnt,  and 
everything  that  conid  be  of  value  to  the  army  was  tidvcn.  A  few 
days  afterwards  the  torch  was  also  applied  to  Atlanta  aiul  all  its 
public  buildings,  theatres  and  costly  numsions  were  consunu'd  iii 
a  common  conflagration.  The  few  renuiining  inhabitants  alarmed 
at  the  devouring  tlanu\s,  rushed  through  the  streets  and  tied  from 
the  i)erishing  city.  The  railroads  in  the  rear  were  destroyed,  and 
ab(mt  the  middle  of  Xovember  the  famous  inarch  was  coiiunenced. 
Howard  with  the  right  wing  moved  along  the  Georgia  Central 
Kailroad,  and  Slocum  with  the  left  along  the  parallel  road  leading 
to  Augusta.  The  latter  tore  up  the  track  as  he  advanced,  reached 
Madison  without  opposition,  and  while  the  soldiers  were  engaged 
iu  destroying  its  depot,  a  band  of  stragglers  becoming  drunk  ou 


8.")0 


HIHTOBY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


V! 


til*}  coateiitM  of  \viiH»  ctill<us,  HiutktMl  tlu(  Htoivs  uikI  h1i()|)s  oC  tlio 
citi/.ciiH.  Tiic.  raAii^'cs  wcri' coiitiiiiUMl  till  tiic  iiiaiii  ImmIvoI'  tliu 
luiiiy  cjiiiio  lip,  wIh'Ii  il  wiis  <|iiickl.v  l»roii;;lit  to  a  (ilosc  uikI  hiiiiiiIh 
hitiitioiifd  to  l>rot('cl  wliiit  rt'iiiiiiiicd  of  t lie  town.  Kroiii  Miitiisoii 
ShKtiiiii  iiioved  (lii'c(;il,v  on  MilU'i|;;c\  illc,  uimI  i\h'  legislature,  then  in 
Bessioii,  liiiriiedly  lied,  cairyiny' with  them  the  funds,  archives  and 
other  valuables  beloiiyin;;  to  tlie  State.  Tiie  rebels  at  liist  sup- 
posed that  kSlieriiiaii  was  only  on  u  raidin<{  expedition,  but  now 
tliey  were  eoinpelled  to  admit,  that  a  powerful  invadinj;' army  was 
inovinji' directly  throiiiih  tlie  heart  of  (ieoi-^iia.  and  unless  it  could 
be  met  the  most  disastrous  <•■  ciimstances  must  follow. 

iloward,  in  the  nu'anwhile,  had  advanced  and  destroyed  the  iail- 
road  after  liiiu  till  within  u  few  miles  of  Macon,  wlu're  there  was 
a  la r}^(^  force  pi'otectetl  by  bn-ast  works  well  mounted  with  cannon. 
The  rebels  siii»posed  of  course  the  city  would  be  laitl  under  sie<;e, 
but  Hherman  not  iittachin^i'  as  much  importan(;e>  to  it  as  its  de- 
fendants, concluded  to  pass  it  by  with  but  sli^^ht  recojiiiition. 
Wifshiu;;,  however,  to  (iross  without  opposition  the;  ()cniiil;;ee, 
which  runs  by  the  place, Kilpatrick  was  sent  to  makt^  demonslra- 
tioiis  against  it  and  thus  conceal  the  real  movement  intended. 
The  latter  charj;ed  up  to  th(!  breastworks  of  the  town,  and  while 
the  alarmed  jiiiirison  was  preiiarinj> for  di'fense,  Iloward  <|uietly 
slipped  across  the  sti<'am  ai  (Iriswoldville  below  the  city.  Jjcav- 
iii<;lieie  a  poition  of  the  loth  (!orps  to  cover  Ins  rear,  he  i)iished 
on  in  the  direction  of  JMilledf;eville,  wliirher  he  arrived  the  day 
after  its  occupation  by  fcilociim. 

The  Macon  rebels,  exasperated  at  lindin<;  themselves  out- 
witted, made  a  Ihrious  assault  on  the  fovce  left  at  Clriswoldville, 
but  were  r<'pnlsed  with  the  loss  of  1,000  men. 

The  army  havinj''  now  (lonsnmed  a  week,  and  marched  a  dis- 
tance of  9.>  miles,  was  aj;ain  united  in  the  capital  of  Georj;ia.  At 
Milieu,  located  on  the  Central  railroad,  soim;  SO  miles  south,  was  a 
jjreat  prison  ]»en  where  thousands  of  ourcai)tured  soldiers  had  suf- 
fered unspeakableprivations,and  Sherman's  nextobjc'ct  was  to  lib- 
erate them.  AViththisdesifi'i  in  vie  wKilpatiick  was  directed  to  move 
in  the  direction  of  Aujiusta,  to  create  the  impression  that  that 
l)lace,  rather  than  Sava-'nah,  was  the  objective  jjoiiit  of  the  expe- 
dition. Wheeler,  with  tlu^  rebel  (tavalry,  was  encountered  on  the 
way,  and,  after  some  severe  skirnushinj;  with  him,  Kil]>atrick 
learned  that  tlie  enemy  had  removed  the  prisoners  from  i\lillen, 
and,  deeniinji'  it  useless  to  peisist  in  the  liazardoiis  marcih  after 
the  m  (five  which  promi)ted  it  had  ceased,  commenced  falling 
back.  Closely  pursued  he  retreated  and  fortified  a  stronji'  posi- 
tion, and  when  Wheeler  came  up,  althoujih  iie  lcu<;lit  with  the 
jrreatest  determination,  he  was  repulsed  at  all  points  without  dif- 
ficulty. 

After  the  attack  Kilpatrick  joined  the  left  wing  and  moved  on 
its  tiank.  Though  the  prisoners  had  not  been  liberated,  the  cav- 
aliy  demonstrations  served  to  keej)  the  enemy  in  doubt  as  to 
the  real  destination  of  the  expedition,  and  crnisequently  unable 
to  concentrate  his  forces  at  any  salient  point.  Sherman  meanwhile 
w  ilh  the  other  wing,  leaving  Macon  far  in  his  rear  Avas  advancing 
on  Milieu,  whither  he  arrived  on  the  2d  ot  December. 

The  railroad  and  other  public  property  behind  hiiu  was  com- 
pletely destroyed,  while  the  country  traversed  abounding  iu  the 


TlIK  WAR  OF  TUK  UKUKLLION.  807 

lUMM'ssiirics  of  life,  Wii.s  tU'spcdlcd  of  hii';;*^  <niiiiililit's  of  provisions. 
Jiis  iiicii  liiul  I'iiKMl  Miiiipltioii.slv  on  cliicktMis  and  tnrkcvs  and  u 
]irot'usion  of  oilier  Inxnrics, besides  eolieelin;^' lai'^M>  ipiantities  for 
fntnre  (tonsnniplion.  This  was  a  neeessaiv  precaution,  for  liiearni.v 
was  now  ainail  to  enter  a  Ion;;  stiip  of  eonnlr,v  covered  witli  pino 
f(»rests  comparatively  destitute  of  food.  Millen  bein^  tlio  seat  of 
tlieabov»^  nu'iMiftned  'oastiles  wlien^  lar^t^  nnnd)ers  of  I'nion  pris- 
oners bad  hickeiu'd,  starxcd  an<l  died,  it  retpiiicil  ^^reaf  eH'orls  to 
keep  onr  in<li^nant  men  from  la.vin;;'  it  in  aslies.  Tiie  prison  was 
u  stockade  in(!losin;;  ]aacres,and  bai'd  by  was  the  binyin^'^^ronnd 
containing  (»■>(►  graves  as  the  result  of  one  montlTs  mortality, 

l''rom  Millen  Sherman  next  swept  d()wn  on  each  si(U'  of  tlio 
Oycechee  in  the  direction  of  Savannah,  Kilpatrick  careering  in 
front  and  inakinfjf  thej^reen  ar<;lies  of  tlie  pine  forests  eclio  with 
the  I  ramp  of  his  stpiadrons  and  tlie  shrill  notes  of  nis  bn^les.  On 
tlic  Itth  of  Novemlu'r,  Howard  strnck  th«'  itanal  eonnectinn'  the 
Oncechee  and  Savannah,  10  miles  in  the  rear  and  west  of  the  city. 
The  Ihiiiidei'  (»f  si^^nal  guns  could  now  i)e  heard  bo«»iidng  over  the 
swamps  from  the  fleet,  awaiting  Slierman's  advent  upon  tin*  (;oast. 
Col.  Duncan  Wiis  .sent  down  the  Ogeechee,  and  three  days  after- 
ward, stepping  on  boai'd  of  one  of  J)ahlgren's  vessels,  oiu-e  more 
l>Mt  the  army  in  communication  with  the  outer  wcrld.  The  next 
diiy  Sherman  advanced  to  within  5  miles  of  Savannah,  and  laid  the 
city  under  .siege,  the  LMJth,  3(Mh,  ;iL'd,  IStli,  r>M,  i;4th,  IKJd,  and 
KL'd  Illinois  constituting  a  i)art.  of  tlie  Investing  force.  Having, 
liowever,  only  brought  held  pieces  in  the  long  marches  through 
(leorgia,  it  was  necessary  to  get  siege  guns  from  the  tieet  before 
he  (MKdcl  nndvc  a  su(!ces.sful  assault.  These  con.ld  (»nly  be  brought 
ui»  the  Ogeechee,  hence  Fort  ^IcAlister,  comnmnding  the  mouth, 
must  tirst  be  reduced. 

The  enemy,  in  guardingagainstthe  tleet,  whi(!h  had  ])reviously  as- 
sailed it,  failed  to  strengthen  its  landwai'd  defenses,  and  Sherman 
ordeied  a  bold  attack  on  this  point,  hoping  its  vulnerable  charac- 
ter might  facilitate  its  capture,  llazen  with  his  well  tried  division 
and  a  detachnRMit  of  th(!  ITth  corps, consisting  in  part  of  the  litUh, 
4.Sth,  OOth,  lllth  ami  IKJth  Illinois,  was  .sehT-ted  for  this  luirjxKse, 
but  having  to  throw  a  long  bridge  over  the  Ogeechee  in  the  ])lace 
of  one  i)reviously  burnt  by  the  rebels,  it  was  not  till  the  afternoon 
of  the  l.ith  of  l)ecend)er  that  the  fort  was  reached,  and  j»repara- 
tions  completed  for  the  assault.  The  fortress  stood  on  the  right 
baidc  of  the  river  and  could  only  be  reached  over  a  level  ])laiii 
three  fourths  (tf  a  mile  wide  swei)t  by  heavy  cannon.  Theseopened 
upon  the  charging  columns  as  soon  as  they  comnuMiced  moving 
lip,  but  produced  little  damage  as  the  advance  was  made  in  a 
single  line.  The  plain,  however,  w'as  sown  with  tori)edoes,  which, 
e.\i)loding,  threw  up  i)iles  of  dust  on  the  men  and  sent  Jiiany  of 
them  mangled  and  lifeless  into  the  air.  Pushing  on  regardless  of 
danger  they  tore  open  an  abatis,  forced  a  i)assage  over  a  ditch 
thickly  studded  with  jiikes,  and,  with  a  bound,  made  for  the  par- 
apets. Hushing  in,  onevery  side  for  an  instant  was  heard  the  clash 
of  steel  and  the  whistling  of  bullets,  nnngled  with  the  .shouts  of  '  jj 

the  cond)atants,  and  victory  was  com[)lete. 

Sherman,  who  ha<l  witnessed  the  charge  from  the  top  of  a  rice 
mill  across  the  Ogeechee,  when  he  '-tviv  the  national  colors  run  up, 
called  for  a  boat,  and  being  rowed  over,  w'armly  congratulated 


S58 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


ll;i/('ii  iiiid  liis  luiivc  troops  for  liii\  iii^'  ciiptiinMl  the  key  to  Siivuii- 
iiiili.  ('oitiiiiiiiiittalioii  was  ()|)ciic*l  witii  llu;  tlct-i,  and  Slirniiaii 
visitftl  At.iiiiial  Dalil^^icii  and  niadi^  arraii^^rnicnt.s  ^^  itii  liin'  ro 
si-nil  surnr  heavy  .si«>;;'(>  pit'ccs  from  1 1  ill  mi  Head  InitlK^  icdnctioii 
oi'  Savannali.  'I'lic  ;;nnH  iinived  on  tliu  JTtii  iiii'l  Miociiiii 
was  onlcrctl  to  place  tlicni  in  ]>ositi<>n.  At  tlie  hiumo  tiiia* 
SliciMian  stalled  to  sccuici  tlict  co-opcialioii  of  (i«'iicial  l-'os- 
tcr,  coiiiiiiandin;;'  tli<>  ticpart incut  of  tlu>  Soiitli,  in  intercepting'  tlu> 
relx'ls,  siioiild  tiiey  attempt  to  make  an  exit  in  the  <iirectioa  of 
Cliai  lestcMi.  I'iiiconnteriii;;' hi;;h  adverse,  winds  he  did  not  jtroceed 
far  hel'or*'.  lie  was  overtaken  hy  ii  stj'ain  vessel  and  iiilbrmed  tiiat 
JIai'iU'e,  in  eoinmand  ofihe<;'an'isoii.  Iiad  already  accoiiiplislied  tha^ 
which  lie  waseiideaxoriiif;'  to  pn^veiit.  'i'lie  movement  at  the  time 
was  unsnspe(;ted,  and  when  discovered  the  fii;;itives  were  beyond 
the  reach  of  pursuit.  IJefore  leaviiij;  they  destroyed  the  navy 
yaid,  two  iron  dads  and  a  lar;;e  nnmber  of  smaller  vtissels,  be- 
sides ;;rejit  (piantities  of  military  stores  and  i)rovision8.  Clen. 
(ieary  i»uslied  up  to  tlie  city  next  day  and  received  its  surrender 
from  the  mayor,  and  Sherman,  returning',  sent  the  tbilowinjf  dis- 
]>ateh  to  the  president :  "1  beg- to  i>resent  yon  as  a  Chiistmas 
jiilt  the  city  of  Savannali  with  \r>{)  heavy  {iiins  and  plenty  of  am- 
munition, and  also  about  L'."),00(»  liales  of  cotton." 

Thus  ansi>icioii^ly  ended  the  cainpai;;n  which  the  lOuropeaii 
l)re.  s  had  picdicted  would  meetwithtoal  failure, and  which  many 
of  our  own  journals  sjjoke  of  as  one  of  doubtful  issue.  Much  of 
its  success  was  due  to  the  skill  with  which  Sheiinaii  had  deceived 
the  reltels  respectinj;'  his  ol»jectiv(^  i)oint  whereby  the  larj^e  tbrces 
stationed  at  Macon,  Anf^usta  and  Savannah,  which  mi<;ht  have 
been  concentrated  to  oi>i)o.se  his  advance,  were  rendoed  ineftect- 
ive. 

Its  results  may  be,  summed  up  as  follows  :  The  army  in  tlie 
brief  space  of  :'4  days  had  destroyed  .'520  miles  of  railroad  sub- 
stantially made,  a  eon(iuest  of  (leoij;ia  and  ajjain  divided  the 
confederacy.  With  an  inconsiderable  loss  of  men,  l.'WS  of  tho 
enemy  had  been  iiiadepiisoners, theie  had  been  captured  1  ($7  f;uns, 
2."),(K»0  bales  of  cotton,  and  Ibrajjed  from  the  (country  1,;{00  beeves, 
lO.OOO  bushels  of  corn  and  5,(K)()  tons  of  fodder.  This  abundance 
had  been  ^atli  'red  in  the  region  wheretlie  Union  prisoners  of  An- 
derson ville  had  been  starved  to  death,  or  idi(>cy,  under  the  pre- 
text that  their  captors  were  nnable  to  furnish  them  with  the 
iie(H;ssaries  of  life.  Some  4,()(K)  mules  and  5,0(H>  hoises  had  been  im- 
pressed into  the  service,  while  10,000  ne};roes,  abjuriuj;'  the  servi- 
tude of  their  masters,  followed  the  naticnial  tlaj;",  and  thousands 
more  would  have  been  added  to  the  iinnd>er  had  not  some  of  the 
oflicers  <lriven  them  back.  Sherman  paitially  atoned  for  this  cru- 
elty l)y  assi<«ning  lands  on  the  sea  islands,  deserted  by  the  rebel 
owners,  to  tliose  who  were  so  fortunate  as  to  reach  the  coast. 

Sherman  remained  in  Savannah  over  a  month,  resting  his  army 
and  preparing  for  more  arduous  lab(us.  Correspondeju;e  liad  been 
inter(!hanged  between  him  and  (Jrant,  respecting  his  future  nu)ve- 
ments,  and  the  South  looked  with  alarm  at  his  anticipated  depar- 
ture from  the  city.  Some  thought  he  would  strike  at  Charleston, 
others  Augusta,  but  i'  greater  object  was  to  be  a(!(^omplished  than 
either.  As  arranged  !>y  Grant,  he  was  to  lead  his  gallant  army 
through  the  heart  of  the  Caroliuas,  and  after  destroying  the  rail- 


THE  WAR  OF  TRK  KEni-n-TJON.  850 


( • 

I", 


I'oikIh  iiikI  sci/.iii;,'  tlicir  «-ii|)itiils,  ho  wan  to  ('o-opcrato  witli  tiio  li 

fniccs  (ipcriitiiii;- ii;;aiiisf  IticliiiioiMl.     One  rclx'l  iiiiiiy  wiitcln'ti  liini  j'^   /] 

III  Aii;:iislii,  Mini  :iiiutiit>r  iit  ('li:irlfstuii,  ihiis  atloKliii;;  liiiii  :iii  op-  t'?' 

]>ortiiiiil\  to  pursue   liis    liivorito    slriitc^iy  of   tlin'at('iiiii;i'   l»iiili  'jlj 

jdiK'cs  iiiiil  prt'Xfiitiii^  llie  <'(Hiceiitriitiii;n  of  :i  foicc  a;;iiiiist  liis  real 

liiM-  of  iiiai'cli.     Ili)\var<l,  on  tlic  i'i;;lit,  was  oidt'icd  to  I'ocalali^o, 

II  si  Ml  ion  oM  I  III'  I'M i 1 11  Kill  Icatliii^'  to(  'liarlcsion,  to  nicnacf  t  lie  city. 

iital  Slociiiu  on  tiu>  Icl't  and  Kilpatrick  with  tin-  cavalry  to  tlircalcn 

Aii;;'iista.     Tlic  torincr  started  on   the  lotii  of  .laniiary,  iMti,!,  tlic 

ITlli  corps  yoinji'  l»,v  water,  and  the  l.">th  i»y  land.     .\t  I'oeatalijiio, 

a  di'|Mit  of  supplies  was  estahlislh-d  and  deiiionslratiors  inatle  in 

tlie  direction   of  Charleston,  caiisin;^'  tlie  rebels  to   keep  all  their 

availalile  forces  ready  for  the  defense  of  the  city. 

Incessant  rains  pres ailed,  and  Sontheiii  South  Carolina  lieiii<;' a 
re;;i<)U  of  swamps,  became  saturated  with  water  and  the  roads 
almost  impassaltle.  The  streams,  which  lay  in  IVont  of 
Kheiinaii,  unable  to  carry  ott"  the  surplus  water,  tiie  ectnntry  for 
lir'cs  on  each  side  of  them  was  .sul)mer;;ed.  These  ditlicidti  's 
})rove(l  far  inoic  foiniidable  tiiaii  tliose  ottered  l)y  the  rciiel  army, 
altliou;;h  (Jov.  Mc(irath  liad  impressed  «'very  white  male  eiti/eii 
of  the  Static,  between  th(^  a<4es  of  1(»  and  (iO,  to  au;>'meut  its  iiiini- 
hvrs. 

'i'he  next  point  aimed  at  by  Howard,  was  mitlway  on  the  SiMith 
Caioliiia  Railroad.  Ueloie  this  could  be  reached  it  was  necessary 
to  cross  the  SalUahatchie,  behind  which,  at  IJiver  J>rid<ie,  was 
jxtstcd  a  rel)el  force  and  artillery,  to  ilis])ute  its  passa;^'e.  blower's 
and  Ci.  A.  Smith's  divisions,  however,  affected  a  lodjiuu'iit  on  the 
o)»|)osire  side  below  the  bridj^e,  by  vadiii^'  for  .'}  miles  through 
chilly  waters,  from  li  to  ."»  feet  in  deptli.  Tlie  rebels  tied  jirecipi- 
tantly  l»eyoml  the  ICdisto,  while  the  Union  cor])s  pushed  rapidly 
for  the  railway  at  Midway,  which  it  reached  on  Uie  7th  and  coin- 
lueiiced  teariii};'  up  the  track. 

'i'lie  extraordinary  freshet  in  the  Savannah  had  detained  Slocnin 
in  the  city  till  ilie  I'd  of  February,  when  the  flood  partially  sub- 
siding', he  succeeded  in  crossing  the  stream.  I'he  demonstiatioiis 
of  Kilpalri<-k  kept  the,  force  at  Auj'usta  shut  nj)  in  its  fort iiica- 
tions,  appichendini''  an  attack,  while  Slocnni,  encouiiterinj;  little 
opposiiion,  moxcd  rapidly  forward,  and  also  struck  the  South 
« "Midliiia  railroad  farther  westward,  and  assisted  in  its  destrueti(in. 
Slieinian's  army  now  lay  between  Aiij^iista  and  Charleston,  and 
tiic  forces  stationed  at  the  two  places  hopelessly  divided  and  una- 
ble lo  act  in  concert.  Leavinj;'  the  left  winj;-  still  en<;afied  in 
brcMkinn'  np  the  lailroad,  the  rij;ht  started  northward  for  the 
Edisto.  where  they  found  the  bri(l<;(^  ])artially  destroyed,  and  a 
forc<'  on  the  oi)p«  site  side  to  prevent  their  erossinj;.  Foices' 
division  dropping;'  down  the  river,  landed  a  number  of  p(»ntoons, 
and  passinji'  over,  ponneed  upon  the  astonished  I'cbels  and  i)ut 
them  to  tlijilit.  The  bridge  was  soon  rej)aired,  and  the  national 
troojtson  the  south  side  of  the  river  rapidly  moved  on  Oran^je- 
buii;-,  aji'ain  Avakin^  up  the  enemy.  x\fter  a  sli};ht  brush  with  him, 
in  which  the  ."iOth,  ;?lst  and  32d  Illinois  became  engaged,  they  tore 
up  the  railroad. 

Sweeping  on  tluougUthe  heart  of  the  rebellions  State,  Howard 
on  rhe  HJth  drew  np  on  the  banks  of  the  Saluda,  in  front  of  its 
capital.    Almost  fiimnltaneously  Slocuiu  ai)peared  ou  the  same 


SCO 


HISTORY  OF   ILLINOIS. 


i-tn';nii,  liivviiii,^  met  witli  no  (»])i)()siti()ii,  ('xcp]»t  froiu  ^^'ils()ll^s 
Siiviilry,  wliicli  Kilpatiick  alone  was  sutliciciit  tokcc]*  at  a  luiidfiit 
<iistaii'(H'.  T\w  ir»tli,  ;i(>rli,  81.st,  .'JlM,  4Sth  iuul  (t.'M  Illinois,  wirli 
otlicr  advanced  forces,  drove  back  the  reliel  cavalry  and  the  river 
was  crossed  without  opjxjsition.  The  mayor,  tindin.ii'  the  city  at 
the  mercy  of  the  Union  f^iins,  surremh'red  it.  Sherman,  het'ore 
enterinir,  issued  an  order  for  burnin<i'  the  public,  i)roi»erty.  it.s 
schools,  college.'*,  asylums  and  other  buildin;:s,  wiiich  could  not  be 
made  available  in  war,  bein<j'  exempted.  The  main  body  of  the 
arniyiyassed  west  of  the  city,  and  the  l.")th  corps  marching-  through 
it,  encamped  on  the  Camden  road  beyond. 

Col  AVade  Hami)ton.  commanding  the  r<'ar  guard  of  rebel 
cavalry,  ordered  all  cotton  belonging  to  the  inhabitants  to  be  col- 
lectted  aiul  burned.  Piles  of  the  intlammable  material  were  ignited 
ill  rill  1  eart  of  the  city,  and.  swept  by  the  wind,  soon  conimunica- 
led  lire  to  the  adjactent  buililings.  At  dark  the  tlames  got  beyond 
the  control  of  the  brigade  on  duty  in  the  city,  and  AVood's  entire 
division  was  brought  in  to  assist  in  subduing  them.  Still  the 
devouring  element  raged  uncoiitrolable.  lighting  i>  the  midnight 
sky  with  the  brightness  of  noonday,  and  tilling  it  with  myriads  of 
brands,  which  drifting  in  eddying  circles  on  the  buildings,  ex- 
tended wider  and  wider  the  contlagrati'tn.  At  4  o'clock  in  the 
morning  the  wind  ceased  and  the  fire  was  checked,  but  the  princely 
abodes  of  many  who  had  been  prime  movers  in  the  rebellion, 
together  with  the  old  state-house,  which  4  years  before  had  rung 
■with  acclamations  at  the  passage  of  the  first  secession  ordinance, 
uere  now  shapeless  masses  of  glowing  embers.  Says  Sherman  : 
'•J  disclaim,  on  the  ])artof  my  army,  any  agency  in  the  tire,  but  oil 
the  contrary,  claim  that  we  saved  what  of  Columbia  remains  un- 
consumed.  And  without  hesitatit)ii,l  charge  Gen.  Wade  Ilamploii 
with  having  burned  his  own  citv  of  Columbia,  not  with  malicious 
intent,  or  as  the  manifestation  of  a  silly  lioman  stoicism,  but  from 
folly  an<l  the  want  of  sense,  in  filling  it  with  c(»tton  and  tinder. 
Our  otiiceis  and  men  on  duty  worked  well  to  extinguish  the  fiaiiies, 
li'.t  others,  not  on  duty,  including  the  officers  long  imprisoned 
there,  rescued  by  us,  may  have  a.ssisted  in  spreading  the  fire  after 
it  had  once  begun,  and  may  Jiave  indulged  in  unconcealed  joy  to 
see  the  ruin  of  the  capital  of  S<mth  Carolina." 

The  fall  of  Columbia  involved  that  of  Charleston.  Hardee,  de- 
clining isolation  and  capture,  evaluated  the  city.  This  he  effected 
on  the  ISth  of  February,  by  the  westerly  line  of  the  coast  railroad, 
the  only  avenue  of  escajK'  which  the  federal  blockaders  and  in- 
vasioi;  had  left  intact,  liefore  his  departure  he  fired  the  arsenal, 
commis.sary  stores  and  cotton  warehouse,  the  latter  eontiiining 
4.(11)0  bales,  which  perished  in  the  fiames  Frfun  the  burning  cot- 
ton, fire  was  communicated  to  a  large  quantity  of  jxnvder  slctred 
in  the  iiortliw<'stern  depot,  causing  an  ex)>losion  which  setit  the 
building  a  whirling  mass  of  ruins  through  the  air,  destroyed  L'(»0 
lives,  ami  shook  the  city  to  its  foundations.  Spreading  thence, 
the  flames  w<'re  soon  leaping  and  crackling  among  the  adjoining 
buildings,  and  4  S(iuares  were  consumed  before  they  could  he  tx- 
tiiigiiisjied.  The  city  was  formally  surrendered  to  (len.  (lilinoic 
and  the  national  flag  again  hoisted  (.vev  the  ruins  of  its  jniblic 
buildings,  where,  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  republic,  it 
Lad  been  ruthlessly  a.ssailed   by   those  who  owed  it  allegiance. 


THE  WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


SGI 


Forts  Sumter  and  Kii)ley  and  Castle  Pinkney  siilmiitted  f-racefiilly 
to  a  similar  embellislimciit.  and  tlic^  lormidablc  armaments  un- 
liarmed  passed  into  our  jtossession.  (ien.  (lilmore  reported  t.lO 
jiii'ces  fonnd  in  all  the  defences,  many  of  tliem  S  and  10  iudi 
(•olumbiads,  and  7-ineli  riHed  cannon  of  foreijiii  constrnction. 

Ilist(»ry  fiirnislies  U'w  such  reverses  as  that  which  in  the  luief 
spa(!e  of  4  years  liad  befallen  tiie  city.  Here  lelicll ion  had  l)eeii 
sp.iwned  for  the  purj>ose  of  renderinu  i»erpetnal  tlie  servile  condi- 
tion of  the  black  man.  and  now  ;i  rejriiiient  of  the  emanciiiated 
raci'.  wearinji"  the  national  uniform,  was  the  lirst  to  maicih  as  con- 
quer(»rs  tlirou,uh  its  scarre<l  and  blackened  streets.  Everywhere 
ruin  had  been  wrou<iht  by  the  loiiji'and  (tontinuous  l)ond)arduient; 
of  the  fleet.  Many  of  the  oiK-e  palatial  buildiii^is  were  jio\s  the 
blackened  wrecks  of  contla;;ration,  some  yawning-  and  tott*  riufj 
with  seams  caused  by  explodinji'  shells,  or  i>ouii(ied  to  a  mass  of 
riibliish  and  strewn  in  the  adjacent  streets.  As  if  to  make  the 
desolation  more  comi)lete,  a  lai-ife  ]»art  of  tiie  city  which  had 
escajted  the  f>nns  of  the  besiejicrs  had  been  set  on  lire  by  it.s 
defenders  and  thvis  met  a  common  doom. 

There  was  a  I'eelinji'  prevalent  in  the  army  that  South  ("ar- 
oliiia,  the  cradh;  of  secession  and  rebellion,  should  l»e  made  to  feel 
some  of  the  evil.s  which  she  had  been  so  active  ip  brinjjjiug  on  her 
sister  States.  Hence  not  only  her  cities,  but  her  rural  dwellin.us, 
rice  mills,  and  pine  forests  and  other  property,  were  tired  and 
served  as  a  bonfire  to  signalize  the  advance  of  the  invading 
army.  In  Georj>ia  little  private  proju-rty  was  destroyed;  here 
little  escaped.  The  devastation  was  forbidden,  but  could  not  be 
prevented  where  so  many  of  the  army,  if  not  directly  coni\ected 
with  it,  evidently  regarded  it  as  Justitialile  retaliation. 

Let  no  one  imaf>ine  tliat  he  can  see  in  l lie  deplorable  fate  of 
South  Carolina  the  sjtecial  displeasure  of  an  anj;ered  God.  Let 
him  rather  re^iard  her  calamities  as  the  inevitable  penalty  which 
always  attends  the  infraction  of  moral  and  physical  law;  whether 
the  wronjr  doer  be  an  individual,  State,  or  nation.  Our  forefathers 
wantonly  disreffarded  the  rijihts  of  tlie  nejiro  when  they  kidnai)i»e(l 
him  on  the  coast  of  Africa  and  introduced  him  a  slave  into  the 
American  colonies.  Ajiain  they  were  ^iiiltN  *>t'  a  moral  breach 
when  they  soujiht  to  nnike  his  de;;radation  perpetual  by  tolerating; 
slavery  in  the  national  constitution.  From  this  abnormal  element 
in  our  political  ami  so(!ial  fabric  sprang  sectional  discord,  treason, 
and  civil  war  with  its  rapine,  burnin<;s  and  siaujihters.  The  blood 
shed  by  the  sword  in  the  Avar  was  tlie  penalty  for  that  which  had 
been  drawn  by  the  lash  from  the  backs  of  the  bondsmen  ;  the  deso- 
lation caused  by  the  destruction  of  cities,  wa'i  the  price  paid  for 
the  wealth  which  had  been  piled  ui)  by  long  years  of  unre- 
quited toil;  and  the  wail  which  went  uj)  from  homes  all  over  the 
land  had  its  precurser  in  the  cry  wruiifr  from  the  families  of  the 
oppressed  when  ruthlessly  torn  asunder  by  the  dealers  in  humau 
souls.  Crimt  <uid  i>unishnieiit  are  cause  and  effe(;t  and  cannot  be 
separated.  IS^i  one  can  trample  on  the  Just  and  inevitable  laws  of 
God  without  sutterinj;,  and  if  tlie  transjiression  is  continued  he 
must  of  necessity  perish,  not  by  a  special  bolt  from  heaven,  but 
as  the  unavoidable  consec^uenec  of  his  own  crime. 

Sherman,  leaving  at  Columbia  i)rovisions  to  sustain  for  some 
time  its  destitute  and  houseless  population,  resumed  his  march, 


862 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


inoviiifr  in  tluMliiec'tioii  of  CiiiU'lotto.  Ilitlior  liud  pivcodrd  him 
uikU'v  Hi'iUU('}iiU(l  tlic-  ^iiiTisoi)  of  tlui  (U'vastatcd  ciipital,  and 
liitlior  Clieatiiaiii  iiad  lead  tlic  dilapidated  divisions  of  Hood's  old 
arm\  wliictliliadsiiivivc'd  the  blowsiiitlictedon  it  in  Tennessee.  Not- 
M'ithstandinjj^  thehea\ystornisand  almost  impassable  roads,  hecon- 
tiiiued  in  his  <!onrsc  till  the  23d,  wiu'ii  suddenly,  headin.i;  his  col- 
umns for  Fayetteville,  N.  C,  Charlotte,  liiie  otlier  jioints  which 
had  been  threatened,  was  left  fai'  in  the  rear.  Ills  line  of  maicOi 
now  lay  across  the  Catwba  and  (Jreat  Pedee,  \\hich,  1(H)  years 
before,  had  emibled  (iieen  to  elude  the  j>ursuit  of  Lord  Cornwal- 
lis.  Kilpatrick,  while  man<etiverinf;  with  the  en<Mny,  toenableonr 
army  to  cross  the  river  without  opposition,  was  siiri)rised  by  a 
force  of  i-ebcd  cavalry  and  driven  back  into  a  swanij),  losiii}?  all 
his  jfuns  and  most  of  his  stafi".  lie,  howevei',  rallied  his  men, 
and,  charging;'  upon  the  rebels  while  they  were  plunderinj^'  his 
cam)),  put  them  to  Hight  and  retook  his  captured  fjuns. 

The  army  having  rapidly  ciossed  Pedee,  brin<;in,y  the  '^Oth  and 
31st  Illinois  into  action  and  capturinj;  2o  {;uns,  the  opposing 
force,  the  ill-starred  j^arrisons  of  Mobile  and  Charleston,  under 
the  luckless  Hardee,  hurriedly  retreated  to  Fay^'tteville.  Hither 
they  were  closely  followed,  and,  after  a  sharp  fray,  on  the 
lltli  of  March,  with  the  loth,  30th  and  31st  Illinois,  retreated  up 
Cape  Fear  river. 

While  the  army  lay  in  Fayetteville,  the  steam  tu<r  Davidson, 
and  ji'im-boat  Eolus  steamed  up  from  Wilmington,  bringing  news 
of  the(!apturc  of  that  city  and  other  imi)ortant  events,  which  had 
transpired  during  the  six  weeks  that  our  army  had  been  forcing 
its  way  through  the  interminable  swam])s  and  over  the  swollen 
streams  of  the  Carolinas. 


lieduction  of  Wilmim/ton.  —  The  cnpture  of  Wilmington,  in 
which  the  Cotli,  107th  and  112th  Illinois  particii)ated,  was  inti- 
mately connected  with,  and  had  an  important  bearing  on  the  op- 
erations of  Sherman.  As  tending  to  facilitate  his  movements 
Grant,  on  the  14fh  of  rianuary,  ordered  SchoHeld  from  Tennessee 
to  the  seaboard  of  North  Caiolimi.  ilis  instruc^tions  were  to  de- 
bark at  Wilmington  if  the  place  should  be  captured, but  if  not,  to 
land  at  Newbern.  In  acconlance  with  this  arrangement  he  trans- 
porte<l  his  corjjs  to  the  latter  place,  but  detached  Cox's  division  to 
co-operate  with  Porter  in  the  reduction  of  Wilmington,  still  in  i)os- 
session  of  the  enemy.  The  only  obstacle  which  now  remained  to 
prevent  the  advance  of  our  Heet  to  the  city,  was  Fort  Anderson, 
a  plaxte  of  immense  strength  inclosing  about  4  scpuire  miles.  To 
ettect  its  overthrow,  a  movement  was  commenced  u))  the  river  on 
thellth  of  February,  and,  on  reaching  the  fort,  Cox's  division, by 
wading  through  aditlicult  swamp,  took  a  jmsition  in  the  rear.  On 
the  l.Sth  the  gunboats  oi)eued  on  the  works,  while  SchoHeld  made 
arrangenuMits  to  inter(;ept  the  garrison  in  case  of  retreat.  Ibdic, 
in  commaml,  tinding  himseU'  likely  to  be  surrounded  by  a  formid- 
able force,  and  Sherman's  army  in  a  ))osition  to  isolate  him  as  it 
had  done  Hardee  at  (yharleston,  the  succeeding  night  eva(!uated 
the  place  and  pushed  noithwaid  to  foi  in  a  Junction  with  .lohnson. 
The  works  were  occupied,  and  700  prisoners  and  50  pieces  of  artil- 
lery passed  into  the  hands  of  the  victors. 


THE  WAR  OP  THE  REBELLION.  8(53 

Slicrmaii  now  directed  Scliofield  to  meet  him  in  (Hold.sboio.  and, 
after  destro.vinjjftlie  arsenals  of  Fayetteville,  and  costly  inacOiineiy 
which  had  l)een  broufilit  from  tlie,  armory  of  Harper's  I"\'rry,  re- 
sumed his  marclk  llanh'e  liaving  tied  on  tlie  approacli  of  our 
a.rmy,  moved  fiirtlicr  up  the  river  and  fortified  a  position  on  tlio 
left  banic  near  Areysboro.  Here  lie  encountered  the  (lOtli,  StJth, 
101st,  lOL'd  and  lo.lth  Illinois,  under  Slocnm,  who  was  moviiijf  in 
thesaMUMlire(;tion  to  makeafeinton  Kalei};li  and  tlins  conceal  Slier- 
man's  movement  ou  (xoldsboro.  The  enemy's  position  was  ahuost 
inaccessible  on  account  of  swauips,  yet  it  was  iiecessarT  to  dis- 
lodjie  him,  and  Wood's  division  of  the  2()th  corps  was  thrown  for- 
Avard  to  develoi>  his  lines.  Immediately  char<iin<j  ni)on  the  outer 
works  the  division  captlired  three  jjuus  and  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  prisoners.  Kiljiatrick,  farther  to  the  ri<;lit,  was,  however, 
vifjorouslj-  attacked  and  driveu  back,  j^fallantly  tij;htin<i'.  Slocum 
in  the  meantime  had  ordered  up  three  additional  divisions,  which, 
falliufx  upon  the  enemy,  forced  him  to  retire  within  his  entrench- 
ments, where  he  was  held  during  the  remainder  of  the  day.  The 
succeeding  night  being  stormy,  under  cover  of  the  darkness  Ilar- 
de(^  abandoned  his  i)ositiou  and  retreated  over  the  road  to  Smith- 
field. 

Hitherto  Sherman  had  succeeded  in  interposing  his  army  be 
twe(Mi  the  scattered  detachments  of  the  rebel  forces,  but  now  they 
were  rapidly  coU(!entrating,  and  it  be(!ame  nectessary  to  move  with 
more  caution.  There  were  gathering  about  him  Cheatham,  with 
n(»od's  forces  from  Tennessee;  Hoke,  Avith  the  recent  garrison  of 
Fort  Anderson;  Hardee,  with  that  of  Charleston,  audWheeler's 
cavalry  reinforced  by  Wade  Hampto...  These  forces,  numbering 
40,000  veterans,  were  under  the  command  of  Johnson,  Sherman's 
old  antagonist,  rendering  it  necessary  for  the  latter  to  keep  his 
columns  within  supporting  distance.  Sh)cum,  after  making  the 
feint  on  lialeigh,  wheeled  to  the  right  and  took  the  road  to  GohUs- 
boro,  whither  Howard,  on  his  right,  with  his  forces  was  also  march- 
ing. 

Hopes  were  entertained  by  Sherman  that  the  army  might  reach 
its  destination  without  further  opposition.  Suddenly,  however, 
as  Slocum  on  the  18th  neared  Bent(mville,  he  found  himself  con- 
fronted by  the  whole  of  Johnson's  army.  Beforedispositions could 
be  made  to  receive  the  unexi)ected  enemy,  two  brigades  were 
driven  back  on  the  main  force  with  a  loss  of  three  guns.  Slocum, 
as  soon  as  i)ossible,  deployed  four  divisions  behind  barricades  ami 
stood  on  the  defensive.  Kilpatrick  hearing  the  roar  of  artillery, 
also  dashed  up  and  moved  his  forces  on  the  left.  Hardly  had 
these  preparations  been  made  when  Hoke,  Hardee  and  Cheatham 
swept  up  their  massive  columns,  hoping  by  sheer  weight  of  num- 
bers to  overwhelm  and  break  the  Union  line.  The  whole  fury  of 
the  assault  spent  itself  within  an  hour,  .-set,  in  this  time  the  rebels 
made  six  suc(!essive  charges,  all  of  which  w»?re  successfully  re- 
pulsed. The  rapid  volleys  of  our  batteries  did  immense  execution 
ui)on  the  foe.  who,  divesting  himself  of  artillery,  had  hurried  up 
expecting  tc' ''rush  Slocum  before  he  could  be  supported.  How- 
ard, l.»owever,  iu  obedience  to  orders  from  Sherman,  came  up  the 
next  Jay,  and  the  I'ebel  gemaal  finding  himself  opposed  by  an 
army  of  00,000  strong,  decamped  the  succeeding  night,  and  le- 


(i 


;! 


804 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


trcntcd  in  the  (lircctioii  of  IJiih'ijili.  Tlie  followiiij;  dny,  tlx'  2.3(1 
of  Miircli.  tlie,  iiriiiy,  witliout  fiiitlicr  o]>positioii.  cntcretl  (Jiolds- 
boro,  whither  Schoficld  two  (lays  before  had  preceded  it. 

'JMi«'  battle  of  JJeiitoiiviiU',  honored  by  the  pro^nee  of  the  'JOth, 
oiJd,  r)(ith,  ({(Mil,  (;.'}d,  (Utii,  SOtii,  HL'd",  JOlst,  104tli  and  lOoth 
lihiiois,  was  the  hist  enfiajieiiient  of  the  caiiipaij>ii.  It  is  needless 
to  say  they,  in  eoninion  with  the  rest  of  tlieir  eouirades,  fon<;ht 
well.  The  resnlts  si»eak  for  themselves.  A  track  of  (ionntry  from 
Savannah  to  CJoldsboro,  40  miles  wide  and  nearly  !){){)  lonj^;-,  had 
been  sneeessfiilly  overridden.  The  immediate  frnits  of  the  niaich 
were  Mol>ile,  Charleston  and  AVilminjiton,  which,  hitherto,  had 
defie<l  some  of  the  most  <lestriictive  naval  enginery  the  world  has 
ever  seen,  while  it  lar<;ely  contribnted  to  thed<>wnfall  of  the  con- 
fe(b'rate  capital.  Walled  in  on  one  side  by  the  army  of  Grant, 
witli  Sherman  rapidly  ap])roachin<;'  on  the  other,  its  evacnatiou 
was  a  military  necessity. 

Clo.se  of  the  War. — Shertnan  tem])orarily  turned  over  Ins  army 
to  iScholield  and  hastened  to  City  Point,  where  he  liad  an  inter- 
view with  Gen.  (Jrant  and  President  Lincoln.  The  object  of  the, 
meetinj-'  was  to  concert  measures  for  striking-  the  death  blow  of 
the  rebellion.  An  important  jiart  in  the  closinjij  drama  was  as- 
signed to  the  army  of  the  West,  but  the  end  was  at  hand.  JJefore 
any  important  movement  conhl  he  ett'ected,  Lee  surrendered,  and 
the  civil  war,  whose  throes  had  convulsed  the  continent  and  dis- 
turbed the  commerce  of  the  world,  existed  only  in  histcuy. 

The  slave  power,  corrupt,  defnint  and  rebellious,  had  now  meas- 
ured its  streiir'tli  with  the  rei)ublic,  and  the  latter  had  triumphed. 
Not  a  stripe  was  erased  from  her  banners;  every  star  still  revolves 
in  the  frame  work  of  the  constitution;  her  domain  is  uiibrok<'n. 
May  she  st-11  continue  to  prosper  till  her  expanding  dominion  is  only 
limited  by  the  billows  wliicli  at  every  point  of  the  compasa,  break 
upon  the  ocean's  shore;  till  her  jiroud  destiny  becomes  a  lealiza- 
tion  oi"  thei)ropiu'cies  wvitten  in  her  coal-tields,  beds  of  iron  and 
seams  of  gold  ;  till  all  nations,  tangiit  by  her  exHmi)le,  are  released 
from  political  oppression,  and  nuin  attains  the  full  measure  of 
hai)piiu\ss  forshadowed  in  the  divinity  of  his  luiture. 

llow  nuich  tlie  nation  is  indebted  to  Illinois  for  the  aus])icious  ter- 
mination of  the  war,  nmy  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  in  the  two 
great  movements  wliich  severed  the  insurgent  States,  and  so  greatly 
paralyzed  their  elibrts,  her  soldiers  were  more  largely  represented 
than  those  of  any  other  nuMnber  of  the  Union.  Fnrthermoi'e,  we 
must  place  on  the  credit  side  of  her  balance  sheet  a  large  amount 
of  legal  talent,  sui)erior  generalship  and  executive  ability ;  for 
Trumbull  Avas  our  lawyer,  Grant  our  soldier,  and  Lincoln  our 
president. 

From  the  scene  of  its  dangers  and  triumphs,  Sherman's  army 
proceeded  to  the  national  cai)ital  to  share  in  the  great  review, 
which  came  off  on  the  23d  and  24th  of  May,  as  a  titting  close  of 
the  struggle  in  which  it  had  been  so  long  engaged.  At  the  ap- 
iwiuted  time,  in  presence  of  the  president,  the  members  of  Ids  cabi- 
net, foreign  ministers,  and  other  eminent  personages,  the  united 
armies  of  the  East  and  West  moved  along  Pennsylvania  avenue. 
Never  had  more  gallant  legions  been  entrusted  with  the  destinies 
of  empire  than  those  which  received  the  congratulations  of  the 


J'HE  WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


X-:i:^i^!:;:si;^t^^       ti.  parent 

wJ.icJi  could  hire  oZrvrnx  ^  li^^S  ^  ''^''"  *''^  ""lil'ty  host 
melted  away  iut«£regin?e  "s  and  SnecW^  Jf '-^.^^^  J»>''  .i<>yt"lly 
.  Again  the  cities  and  villao-i  of  ?  i  "ok  I^"'^'^,  '^'^t'^t  Ironies, 
siasn.  when  the  leiigthened  trafns\T,rK.?ntT?  '?^''*'T  ^'^^  <^"">"- 
•orth  the  thousands  Xla  fgour^oSno  I  4?  "'"^  r  "''^  ^^""^^^^ 
they  were  met  with  exnressionV  nf  I  i  "'?^^'*^-    Everywhere 

pared  for  their  receSn  imi  1/  ^^'?«»'e.  Ovations  were  pre- 
iowed  them  M'tHhe  n^ntnil  ,v7.f  ^'""f  ^""'"^'^  ^'^'^  ^"'^1  fol 
perilous  battles,  ga^thmn^nnv^^/''"^'''  weary  man^hes  and 
M-ard  however,  wis  thepr^ud  coSuw'i"'?' >  ^V^^^eatest  re- 
saved  their  country.  La^inff  SHE  r^-rl^''"'''"^ '^^^'^^^^ 
again  assumed  the  habSS  an     rwl.   /'  '^Tv''^^  they 

the  State  is  boundinrSrd  ^n  !«'''*  ^'"'^l"^^'  ''^"'^^  ^«-<^«y 

^^Uo^slf^h^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

Waters;  where  the  Teiiiiesspe  wn,,,ll>;.   u    .\       ""  ""^  I  atJier  of 

the  traek  of  the  sreat^S  L^"t^  e/ ^VSh"  '*'"''  t".« 
last  restniff  places    As  Imio-  qc  ,.^^     1      '     ^  ^t^'"  "^  seen  the  r 
to  bloom,  mayThe  sons  a    f  don.li  J  ""^  ??'  ^',^'^"  «''^"«e  the  earth 
ers    their  graves  ami    ft  nlf^i^^*®''^  ^^  freedom  strew  with  flow 
.rather  newl'Stlon  to  S^^^^^  ^'-r  deedj, 

the  country  they  died  to  save  discharging  their  duties  to 


55 


Chapter  LXV. 

POLITICAL  AND    TAllTY    AFFAIKS   DUKING  THE   RE- 
BELLION. 

Sentiments  of  the  lUinow  Dimocracy  in  the  Winter  of  1S(;()-1S(»1 — 
I'atriotic  Feeling  on  the  hraiking  out  of  Ifostilities,  irrexiiective 
of  party ^  m  iniipin'd  hy  Douglm — licriml  of  Fnrtisan  Ferlii<<i — 
Constitutional  Convention  of  1S(»2 — Its  high  pretensions — ConjUct 
^yith  the  (iorernor — )<ome  Features  of  the  Instrument  framed;  it 
becomes  n  party  measure— The  vote  upon  it — Farty  Convention  of 
ISfJli — The  last  Democratic  Legislature — Frauds  in  passing  hills — 
Feaction  among  the  Feople  against  the  I'eaee  Movement — I\fili- 
tary  Arrests— Suppressing  the  Chicago  Times — Secret  FoUtico- 
Military  Societies— I >emoeratic  Mass  Convention  of  June  17 th, 
18(53 — Republican  Mass  Convention,  September,  lcS(J3 — Feacc  Meet- 
ings of  18G4 — 2fote,  Chicago   Conspiracy. 


During  the  wintor  lu'eccodiiiff  I\Ir.  Lincoln's  first  iiian^uratioii  as 
president,  wlioii  State  after  State  was  sliootiii-;  madly  from  tlio 
orbit  of  liie  rnioii  by  l)assiii^'  secession  ordinances,  eonseivativo 
men  yiinj-rally,  to  avoid  the  horrors  of  imi)endin<;  civil  war,  were 
anxious  to  conciliate  the  existing?  ndsiinderstandinf;-  and  restore 
liai-mony  between  the  different  sections  of  our  ciountry.  Several 
propositions  were  offered  in  eonpcss  as  plans  for  conii»romise ; 
one  by  Mr.  Doujilas;  one  by  Mr.  (Jrittenden,  and  one  known  as 
the  "  Jiorder  State  Proposition."  With  the  feelinj,M>f  comprondso 
the  democracy  of  Illinois  were  fully  imbued,  and  for  the  sake  of 
peace,  they  would  have  conceded  much. 

On  the  ioth  of  January,  18(51,  a  Democratic  State  convention 
met  in  Sprinjiheld  to  fiive  expression  to  their  sentiments  ujjon  the 
state  of  the  Immou.  Ninety-three  counties  were  rei)resent<'d  by 
over  oOO  delcfiates.  The  venerable  Zadock  Casey  presiiled.  More 
than  28  years  before  he  had  presided  over  the  Illinois  senate,  when 
the  leji;islature  declared  the  position  of  the  Static  upon  the  mdlili- 
cation  of  South  Carolina,  sustaining  President  .Jackson  in  his 
l)roclaniation,  and  instJuctiu'^-  our  senators  and  representatives  in 
Congress  "to  unite  in  the  most  s])eedy  and  vi;>()rous  measures  on 
the  jNirt  of  the  governnu'ut  for  the  preservation  of  the  jx-ace,  in- 
tej-rity  and  honor  of  the  Union;  and  we  do  most  solemnly  i)led^o 
the  faith  of  our  State  in  support  of  the  adnnnistration  of  the  laws 
and  constitution  of  our  beloved  country;"  resolving'  further  "That 


YATES    AnMINISTUATION. 


867 


(lisiinidii  by  iiniH'd  force  is  trciiMon,  iui<l  slionld  \iv  troatcd  iis  sik'Ii 
by  [\w  coiistitutcd  iiiitlioritii's  of  tin;  nation."  J'.iit  tiiis  convention 
of  18(J1  adopted  si  i)r(^iuid)le  and  set  of  resoliiUons,  eoiin.sellin<j 
(^nn'ession  and  <M)ni|»i'oniise,  ami  the  acceptanc*'  of  any  »>f  tlio 
jn'opositions  pendin;;'  in  con^^rcss  to  restore  liaimony  between  tlio 
.sections;  declait'd  tiiat  an  etl'ort  to  coerce  tiie  sececbn;;'  States, 
woidd  plnnn'e  tlie  conntry  in  civil  Mar,  and  denied  tlie  niilit;<ry 
])o\ver  <»f  tlie  {i'overnnient  to  enforce  its  laws  in  any  State,  ex'iept 
in  strict  snltordination  to  tlie  civil  antlnirities  ;  believed  '•  tlii;t  tlie 
jterilons  (Mnidition  of  the  conntry  had  l»een  |>ro(iuced  !;\  liie  a;iita- 
tion  of  the  slav«'ry  (piestion,  creatin;^  discoid  and  enmity  between 
thcdillerent  sections,  which  had  i»ecn  aj;jiiavaled  by  the  election 
of  a  sectional  president  ;■'  condemned  tlic*  ])arty  leaders,  madly 
bent  on  fraternal  strife;  did  not  reciojjnize  any  conflict  in  the 
tlivei'sity  of  the  domestic  inslitnlions  and  indnstries  of  the  conn- 
try, but  rather  discoveicd  <;ronnds  for  a  more  lasting- and  iieifcct 
union  in  its  vaiiety  of  soil  and  climate,  and  modes  of  thou^^lit  of 
thejM'ople;  denied  the  ri;;iit  of  secession  ;  commended  thei»idposc(l 
lionisviile  convention,  and  proposed  a  initional  (Convention  to 
amend  the coiistit iilion  so  as  to  prodnce  harmony  and  I'raternity 
tlironj^hont  the.  whole  Tnion.* 

In  th(^  ])r()ceedinj^s  of  this  convention  nniy  be  found  the  names 
of  men,  wli(»,  in  antan'onisni  to  the  hijih  national  ;ii'oiind  occnjiied 
by  Ml'.  Donylas,  ever  souj;lit  to  place  the  democracy  of  lllin(»is  in 
a  false  li^iht  i)ef(tr(!  the  conntry  dnrinp'  the  icbellion.  These  reso- 
lutions foi'ciihadoweil  the  views  which  two  y<'ais  later,  in  a  modi- 
tied  form,  re-appearcd  in  )Ik'  Armistice  resolutions  of  the  L'.'Jd  j^cn- 
eral  assembly, and  a;;ain  in  the  eiinnciations  of  the  so-called  Demo- 
cratic mass  convention  of  the  ITtli  of  .Inne.  I.S(I,'{.  Ibit  thcfnil  force, 
of  the  rebellion  was  not  yet,  iii.Iannary,  l.SOl,  realized.  The  bluster 
of  extremists  was  so  lireat  in  those  days  that  much  of  it  was  dis- 
reyarde<l.  When  the  wai"  was  actually  upon  us,  many  other  names 
seen  there  as  parti<ripants,  by  their  patrioti<;  and  ;;allant  coiidnct, 
j;ave  the  lie  to  these  enunciations.  And  prior  to  this,  in  Decem- 
ber, lS(i(),  the  Hon.  .lolin  A.  McClernand,  a  leadinj;  re|»reseiitative 
<leme"rat  in  con<;ress  from  this  State,  in  the  discussions  incident 
to  the  state  of  the  Union,  had  exclaimed  that 

"The  s:\ercil  oldiiLfiitions  of  i)atriotisiu  would  i)r()nii)t  every  loyal  citi- 
zen, whether  in  the  rsorth  or  in  the  Soutli,  to  (h-feinl  and  iiiiiintain  the 
nite^rity  of  the  I'liieii  and  the  authority  of  its  ooiunion  K'*v<'riinieiit 
against  the  inroads  of  violeiK-e.  *  *  Is  it  eoercion  of  a  Stale  for 
us  to  do  what  we  are  sworn  to  do  — to  support  tlu^  «"(>iiHtitutioii  and  the 
laws  and  treaties  as  the  sui)reiiie  law  of  tlie  land  '.'  Is  it  coercion  for  us 
to  niaintain  iteaeealily  if  we  can,  (■ori'il>ly  if  w<.'  must,  possession  of  the 
tie.i^ure  and  oilier  property  of  the  United  Slates?  Is  it  coercion  for  us 
lo  stay  the  violent  and  lawless  hand  that  woidd  tear  down  the  noliio 
slrn<'ture  of  our  government?  Sir,  it  is  a  perversion  of  all  lanj,Miage  ;  u 
mockery  of  all  ideas, to  say  so." 

■Mr.  I)ou.ijlas,  devote<lIy  attached  to  the  riiion,  and  anxiously 
laboring,'  i'or  conciliation  and  compr<niiise,  exclaimed  to  the  South: 
'•  What  are  you  afraid  of?  Y<tii  have  nf>w,  ami  will  have  when  Mr. 
Lincoln  becomes  president,  twothii'ds  of  the  fi'overnment,  the 
suj)reme  (M)urt.  anil  both  branches  of  conj;r(!ss.''  I'nable  to  assign 
a  sullicient  leason,    it  was  answered  that  they  could  not  endure 

*   Illinois  state  Kegistcr,  Jan.  17,  1801. 


8G8 


HISTOUY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


tln'  (lisufi'iico  of  a  man  in  the  Wliite  Ilonsc,  ohuitcd  picsid^nt  by 
tlic  llcpiibliciiiis.  "Well,"  replied  Doiigliis,  "If  the  South  se- 
cedes iiiid  takes  ni>  arms  ayainst  liie  yovernmiMit,  there  will  then 
be  ail  end  of  eompromise.  You  and  your  institutions  will  i)erish 
to.ii«'tlier.''' 

The  legislature  t)f  Vir<;inia  had  adoi)ted  resolutions,  extendinjj 
invitations  to  the  other  States  of  the  Union,  to  ai)poiiit  eonnnis- 
iiioners  to  meet  at  \Vashinf.";ton,  Febrniiry  4th,  18(11,  with  similar 
commissioners  from  that  State,  to  eonsider  and  sujif;<'st  plans  lor 
the  adjustment  of  the  unhapjiy  ditlereuees  between  the  North  aud 
South.  The  Itasis  of  adjustment  snij^yested  by  Virginia  was  the 
"  ('rittendt'ii  Compromise;"  or  to  so  amend  the  federal  constitu- 
tion that  "[)r.  perty  in  African  slaves  should  be  etfectually  pro- 
tected in  all  the  territory  of  the  Uidted  States,  now  held,  or  here- 
after to  be  acipnred  south  of  the  i)araliel  of  .'3(j  dey.  30  min.,  dur- 
iuji'  the  continuance  of  territorial  {••overnments  therein."  The 
legislature  of  lUimns  (Itepublican)  authorized  the  govermu-  toaii- 
point  o  ct)niniissioners,  as  above,  to  be  at  all  times,  however,  sul)- 
ject  to  the  c»)ntrol  of  the  general  assembly,  but  disclaimed  any 
admission,  by  their  response  to  the  invitation  of  Virginia,  that  any 
amendment  of  the  federal  constitution  was  re(]uisite  to  secure  the 
l)eoi)le  of  the  slaveholding  States  ade(piate  guarantees  for  their 
rights,  or  that  it  was  an  approval  of  the  basis  of  settlement  pro- 
posed l)y  A'irginia;  aud  declared  it  simply  an  expression  of  their 
willingiu'ss  to  unite  in  an  earnest  ettort  to  adjust  the  present  un- 
happy controversies.  The  resolutions  in  that  form  did  not  mt'et 
the  a[»i>roval  of  the  democrats.  In  the  senate  every  democrat,  but 
one,  voted  against  them.  The  governor  appointed  tlie  following 
gentlemen  as  commissioners:  Ex-Governor  John  Wood,  Ex-Gov- 
ernor Koerner,  (who  declined,  and  the  Hon.  John  M.  Palmer  was 
named  instead).  Judge  Stephen  T.  Logan,  Hon.  J3.  0.  Cook 
and  Hon.  Thomas  J.  Turner,  all  repul'"i;ans.  The  conference  of 
these  commissioners,  knowni  as  the  "Peace  Congress,"  was  duly 
held  at  Washington,  but  their  labors  were  unsatisfactory  from  the 
start,  incurring  the  severest  criticism  from  every  direction  and 
their  recommendations  resulted  in  nothing. 

The  first  deternuned  expression  from  leading  republican  sources, 
and  sup[)osed  to  reflect  the  views  of  the  new  administration  as  to 
the  course  to  be  pursvicd  with  the  rebels,  came,  also,  from 
an  Illinoisan.  On  the  USth  of  March,  ISGl,  Mr.  Trumbull, 
lu  the  senate  of  the  United  States,  offered  a  resolution  that  "in 
the  opinion  of  the  senate  the  true  way  to  preserve  the  Union  [was] 
to  enforce  the  laws  of  the  Union;  that  resistance  to  their  enforce- 
ment, whether  under  the  name  of  anti-coercion  or  any  other  name, 
Avas  disunion  ;  and  that  it  was  the  duty  of  the  president  to  nse  all 
the  means  in  his  power  to  hold  and  protect  the  public  property  of 
the  United  States,  ami  to  enforce  the  laws  thereof,  as  well  in  the 
States  of  St)uth  Carolina,  Georgia,  Alabanni,  Mississii)pi,  Florida, 
Louisiana  and  Texas,  as  within  the  other  States  of  the  Uiuon." 
It  was  not  a(;ted  on ;  no  fixed  policy  was  settled  upon  or  seemed 
to  exist  at  the  time. 

AVhen  the  news  of  the  rebels  opening  their  batteries  upon  Fort 
Sumter  was  received  at  Washington,  Douglas,  the  great  champion 
of  popularriglits,whotruly  representednu)re  than  nine-tenths  of  the 
mass  of  the  Illinois  democracy,  freed  immediately  of  all  partizan  feel- 


YATES'  ADMINISTRATTON. 


809 


ing,  rose  at  once,  to  the  duty  of  the  hour.  He  called  ni)oii  President 
Lincoln  and  tciulered  liini  his  sympathy  and  support  in  his  ett'orts 
to  preserve  the  Union  and  maintain  tlie  government.  It  was  a 
toucliiuj;'  seene  to  see  these  old  political  antagonists  thus  meet  to 
bury  the  political  luitcdiet  and  address  themselves  only  to  the  pa- 
trioti<!  work  before  them.  Tlie  president  was  deeply  gratified  by 
tin'  interview.  To  the  west  Dcmglas  telegraphed,  "  I  am  for  my 
country  and  against  all  its  assailants."  Tiie  lire  of  his  patriotism 
spread  to  the  masses  of  tlio  north,  and  democrat  and  republican 
rallied  to  the  supi)ort  of  the  Hag.  In  Illinois  the  deniocratic  and 
republi(!an  presses  vied  with  each  other  in  the  utterance  of  patri- 
otic; sentiments.    From  the  former  we  quote  n  few  sentences: 

"Tlio  trutrlcldnl  blow  hns  boon  stnu-k!  Civil  war  Is  \ipoii  \ia.  The  rctxils  hnvo  opened 
bmifriua  on  Siiintor,  miii  the  jn'ospeet  of  ii  Ioiir-  mid  bloody  strlle  Is  before  us.  *  * 
The  iroverniiient  has  been  resisted  in  the  porl'orniunce  of  its  le^nl  functions.  Uebels 
to  the  nut ioniil  iiuthoi'ities  have  tired  upon  the  Hag  of  the  country  luiil  assaulted  ono 
of  its  (garrisons  when  effort  was  bein^ir  niude  to  leinforce  and  provision  the  noble  An- 
derson and  his  ffulliint  little  band.  ♦  '  Whatever  may  be  men's  opinions  as  to 
the  causes  whieli  liave  brou)fht  war  upon  us,  there  is  but  one  fe(!linK,  and  that  is  in 
behalf  of  the  luitional  jroTcrnineiit  ami  the  llajr  of  the  Union.  This  is  as  it  sho'iid  bo 
with  the  true  i)atriot.  \Vhatever  may  be  his  opinions  of  tlio  causes  of  the  war  witii  hia 
country's  enemies,  he  is  for  his  country  and  Ills  country's  tlajr,  and  liis  hearty  support, 
nioriilly  and  physically,  if  neoi'ssary,  should  be  rend'.'red  to  the  (.'ountry's cause.  *  * 
Civil  war  is  our  prrseiit  condition,  and  the  patriot  can  only  syinpathi/.e  with  his  Koveru- 
meiit  iiiiii  with  th(^  It  i^',  beneath  the  folds  of  which  we  have  achieved  our  national 
eminence,  with  which  are  associated  so  many  glorious  memories,  and  with  wliich  are 
blendeil  all  our  hojuis  of  future  (freatiiess,  liuppineas  and  piospejity  of  civil  and  relitr- 
lousliherty,  and  tliec;iuseof  deinoer.itlcrepul)ll(!;uiKoverninent.''  "Whatover  may  bo 
our  party  loaning;j,  our  party  principles,  our  lilies  or  dislikes,  when  the  contest  opens 
bet  weenthe  country— between  the  If  nion  and  its  foes,  and  blows  are  struck,  the  pa- 
triot's duty  is  plain— take  sides  with  the  stars  and  stripes.  As  Illinoisans,  let  us  rally 
to  one  standard.  There  is  but  one  stamlard  for  good  men  and  true.  Let  us  lie  there; 
through  good  and  through  evil  report,  let  us  be  there;  llrst,  lait  and  all  the  time."* 

Large  and  niuiierously  attended  mass  meetings  met,  as  it  were  with 
one  accordj  irrespective  of  parties,  and  the  people  oif  all  shades  of 
polititjal  oi)ini()ns  bulled  tlieir  party  hatchets.  Glowing  and  elo- 
queut  orators  exhorted  the  people  to  ignore  political  differences  in 
the  i)n'sei((  crisis,  join  in  the  common  cause,  and  rally  to  the  Hag 
of  the  Union  and  the  coustitutiou.  it  was  a  noble  truce.  From 
the  many  resolutions  of  that  great  outpouring  of  patriotic  senti- 
ment which  ignored  all  ^'revioiis  party  ties,  we  subjoin  the  follow- 
ing :  , 

"Kcso/ird.Thatitls  tlie  duty  of  all  patriotic  citizens  of  Illinois,  without  distinction  of 
party  or  sect,  to  sustain  the  government  through  the  peril  which  now  threatens  the 
existence  of  the  Union;  and  of  our  legislature  to  grant  such  aid  of  men  and  money  aa 
the  exigency  of  the  hour  und  tlie  patriotism  of  our  people  shall  demand." 

(xovernor  Yates  promi)tly  issued  his  prochimation,  dated  the 
15th  of  April,  convening  the  legislatur-.i  for  the  l'3d  inst.  in  extra- 
ordinary session. 

That  body  remained  in  session  ten  days.  Their  labors  ■were 
ehielly  aildressed  toward  [ilaciiig  the  State  in  proper  position  for 
defense,  and  to  enable  it  to  respciid  to  the  requisitions  of  the 
general  government.  In  addition  to  the  Oregiments  under  the  call  of 
the  president,  they  authorized  the  organization,  by  the  State,  of  ten 
regiments  of  infantry,  one  of  cavalry,  and  one  batallion  of  light 
artillery,  to  repel  invasion,  suppress  insurrection,  &c.  The  entire 
militia  of  the  State,  including  all  able-bodied  men  between  the 
ages  of  l.S  and  4r»,  was  to  be  organized;  $o,5(>(),00()  were apjiropri- 
atcd  for  war  purjioses  :  !%  1,(100,(100  for  the  tiquipment  of  the  ten 
regiments  of  infiiiitry  ;  $r)00,000  for  the  purchase  of  arms  ami  the 
establishment  of  an  ar.seiial,  and  $U,000,000  for  general  war  pur- 
poses. 

*  Illinois  State  Register. 


87(> 


IIIHTOIJY    OK    ll.MNOIS. 


i 


n 


Tiic  o|tiiiioii  of  the  Sii|)i('iiic  (  (iinl,  iiicii  .sitting  at  Olluwii,  vmih 
lirst  taken  as  totlu*  power  nf  lliclf;;i.sliitiii'(>  to  traiiscciMl  tliceoii- 
Htitiilioiiiil  limitation  of  ii<.*>(>,(i()0.  'I'iic  «'.\lraoi(linar,v  *'iiifr;;ciicy 
N\ a.s  tlt'i'itiiMl  lolif  Miriiciciji. 

Tlie  l']\c(uilive  depart  incut  was  also  pro\itleil  witli  a  i'nnti  of 
)j<,")(»,(l(M)  lor  exiiaoitlinarv  exjieiises.  An  ael  was  al.s<»  passed  le- 
tpiirin;;  uar  claims  to  lie  ainliled  li\  tlirec  commissioners.  Messrs, 
i).  II.  Wdodwoi'lli.  of  ('liica;;o,  W  ni.  Thomas,  of  .lacksonv  iile  and 
(.'.  II.  lianpliiei,  Spi'in;;liel*l,  (the  latter  a  dennx-ial,)  were  \t\  the 
;;'overnor  app(Mnled. 

I'olil  ical  (M' pai't,\  tjiU'slions  weie  not  oiiirnded  to  nnir  the  liar- 
niony  of  the  s|M'ciai  session,  otlier  than  a  loohition  li.v  Aaron 
Sliiiw — "That,  while  we  are  ever  veadv  to  stand  1»\,  and  dereiid 
with  oiir  loll  lines,  and  on  r  li\  es,  the  eons!  it  ill  ion,  the  honor  and 
lla;.Cor  our  coiinli',v,  wi- w  ill  frown  n|)on  and  condemn  an\  elfoit, 
on  the  part  of  the  federal  i^ovcriinicnl,  w  liicli  looks  to  the  siihjii- 
j;ation  of  ihe  Soiitliern  Stales."  .Mr.  Miirr,  demoi'ial  <d' Scott,  from 
the  com  mi  I  lee  on  federal  re  la  I  ions,  reported  a  siibsl  itiite,  w  hich  was 
adopted  l),\  (iTtoO,  disclaiming;  a  purpose  to  .siili.iii;;ale  the  people; 
of  an,v  Slat(' to  anyolher  duties  than  those  imposed  l),y  tin-.  <-oii- 
Htitntioii  and  laws  made  in  piirsiiance  thereof. 

On  the  evening  of  Ihe -."ilh  of  .\pril.  .Mr.  I)oii;;Ias,  who  liad  ar- 
riveti  at  Ihe  cajntal  the  da.\  before,  addressed  the  ycneial  assem- 
bly and  H  densely  packed  audience, in  the  hall  of  representatives, 
in  tliatinasterly  eliort,  which  miisl  live  and  lie  enshrined  in  the 
jieails  of  his  count  ryineii  so  Ion;;  as  onr  ;:overiiment  shall  eiidnre. 
I)on};las  had  ever  deli^^hted  in  the  mental  conlli(;ts  ol  parly  strife  ; 
l>iit  now,  when  hiscoiinlry  wasassaih'd  by  the  red  hand  of  trea 
.son,  he  was  instantly  discstcd  of  his  parly  armor  and  stood  forlli 
jianoplied  only  in  the  pure  ;;ai'b  of  a  true  patriot.  He  tan;;lit  his 
iindilory — he  laii;;lit  his  country,  for  his  speeches  were  tele;;raph- 
ed  all  ()V<'r  it — the  duty  ofpalriotism  at  that  perilous  hoiirof  tin; 
liatiotTs  life.  He  im])lored  boili  democrats  and  repnblieans  to  lay 
aside  their  l»aity  creeds  and  platforms;  to  dispcnsi;  with  party  or- 
pinizations  and  party  ai»peals;  to  for^^et  that  they  were  ever  di- 
vided until  they  had  lirst.  icsciied  the  ;;'overninent  from  its  assail- 
ants. His  aii;iimeiits  were  clear,  convincing;  and  nnanswcrable ; 
his  appeals  for  tin;  salvation  of  his  eountry,  irre-sistible.  Jt  was 
the  last  speech,  but  one,  he  ever  made. 

Tims  excrythinj;'  moved  inacc(M'd,as  it  should  at  such  a  time. 
The  demon  of  paity  seemed  sw allow <'d  np  in  the  awakened  patri- 
otism. Eveiythinj;  was  haiiiiony,  concord  and  unity,  actuated  by 
Init  one  purjtose,  to  uphold  the  lla;;'  and  maintain  tin;  integrity  uf 
the  Union. 

The  first  rippl(!  aeross  this  smooth  sea,  in  which  api)an!ntly  was 
en^ulphe<l  all  party  animosity,  arose  from  the  appointment  of  a 
KiK'cessor  to  the  lame,nt(Ml  Doujjlas,  who  dieil  on  the  ."{il  of  flun<;, 
IStil.  Some  of  the leadini;'  republican  newspapers  of  the  State, 
aettiiated  by  sentiments  that  rose  above,  party,  demanded  of  (lov. 
Yates  the  appointment  of  a  Demociat  to  till  flu;  vacancy.  But 
the  lesser  tlion<,di  mor((  numerous  republican  lij;lits,  who,  so  loiij;" 
as  there  was  nothing  to  lose  or  j;ain,  had  been  loud  in  praise  of 
buryin;,'  th<'  party  hatchet  diirinj,'  the  war  for  the,  Union,  now, 
however,  opposed  this  ma;;naiiiin(nis  concession,  .so  well  eahtnla- 
ted  to  promote  harmony,  and  severely  denounced  this  step  and  the 


yateh'  adminihtuation. 


«71 


iiidi'cj'iit  Imsto  of  tlicir  ])nrty  associiitoH  to  tniido  tlin  jxilitical  sen- 
tiiiK'iits  (»r  ilni  Htiilc.  TIh'v  (lid  not  wiiiil  to  tliiiM  l»iiv  Wtc  l(»Milty 
of  tliti  dciMocriicv,  tlh'V  Hiiid.  'I'lic  dciiiocriiry  was  not  to  Ito 
tiiistcd  ill  tlui  ciiici'^ifiicy  wliicli  tiiiciitciM'd  tjic  pcipctiiity  ol  llio 
('nioii — ciliii;;'  tiii^  aiilicoficioii  i'<>.soliilioris  of  tii<- .laiiiiiiry  Statn 
dcinocrati*;  <-onv<'iilioii,  that  tiic  ;;<>v('riiiiifiit  liiid  no  conslitiition- 
ui  power  to  put,  down  insiii'i'cct ion  l)y  military  foict'.  I'loni  tliis 
doMH-stic  warfat'o  tlit-deinociacy  stood  aloof ;  they  did  not  ('\p('(;t 
llic  .senators  I  dp,  ii  political  ollirc,  as  a  ;;iri,  at  I  lie  liiinds  of  t  In-  n-- 
jaihlicaiis.  lint  it  may  wi-ll  lie  ima;;ined  that  tlie  taunts  and 
ilin^^H  of  tlu;  lii<  >>i'  wtMc.  not  promotive,  of  tli(!  ninity  uiid  unity  of 
feelin;,' so  aiispiei(Misly  l)e;;nn.  While  the  advocates  of  such  a|»- 
jHiinlment  ;:ave  thus  an  ciirnest  to  sink  tiar  |)aiti/iin  out  of  view 
diirin;;  tlie  wai',  they  onj,dit  to  hiive  loreseen  tlni  inal)iiity  of  his  ex- 
celieney  to  thr(»w  (df  party  shac^klcs  and  rise  to  the  grandeur  nnd 
independiMKte  of  such  an  act.  Their  ;,'ood  intentions  residlcd  oidy 
in  harm.  The  ;;oM-rnor  appointed  a  ie|iui)licaii,  th(^  llon.O.  II. 
Jirownin;,^,  (d'C^nincy,  a  ;;cntieman  who,  hy  his  le;;al  attainnu-nts, 
(KM-npied  a  fi'oiit  rank  at  the  bar  of  Illinois,  and  who,  hy  edmta- 
tion,  lar;{e  ac(piaintan<;e  with  pnl)li<' alfairs,  n:itnral  altiiity  and 
Hilis  <d'<»ralory,  was  in  every  way  (pialilied  to  adorn  th«r  senatorial 
ollice. 

In  th(^  meantime  the  national  administration  proceeded  witli 
the  work  ofotlicial  deciijiilation  fnliy  as  ninch  as  in  timi-s  of  j)ro- 
fiMind  pea(;e,  with  no  common  dan;;cr  liireatenin^j;  and  no  other 
])nhiic  feelin;:'  tlnin  party  animosity,  and  a  seramiiie  for  the  loaves 
and  lishes.  While  the  dondnant  party  press  cried  "(,'nion'' and 
'Mio  part.v"  diirin;;  the,  war,  they  apjtndiatcd  at  the  same  time  the, 
coursi;  ofth(!  atlnnnistration,  and  said:  '-TluMlemocrats  )ielon;L;°  to 
that  politicral  trilxr  which,  for  years,  have  been  ;;iviny,  aid  and  com- 
fort to  Southern  trnitors,  and  are  now  only  for  the  IJidon  hy  the 
force,  of  circumstances  an<l  not  iiurliniition  ;  that  the  repidtiicaii 
party,  after  diivin;,;-  thi!  disunionists  out  of  ollicre  at  Washin;;ton, 
Khould  not  allow  their  sympathizers  to  liold  ollici^  anywhen;  elso 
in  the  c<innlry ;  that  tln^  j»coi»le  »!.\i»ected  tlie  political  axe  to  ho 
applied."* 

Democrats  and  reiud)licaiis  had  alike  rallied  with  alaciity  totho 
defense,  of  the,  nation.  The  former  voted  unlindted  siipjdies  of 
money,  men  anti  credit,  to  an  administration  which,  in  its  civil  ap- 
jtointments,  drew  the,  line  of  strict  party  separation — ii  poor  le- 
qnital,  indeed,  for  the  generous  surrender  of  party  feelin;;'  in  the 
moment  (»f;:reat  jteril  to  a  common  ;;()vernment ;  and  while  the  i'<!- 
puhiicaiis  were  thus  rcvelliii;;  in  the,  full  enjoyment  of  the  spoils 
of  party  vititory,  it  could  hardly  b(M'Xp<'ctcd  that  f)arti/an  fcelin;j 
shoidd  he  entirelv  sunk  out  of  view  I»\  the  dem.niraciy  thus  iriita- 
ted. 


Tlic  Cotixtitittioudl  Conrentinn  of  ].S()2. —  In  Nove'n.ber,  ISOl, 
quite  an  important  election  was  to  take  place  for  dele;;'ates  to  re- 
vise th(^  constitution.  This  convention  had  tinally  been  author- 
ized by  a  vote  of  the  ]»eople,  after  several  ju'cvious  attempts  and 
failures.  The  le;;'islature  at  its  vvintersession  of  18(51,  with  Homo 
relucitance,  owing  to   the  changed    conditiou  of  the  nation,  had 

*Seo  Itepublican  press  of  thu  period. 


873 


III8TUUV  OV  ILLmoiH. 


IMiNscd  Ww.  iu!l  for  tli«  i'lc(!ti(>iiiiiMlni('HiitKof  tliJH  im|K»rlinit  IhxI.v, 
VVIi(;ii  tlir  (oiivciilioii  '..iiH  ciillcd  liiin-.s  wcr(i  yootl  aiiW  llic  Sliihi 
ill  II  pro.sjM'iou.s  coiKlilioii;  now  tln-y  wi'ii!  Iiinil,  liaiikN  <liiily 
broakiii;,',  inoiic.v  woiHiIi-nh,  iiiid  produce  cxlrciiicl.y  low. 

It  was  to  coiiMisI  of  7r>  iiM'inlM'r.s,  corit-HpoiHliii;,'  l<i  llic,  iiiiiiilicr 
of  icpresi'iilalivcs  in  the  lower  Iioiinc,  of  llie  ;ieiieral  aHMeiiilily,  to 
lie  eleeled  from  tiie  NaiiK*,  diKlriet.s.  'J'lie  le^iisialille  elecled  jii 
\HiH)  was  repiildieaii — the  hoiiNe  ity  live  iiiajorily  ii'id  tiie  senate 
by  one.  Vet  the  election  of  deh'«;afes  to  the  (-(Histitiit ional  eon- 
vention,  lint,  one  year  later,  resulted  in  4'>  denioerats,  L'l  lepnldi- 
ciiiiN,  7  fiisioiiists,  and  lidonhtfnl;  tlii^  latter  U  a<;tiiiu  in  the  eoii- 
veiiti«»n  mostly  with  the  demoeiats.  l-'rom  this  result,  wliieh  was 
entirely  iinexpeeied  l»y  the  lepuiilit-aiis,  it  may  well  Im;  inferred 
that  the  democrats,  liko  their  opponents,  iiad  also  not,  when  tliu 
Hcramble  for  ollice  was  at  stake,  sunk  all  parly  issues  out.  of  \  i(!W 
wliih-  the  war  should  last.  Jiide<-d,  for  parly  oiyaiiization  and 
alertness,  demociatii-  leaders  have!  ever  out  maneuvered  their  op- 
jionents,  piohahly  liecanse  the  rank  and  tile  (d"  tlu'ir  parly  hav«} 
liVer  been  tractable.  It  seems  thai  the  democracy  in  some  repub- 
lican dist  ricis  readily  at,M'eed  toa  fusion  upon  an  eipiilabh- or  s;''i.s- 
factoiy  division  of  candidates,  but  in  disliicis  where  they  had  (tiear 
liiajoriti(!S,  tliise,o;,Miate  riih;  was  i;inor(!d,  a  «trai;4ht  party  ticket 
brou;^ht  out,  and  <;le(;t<Ml. 

Anion;,' the  dele;;ates  were,  many  well  known  ])oliticiaiis  <d"  the 
State.  In  the  list  of  names  may  be,  recit^iiiized  e.\j;(»vernors,  ex- 
coii^^iM'ssmen,  e.\  State  ollicials,  ex  lej,Mslalors,  learned  Jurists  wlui 
lield  on  to  their  seats  upon  the  btMicli  while  they  were,  reiiiodelin;^ 
the  oif^anic!  law,  distiii;;uisli<!d  lawyers,  experieiuMMl  editors,  anil 
able  civilians. 

The  convention  assemliled  .laniiary  7tli,  1S(>L',  and  at  once  t<iok 
tlie  lii;;li  position  that,  after  due  oi<;aiii/atioii,  the  law  (tailing  it 
was  no  longer  biiidin;,^  and  that  it  ha<l  supreme  jiower;  that  it 
represented  a  virtual  assembla^eof  the  whole,  iieoph-  of  tlieState, 
and  wa.s  sovenujiii  in  the  <'xercise  of  all  power  iiecisssary  to  etleet 
a  peaceable  revolution  of  the  State  J4<»\eriiiiieiit,  aifd  l(»the  restab- 
lishment  of  om^  for  the  '' ha|t|»iness,  {uosiierity  and  freedom  of 
Die  (;iti/<'ii,"limitedonly  by  the  federal  constitution.  Nt)t  withstand- 
\u<X  the  law  calliii;;'  the  (convention  re(piired  that,  liefore  eiiterin;^ 
upon  their  duties,  the  members  should  <-acli  take  an  oath  tosiip- 
porl  the,  conslitiitioii  of  the  l.'nited  Slates,  and  of  this  State,  th(!y 
utterly  refus((d  to  include  the,  liitter,  denyiii<i  the  ri;;lit  of  the  lej^- 
islature  to  prescrilxt  their  oath  of  olliicc,  and  lioldiii;^-  it  inconsistent 
for  them  to  swear  to  inaiiitaiii  wliat  it  was  their  duty  to  tear  to 
pieces.* 

They  claiiiKMl  tlieir  aiitliority  from  the  votii  of  tlie  people  at  tlio 
election  of  bSOO,  and  iiol,  from  the  siibsecpient  actof  the  le;,nsla- 
ture,  which  liad  exhausti'd  ilspowerby  authorizing;  their  el(;c,tiou 
and  could  atta(;li  no  condition  to  their  dutil^s;  that  if  the  legisla- 
ture could  bind  them  in  their  oath,  it  could  in  the  articbss  to  bo 
amended,  and  thus  in  advanci!  render  null  the  voice  of  the  peo- 
ple and  the  labors  of  the  convention. 


*8ce  roinurks  of  Mr.  Anthony,  of  Cook,  a  republican,  who  Urat  called  atteatioa  to 
this  view. 


YATEH'  ADMINIHTKATHIN.  873 


TIh'.v  went  (artlicr,  iiiiil  aMHcrlcil  llicii'  MiiiiciiiiU'V,  not  on*  with 
icrcrciKM- tt)  tlic  liaiiiiiij^  of  uroiistitiitioii,  hut  assiiiiictl  tin-  li^lit 
t<>  (control  the  <'X«'<'utiv«;  i1<'|iaitiiii>iilH  (if  tin*  Stiitit  ^ovrrii- 
)iH'iit--llH-  i^ovi-nioi'  aii<l  Niiltonliiiatr,  Stato  ollicialH — tin*  roiirtH 
uiiil  all  ni;;iiat«r  iiiatlfrH;  that  lh<-\  ^V('n^  HoVMci^ii  with  ir^'anl 
l<i  l)()tli  cxistiiitr  lawH  and  thf.  roiiHtitiitioii,aH  it,  was  their  ph-asiim 
to  will.  'I'hiH  was  hich  ami  rxtraoriliiiai'.N  ^khiikI  to  take,  tlidii^h 
lilt  Mitin-ly  new.  Nor  diil  tl'i-  (■oiiwiitioii  .stop  with  tin-  iimto 
i'iaiiii  of  thcs*'  cxtriionliiiar;,  powci's — it  ^'hsaycd  to  cxt'irist'  tin'iii. 
1'hi.s  led  dit'tMttly  t«iaii  oiiNl<iii;;ht,  rroiii  th<  rcpiililiraii  pics.s  ol  Iho 
Htat«%  which  ;,'n'wiii  Kliai|iii<'.s.s  um  itKsitti.it.'  proyicsHcd.  'I'hc  <-oii- 
Aciitioii  waH^h'iioiiiin'd  as  an  il!(';;ally  or^aiii/.ed  body — u  mere 
Jiiol),  rxcrciKiiijr  (i,sui|i(mI  ]iow<T8,  Hh;. 

'I'Im-  h-yislatiin',  at  iln  Hpcrial  Hcssion  ol'  Api  "  l.'Sfil,  liad,  it  will 
J;»!  icmcmlM'n'd,  w  itii  a  liln-ial  hand,  appidpii  •!  *.'>,.'iO(»,(i()(M'or 
war  piii'iiosi-H.  WImmi  tlm  «;onv(Mitioii  intit  it  MiKu-dily  ascciia  'cd 
that  the  uovci'iior  iiad  not  stopped  with  the  cxpcnditun- of  tho 
iippi'o|it'iatioii,  lint,  without  authority  ol'law,  had  ;;i'fatly  t-xci-idcd 
its  limits — the  at;';r(';iatt' ••laims  audited  liy  the  military  audilinjf 
board  amounting  to  )!(l,SS."i,«8«i.  This  was  in  express  violation  of 
the  law.  Iiiit  these  'iaiiilities  had  lieeii  contra*  te<l  in  :i  crisis  of 
«!Xtraordinary  peril  to  our  country,  to  feed  clothe,  eipiip  and  or- 
^ani/.e  the  troops  of  Illinois  at  a  tiim-  wlhii  the  ;^(iveriiment  itself 
was  in<  xpeiienced  in  e\ery  step  it  took,  and  should  certainly  not 
have  caused  tlui  arraiynnK'Ht  of  the  j;(ivernoi' as  lieinj^  false  to  his 
(iHicial  trust  and  olili;;ations.  lie  had  a  ri^iht  t  >  and  doulitles.s 
did  rely  upon  the  people  for  his  actpnttance,  so  lon^^  as  it  was 
Hhown  that  tiicHe,  expenditures  were,  m-iU'ssary,  and  the  money 
\VHH  rightfully  apiilied,  to  jiidiiiote,  the  comfort  and  eHieiency  of 
<iiir  troops,  r.esides,  the  {general  f,fovernmeiit  was  under  olilifia- 
tioiis — which  it  has  iiilly  discharjicd — to  reiniliurse  the  States  for 
uecu'ssary  expendilunis  in  thee(|iiipnient  of  their  volunteers. 

I5ul  in  the  fall  of  l.S(il,  tln^  I'.  S.  (piarlermaster's  dejiartment 
Hcnt.  its  afjent  to  Sjirin;,'lield  to  lake  char;;('of  all  exjiemlituics  in- 
cident to  the  NUpjilies  and  efjiiipment  of  Illinois  troo]is.* 

This  did  not  accoi'd  with  the  wishes  of  his  excellency.  To  the 
a^icnt's  re(pM'st  to  ndieve,  lli<!  Slate,  the  governor  rejilied  that  ho 
{i\ailed  himself  of  the  ri;;ht  confericd  by  act  of  (.'oii;:;ress  upon 
each  Stat(!  to  fuinish  supplies  for  its  troops,  (,'oiitracts  foi- sup- 
jilies  wer(!  still  given  out,  one  for  clothing  aloiu;  umounting  to 
o\ cr  )!f.SOO,()()().* 

The  State  was  for  a  time  tlireatened  with  a  loss  of  ^l.'JO- 
((()(»,  on  account  of  inferior  clothing  puichased  by  the  gov- 
criKir's  agent,  in  I'hiladelphia.  J-'inally,  liiit  nut  till  in  January, 
LSO.i,  upon  a  sharii  (h-mand  from  the  Secietary  of  War,  th»'  ex- 
jicnditures  and  rich  drijijiings  of  the  (juartermaster's  department 
wen;  turned  over  to  the  geneial  go\criinicnt.  In  this  iiislaiHM!, 
liowever,  the  conduct  of  the  gov(;rn<ir,  by  thus  (ixing  a  liability  upon 
th«  Slat(5  beyond  the  war  fund  jirovided,  in  thefaceof  tln^  demand 
of  the  war  (h'liartment  to  i('li(!V(!  the  State,  cannot  certainly  be  ex- 
temiated  upon  the  grounds  of  luicessity. 


•Si!0  Q.  M.  Gen.  McIks'  lutter  to  the  aovcruor  Sept,  2f,  IWJl. 
*See  corrc^iKiudencc  of  Q.  M.  Ueu.  Meigs. 


874 


HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


Till!  con  veil  tion  iiiiulc  iiiuiiy  of  tlicse  matters  the  subjoct  of  in- 
quiry, Tliey  (loiiiiiiidi'd  of  the  governor,  L)y  resoUition,  to  know 
whetlier  the  j;'eneriil  jiovernnieiit  had  notitled  him  of  its  veadiiiess 
to  relieve  the  State  of  tjie  further  expenditures  in  the  orj^aniza- 
tioii,  equipment  and  maintenance  of  troops  enlisted  in  this  iState 
for  the  service  of  the  11.  8.;  whethi'r  the  j;eiieral  government  had 
not  sent  its  agent  here  for  that  purpose,  and  if  so  why  the  arrange- 
ment had  not  been  made;  also  all  corresiiondence  with  the  gen- 
eral government  in  relation  thereto.  They  called  upon  him  (by 
resolution  of  iVIr.  Wentwoith,  republican)  to  fuinisli  the  conven- 
tion the  names  and  pay  of  all  persons  apiiointed  to  office  by  him 
since  the  beginning  of  the  war,  and  out  of  what  aiiproprjutious 
they  were  ])aid  ;  wliat  civil  oflicers  or  agents  he  was  empowered  to 
api)oint  under  the  constitnt  ion  ;  and  whether  the  militia  of  the  State 
called  into  service  had  been  permitted  toelect  theirown  officers,  and 
if  not,  by  what  authority  he  had  exercised  those  functions,  &:c.  The 
Illinois  Central  If.  11.  Company,  which,  in  its  grant  of  land  from 
Congress,  was  bound,  in  exi)ress  terms,  to  render  to  the  general 
governiiieiit  transportation  for  troops  and  munitions  of  war,  free 
of  charge,  had  brought  against  this  State  a  claim  for  military 
transportation  of  8110,71!),  which  had  been  audited  and  ajj proved 
by  a  majority  (Messrs.  Thomas  and  Woodward)  of  the  State  mili- 
taiy  auditing  board.  The  company  wanted  to  set  ott"  this  claim 
against  the  semi-annual  dividend  of  7  per  centum  of  its  gross 
earnings.  The  convention  iiistru(!ted  the  new  board  of  army  au- 
ditors (the  auditor,  treasurer  and  governor,) to  suspend  all  action 
in  relation  to  this  claim  until  further  notice  from  them.  His  excel- 
lency, in  several  lengthy  communications,  comiilied  with  the  de- 
mands of  the  convention,  setting  forth  in  detail  all  his  transactions 
iiKpiired  about;  but  iinally,  in  a  short  letter,  dated  February  oth, 
1802,  after  stating  that  he  had,  from  the  beginning,  maintained 
that  the  claims  of  the  Central  railroad  could  not  be  brought 
against  the  State  of  Illinois,  but  were  property  chargeable  against 
the  general  government,  he  sharply  delined  his  independence  by 
saying,  "he  did  not  acknowledge  the  right  of  the  convention  to 
instruct  him  in  the  performance  of  his  duty." 

The  convention  went  still  further.  Instead  of  revising  the  con- 
stitution simply,  it  als'-  assumed  legislative  jiowers  and  put  its 
linger  into  almost  every  conceivable  State  affiiir.  It  attempted 
to  crush  the  free  banks  by  instruijting  the  auditor  not  to  issue  to 
any  more  bank  notes  to  circulate  as  money,  unless  the  bank  lirst 
showed,  by  the  affidavits  of  two  credible  witnesses  that  it  had 
on  hands,  always  previous  thereto,  a  cash  capital  of  not  less  than 
$i50,(»(»(> ;  that  it  had  never  refused  to  redeem  its  circulation  iu 
specie;  and  that  at  the  time  of  application  for  further  issues,  it 
had  actually,  and  in  good  faith,  a  paid  in  capital  of  $50,000.  The 
reipiireineiits  of  these  impossibilities  from  the  banks  was,  per- 
haps, well  enough,  to  save  the  people  from  further  losses  by 
"  stnnip-tail "  currency. 

It  also  passed,  by  a  vote  of  39  to  23,  an  ordinance  ratifying  the 
amendment  to  the  constitution  of  the  U.  S..  projiosed  by  joint  res- 
olution of  Congress,  March  2,  18(51:  Article  XIII — "Xo  amend- 
ment shall  be  made  to  the  constitution  which  will  give  to  Con- 
gress the  power  to  abolish  orinterferewithin  any  State  with  tliedo- 
inestic  relations  thereof,  including  that  of  persons  held  to  labor 


YATES'  ADMINISTRATION.  875 

or  service  by  tlie  laws  of  said  State."  Tlio  coiiveiitioii  liml  not 
been  called  for  the  purposeof  ratifying  this  aniendinent,  andCon- 
gress,  which  has  the  selection  of  the  mode  of  ratitication,  had  des- 
igiiiitcd  the  lejjislatures.  Some  leading  democratic  members 
protested  against  this  step,  not  that  they  did  not  approve 
the  amendment,  bnt  becanse  the  convention  had  not  legislative 
power  to  act  in  thei)remise8. 

A  resolution  was  introduced  to  in(piire  into  the  feasibility  of 
electing  a  U.  S.  senator  in  place  of  the  api)ointee  of  the  governor. 
And  this  step  was  en(!ouraged  by  the  democratic  press,  as  it  en- 
eouniged  all  the  proceedings.  Jn  these  ways  the  bitter  hostility  of 
the  entire  rei>ublican  press  of  the  State  was  provoked,  and  it  did 
not  halt  or  hesitate,  but  came  to  the  cliarge  with  a  will.  The  cry 
of  usurpation  was  raised.  It  was  charged  that  the  convention 
■went  out  of  its  legitimate  si)here  to  provoke  a  collision  with  the 
Stale  authorities ;  it  was  denounced  as  a  mob  of  political  dema- 
gogues who  sougiit  by  every  means  to  discredit  the  war  for  the 
Union,  destroy  the  government  and  build  up  secession  democra(!y 
on  its  ruins.  The  strictures  of  the  press  were  unparalleled  in  gross- 
iiess  and  severity.* 

And  now,  February  18,  1SG2,  tlie  convention,  by  a  vote  of  50  to 
1(5,  pas+sed  an  ordinance  approiu'iating  $.10(>,00()  for  the  exclusive 
pur[>ose  of  rel'eving  the  wants  and  sutferings  of  Jllinois  sick  and 
Avoiinded  soldiers  battli)'g  for  the  Union  and  the  constitution. 
To  raise  the  necessary  funds,  10  per  cent,  bomls  were  to  be  imme- 
diately issued,  redeemable  at  the  pleasure  of  the  State.  The 
governor,  treasurer,  and  finance  committee  of  the  convention 
"Were  constituted  a  comnussion  to  properly  expeml  this  fund.  J)ut 
this  most  gen ;'rous  action  was  characterized  by  Kepuhlicans  as  a 
Demociatic  ell'ort  to  nuUie  political  capital  out  of  the  war.  The  cou- 
Aeiilion  was  ridiculed  as  having  gone  off  on  a  buiu;onib  ordinance, 
aiul  its  mend)i!rs  snt^eringiy  denounced  as  eleventh-hour  [)atriots. 
The  bonds  bearing  the  enormous  rate  of  10  i)er  cent,  interest,  it 
\vas  argued,  would  astonish  the  iiiumcial  centres  of  the  country; 
that  tiie  whole  scheme  was  meant  to  aim  a  blow  at  the  credit  of 
the  State,  to  give  aid  and  comfort  to  the  rebellioji.  So  ditticult  is 
it  Ibi' one  party  to  [(lease  another,  with  the  most  liberal  acts  even, 
in  favor  of  a  cause  es[)oused  by  both.  Notwithstanding  a  resolu- 
tion directing  the  prei)aratioii  of  the  bonds  and  their  sale,  the 
State  odicials,  all  Republicans,  wholly  ignortnl  the  behests  of  the 
convention,  and  the  oidinance  Ix'canie  a  dead  letter.  Thesicicand 
wounded  Jllim)is  soldiers  received  no  State  aid,  said  the  Demo- 
crats, because  it  was  not  tln^  act  of  the  dominant  party.  As  the 
convention  i)ossessedi)robably  no  legislative  power,  the  ordinance 
was  doubtless  a  nullity,  and.  t)ie  bojids  would  have  been  worthless 
in  market. 

;S'(>»/e  Features  of  the  Instrnmcnt  framed:     '  ~     ~ 

Sec.  30,  Article  11,  provided  tluit  "  The  people  of  this  State  hiive  the 
exclusive  rif^lit  of  governing  themselves  as  a  free,  sovereign  and  inde- 
pendent Stale,  and  do  ami  forever  shall   enjoy  and  exercise  every  power 


*A  correspondent  of  tlio  Chicoffo  Tribune  boldly  charged  that  31  members  of  the 
convutition  helonsrcd  to  the  Kniiilits  of  the  Golden  Circle  -coninionly  rLMHitoil  to  bo  a 
trcusDiiiililc  noliticiU  orjriiiiizution  In  synipntliy  with  the  rebellion.  This  I'oolisli  and 
uiis\i|il)<>ite(l  cliarKo  wii.s  clignilled  by  the  convention  with  tlio  consideration  of  a 
rcsoliilion  to  ininiire  and  I'errot  out  whothor  any  member  did  belong  to  any  .such  or- 
der, or  was  in  treasonable  oorrespoudeucu  with  the  Conl'edoracy;  the  resulutioa 
went  to  Its  urave  by  relcrenee.] 


876 


HISTORY  OP  ILLINOIS. 


Hi 


pertaining  thereto,  which  is  not  and  may  not  thereafter  be  by  tliem  ox- 

Erossly  delegated  to  the  people  of  the  United  States  of  America,  or  pro- 
ibitfd  to  tlie  State  by  the  constitution  of  the  United  States." 

In  this  Kepiiblicans  discovered  lurking  the  aboniinahle  lu'vesy 
of  State  sovereignty  and  the  right  of  secession,  which  set  a  iStiite 
abo\  e  tlie  nation,  and  had  proven  the  bane  of  tlie  Union  ;  wiiich 
fostered  sectionaHsni  and  made  of  one's  own  countrvnien  aliens. 
Long  before  the  labors  of  the  convention  were  concluded,  blind 
l)artisaiusni,lashetl  into  fury,  was  arrayed  against  whatever  might 
be  i»roduced  by  it,  good  or  bad.  When  the  work  was  linally  com- 
pleted and  published,  it  was  at  once  ruthlessly  attacked  by  the 
liepublicans,  notwithstanding  its  many  excellencies  and  great  ini- 
l>roveinent  upon  the  old  constitution.  Its  provisions  Avere  suck 
that  where  responsibility  could  be  attached  it  was  done ;  eveiy- 
thing  was  tixed,  determined  and  rigidly  enforced  upon  the  respec- 
tive departments  of  go^"ernment,  with  nothing  left  to  chance  or 
mischievous  interpretation.  It  guarded  the  interestsof  the  people, 
lessened  taxation,  and  sought  to  compel  an  honest  administration 
of  public  afi'airs  generally.  It  relieved  from  the  useless  2  mill  tax 
of  the  old  constitutioii.  saving  to  the  i)eople  $1,0()(>,()()0  annually. 
It  abolished  the  grand  jury  system  in  all  cases  except  felony. 
This  inquisitorial  institution,  though  venei^able  with  age^  is  a  cum- 
brous and  expensive  nuichinery  in  the  administration  of  justice 
illy  adapted  to  the  dexibility  of  our  day.  The  statistics  of  ISOl 
showed  that  out  of  ■4,(J8li  indictments  found  in  this  iState,  but  'MO 
convictions  were  had,  leaving  ui)on  the  residue  an  indelible  stain 
ftu'  the  ringer  of  scorn  to  i)oint  at,  perhaps  to  the  second  genera- 
tion. The  constitution  placed  a  curb  uponaailroad  corporations, 
both  existing  and  prospective,  and  effectually  limite<l  all  monopo- 
lies. The  7  per  ciiut.  fund,  arising  from  the  gross  earnings  of  the 
Central  llailroad,  was  detinitely  tixed  so  that  no  future  legislature 
might  be  tampered  witii  for  its  removal.  Si)ecial  legislation  was 
l)rohibited,  cutting  up.  by  the  roots,  the  occupation  of  the  lobby 
coiinorants.  All  of  wii'ch  provoked  the  ardent  hostility  of  the 
many  large  and  intluential  interests  affected,  which  thus  reinforced 
the  partisan  opposition  to  it  with  a  powerful  auxiliary. 

lUit  upon  the  other  hand,  it  should  also  be  said  that  in  contradis- 
tinctionof  the  ancient  theory,  that  the  iState  is  the  fountain  of  jus- 
tice which  can  do  no  wrong,  it  contained  a  ])r(»visi(>n  ibr  bringing 
suits  against  the  State  prostrating  its  sovereignly  at  the  feet  of  every 
one,  and  opening  a  Pandora's  box  to  let  loose  all  manner  of  frauds 
upon  the  common  treasury.  Apportionments,  whether  fair  or 
otherwise,  always  give  partisan  offense,  and  it  was  so  with  the 
Avork  of  the  convention.  A  revision  of  the  census  of  18G0,  entitled 
Illinois  to  14  instead  13  congressmen,  the  State  having  been 
apportioned  for  13  by  the  legislature  in  18G1.  The  convention 
plan  gave  to  each  i)olitical  party  7  members;  but  as  the  liepubli- 
cans felt  that  they  had  a  popular  majority  in  the  State,  tliey  pre- 
ferred a  congressnuin  at  large.  The  opjxjnents  further  charged 
that  while  by  the  census  of  IStiO,  the  l{ei)ub!;can  counties  con- 
tained a  population  of  1)-I2,00."i,  and  tlie  Democratic  7()'.),74S,  yet 
by  the  api)ortioinnent  ibr  members  of  the  legislature,  the  latter 
Avould  have  19  of  the  3.'*)  senators,  and  57  of  the  102  rejirescnta- 
tives,  and  that  it  was  so  contrived  that  if  the  former  should  carry 
the  State  by  a  popular  majority  the  general  assembly  would  still 


YATES'  ADMINISTRATION.  877 

Ih>  (Iciiioonitic.  In  makiiifj  State  ofticers  elective  biennially  instead 
ot'<|iia(li'eiiuiall.v,  the  eonveiition  coinniitted  its  gravest  bliuuler  by 
disiiii.s.sinjj'  IVoin  otlice  the  incumbents,  wliose  terms  would  be  but 
liiilf  expired,  and  ordering  a  new  election  in  November,  ]8(!:3; 
■\vliile  tiie  circuit  and  county  clerks,  mostly  democratic,  were  re- 
tained till  the  exi)iration  of  their  full  terms.  This  Avas  an  unjust 
])iirtisan  disminiination,  whi(;Ii  the  peojjle  would  not  brook,  and 
they  defeated  the  instrument  in  June  following.  Six  diflerent 
])i'(>])ositions  were  sei)arately  subnutted  to  a  vote  of  the  people. 
The  (Constitution  ])roper,  the  article  prohibiting  baidvs,  and  the 
congressional  apportionment,  were  all  defeated,  the  former  by  a 
niiijority  of  10,(>.">1.  ]]ut  the  article  pi'ohibiting  negroes  and  nui- 
luuoi's  from  settling  in  the  State,  was  carried  by  l(H»,i"»i)0  majority ; 
tiiat  prohibiting  their  voting,  by  176,271,  with  only  ;i."),(U1)  votes 
agninstit;  and  the  requiring  these  ])rovisions  to  be  carried  into 
elfect  by  a[>])ropriate  legislation,  by  154,.j24  majority.  Such  was 
tiieu  still  the  overwhelmingly  donnnant  sentiment  of  the  people 
of  this  State  with  regard  to  tlie  political  status  of  the  black  man. 
Three  monthsafter  tliis  overwhebning  expression  of  the  people  of 
Illinois,  Mv.  Liiucoln  issued  his  preliminaryproclamation  of  freedom, 
totlu'Atiican  bondsmen  of  America;  and  in  November  following,tho 
State,  which  in  .Tune  cast  over  lO.OOO  votes  majority  against  the 
constitution  as  a  party  mensure,  went  largely  against  the  Itepub- 
liciins,  the  J)emocrats  electing  1)  out  of  the  14  congressmen,  in- 
cluding the  cougressnum  from  the  State  at  large  by  10,355;  the 
State  Treasurer  and  Sui)erinteiHleut  of  Public  Instniction,  and 
carried  both  houses  of  the  general  assembly.  The  sumnK.T  of 
1S<)2  had  witnessed  the  great  uprising  of  the  peojde  in  the  ready 
volunteering  of  (3(K),()(M)  men,  and  more,  until  the  government  re- 
fused them.  After  the  proclamation,  contraiy  to  the  predictions 
of  (I reel ey,  Andrew  and  Yates,  such  patriotic  scenes  were  not 
again  witnessed.  The  conscri])t  law,  threatened  drafts  and  local 
bounties  afterward  supplied  tlie  demand.  Had  the  constitution 
been  adopted  in  June,  the  State,  by  the  election  of  a  governor  and 
Statci  otlicers  in  November,  Avould  have  wholly  passed  into  the 
Lands  of  the  democrats — whether  for  good  or  evil,  is  left  to  the 
conjecture  of  the  reader. 

Democratic  and  Republican  Conventions  of  1863. — On  the  10th 
of  September,  1802,  the  State  Democratic  Convention  was  held  at 
Springflehl  in  Cook's  Uall.  The  atteiulance  was  not  full,  the  call 
being  for  529  and  the  attendance  381.  The  contest  for  congress- 
man at  large  lay  between  C/ol.  T.  Lyle  Dickey,  of  LaSalle,  a  war 
democrat,  himself  and  sons  having  enlisted  in  the  service  for  the 
Union,  and  James  C.  Allen,  of  Crawford.  The  latter  was  noud- 
nated  on  the  first  ballot,  by  17  majority,  which  was  regarded  as 
an  anti-war  triumph.  Alexander  Starne,  of  Pike,  was  chosen  as 
tlie  candidate  for  treasurer,  and  John  P.  Brooks,  of  Rock  Island, 
for  superintendent  of  public  instruction.  At  this  stage  of  the  pro- 
ceedings no  little  commotion  was  produced  by  W.  13.  Scales,  of 
Gen.  3IcClernand's  staff,  offering  a  series  of  resolutions,  favoring 
a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war,  "  whether  slavery  survived  or 
perished,"  adoi)ting  the  language  of  Mr.  Lincoln ;  and  using  the 
language  of  Mr.  Douglas — "  There  are  only  two  sides  to  the  ques- 
tion— every  mau  must  be  for  the  United  States  or  against  it. 


878 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


m 


There  can  be  no  nentnils  in  tliis  Mar;  only  patriots  and  traitors. 
The  more  stupendous  our  i)ro|)arations,  tlie  h'ss  blood  slicd  and 
the  shorter  the  struj^jile  ;"  that  it  was  the  duty  of  American  citi- 
zens to  rally  around  tlie  tla<>;  of  their  country  ;  approving-,  also,  of 
the  i)resident's  call  for  ()()(>,(»()()  volunteers.  The  resolutions  were 
immediately  tabled  by  a  lar<>e  majority. 

Of  the  resolutions  rei)orted  by  the  c.omnutteo  on  platform, 
through  the  Hon.  W.  A.  llic^liardson,  and  unanimously  adopted, 
we  fiive  the  tirst  and  second  in  full,  with  a  synopsis  of  tlie  re- 
mainder: 

"HsKo/rctJ,  Thnt  the  jonstltntion,  nnd  Inws  rnnde  Inpursunncc  thereof,  aro.nnd  must 
remain  the  siipronie  law  of  flio  liuid;  mid  iis  such,  must  lie  preserved  and  niiilntaiiHMl 
In  their  proper  and  rifflitfiil  sni)renuic,v  ;  that  tlie  rcbelliDii  now  in  arms  a^ruiiist  tliiiu 
must  be  8iipj>resse(l;  and  it  is  the  iliity  of  all  good  eitizens  to  aid  the  jieneral  fiovcrn- 
meiit  in  all  iefral  and  eonstitutional  measures  neeessary  anil  proper  to  the  aeeomplisli- 
ment  of  this  end. 

^•HcKiilrnl,  That  the  doctrines  of  Southern  and  Northern  extremists  arc  alike  ineon- 
sislent  with  the  I'lHleral  constitution,  and  Irrecoiioilalile  with  the  union  and  har.iiony 
of  the  country.  Tlie  llrst  have  alrea<ly  involved  vis  in  civil  war,  and  the  latter.  iV  jicr- 
uiltted  to  retain  asfcendeney,  will  leave  the  nation  but  little  hope  of  the  restoration  of 
the  ITnloain  peace." 

They  further  protested  apiinst  con<;ress  ])led<jin<?  the  nation  to 
l)ay  ior  all  slaves  that  should  be  emancii)ated  ;  condemned  as 
tyrannical,  the  recent  arbitrary  arrests  of  our  citizens  by  the  .yeu- 
eral  jioveniment,  and  their  transportation  beyond  the  State,  de- 
mandiiiji'  their  immediate  restoration  for  trial  at  home;  denounced 
the  military  interference  Avith  the  freedom  of  speech  and  the 
press;  viewed  with  alarm  the  reckless  cxtravajjaiice  peivadiiifi" 
eveiy  department  of  government;  consi(U'red  the  new  exci.se  law 
as  unjust  and  oppressive  to  the  af>ricultiiral  States;  commended 
strict  economy  in  State  alfairs.  and  the  payment  of  taxes  in  United 
States  treasury  notes  ;  suslained  the  president  in  his  recent  declar- 
ation to  "save  the  Union  the  shortest  way  under  the  «;onstitution  ;" 
asked  from  the  authorities  of  Illinois  the  enforcement  of  the  nejiro- 
exclusiou  clause,  recently  added  to  the  constitution;  and  teii- 
deivd  their  thanks  to  the  volunteei-s  of  Illinois,  for  their  yaUant 
services  at  Belmont,  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Lexington  and  Frederick- 
town.  The  convention  was  held  about  a  week  prior  to  the  issu- 
ance of  the  ])r()clamation  of  freedom.* 

The  Republican,  or  Union  State  Convention,  as  it  calleil  itself, 
met  September  24,  1<S(L*,  two  days  after  that  proclamation.  Out 
of  .'UO  delegates  entitled  to,  1528  attended.  For  ('ongressman  at 
large  there  were  a  dozen  candidates,  but  the  Hon.  Eben  C.  Inger- 
soll,  of  Peoria,  a  strong  war  democrat,  who,  immediately  after  the 
adjournment  of  the  Democratic  Convention,  had  taken  occasion,  in 
a  published  letter,  to  denounce  its  secession  procjiivities,  and  made 
a  strong  call  for  a  State  convention,  comi)osed  of  true,  loyal 
democrats,  who  would  draw  a  line  between  union  and  disunion, 
without  ail  ''if"  or  a  "  but,"  was  now  taken  up  by  the  liepnbii- 
cans.  and  nominated  on  the  4th  ballot,  his  strongest  oiijunients 
being  such  original  republicans  as  II.  P.  H.  Bromwell  and  Jack- 
son (irimshaw.  William  Butler,  of  Sanganion,  was  nominated  for 
treasurer,  and  Newton  Eatemau  for  superintendent  of  public  iu- 
strucfioii. 

The  committee  on  platform,  through  Lawrence  Weldon,  made 
their  rei)ort,  wliiith  was  adopted,  and  which  we  condense.  It  de- 
nounced the  rebellion  as   the  most  causeless  known  to  history  j 

.  See  Illinois  State  Kegister,  Sept.  IT,  1862. 


^Bi 


YATES'  ADMINISTllATION.  879 

aekno\^  k'djjed  but  two  divisions  of  the  jx'oplo — tlie  lo^  al,  loady  to 
inakc^  any  saciitice  lor  the  iiitvf^iity  of  tiic  Union  a'  d  the  prt'scr- 
A'ation  of  liberty,  and  those  who  openly  or  covertly  endeavored  to 
sever  tlie  former  and  yield  the  latter;  called  upon  nil  patriotic 
citizens  to  rally  for  an  undivided  <!ountry  and  oiu',  11  a;^,  and  the 
prosecution  of  the  war  to  any  extent  or  sacrifice;  cordially  ap- 
proved the  proclamation  of  freedom  as  ii  fi'reat  and  inii)erativewar 
measure  essential  to  the  salvation  of  the  Union,  pledfiinj;  all 
trniy  loyal  citizens  to  the  snj)port  of  the  president  in  its  enforce- 
ment; conniuMHled  the  patriotic  and  ellicient  aid  of  loyal  demo- 
crats, but  deprecated  the  course  of  those  i)olitical  leaders,  who, 
while  studiously  avoidiuj^'  all  harsliiu'ss  towaid  the  <'onspiratorsof 
the  sonth,  found  fanit  with  the  administration  for  its  manner  of 
l)rosecuting  the  war;  favored  a  system  of  direct  taxation  to  sup- 
l)ress  the  rebellion,  but  ilenuindecl  an  eijuitable  modilication  of  the 
existinjjj  excise  law;  (ionunended,  ;'s  a  work  of  j^reat  national  im- 
portance, the  construction  of  a  ship  canal,  connecting;'  Lake  .Michi- 
f!;,.iu  with  the  Mississippi  river;  expressed  fjratitude  to  the  j^over- 
iu)r  for  his  labors  to  brinji"  into  the  field  the  Illinois  troops,  and 
his  efforts  to  care  for  them  in  sickness;  and  that  the  Illinois  vol- 
iint(un"s  were  entitled  to  our  lasting  gratitude  for  nobly  periling 
their  lives  in  battle,  from  Kansas  to  the  Potomac*  We  have 
already  stated  that  the  election  in  Xo\  ember,  1(S()2,  resulted  in  a 
comi»lete  vi(!t(uy  for  the  democrats.  The  State  ticket  was  caiiied 
by  an  average  of  over  1(),()(K)  majority,  showing  a  change  of  c{l},()00 
votes  since  Jnne,  when  the  Ilepiibli(;ans  defeated  the  new  consti- 
tution by  1G,0(K>  niaj(uity.  Deiinxtrats  attributed  this  remarkable 
change  in  the  sentiments  of  the  people  to  the  proclamation  of  free- 
dom of  tSeptember  L'li,  18G2. 

The  Last  Democratic  LegiNlaturc  of  Illinois. — The  political  status 
of  the  L'.'Ul  General  Assembly,  elettted  November,  18(12,  was  as 
follows:  Senate,  democrats  13,  republicans  12;  House,  democrats 
54,  republicans  82.  With  the  meeting  of  this  body  on  the  r)th  of 
January,  18(!;i,  flushed  with  thedemociatic  triumph  at  the  polls, 
not  only  in  Illinois,  but  other  Northern  States,  a  large  outside 
force  of  well-kiu)wn  politicians,  like  vultures  to  their  feast,  also 
collected  at  the  cajutal.  These,  joined  by  some  of  the  members, 
arranged  a  i)ublic  meeting  at  tli^i  Hall  of  liei)resentatives  for  the 
evening  of  the  first  <lay  of  the  session,  in  which  every  part  of  the 
State  was  reiuesented.  V.  Hickox,  of  theState  Democuatic  Com- 
mittee, presided,  and  Capt.  Thos.  W.  ^McFall,  of  QuiiK^v,  wasmado 
secretary.  A  committee  of  10  on  resolutions,  one  from  each  con- 
gressional district,  and  three  from  the  State  at  large,  was  ap- 
liointed,  embracing  the  following  prominent  names  :  •!.  N.  ]Moiris, 
L.  W.  Koss,  John  T.  Lindsav,  K.  J).  Tavlor,  S.  A.  Buckmaster, 
John  T.  Stuart,  John  Scliotield,  O.  B.  Ficklin,  W.  A.  Hacker,  H. 
M.  Vandeveer,  A.  C.  Harrington,  M,  Y.  .lohnson,  C.  H.  Lanphier 
and  B.  L.  Oaullield.  Messrs.  W.  A.  Kieliardson,  S.  S.  ]\Iarshall, 
Itichard  L.  Merrick  and  W.  (J.  Goudy  addressed  the  vast  audi- 
ence, denouncing  the  president  as  a  usur[iei',  criticising  the  con- 
duet  of  the  Avar  in  unmeasured  terms  and  characterizing  it  as  bar- 
barous and  disgraceful. 

*  See  Illinois  State  Journal,  Sept.  25, 1862 


880  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS- 

Tlio  coiumittoc  rcpoitod  tlio  following  resolution,  wbioh  was 
vocifi'ionsly  upplaiided  and  unaninjou.sly  adopted: 

Itcxdircd,  That  the  eninnulpntion  procliitmulon  of  tlie  I'lcsidtnt  of  the  U.S.  isns 
unwurniiitalile  in  iiillitiiry  us  In  civil  law;  ii  friKiintlo  UHiirpatlon,  lit  once  convertintj 
tlie  wiir,  professoilly  coniincntiod  liy  the  iidniinistnitlon  for  the  vlmllcation  of  the  au- 
thority ol  the  constitution,  Into  the  crusaile  for  thosuiiilen,  uncomlitional  and  violent 
llilunition  of  3,(KKI,0(I0  of  iicjfro  slaves;  a  result  which  would  not  only  lie  a  toliil  sub- 
version ol'  the  federal  Union,  but  a  revolution  in  thesoeial  orjriini/.uticin  of  the  South- 
ern States,  theiniii.ediate  and  veinotc,  the  present  and  the  tar-reuchinir  conHcouonees 
of  wliieh  to  both  races  cannot  be  contemplated  without  the  most  dismal  forcriodiiiKS 
of  horr'irand  dismay.  The  procliimatioii  invite? servile  iusurre<!tlon  as  an  element  in 
this  eintineipatioa  crusade  -a  nieiiiis  of  warfare,  tlie  Inhuinanity  and  dlatiolism  of 
which  are  without  example  In  civilized  warlare,  and  which  we  denounce,  and  which 
the  civilized  world  will  denounce,  as  an  ineifaceable  disgrace  to  the  American  name." 

The  conunittce  were  inNtincted  to  rei)ort  furtlieron  the  evening 
of  January  8tii,  to  wliieh  time  the  meeting  adjourned— -a  day  sa- 
cred from  its  patriotic  associations — when  this  scene  was  again 
rehearsed. 

Attiiat  time  the  Hon.  I.  N.  Morris,  of  the  committee,  reported 
a  set  of  11  resolutions,  condemning  the  administration  for  sn.spen- 
ding  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  in  the  arrest  of  private  citizens,  and 
their  incarceration  in  political  biistiles  ;  the  dismemberment  of 
Virginia;  and  "That while  we  condemn  and  denounce  the  flagrant 
and  monstrous  usurpiitions  of  the  administration,  and  llie  en- 
croachments of  abolitionism,  we  remain  equally  hostile  to  the 
Southern  rebellion."  They  further  commended  a  cessation  of  hos- 
tilities with  the  rebellious  foe,  to  allow,  as  they  said,  the  peo^ile 
of  the  Xorth  and  the  South  to  express  their  wishes  for  peace, 
and  a  maintenance  of  "  the  Union  as  it  was  and  the  constitntion 
as  it  is,"  through  a  national  convention  to  meet  at  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  to  which  the  legislature  was  invited  to  send  a  suita- 
ble number  of  discreet  commissioners  in  behalf  of  Illinois.  In 
these  resolutions  we  find  foreshadowed  and  prescribed  the  subse- 
quently notorious  armistice  or  peace  resolutions  of  the  legislature, 
which  were  attended  with  so  much  partizau  strife  antl  loss  of 
tune. 

The  speeches  made  in  support  of  the  resolutions  were  of  the 
most  intiainmable  anti-war  character.  The  speakers  on  this  oc- 
casion were  Judge  O'Melveny,  Hon.  O.  B.  Ficklin,  li.  L.  Merrick, 
B.  Caulfleld  and  T.  Lyle  Dickey,  the  latter  the  only  one  who  coun- 
selled moderation,  saying  that  to  stir  up  a  counter-revolution  to 
oppose  revolution  could  only  result  in  the  destruction  of  our  whole 
political  fabric.  Detraction  of  the  president  for  issuing  the  pro- 
clamation of  freedom,  denunciation  of  the  policy  of  his  adnnnis- 
tration,  criticism  of  the  conduct  of  the  war,  and  opposition  to  it^ 
were  indulged  as  on  the  preceding  occasion,  with  added  force  and 
bitterness  of  expression.  They  charged  that  the  war  had  been 
perverted,  for  political  reasons,  from  a  war  for  the  restoration  of 
the  Union,  to  a  costlj'  struggle  of  blood  and  treasure,  purposely 
protracted  for  the  accomjdishment  of  partizan  ends.  It  was  de- 
manded that  not  another  dollar  or  a  single  man  should  be  contri- 
buted to  carry  on  such  a  monstrous  contest.  The  people  of  the 
New  England  States  were  charged  with  causing  all  the  trouble 
leading  to  the  deplorable  war ;  and  a  reconstruction  of  the  Union 
by  joining  with  the  South,  leaving  them  out,  was  advocated.  Not 
a  word  was  uttered  in  denunciation  of  the  rebels.  The  in<!onsist- 
eucy  of  the  republican  party  was  shown  by  quoting  the  Chicago 
platform  of  18G0:    "That  the    maintenance    inviolate   of  the 


i 


YATES'  ADMINISTRATION.  881 

lijilits  of  tlio  States,  and  especially  the  rijihts  of  eaeli  State  to 
Older  and  control  its  own  domestic  institutions,  according"  to  its 
own  jndunient  exclusively,  was  essenlial  to  that  balance  of  ]>»nv(!r 
on  wiii(!h  the  perfection  and  endurance  of  our  political  faith  de- 
pends." The  violation  of  the  president's  promise  to  the  country 
was  shown  by  (piotini;  from  the  inauf;ural  address:  "1  have  no 
l)urpose,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  interfere  with  the  institution  of 
slavery  in  the  States  where  it  exists;  1  believe  1  have  no  lawful 
ri<>lit  to  do  so,  and  hijve  no  inclination  to  doso. "  And  the  repub- 
lican congress,  after  the  JJull  Itun  disaster,  had  pledj^ed  the  lui- 
tiou  "  that  this  war  was  not  waged,  on  tlieir  part,  in  any  spirit  of 
oppression,  or  for  any  purpose  of  conquest  or  subjugation,  or  pur- 
pose of  overthrowing  or  interfering  with  the  rights  or  estublisiied 
institutions  of  the  States,  but  to  defend  and  nniintain  thesninem- 
acy  of  the  constitution,  and  to  preserve  the  Uiuon,  with  all  the 
dignity,  equality  and  the  rights  of  the  several  States  unim- 
paired."* 

But  the  numerous  military  arrests  for  treasonable  utterances 
which  the  general  government  had,  for  some  time,  caused  to  be 
made — so)ne  of  tlu;sutterers  being  present — aftbrded  tlieorators  the 
rarest  field  for  the  display  of  their  declamatory  powers,  and  11.  T. 
IMerrick,  gifted  Avith  a  singular  power  of  eloquent  denunciation, 
shone  with  unwonted  brilliancy.  Forcible  resistence  to  these  un- 
lawful aggressions  upon  the  rights  of  the  citizen  was  freely  coun- 
seled. Tins  was  doubtless  a  political  blunder  on  the  part  of  tlie 
general  government  by  which  little  good  was  accomi)lished.  In 
many  instances  insignificant,  if  not  contemptible  treason-spouters 
were  arrested  and  imprisoned,  men  never  heard  of  before  beyond, 
tlieir  immediate  neighborhoods,  who,  upon  their  return  found 
themselves  notorious,  sympathized  with,  and,  often  by  many 
sanctified  into  martyrs  and  heroes. 

Thus  duly  impressed,  and  their  course  mapped  out  for  them  by 
the  democratic  leaders,  the  dominant  partizans  of  the  23d  Gen- 
eral Assembly  were  not  slow  to  follow  it.  They  refused,  for  a 
long  time,  to  print  the  usual  number  of  copies  of  the  governor's 
long  and  able  message.  In  the  House,  M.  W.  Fuller,  of  Cook, 
on  the  8th  of  January,  introduced  a  resolution  adroitly  quoting' 
the  language  of  Gen.  Juckon's  farewell  address  :  "The  constitu- 
tion cannot  be  mai?\tained,  nor  the  Union  jjreserved  in  opposition 
to  public  feeling,  by  the  mere  exertion  of  the  coercive  powers  of 
the  government."  Mr.  Wenger,  of  Tazewell,  one  to  the  effect  that 
after  an  unsuccessful  war  of  two  years'  duration  to  crush  the  re- 
bellion, hostilities  ought  to  be  immediately  suspended  and  a  na- 
tional convention  ai)i)ointed  to  settle  the  difticulty.  In  the  Senate, 
Mr.  Vandeveer,  of  CLtistian,  on  the  21st  of  January,  offered  a  i)re- 
amble  and  set  of  resolutions,  to  the  effect  that  the  people  of  the 
loyal  States  had  acquiesced  in,  rather  than  approved  of  the  coer- 
cive policy  of  the  federal  administration;  that  the  government 
was  impoverished,  the  people  weighed  down  with  an  onerous 
debt  and  the  land  filled  with  cripples,  widows  and  orphans,  with- 
out restoring  the  Union ;  and  that  as  the  Union  was  brought  about 
by  concession  and  compromise,  they  should  memorialize  congress 
to  obtain  an  armistice  and  cessation  of  hostilities  for  a  national 

•Crittenden  resolution,  1801. 


882 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


coiivciitioii  to  asst'iiible  iit  Loiiisvillc,  toiuljiist  tlu'  <lilliculti('.s.  Mr. 
Uii(U'i\V(M)(l,  of  St.  Clair,  uLso,  with  a  like  view,  ((IVered  a  [ireainhle 
and  lefsoliitiDii  Kolieitiiiy  eoiiyresH  to  obtain  llie  (consent  of  tlie 
(States  to  call  a  uatioiial  convention  to  amend  tlie  constitution  of 
the  U.  S. 

Ami  now  tlic  lef>islature  took  a  pleasure  trip  to  .loliet  and 
Cbica<{o.  At  tlie  latter  place  a  larj^e  democratic  mass  meeting 
tortile  occasion  gave  exiiression  to  the  popular  opposition  to  the 
Lincoln  misrule,  as  it  was  calle«l.  Members  participated  in  tlie 
proceedings,  and,  by  resolution,  the  JSpringlield  meetings  of  the 
5tli  and  Stli  of  January  were  ajiproved. 

On  the  ith  of  February,  Mr.  VVike,  of  Pike,  from  the  commit- 
tee on  federal  relations,  reported  to  the  House  the  notorious  ar- 
mistice resolutions : 

The  prciiinble  iisserted  the  supremacy  of  the  constitution  In  time  of  war  as  well  as 
peace,  iiiiij  its  su^peiii^iuii.  whetlier  by  the  North  or  South,  to  be  alike  disunion ;  tliat  It 
could  not  be  niaiiituined  by  eoeroion,  but  by  ap|)eul  to  the  people  peaeetully  asfieni- 
blod  ihrougl)  llieir  representatives  ;  tliat  to  it  the  ulleKiance  of  the  eili/.en  was  alone 
due— not  to  any  uiau,  ofliceror  administration;  that  the  aet  ol  the  lederai  admuiislra- 
tlon  in  suspendiiiK  tlie  writ  of  habtaii  airiiun,  the  arrest  ol  citizens  not  subject  to  mili- 
tary law,  without  warrant  or  authority,  transportiui?  them  to  distant  States,  iiieareer- 
UtiuK  tliein  in  political  prisoi)s,  without  charge  or  accusation,  denying  them  the  ri»;ht 
of  trial  by  jurv,  witni.'Soes  in  their  favor,  or  counsel  for  their  k-fense;  withholdinur 
from  tliem  all  knowledge  ot  their  accusers,  and  the  cause  of  their  arrera;  answering 
their  petitions  for  redress  by  repeated  injury  and  insult;  ijreseribing,  in  many  eases,  us 
acon<lition  of  tiieir  release,  test  oaths,  arbitrary  and  illegal;  in  the  abridMeiiient  olf 
freedom  of  speech,  and  of  the  press,  by  imprisoning  the  citizen  (or  expressing  his  sen- 
timents, by  siipnressing  newspapers  by  military  force,  and  establishing  u  censorship 
over  others,  wholly  incoinpatible  with  freedom  of  tliouglit  and  expression  of  opinion, 
anil  tlie  establishment  of  a  system  of  espionage,  by  a  secret  police,  to  invade  the  sacred 

Srivacy  of  unsuspecting  citizens;  in  declaring  martial  law  overstates  not  in  rebel- 
on,  and  when  the  courts  are  open  and  unobstructed  for  the  punishment  of  crime:  in 
declaring  the  slaves  of  loyal,  us  well  as  well  as  disloyal  citlzeiis,  In  certain  Slates  and 
parts  ol  States,  free;  the  attempted  enforcement  <if  compensated  emanelpution;  the 
proposed  taxation  of  the  laboring  white  man  to  purchase  the  freedom  and  secure  the 
elevat  ion  of  the  negro;  the  transportation  of  negroes  into  the  State  ol  Illinois,  in  dett- 
ance  of  the  repeatedly  expressed  will  of  the  people;  the  arrest  and  imprisonment  of 
the  representatives  of  a  free  and  a  sovereign  State;  the  dismemberment  of  the  State 
of  Virginia,  erecting  within  her  boundaries  anew  State,  withouttheconsentot  her  leg- 
islature are,oachand  all,  arbitrary  and  unconstitutional— a  usiirpatiouof  the  legislative 
functions,  and  a  suspension  of  the  judicial  departments  of  the  State  and  federal  gov- 
ernment—subverting  the  constitution— State  and  federal— invading  the  reserved 
rights  ol  the  people,  and  the  sovereignty  of  the  States,  and,  if  sunetioned,  destructive 
of  the   Union— establishing,    upon  the  coiiimon  rulus   of  the   liberties  of  the  peo- 

f)le,  and  the  sovi  reignty  of  the  Statop,  a  consolidated  military  despotism.  And  we 
lereby  solemnly  declare  that  no  American  citizen  can,  without  the  crime  of  inHdelity 
to  his  country's  constitutions,  and  the  allegiance  which  lie  bears  to  each,  sanction  such 
usurpation.  Believing  that  our  silence  will  be  c  •iminal,  and  may  be  construed  into 
consent,  in  deep  reverence  forour  constitution  wliich  has  been  ruthlessly  violated,  we 
do  lierel)y  enter  our  most  solemn  protest  against  these  usurpations  f  power,  a  d  place 
thesame  before  the  world,  intending  therby  to  warn  our  public  scrvauts  against  fur- 
ther usurpations.    Therefore, 

licxiilvtit  by  the  lioimeof  Uepresentativeii,  the  Senate concvrringhcrcin,  That  the  army  was 
organi/ed,  eonllding  iii  the  declaration  of  the  president,  in  his  inaugural  address,  to 
wit:  that  he  had  no  purpose,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  interfere  with  tlie  Institution  of 
slavery  In  the  Stjilos  where  it  existed,  and  that  he  believed  he  had  no  lawful  right  to  do 
so  ;  and  upon  the  declaration  of  the  federal  congress,  to  wit:  that  this  war  is  not  waged 
in  any  splritof  oppression  or  subjugation,  or  any  purpose  of  overthrowing  any  of  the 
institutions  of  any  of  the  States;  and  that  inasmucli  as  the  whole  policy  of  the  adminis- 
tration, since  the  organization  of  the  army,  has  been  at  war  with  the  declaration  afore- 
said, culminating  in  the  emancipation  proclamation,  leaving  the  facts  patent  that  the 
warhasbeen  divertid  from  its  tlrstavowed  object,  to  thatof  subjugation  and  the  abo- 
liltoii  of  slavery,  a  fraud,  both  legal  and  moral,  has  been  perpetrated  upon  the  brave  sons 
of  Illiaois,  who  have  so  nobly  gone  forth  to  battle  for  the  constitution  and  the  laws. 
And  while  we  protest  against  the  continuance  of  this  gross  fraud  upon  our  citizen  sol- 
diery, we  thank  them  for  that  heroic  conduct  on  the  battle  Held  that  sheds  imperishu- 
l)le  glory  on  the  State  of  Illinois. 

JifKidvei,  That  we  believe  the  further  prosecution  of  the  present  war  cannot  result 
in  the  restoration  of  the  Union  and  the  preservation  of  the  constitution  as  our  fathers 
niitile  it,  unlet's  the  president's  emancipation  proclamation  is  withdrawn 

Jiet«)lKd,  That  while  we  condemn  and  denounce  the  flagrant  and  monstrous  usurpa- 
tions of  tlie  adminisiration,  and  encroachments  of  abolitionism,  we  equally  condemn 
and  denounce  the  ruinous  heresy  of  secession,  as  unwarrantable  by  the  constitution, 
and  destructive  alllte  of  the  security  and  perpetuity  of  our  government,  and  tlie  peace 
and  liberty  of  the  people;  and  fearing,  as  we  do,  that  it  is  the  intention  of  the  present 
congress  and  administration,  at  no  distant  day,  to  acknowledge  the  independence  of 
the  Southern  Confederacy,  and  thereby  sever  the  Union,  wo  hereby  solemnly  declare 
that  wo  are  unalterably  opposed  to  any  sucli  severance  of  the  Union,  and  that  we  never 
can  consent  that  the  great  Northwest  shall  be  separated  from  the  Southern  States  com- 
prising the  Mississippi  valley.  That  river  shall  never  water  the  soil  of  two  nations, 
nut,  from  its  source  to  its  confluence  with  the  Gulf,  shall  belong  to  one  great  and 
united  people. 


I"T 


YATES'  ADMINISTRATION.  883  ; 


The  fourth  resolution  rccoiniiuMMU'd  the  asseiubliiiff  of  a  na- 
tioual  convention  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  to  adjust  our  ditliculties,  re- 
store peace,  fraternity  and  politiiuil  fellowshii)  anion}?  the  Htates. 

Ile^olvfd  further,  therefore.  That  to  attain  the  ob.lcct  of  tho  foreKoingr  resolution,  we 
hereby  inenioriiili/.i!  the  eont^resH  oi  the  (J.  8.,  the  adininlHtriition  at  Waahiufrton,  and 
tlie  executives  iinil  letflslutures  of  the  several  States  to  take  sueh  iinmediute  aetlon  us 
shall  secure  luiariulstlee,  in  wli!;!>  therlKhts  and  safety  of  the  jroverninent  shall  be 
fully  protected  lor  sucih  leiiKth  of  time  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  people  to  meet  in 
eoiivctitlon  as  aforesaid.  And  we  therefore  eiirnestly  lecoinuKMid  to  our  fellow-citizens 
everywhere,  toobserve  and  keep  all  thelrlawful  and  constitutional  obliiratlons,  to  ub- 
stiiln  from  violence. and  to  meet  tojrcthcr  and  rciison  ea<^h  with  the  other,  upon  the 
best  mode  toattain  the  threat  blessings  of  peoce,  unity  and  liberty. 

Ami  lu  it  fitrthir  rexohyti.  Tliiit  to  sreuro  t  lie  eo  operation  of  the  States  and  the  iren- 
eral  (rovernini.'iil, Stephen 'I.  Lojrun,  Samuel  S.  Miirshall,  H.  K.  S.  O'Melveny,  William 
C.  Goudy,  Antlir)ny  Thornton  and  ,)oliu  I).  (Jaton.are  hereby  appointed  eoinmissionera 
to  confer  itumediately  with  the  coui^ress  and  the  president  of  the  V .  S.,  and  urjfe  tho 
necessity  of  prompt  action,  to  secure  said  artnistiee,  and  the  election  of  delegates  to, 
and  early  assemblintr  of  said  eonvention.  and  to  arrauKc  and  atfree  witli  tho  trenerai 
jrovei-nment  and  the  several  States  upon  the  lime  and  place  of  holding;  said  conven- 
tion, and  that  they  report  their  action  In  the  premises  to  the  General  Assembly  of  this 
State." 

The  resolutions  elicited  a  Jono-  and  acrimonious  debate  in  both 
houses,  to  the  delay  of  nearly  all  other  business.  Every  parlia- 
mentary expedient  to  retard  lejiislatioii,  centering;  cliieHy  uimu 
the  appropriation  bills  as  usiud,  was  resorted  to.  The  public  press 
took  sides,  the  republicans  aoain.st,  of  course,  and  tl>e  democrats 
for.  Hut  aiiioii};-  the  latter  there  were  many  notable  e.vceptious 
who  deiu'ccated  the  extremity  to  which  the  resolutions  looked  j 
who  appealed  to  the  maf>iianiinity  of  the  democratic  niiijority  to 
cease  the  bitter  strife,  unlock  the  wheels  of  le<>islation  and  allow 
tho  Important  labors  of  the  session  to  j;o  on.  This  went  unheeded; 
and  finally,  two  days  before  the  recess,  tlie  resolutions  were 
adopted  in  the  House  by  a  vote  of  .^2  yeas  to  28  nays. 

Thus  did  the  House  of  Kepreseiitatlves  of  the  State  of  Illinois, 
a  body  fresh  from  a  loyal  people  whose  patriotism  never  Hinched, 
after  beins;  first  systematically  debauched  in  their  sentiments  by 
the  political  meetiiifjs  at  theopeiiiu};'  of  the  session,  commit  them- 
.selvesui)on  the  record,  and  attempt  to  thrust  the  State  also  into 
the  erroneous  position  before  the  world, that  the  warfor  the  Uniou 
was  a  failure,  that  secession  was  a  right  under  the  constitution 
whi(!h  could  not  be  met  or  defeated  by  the  sword,  and  that  a  ces- 
sation of  hostilities  with  an  armed  and  defiant  rebellion  was  ne- 
cessary. Nay,  if  we  construe  the  last  clause  of  the  3d  resolution 
with  the  repeated  utteraiu^esof  their  speakers  and  leaders,  as  well 
as  the  entire  resolution,  wherein  a  man  of  straw  is  set  up  regard- 
iiio'  their  fears  of  recojjnitionof  the  Southern  Confederacy,  we  see 
a  quasi  declaration  for  a  union  of  the  Northwest  with  the  South 
as  more  desirable  than  the  connection  with  the  hateful  abolition- 
ists of  the  East. 

These  legislators  were  not  elected  for  the  purpose  which  mairly 
engro.ssed  their  attention ;  tln^y  assumed  unauthorized  power  and 
proved  themselves  recreant  to  their  trust.  No  peace  could  have 
lu'cn  made  with  the  defiant  rebels  at  that  time,  nor  for  a  long  time 
afterwards.  It  was  tolly  to  talk  of  peace  at  that  stage  of  the  war. 
The  Indiana  legislature  at  the  time  passed  similar  resolutions.* 

*  It  was  a  curious  conjuncture  that  on  the  iltith  of  .Tonuary,  1883.  a  preamble  and  set 
of  8  resolutions  were  introdu  ed  into  the  Confederate  Conitress  at  liichmond  by  Henry 
S.   Koote,  of  Tennessee,  the  fifth  of  which  reads  as  follows: 

"The  (fovernmentof  the  Confederate  States,  in  consideration  of  the  change  in  the 
public  sentiment,  which  has  occurred  In  several  Northern  States,  wherein  political 
elections  have  been  recently  held— syinpathi/,in>{  most  kindly  with  those  by  whose 
manly  exertious  that  change  has  been  brought  about — would  bo  willing  to  conclude  a 


884  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


I'lirt  of  the  uroffraniiiui  in  coiincittioii  witli  tl.ci  pii.ssiif'eor  tlio 
peace  resolutions  was  tlie  joint  resolution  of  Senator  Underwood, 
providinj;-  for  a  lejjislative  recess  fntni  the  Mtii  of  February  till 
the  I'd  of  June,  b.v  which  time  the  piuice  commissioners  mij;ht  re- 
jKtrt  jtro^iress  of  their  negotiation  for  an  armistice.  This  resolu- 
tion was  \  iolentl.v  fought  in  the  senate,  and  wluui  a  vote  (U)nld  bo 
staved  off  no  lonf;('r,  the  republican  members  bolted  the  chamlier, 
leaviuj;  the  senate  without  a  (piorum ;  but  enon};h  were  finally 
brought  in  and  the  resolution  passed.  When  it  was  brought  up 
in  the  house  a  similar  attempt  was  there  nuide,  wiiich  failed  like- 
vise,  and  the  resolution  was  a«U)pted. 

Butthe  armistice  resolutions  shared  a  different  fate  in  the  senate. 
They  had  been  the  subj«'ct  of  aciimonious  debate  in  tliat  body, 
the  same  as  in  the  house,  for  a  long tinu',  having  been  deferred 
from  time  to  time,  and  now,  early  in  the  week  (the  recess  having 
been  fixed  for  the  following  Saturday,)  to  avoid  a  vote,  the  repub- 
lican members  absented  thems»^lves,  breaking  the  quorum  for 
business.  The  further  consideiation  of  the  ilistasteful  resolutions 
was  deferred  till  Friday  night.  The  repiibli<!ans  came  in  and 
business  progressed.  In  the  meantime  the  democrats  lost  a  mem- 
ber by  sudden  death,  in  the  person  of  Senator  llogers,  of  (/linton. 
This  left  th(^  senate  a  tie,  with  the  presiding  officer,  Lieut,  (lov. 
HotFman,  wlio  had  tlie  casting  vote  in  such  contingency,  against 
the  demo<!iats.  And  thus  the  armistice  resolutions  failecl  of  adop- 
tion in  the  senate  and  went  over  to  tlie  June  session;  whereat  a 
portion  of  the  democratic  press  sent  up  its  wailings  and  lamenta- 
tions about  the  great  disapi)ointment  whicli  the  peoiile  would  feel 
at  this  result;  and  the  democratic  members  of  the  senate,  who  had 
consented  t()  lliestaving  ott'  of  a  vote  upon  tlie  resolutions  to  the 
evening  before  the  close  of  the  session,  were  handled  without 
gloves. 

As  a  fitting  commentary  upon  this  wasted  session,  and  also  to 
indicate  the  violence  of  i)arty  feeling,  we  will  reproduce  the  nota- 
ble speech  of  'acob  Fnnk,  a  senator  from  McLean,  made  a  day  or 
two  before  the  close  of  the  session,  the  occasion  being  the  intro- 
duction of  some  trifling  resolutions  to  stave  off  a  vote  ujum  the 
general  appropriation  bill.  It  also  deserves  to  be  jireserved  for  its 
uni(pieness,  and  as  otfi^ring  a  fair  but  now  curious  orat«)rical  type 
of  the  early  settler  of  the  West,  and  his  manner  of  settling  dis- 
putes; true,  brave,  and  patriotic,  tliough  devoid  of  the  breadth  of 
di(!tion  imparted  by  education.  It  created  a  great  sensation  at 
the  time,  and  was  republished  all  over  the  Northern  States.  It 
was  delivered  in  a  stentorian  tone,  gathering  in  the  people  from 
around  the  capital  square,  till  the  hall  was  densely  packed.  The 
speaker's  great  fervor  and  pathos,  born  of  conviction,  wrought 
the  audience  to  the  highest  pitch  of  excitement,  and  upon  its  con- 
clusion, both  members  and  spectators  thronged  about  him  with 
congratulations: 

just  and  honornble  pence  with  nnv  one  or  more  of  said  States,  who  (renouncins:  all 
politicul  connection  with  New  EoKland)  may  bo  found  willing  to  stipulate  for  desisting: 
at  once  from  tlie  furtlicr  prosecution  ->f  the  war  against  the  South,  and  in  such  case, 
the  government  of  the  Confederate  t'tntes  would  be  willing  to  enter  Into  a  league, 
offensive  and  defensive,  with  the  States  thus  desisting,  ot  a  permanent  and  enduring 
chavacter."    But  in  the  4th  resolution,  the  confederates  declared  their  unalterable  op- 

gosition,  In  the  event  of  peace,  to  form  any  commercial  treaty  with  the  New  Kngland 
tates,  "with  whose  people,  and  in  whose  ignoble  love  of  gold  and  brutifying  fanati- 
cism, this  disgraceful  war  has  mainly  originated." 


YATES'  ADMINISTRATION.  885 

"Mr.  Speaker — I  cau  net  iii  my  Hca^  no  loujjjer  and  wee  ho  uuicli  l>v- 
playiiiK  K'>'"K*>u-  Those  men  are  trifliiij!;  witli  tlie  hent  intereHtM  of  the 
country.  They  Mliouhl  liave  asseH'  ears  to  set  otF  their  heads,  or  they  are 
traitors  and  HeceH.«ii(mi8t8  at  lieart.  I  miy  there  are  traitors  and  secession- 
ists at  heart  in  tliis  senate.  Tlieir  a(  tions  prove  it.  Tlieir  speeeljos  prove 
it.  Tlieir  jijlbes  and  laughter  and  clieers  here  ni^htiy,  wlien  their  speait- 
ers  net  up  to  denounce  the  war  and  tiio  administration,  prove  it.  I  can 
get  Itere  no  longer  md  not  tell  tliese  traitors  what  I  tlunk  of  them  ;  and 
while  HO  telling  them,  I  am  responsible,  myself,  for  what  I  say.  1  stand 
upon  my  o>vn  bottom.  I  am  ready  to  muetany  man  on  this  floor  in  any 
manner,  fi  jm  a  pin's  point  to  the  mouth  of  a  cannon,  upon  this  cliarge 
aKainst  these  traitors.  [Unat  applause  from  the  Kalleries.]  I  am  an  old 
man  of  sixty-live.  1  came  to  Illinois  a  poor  boy;  I  liave  niadealittle  some- 
tlxing  for  myself  aiul  family.  I  i>ay  $3,000  a  year  iu  taxes.  I  am  willing 
to  pay  ifO.OOO ;  aye  $l;i,000!  [striking  his  desk  with  a  tremendous  blow, 
sending  the  ink  whirling  in  the  air.]  Aye,  I  am  willing  to  pay  my  whole 
fortune,  ami  then  give  my  life  to  save  my  country  from  tliese  traitors 
that  are  seeking  to  destroy  it.     [Tremendous  clieerlng.] 

Mr.  Speaker,  yon  must  excuse  me  ;  I  could  not  sit  longer  in  my  seat 
and  calmly  I'slen  to  these  traitors.  My  heart,  tliat  feels  for  my  poor 
country,  v.'ould  not  let  me.  My  heart,  that  cries  out  for  the  lives  of  our 
brave  volunteers  in  the  field  ;  tii.'it  tliesi'  traitors  at  iiome  are  destroying  by 
thousands— would  not  let  me.  My  he  vrt  tliat  bleeds  for  the  widows  and 
orphans  at  home,  wcnild  not  let  me.  Yes,  the.se  traitors  and  villains  in 
the  senate  [striking  the  desk  with  his  clenched  fist,  that  made  the 
chaml)er  resound]  are  killing  my  neighbors'  boys,  now  fighting  in  the 
field.  I  dare  to  tay  this  to  tliese  traitors  riglit  iiere,  and  I  am  re.sponsi- 
l)le  for  what  I  say  to  any  one  or  all  of  them.  [Cheors.]  Let  them  come 
on  now  right  here.  I  am  sixty-five  years  old,  and  I  liave  made  ui)  my 
mind  to  risk  my  life  riglit  here,  on  this  floor,  for  my  country.  [Tliig 
announcement  was  received  with  great  clieering.  Here  thecrowtl  gath- 
ered around  liim — his  seat  Ijeing  near  the  railing — to  protect  him  from 
violence,  while  many  sympathetic  eyes  flashed  defiance.]  Tliese  men 
sneered  at  Col.  Mack,  a  few  (lays  since.  He  is  a  small  man,  but  I  am  a 
hirge  man.  I  am  ready  to  meet  any  of  them  in  place  of  Col.  Mack.  I 
am  large  enougli  for  any  of  them,  and  I  liold  myself  ready  for  tiiem  now 
and  at  any  time,  [Cheering  from  tiie  galleries.] 

^Ir.  !Sj)eaker,  these  traitors  on  this  floor  should  be  provided  with 
hempen  collars.  Tliey  deserve  tiiem.  They  deserve  liangiug,  I  say  [raising 
his  voice  and  striking  the  desk  with  great  violence.]  Tlie  country  would 
be  the  Ijetter  of  swinging  them  up.  1  go  for  hanging  them,  and  I  dare 
to  tell  them  so,  riglit  here  to  their  traitorous  faces.  Traitors  sliould  be 
hung.  It  would  be  the  salvation  of  the  country  to  hang  them.  For 
tliat  reason  I  must  rejoice  at  it.     [Clieers.] 

Mr.  Speaker,  I  must  beg  tlie  pardon  of  the  gentlemen  in  this  senate 
wIk)  are  not  traitors,  but  true,  loyal  men,  for  what  I  have  said.  I  only 
intend  it  and  mean  it  for  .secessionists  at  heart.  They  are  liere  in  this 
senate.  I  see  tliem  gibe  and  smirk  and  grin  at  a  true  Union  man.  Must 
I  defy  tiieni?  I  stand  here  ready  for  them  and  dare  them  to  come  ou. 
[Cheering.]  What  man,  with  the  lieart  of  a  patriot,  could  stand  this 
treason  any  longer?  I  have  stood  it  long  enough.  I  will  stand  it  no 
longer.  [Cheers.]  I  denounce  these  men  and  their  aiders  and  abettors, 
as  rank  traitors  and  secessionists.  Hell  itself  could  not  spew  out  a  more 
traitorous  crew  tlian  some  of  the  men  that  disgrace  tliis  legislature,  tills 
State  and  this  country .  For  my.self  I  protest  against  and  denounce  their 
treasonable  acts.  I  have  voted  against  their  measures ;  I  will  do  so  to 
tlie  end.  I  will  denounce  them  as  long  as  God  gives  me  breatli ;  and  I 
am  ready  to  meet  the  traitors  tliemselves  liere  or  anywliere,  and  fight 
them  to  the  death.  [Prolonged  cheers.]  I  said  I  paid  §3,000  a  year  taxes. 
I  do  not  say  it  to  brajr  of  it.  It  is  my  duty,  yes,  Mr.  Speaker,  my  privi- 
lege to  do  it.  But  some  of  tliese  traitors  here,  who  are  working  night 
and  (lay  to  init  some  of  their  miserable  little  bills  and  claims  tiirough  tlie 
leglsiaiure,  to  take  money  out  of  the  pockets  of  the  people,  are  talking 
about  high  taxes.  Tliey  are  hypocrites,  as  well  as  traitors.  I  heard 
some  of  them  talking  about  high  taxes  In  this  way,  who  did  not  pay  $5 
to  the  support  of  the  government.  1  deuouuce  them  as  hypocrites  as 
well  as  traitors.    [Cheers.] 


880 


HISTORY  OP  ILLINOIS. 


The  reaHoii  tlu-y  pri-U'iid  to  bf  ufniid  of  lii^li  tiixos  In  tlmt  tlicy  tlo  not 
want  to  vole  luonoy  for  llu'  rcliff  of  llic  soldi*  ih  Tlicy  want  to  cnilisir- 
riiMM  tli»'  p)veinnit'Mt  and  wtop  tli«'  wiir.  Tlu-y  vvimt  to  aid  tin-  Mi>»'fssion- 
J«fH  to  coiKiueroiir  hoys  in  tlu'lltdd.  'IMicy  carciilxMil  liiwli  taxes!  Tlicy 
HIV  picayune  nu'n  anyliow.  and  pay  no  taxes  at  all,  and  iiivcr  did,  an<l 
never  liope  or  expect  to.     This  is  tiieexcii.seof  traitors.     [Clieers,] 

.Mr  .Spi'iiker,  excuse  nie.  I  feel  for  my  country,  in  lids  inr  liuur  of 
datiiicr,  from  the  tips  of  my  toes  to  the  emls  of  my  hair.  Thai  is  the 
reason   I  speak  as  (  do.     I  cannot  help  it .     I  am  Itontid  to  tell  tlies"  mm 

to  their  teeth  what  they  are,  and  what  the  people,  the  true,  loyal  | pie, 

think  of  thein.  [CheeruiK,  which  ihe  speaker  attempted  to  sinp  by 
rapiiin^  on  his  desk  bill  really  aided,  not  unwillingly  J 

Air.  Speaker,  I  have  said  my  say.  1  am  no  speaker.  Tliis  is  tluM)nly 
Bpeech  I  ever  made,  and  1  don't  know  that  it  deservi's  to  l>e  called  a 
Hpeech.  Itut  I  could  not  sit  still  any  lon<;er  and  see  these  scoundrels  and 
traitors  workout  their  hellish  schemes  todestroy  the  Union.  They  havtj 
my  sentiments;  let  them  om^  and  all  make  tlu- most  of  them,  lam 
ready  to  hai'k  up  all  I  say,  and  1  rejjcat  it,  to  meet  tluse  trail(»rs  in  any 
manner  they  nuiy  choose,  from  a  pin's  point  to  the  mouth  of  a  cannon" 

With  ii  piutiiij'"  whack  on  iiis  desk,  tli(^  loyal  old  h'*'"' '''"'•'"  '<'• 
stiined  liiti  iseat,  aitiiiUt  the  din  of  clietuiiij^'  and  tlu;  clapping'  ol' 
Iiaiid»). 

Lkoislativk  FilAlTUS. — The  veiy  last  hour  of  this  session  was 
dis,i;iac('d  by  the,  perpetration  of  one  of  those  pailianieiiiaiy 
swindles  wldcrh  in  modern  times  are  not  inl're(|nent  in  de- 
liberative bodies.  The  partisan  strife  which  obtained  between 
the  eonstitiitioiiiil  convention  and  the  <;overnor,  vvjis,  if  anythiiij;, 
inteiisilied  between  fiiis  lej^isjatiire  and  that  fnnetionary.  >\t  the 
t^pcciul  session  of  ISdi  the  excculiM^  de|tarlmeiit  had  been  pio- 
vided  in  the  most  liberal  spirit  with  ii  iuud  of  !!5.")( »,(»!)(»  for  e.Mrji- 
ordinary  iind  eonlin;;('nr  expenses,  which  was  larj;t'ly  looked  to  as 
aid  for  the  sick  and  wounded  Illinois  soldiers  in  the  field.  Hut 
owiii<>' to  the  jii'eat  nitmber  of  ajicnts  (Mnployed  to  visit  dilferent 
camps  and  accoini»any  the  ie;;ijncnts,  to  look  after  the  saidtaiy 
wants  of  the  volunteers ;  extra  snrjicoiis  .sent  down  the  rivers  in 
anticipation  of  batth's;  steaiidioals  chartered,  akso  in  expectation 
of  battles,  to  e'o  and  brin<;-  home  tlie  wonmled  and  disabled  sol- 
diers, all  of  which,  iiiid  in  itch  more,  wiis  in  eonstiiiit  operation 
dtiriiifj  the  winter  of  18(51-1',  prompted  doubtless,  by  the  most 
charitiible  of  motives,  but  exhibitinj;-  in  some  instances  a  prodij;al 
disregard  of  economy  and  it  lavish  display  of  means,  ainotiniiny 
almost  to  recklessness,  and  resiiKiiij;-  in  tln^  wounded  and  disa- 
bled .soldier.s,  for  whom  ostensibly  much  of  this  paraib*  was  made, 
recu'ivin^  only  $1,111)  ont  of  the  8.5(1,(100  appropriated.* 

Much  fault  had  been  found  by  the  Demociiuiy  at  home  with  his 
excellency  in  the  distribution  of  this  fund.  IJoth  In^  and  his  many 
a<;eiits  were  chareed  with  liavinji'  been  more  zealous  duriir';'  their 
l)erij;rinations  anioii<;  the  Illinois  volunteers  in  distributing  docu- 
ments to  defeat  the  new  constitution  tban  in  alleviatiiii''  their  siif. 


*  Tlio  Stiito  Treiisui'Of.  .tune  Iti,  18<V1,  (fnvo  the  I'ollowintr  lte?iis  of  expenditures,  us 
paid  o\it  of  tliiit  appropriiition  :  Stoiuiilmiit trips  liy  tlie  jroveriuir  and  pnrty:  CS.SHT;  lor 
the  (lUiirtenniistor's  dijpHrtnicnt,  !jJ!),H74:  receipts  of  .lohn  Wood,  Ijt'l-'CM;  tor  Adjutiint 
Cieiieriirs  odioc.  $7,74H;  Oonmiissiiry  (Jt'iienU's  Ofllcc,  $;i.04:i;  trips  to  Wnsiinnrton  by 
Messrs.  YatfS,  Truinlmll.  KolloorK  und  otiiers,  84,449;  niesson)rer  imd  clerk  hlreintrov- 
ernor's  ollice,  Sa.4H;i;  J.  K.  Fori'Btlo  Cairo  and  back,  I61~();  sick  and  wounded  tllinois 
soldiers,  who  fought  nt  tielniont,  Forts  Henry  and  Uonelson,  and  at  Shiloh,  81, IM. 
The  war  demonstrated  sanitary  efforts  to  be  most  elflcient  in  the  hands  of  private  en- 
terprise. Untold  blessinirs  wereineti-d  out  l>y  the  sanitary  bureaus  in  chartro  of  noble" 
ond  devoted  tnen  and  women,  who,  unlike  politicians  in  the  employ  of  the  State,  did 
not  seek  personal  glorilleation  niuong  the  volunteers,  but  truly  to  mitlg'atethe  suffer- 
ings uf  the  sick  and  wounded. 


yatkh'  administration. 


887 


forinjjfs.  Indcod,  (Jov.  Yatos  in  all  tlio  oxMibcnmco  ol'liis  patiiot- 
isiii,  was  ever  cliiirficd  hy  tlic  Dciiiocrac.v  as  Ix'iiifj;  actuated  hy 
l»artiMaii  motives,  and  jiiiided  hy  <Mtiisideiati(>ii;s  ol"  persdiial  aiuiii- 
tioii ;  tliat  in  all  Ids  traiisacttions  witii  tlu;  raisin;;  of  the  vast  num- 
ber ol'  Illinois  volunteers  and  in  Ids  appointments,  lie  looked  tor- 
ward  to  political  a;;;;randi/ement  ;  and  that  in  his  ardent  desire 
to  earn  tlie,  honoial>!e  soul)ri(piet  ol"  tho  ''soldiers'  friend,"  he  (lis- 
(;over<Ml  untold  i>relernM>i:t  to  himself.  And  both  tln^  convention, 
and  now  tln^  l'<j:isliitnre,  do;d)iless  mninly  from  |)artisan  niolixcb, 
lefused  fuithi'r  to  solely  entrust  hin'  with  tlu'  distribution  of  nioru 
sanitary  fund.'  Eurly  in  the  session  (.January  7th)  an  appropria- 
tion of  $10,000  1:1  ;;'old  had  been  niiide  for  tln^  Illinois  sick  and 
wounded  soldiers  in  view  of  the  batlh^  of  Mnrfreesboro,  and  the 
l)robabl(^  advances  ui»on  Vieksbur;^'.  Time  (tomndssioners,  (Lewi.s 
J).  Erwin,  W.  W.Anderson,  and  lO/ekial  Hoyden),  were  apixtintecl 
to  distribute  this  fund,  who  sold  the  ^old  for  paper,  realizing,'  a 
larye  prendum,  and  the  whole,  it  seems,   was  carefully  exi)ende(' 


,  ,  , i«'<l 

with  yreat  relief  and  benelit  to  the  needy  soldiers,  wh(»  icceived 
over  SO  i»er  cent,  of  it.  IJnt  the  (lovernor  was  anxious  for  ain)ther 
$."»0,000.  lie  sent  in  a  si>e,eial  messaj^^o  upon  the  subject,  »m)Uc1m'(1 
in  terms  of  rart!  beauty  and  felicity  of  expression,  evincing  a  noble 
sympathy  for  our  stru;i'^lin^' soldiery  in  upholdin;^' the  tia;; of  our 
country.  It  was  a  i»lea  such  as  few  men  are  capable  of  making, 
and  should  have  ^one  to  tlu^  nH)st  ealoused  heart. 

The  senate  had  i>asse(l  two  appropriation  bills  of  precisely  sind- 
lar  titles.  These  i)ills  were  inimbered  resi>ectively  L'Oli  and  L'o;{ ; 
they  were  in  the  same  handwriting,  and  when  folded  looked  alike, 
except  as  to  their  numbers.  Ko.  1*0.'»  i)rovide(l  for  the  i>ayment  of 
the  salaries  of  executive  olli(;ers,  the  ordinary  expenses  of  the  ex- 
ecutive departnu'ut,  the  adjutant  general's  olliee,  and  the  various 
other  usual  items  of  approi)iiation.  This  was  aiu^'ptable  to  the 
Di'nioerats.  Xo.  L'OL*  i»rovided  besides  all  these  items,  a  (-ontin- 
gent  fund  of  $10,000,  and  $-,500  fortius  hire  of  a  yardener,  both 
to  be  expeiided  at  the  option  of  the  governor;  and  an  appro])ria- 
tion  of  !i!«.-)O,0t)0  to  the  ''aid  of  the  si(;k  and  wounded  Illinois  sol- 
diers; to  defray  the  contin^t'id  expenses  of  the  executive  de[»art- 
ment ;  for  the  pay  of  e,<'rks  in  the  governor's  oflice  ;  of  nu'ssen- 
gers  on  public  service;  of  assistants  in  the  adjutant  general's 
otbce,  (|uarternnister  general's  olliee  and  the  comndssary  general's 
otliet',  lithography,  i»os  age  and  other  incidental  expenses,"  all  to 
be  exi)ended  by  order  of  the  governor. 

From  this  array  of  i)articipants  in  the  .$.")0,000  fund,  the  sick 
and  wounded  soldier,  although  tirst  mentioned,  it  nniy  bi^  x\ell 
inuigined,  woifld  very  likely  be  the  last  to  receive  a  sleiuler  share. 
The  Democrats  opposed  Xo.  202,  as  providing  his  excellency  with 
a  "corruption  fund,"  but  were  willing  to  pass  No.  .'J0.{.  Wlieii 
the  latter  came  uj)  for  acttion  in  the  house,  a  short  tinn;  before  the 
adjournment,  it  Mas  upon  demaml  twice  read  at  large  to  be  cer- 
tain that  the  $r»(),000  item  was  not  in  it.  The  third  time  the  bill 
was  read  by  its  title  only  and  passed,  .5!)  to  2.  The  chief  clerk  who 
had  been  out,  came  in  as  the  roll  was  being  called  upon  the  pas- 
sages of  the  bill,  and  being  informed  that  it  was  necessary  to  usft 
haste  in  repo"ting  the  bill  back  to  the  senate,  as  the  hour  of  ad- 
journment  was  at  hand,  he  sat  down  to  write  the  message  to  that 
effect,  but  at  this  iuncture,  by  some  adroit  piestidigitatiouj  the 


888 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


obnoxious  bill,  No.  liOli,  was  substituted  and  received  the  endorse- 
ment of  liavi:i<;'  passed,  due  Im  No.  liiVA.  It  was  iunnediately  re- 
l)orted  back  to  the  senati-,  as  hastily  sent  to  the  governor, 
approved,  and  returned  to  the  senate  where  it  orginated. 

The  house  had  not  proceeded  far  with  other  business,  when  the 
noise  and  api)arent  exultation  among  llepublican  members  at  the 
north  end  of  the  hall,  and  the  adjiieent  loliHjy,  revealed  the  iact 
that  Democrats,  notwithstanding  their  vigihmee,  had  been  tricked 
in  the  passage  of  this  obnoxious  measuie.  A  scene  of  the  wildest 
confusion  ensued.  Information  was  menacingly  demanded  of  the 
S])eaker;  a  resolution  was  introduced,  recalling  the  bill  from  the 
hands  of  the  governor,  but,  as  many  members  had  in  the  meantime 
left  lor  home,  it  failed  for  want  of  the  re<inisite  three-fourths  vote. 
A  i)iotest,  detailing  the  circumstances  of  the  fraud,  was  signed 
by  41  JJemocratic  mend)ers  and  sjjread  upon  the  journal.  The 
treasurer  was  reciuested  not  to  honor  any  draiis  upon  the  fund 
thus  fraudulently  appropriated.  Accordingly,  when  the  governor 
shortly  after  drew  upon  the  fund,  he  fouml  that  guardian  of  the 
people's  strong  box,  (a  Democrat),  recalcitrant.  A  writ  of  mau- 
damus  was  sued  out  of  rhe  Suprenu' Court,  {\wu  sitting  at  Ottawa, 
a  (lav  before  its  adjournment,  against  the  treasurer,  re(juiring  him 
to  show  cause  why  he  did  not  pay  tiie  warrants  drawn  111)011  that 
fund  ;  but  before  answer  could  be  made  the  court  adjournal.  It 
is  probable  that  it  was  designed  in  advance  by  the  suitors  that  the 
case  should  not  go  to  trial,  rendering  i)iiblicail  the  facts  connected 
with  the  passage  of  the  bill,  in  which  rumor  at  the  time  involved 
a  certain  noted  J)emocrat,  a  member  and  higli  oilicial  of  the  house. 
And  thus  the  perpetiators  of  this  legislative  swindle  have  escaped 
deserved  exi)osuie  and  merited  pubUc  disgrace.* 

The  winter  session  of  the  2od  general  assembly  proved  a  most 
unprolitable  one  to  the  peojile.  The  dominant  party,  engrossed 
with  the  peace  resolutions,  passed  but  one  measure  of  public  ad- 
vantage, that  of  abolishing  the  State  quartermaster  and  commis- 


*  Another  most  iuicineioiis  lojrisliitivc  gwlndio,  well  lllustriiting'  the  oiirek'ss 
manner  ol  enacting  liiws  iiiulor  tlie  old  constitution,  unU  the  tricks  by  which  cor- 
rupt men,  lioth  as  lolibiists  and  members,  (rained  advantajrcs,  was  the  "Chicasro  (Jrid- 
iron  tdll."  as  it  was  nicknamed,  passed  by  this  (general  assembly  at  the  June  session, 
Tlie  'itleof  the  bill,  "An  act  to  inoorporate  the  Wabash  Railway  Company,'"  was  calcu- 
lated to  convey  the  d<'ceptive  Idea  of  a  railroad  in  the  Wabash  reuioii  of  the  State, 
instead  of  which  it  >raveto  a  few  sharpers  in  Cldeago  most  extraordinary  friinchises 
over  the  streets  of  that  city.  It  provided  for  the  exclusive  construction  of  horse- 
railways  throuirh  IH  of  the  princiiial  streets  of  Chicago,  across  4  of  Its  most  imiior- 
tant  bridifcs,  and  on  any  ccau'i on  highways  in  either  or  all  of  the  towns  of  South 
Chicairo,  Hyde  Park,  I.,iike,  Worth.  West  Chicavro,  I,yons,  .Jeirerson,  Cicero, and  Proviso, 
cul.jacent  to  the  cit.v,  and  from  to  time  to  clian^io,  enUuKe  and  I'xtend  the  location 
thereof.  It  allowed  the  corporators  to  impose  and  collect  such  tolls  as  it  should  fl.v, 
without  restraint  from  the  city  council.  This  was  an  immense  monopoly,  affectinf^the 
material  interests  of  the  whole  city.  It  >vas  a  8ub.)ect  properly  for  the  city  council 
of  CliKMtro,  but  neither  that  body  nor  the  people,  whichtliey  represented,  knew  auuht 
of  this  monstrous  movement  which  soutrht  to  fllch  from  them  the  control  of  theirowa 
Streets  and  highways,  though  the  recess  had  intervened  between  its  passage  ui  the 
senate  and  in  the  house. 

It  was  lntrod\iccd  into  the  senate  by  a  member  from  the  southeastern  part  of  the 
State,  which  added  to  the  deception,  and  in  a  loose  w;iy  ')ermitted  to  pass  that  bod.r  in 
January,  without  beina:  read  other  than  by  its  title,  the  enate  relyiiiK  upon  the  state- 
ment of  the  member  Introdueinsf  it,  that  it  was  simply  a  l):ll  for  an  ordinary  railroad 
charter,  containim?  the  usual  privllejres.  Its  provisions  were  not  ucneraliy  known  to 
senators  who  passed  it.  or  to  the  i)nblic  until  a  few  days  before  it  was  manouveretl 
thrmitfh  the  house  on  the  8th  of  .June,  inider  the  pressure  of  interested  members  and 
a  powerful  lobby  inlUn'tice.  And  now,  the  swindle  havin;.'-  transpired,  the  angry  pro- 
tests aiiaiiist  it  from  the  i)eople  of  Chicajro  came  loud  and  deep,  the  newspa))er  press 
of  the  State  .folning  itH  voice  to  the  indiM:nant  refrain.  The  p-ovornor  vetoed  it.  and  in 
his  message  of  .Tune  tilth,  ISW),  exposed  its  horrid  enormity  very  fully.  This  mo.ssape  was 
addressed  to  the  treneral  assembly  which  ho  had  dissolved  nine  days  before— the  "rump"' 
being  titiU  ill  aessiou. 


YATES    ADMINISTRATION.  889 

Siuy  departing  kts,  wiiicli,  since  their  supercediire  by  the  {^eiu'iiil 
govermiieiit,  uot  witiioiit  rehietaiKic  from  Gov.  Y'ates,  as  we  have 
seen,  had  become  usek'ss  and  expensive  encnnd)rances.  Every 
other  of  its  i)arty  nieasnies  met  witii  disaster.  The  haheaa  corpus 
and  illegal  arrest  bills;  the  prohibition  of  noj^ro  immigration;  the 
congressional  apportionment,  and  the  armistice  resolntions — suc- 
ceedinff  aU)ne  with  the  recess  re.solntion;  wliile  the  Heimblicans, 
by  their  vigilance,  iidelity  and  (ionrage,  succeeded  in  the(h'feat  of 
all  these,  they  were  also  balked,  as  we  have  described,  in  the  fidl 
fruition  of  their  only  aftirmative  measure,  tlie  $.jO,000  appropria- 
tion tor  the  sick  and  wounded  Illinois  sokliers. 

licaetion  amomj  the  Per  pie  agaiust  the  Peace  Movement  of  the  Leg- 
inlature. — Both  during  the  session  after  the  armistice  resolutions 
ha<l  been  biought  forward  and  throughout  the  recess,  tlie  people, 
being  awakened  by  these  schemes  of  the  politicians  who  thus 
sought  to  place  Illinois  on  record  as  an  anti-war  State,  held  i)uhlic 
meetings  all  over  the  State,  givinj^  expression  to  tlieir  loyal  senti- 
ments, and  eviiu'ing  the  strongest  devotion  to  the  war  for  the 
Union.  From  Egyi)t  the  Douglas  (h'mocrats  sent  out  their  re- 
solves "that,  as  citizens  of  Illinois  and  as  democrats,  we  are  in  favor 
of  the  continued  and  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war  until  tlu^  su- 
premacy of  the  constitution  is  acknowledged  in  every  State  of  the 
Union;  that  the  errors  of  the  administration,  while  they  should 
not  be  adopted  by  the  peoi)le,  form  no  excuse  for  any  loyal  citizen 
to  withhold  his  sujiport  from  the  government ;"  that  they  were  in- 
flexibly opposed  to  the  secession  heresy  of  a  Northwestern  Con- 
federacy, «S:c.,  recommending-  to  tlie  "true  democracy  to  organ- 
ize and  be  prepared  to  resist  all  schemes  of  disloyal  men  h)oking" 
to  a  further  disruittion  of  the  Union." 

It  was  a  gloomy  period  of  the  war.  The  turning  point  in.  the 
great  civil  contiict  had  not  been  reached.  Vicksburg — strong  and 
defiant — had  not  oidy  not  surrendered,  but  rei)ulsed  the  national 
troops  under  Sliernuui  in  January  preceding.  Nor  had  Gettys- 
burg been  fought.  The  great  captains  of  the  war  had  not  been 
revealed  on  our  side.  In  the  West,  the  battles  of  Sliiloh,  Perry- 
ville  and  Murtreesboro  had  proven  little  better  than  defeats  ; 
while  in  the  East,  Fredericksburg,  speedily  followed  by  (,'liancel- 
lorville,  had  spread  a  general  gloom.  Said  the  New  York  Tribune: 
"  If  ;i  months  more  of  earnest  lighting  shall  not  serve  to  nud<e  a  se- 
rious imi>ression  on  the  rebels — if  some  malignant  fate  has  de- 
creed tluit  the  blood  and  treasure  of  the  nation  shall  ever  be 
sciuamlered  in  fruitless  efibrts,  let  us  bow  to  our  destiny,  and  make 
the  best  attainable  peace."  It  was  at  the  time  no  doulu  iionestly 
believed  by  nuiny  that  the  States  could  not  be  reunited  by  mili- 
tary coercion — that  the  war  was  a  failure. 

Gold,  tiu'  most  sensitive  index  of  the  fortunes  of  the  war,  was 
steadily  on  the  rise.  Itebel  bonds  bore  a  premium  in  the  London 
marker.  The  ]>icture  was  a  dark  and  dreaiyone  and,  in  the  ^^'est, 
relicAcdonly  by  the  brilliant  military  exploit  of  Gen.  McClernand 
in  tiie  capture  of  Arkansas  Post. 

Put  amidst  all  these  dreary  scenes — the  demand  of  the  democ- 
racy for  ix'ace,  the  low  ebb  of  the  ticU;  in  the  fortunes  of  the  war, 
ami  the  discouragenu'nt  of  the  many  staunch  friends  of  the 
Union — the  heart  of  the  soldier  remained  undismayed.    Ilaidly 


890  HISTOET  OF  ILLINOIS. 


an  Illinois  rcfjinioiit.  Icariiiiijjihe  situiitioii  at  homo,  and  the  false 
and  (lislioiioiahlc  attitude  in  which  the  Icjiishitun;  souj^ht  to  place 
tiie  State  bel'oie  the  country,  but  w  liat  hehl  in(!etin<;s  and  ex- 
l)ress<'d  their  abhorrenceof  the  ''  tire  in  the  rear, "  as  it  was  ternu-d 
— rei»lc;ij;c(l  their  loyalty  to  the  Union  aiul  devotion  to  the  Haj;- — 
breathinj;'  the  noblest  of  patriotic;  sentiments  c(»mminj;led  with 
]»urp()ses  of  the  most  determined  valor.  These  resolutions  ])oured 
in  in  ureat  i)rofiision,  the  columns  of  the  rei)ubli(!au  press  bciiij; 
fairly  laden  with  them.  The;  demo'-racy  charj^ed  the  voluminous 
loyal  expressions  to  be  nu'rely  the  dictates  of  those  "whose 
shoulders  were  adorned  with  the  stars,  ea;>les  and  bars,"  If  such 
was  the  case  it  but  showed  discipline  in  the  rijiht  diie(!tiou.  Few 
of  the  masses,  even  und(!rour  form  of  f-'overmnent,  exercise  either 
orij^inal  or  indei»endent  political  opinions. 

It  was  the  unworthy  aiJtion  of  this  legislature  that  precijutated 
the  defection  of  such  men  as  Joiin  A,  Lof^an,  Isham  Is\  Ilaiuie, 
John  A.  ^McClernand,  and  a  host  of  others  from  the  democratic 
ranks. 

in  his  address  to  the  soldiers  of  the  17th  army  corps,  dated 
Memphis,  Feb.  12th,  18(>.'J,  Gen.  Lo{>an,  in  allusion  to  the  "falsify- 
in<;  of  i)ubrc  sentiment  at  home,"  said:  '•Intrij;uin^'  political 
tricksters,  <■  •Mnif;<)<;ues  aiul  time-servers,  whose  ciorrupt deeds  are 
but  a  faint  reflex  of  their  corrui)t  hearts,  seem  detennined  to  drive 
our  peoi)Ie  on  to  anarchy  and  destruction.  The  day  is  not  far  dis- 
tant when  traitors  and  cowards,  Xortli  and  South,  will  cower  before 
the  iiidij-natiou  of  an  outra<;ed  i)eople.  ^[anih  bravely  onward!" 
Gen,  llainie,  in  a  private  lettei\  jjfave  his  un(iualilied  endorsemcmt 
to  every  paraji'raph,  liiu'  and  word  of  tien.  Loj^an's  addi'css.  (ien. 
jMi  (Bernard,  in  Ins  letter  to  John  Van  IJuren,  dated  Feb,  L'lid, 
I<SO.'>,  denounced  these  democratic  fiuttionists  as  "Northern  jjcace 
moHyers,  wiio  'will  be  carried  away,'  if  not  by  the  torrent  of  pub- 
lic o|»inion,  eventually  by  for(!e  of  arms."  For  the  expression  of 
such  sentiments,  these  ^entleuu'U  were  now  read  out  of  the  party 
by  th(^  peace  orj;ans  of  tlie  democracy. 

There  were  also  a  iiund)er  of  anti-war  meetinj;s  held  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  State  under  the  manaj;ement  of  the  demociatic 
leaders,  dedarin^f  hostility  to  the  poli(;y  of  the  war  as  then  prose- 
cuted by  the  national  administration,  which  <!ulminated  in  the  lar{;e 
mass  meeting"  of  the  17th  of  June,  at  Springtield,  of  which  more 
further  alonj;-. 

Tiie  party  uomciiiclature  of  the  period  as  api)lied  to  democrats 
also  evinced  dee])  ])artisaii  feelinji;' and  was  of  the  most  insultiiijj 
character:  "  Coi)]»erheads,  "  "Snakes,"  "Butternuts,"  "Secesh," 
&<;.  The  origin  of  these  oi)probrious  epithets,  we  will  not  stop  to 
give. 

Military  Arrefifs. — Of  the  many  arrests  of  onr  citizens  by 
military  authority  wo  (!an  only  relate  one  or  two  of  the  most 
notable.  A  (Ja]»t.  Linslcy,  by  order  of  Col.  Carrington  of  Indian- 
apolis, was  statioiu'd  at  Terre  Haute  to  arrest  deserters  in  Vigo 
and  surrounding  counties  of  Indiajia,  nothing  being  said  about 
Illinois.  In  JMarch,  ISO,'},  he  sent  two  sergi'auts  into  Clark  (bounty 
of  this  State  wiu)  arrested  four  deserter:..  Tiie  mother  of  one  of 
them,  at  the  instance  of  the  Hon.  John  Scholield,  a(;ting  as  her 
attorney,  to  procure  her  sou's  release  swore  out  a  warrant  charg- 


tvii 


Tif' 


YATES'  ADMINTSTUATION. 


891 


in;;-  tlic  ofliccrs  with  kidiiiippiii'''.  Tlie  .ser^eiint.s  were  <•llT<^ste(l  tiiul 
taken  hclbre  tlie  Hon.  Clias.  II.  ('on.stahle,  ein^uit  ju(lf>e,  the  court 
bein^-  tlien  in  session  at  JMarsliall.  In  their  exatninution  thejnd^e 
doubted  the  siifheieney  of  tlie  papers  exliil»ited  as  authority  for 
tlie  sf-r^caiits  t<»  make  tlie  arrests  ii;  Illinois.  Tluiir  attorney,  K. 
L.  Diilaney,  tiien  atti^nipted  to  |!;ove  that  tlie  men  alle;;ed  to  be 
kidiiapi>e<l  were  in  faet  desertiU'S  from  the  federal  army,  whom 
any  one  mijiht  airesi  as  in  'he  ease  of  any  criminal.  Tiiis  was 
not  idlowed  to  lie  sjiown  by  the  Jud,i;e.  He  bound  them  over 
in  a  bond  of  $r){)U  and  discharged  the  (U'serters.  At  the  request 
of  llie  serycanls,  ,Ind<'e  ().  <;ave  them  a  written  statement: 

'•'I'lmt  Messrs  Mcl'iiiliiiiil  nnd 'I'homiis  Lnntr,  h.ive been  iirrustcd  and  brou^rlit  before 
inc  lor  (•xiimiimtiiiii  on  11  clmrtfc  of  UiilimpiKiijf,  inid  t  hat  I  Iiiiv(w1c(MI1('(1  it  my  (hity  to 
bolil  tlK.iu  over  in  ii  bund  of  iMti  to  iippcar  next  Tlinrsday  niornniu',  tfi  iinswcr  tiirtliur 
to  siiiil  cliiiiao,  iinil  I  biivc  orden  d  t' c  dischurtfo  from  (Uistody  of  .liimus  Gammun, 
Hny^li  Scott,  M.  Hclolier  luid  ,Tno.  1V..ni'r,  luiiriiicn  whom  they  Imd  arrested  upon  the 
ground  lliut  they  wi-ri'  ilcscrters  from  Co.  K,  *)th  III.  Vol." 

Tlie  serj^eaiits  procMired  bail  without  diiticulty,  though  they  were 
stran^^cis,  iSul)se(iiiently,  on  tiu' day  of  their  trial,  and  while  it 
was  ill  luoji're.ss,  (!o].  (Jariin^iton,  with  a  force  of  LMO  infantry,  sur- 
rounded the  couir  house  at  .Marshall,  and  with  ."»(» dismounted  (;av- 
aliymeii  in  (;itizeiis'  dress  entered  the  court,  ro(»m  without  exciting 
surprise,  and  at  the  very  inonuMit.  the  adjournment  of  court  for 
dinner  was  announced,  stepped  forward  and  arrested  ,Iud<;('!  Con- 
stable bet'ore  he  had  (juitte<l  the  bench.  Th(^  infantry  were  stii- 
tioiied  oiitsi(h'  to  (luell  any  attempt  at  rescue  by  the  <!itizen.s. 
There  was  no  molesiation,  howe\'er.  Judge  Constable,  who  wa.s 
taken  l)y  siirpiise.  was  (M)rsiderably  unmanned  at  tins  summary 
exhibition  of  military  i)ower.* 

The  prisoners  were  released,  and  tlu^  Judge  trying  them  wa.s 
torn  from  his  judicial  seat  in  tlie  midst  of  his  I. dtors,  his  court 
adjourned  l)y  military  power,  an<l  hc^  itonveyed  a  i)iisoner  to  a 
foreign  State.  Could  auda(;ity,  apparently,  in  a  free  govern- 
ment, outside  of  the  theatre  of  actual  war,  go  further?  Yet  of  all 
the  ndlitary  arrests  made  in  this  State,  this  was  the  most  Justifia- 
ble. The  offense  c(»nsisted  in  no  mere  disl(»yal  gasconath",  but  in 
substantial  acts  whi(!]i.  by  the  discharge  (»f  four  deserters  and  the 
impiisonment  of  two  othcers,  was  an  actual  interference  wirh  and 
injury  t^o  the  military  etJbrt  of  the  governnu'iit  to  suppress  the 
icltellion. 

About  the  1st  of  Ajiril  Judge  Constable  was  brought  from  In- 
dianapolis to  Si»iingfiel(laiid  delivered  over  to  the  civil  authorities. 
An  affidavit  was  tiled  before  the  U.  S.  Comndssioner,  charging 
him  with  encouraging  desertion  by  ordering  the  release  of  the  four 
d(jserters  from  the  (iustody  of  the  othcers.  liy  agreement  the  ex- 
amination was  had  before  Judge  Ti'cat,  of  the  IJ.  S.  district  (rouit, 
tlie  distri(!t  attorney,  Lawrence  Weldon,  ajipearing  for  the  gov- 
ernment, and  Stuart  «&  Edwards  for  the  prisoner.  After  hearing 
all  the  evidence,  tli(^  defendant  was  discharged. 

fjat-er  in  tliesjiring  of  1S().'),  \V.  II.  (ireen,  aState  Senator  from 
IMassac,  and  (1.  \V.  Wall,  of  Perry,  were  arrested  by  order  of  the 
provost  marshal.  The  charges  do  not  a]»i»ear.  In  the  Senate  J>lr. 
(Jreeii  had  signalized  himself  as  an  ardent  supjiorter  of  the  armks- 
tice  resolutions,  laboring  earnestly  to  bring  that  body  to  a  vote 
upon  them.     The  republican  press  brought  forwai'd  many  of  his 

•SeeTerrc  Haute  Express. 


892  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

antiwar  iittt'raiico.s,  such  as  ''  wo  (hi'  and  his  constitiu'iits)  stand 
upon  the  border  as  peace  makers,  and  we  intend  tiiat  uidess  it  be 
over  our  dead  bodies,  tliere  sliall  be  no  fraternal  blood  shed,"  iVc. 
]\[r.  G.  took  occasion  to  denj-  some  of  these  charf;es,in  a  published 
letter.  lie  was  also  found  fault  with  for  wearinj;- a  "  butternut'' 
s  't,  &c.  (ieneral  liuford  rccpiired  each  of  theso  gentlenu'n  to 
time  the  oathof  allegiance  to  the  U.  S.;  to  write  letters  to  the  com- 
mander of  the  post  confessing  the  acts  for  wliicii  they  had  been 
arrested,  with  expressions  of  regret  and  promises  of  fntnre  con 
duct  comporting  with  that  of  loyal  citizens ;  and  to  de(rlare  they 
had  not  aided  deserters  to  escape  nor  discouraged  enlistments, 
whereupon  they  were  released  from  arrest.* 

JMany  others  of  our  citizens  too  numerous  to  mention  were  ar- 
rested, some  taken  to  AVashington  bastiles  and  others  incarcera- 
ted in  Fort  Lafayette,  in  New  York  harbor.  It  was  about  tliis 
tinu^.  that  the  uoted  arrest  of  Mr.  Vallandigham  of  Ohio  was 
made. 

Suppression  of  the  Chicago  Times. — But  the  general  government 
did  not  stop  with  military  arrests  and  iniprisonnu;nt  of  the  citi- 
zen for  his  exercise  of  the  rig;ht  of  free  speech  ;  it  also  laid  its 
hand  of  power  upon  the  freedom  of  the  public  i)ress.  The 
sui)pression  of  the  Chicago  limes  —  a  newspai)er  wlii(!h  ex- 
ercised an  unusual  license  in  its  criticism  of  the  policy  of 
the  administration  and  the  conduct  of  the  war — fornuMl  the 
most  notable  event  of  that  soi't  in  Illinois.  This  was  done  by  or- 
der of  Maj<u'  Gen.  Burnside,  in  command  of  the  dejiartnuMit  of 
the  Ohio,  dated  Cineiniuiti,  June  1st,  bSOii.  Brig.  Gen.  Jacob 
AmnuMi,  in  command  of  the  district  of  Illinois,  stationed  at  Camp 
Butler,  was  charged  with  its  execution.  The  cause  assigned  in 
the  order  was  "the  rei)eated  expression  of  disloyal  and  incendiarj' 
sentiuu'Uts"  by  that  newspaper.  The  same  order(Xt).  S4),  in  i)ar- 
agraph  1,  included  the  N.  Y.  World.  Gen.  Ammeii  was  directed 
to  allow  no  nu)rc  issues  of  the  paper  to  ai)])ear,  and  if  neccessary 
to  "take  military  possession  of  the  Times  otUce."'  The  editor  was 
also  notitied  of  the  order  by  telegrajdi  from  Gen.  Burnside,  June 
2d.  Late  in  the  night  of  that  day  ^lessrs.  Storey  and  AVorden, 
the  proprietors,  made  ai)plication  to  Judge  Drunnnond,  of  the  U. 
S.  (!ourt  for  the  Northern  district  of  Jllinois,  for  an  injunction  to 
restrain  Gens.  A.  E.  Burnside,  Jacob  Animen,  and  Cai»t.  Jas. 
S.  I'litnam,  of  Camp  JJonglas,  «letailed  to  a(;t,  from  carrying 
into  ettect  the  order  of  sujjpression.  About  midnight  the  court 
granted  a  temporary  restraining  order  ui)on  the  defendants,  until 
theapi)licution could  be  heard  and  determined  in  open  court.  Learn- 
ing which, Capt.  I'utiuim  hastily  departed  tohispostatCani})  Doug- 
las, gathereda  suflicient  military  force,  returned,  andaboutio'clock 
in  the  morning  of  the  .'id,  executed  (Jen.  Bnrnside's  order  by 
taking  jiossession  of  the  Times  office,  in  delianceand  contemi>tof 
tiie  order  of  the  civil  tribunal.  In  the  meantime  the  Times  issues 
of  the  ."id  of  June,  in  great  part,  had  been  struck  off  and  found 
circulation. 

Here  was  pres(M)ted  the  grave  question  of  a  collision  betweeu 
the  civil  and  military  autlun-ity  of  the  U.  S.  A  stay  of  proceed- 
ings in  court  was  granted  on  the  sanu'  day  to  give  time  for  service 

_ =, 

*See  Illinois  state  Keglster,  May  0  1863 


TATES    ADMINISTRATION.  893 


on  (U'U.  Aiiuiien.  Judge  David  Diivi.s,  presiding  in  the  U.  S. 
Circuit  Court  at  Sitringfield,  was  teiegrai)h('(l  to  come  to  Chi- 
cago and  .join  in  liearing  tlie  application  tor  llie  injunction,  witli 
^vlli(•h  lie  coini)lic(l. 

.Meantime  the  exeiteuient  created  in  Chicago  was  intense.  On 
the  evening  of"  the  same  day  a  large  concourse  of  citizens  met  and 
expressed  tlieir  deep  indignation  against  this  military  <lesj»otisMi. 
On  the  following  d!.,v  the  intensity  of  the  i)opular  feeling  having 
steadily  iiuin  ased,  fears  were  entertaine<l  that  an  outbreak  of 
mob  violence  would  attack  the  T/vVvmhc  est!d)lishnRiit  (rei»ublican). 
A  secret  met'ting  of  pionunent  republicans,  and  a  few  democrats, 
was  now  held  in  tlie  circuit  court  r(M)m,  to  devise  ways  to  i>reservo 
the  peace  of  the  (;ity.  It  was  participated  in  by  Semitor  Trum- 
bull, lion.  1.  N.  Arnold,  Wm.  15.  Og<le:i,  Judge  Van  lliggins,  (a 
heavy  stockholder  in  the  Tribune.)  IS.  W.  Fuller,  Jas.  F.  Joy, 
C.  i>eckwith,  A.  C.  Coventry,  Judge  J)ickey,  S.  IS.  Hayes, 
A.  W.  Harrington  and  others.  A  petition  to  the  i)resident 
was  prepared  representing  that  the  peace  of  the  city,  if 
not  the  welfare  of  the  country,  would  be  promoted  by  rescinding 
the  order  supiu'cssing  the  limes;  that  tliis  was  asked  upon  the 
ground  of  expediency  alone,  without  regai'd  to  i)arty  ;  and  his  fa- 
v«)iable  consideration  was  respectfully  asked.  Tin;  petition  ^as 
telegraphed  to  the  president.  Messrs.  Tnind)tdl  and  Arnold  sent 
an  additional  disi)at(;h  especially  inviting  his  prompt  ami  serious 
consideration  of  the  very  grave  state  of  affairs.  By  half-past  six 
1>.  m.  of  the  same  day,  he  re[)lied  by  telegrai>h  unconditionally  re- 
V(»kiiig  the  order  of  supi)ression.  IJut  one  number  of  the  Times' 
issues,  that  of  Thursday,  June  4th,  failetl  to  ajipear.  Pecuinarily 
it  may  well  be  guessed  the  paper  was  not  long  injured,  as  by  this 
it  gained  largely  in  its  sales. 

After  thus  saving  it  from  the  fury  of  the  gathering  mob,  the 
Tribune  said  :  "  The  onler  of  revocation  was,  and  is  universally 
felt,  to  be  a  most  unfortunate  blmuler.  *  As  the  matter  stamlsitis 
is  a  triumph  of  treason.  The  nnnionsofJetf.  Davis  have  won  a  victory 
by  which  they  will  not  fail  to  profit.  *  Oh  !  for  a  Gen.  Jackson 
w  Idle  this  war  lasts,  and  it  would  not  last  long."  The  repul)licaii 
press  was  generally  chagrined  at  the  wavering  comluct  of  the 
president,  and  in  a  tone  of  irony  exclaimed  :  "  It  is  not  true  that 
any  republican  has  telegraphed  to  Washington  to  seek  the  presi- 
dential revocation  of  Gen.  Grant's  order  to  suppress  I'emberton's 
issues  of  shot  ami  shell  at  Vicksburg."  The  Belleville  Zeituug 
(German  re]>ublicaii),  somewhat  profanely  said  :  "  May  the  devil 
take  the  'honesty'  of  Lincoln  and  his  (tabinet.  We  are  for  the  en- 
ergy and  power  of  action  of  Fremont.  Let  Fremont  be  our  next 
president." 

in  the  meantime  Judges  Davis  ami  Drummond  had  been  hear- 
ing the  able  arguments  of  counsel  on  the  ai)plication  for  an  in- 
junction, but  the  president's  revocation  stayed  all  further  proceed- 
ings in  court,  and,  wlnit  is  to  be  regretted,  no  oi)iinon  was  ren- 
dered upon  this  very  interesting  question.  From  Judge  Drum- 
mond's  remarks  ui)on  the  motion  to  defer  the  application  tdl  after 
service,  we  gather  the  following: 

''As  tlie  officer  of  tIio  Kovornmeiit,  I  wiU  seek  to  innlntnin  that  government,  but 
I  believe  tlint  the  constitution  iind  the  laws  furnish  ample  means  to  suppress 
the  rebellion.  *  When  there  are  military  operations  goinft  on— when  there  are 
armies  in  the  Held  iu  hostile  array,  In  buttle,  in  movement,  then  the  civil  law  ceases 


894 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


nnd  then  comes  In  the  martial  law.  Uut  the  iirmles  of  the  IT.  S..  ilie  mn.)or^'•('Ilc^lls  of 
the  U  S.,  act  under  the  iiuthorlty  of  law,  uikI  the  inllitar.v  law  is  just  as  much  under 
th-!  ooiistitutii/n  anci  under  the  law  as  js  the  eivil  law,  prciisily.  *  It  Is  de.siiulila 
that  we  should  know  whether  we  live  under  a  tfoverniiient  ol  law  or  under  a  (fovern- 
ment  ot  forec.  *  i  believe  thai  wc  live  under  a  (fovernnient  of  law,  and  I  trust  that 
every  eitlzeu  of  the  coinniunity  also  rests  undi'r  the  siiine  belief,  and  that  all,  each  for 
himself,  will  remember  tliat  we  live  under  Uffovernment  of  law  " 

iSecret  PoJlticoMiliiary  Societies.— Tho  year  1S(;;?  was  also  pio- 
lific  ill  tilt'  (iioanizatioii  of  .sui-n't  i»oliticivl  onlcis  witli  .sciiii-iiiiii- 
tary  attribiitcs.  They  were  varioii.><ly  known  as  ••  Iviii<;iirs  of  the 
CoMt'ii  Circle,'' -riiioii  Leajiues,"  tlie  "S.  IVs,"  (whatever  that 
stood  for)  &c.  The  former  of  these  was  of  deiiioeiatic  aiid  the  two 
latter  of  repiihlieaii  orioju.  Various  eireuiiistaiiees  eoiiiribiited  to 
the  wide  exteiisit)!!  (»f  these  orders.  The  open  elaiiior  forpeacie  on 
the  part  of  many  leadinjjr  democrats;  the  opinion  tliat  the  war 
was  a  failure — indirectly  conceded  by  some  ot  tliestauiichest  rt;- 
imblican  iiewsjjapers;  the  uii])opularily of  the  coiist^iipt  law  with 
the  )5<')00  e.\eiiii»tioii  clause  and  its  I'rctiiient  demiiieialion,  these, 
joined  with  the  political  excitement  by  the  i)ea('e  resolutions  of 
the  lefjislature.  and  the  many  expressions  fi(»iii  pni>lic  meetiii<;s  in 
opposition  thereto,  produced  a  serious  impression  aiiioii<i  the  jieo- 
]»le  not  uiimiiigled  with  I'eelinos  of  ])ersoiial  insccuiity,  ])uring 
this y(»ar,  too.  many  deserters  were  at  laro««,  i)rowliiio  about  tho 
iieijiiiborhoods  of  their  homes,  often  leading'  their  friends  or  rela- 
tives into  ditlieulties  with  the  setrret  a<;ents  of  the  {govern men t  in 
l)nrsuitof  them,  who,  when  they  became  known,  of  course  swaooei^d 
and  boasted  mttalittle  of  their  prowessand  tiie  terrible  retribution 
to  be  visited  upon  certain  localities  supposed  to  harbor  them. 
There  were  also  at  home  rather  an  unusual  number  of  soldiers  on 
furlouoh — roistering  blades,  pompous  in  their  lUMt,  blue  unifoinis 
— into  wliose  oars  were  poured  by  ])artizan  friends  tales  ot  iiorror, 
liow  the  venomous  ••Copperhead  tleinoerats"  ()urposed  resisting 
the  draft,  subvert  the  State  •iovernmeiit,  and  form  an  alliance 
Avith  the  rebel  confederacy.  T!ie  soldiers,  thus  incited  by  narrow 
and  [)rejutliced  rei)ublicans,  often  swaggered  about  insulting  good 
citizens  and  making  threats  of  dire  vengeance,  which  they  felt  it 
their  duty  and  privilege  to  wreak,  and  sometimes  they  went  so 
far  as  to  acvually  i»er[)etrate  indignities  and  outrages  upon  really 
unott'ending  democratic  civilians.  The  genera!  government,  too, 
as  we  have  .seen,  was  making  numerous  military  airests  for  the 
mere  utterance— often  but  an  idle  or  thoughtless  boast — of  dis- 
loyal sentiments. 

There  was  con.-oqnontly  little  open  discussion  of  the  war  in- 
dulged on  either  side  in  many  i)ortions  of  the  State.  A  deep  feel- 
ing of  mistrust  regarding  the  thoughts  and  jmrposes  of  one's  own 
neighbor  was  all-pervading.  The  air  was  lile  with  wliisi)ers  of 
direst  jiortent  as  to  the  treatment  to  be  visited  upon  this  or  that 
<'itizeii,  who  should  have  uttered  tliis  or  done  that  disloyal  thing. 
The  State  was  under  martial  law;  and  it  was  generally  felt  that 
outrages  growing  out  of  the  political  condition  of  tiie  times,  or 
l>eriietrated  at  such  a  period,  would  eitlu'r  meetMith  ready  excuse 
and  esttape  of  i)iinishment,  ui)on  the  one  side,  or  a  summary  \  isita- 
tion  of  revenge  from  the  other.  Each  was  thus  steeled  against  tho 
liist  overt  act.  Under  these  cinmmstances  men  of  prior  partizau 
atliniteis,  even  if  not  then  in  full  accord  upon  the  great  questioa 
of  the  war,  instinctively  sought  to  bind  themselves  together  by 


YATKS'  ADMINISTRATION.  895 


tics  of  tlic  stroiifjcst  oiitlis  for  iinitiial  protection,  wliicli  doubtless 
(lid  not  idwav.s  stop  with  provisions  iifiiiinst  ]M'isonid  iiidij;nilies 
and  local  outrafjfps  al(»ne,  but  may  have  included  purposed  resist- 
once  to  the  lawful  <leinauds  of  the  government  in  tlie  enfoi-cement 
of  tlie  conscript  hiw  to  carr^*  on  a  war  odious  to  their  political 
sentiments. 

l''or  greater  efticiency,  here  and  there  tliese  combinations,  on 
botli  sides,  ]»artoolv  of  tlie  ciiaractei'  of  uiilitaiy  organizations  ; 
but  it  is  (luesti(nud)le  if  any  were  furnislied  with  arms  other 
than  home  affairs,  shot  guns,  &c.  The  (hilling  was  often  d(»ne  with 
cornstalks.  TheassocMations  of  one  side  caused  tlie  other  to  do 
the  same;  while  the  utmost  (juiet  jtrevailed  as  to  the  usual 
■wrangles  and  discussions  inciilent  to  all  public  (luestions  of  gi'cat 
interest  in  this  country.  Both  sides  feared  and  guarded  against 
])recipitating  5V  general  (collision.  No  one  knew  what  a  jxMsonal 
iilfiay  uMght  instantly  develop  as  to  the  number  of  sworn  assist- 
ants on  either  side,  nor  what  wea])ons  were  concealed,  ready  to  leap 
forth  upon  the  first  enu'igency.  To  such  considerations  an  active, 
ijnaginatiou  vas  of  course  ready  to  add  its  legions  of  nuinbeis  iuul 
dire  results.  In  some  respects  this  mutual  forbearance,  born  of 
caution,  may  have  been  well.  Hut  these  secret  associations  by 
skillful  and  industrious  agencies  were  extending  their  power  and 
intluence  all  over  the  country. 

All  secret  political  societies  are  dangerous  to  the  State  and  to 
the  liberty  of  the  i)eople.  The  very  fact  of  their  secrecy  stamps 
them  as  wrongful  ami  hazardous.  Secrecy  eviscerates  true  de- 
mocracy or  republicanism  of  its  essential  principles.  To  <leny  an 
open  comparison  of  views  and  a  free  discussion  of  qiu'stions  af- 
fe(!ting  the  public;  weal,  or  the  rights  of  the  citizen,  is  to  remove 
the  tuiderlying  safeguards  of  an  intelligent  liberty.  It  is  but  just 
to  say  that  the  democratic  press  counselled  the  people  against 
them. 

The  rei)ubli(!an  pres.s,  with  untiring  iiulustry,  circulated  re])oi'ts 
that  the  denu)crats  were  ])reparing  and  intended  to  resist  the 
draft  under  the  cons(;rii»t  law.  A  regiment;  was  organized  and 
armed  by  the  State,  by  order  of  Adjutant  Gemnal  Fuller,  "for 
the  luirpose  of  guard  and  protection  of  the  State  of  Illinois" — 
nu'aning  that  it  was  to  aid  in  enforcing  the  draft.  Col.  J^  II. 
Hough  was  assigned  to  its  command.  This  ill-advised  stej),  one 
would  suppose,  was  rather  calculated  to  provoke  the  armed  col- 
lision so  much  dreaded.  ^lany  imleed  feared,  that,  by  these  va- 
rious means,  a  struggle  might  be  brought  about  in  the  State. 
Judge  O'Melveny,  a  fierce  anti-war  democrat,  wrote:  "I  still 
tliiidc  we  are  nearing  convulsion  in  the  North.  It  must  be  with 
lis  the  last  alternative,  but  free  si)eecli  ought  to  be  made  the  issue 
— no  point  more  available;  to  surrender  it,  is  to  perish;  and  if  fato 
and  destiny  so  will  it,  let  the  democracy  go  down  with  t!ie  consli- 
tution  and  with  libeity  in  one  (!ommoii  struggle  forlife  and  power." 
So  much  was  said  of  secret  traitorous  political  organizatio"!:.,  and 
their  threatened  violent  resistance  to  the  draft  underthe  conscript 
law,  that  Judge  Davis,  of  the  U.  S.  circuit  court,  during  the  June 
term  at  SjjringHeld,  ctharged  the  grand  jury  that  there  were 
secret  organizations  with  '•gri[)s,  signs  and  pass-words,  having  for 
their  object,  resistance  to  law,  and  the  overthrow  of  the  govern- 
ineut.        *        If  anywhere  in  this  State  bad  men  have  combined 


896 


HISTORY   OP  ILLINOIS. 


t«).ii('tli('r  for  sucli  wicked  imrjiosc,  briiij;-  tlicin  to  lij^Iit  and  let 
tlit'iii  receive  liie  jiiinisliiiieiit  due  tlieir  crimes" — cliarjiiiij;  tlieiii 
further  witli  rel'ereuce  to  any  kind  of  resistance  or  obstiiuMioii  to 
tiie  enfoi'ceinent  of  the  draft,  and  th(^  aiding  or  abcttinj;' of  de- 
serters by  advi(!e,  assistance  or  harborinj^'  liiein. 

Whih'  the  many  rumors  of  lawless  conibict  on  the  part  of  these 
oijianizations,  with  wiiich  tlie  j)ress  teenu'd,  were  exaj;;;erated,  all 
was  not  smoke.  A  number  of  atrocious  murders  were  committed, 
and  armed  resistaiuie  (»iiered  to  the  arn'st  of  deserter.s 
ill  many  jKntions  of  the  State,  wlii(!h  we  have  neitiier  tlic 
space  nor  disj)osition  to  {jive  in  detail.  Of  the  counties 
in  wiiich  these  disrejuitable  proceed in<is  (xtcuiTed,  we  may 
nu'ution  (comniencin*;  south  and  i)roceedin{j  nortii)  LTnion,  Wil- 
liamson, lii(!hland,  (JIark,  Coles,  Fayette,  Montfj'omery,  Ureene, 
S(tott,  Tazewell  and  J-'nlton.  Tlie  most  jK-rtinacious  resistance 
vas  offered  in  Scott  and  (Ireene,  whither  a  detac^hment  of  over  100 
mounted  soldiei's  was  sent  to  ferret  out  the  camps  of  lawless  men 
hid  amon<j-  the  glades  and  swami)s  borderin<;'  the  Illinois  river. 
The  most  fatal  collision  (XMturred  in  Coles,  at  (.'iuirleston,  on  the 
22d  of  ."March,  ISOt,  between  citizens  in  attendance  npon  circuit 
court,  un(U'r  the  lead  of  Sheritl  O'llara,  and  the  re-eidisted  veter- 
ans of  the  ."i-lth  Illinois  rejiinient.  Four  soldiers  were  killed  and 
8  wounded,  one  mortally;  of  tin;  citizens,  3  were  killed  at  the  time; 
one  accidentally.  Some  time  after,  two  of  the  O'llaras  were  way- 
laid and  assassinated  in  the  woods.*  Assaults  upon  various  men 
■were  made  in  Ed}>ar  and  some  other  counties.  A  raid,  projected 
from  Cass,  was  nmde  upon  .lacksonville  to  intimidate  the  federal 
authoiities  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties.  In  Hancock,  Adams, 
Pike,  Calhoun  and  other  counties  borderinjj-  theiMississiiypi,  in(Mir- 
sions  were  made  by  rebel  "bushwhackers"  from  JNIissouri,  who 
were  said  to  be  but  too  freely  countenanced  and  harbored.  It  is 
also  doubtless  true  that  these  scenes  of  lawlessness  uniforndy 
occurred  in  regions  where  unconditional  unionism  was  in  ndnority 
and  the  loyal  sentiment  of  the  people  overborne.  IJut  aside  from 
these  comparatively  petty  outbreaks  of  a  few  nusjjuided,  i)erhaps 
lawless  men  in  scattered  localities,  no  serious  purpose  to  any  con- 
siderable extent  really  ever  existed  to  resist  the  draft  in  Illinois, 
or  to  obstruct  the  oi)erati()ns  of  the  laws  of  the  general  goveru- 
meid.  The  great  mass  of  the  people,  Democrat  as  well  as  Ke- 
publican,  were  ever  willing  and  ready  to  obey  the  law,  botli  State 
and  national,  dutifully,  (piietly  and  cheerfully. 

Prorogation  of  the  Last  Democratic  Legislature. — The  23d  gen- 
eral assend)ly,  upon  the  exi)iration  of  its  recess,  met  again,  June 
2d,  J>S(»;J.  Besides  a  nund)er  of  bills  of  a  private  or  local  (;haracter, 
patriotic  resolutions,  resolutions  of  thanks  to  the  Illinois  voluu- 
teers  for  their  valor  in  the  field,  and  resolutions  of  a  i)olitical  char- 


*  Much  disaffection  obtained  between  citizens  (who  often  pave  vent  to  treasonable 
utternnces  by  Bhoutln)r  for  Jeff.  Davis,  &c .,)  and  soldiers,  and  many  personal  Inditrni- 
tles  were  intilcted  b'y  the  latter  iipon  the  lormer.  In  Coles,  it  is  said  that  soldiers,  per- 
haps when  intoxicated,  out  of  mere  wantoness.  would  seize  farmers,  (many  of  them 
doubtless,  bclonft-inir  to  theordcr  of  the  Golden  Circle),  from  their  watfons  and  compel 
then:  to  take  an  oath  of  alleirlance  manufactured  for  the  occasion:  "You  solemnly 
swear  to  support  the  administration,  v^braham  Lincoln,  all  proclamations  now  issuecl, 
and  all  that  may  hereafter  be  Issued,  so  help  you  God."  At  Vandalia  a  Mr.  Smith  whs 
made  to  take  the  oath,  and  afterwards,  in  an  altercation,  killed.  One  of  the  soldiers 
escaped,  and  his  assoclates.on  examination  were  diseharg-ed.  Citizens,  doubtless  Amer- 
ican Knights,  to  the  number  of  50  or  CO,  sought  to  revenge  tlie  murder,  but  falling  In 
this,  burnt  a  railroad  bridge  and  committed  other  depredatious. 


YATES'  ADMINISTRATION.  897 


acter,  covcriiifftlie  military  order  .sIllll)^^^ssin^' the  Cliiciijjo  TinH'% 
tlic  iiiilitiiry  arrests  ol"  Illinois  (litizciis,  particularly  the  case  of 
Jii(l;j:e  Constable,  were  iiuineroiisly  introduced.  The  (!on- 
Bideratiou  of  the  latter  charac^ter  of  resolutions  eliijited  vvurni  de- 
bate and  coiisunuid  niu(;h  valiuible  tinK\  At  this  time  the  army 
in  the  West,  containiuff  nearly  all  the  IlliiH)is  troops,  had  been 
active  in  its  approaches  upon  Vicksburj;,  and  all  the  se- 
vere tifjhtinj;  in  the  investment  of  that  rebel  fortress  was 
over.  The  casualties  to  Illinois  volunteers  were  great,  and  the 
demands  for  sanitary  aid  i)ressin<>-.  On  the  first  day  of  the  ses- 
sion, therefore,  in  the  senate,  JMr.  tilreen,  who  had  but  recently 
been  the  subject  of  military  arrest,  as  we  have  seen,  iutnxbuied  a 
bill,  api>ropriating  $50,()0()  for  the  sick  and  wounded  Illinois  sol- 
diers. In  the  lumse  a  similar  bill  was  introduced  by  Mr.  Fuller, 
ai>proiu'iating  $10(),()()()  to  be  disbursed  by  a  commission,  consist- 
ing of  Messrs.  John  T.  Stuart,  C.  JI.  Lanphier,  and  W.  A.  Turiiey, 
all  o})posed  to  tlie  administration  2>olic,y  of  the  war.  A  bill  for 
taking  the  Illinois  soldiers'  vote  was  also  introduced. 

On  the  3d  day  of  the  session,  in  the  senate,  a  i)roposition  to 
adjourn  sine  die  was  extensively  discussed  and  nuule  the  special 
order  for  the  following  day.  On  Monday,  June  Sth,  three  Demo- 
crats being  absent,  the  senate,  on  motion  of  Mv.  Vandeveer,  a 
Democrat,  passed  a  rcisolution  by  a  vote  of  14  to  7,  to  adjourn  tfine 
die  on  that  instant,  at  0  r.  M.  This  the  house  amended  by  insert- 
ing the  22d  of  June  at  10  A.  M.  instead.  The  semite  refused  to 
concur  by  yeas  11  to  lays  12.  By  the  constitution,  in  case  of  dis- 
agreement between  the  two  houses  with  respect  to  the  time  of 
adjournment,  the  governor  was  empowered  to  adjourn  the  assi^m- 
bly  to  such  a  day  as  he  deemed  proper.  Such  conjinujture  now 
obtained.  On  the  9th  the  senate  transacted  but  little  business. 
There  was  also  disagreement  upon  the  Id  se  soldiers' relief  bill, 
the  senate  having  added  the  names  of  the  governor  and  the  treas- 
urer to  the  commission,  to  which  the  house  refused  to  ac(!eed. 
On  the  morning  of  June  10th,  in  the  house,  shortly  after  amotion 
bj'  Mr.  Lawrence  to  take  up  the  general  appropriation  bill  had, 
at  the  instance  of  Mr.  Fuller,  been  laid  on  the  table,  and  while 
not  a  Democrat  was  dreaming  of  such  a  move,  the  governor's  pri- 
vate secretary  entered  the  hall,  and  being  announced  by  the  door- 
keeper, but  without  recognition  from  the  chair,  (Jlr.  Burr),  read 
hurriedly,  but  in  a  loud  tone,  his  message  adjourning  the  general 
assembly  to  the  Saturday  next  i)receding  the  1st  Monday  in  Jan- 
uary, 1805. 

This  unexpected  stroke  fell  upon  the  dominant  party  like  a  clap 
of  thunder  from  a  clear  sky.  Their  chagrin  and  anger  knew  no 
bounds.  They  were  beaten  by  the  hated  governor  in  parliamen- 
tary tactics.  Amidst  the  unexampled  din  and  confusion,  all  sorts 
of  motions  were  made.  The  Republican  members  at  once  with- 
drew, breaking  the  quorum.  The  speaker  vacated  the  chaii',  and 
the  house  took  an  informal  recess.  In  the  senate,  upon  the  read- 
ing of  the  prorogation  message,  a  similar  scene  of  excitement  took 
place.  Lieutenant-Governor  Hoffman  said:  "  In  obediance  to  this 
order,  I  do  now  adjouni  this  senate  until  the  Saturday  i)receding 
the  1st  Monday  in  January,  A.  D.  1865."  He  then  vacated  the 
chair  and  retired  from  the  chamber.  Senator  Underwood  was 
called  to  the  chair.  In  the  afternoon  13  senators  were  i)reseut — 
67 


898 


niSTOKY  OF   ILl-lNOIS. 


the  lli  lv('i»tibli('iiii  lucnilwrs  lia\  in;:  left.  Tn  the  li(Hi.s(^  41  iiiciii- 
IxTs  wcir  pn'sciit  ;  a  niiijority  in  ciiiifr  lioiisr,  hut  not  cnctu;;!!  to 
do  hiisinrss,  tiic  conHtilulioii  icMjiiiiiii;;  tlic  ]>r('.st'ii(H^  of  two-liiinis 
of  tiic  Miciiilicis  ill  ciicii  house  to  const iliitf  a  (|iiorniii.  lU^^-aniiiif^ 
the  prorogation  as  illt'^al  hntli  houses  eoiit limed  tlio  .session. 

It  is  jirol>al»lo  the  ahs(!ondiii;:' nieniheis  iiiiew  of  tiie  yoveiiioi's 
]mrpose,  .jtid;:iii;f  from  th«^  promptness  with  wliieh  they  and  liio 
lieiiteiiaiit-yoveinor  took  their  de|)aiture.  Yet  upon  tiie  othca* 
hand,  in  the  senate,  Mr.  VandevecM',  a  Democrat,  made  the  motion 
to  adjourn,  on  whieii  the  «lisa;;reement  oceiiried. 

Prior  to  tiie  [)roro^'atioii  in  the  house  a  motion  liad  been  adoji- 
ted  for  a  ('onfeieiic.(M!ommittee  to  rectoncih'.  tiie  difVereiKres  upon 
the  soldiers'  !!!1()(>,(KK)  relief  bill.  This  was,  in  the  ]neseiit  stiail, 
l)r(»lfered  to  be  aecommodated  by  tin^  house  a;;ieeiii^-  to  th<'.  senate 
amendment  to  insert  the  names  of  the  j;(»V(unor  and  treasurer 
with  the  other  commissioners.  A  joint  resolution  was  thereupon 
adopted,  iiivitiiiji'  the  <!o-operation  of  eiion<;li  Ivepubliean  inemberH 
to  help  pass  this  nuich  needed  measure.  If  a  <piorum  liad  been 
obtained  and  the  bill  res'uhvrly  passed,  it  would  have  been  void 
because  of  the  legfality  of  the  proro^iation,  as  sul)se(pieutly  deei«led 
by  the  supreme  court.  I5ut  the  Itcpubliiians  showed  no  disposi- 
tion to  acceedto  this  request,  although  thelegality  of  the  a<l.jouni- 
nient  was  tiien  generaly  dout>ted  by  both  parties.  The  tiat  had 
gone  fortli,  politicial  caiiital  was  a  stake,  to  retract  was  to  prove 
vacillating'  and  contemptible,  and  they  braved  it  through. 

Thesincerity  of  the  democrats — who  believed  the  bill  might  be 
legally  i)assed  if  a  quorum  could  be  obtained — in  making  this 
jiropositioii,  has  been  doubted,  as  inferred  from  the  fact  that  there 
had  been  ample  time  to  pass  the  bill.  True,  they  liad  showed  no 
haste,  but  after  the  disagreement,  there  was  at  stake  thcpride  of 
consistency  with  either  house,  for  which  some  allowance  should  be 
made.  It  cannot  be  jiossible  that  such  trifling  was  intended;  that 
the  olive  branch  was  held  out  only  as  a  lure  and  deceitful  snare. 
It  may  also  be  safely  asserted,  that  the  bill  would  have  passed  had 
more  time  been  allowed  and  tlie  prorogation  not  been  interposed. 
But  for  the  sake  of  g;ratifying  the  vanity  of  partisan  tri- 
umph, the  huv-makers  were  dispersed,  and  this  beneticent  measure 
failed.  Besides  this  measure,  which  appealed  directly  to  one's 
sympathy  and  humanity,  there  were  others  pending  of  great  [lub- 
lie  utility,  which  were  thus  also  defeated;  the  bill  for  the  sale  of' 
coin  and  the  payment  of  interest  in  treasury  notes;  an  appropria- 
tion to  the  State  Normal  University ;  the  general  appropriation 
bill;  an  appropriation  for  the  erection  of  a  monument  to  Douglas, 
and  some  needed  local  measures,  all  iu  an  advanced  state  of  ma- 
turity. 

Immediately  after  the  prorogation  the  Democrats  i)repared  a 
protest,  setting  forth  in  detail  the  injurious  consequences  to  the 
public  of  the  governor's  "monstrous  usurpation"  of  power,  signed 
by  ■)()  representatives  and  13  senators.  A  counterblast  to  this, 
addressed  to  the  people  of  Illinois,  was  published  by  3  Republi- 
cans of  the  senate,  and  6  of  the  house,  acting  as  a  committee  for 
this  i)urpose,  in  defense  of  the  Kepublicaii  members  and  the  Jict 
of  the  governor.  Both  were  extreme  partisan  documents,  full  of 
accusations  of  corruptioUj  and  devoid  of  neither  errors  of  factnoi 
intemperate  language. 


YATE8'  ADMINISTRATION. 


8»9 


After  tlie  i)i(>ro;;ati()n,  tli«  "runip,"  or  moot  ij'^iislatiirc,  as  it 
was  vaiidiisly  called,  still  kept  ii|)  tlic  s«'ssi()ii  ti'diiiically.  The 
roll  call  was  .studiously  avoided  so  as  not  to  have  it  apijcar  IVoui 
tlu^  jounuils  that  a  quoruai  was  uot  present,  and  thus  tlu^  Icf^ality 
of  tlieir  acts  would  turn  upon  tlu^  validity  of  the  pi(»ro;iatioii 
alone,  whi(!li  was  to  be  tested  in  tlu'  Suiireine  (^oiirt.  On  the-.'Jd 
iiiul  21tli  of  .June  business  was  transa(!ted.  The  {iovernor  was  in- 
formed that  tlu-y  were  about  to  dose,  askinj;-  if  he  had  any  fur- 
tluir  coniinunication  to  lay  before  theni.  lie  I'eplied  that  luUiad 
not,  and  did  not  reeo;;nize  tlieir  le;;al  existence.  A  Joint  resolu- 
tion was  tlu'reupon  passed,  takinj;'  a  recess  until  Tuesday  after 
the  first  Monday  in  .January,  l.S(i4. 

JJefon^  the  (!lose  of  the  year  a  decision  was  obtaiiu'd  from  the 
Suprenu' ('ourt,  stistaininj;' the  vali<lity  of  the  prorogation.  This 
was  the  first  political  (iiiestion  that  had  ln'en  before  the  Suiiremo 
C(»urt  sinc(\  the  alien  case  in  lS4(t.  A  portion  of  tlu^  Democratic 
press  assailed  the.  (oiirl  (which  was  Democratic  in  political  senti- 
Hient)  with  great  virulence,  charyinj;'  that  the 


The  deep  clia<;riii  of  the  Deino<;i'ats  at  the   dispersion  of  tl 


10 


lej;islatiire  by  the  governor  is  ehKpieiitly  i)ortrayed  by  a  member, 
before  the  Supreme  Court,  in  his  capacity  as  attorney  in  one  of 
the  cases  iiivolviiii,'  the  validity  of  the  prwrogation.  He  exclaims : 
•'^I;iligiiaiit  ])artizanship  could  <;o  no  farther.  The  annals  of 
liolitical  warfare  disi)l:iy  no  j>rosser  infraction  of  the  dij;nities 
and  amenities  of  pri\  ate  or  ((lllcial  life.  *  *  Since  the  inembera 
of  the  loui;' i)arliaiiient  were  driven  from  their  seats  with  oppro- 
brious epithets  by  Cromwell,  there  has  been  no  such  exhibition  of 
virtuperative  lawlessness."^' 

AVe  will  carry  this  parallel  further  bj''  addiujf  the  concluding 
part  of  Cromwell's  address  to  the  comimms,  and  see  where  it  leads : 
"Jjut  now  J  say,  your  time  hath  come.  The  Lord  hath  disowned 
you.  The  Goil  of  Abr;iliam,  and  of  Isaac,  and  of  Jacob,  hath, 
done  with  you.  He  hath  no  iiecnl  of  you  any  more.  80,  he  hath 
judged  you  and  cast  you  forth  and  chosen  titter  instruments  to 
Him  to  execute  that  work  in  which  you  have  dishonored  Him." 
History  repeats  itself.  The  chronicler  of  the  scene  adds:  "Sullen, 
humiliated  and  unpitied,  for  they  had  lost  the  respect  of  honest 
men  of  all  denominations,  tlui  members  of  that  parliament  now 
sneaked  away  to  liiid  a  miserable  refuge  in  the  dispised  obscurity 
of  private  life,  deserted  by  the  .people  in  their  turn,  whom  they 
tlrst  deserted  at  the  dictates  of  a  depraved  and  poor  ambition." 

The  Oreat  Democratic  Mass  Convention  of  June  11th,  1803. — The 
Democratic  State  committee  had  issued  a  call  on  the  28th  of  May 
for  a  mass  convention  to  assemble  at  Springfield,  June  17th,  1803, 
being  the  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  consultation  and  deliberation  upon  the  state  of  the  couu- 

'  From  the  Chicngo  Times. 
*See  M.  W.  Fuller's  brief. 


900  HmOBT  OF  ILLINOIS. 


try,  and  to  nive  expression  in  an  iiiillioritiitive  Ibnu  to  the  views 
of  piihlie  IMtlic.v  entertained  by  tiic  Illinois  Denioeniey.  Prom- 
inent, denuiciatic,  orators  from  forei;;n  States  were  adxertised  to 
be  present  to  si>eak,(!onter  andeounsel  witli  tiie  Illinois  Democracy. 
Tlie  resnlt  was  tlu' most  ei.\tra(»rdiniiry  j;atlierinn,  In  respeet  of 
Iinnil)ers,  line  personal  appearance,  lii;;li  cliaracter  of  tlie  nu'ii  iu 
atli'ndanec'  and  tlie  spirit  which  pervaded  them,  that  ever 
assendded  in  Illinois.  N(»t  h'ss  than  40,000  men  were  present, 
representing;  all  parts  of  the  State.  It  was  not  a  f^ala  day  ass»'m- 
bla^e  of  men,  women  and  childicn,  Imt  of  solid  htokiny,  well 
attired  men,  wlH)se  countenances  betokened  tliouj;ht,  ejuneslni'ss 
and  determination.  They  were  evidently  polititialleadersof  more 
or  less  inllnene((  in  whatt^vc^r  sections  llicy  belonjicd.  Tlii-ir  out- 
vard  aiiiK'aiance  indicated  not  only  this,  but  also  that  tlm  awat 
body  of  them  Avere  men  of  means.  While  ail  classes  were  uuire  or 
less  represented,  the  solid  element  {jfreatly  pre<h)minated,  ;;iving 
tone  and  character  to  the  whole.  No  drunkenness,  l)raw  linj;;;  or 
Bendtlanc*' of  unseemly  combict  nnured  the  occasion.  No  taunt- 
iufi' acts  of  disloyalty  by  the  display  of  s(>cession  llaj;s,  shouting 
for  .letf  Davis,  or  like  conduct  cah^ulated  to  i)rovoke.  a  breach  ot' 
the  i>eace,  was  manifested.  A  disturbanct;  of  tlie  peace  while  tins 
immense  crowil  was  iu  the  capital  citf,  leading  to  u  serious  out 
break,  perhaps  u  collision  with  the  soldiers,  was  gre.itly  feared  by 
some  prondnent  otHcials.  (Jen.  Ammen,  commandant  of  Camp 
Butler,  took  the  preciaution  toorder  that  no  soldier  be  allowed  to 
leave  cami)  during  the  whole  of  that  day.  IJut  this  crowd,  though 
large,  was  not  a  mob.  It  was  composed  ratlua'  of  respectable, 
vell-to-do  and  reflective  citizens  avIio — Avhatever  their  opinion 
regarding  the  war,  and  that  vas  lor  peace — would  not  pie- 
cipitate  a  collision  voluntarily.  Yet  it  nuiy  be  well  considered, 
bad  it  been  forced  ui)on  them  they -were  not  the  men  to  quail; 
doubtless  nniny  were  well  prepared  for  siu;h  acontingem;y.  They 
Lad  come,  not  for  an  excursion  to  seek  relief  from  and  vary  the 
monotony  of  home  life,  but,  moved  by  a  feeling  of  deep  earjiest- 
ness,  to  eomi)ai'e  views  ami  take  counsel  of  one  anotlier,  and 
repledge  their  devotion  to  that  democratic  faith  that  was  in  them, 
whicli  stood  steadfast  for  the  "Uuiou  as  it  was  ami  the  constitu- 
tion as  it  is  ;"  to  (londemn  the  aggressions  of  arbitrary  power  both 
State  and  Natiomd,  and  denouiu'-e  the  "abolitioni/ing'''of  the  con- 
duct of  the  war.  Prominent  republicans  liad  theiiselves  asserted 
that  "the  problem  would  be  [when  the  war  was  pastj  to  com- 
bine the  forms  of  republican  governnu'nt  with  the  i)owers  of  a 
monarchical  government."*  They  met  to  place  their  ban  upon  the  war 
at  a  time  when  many  earnest  hearts  were  trembling  for  the  cause  of 
the  Union,  and  when  discouragement  might  be  doubly  effective. 
In  the  west,  Vicksburg  was  invested,  it  is  true,  but  it  had  not 
fallen.  In  the  east  the  victorious  legions  of  Lee,  fresh  from  the 
blundering  contests  on  the  Itappahannock,  and  inspired  by  a 
contempt  for  the  IJiuon  forces  under  Hooker,  with  the  utmost 
audacity  mo\ed  clear  around  him,  boldly  crossed  into  Maryland 
and  deliberately  pushed  forward  to  Pennsylvania,  while  the  conn- 
try  stood  amazed,  and  the  deepest  anxiety  pervaded  every  breast. 
Gettysburg,  tliough  not  far  in  the  future,  was  noi,  foreseen. 

•Sec  Forney's  Press. 


YATKS'  ADMINISTIIATION.  901 


The  uH'«titi}j  wiiH  \u'h\  at  tin)  old  Fair  (irouiid  or  (^iiiiip  Yatos, 
about  oiu>  iiiilc  dm;  west  of  tlu)  old  Htato  IIous(^  TIh',  day  was 
oppressively  warm.  To  jjivcwin  idea  ofwome  oftlie  leading'  par- 
ticipants we  will  ai)p(Mid  a  few  names: 

Ht<nut<ir  W.  A.  Ult^lmrdHitii.  pri'Klcloiit  ;  vIcoprcBlilcntu  ;  Horm.  Chns.  A.  Coimtalilp, 
Will.  MoMurtry,  I'ctor  Swiiiit.J.  M.  Vounn-,  Aaron  Uliuw,  O.  M.  Klcklln,  Win.  K.  'J'horn- 
t()ti,.l.  W.  Morrill,  II.  M.  Vundivfi'r,  II.  (•'.  I'ri'ttynmu,  (^huw.  I).  llodKCH,  .lolin  8. 
Mcl>()nal(l,.iiurieH  Itolib,  W  fl.  (iilniiin,  Virxll  Mlckox,  JanicH  K.  Kwingr,  l<).  I).  Tay- 
lor, A.  I).  Wrlirlii,  I.I*  UotruiK.  John  V.  Aycr,  A.  Wltlu-rM,  David  A.  tiutfc,  Haircut 
Gobbli!,  .Ii'hii  (^'uiiidntrliHin,  Noah  .loliiiHon,  .M.  V  .lohimon,  II.  H.  Kdwardn,  S.  Staata 
Taylor,  .lolin  I'kiHon.  C.  L.  Hliihci',  K.  L.Mi'rrIck,  H.  H.  Hays,  Cynm  Epliir,  It.  M.  11. 
Wilson,  .loliuU.  Wood.S.  A.  lincknnmtcr,  .lacoh  Ik>wiiiaii,  8.  .).  CronH,  .1.  M.  J'^>lur, 
ICohert  Halloway,  Henry  l)rt'»«<!r,  .1.  L.  I).  Morrlnon,  .1.  K.Stltt  .luincH  '.  HoldnHon. 
W.  A.  J.  HparkH,  K.  C  Sl-eriiiaii,  .1.  S.  Ilox-an,  .lolin  C.  (^haniplin,  C.  A.  Walker,  ana 
Dr.  N.  S.  Davis.  Aiiioii»f  lln-  din'nkerN  inattt'iKlaiu.'it  I'roni  abroad  wo  notice  llie  luiiuoHof 
Daniel  Voorlifus, of  Indiana. h.  S  Cox  of  ()hio,aiid  (MirlH.  Krililiitn  and  (icn.  M<!Kinl- 
Btry,  of  tiU  I»iiiH,  and  from  our  own  State,  KU.'liardHon.S  S.  MaiHliiill,  .1.  It.  Kden, 
.las.  C  Alien.  Kx  Oov.  .John  KcynolilH,  .1 .  C.  ltoliln(<on,  (SreatliouH.  Ilrvaii,  Connolly, 
Wescott,  ChiiH  T.  K.  Merrllt,  M.  V.  Johnxun,  J.  L  D.  Morrison,  W.  M  SprliiKor, 
Hilda  host  of  olliui-g,  SpeakiiiR  wiiscuiiHlantly  tiudfrum  six  diU'erent  standi,  cnthuHlus- 
tle  crowds thronKlHK  about  each.* 

Tlie  position  of  the  Demoeracy  of  Illinois  was  dctilared  at 
leiiotli  in  L'l  sei>arate  paraj;raplis,  which  we  summarize,  extn-pttho 
two  last.  They  declareii  the  supremacy  of  the  constitutiou 
of  the  United  States,  as  well  in  time  of  war  as  ptnice, 
which  they  were  rea<ly  and  willinj;'  to  obey,  as  also  all  laws  made 
ill  jHirsiiaiiee  thereof,  so  loiiy  as  they  remained  upon  the  statute 
bool<s,  (tlaimiii}^  the  rij;ht  to  constitutionally  chaiifie  them;  they 
quoted  the  hill  of  rif>lits,  and  u[»on  it  arrai};iied  the,  federal  admiii- 
ist ration  for  violatiiij;"  nearly  every  one  of  its  guarantees  to  the 
citizen  ;  they  coiideniiied  the  arrest  and  banishment  of  Vallandig- 
ham,  deiiiandin;;  his  restoration  ;  denounced  the  arrest  of  Judge 
Constable  and  the  imprisonment  of  Hon.  W.  II.  Carlin  and  other 
citizens  of  the  State,  demanding  their  release;  condemned  the 
supjiression  of  the  Chicago  Times;  tleclared  their  determinatiou 
to  e.xercise  the  right  of  electing  public  officers  in  defiance  of  the 
(h'liiaiids  of  power;  adhered  to  the  doctrine  of  State  sovereignty  ; 
deiioiimted  martial  law  in  this  State;  condemned  the  recent  act  of 
prorogation  of  the  legislature  by  Gov.  Yates  as  a  high  handed 
usurpation  by  one  department  of  government  of  the  rights  of 
another;  charged  the  governor  with  not  only  not  protecting  the 
citizen  in  his  constitutional  rights,  but  violating  them  himself; 
denounced  secession  as  a  ruinous  heresy,  and  ottered  their  cordial 
co-operation  in  securing  to  the  seceded  States  equal  rights  if  they 
would  return  to  their  allegiance. 

"at.  That  the  further  ofl'enehe  prosecution  of  this  war  tends  to  subvert  the  consti- 
tution and  the  Koverninent,  and  entail  upon  this  nation  all  the  disastrous  consi'quences 
ot  misrule  and  anarchy.  That  we  are  in  favor  ot  peace  upon  tbo  basis  of  a  restoration 
of  the  Union,  and  for  theaccoiiinllshinent  of  which  we  propose  a  national  convention 
to  settle  upon  terms  of  peace,  which  shall  have  in  view  the  restoration  of  the  Union 
a»«  it  was  and  the  seeuriiifjr,  Uy  constitutional  amendments,  such  righs  to  the  several 
Stat<'S  and  the  people  thereof,  as  honor  and  justice  dcn.and. 

":it.  That  we  denounce  as  libellers  of  the  Democratic  part.v,  and  willful  instiirators 
of  mischief,  those  fanatics  whoare  enf^aved  in  represcntint?  the  democracy  as  wanting 
in  sympathy  for  our  soldiers  in  the  fleld.  Those  soldiers  are  our  kindred,  our  friends 
anilour  neifflibors,  who.se  interests  are  idcntiUed  with  our  own;  whose  prosperity  is 
our  iileiifi'uf  ;  whose  sulferlns  Is  our  pain  ;  and  whose  brilliant  achievements  are  our 
pri<le  and  a<imiration.  Promptly  rushing  to  arms  as  they  did.  in  answer  to  the  call  of 
their  country,  tlicy  merit  our  wurinest  thanks,  our  sympathy  and  our  support ;  and 
we  earnestly  request  the  Prosi<lent  of  the  United  States  to  withdraw  the  "  Proclama- 
tion of  Emancipation,"  and  i>ermlt  the  brave  sons  of  Illinois  to  fltfht  only  tor  the 
"ITiiioii,  the  coii.sfitution  and  the  enforcement  of  the  laws." 

The  assembled  multitude  testified  their  faith  in  the  last  of  these 
declarations  by  their  works  on  the  spot,  in  contributing  the  muni- 
liceiit  fund  of  8^:7,4(10  for  the  sick  and  wounded  Illinois  soldiers. 
This  very  liberal  response  was  one  of  the  noblest  and  most  touch- 

"Sec  Illinois UeKister,  June  J8tb.  1863. 


1 1 


OOi 


H; STORY  01?   ILLINOIS. 


•i^: 


h)'^  s(;('ii('.s  ever  witnessed.  AVlieii  tlu'  call  ol'  the  eoiiiiiiittee  for 
tills  purpose  was  aimomiced.  wallets  (lew  out  ol'  poekels  tliick  aud 
last,  and  thousands  of  upraised  hands  held  waixiiij;'  aloll  iunuiiiei'- 
id)le  };reen backs,  iiiscrilted  witli  the  interest in^'  fj!  lij^ures  of  .Vs, 
lO's,  L'O's,  "jO's,  (Jce.,  impatiently  waitin;;'  for  the  ])assin.u'  hats  to 
coMU^  r(»und  to  j;ather  them  in.  The  hats  were  Idled  and  (•raiinned, 
passed  to  the  eonnnittee,  emptied,  passed  back  a>;ain  and  as 
(|uickly  refilled.  !Somc  individual  sul)serii)tions  wertiashi.uh  as 
$.")(I0.  And  thus  the  errand  of  nu'rey  ]>rosi»ered:  tiie  <;lorions  eon- 
tajiiou  of  a  ])hilanthropie  entiiusiasm  si)readinj;'  tlu^  while,  eii- 
c'oura^i'cd  with  insi)iriny  cheers,  winle  many  a  thou;;iitrii!  eye,  set 
l)erhaps  in  si  steru  countenaiu;e,  drojiped  a  silent  tear  in  sympa- 
thy with  this  beautiful  manifestation  of  a  grateful  ]»atriotism. 
Thus  wexe  wrought  U[)  those  tender  emotions  of  love  of  country, 
"whicb  trans|)orted  the  fond  recolle(;tions  of  affectionate  hearts 
after  the  abst-nt  ones,  gallantly  defending  the  union  and  our 
Lonu\s  against  the  cohorts  of  treason.  The;  warm  hearts  of  these 
contributors  ]»ulsated  in  uinson  with  a  genuine  ]>atriotisni.  albeit 
their  unyielding  heads,  intluenced  by  partisan  feelings, 
enunciated  what  we  lunv  know  to  have  been  a  wrongful  stand 
against  the  further  prosecution  of  the  war  for  the  Union.  Doubt- 
less they  were  thoroughly  honest  in  their  belief  at  the  time,  but 
its  results  upon  this  nation,  if  eiirried  out,  must  have  been  attended 
■with  unnumbered  woes. 

In  this  muniticent  oli'ering  "the  soldier's  friend"  and  his 
goadiug  lackers,  who,  rather  than  forego  the  opi)ortuiiity  of 
■wreaking  a.  iiarrisan  triumi»h  by  the  prorogation  of  the  legisla- 
ture ill  del'eating  the  appntpriatioii  of  s'lOOjdOO  ibr  the  sick 
sick  and  wounded  Illinois  soldiers, doubtless  discovered  a-  meiiled 
rebuke.  It  has  been  asserted  that  this  feeling  prompted  the  large 
contribution  rather  than  the  dictates  of  a  generous  philanthrojjy. 
3>ut  a  good  deed  should  not  be  attributed  to  bad  motives;  to  do 
good  to  those  that  despitefully  use  you,  is  of  the  highest  christian 
8i)irit.  Crowds  of  men  are  not  likely  to  seek  revenge  in  such 
noble  and  generous  actions;  neither  was  this  assemblage  the  legis- 
lature which  had  been  affronted.  Col.  W.  IJ.  ^Morrison  was  seletUed 
to  disburse  the  fund  raised  at  this  meeting,  for  the  relief  of  the 
sick  and  woumled  Illinois  soldiers. 

AVIiile  this  nieeti!ig- was  "called"  to  give  .autlnn-itative  expres- 
sion to  the  views  of  public;  policy  entertained  by  the  Illinois  demo- 
cracy, the  position  here  assigned  to  lliem  in  the  I'iid  declaration, 
■was  but  the  position  of  those  who  framed  it,  or  of  that  assemblage, 
not  that  of  the  great  mass  of  the  ])arty.  It  was  not  si  delegate 
but  a  nuiss  convention,  each  attendant  representing  himself  and 
no  one  else.  By  this  declaration  it  was  juoposed  precisely  to  do 
all  the  rebels  liad  ever  asked — to  be  let  alone.  It  did  not  express 
the  sentiments  of  the  Democracy  of  Illinois.  The  Democracy  had 
ever  been  the  war  party  of  the  country,  in  all  the  wars  it  cver  h;id. 
The  great  body  of  the  rank  and  tile  were  loyal  to  the  core  and 
nnconditionally  for  the  war,  contending,  with  rare  excejitions,  that 
there  was  no  other  honctrable  alternative  but  to  prosecute  it  until 
the  authority  of  the  government  was  acknowledged  ami  respected 
over  all  the  broad  domain  of  our  country.  The  leading  spirits  of 
this  meeting  forsook  the  exalted  loyal  stai;d  of  the  party  as  cor- 
rectly  delined  by  Mr.  Douglas,  an(l  placed  themselves  iu  perfect 


YATES'  ADlVnNTSTRATION.  003 


aiitii};<)iiism  with  liis  patriotic  utterances,  that  wliik^  tlic  war  histed 
there  could  be  but  two  parties  in  the  country — "patriots  and 
traitors."  Tliey  assumed  to  speak  for  the  Democracy  of  Illinois, 
^vitllout  delegated  authority  so  to  do,  and  assign  to  them  a  ])osi- 
tion  before  the  country  which  they  abhorred.  Their  unworthy 
cfl'orts  met  with  a  witlierin<i'  rebuke  from  the  people  and  they  dealt 
tiie  party  a  last  blow,  from  which  it  has  not  recovered.  If  not  in 
artivulo  mortis,  it  Inisbeen  paralized  ever  since  in  the  State. 

The  first  fruit  of  these  legishitive  arid  convention  i)r()ceedings 
was  exhibited  in  the  elections  of  ]Srovend)er,  18(i;$,  feu-  cotuity 
oflicers,  wlii(!h  resnlted  in  favor  of  the  Kepublicans  by  an  a;^j;re- 
gate  nuijority  of  8(),(»00  votes.  A  full  vote  wiis  not  polled,  it  is 
true,  yet  there  was  an  actual  Union  gain  of  5,000,  and  a  compar- 
ative gain  of  40,000  votes  over  the  i)receding  year.* 

On  Septend)er3d,l(S0;i — the  country  having  l)een  in  the  mean  time 
encouraged  by  the  victory  of  (iettysbnrg  and  thefall  of  Vickslmrg — 
the  meeting  of  the  17th  of  June  was  offset  by  an  inunense  I'niou 
gathering  at  Spiinglield.  Ihms.  Henry  S.  Lane,  J.  K.  Doolittle, 
Zachary  Chandler,  (iov.  Yates,  Gens.  It.  J.  Oglesby,  John  A. 
IMcCiernand,  J.  N.  Haynie,  B.  M.  Prentiss  and  many  ,>lhers, 
a<hb'essed  the  Aast  assemblage.  Mv.  Lincoln  sent  a  long  and 
patriotic  letter,  addressed  to  the  chairnum,  J.  C.  Conkling,  which 
was  read.  Many  other  patriotic  letters  from  prominent  gentle- 
men in  various  parts  of  the  country  were  likewise  read.  A  vigor- 
ous prosecution  of  the  war  for  the  Um'on  was  lu-ged  by  all  the 
si>eakers,  and  in  all  the  letters — that  that  was  the  only  true  way 
to  an  honorabU^  peace.* 

The  peace  efforts  of  a  faction  of  the  Illinois  Democracy  may 
be  said  to  have  culminated  in  18(i.').  With  the  ai)proach  of 
the  election  contest  of  1S(J4  we  discover  a  manifest  weakening  in 
the  wonted  unanimity  of  their  denuinds  tor  peace.  The  desire  for 
party  success  was  stronger  than  any  other  pobtical  sentiment. 
The  leaders,  not  unmindful  of  the  expression  of  the  people  of 
Illinois  at  the  i>olls  in  Xovend)er,  1803,  were  inclined  to  greater 
caution  in  taking  advanced  unconditional  i)eace  gryund.  Indeed 
many  were  the  other  way.     ^Ic('l(>llen  had  loomed  up  as  the  most  i 

available  Democratic;  candidate  for  tliei)resi(U'ncy.     It  could  not  be  f 

expected  that  the  hero  of  Antietam,  wlut  it  was  suj)p()sed  would 
carry  the  soldiers' vote  to  a  man,  could  consistantly  be  run  as  an 
unconditional  peace  man.  Accordingly  when  the  first  State  D«'m- 
ocratic  Convention  of  1804  met  at  Springlield,  June  ir»th,  they 
contented  themselves  with  ai»pointing  delegates  to  the  national 
convention, and  State  presidential  electors,  without  putting  a  ticket 
in  the  field, or  adopting  aplatforni.  deferringthatniatter  by  an  over- 
whelming majority  to  the  action  of  the  national  convention  shortly 
to  meet  at  Chicago.  A  buincond)  resolution  was  adopted  to  stand 
by  Vallandigliiun  (who  had  Jnst  returned  from  exile),  and  the  de- 
mocracy of  Ohio  (then,  also,  assendded  in  convention)  in  the  preser- 

*Out  of  tlic  resolutions  of  the  ITtli  of  June  8prun(Jr  a  curious  quarrel  between  the 
peace  policy  and  no  policy  factions  of  that  meeting,  l.-d  respectively  l>y  Col. 
Ui<'liaiiiHon  and  Oeu.  Sltif^ieton.  The  '■ileciarations.''  it  seems,  were  prepariMl  and 
passed  upon  theday  l)efore  by  a  self  constituted  committee  of  eonjrrcsMuien,  judjits, 
olHcc  holilei'S  and  olHceseekiTS,  whose  retreat,  the  latter  ns  he  asserted  for  a  lnnuf 
time,  could  not.  discover.  Hi;  claimed  the  i)aternity  of  the  2;td  "declaration"  with 
only  the  word  "otfenslve"  In  the  Hrst  lino  added  by  the  committee.  Doubtless  honors 
are  ensy  upon  that  point    by  this  time. 

♦See  Illinois  State  Journal,  Sept.  9th,  18(«. 


904 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


vatiou  of  their  liberty,  but  the  reiteration  of  the  former  bold  staml 
lor  peace,  for  which  the  masses  ill  Illinois  in  their  expression  at 
the  i)olls  had  shown  no  relish,  was  shrewdly  avoided.  This  was 
rejiarded  as  a  McClelleii  triumph,  and  a  rebuke  to  the  i)eace-ou- 
any-term's  party.  But  the  peace  faction  ayaiust  which  the  tide 
was  thus  stron;i>ly  settinji',  was  not  to  be  squelched  without  making 
an  eitbrt.  With  the  view  to  intiuence  tiu;  approaching  State  con- 
vention, a  mass  meeting  to  the  number  of  perhai)s  'J0,0()0  assem- 
bled at  Peoria,  August  the  3d,  under  the  management  of  the  lead- 
ing peace  men  of  the  State.  The  meeting  was  also  said  to  have 
been  called  by  "a  se(!ret  organization  whose  jnend)ers  acted  with 
the  Deuu)cratic  party.  "*General  Singleton,  author  of  the  23d  dec- 
laration of  the  17th  of  June,  18G3,  presided;  and  Amos  Green, 
GrandCommander  of  the  Order  of  American  Knights  in  Illinois, 
who,  subsequently,  in  the  trial  of  the  Camp  Douglas  conspirators 
at  Cincinnati,  turned  state's  evidence,  H.  JI.  Vandeveer,  W.  W. 
O'lirien  and  others,  repented  a  series  of  resolutions,  in  the  2d 
of  which  they  "declare  that  the  coercion  and  subjugation  of  sov- 
ereign States  wa,  never  contemplated  as  possible  or  authorized 
by  the  constituiion,  but  was  pronounced  by  its  makers  an  act  of 
suicidal  folly.  But  whatever  may  be  the  theory  of  constitutional 
power,  war,  as  a  means  of  restoring  the  Union,  has  proved  a  fail- 
ure and  a  delusion,"  etc. ;  and  in  the  3d,  "tliat  the  repeal  and 
revocation  of  all  unconstitutional  edicits  and  pretended  laws,  an 
arnustice,  aiul  a  national  convention  for  the  peaceful  adjustment  of 
our  troubles,  are  the  only  means  of  saving  our  mition  from  unlim- 
ited calamity  and  ruin."* 

In  the  meantime  another  Democratic  nniss  convention  had 
been  called  to  assemble  at  the  capital.  The  Peoria  meeting, 
doubtless  fearing  that  the  policy  to  harmonize  all  the  discordant 
elements  manifest  in  the  party  would  there imnail,  now  resolved 
to  then  reassemble  at  Springlield,  being  the  ISth  of  August  fol- 
lowing, an<l  stamp  thai  meeting,  also,  with  their  character.  Accord- 
ingly, upon  that  occasion.  General  Singleton  claimed  that  the 
S[>ringfield  meeting,  which  was  very  largely  attended,  was  but  a 
continuation  of  the  Peoria  meeting  ;  that  the  olUcers  were  already 
chosen,  and  nothing  remained  to  be  done  but  for  him  as  president 
to  call  the  multitude  to  order,  listen  to  the  speaking,  and  pass  the 
Pecu'ia  peace  resolutions.  But  his  assumptions  met  with  earnest 
protest;  however,  for  the  sake  of  harmony,  it  was  agreed   in  cau- 


cus that   Singleton 


should   preside,  that   the   Peoria  resolutions 


should  be  roi>orted  stripped  of  two  objectionable  clauses,  aiul  in 
addition  to  jtledge  the  party  to  the  Chi(;ago  nonunees.  This  was 
strenuously  opposed  by  the  ultra  peace  faction,  who  declared  they 
would  api»eal  to  the  peojde.  The  meeting  was  forthwith  called  to 
order,  General  Singleton  became  chairnmn  and  addressed  the 
nnisses  in  a  forcible  and  able  speech,  lie  was  followed  by  Henry 
Clay  Dean,  of  Iowa,  in  an  eloquent  etl'ort.  The  Peoria  resolutions 
unchanged  were  then  ottered  for  ado[>tion,  as  also  those  of  June 
17th,  18i}3,  and  by  the  chair  declared  passed.  The  caucus  resolu- 
tion pledging  the  etlicient  support  o^'t^he  Illinois  Democracy  to  the 
ChicMgo  nominee  for  president,  WiK)ev(!r  he   nnght  be,   was  then 


•Sue  correspondence  Chicago  Time?, 
»8oo  Illinois  Ueglster,  Aug.  6tli,  18M 


YATES'  ADMINISTRATION.  905 

oliV'ivd.  It  was  .sliarply  attacked  and  laid  on  <^'ie  table.  Xext 
the  I'eoria  and  ITtli  of  June  resolutions  were  ottered  for  adoption 
at  stand  No.  U,  and  there,  also,  declared  passed.  The  resolution 
pledging  unconditional  support  to  the  Cliica};o  nominees  was 
now  ajiain  ottered.  A  bitter  debate,  not  unmixed  with  ^ross  per- 
sonalities, was  instantly  aroused,  resultiu«>this  time  in  tiio  adop- 
tion of  the  resolution.  And  now  the  cloven  foot  bavin*;'  l)((eu 
revealed  to  the  nuxltitude,  when  the  latter  resolution  was  aj;ain 
nu)\ed at  stand  No.  1,  amidst  nuieh  confusion  and  opposition  it 
was  there,  also,  vociferously  adopted.  The  presiding  otticer,  who 
had  been  assailed  as  a  disorgauizer,  thereupon  retired  from  the 
meeting  in  disgust.* 

Tluis  this  meeting,  after  adopting  the  Peoria  and  17th  of  June 
resolutions,  demanding  an  armistice,  pronouncing  the  war  for 
the  Union  a  failure  and  Unconstitutional,  and  proposing  an  almost 
xincoiiditional  peace  with  dettant  rebels,  in  the  next  breath  pledged 
themselves  in  advance  to  sujjport  a  war  Democrat  for  the  presi- 
dency. But  this  glaring  incon.5istency  only  indicated  after  all  that 
many  of  the  democratic  leaders,  in  their  ardent  and  ultr^  opposi- 
tion to  the  war  for  the  Union,  had  been  really  less  disloyal  in  tlieir 
true  feelings  and  sentiments  than  partisan  and  factious.  They  were 
anti-wiu-  men  because  it  was  not,  as  they  thought,  the  war  of  their 
party.  They  did  not  love  the  Union  less,  but  otti(!e  more.  The 
partisan  strife  for  place,  power  and  position  is  a  terrible  thing  in 
our  country,  ami  not  at  all  on  the  Avane. 

Nor  wsis  this  meeting  more  inconsistent  than  the  Chicago  Dem- 
ocratic national  convention  of  lS(i4,  which  met  a  few  days  later, 
in  the  adoption  of  their  platform  and  the  choice  of  a  candi- 
date to  be  placed  upon  it. 

Tlio2(i  resolution  declared  itiis  thesenscot  the  American  people  "that  after  four 
years  of  failure  to  restore  the  Union  by  the  exijerimcnt  of  war,  durinfr  which,  under 
the  pretense  of  military  necessity  or  power  nl^'herthan  the  constitution,  the  consti- 
tution itself  has  beendisrefrtii'df  d  in  every  part,  and  the  public  liberty  and  private  rights 
alilto  trodden  down,  andthe  material  prosperity  of  the  country  essentially  inii)alred  ; 
justice,  humanity,  liberty  and  the  public  welfare  demand  that  imnieilitttc  ett'orts  bo 
made  for  the  cessation  of  hostilities,  with  a  view  to  an  ultimate  convention  of  the  States 
or  other  peaceable  means  to  the  end  that  at  the  earliest  practicable  moment  peace 
may  be  restored  on  the  basis  of  the  Federal  Union  of  the  States. 

To  which  the  distinguised  military  chieftain,  Gen.  INii'Clellen,  a 
strong  Avar  Democrat,  who  had  dispersed  the  Maryland  Democratic 
legislature  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  replied  in  his  letter  of 
accepance : 

"(lut  the  Union  must  be  preserved  at  all  hazards.  I  could  not  look  in  the  face  of  my 
jrallant  comrades  of  the  army  and  navy,  who  survived  so  many  bloody  battles,  and  tell 
them  that  their  labors  and  the  sacriflec  of  so  manyofour  slain  and  wounded  brethreu 
have  been  in  vain." 


CHICAGO   CONSPIHACY. 

Durintrthe  autumnof 'fllaoonspiracy  wasdetectcd  at Chieapo.  which  hndforits  object 
the  liberation  of  theiirisoners  at  Camp  Dousilas,  the  burning  of  the  city,  and  the  in- 
auguration of  rebellion  in  the  north.  Gen.  Sweet,  who  had  charjfe  of  the  camp  at 
the  time,  first  had  his  suspicions  of  danger  aroused  by  a  number  of  enigmatically 
worded  letters  which  passed  through  the  Camp  po.stolBce 

From  subseimcnt  developments  he  became  eonvinced  It  wns  the  intention  of  the 
conspirators  to  carry  out  tneirnefavious  designs  during  the  session  of  the  National 
Democratie Convention  in  Auki.  t,  but  before  the  time  arrived  defensive  measures 
were  Instituted,  and  the  leaders  deemed  It  best  to  postpone  the  consunnuationof  their 
obieet  till  the  presidential  election.  They  were,  however,  agamdestined  tebe  foiit^d. 
Oii  till' ;.M  of  November,  a  citizen  of  St.  Iwouis,  an  avowe<l  seeessioni.st.  l)\it  in  ifality 
nirovernmeiit  detective,  followed  a  crlmiuKl  from  that  city  toSprinirlleld,  and  thence  to 
ChionL'o.  Here,  while  on  the  alert  for  the  fugitive,  he  met  a  former  acipmintanee,  a 
member  of  the   <u'der  of  Anu'riean  Knights,    from  whom    he  learned  that    the  rebel 

•Sec  Illinois  Register,  Aug.  19th,  1864. 


90G 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


«.iin<iih  uu  iML-uuj  oi  itic  eifi'ttoii,  iiii'  (U'lfciai'  iniinodiatiily  aillea  on  col.  swec; 
coiiiiminii'utod  to  biiii  the  stnrtliiitf  iiitollitfi'iK.'e,  mid  ihc  liitter  telojrraplniti  lor  ti 
|J'liL'ri' were  Inthe  oaiiip  8,1X10  prisoners,  luiionif  whom  were  MorgHn's  freelio 
J'exiis  Kuiifrers  ami  otliers  iirecoeioiis',  lUirintf  and  ready  tor  reekless  uilveuture 


Maniuiilulvo  was  in  the  eity.  After  a  short  interview  he  met  Dr.  Eawnrds,  n  citizen  of 
tliicat,'<)  aiiciu  relieisyinpatliizer,  wlioi.slied  liiin  if  lie  Itiiew  Southeni  soldiers  were  in 
town  riie  detective  aiiswerinj;  in  the  iieKative,  liii  interlocutor  further  iiilornied 
hull  that  Marniaduke  was  stopiiin^f  uthis  house  under  the  iissuined  name  of  UurliiiK, 
and  nieiitioned  asa 'yood  joke  '  that  he  had  a  liritish  passport  made  out  under  t  lie  same 
eoguoinen  by  the  American (.'onsui.  The  detective,  in  his  report  to  the  Provost  Mar- 
shal General  of  Mo.,  says:  "Tlie  same  evening  I  againnict  with  Dr.  Edwards  on  the 
street  going  to  my  hotel.  Me  said  Mariiiaduko  desired  to  see  me  and  I  accompanied 
him  to  ills  house.  Tliere  in  the  course  of  a  long  conversation  Marniaduke  told  me  tliat 
he  aiHl  several  ollicers  were  in  t'liicago  to  operate  with  other  parties  In  relensiiig 
the  prisoners  of  Camp  Douglas.aiid  in  inaugurating  a  retiellion  in  the  north.  He  said 
tile  inoveiiicnl  was  under  tlie  auspices  ol  the  American  Knights,  and  waste  begin  ope- 
rations on  tlieday  of  the  election.  The  detective  iminediatoly  called  on  Col.  Sweet  and 

troops, 
liooters. 

---  ,--   , „ ^   .„.  ire.    To 

guard  the  large  force  there  were  only  TlK)  effective  men,  and  the  commandant  felt 
ustlioiijih  there  was  a  mine  b'  neath  liim,  an<l  only  TO  hours  remained  In  which  to  i)re- 
veiit  its  tieiiig  si)rung  with  disastrous  coiiseiiiK'iices  to  the  garrison  and  adjacent  city. 
Disclosures  soon  reached  liim  from  other  sources  whereby  ho  learned  the  full  partie- 
ulaisof  the  gigaiitl(!  scheme.  The  blow  was  to  be  struck  on  the  8th  of  November, 
and  Camp  Douglas  was  the  tlrst  objective  point.  The  8.000  jirisoners  when  liberated 
were  to  be  .joined  by  the  5,000  knights  of  (Chicago,  making  a  nucleus  of  lit.OOOabout  which 
would  gather  Canadian  refugees,  bushwhackers  from  Mo.,  prisoners  from  otherCamps, 
and  iiicmbers  of  the  same'  order  In  other  localities.  The  city  of  Chicago  was  first  to  lie 
sacked  and  burned,  after  which  a  similar  fate  was  to  be  meted  out  to  the  otlii-r  cities 
of  tlie  north.  A  general  uprising  of  the  traasonable  element  in  tlie  loyal  States  was  to 
follow,  and  simultaneously  Hood  was  to  move  on  Nashville,  Buekiicr  on  Louisville,  and 
Price  on  St.  Louis. 

It  must  nolbe  su])posed  these  seemingly  cxtrc.vagant  arrangements  were  without 
some  prospect  of  success.  Investigations  before  military  commissions  in  dilferent 
partsof  the  west  indicated  the  existence  ot  treasonable  soeietiesof  almost  fabulous  ex- 
t(;iit.  A  report  of  the  .Judge  Advocate  General  of  the  U.S.  disclosed  "the  existence 
of  a  military  organization  having  its  comiiiander-in-chief,  general  and  subordinate 
oHieers,  and  !)00,000  enrolled  members,  all  bound  by  a  blind  oliedience  to  their  superiors, 
and  pledged  to  take  up  arms  against  any  power  loiind  waging  war  against  a  i)eoplo 
cnileiivoring  to  establish  a  government  of  their  own  choice." 

Col.  Sweet  duly  apprised  the  police  of  Cliicagoof  the  )>rcsenco  of  the  conspirators, 
nn<l  at  '^  o'clock  ill  the  morning  prece<ling  the  election,  made  a  descent  on  their  respec- 
tive places  of  lodiring.  Aiiiiiiig  the  arrests  were  the  rebel  odieers  Gronfell,  Morgan, 
Ad.jutant  (jeneral  Marniaduke,  brother  of  thegeneral.  Cantrell,  of  Morgan's  command, 
liuckncr  Morris,  treasurer  of  tlie  Sonsof  Lilierty,  Charles  Walsh,  a  member  of  the  order 
were  also  arrested.  Inthe  house  of  the  latter  were  loun<l  two  cart-loads  of  loaded 
pistols,  and  in  another  luut  of  the  city  twolxixesof  guns.  The  startling  intolligciiee 
ot  the  arrests  spread  with  lightning   rapidity,  and  as  the  sun  rose  up  from  the  bosom 


of  the  lake  and  looked  down  on  the  milesof  palatial  residences,  stores  and  well-lilled 
houses  maikcjd  out  for  rapine  and  burning.their  inhabitants  were  inarms,  patrols  were 
marching  and  countermarching  through  the  entire  eit.v  which  presented  the  appearance 
of  1111  extetiiied  military  encanipment.  Thus  in  one  short  hour  the  scheme  which  was 
to  transfer  the  tlieatn;  of  the  war  to  the  free  states,  and  apply  the  torch  to  northera 
cities,  collapsed  and  Its  reckless  projectors  were  in  the  custody  of  the  officers  in  tho 
narrow  cells  of  a  prison. 

Early  in  January,  180.").  Gen.  Hooker,  commandant  of  the  Northwestern  Denarinient, 
convened  a  court  martial  in  Cincinnati  to  try  the  leaders  of  the  conspiracy.  They  were 
chargeii  with  violating  the  laws  ot  >.;«r  by  attempting  to  release  the  prisoners  confined 
at  (.'ainii  Douglas,  and  conspiring  to  la>  waste  the  city  of  Chicago.  'The  trial  lasted  till 
Aiuil,  when  Walsh  was  si'utenced  to  three  years'  imprisonment  in  the  penitentiary, 
Grenrell  to  behung.  Uafael  Semines,cai)tured  after  the  first  arrests,  to  two  years  im- 
prisonment. Of  the  (jther  prisoners  one  eomniitted  suicide  by  shooting  himself,  one 
escaped  from  custody  and  the  remainder  were  aciiuitted.  After  reniaininig  in  prison  9 
monthsall  the  cunvicts  except  Grenfell,  whose  seiiteuce  was  commuted  to  imprison- 
ment for  life,  were  pardoned. 


Chapter  LVI. 
1S(;5— 1800— AD^riNISTRATION  OF  GOV.  OGLESDY. 


Ecpiihlican  and  Democratic  tState  Conventioufi  of  1804 — Lives  and 
Vhamcter  of  Oijh'shy  and  Bronx — Pros2)criti/<tnd  ('audition  of  the 

■  t^tate  durimi  the  RvlwUion — Le(jiiilation,  FoIiti<-aI  and  l^peeial,  in 
ISO.")--! — Hoard  of  Uqualisationestablinhed — Location  of  A(/rici(l' 
tiiral  CoUeye — Illinois  Capitals  and  their  removals — llintory  of 
the  Penitentiary. 


The  llcpubliciiii,  or  Union  Stiite  Convention  of  1804,  wa.s  lield 
at  Spiin^fu'ld,  May  Si'itli.  A.  J.  Kuykendall,  of  Jolinson,  was 
clioscn  to  pii'sidc.  For  Govi'iiior  fonr  names  were  proposed.  On 
tilt'  tirst  or  inlorinal  ballot,  Allen  C.  Fnller,  of  lioone,  received  liUU 
votes;  Kicliard  J.  Oylesby,  of  ^laeon,  283;  Jesse  K.  Dubois,  of 
San<;anion,  lOo;  and  John  M.  Palmer,  t)f  ^laeonpin.  To.  On  the 
ne.\t  ballot  Oylesby  was  nominated,  receiving  358  out  of  081 
votes  cast.  William  Bross,  of  Cook,  was  nominated  for  lieuten- 
ant governor;  Sharon  Tyndale,  of  St.  Clair,  for  Secretary  of  State; 
O.  II.  Miner,  of  Sangamon,  ibr  Auditor  ;  James  II.  lieveridge,  of 
]){'i\ali>,  for  Treasurer ;  ifewton  l>ateman,  of  ^lorgan,  for  Super- 
intendent of  I'ublic  Instruction  ;  S.  W.  Moulton,  of  Shelby,  for 
Congressman  for  the  Stateat-large.  Thus  far  all  was  harmony, 
but  now  (!ame  trouble.  The  committee  on  platform  gave  the  na- 
tional administration  but  a  quasi  endorsement,  saying  that  the 
president's  "war  measures  were  planned  with  all  honest  pui'imse; 
that  it  was  not  necessary  to  ai»i)roveof  every  act  of  the  adminis- 
tralion  to  enable  them  to  say  ]\Ir.  Lincoln  was  an  honest  man  and 
prudent  statesman  ;  and  that  in  the  main  the  acts  of  the  admin- 
istration had  been  highly  coiulucive  in  su])pressing  the  existing 
relieilion,  and  should  ^Ir.  Lincoln  receive  the  nominati<ni  of  the 
Haiti  more  convention  they  would  give  him  their  earnest  sup- 
■  port."* 

Tliis  resolution  excited  intense  opposition  and  was  laid  on  the 
table.  A  new  committee  was  apjjointed  and  in  the  eveidng  a  new 
set  of  re: olutions  were  rei)orted  and  adopted  after  a  i)rotracted 
sitting.  The  administration  was  strongly  indorsed,  and  the  dele- 
gates to  the  Baltimore  convention  instructed  to  use  all  honorable 


•See  Illinois  State  Ketflster,  May  ;.'8th,  1804. 


907 


908 


HISTORY  OP  ILLINOIS. 


iiu'iiii.s  to  secure  tlie  re-iioiiiiiiiition  of  Mr.  Lincoln  ibr  tlie  presi- 
dency; ii  (leterMiiuation  wiis  expi-essed  to  i»roseciile  tli«'  wnr  nntil 
tliecanseof  the  Union  trluniplicd;  sliivery  wiiscliarjicd  as  tlie  cause 
of  I  lie  rebellion;  tlie.v  breathed  the  sentiments  <»f  a  <;ciinine  patriot- 
ism and  noble  sympathy  for  the  soldiers;  extemled  thanks  to  the 
j>'o\ crnor  and  all  the  iState  oftuaals ;  indorsed  tlui  KUh  amend- 
menr  abolishin};'  slavery;  and  asserted  the  ^Monroe  doctrine — that 
it  was  the  tluty  of  the  U.  S.  to  reinstate  rei)ul)lican  institutions 
on  the  continent  of  America,  which  looked  to  the  French  opera- 
tioiis  in  Mexico. 

The  J)eniocratic  State  Convention  of  180-4  also  met  at  Spring- 
field, but  not  till  September  (5th.  The  Hon.  S.  S.  Hayes,  of  Cook, 
l)resided.  The  Chicago  national  democratic  platform  was  adopted. 
James  C.  Kobinson,  of  Clark,  was  nominated  forCovernor;  S. 
Coridng  Jiuld,  of  Fulton,  for  Lieutenant  Governor;  John  Ilise,  of 
LaSalle,  for  Auditor;  Alexander  Starne,  of  Tike,  for  Treasurer ; 
William  A.  Turney,  of  Morgan,  for  Secaetary  of  State;  John  P. 
Brooks,  for  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  and  James  C. 
Allen,  of  Crawford,  for  Congressman  for  the  Stateat-large. 

The  election  in  November,  1804:,  resulted  in  fa\()r  of  the  repub- 
licans on  the  State  ticket  by  an  average  nuijority  exceeding  .Jl,- 
(KK>  votes.  The  estimated  gain  of  the  republican  vote  on  1803 
was  over  09,000.  The  Legislature  was  republican,  as  follows: 
Senate  14  republicans  to  11  democrats;  House  ol  republicans  to 
34  democrats ;  Union  nnijority  ou  joint  ballot  20.  Eleven  out  of 
the  14  congressmen  elected  were  also  republicans. 

Ivichard  J.  Oglesby  was  born  July  25tli,  1824,  in  Oldham  county, 
Kentu(!ky.  Bereft  of  parents  at  the  tender  age  of  eight,  his 
eai-ly  education  was  neglected.  When  12  years  old  he  remo\ed 
with  an  uncle  to  Decatur.  He  was  subsequently  ap})renticed  to 
the  carpenter's  trade,  worked  occasionally  at  farming,  studied  law, 
essayed  to  imactice  it  at  Sullivan,  this  State,  returned  to  Decatur, 
volunteered  in  the  Mexican  war,  was  elected  1st  Lieut.  Co.  "C," 
4th  Illinois  regiment,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Cerro 
Gordo,  On  his  return  he  sought  to  i)erfect  his  law  studies  by  at- 
tending the  lectures  at  Louisville,  took  the  gold  fever  then  raging 
and  (Tossed  the  plains  to  California,  returned,  and,  in  1852,  lirst 
appeared  in  politics  as  a  Scott  elector.  Later  he  visited  Europe 
and  the  Holy  Land,  returned,  and,  in  1858,  offered  for  congress, 
but  was  beaten  by  the  same  competitor  he  had  for  governor  in 
18(!4.  In  1800  he  was  elected  a  State  Senator,  but  the  following 
spring  when  the  rebellion  broke  out,  his  ardent  nature  quickly  re- 
sponded to  the  denninds  of  patriotism,  and,  as  colonel  of  the  8th 
regiment,  he  tendered  it  as  the  second  raised  by  the  State  for  that 
contliet.  He  was  shortly  entrusted  with  important  comnumds,  and 
for  a  time  stationed  at  Bird's  Point  and  Cairo.  At  Fort  Donelson  his 
brigade  was  in  the  van,  and,  on  the  morning  of  the  last  day,  the 
first  to  be  attacked  by  the  enemy,  resulting  in  the  loss  of  500 
jneii  before  reinforcements  came  to  his  su[)port.  At  Corinth  his 
and  ILuikleman's  brigades  held  tlie  rebels  at  bay  during  a  larg6 
part  of  the  afternoon;  but  in  a  daring  cliaige  the  latter  was 
killed,  and  Oglesby  dangerously  wounded  in  theleft  Inngwasboiiie 
from  the  field  in  expectation  of  immediate  dissolution.  On  his  re- 
covery he  WHS  promoted  for  gallantry  to  a   major  generalship, 


OCiLESBV's  ADMINlJJiTKATION.  009 


iiinl  ill  rlie  spring  of  l.S(5;j  iis,sij;ii('(l  to  tlio  coiiiniiUKl  of  the  Kith 
iiiiiiy  <(»ii»s,  hut  owiiin  to  tlii'  trouble  of  liis  wouikI,  (lio  ciinictl 
till'  ivlu'.l  Iciiil  ill  liis  p«a\soii)  lie  r«'liiHiiiislu'(l  aetive  service  wiiliiii 
three  iiiontlis  after. 

(ioveruor  Ouieisby  is  a  fine  appeariiij;'  alValiie  man,  with  re;;u- 
liir,  well  (leliiied  features  and  I'otiiiid  face,  lii  stature  he  is  a  little 
aliovc!  medium  heijiiit,  lar^e  iVaiiie  and  soiiu-wliat  tlesliy.  His 
jilivsieal  aitjiearaiuie  is  strikiiii;'  and  preiiossessiny,  while  his 
'strai<;ht-out,  not  to  say  blulf,  manner  and  speech  are  well  ealeiiUi- 
te(l  to  favoralily  impress  the  aveiaf^c  masses.  Ardent  in  IVeliii;^ 
and  strong  in  party  bias,  he  inspires  <leep  ]>artisan  i)rejudices 
in  others.  He  is  quite  an  elfective  stump  orator.  With  a  v«'heiii- 
ent,  passionate  and  scornful  tone  iuid  <;estures,  treineiKhms  piiys- 
ieiil  power,  which,  in  speakiiif;-,  he  exercises  to  the  utmost ;  with 
frcMpient  descents  to  the  grotesque,  and  witli  abundant  homely 
comparisons  or  frontier  lijiures,  expressed  in  tlie  broadest  vermuai- 
lar  and  enforced  with  steiitoriun  emphasis,  he  (U'li^^hts  a  ])romis- 
cuous  audience  lieyoiid  measui'e ;  wliih' his  bitter  invective,  be- 
stowed without  stint  ui»on  the  opposition  must  gratify  tiie 
extremest  feeling  of  itartisan  hatred  and  animosity. 

Lieut.  Gov.  liross  was  born  in  Sussex  county,  New  Jersey. 
His  youth  was  mostly  spent  in  tlie  wilds  of  Pennsylvania,  aiding 
his  father  in  the  hard  toil  of  a  lumberman  and  rafting  on  the  Del- 
ewaio.  He  acciuired,  however,  a  classi(;al  education,  and  after- 
wards, for  many  years,  taught  school.  In  LSiS  he  removed  to 
Chicago  and  becamea  jiartner  in  the  i»ublishing  house  of  (iriggs, 
Bross  &  Co.  But  ill  Illinois  he  isdiiefly  known  by  his  career  as 
an  editor.  In  1852  he  united  with  John  L.  Scripps  and  started  tlie 
Democratic  PrcHH^  a  political  and  comnier(;ial  newspaper.  He  was 
originally  a  democrat,  but  with  the  repeal  of  tlie  5lissouri  com- 
promise this  paper  forsook  the  democracy  and  aided  in  forming 
the  republican  party.  In  1858  it  was  "t'onsoliilated"  with  the 
Tribune,  and  in  1800  the  name  of  "Press"  was  dropped.  Xo 
paper  has  perhaps  exercised  a  larger  intluence  upon  the  politics 
of  Illinois,  while  at  an  early  day  it  was  the  leading  commercial 
medium  of  the  northwest.  Mr.  Bross  is  a  man  of  sound  jtrac- 
tical  sense,  varied  and  extensive  inlormation,  exact,  thorough, 
and  untiring  in  ett'ort.  He  had  shown  himself  an  able  statistical, 
commercial  and  political  writer.  Energy  and  resoluteness  are  of 
the  essence  of  his  nature,  and  with  wonderful  rapidity  of  utter- 
ance, as  presiding  otlhjer  of  the  senate,  he  was  capable  of  dis- 
patching a  large  amount  of  business  in  those  days  of  ouniibuslegis- 
lation.  He  is  of  medium  height  and  robust  frame,  with  angular 
features,  high  forehead,  and  ruddy  complexion.  Honest  himself, 
he  despises  the  tricks  and  arts  of  the  politician  ;  and  his  own 
achievements  being  the  result  of  industry,  he  entertains  little  rev- 
erance  for  genius.* 

Governor  Oglesby  was  duly  inaugurated  January  the  ITtli, 
ISO."),*  butbefore  proceeding  with  his  administration  it  is  proi)erthat 
we  take  ii  short  retrospect  at  our  nniterial  prosperity  during  tlie 
rebellion. 


•Sec  Ward's  speech  In  eenato  Jan. 11,  '00,  and  Western  Monthly,  Juno,  '6!). 

'The  (lay  before  the  time  first  set  for  Gov.  OKlesby  to  assume  the  duties  of  bis  office, 
deatli  visited  his  homeat  Decatur,  and  tools  therefrom  his  only  son,  an  ititoilifrent  and 
sprljrhtly  lad  ot  6  years,  a  grreut  favorite  with  the  bereaved  parents.  This  cause  I  the 
iuaug'uration  to  be  postponed  for  one  week. 


910 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Notwitlistiiiidiiij;' tlicdi'maiKls  ol'tlic  war  liiid  diaw  ii  ii|)(>ii  Illi- 
nois to  tlu'  extent  of  near  l.'(»(»,()U(>  men — hale,  vi;^<)roiis  and  with- 
out [ihysical  l»Ieniisli,  taken  from  tin;  mo,-t  active  itrodiieiiig 
classes — the  ;,'reat  indnst lies  of  the  State  had  not  only  spei'diiy 
recovered  from  thisenormons  tiral't,  hut  her  material  i»'os[»eiity, 
retardcMl  the  first  one  or  two  years,  was  unparalleled  by  any  other 
State.  The  census  of  ISd,!  reveah'd  a  population  of  L', UK. "ilO,  he- 
inj;- :;n  incrt'ase  of  4-!>,.~».")!),  or  near  2r>  per  cent,  since  IstiO  ;  and 
nearly  every  dei>artnn'nt  of  jiroduction  and  industry  exhibited  a 
like  ratio  in  advancement,  as  eviden(!ed  by  the  area  of  land  under 
cultivation,  and  its  yield  of  a;irici  Itural  wealth,  the  triunii>h  of 
invention  and  substitution  of  nuKshinery  for  nmnual  labor,  the  au<;- 
meiitation  of  skilled  laborers  and  mechanical  i>roduction,  the  rai»id 
growtli  of  our  cities,  villages  and  increase  of  lixed  capital,  the 
excellent  leniuiu'ration  for  all  employment,  the  hij;h  i)rices  for  all 
])roducts,  and  above  all  the  abundance  of  moiu-y  which  stimulated 
all  manncT  of  business  to  unusual  activity. 

While  this  material  prosjyerity  prevailed  with  the  <!lose  of  the 
war,  and  for  some  time  before,  the  times  were  hard  with  us  during 
the  first  two  years  of  the  civil  (tonllict.  The  writer  saw  corn,  onr 
iiveat  staple,  sell  in  18(52,  in  Central  Illinois,  as  low  as  1)  (lents  a 
busliel.  The  failure  of  our  local  banks,  whicdi  in  a  uumuer  left  u.s 
witliouta  currency,  contributed  not  a  little  to  the  condition  of  the 
times.  l*rosi)erity  durin<f  the  war  was  iirst  exi)erieiiced  in  the 
Eastern  States,\vhere  the  lavish  expenditures  of  the  ^iovernment  for 
i^lothinji'  and  munitions  of  war  caused  '.noney  to  be  profusely  scat- 
tered from  the  outset.  AVith  us,  beef  and  povk,  and  the  jtroducts 
of  the  soil,  were  the  first  to  experience  an  advance  in  pieces. 

Corn,  our  most  unfailinjf  crop,  made  its  first  ;.;reat  bound  up- 
Mard  immediately  after  the  severe  frost  of  AujiUst  lilhh,  lS(i3. 
Lamls  remained  for  a  lonj;  time  a  dru|;'.  This  (;lass  of  property 
the  exiierience  of  centuries  has  shown  to  ever  be  the  hist  to  rise 
in  price,  but  once  starting  it  excels  all  other,  as  it  affords  the 
safest  and  surest  investment,  and  not  uufrequeiitly  the  largest 
s])ecnlative  return.  Finally  the  tide  of  abundant  money  set  into 
Illinois  and  began  to  influence  realty.  Xow,  to  many  of  our  ])eo- 
ple,  was  heard  abroad  in  the  land  the  pleasant  voice  of  the  stran- 
ger iucpiiring  the  price  of  lands,  and  seeking  to  invest  his  abund- 
ant and  daily  chea[»ening  money  in  lots,  lands  and  farms.  I'opn- 
lation,  with  a  renewed  current,  was  pouring  over  our  borders  ; 
houses  in  cities  and  towns  became  scarce  ;  rents  rose  beyond  pre- 
cedent, and  the  piices  of  lands  passed  the  most  sanguine expe(!ta- 
tion.  An  enhancement  of  100  per  cent  was  not  uinisual ;  nniny 
of  our  people  never  dreamed  of  such  i)rices,  and  that  all  in  cash, 
too.  Many  transfers  were  made,  the  proceeds  re-invested  to  bet- 
tei'  ad\  aiitage,  ami  comparative  independence  accpured  by  owners. 
The  abundance  and  cheapness  of  money,  and  high  ]>rices  of  prop- 
erly enabled  others  of  our  people  to  extinguisl;  mortgages,  which 
had  hung  like  a  pall  over  their  homes  ;  and  thus  thousaiuls  ot 
families  were  phuted  in  comfortable  circumstances  and  lendered 
happy.  "While  an  intestine  war  piled  a  debt  on  the  nation  by  the 
billit)n,  upon  the  individmd  were  conferred  benelitsand  unexju'ct- 
ed  independence.  But,  while  some,  for  years  dissatisfied,  now  that 
they  could  get  perhaps  double  their  prices,  were  content  to  hold 
their  property  and  neither  loose  nor  profit  by  the  times,  others, 


,ix   '■>) 


OOLESBY'S  ADMINISTRATION.  911 


it  Is  sad  toivliitc,  who  bad  never  lioped  to  realize  old  values,  eaj^cr- 
ly  sold  with  the  first  advaiK^e  ofpriees,  failed  or  iie,!;leefed  to  rein- 
vest, easily  spent  or  sqiunuh-red  the  pmcreds.  and  are  to-day 
renters.  It  was  jienerally  better  to  buy  than  sell — to  be  in  debt 
for  hinds  purehased  than  hold  (sredits  for  jtroperty  sold.  l)el>ts 
did  not  inerease  exeept  by  ae(!ruiny  interest,  while  the  money 
wherewith  to  pay  them,  eheapened  sometimes  in  a  few  days  -."i  to 
50  pereent,  takin;^  ^old  for  a  standard. 

The  permanent  debt  of  the  State,  funded  and  nn funded  in 
18(5,"),  was  811,178,5(14,  beiiii;an  inerease  since  ISIJO  of  (/nly  about 
$l.(»(K»,()(((»,  notwithstandinj;' our  heavy  war  a]ipro]>riations  and 
exi)enditures.     But  the  j^eneral  ^jovernment.  it  nniy  be  rennirked  i 

parenthetieally,  larfi'ely  leliinded  tothe  States  their   advances  on  * 

account  of  the  war.      From    December,    1S(!1,  to  Decendier,   ISdS,  i 

our  bonded   debt  was  reduced  $7,051, 7!K},   leaviiij;'  a  balance  of  j 

85,!»8SM5S.     The  total   taxable  proi)erty  of  the  State  in  lS<il  was  ] 

835G,87S,8;^7  ;  in  18(J8,  8475,379,194.     TJie  total  number  of  acres  in  i 

cultivation  for  1808,  was  8,(593,599,  of  which  5,19.'),747  were  in  corn. 

LefjhlaUvc. — After  18G4  our  field  is  barren  of  interesting  or  im-  ' 

portant  political  or  party  events.  Peace  came  to  the  Union  in  the. 
followiu};- .si)ring';  and  the  results  of  electit)ns  in  the  State  have 
sin(!e  been  uniformly  the  same,  and  generally  so  overwhelmiiinly 
republican  as  to  not  only  afford  little  show  for  equal  party  con- 
tests over  any  (piestion,  but  to  well  in<;h  crush  all  hope  in  the 
democratic  bosom.  That  party  has  made  in  conscipu'nce  several 
iuelfectind  Hank  movements  and  taken  iiew  departures,  until,  in  a 
manner,  iti  time-honored  tenets  are  abandoiu'd,  and  it  seems  to  be 
in  the  throes  of  dissolution.  (Jov.  0};lesby,  in  his  inaujiural  mes- 
sage, commenting  upon  tluMuaJorityof  the  preceding  election,  said: 
"So  marked,  imleed,  has  been  the  expression  of  the  popular  will, 

1  do  not  fail  to  recognize  in  it  the  absence  of  mere  ])arty  triumph." 
The  political  events  of  the  legislative  session  of  18()5  were  the 

election  of  Ex-Gov.  Yates  to  the  U.  S.  Senate,  and  the  ratilication 
of  the  13th  amendment  to  the  constitution  of  the  United  States 
abolishing  slavery.  Early  in  the  session  a  Joint  resolution  was 
passed,  instructing  our  delegation  in  congress  to  vote  for  this 
amendment.  On  the  1st  of  February,  a  telegram  was  received  by 
the  legislature  from  Senator  Tnunbull,  announcing  its  passage  in 
congress.  The  utnujst  precipitation  now  obtained  in  both  houses 
to  ratify  the  measure  so  immediately  as  to  i)laee  Illinois  in  the 
van  of  prompt  loyal  States,  and  it  was  passed  the  same  day. 

This  legislature  also  signalized  itself  by  repealing  the  notorious 
"  black  laws,"  part  of  which,  although  a  dead  letter,  had  held 
their  i)lace  upon  the  statute  books  since  1819,  to  the  disgra,(!e  of 
this  free  State,  in  the  o})iniou  of  many  of  our  citizens.  In  oppo- 
sition it  was  earnestly  argued  by  the  democrats  that  these  laws 
were  a  i)ositive  requirement  under  the  amendment  to  the  State 
oonstitutioii  adopted  by  an  overwhelming  majority  of  the  people 
iu  1802.  The  governor  had  urged  the  repeal  in  his  message, 
petitions  numerously  signed  by  colored  men  of  the  State  and  sent 
in,  prayed  for  the  same.  Another  i^artisan  measure  ^^  as  the  (nit- 
tiug  down  of  the  4th  judicial  circuit,  Judge  Constable's,  from  (>  to 

2  counties,  to  punish  that  functionary  for  his  decision  in  the 
Clark  county  deserter-kidnapping  case,  some  2  years  pre\iousiy. 
This  was  done  in  the  face  of  the  remonstrance  of  the  people  of  the 


012  IIISTOllY  OP  ILLINOIS. 


circuit.  Aim!  in  tlio  very  opciiin}!;  tiio  lioitsc,  it  sccniH,  i»asst'(l  a 
rc'soliilion,  iiivitiiij;-  only  "  tlic  loyal  (Ocij^y  of  Sprln;;!!*'!*!  to  open 
cai'li  (lay's  Ncssion  willi  prayer."  Tlic  law  rccpiiriii;;'  tlie  nj;is- 
tratioii  of  ('U'ctors  was  also  ('na(!t('(1  at  this  session.  Tin*  iniposi- 
ti<»n  ol"  tills  restriction  npon  the  eleetivi;  trancrhise  has  ever  lieen 
most  (lislasleful  to  democrats;  antl  theyojjposed  its  passa;;(' l»y 
all  tiie  arts  Unown  to  jiarlianientary  rules.  ]{y  recent  modifi- 
cation it  now  applies  only  to  cities  of  ~)y{)U{)  inhaltitants  and  ov(T. 

I»nt  it  was  tliis  lej;islaturewliich,owin{;  t(>theincreasinj,Mlenuinds 
of  a(!li\ity  throu<;hout  the  State,  first  };avo  itself  ui)  almost 
uholly  to  the  enactment  of  special,  local  and  private  laws.  The. 
pressure  of  an  insatiate  lobby  was  extraordinary  all  winter  louff. 
Now  was  entered  u])on  in  full  i)lenitude,  that  pernicious  le{,nsla- 
tion,  continued  afterwards  with  a  most  prodij^al  hand,  of  jiianting 
Kj)ecial  privileges  and  jtrotection,  l»y  charter,  for  every  conceivable 
object  of  association  or  business,  without  reserving  a  chcclc  or 
rijiht  of  snbsecinent  control  in  case  of  o])pression.  Ami  to-day,  in 
answer  to  the  loud  demands  of  the  people  to  curb  and  repress  one 
class  of  these  corporations  in  their  exorbitant  and  ruinous  charyea 
for  freight  and  [>assa}>'e,  they  defiantly  set  up  their  vested  rij^hts 
and  chartered  franchises,  and  it  is  the  yrcat  question  whether  or 
not  the  lej^jislatnre  is  i)owerless  in  the  i)remises. 

Among-  the  uu'asures  of  general  interest,  not  political  or  parti- 
san, were  the  increased  fees  allowed  to  county  oflicers.  To  com- 
l^ass  this,  a  systematic  pressure  was  brought  to  bear  npon  the 
legislature.  Conventions  of  sheriffs,  circuit  clerks,  county  clerks, 
and  i)rosecuting  attorneys  were  hehl  at  the  capital.  Tht  e  re- 
Bpectfully  deliberated  upon  their  schedules  of  fees  and  i)re])ared 
tlieir  bills  to  be  enacted  into  laws,  and  as  to  the  denuinds  of  these 
county  otlicials,  who  are  a  power  in  elections,  what  could  the 
august  legislature  of  the  State  of  Illinois  do  but  to  yield  to  them. 
The  raising  of  the  fees,  which  were  already  ample,  has  cost  the 
people  many  millions.  To  wind  up  for  instance  a  small  estate  by 
l)assing  through  all  the  various  stages  of  tlie  courts  and  the  hands 
of  tliese  oflicers,  it  would  be  found  at  the  end  to  be  wound  up  in- 
deed! And  the  most  difficult  feat  of  legislation  is  the  reduction 
of  fees  or  the  abolishment  of  an  office,  however  oppressive  the  one 
or  useless  the  other. 

Gov.  Oglesby  interposed  his  veto  to  but  one  bill  during  the  ses- 
fuon,  which  was  an  amendment  to  a  charter  for  a  Chicago  horse  rail- 
way, granted  in  1859  for  25  years  and  now  sought  to  be  extended 
91)  years.  This  long  period  of  time  was  an  insuperable  objection 
with  his  excellency,  which  he  elaborated  at  length,  but  as  the 
measure  was  promptly  passed  over  his  veto  by  both  houses,  he 
doubtless  deemed  it  useless  to  further  attempt  to  check  their  head- 
long career. 

Tlie  various  appropriations  made  at  this  session  amounted  to 
$1,120,000.  The  constitution  limited  the  expenditures  of  the  legis- 
lature to  l.J  mills  on  the  dollar  of  assessed  value  of  the  real  and 
personal  property  of  the  State,  then  aggregating  about  8333,000,000 
and  yielding,  at  this  rate,  $759,000,  which  made  an  excess  in  the 
api)ropriations  of  $301,000,  and  which  was  regarded  as  invalid  and 
denounced  by  the  Democrats  as  prodigal. 

The  members,  finding  there  was  gold  in  the  State  treasury,  that 
commodity  being  then  at  a  high  premium  in  nmrket,  coveted  it  in 
I)ayment  of  their   mileage  and  per  diem.    But  in  this  enterprise 


OOLESnY'S  ADMINISTUATIOX.  !)13 


tliey  wore  banlkcMl.  The  auditor  possessed  no  authority  to  issue  to 
tlieui  warniuts  ditlereut  iu  cliaracter  tVoui  those,  for  any  other  pur- 
Iioseaiul  without  a  specitiiration  to  tiiat  etleet  th(^  treasurer  could  not 
])ay  out  th<^  ^^ohl;  tlius  tiiis  ])re(Mous  little  s<;lienie  was  nipped  iu 
tlie  l)ud,  which  pive  very  general  satisfaction  to  ihe  peoi>l«'.  No 
hiw  of  a  {general  useful  chara(!ter  or  i)ul)lic  interest  was  perfe<!te«l 
at  the  s(!ssiou  of  1.S«m,  if  we  except  the  turning  over  of  tlie(;anal 
to  ('lii(uiKo  tx)  bcileepened. 

lS(i7. — The  session  of  18(57  was  still  more  productive  of  i>rivato 
and  special  acts  than  Jthe  preeedinp.  Inth'ed  this  class  of  legisla- 
tion lunv  reached  perha[)s  its  culniinating  point  it  successful 
audacity.  The  oumihus*  was  very  a(!tive  throughout  the  session, 
and  that  vehicle,  by  which  laws  were  jKissed  by  the  wholesale,  was 
time  and  again  freighted  with  bills,  exceeding  liOO  iu  nund>er.  The 
occasion  was  most  piopitious  for  every  axe  i)resented  to  receive  ready 
grinding.  The  contests  over  tlie  location  of  the  Industrial  College, 
the  Capital,  the  Southern  I'enitentiary,  and  the  canal  eidargenient 
and  Illinois  river  improvement,  dominated  everything  else.  For 
these  engros.sing  nu'asures  mend»ers  yielded  a  ready  assent  to  all 
others.  Jt  was  a  long  and  arduous  session  of  5,'i  days,  during 
which  an  unprecedented  amount  of  work  was  accomplished.  The 
nionoitolists  and  (iorporation  kings,  in  faultless  attire  and  with 
amiable  manner,  were  out  in  full  force.  The  lobbyists,  which  fairly 
swarmed  the  halls  and  toyed  with  the  "rings,"  gloated  in  the 
magnitude  aiul  number  of  their  successes.  The  senate,  as  a  par- 
tial protection  against  the  wiles  of  this  u'  iquitous  and  cheeky 
race,  adopted  a  resolution,  forbidding  any  one  but  senators  and 
clerks  of  committees  demanding  the  perusal  of  bills  in  the  custody 
of  the  secretary. 

There  were  also  a  number  of  very  important  public  laws  j^assed. 
Anu)ng  these  may  be,  nuMitioned  the  act  establishing  the  State 
Board  of  Equalization.  This  measure  was  advocated  by  the  gov- 
evuor  in  his  message.  The  great  need  of  it  may  be  inferred  from 
the  varying  assessments  of  the  same  kinds  of  property  in  ditter- 
ent  portions  of  the  State.  Horses,  in  Kane  county,  were  valued 
at  $15  52  per  head— in  Franklin,  at  $0008 ;  cattle,  in  Piatt,  $L'4  04 
— in  Jo  Daviess  and  Futiuim,  $4  30 ;  mules,  iu  Madison,  $129  80 
— in  Hamilton,  $10  09  ;  swine,  in  Douglas,  $3  50 — iu  Jetferson,  50 
cents.  The  burdens  of  taxation  ought  ever  to  bo  distributed 
with  the  utmost  uniformity. 

There  was  also  passed  the  important  law  enabling  parties  to 
suits  or  civil  actions  to  testify  as  witnesses,  which  worked  a  rad- 
ical change  in  the  time-honored  rule  of  the  common  law.  And 
there  was  the  law,  adopted  at  the  instance  of  the  philanthropic 
Mr.  Bovee,  which,  in  a  manner,  abolished  capital  i)unishmeut — 
or  rather  which  allows  the  jury  iu  case  of  murder  to  fix  the  punish- 
ment either  by  hanging,  or  imprisonment  iu  the  penitentiary  not 
less  than  14  years. 

But  the  question  of  most  absorbing  sectional  interest,  not  ex- 
cepting that  of  the  capital  removal,  the  canal  enlargement,  or  the 
Southern  penitentiary,  was  the  location  of  the  Agricultural  or  In- 
dustrial College.  This  had  been  a  disturbing  element  two  years 
before.    Under  the  terms  of  the  land  grant  the  question  had  now 

*  Tliis  was  the  term  applied  to  the  passage  of  bills  by  the  bundle,  practiced  under 
the  constitution  of  1B48, 

58 


914  HISTOKY  OF   It,I.INf)IH. 


to  lu' tin't.  Coii^n'NS,  liy  net  t)t'  tlul.v -',  lh(!2,  Woiiiitrtl  to  llm  si'V- 
t'liil  Sliilt'S  aiitl  l«'iriloii»'s,\vliicli  slioiiltl,  w  itliiii  live  vciifs  IVoiii  tlio 
dale  tlicrfot',  |ii'ovi*l(>  cnllcjiCH  for  the  Itciiclit  of  a;,'ii('ultiii»'  ami 
tlic  iiifcliaiiii!  arts,  land,  (tr  its  <'(|iii\ah'iit  in  scrip,  at  tlir  rate  of 
.'iO,(l(K>  iu-rcs  for  facli  senator  and  rcitrrscntativc  in  Congress.  'I'lio 
amount  apporliont-d  to  Illinois  was  l.S(),(iii()  acres.  TIh' Ic^islatnn; 
in  1S(;.'{  Itad  sijunitiiMl  to  the  Sccrctarv  of  tiic  Interior  llie  accep- 
tance of  the  jiiant,  and  t  lie  ;;(»vernnient  land  scrij)  was  now  in  llio 
hands  of  tlie  ji«nenio»'.  If  one  sn<'h  colle";e  at  least  was  not  pro- 
vided t)\  .Inly  -d,  the  State  slioidd  return  the  scrip  or  pay  for  it. 

'I'o  this  niunihiH'Ut  K'iU't  tVoni  Coi  j;rcss  many  jtlaces  in  tho 
State  wens  eaji'er  to  add  further  donations,  in  some  instanc«'s  ex- 
ct'edin;^' that  of  Congress,  to  secure  tlu'  location  of  thecollej;e. 
In  the  hiddinji'  for  tliat  object,  invited  l»y  the  le;;islature,  theic  was 
II  j;en«'r(uis  competition,  tiacksonville,  liiiicoln,  I'ekin,  iJloomni;:- 
t(»n  and  Cha.mpiiif,Mi,  paiticipated  in  it.  'I'lie  best  oHer  was  that 
of  the  last  naiued  place,  and  consistetl  of  !t7(>  acres  of  farm  hi'id^ 
a  lar;;e  collcffc  hinldin^' (completed  with  special  icference  to  this 
object)  anditssiteof  1(1  acres  of  {ironnd  in  the  city,  and  ><HI0,- 
0(U»  ten  ])er  cent,  interest-bearinj;-  Champaifiu  county  bonds,  the 
wlu>le  estimated  at  $55'),  KK).  The  l51oomin;;ton  bid,  estinnited  .it 
!tf 470,<>0(>,  was  the  next  best.  A  le<;islative  committee  was  charj^cd 
with  the  duty  of  visitiny  the  various  points  contending,  and  of 
inspectinfi"  th(^  proi)erty  proffered  to  be  donated.  It  was  also  a 
season  of  numerous  le<;islative  visits,  and  the  enterprise  of  the 
friends  of  Champaign  caused  one  to  be  made  to  that  place. 

Chanipaij^n  being  the  highest  bidder,  it  was  next  sought  to 
ptavc  off  the  location  and  refer  it  to  a  commission.  Jiut  this  lin- 
esbc  did  not  succeed.  Having  invited  compiitition  tlu;  legislatnro 
could  not  consistently  do  otherwise  than  accept  the  best  bid  and 
nnike  the  location  accordingly;  and  it  was  but  i)roper  and  emi- 
nently Just  that  Champaign  was  selected  as  the  Industrial  Uni- 
versity seat. 

Little  tijue  of  this  long  and  laborious  session  was  wasted  in  ]>ar- 
tisan  debates,  a  circumstance  as  unusual  as  it  was  iiraiseworthy. 
The  political  events  were  the  re-election  of  Lynum  Trumbull  to  the 
U.  S.  Senate,  and  the  adoption  of  the  14tb  amendment  to  the 
constitution  of  the  U.  Iri.  conferring  citizenship  upon  the  blacks, 
which  was  resisted,  on  the  part  of  the  democrats,  by  all  the  known 
rules  of  parliamentary  warfare.  A  set  of  resolutions  was  adopted 
by  the  UoiLse,  43  to  15,  against  rebels  settling  in  Illinois,  and  ex- 
ercising the  elective  franchise  which  none  but  the  truly  loyal 
should  exercise,  and  that  a  bill  should  be  framed  forever  exclud- 
ing from  ottice  all  traitors  voluntarily  taking  the  oath  of  allegi- 
ance to  the  rebel  confederacy,  and  those  who  left  home  to  es(!apo 
the  draft,  encouraged  or  concealed  deserters,  or  by  force  of  arms 
opposed  the  draft.  The  feelings  here  manifested  are  by  this  time 
greatly  mitigated. 

Illinois''  CapitaU — Our  Sercral  Seats  of  Government. — The  loca- 
tion of  the  Capital  of  any  country  has  ever  been  a  subject  of 
prime  importance;  audit  is  no  less  so  with  the  States  of  this 
Union  than  it  has  been  with  the  empires  of  the  old  world.  It  is 
a  subject  which,  for  obvious  reasons,  has  ever  been  attended  with 
bitter  dis])utations,  jealousies  and  rivalries  between  contending 
points  for  the  honors  or  fancied  benefits  to  be  derived  from  it. 


OGLESnY'H  ADMINISTUATION.         *  015 


Comity  scat  (jiu'stioiis  uie  iiotoridiisly  lU'riinoiiioiis,  inul  ol'icu  for 
a  considcrahlt'  time  work  a  blight  iipoii  tlui  prosperity  of  tlio  seo- 
tions  contciMliii;'".  In  some  States  tlie  seat  of  ;;overimieiit  que.s- 
tion  lias  only  found  ji  <piietMs  l»y  tiieestalilislmieiil  of  two  eapitaitt, 
wiiile  ill  otliers,  paitieiilaily  in  the  ;;rowiii^  West,  the  llow  of  pop- 
uhition,  or  i>ossil>ly  tiie  desire  of  h'^iislators  to  seiv«'  the  interests 
or  caprices  of  tlieir  constituents,  lias  prevailed  to  keep  the  sub- 
ject in  ii  ferment, causinjj:  fr«'(pieiit  ehaiiffes.  Illinois,  in  her  short 
career  as  a  Stale,  has  had  three  locations  for  her  capital,  and 
moroa^Mtations  for  its  removal.  The  lirst  seat  of  j><>veriiment  in 
Illinois  was  at  Kaskaskia,  where  it  remained  diiriii;,''  the  *.»  years 
of  oiir  territorial  existence  and  for  two  years  afteiward.  It  was 
then  removed  to  Vaiidalia,  wliero  it  remained  for  20  years,  since 
when  it  has  bweii  at  Spriiififield. 

Wlieii  (.'on^ress,  in  18(»!»,  erected  Illinois  into  a  separate  terri- 
tory, it  was  pi'ovided  that  {"Caskaskia  should  be  and  remain  tho 
seat  of  }>()veriinieiit  until  the   IcffislatiU'e  should  otherwise  direct. 

"The  sessions  of  this  aii^rust  lioily  were  held  In  n  lni'H:c.  routfli  liviildin!/,  In  tho  centre 
of  n  B(|iiiU'o,  in  (lie  viilii^'e  ol  Kiiskiii^Uiii,  tliu  liody  ot  It  licititr  of  iiiu'iit  linicstone,  the 
(Tiiblcsiin  1  ro(if.-<,  which  WHS  of  till"  pinibrrl  siylc,  of  nii|iiilnti'(l  lioi'.nis  iind  shlnirlcn, 
with  doi  nicr  windows.  Tho  lower  floor,  h  liirKc  and  cheerless  room,  wiis  fitted  up  for 
tho  House,  whilst  tlu' (^oiiiiell  siit  In  ii  sniiill  elmnd)i'r  iibove,  around  a  circular  lulde, 
and,  It  l»  said,  when  the  labors  of  the  day  were  over,  the  intcrcgtinv  tiAino  of  "L<io'' 
nt  once  succeeded.  This  vem-rable  sirueturc  was,  (lurlnjr  tho  time  of  tho  French  oc- 
cupancy of  tlioi'ounlrv,  pi  lor  to  ITllM,  the  head()uarter8()f  the  military  commandant, 
and  doiibtlecs  witliln  it,  iiiaiiy  an  arbitrary  edict  was  framed,  to  lie  executed  with  all 
tho  severity  attemlant  upon  (lie  admiiiistralion  of  military  law  by  military  men."* 

The  Convention  which  framed  the  llrst  State  Constitution  also 
met  in  this  ''old  stone  house." 

"It  was  i>rovlded  by  this  instrument  that  the  seat  of  provcrnmont  sliould  remain  at 
Kaskiiskia  until  iho  general  iissemlily  should  otherwise  direct:  and  Hint  body  wasre- 
((ulred,  at  its  tlist  session,  to  petition ("oinrress  to  irrant  tothe  State  a  (|Uttutity  of  land 
of  not  more  than  four  and  not  less  than  one  section,  or  to  ftivo  to  the  State  the  rlKht 
of  pre-emption  in  the  purchase  of  thiit  quantity,  the  land  to  be  situated  on  the  Kaakng- 
kla  river,  and  as  near  as  niltrlit  be,  east  of  the  tliird  principal  meridian,  on  that  river. 
Slioijld  the  pelllioii  bo  K''atited,  the  ireiicrai  assembly,  at  their  next  session,  were  re- 
(liiired  to  appoint  live  commissioners  to  niiike  the  selection  of  the  land,  and  provide 
tor  layioff  out  a  town  upon  it ;  which  town,  it  wa.s  declared,  should  be  tho  seat  of  gov- 
ernnient  lor  tlic  term  of  -K)  years.  *  When  the  (luestion  was  before  the  conven- 
tion two  points  were  in  contemplation  by  the  members  and  outsiders;  one  was  Cur- 
lyl  ^.ius;  then  located  on  the  Kaskaskia  river  by  two  Virtflnin  ffentiemen,  and  an  elo- 
vated  site,  liiKher  up  the  river,  known  as 'Pope's  Illutf,' tho  property  of  Nathaniel 
Pope.  H«  and  his  friends  were  of  course  very  desirous  the  seat  of  government  should 
be  located  there,  while  the  i>roprietors  of  Carlylc  had  no  less  desire  that  le  latter 
place  should  bo  tho  favored  spot.  While  the  subject  was  under  discussion  in  doors 
and  out,  there  come  to  look  in  upon  that  body  a  noted  hunter  and  trapper,  one 
Iteeves  by  name,  who  had  his  cabin  still  higher  uj)  the  river,  an,l  near  where  the  third 
i)rincipal  meridancroi:sod  the  strenin.  He  spoke  in  irlowintr  terms  of  the  beauties  of 
Heeves'  Itliiir  ;  'that  Pope's  IJIufT  nor  Carlylc,  wasn't  a  priinin' to  his  blutr,'*:c.  Such 
was  the  force  of  his  roiiresentation,  that  the  lantrimpe  -on  the  Kaskaskia  river,  U8 
nearas  miprht  bo  east  of  tlio  third  principal  meridian,'  wasadoptcd  by  theconvei,tion; 
and  when  the  leixlslftture,  nt  the  session  of  1810,  appointed  the  commissioners  to  select 
the  Ir.ndtrranted  by  contrrcss,  they  fixed  upon  the  old  hiuiter's  home,  'Iteeves'  Hiutf.' 
It  proved  to  be  a  in  .st  lieautiful  spot,  a  heavily  wooded  tract,  covered  by  (riMrantIo 
trees  under  wlioses  ides  the  former  lords  of  the  soil  miurht  have  held  jrravo  council. 
A  town  was  laid  e-  ,?ith  a  handsome  public  square  and  broad  streets,  and  christenot' 
'Vrtiidalia,'  but  these  vandals  did  notsuffer  one  of  these  forest  kin^s  to  remain  on  the 
square,  but  cut  thoin  down  to  thesround,  leavinj?  not  one  to  sigh  in  the  suiumerwind 
or  bend  to  the  blast." 

(iov.  Ford,  pagfe  35  says: 

''After  tho  place  had  boon  selected.  It  became  a  matter  of  great  Interest  to 
p-ive  it  a  good  sounding:  name,  one  which  would  please  the  ear,  and  .it  tho  same 
time  ha\-c  the  cli'.ssic  merit  of  perpetuating  the  memory  of  the  ancient  rat?  of 
Indians  by  whom  tho  country  had  first  been  inhabited.  Tradition  says  that  a  waf? 
who  was  present,  sugeestcd  to  the  coramissioncrs  that  the  'Vandals' were  a  powerful  na- 
tion of  Indians  who  once  inhabited  the  banks  of  the  Kaskaskia  river,  and  that  'Van- 
diili:!.'  formed  from  their  name,  would  perpetuate  tho  iiieinory  of  that  extinct  but 
renowned  people.  The  suuifcstion  pleased  the  commissioners,  the  name  was  adopted, 
and  they  thus  proved  that  the  name  of  their  new  city  (If  they  wore  tit  reprciontativesor 
their  cfliistituents)  would  better  illustrate  the  character  of  the  modern  than  the  an- 
cient inliabltunts  of  the  country." 

•Judse  Caton's  address  at  the  Inylntrof  the  corner  stone  oi  ■',.;  npw  State  House, 
Oct.  5,  1808,  uslmr  .Judge  Hreose's  language,  Tlie  headauartersof  the  I'rench  military 
commandants  were  at  Fort  Chartres.  "the  centre  of  life  and  faehlon  In  the  West." 
Monette'8  Val.  of  the  Miss.    Vo'   1,  lM-3  Ibid. 


916 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


-^ 


1 


Tlic  location  was  in  the  midst  of  the  wilderness,  northeast  of 
the  settlements. 

"Lots  were  sold  at  public  auction  on  credit,  at  fabulous  prices,  few  of  which  were 
paid  for  In  full.  TlieentiTprisinKHndscheniiujf  came  to  it,  some  from  the  old  world,  and 
soon  the  nucleus  of  a  town  was  formed .  Measures  were  inaugurated  for  the  ere<'tion 
of  H  State  House  which  culminated  in  a  plain  two-story  frame  buiidinx,  of  rude  archi- 
tecture, set  upon  a  roujrh  stone  foundation  and  placed  in  the  centre  of  the  siiuure.the 
lower  floor  of  which  was  devoted  to  a  passajre  and  stair-way  to  tlie  upper  story,  and  a 
larne,  plain  room,  devoid  of  ornament,  (lor  the  accommodation  of  the  House;)  tuo  up- 
per lloor  was  divided  into  two  rooms,  the  larKcst  for  the  accommodation  of  the  Senate 
and  the  smaller  one  for  the  olliee  of  Secretary  of  State,  the  Auditor  and  Treasurer  oc- 
cuiwinir  detached  l)uildin(f8,  hired  for  that  purpose.  NocercBionies  wore  observed  In 
lay intr  the  corner-stone  of  this  unsightly  structure;  no  music  disturbed  the  solitude 
of  the  forest,  then  in  its  primeval  l)eauty;  no  crowd  in  paRcantry  lent  •xcitementto 
the  scene;  no  sound  'as  heard  save  the  rap  of  the  mason's  hanuncr  and  the  sharp 
click  of  the  trowel.'" 

Tlie  archives  of  State  Avere  removed  from  Kaskaskia  to  Vanda- 
lia  early  in  December,  ISL'O,  at  one  load  in  a  small  wagon.  Tliey 
■were  in  the  care  of  Sidney  Breese,  then  clerk  to  the  Secretary  of 
State,  Mr.  Kane,  ;';id  the  route  being-  quite  difficult,  the  driver 
and  he  had  to  cut  a  road  through  the  woods  at  several  points. 
The  Auditor,  Elijah  0.  Berry,  with  his  family,  occupied  the  new 
State  House  at  the  time,  but  soon  moved  out  ir.to  a  cabin.  The 
day  on  which  the  session  of  the  legislature  opened  in  Vandalia, 
■was  most  beautiful.  "The  sun  shone  in  cloudless  splendor  and  the 
temperature  of  the  air  was  .lutumnal ;  all  was  excitement  and  all 
seemed  pleased,"  This  structure  was  destroyed  by  fire  about  2 
o'clock  in  the  night  December  9,  1823.  So  rapidly  did  the  flauies 
spread  that  not  a  single  article  of  furniture  was  saved.  The  U. 
S.  Laud  lieceiver's  office  was  kei)t  in  one  of  its  rooms,  and  the 
books,  papers  and  every  article  pertaining  to  the  office  was  con- 
sumed. The  cause  of  the  fire  was  not  aseertained.  The  house 
had  been  occupied  the  day  preceding  for  the  sale  of  non-resident 
lands  for  State  taxes.  A  subscription  paper  was  immediately 
started  by  the  citizens  of  Vandalia  to  rebuild  it.  In  three  days 
$3,000  was  raised.  "  It  was  succeeded  by  a  commodious  brick 
building,  of  sufficient  dimensions,  built  in  part  at  the  expense  of 
the  citizens  of  Vandalia.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  without  any 
public  disjday;  it  still  stands,  renovated  and  embellished  by  the 
people  of  Fayette  county,  and  is  now  devoted  to  the  administra- 
tion of  justice  and  the  various  public  offices  of  the  county."* 

Eight  years  before  the  expiration  of  the  20  years'  term 
for  which  the  capital  was  to  remain  at  Vandalia,  the  question 
of  removal  was  already  agitated  in  the  legislature.  The  initiative 
came  from  Greene  county,  strongly  seconded  by  the  delegation  from 
Sangamon.  The  house  passed  a  bill  providing  for  the  appoint- 
ment of  commissioners  to  permanently  locate  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment; but  the  senate  amended  it  by  striking  out  all  after  the 
enacting  clause  aud  submitting  the  following  places  to  be  voted 
for  by  the  people  at  the  next  election  for  the  legislature:  The 
geographical  centre  of  the  State,  Jacksonville,  Springfield,  Alton, 
Vandalia,  and  Peoria,  the  point  or  place  receiving  the  highest 
number  of  votes  to  be  the  permanent  seat  of  government.  The 
Louse,  at  the  instance  of  Cyrus  Edwards,  sought  to  further  amend 
this  by  having  the  two  places  receiving  the  highest  number  of 
votes  voted  for  again  at  the  succeeding  general  election.    The 

•Caton'saddress—nreese's  words. 
*Caton  a  address— Ureeao's  words. 


OGLESBY'S  ADJnNISTllATION.  917 

senate  ainendineut,  after  some  reluctance  by  the  house,  was  finally 
a;,'ree(l  to.  As  the  time  for  taking  the  vote  approached,  the  places 
ambitious  for  this  high  and  honorable  distinction  in  the  State  be 
stirred  themselves  to  obtain  concert  of  action.  Spirited  addresses 
were  issued  to  the  people,  ably  setting  forth  the  many  excelleu- 
cies  and  great  advantages  of  the  respective  places  contending. 
The  election  took  i)lace  in  August,  18;U.  Altou  received  7,511 
votes;  Vandalia,  7,148;  Springfield,  7,044;  the  geographical  cen- 
tre (Illiopobs),  744;  Peoria,  480;  and  Jacksonville,  272. 

Alton  was  thus  designated  as  the  seat  of  government  after  the 
20  years  at  Vandalia  should  expire.  But  it  requires  something 
besides  votes  to  erect  capitol  buildings.  No  appropriation  was 
made  or  further  steps  taken  by  the  legislature  to  second  this  choice 
and  nothing  came  of  it.  Still  the  removal  question  would  not 
down ;  it  continued  to  be  canvassed  by  the  press  at  the  various 
IK)ints  whose  expectations  had  been  raised  by  the  election  and  in- 
fluenced the  local  elections  in  many  jiarts  to  no  inconsideral-ie  de- 
gree. Springfield,  particularly,  felt  greatly  encouraged  by  the 
vote  of  1834.  By  the  apportionment  of  1835  Sangamon  county 
was  accorded  2  senators  and  7  representatives  in  the  legislature. 
Tliat  county,  in  the  incredibly  short  space  of  15  years,  had  become 
the  most  populous  in  the  State.  The  tide  of  emigration  had  begun 
to  set  into  the  north  part  of  the  State  with  a  steadily  augmenting 
current,  and  it  became  apparent  that  the  seat  of  government  could 
not  be  long  retained  at  Vandalia,  so  far  from  the  ceiitre  of  popu- 
lation. It  was  a  period  before  we  had  raihoads,  and  travel  to  and 
from  the  capital,  conducted  in  the  same  primitive  manner  it  had 
been  all  over  the  world  since  its  earliest  dawu,  made  distance  no 
inconsiderable  object. 

In  the  summer  of  1836,  the  great  fever  of  laud  and  town  lot 
speculation  of  that  period  spread  from  Chicago,  like  an  epidemic, 
all  over  the  State,  and  the  legislature  at  the  session  of  183(5-7 
fully  embarked  in  the  disastrous  policy  of  the  State  internal  im- 
provement system.  And  now  the  oi^portunity  for  the  actual  re- 
moval of  the  capital  had  come.  In  the  general  .vage  for  de\'elop- 
ing  the  infant  resources  of  the  State,  the  delegations  from  almost 
every  county  bad  improvement  axes  to  grind,  and  to  attain  their 
objects  hesitated  not  to  lend  their  aid  in  grinding  those  of  all  the 
rest.  What  we  call  in  modern  parlance  "  rings,"  were  thus 
readilj'  formed,  and  every  bill  of  importance  was  i)assed  without 
inquiry,  until  everybody  was  satisfied,  including  that  for  the  re- 
moval of  the  seat  of  government.  The  Sangamon  delegation  of  9, 
known  as  "  the  long  nine,"  because  they  aver-'ged  G  feet  in  hight, 
some  more  and  some  less — there  being  pi  - „..,  jly  54  feet  in  the 
stature  of  them — were  able,  persistent  and  dextrous  ma'iipulators, 
actiiig  u))o»i  all  questions  as  a  unit,  and  exercising  thus  a  most 
potent  influence.  They  gave  it  doubtless,  a  long  pull,  a  strong 
pull,  and  a  pull  altogether.  They  were:  Senators — A.  G,  Hern- 
don  and  Job  Fletcher;  Kepresentatives — Abrahj^m  Lincoln, 
Ninian  W.  Edwards,  Dan  Stone,  John  Dawson,  W.  F.  Elkiu,  An- 
drew McCornii(!k  and  Itobert  L.  Wilson. 

Tlie  act  required  that  the  two  houses  meet  in  Kepresentatives 
Hall  on  fhe  28th  of  February,  1837,  at  10  o'clock,  A.  M.,  and  pro- 
ci'e<l  to  select  a  suit.able  point  or  place  for  the  i)ermanent  location 
of  the  seat  of  government,  after  the  expirati(m  of  the  constiti:- 


^^^  mSTOr.Y   OF  ILLINOIS. 


— Tt 


tioiiiil  term  at  Vtiiidiilia.     Tlio  doL'tioii  was  to  be  coiuliieto*!  iiiiich 
nl'tcr  tlu'  maiiiicr  of  clioosiny  a  I,'''.  S.  Senator.     ])iiriiiji'  the  liallol- 
iii,ns,  lil)  places  were  voted  foi',  of  wliieli    \v(!  will  only  give  tlie  (> 
bi<;liest.     Spvinglield  .started  with  o5,  and  on  the  -Ith 'received  73, 
a  inajoiity;    Vandalia    .started    with,    and  eontinued    to    receivt- 
tlir()u<;lioiU  the  1  ballotin<;s,  lO  votes;  Alton  started  with  lo  and 
ran  down  to  (5;  the  hij;hest  Jacksonville  received  was  lo,  and  tiic 
lowest  10;  Peoria  came  in  on  the  2d  ballot  with  S,  increased  to  11, 
but  oil  the  4th  was  down  to  S;   Illiopolis  started  with  .'},  inereaNcd 
to  10  and  fell  bacdc  to  3.     Xo  other  place  received  a  higher  niiii:- 
ber  than  4  votes.     $50,000  was   ai)i)ropriated  for  the  purpose  of 
erectin*;-  ii  state  honse,  bnt  the  act  was  to  l)e  null  and  void  aniens 
850,000  nion;  was  donated  by  individnals  recined  by  their  Ixind.jiiiy- 
ableto  tlie  treasurer  by  the  1st  of  May  Ibllowiny,  to  be  ai)pro\\''d 
by  the  governor,  and  to  become  due  as  he  should  diiect;  and  al.so, 
unless  not  less  than  li  acres  of  grotnid,  u])on  wliicli  to  erect  the 
State  House,  be  donated   and    conveyed  without  expense   to  the 
State.     The    donation  of  $50,0(H»  was  to   be  e.\(-lusively  iipidieii 
toward  the  erection  of  the  building.     The  act  of  February  5,  iS'So, 
Avas  repealed.     By  a  supplemental  act    of  March   3d,  18.37    the 
county   commissioners  of  Sangamon  county  were   authori/.e'd  to 
convey  to  the  State,  for  the  use  of  tlie  peoi>le,  the  i)ublic  s(]uare  at 
Si)ringlield.    Archibald  Job  of  Morgan,  and  A.  G.  Henry  and 
T!!<,>!nas  Houghton,  of  Sangamon,  were  appointed  commissioneis 
to   superintend   the  erection  of  the  State  House  at  Si)riii.ufield. 
They  gave  bonds  in  $10,000,  and  received  a  per  diem  compensa- 
tion of  $3  each.     The  legislature  lirst  met  at  Springfield  (in  cv- 
traordinary  .session),   December  9,  1839;  but  as   the  new  cai)it(:l 
■was  not  then  completed,  the  house  was  acconunodated  in  the  Lid 
rresbyteriau  church,  the  senate  in  the  1st  Methodist  (an  old  frame 
structure)  and  the  supreme  court  in  tin?  Episcopal.* 

As  early  as  during  the  war  of  1812,  tlu>.  troops  and  rangers,  in 
their  various  exi)editions  against  the  liostile  Indians  on  the  I'eoiia 
Lake,  noted  the  country  of  the  Sangamon  as  one  of  surpassing 
attraction.  The  Indians  well  ai)preciated  this  fertile  region,  for 
in  the  Potiiwatamie  tongue  the  word  Sangamo  meant  "  the  coun- 
try where  there  is  plenty  to  eat,"  in  our  phrase  "the  land  flowing 
"With  milk  and  honey."  It  was  not,  liowever,  until  some  years 
after  the  close  of  that  war  that  the  hardy  pioneer  jjressed  into  it. 
Then,  with  little  delay,  along  the  borders  of  the  timber,  the  log 
cabin  of  the  adventurous  settler  began  to  rear  its  humble  walls, 
and  the  smoke  from  its  ample  chimney  went  curling  heavenward. 
The  "  St.  Gamo  Kedentr^-,"  as  it  was  pronounced  in  the  vernacu- 
lar, so;;n  became  famous,  and  emigration  set  freely  in  that  direc- 
tion. In  the  autumn  of  1810,  a  weary  emigrant  family,  originally 
from  North  Carolina,  with  its  teams,  encamped  on  the  right  bank 
of  Spring  Creek,  in  the  west  part  of  the  present  city  of  Spring- 
field. Tliis  was  the  end  of  their  journey.  Soon  the  camp  lires 
were  lighted,  and  parents  and  chiklren  gathered  ab(  utthe  homely 


J  *  Sprtniffleki  ulterwnrdfl  paid  off  onc-tliird  of  her  SSO.OOOlwniiswiththoevidcuccsof 

«  State  liidehtednuss,  whielinttcrtlio  failure  of  the  interniil  improvement  system,  iit  m  o 

4  time,  lis  we  Imve  seen,  tonehed  14  <;onts  on  the  dolliir  In  market      Hut  this  trnnsaeiion, 

j  ■whleli  hiis  been  occasloniilly  animadverted,  wns  pcrfeetly  le^ritimate.    The  lust  Insial!- 

.  nient  of  SSUl.tWO  O"  whs  obtained  from  the  Htiite  hunk  on  one  year's  time,  at  tl  per  cent  , 

101  of  the  best  eltl/.en8  execiitiiKr  their  proinlssoVy  note  to  the   bank  :  and  if  was  this 

'd  note  that  was Hflerwards  paid  off  with  Internal  improveniont  scrip,  whleh  the  Slaio 

J,i  has  ultimately  redeemed  dollar  for  dollar. 


OGLESBTS'  ADINISTRATION. 


919 


sni>p('v-lK)ar(l  for  the  first  time  on  the  spot  of  tlicir  home  in  tlio 
wikierness.  lu  the  inoriiinj;' tlic  eclioiiiji'  riiiji'  of  the  ax  iesomi(U'd 
ill  tlie  adjacent  forest,  and  in  a  few  (hiys  a  rongh  cabin  home  slid- 
tered  John  Kelly  and  family,  the  lirst  wiiite  settlers  of  tlu^  site 
since  become  the  ca[)ital  of  this  great  State.  The  county  of  San- 
j;amon  was  orj^anizcd  in  1S21.  On  the  lOth  of  April,  ihe  same 
year,  tlie  temi)orary  county  scat  was  fixed  at  Kelly's,  the  stake  for 
a  court  house  being  set  at  the  northwest  corner  of  tlie  present  L'd 
and  .Icfferson  streets,  and  in  honor  Spring  Creek  and  Kelly's  field, 
was  chiistened  Springfield.  On  May  1st,  a  term  of  court  was 
held  at  Kelly's  (labin.  In  182.]  the  public  lands  having  been  pre- 
viously surveyed,  were  offered  for  sale  by  government.  A  town 
had  been  laid  off  and  i)lotted  under  the  name  of  Calhoun,  but  as 
setth^rs  came  iii,  the  name  of  Caliioun  was  gradually  droi)[)ed  and 
that  of  Si»ringfield  revived.  In  the  name  of  Si)ringlieid  for  tho 
capital  of  this  State,  there  is  nothing  suggestive  of  meaning  orof 
origin  —nothing  to  peritetuate  any  aboriginal  race,  dee<l,  or  histori- 
cal name.  Besides  it  is  so  common  that  in  using  it  the  name  of 
the  State  has  ever  to  be  added  to  give  it  deliniteness.  When  you 
speak  of  Kaskaskia.Vandalia,  I'eoria,  LaSalle,  Chicago,  or  Illiopo- 
lis — the  last  best  of  all — your  reference  is  clear,  without  adding 
Illinois.  Not  so  when  you  mention  Springfield,  for  there  are 
places  of  that  name  in  many  States.* 

Springfield,  at  the  time  of  the  location  of  the  seat  of  govei'u- 
menr,  contained  some  1, KM)  inhabitants.  The  corner  stone  of  the 
Capitol  was  laid  July -1th,  18.'?7.  The  brilliant  orator,  E.  J).  I'.aker, 
then  a  resident  of  the  phuic,  ])ronounced  a  beautiful  ami  thrilling 
a<ldress  on  the  occasion.  The  estinmted  cost  of  the  structure  was 
$1.>(»,0()(),  but  this,  as  usual,  in  such  cases,  proved  too  low  by 
nearly  l(tO  i>ercent. 

When  the  Capitol  was  first  reared  it  was  the  wonder  of  the 
conntry  round.  It  was  admired  by  the  people  as  a  nuxlel  of  arch- 
itectural beauty,  and  supi)osed  to  be  ample  enough  to  answer 
the  purposes  of  the  State  for  all  time,  lint  such  has  been  tho 
march  of  Illinois  to  emjure  that  in  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury the  pnblie  dennind  became  rife  for  a  new  structure  commen- 
surate with  our  growth,  our  pride  and  pretensions.  Our  pojjula- 
tion  in  that  time  has  been  more  than  quadrupled,  being,  in  18-10, 
470,18;?,  and  in  18(1"),  2,141,ol(».  If,  under  the  restrictions  of  the 
constitutions  of  3848  in  the  number  of  our  legislators,  we  did  not 
actually  lack  for  room  to  ae(!onnnodate  the  two  houses,  our  pride 
as  a  State  was  touched  whenevev  we  cast  a  glance   at  tho  squat 

*  The  present  capital  gave  early  promise  of  rare  capacity  for  letrislatire  flneaso. 
The  county  scat  of  Sangamon  was  periiiaiieiit;y  locatcii  at  Sprliiirfleld  in  ISS.  Prior 
to  tliut  an  election  tor  tl'e  U'Rislature  turned  upon  the  question  of  location.  One  of 
the  ciiniliilatcs,  W.  S.  Huniilton,  favored  Sanganio  Town,  a  beautiful  elevated  bluff  oa 
tlio  river,  7  miles  northwest  from  the  city,  a  most  ehnrmtng  town  site.  Jonathan  H. 
Pu«li  was  the  Sprintrflold  candiUatn.  Hamilton,  son  of  tho  (jreat  Alexander  Hamilton 
of  iU'voliitionary  fame,  was  elected,  and  the  aspirations  of  Sprinitlleld  seeuicd  crushed. 
Hut  uuwillinK  to  yield,  she  raised  a  fund  and  sent  her  defeated  candidate,  a  man  of 
lonsidcrahle  ability,  to  Vaiidalia  as  u  lobby  member.  His  tact  and  skill  in  ihe  manage- 
nicnt  of  honorable  members  made  him  more  than  a  nu  teh  for  his  competitor  on  the 
floor.  Hamilton  tailed  of  having  an  act  iiussed,  tlxluif  \he  county  seat  at  Sanjranio 
Town;  Puxh  did  succeeii  in  having  special  commissioneis  iippointcd  to  make  the  loca- 
tion. Tliesc  came  to  Sprinirfleld  to  examine  the  sites.  Conveyance  was  prepared  to 
take  them  over  to  Sanjramo  Town.  On  the  way  they  pasfiCd  over  so  much  low  and  wot 
Kround,  and  through  so  many  s1ouh:1is  ami  mu<l  holes,  particul.irly  iis  they  approached 
tho  pr.>pased  site,  that  their  minds  were  made  up.  fliey  decided  in  disiust  that  it 
would  never  do  to  llx  a  ounty  seat  at  a  point  so  surrounded  b.\  swamps.  Whether  the 
route  W;i3  chosen  by  accident  or  dosijfn  does  not  appour,  but  it  has  been  sli  rewdly  sus- 
pected that  so  mucti  iroo<l  luck  for  Sprin;(tleld  witanot  wholly  accidental.- Taken  from 
a  volume  of  the  Sprluglleld  City  Ordinances. 


920  IIISTOUY   OF   ILLINOIS. 

and  uiisliiipely  pile  ivpicstMitiii};  the  Capitol  of  the  fourth  State 
of  the  Union.  Tublic  I'diliecs  in  uU  a;;es  and  countries  have  beeu 
t.vpes,  or  nuirked  the  {greatness  and  dignity  of  tlie  rulers  or  peo- 
ple wlio  have  reared  them.  This  seems  to  be  a  law  of  man's  civi- 
li^^ation. 

In  1.SG5  Senator  Lindsey  introduced  a  bill  into  the  lejiislature  to 
remove  the  scat  of  government  tolVoria.  Tliiswas  thefirst  renewal 
of  the  af>itation.  (Jhicaj^o,  Jaciisonville  an<l  Decatur,  (tlie  latt<!r 
probably  dreaminj^'  of  benelits  because  one  of  her  buryhers 
occupied  the  gubernatorial  chair),  were  also  elaun)r()us  for  the 
eai)itol.  Tlie  C-'hicago  Tribune,  in  an  elaborate  leader,  favored 
removal,  and  so  did  luany  otlier  papers.  Spriugiiehl  was  much, 
faulted  for  its  inferior  hotel  accommodatious  and  their  exorbi- 
tant (iharges.  The  senate  special  eominittee,  to  whicli  the  ques- 
tion had  been  referred,  rei»orted  in  favor  of  lemoval  to  I'eoiia, 
and  no  little  alarm  was  experienced  in  Spriugtield.  Later  the 
Chicago  bill  was  laid  upon  the  table  in  tiie  liouse  by(Jl  to  10,  and 
the  star  of  capital  removal,  erst  so  refulgent,  waxed  dim,  and 
gradually  dipped  its  bright  disk  below  the  horizon.  But  it  was 
apparent  that  the  (piestiou  must  be  agaiu  confronted  with  the 
dawn  of  another  legislature.  The  building  of  a  new  State  House 
could  not  be  much  longer  delayed. 

Intimations  from  various  parts  of  the  State  began  to  be  early 
thrown  out  that  powerful  influences  would  be  brought  to  bear  in 
favor  of  removal  at  the  next  session  of  the  legislature.  To  the 
various  objections  brought  against  Springfield  as  the  capital, 
that  city,  keenly  appreciating  tlie  conseciuences  which  might  en- 
sue to  her  prosperity,  did  away  with  the  chief  one,  the  want  of 
hotel  accommodations, by  building  the  Leland,  than  which,  except 
perhaps  in  size,  there  is  not  a  more  elegant  and  commodious  hotel 
in  all  its  appointments,  in  all  tlie  State.  She  further  rc^olvisd  to 
take  the  threatening  question  by  the  forelock,  and  in  Is'ovember, 
186(i  one  of  her  most  capable  public  spirited  eitit^ens,  the  Hon. 
J.  C.  Conkling,  was  elected  to  the  lowe  house  of  the  legislature. 
All  the  tact  and  address  of  her  iironiiiient  citizens  were  besides 
brought  into  re(piisition.  The  county  board  agreed  to  take  the 
old  State  House  and  s(piare  for  a  court  liouse  at  $200,000;  the 
city  council  offered  to  furnish  the  Mather  lot,  some  six  or  eight 
acres,  which  cost  $02,000,  and  cause  it  to  be  conveyed  free  to  the 
State  as  a  site  for  the  new  c.ipitol — which  was  tc  be  so  elegant 
and  ornate  iu  architecture,  so  grand  and  ample  in  its  iiroportions, 
as  to  control  by  its  cost  and  magnificence  the  seat  of  government 
question  for  along  time.  Upon  the  assembling  of  the  legislature, 
the  honorable  members  became  the  objects  of  much  polite  atten- 
tion. The  ladies,  with  all  the  agreeable  arts  of  the  sex,  lent  the 
charm  of  their  presence  in  attendance  upon  the  sittings  of  the 
tMO  houses.  Invitations  to  pleasant  social  gatherings,  to  parties 
and  receptions  at  elegant  private  mansions,  were  frequent.  The 
Leland,  just  finished  with  the  commencement  of  the  session,  was 
oiiened  with  a  grand  ball  and  supper,  to  which  the  members  and 
high  dignitaries  from  various  parts  of  the  State  present  in  the 
city,  with  their  ladies,  received  free  tickets  of  invitation.  And 
now,  with  the  .assembly  iu  a  projier  frame  of  mind,  the  bill  pro- 
viding for  the  erection  of  a  new  State  House  at  Springfield,  wivs 


ocilesby's  administration.  921 

introdiu'cd.  It  appiopriatcil  $150,000,  as  a  commencement,  $200,- 
000  of  wliidi  were  to  he  tlie  proceeds  of  tliesalo  of  the  old  State 
House  to  the  (!oant.v  of  San<;amon,  its  use  being  reserved  until 
the  new  one  should  be  completed.* 

Tiie  bill  was  not  free  fron>  opposition  in  the  legislature; 
but  from  many  other  local  measures  pending,  such  was  the  high 
expectation  of  beuelits  in  various  i)arts  of  the  State,  that,  while 
each  section  looked  to  its  own  interest,  little  was  done  towaixl 
forming  combinations  for  the  defeat  of  this.  One  of  the  very  ear- 
liest to  be  introduced  was  the  location  of  the  Industrial  Univer- 
sity. It  was  the  general  understanding  of  the  people  that  the 
legislature  at  that  session  would  take  steps  to  secure  the  congres- 
sional grant  for  that  school.  A  number  of  places  were  bidding 
high  for  its  location.  Jacksonville,  Pekin,  Lincoln,  Bloomington  ; 
and  Chicago  wanted  to  divule  the  fund  ;  but  in  tlie  eastern  por- 
tion of  the  State  the  Champaign  interest  was  .'ill-absorbing  and 
dominated  everything  else.  The  south  was  moving  for  the  South- 
ern peiutcntiary,  while  Chicago  was  engrossed  with  her  park  bills 
and  the  canal  extension  and  eidargcnient,  in  which  Peoria  and 
the  Itock  River  country  were  also  deeply  interested.  The  imme- 
diate oi)positiou  to  the  State  House  bill  was  therefore  in  the  main 
narrowed  down  to  the  eiibrts  of  Decatur,  which  presented  the 
very  munificeht  offer  for  its  location  of  a  line  10-acre  lot  of 
ground,  and  $l,000,000in  uionejfrom  Macon  county,  whose  entire 
taxable  Avealth  on  realty  amounted  to  oidy  $2,422,000.  The  proposi- 
tion was  said  to  be  backed  by  the  Illinois  Central  It.E.  Much  indig- 
nation was  vented  upon  this  effort  to  huckster  or  hawk  the  loca- 
tion of  the  seat  of  government.  Thenames  of  seven  commissioners  to 
superintend  the  erection  of  the  building  and  disburse  the  funds 
appropriated,  were  also  so  judiciously  chosen  and  distributed  as 
to  impart  to  the  measure  much  strength.f  Besides,  it  was  urged 
that  the  present  cajjital  had  become  historic  ground  ;  that  it  was 
illustrated  by  the  life  and  residence  of  the  best,  the  purest,  and 
the  noblest  of  American  statesmen,  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  sacti- 
fied  by  his  gra\'e.| 

The  bill  became  a  law  February  25,  1867.  This  was  the  senate 
bill  of  Mr.  Cohr's;  it  limited  the  total  cost  of  the  new  capitol 
to  $;},000,000. 

The  commissioners,  in  March,  advertised  for  plans  and  specifi- 
cations to  be  submitted  by  July  15,  offering  $3,000  for  the  success- 
ful design.  But,  while  the  act  for  the  new  State  House  met  gen- 
erally with  approval,  some  leading  Chicago  newspapers,*  chagrined 
l)robably  over  the  canal  legislation,  continued  their  assaidtsupou 
the  measure,  bitterly  charging  it  to  be  a  fraud  and  swindle  upon 
the  j)e')ple.  The  aspiring  city  of  Decatur,  too,  illy  brooked  her 
disapi)ointment  in  not  becoming  the  Cajntal.  And  now,  May  13, 
18(57,  at  her  instigation  and  cost,  a  writ  of  quo  warranto — an  in- 
quiry into  the  right  or  power  to  act — was  granted  against  Philip 
"NVadsworth  and  the  other  ctmmissioners,  impleaded  by  Judge  Wil- 
son of  the  Su]»erior  Court  of  Chicago,  and  judgment  of  ouster  en- 
tered.    The.  legal  objection  urged,  was   tluit  the  commissioners 

•For  «  oopy  of  Vorls'  hunarous  bill  to  dislociito  the  Capitol,  sec  tho  III.  State 
K  irlstiM,  Ki'b  3S,  1*17.  It  prnvi'lodfor  apcrlKTiiiatrii);  It'Klslutiin;  by  railroad,  to  stop  at 
every  jilnce  where  a  notice  appeared  that  legislation  was  wanted. 

+See  nailey's  speech. 

$Hiirlbut'8  speech. 

ITlmcs  and  Tribune. 


1)22  ni£«TORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

Averc  ([U'lccrs,  whose  iipitoiiitmcnt  iui(U'r  tlu!  constitution  .slioiild 
Lave  been  made  by  tlie  jioveiiior  and  conlirined  by  the  senate, 
and  wlio  eouhl  not  be  desij^nated  in  tlie  bill  as  had  been  dune. 
On  iippeal  to  the  Siipieiiie  C'onrt,  that  body,  at  the  Sei)tendter 
term  Ibllowinji',  reversed  the  decision  of  Judjie  Wilson,  liohlinj? 
that  the  Commissioners  were  not  officers,  and  therefore  rightfully 
entitled  to  carry  out  the  law. 

From  the  f;reat  number  of  desij>iis  submitted  by  ardiitects  from 
various  parts  of  the  Union,  that  of  J.  (J.  Coehraiu',  of  Chicaj^o, 
was  chosen  and  adoi)ted.  Its  style  does  not  exclusively  follow  any 
one  of  the  ancient  or  classic  orders  of  architecture,  but  harnu)- 
niously  blends  these  with  modern  art,  imparting  nnissiveness, 
Btrength  and  durability,  while  preserving  external  grace  and  airy- 
ness.  The  ground  plan  is  in  the  form  of  a  great  cross  or  4  wings, 
whose  grand  outlines  are  o'A)  feet  north  and  south  by  200  east  and 
west,  exclusive  of  the  porticos.  The  basement  story,  excavated 
to  the  depth  of  10  feet,  will  contain  the  boilers  for  the  heating 
apparatus  ami  the  elevators,  storage  room  lor  fuel,  ami  other 
weighty  articles.  Next  above  is  the  lirst  story,  ID  feet  high,  on 
which  are  located  the  adjutant-general's  oftice  and  museum,  the 
geological  museum  of  specimens,  and  artists'  rooms,  &c.  The  lloor 
is  to  be  laid  in  mosaic  marble,  imbedded  in  cement,  the  w  hole  sup- 
jjorted  by  brick  arches.  That  part  of  the  coiling  constituting  the 
lloor  of  the  rotunda,  is  to  be  of  glass.  Next  above  is  tlie  princi- 
pal story,  22  feet  in  hight.  The  grand  corridors,  running  the 
Avhole  length  and  breadth  of  th'  building,  crossing  inich  other  at 
riglit  angles  on  the  glass  lloor  of  the  rotunda,  will  be  beautifully 
Jinished  with  variegated  marble  pilasters  jH-ojecting  froui  the  walls, 
forming  panels,  and  opening  from  them  on  this  floor  are  located 
all  the  rooms  of  the  different  State  departments,  including  the  Su- 
1)1  'ine  Court-room  aiul  Clerk's  office,  and  the  state  geologist's 
ot  ice.  With  the  Treasurer's  oflice  are  connected  4  massive  stone 
Are  proof  vaults.  The  floors  are  supported  by  wrought  iron  beams 
imported  from  Belgium.  The  next,  or  2d  principal  story,  is  45 
feet  in  altitude.  Here  is  the  great  hall  of  the  liouse  of  repre- 
sentatives, in  the  southern  arm  of  the  cross,  GO  by  100  feet,  and 
the  senate  chamber,  02  by  75,  in  the  northern  wing.  Here  too,  ou 
the  main  floor,  are  rooms  for  the  speaker,  clerks,  sergeants  at- 
arms,  post-oflice,  State  library,  &c.,  &c.  Ou  three  sides  of  each 
of  the  grand  legislative  halls,  half  way  up,  are  to  be  magnificent 
galleries,  from  which  wi)l  extend  back  floors,  divided  up  into  com- 
mittee rooms.  The  means  of  communication  between  the  difler- 
ent  stories  are  by  grand  marble  stairways  and  two  stoair  eleva- 
tors. The  roofs  over  each  wing  are  to  be  of  the  mansard  style, 
slated  on  the  sides  and  covered  with  copper.  Through  the  centre 
of  these  will  rise  the  stately  dome  320  feet  from  the  ground,  sur- 
mounted by  a  lantern  10  by  25  feet,  crowned  with  ball  and  pinna- 
cle. An  iron  stairway  will  ascend  inside  the  dome  to  the  floor  of 
the  lantern.  The  rotunda  is  to  be  70  feet  in  diameter,  and  from 
its  glass  floor  to  the  fresco  painting  ou  its  ceiling,  will  i)resent  a 
clear,  dizzy  view  of  217  feet.  The  north,  south,  and  east  wings 
are  to  have  jwrticos  of  ten  stone  columns,  each  45  feet  in  eleva- 
tion. The  oast  wing  is  to  be  the  lu'incipal  front,  and  hero,  from 
each  corner  of  the  portico,  90  feet  wide,  will  rise  a  turret  132  feet 
in  altitude.    The  north  portico  Avill  be  surmounted  by  a  statute  of 


oglesdy's  administration. 


923 


Liiu;()ln,  iuultliat  on  the  south  by  one  of  Doughis.  Tlie  outside 
\v;ills  of  tlio  .structure  are  of  eut  .stone,  tiikinj;'  7r»0,0()0  eiibie  feet, 
and  tlicir  linings,  toj^etlier  witli  the  partitions,  will  take  20  millions 
of  l>iicl<;  l.L'Odtons  of  wrought  iion  iind  1,800  tons  of  east  iron 
will  be  eonsuined  in  its  building.  ISueh  is  but  an  iniperfeet  out- 
line of  the,  new  eapitol,  whieh,  in  its  niassiveiK'.s.s,  durability,  sym- 
metry, beauty  and  grandeur,  will  .symbolize  the  extent,  the  le- 
soiirei's,  the  power  and  pride  of  our  y*)uug  giant  State. 

Owing  to  the  litigation,  the  year  bS(>7  was  little  fruitful  of  re- 
sults in  building.  The  next,  yuar  the  foundation,  8  feet  thick,  was 
Avcll  brought  under  Avay,  and  the  corner  stone  laid,  Octol)er  r»lh. 
In  1801)  the  legislature  approi)riated  8()50,000,  to  be  expended  oidv 
after  a.scertaiuing  that  the  work  could  be  brought  within  the  origi- 
n;d  nnixinnuu  liuutation  of  $3,000,000,  and  reduced  the  nund>er  of 
comnd.s.sioners  from  7  to  3.  The  stone  work  was  to  be  piocured 
from  the  penitentiary  at  Joliet.  The  eonstitutiomd  eonveiiiioii, 
inllnenced  by  the  constant  cry  of  a  i)ortion  of  our  Slate  press, 
forbade  the  legislature  expending  more  than  $3,500,000  on  the 
grounds,  construction  and  furni.shiug  of  the  new  Sratehou.se,  wilh- 
out  lirst  submitting  the  (piestiou  to  the  voters  of  the  State. 

Jn  1871  a  further  ai»propriation  of  $000,000  was  a.sked.  Bills 
for  this  i)ur[)o.se  were  early  introduced,  and  that  in  the  senate 
reiidiiy  pas.sed.  Vint  in  the  hou.se  opposition  was  developed.  The 
canal  and  Illinois  river  improvement  i)roject  was  again  ou  foot. 
The  Chiciigo  press,  perhai)s  with  a  view  to  making  it  a  lever  for 
the  liver  imi)rovemeut  measure,  attacked  the  State  house  appro- 
priation bill  with  exceeding  virulence.  Startling  developments 
bi  regai'd  to  the  building  contracts,  the  character  of  the  work,  &c., 
♦  "Were  threatened.  The  removal  of  the  capital  was  advocated. 
P(  iiiiii  cAUuv  forward  with  a  [iroposition  to  leimburse  the  State  to 
tlie  lull  amount  ($800,303  08)  already  expended  on  the  new  struc- 
ture, donate  a  beautiful  ten  acre  lot  as  a  site,  and  furnish  free  of 
rem,  for  o  years,  accommodations  for  the  meetings  of  the  general 
assinibiy,  in  consideration  of  the  location  of  the  capital  there. 
An  otfei' .so  munificent  was  well  calculated  to  arrest  attention. 
This,  with  her  other  iinlebtedne.ss,  would  have  placed  Peoria 
under  obligations  to  about  li  df  of  all  her  taxable  wealth.  To 
avoid  the  eonstitutiomd  objeetiui  which  forbids  the  creation  of  a 
del>t  exceeding  o  i)er  cent,  on  assessed  values,  her  ])rivate  citizens 
of  un<loubted  character  and  ample  means  tendered  their  bond  for 
the  amount.  The  capital  remo\al  (piestiou  now  ran  up  to  fever 
heat  all  over  the  State.  A  larga  committee  from  Peoria,  duly  em- 
powered, visited  Springfield,  and  for  a  time  creature  condbrt.s 
lacked  in  neithe.'  style  nor  abundance.  The  two  houses  accepted 
an  invitatio''  of  a  free  excursion  to  Peoria.  The  occasion  proved 
one  of  unusual  enjoyment  to  the  meud)ers,  who  were  treated  with 
distinguished  consideration.  Upon  arrival  there  carriages  were 
IJrovided  and  the  visitors  taken  to  view  the  site  for  the  capitol  ou 
the  bluff,  than  which  there  is  not  a  nuu-e  charming  and  comnnuid- 
ing  spot  in  all  the  State.  A  steand>oat  trip  past  the  city  and  a 
few  nnles  up  the  lovely  lake  was  next  in  order,  followed  by  a  ban- 
quet at  the  hotel,  and  a  grand  ball  at  night.  On  their  return  the 
nieinl)ers  were  accompanied  by  a  large  lobby  force. 

These  movements  were  of  a  character  and  nnignitude  to  fairly 
alarm  the  ciipital  city.  Its  council  hastened  to  pa.ss  an  ordinance, 
tendering  a  guaranty  of  additional  giouud  for  the  capitol.    The 


924  mSTOUY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

{;}ill«'rv  of  tlic  house  iiiid  tlic,  lobby  wen;  (liiil.y  tliroufji-d  by  licr 
;iiixiouH  cifizciiH,  dccjily  intent  on  its  procj-cdin^is.  To  remove  tlio 
Ciipital  it  wiis  iieeessiuy  lirst  to  defeat  the  a]»propiiation  bill.  'I'iiis 
Mas  the  test.  Tlie  house  was  a  hiiffc,  unwiehly  body  of  177  mem- 
bers, aud  its  rules  were  sueh  that  by  dilatory  motions — jiarlianuiU' 
tary  "  filiibustcuinfi" — tinuMjouid  easily  b(M;onsunied  so  as  on  no 
day  to  r(!a<'h  the,  order  of  business  in  which  the  bill  stood  on  tiio 
calendar.  AH  manner  of  parliamentary  tactics  were  practiced  to 
kill  time  aud  tin^  out  the  house.  (Quantities  of  weary  memorials 
on  tlu',  (japital  (juestiou  found  their  way  in  and  wc^re  dilif;cntly  in- 
sisted upon  to  be  read  at  leupth,  and  when  this  was  refused 
S])e<'clies  were  nuule  on  the  ri^ht  of  pi-tition.  Thus  the  time  of 
iidjoiirnmont  for  the  recess,  April  17th,  was  reaclu^l  without  acti(m 
on  the  bill,  notwithstaiidin;^  a  majority  of  the  house  were  for  it. 

The  feeliufj  of  depression  at  Si)rin;;lield  was  very  f^reat.  (Jov. 
Palnu'r  next  eonviuied  tlni  lej^islature  on  tlu;  tilth  of  May,  aud  re- 
quiied,  ainoufj  many  other  important  measures  omitted,  action  oti 
the  State  house  appropriation.  Jiills  for  this  purpose  were  aj^ain 
introduced  and  juessed  duly  forward  under  the  rules.  The  i)re- 
vioiis  sceiu'S  were  re-enacted  by  the  opposition  ;  but  the  calendar 
Avas  not  so  full.  And  now  the  move;  was  to  tack  on  a  submission 
clause.  The  Peoria  lobby,  reinforced  from  other  jiarts  of  the  State, 
was  a^ain  on  hand.  Day  by  day  the  beauty  aud  fashion  ot 
Sl»rin<(tield  thronged  the  {galleries  of  the  house  like  a  brifjht  {ial- 
axy,  as  they  were,  and  patiently  set  out  the  weary  hours  with  the 
punctuality  of  mend)eis,  eafjerly  and  anxiously  watching  thedili- 
tory  movements  below.  Gradually  but  slowly  the  measure  was 
pressed  along  in  its  order  Finally,  wlu'u  every  parlianu^ntary  re- 
sistance; was  under  the  rules  exhausted,  a  vote  was  reached  at  10' 
o'(!lo(;k  at  night,  June  7th,  and  the  bill  passed  by  100  yeas  to  7-]: 
iKiys.  I'eoria's  apple  of  hojte  was  turned  to  ashes.  The  senate 
the  next  day  substituted  the  housebill  ami  passed  it.  It  provided 
for  a  bond  of  the  citizens  in  the  penal  sum  of  $500,000,  condi- 
tioned that  the  oblig(U's  procure  siu;h  additional  ground  as  the 
State  might  re(piire,  not  exceeding  4  acres,  to  beden)anded  within 
two  years  after  the  building  is  ready  for  use.  Thus  ended  the 
last  eftort  to  remove  the  capital.  The  agitation  of  the  question 
had  a  most  depressing  elfect  upon  the  building  business  and  the 
price  of  real  estate  at  Springfield  for  a  full  year  or  more. 

The  Penitentiary — A  Resume  of  its  History. — In  June  1807,  Gov- 
ernor Oglesby  convened  the  Legislature  in  extraordinary  session, 
inviting  action  upon  ten  subjects,  chief  of  which  was  to  juovide 
for  the  taxation  of  the  sliares  of  banks,  State  and  National.  The 
assembly,  however,  acted  upon  but  Ave.  But  before  the  session 
was  two  days  gone  another  occasion  arose  to  again  convene  that 
body,  which  was  done  for  the  14th  inst.  This  was  the  aban<lon- 
nient  of  the  lUMiitentiary  by  the  lessees,  which  threw  ui)on  the 
hands  m  ihe  State  l,0.'i8  convicts  to  be  immediately  provided  for, 
led,  clothed  and  put  to  work. 

To  go  back  40  years,  the  first  step  taken  toward  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  peidtentiary  in  this  State  was  at  the  legislative 
session  in  lHL'U-27.  The  need  of  a  State's  prison  had  been  greatly 
felt  for  some  time.  The  jails  of  the  country  were  veiy  inferior, 
aud  the  breaking  of  them  by  the  more  energetic  and  despeiatu 


OOLESBY'a  ADMINISTRATION. 


925 


oflfiidci's  was  of  fV('(|ii('nt  (Krcun'MM!*'.  TIhi  Stiilo  wiis  poor  and 
oitpH'SNcd  l»y  tlic  l»r<»l\<'ii  ('iHTfiicv  of  tlic  I'Mrst  Stat(!  I>aiik.  Tlicici 
was,  lio\v«',V(!r,  at  tlui  time  a  jtrojcct  on  hand  for  the  Ic^iislatuit!  to 
in<'nioiializ('  (;on<,'r('HH  to  allow  tlic  Slate  toHcll  .'{(>,0()()  acifs  of  tlio 
Ohio  ami  I(>,0(M»  acn-s  of  the,  Vcrniilllon  Saliiu!  lands.  The  Saline 
iCMiMVcs,  which  had  been  granted  to  tlie.  Stale  in  liSlK  on  condi- 
tion that  they  \n'  never  sold,  had  become  nselesH  for  tin;  manufac- 
ture of  salt,  but  they  ictanled  the  s(!ttlement  of  tli(!  country. 
Conj^rcHH  readily  made  the  concession,  the  lands  were  sold,  and 
the  i»ro(;eeds,  according;'  to  i)revions  arranj^ciments,  were  (li\  ided 
belwiicn  the  eastern  and  western  sections  of  the  State — the  former 
ai)])lyin>;  its  share  toward  the  imi»rovement  (d"  llie  (ireat  Wabash, 
the  draining'  of  I'nr};atory  Swamp  opposite  \'incennes,  and  of  liic 
Cache  river  tlats  ;  the  latter  devoting  its  share  toward  the  l)nil(lin^ 
of  a  penitentiaiy.  (ioveinor  Kdwards  opi)osed  tlie  measure,  and 
fireat  enbrts  were  made  to  further  divide  the  fund  for  the  benelit 
of  local  river  improvenuints,  but  all  failed. 

Ex-dov.  iJond,  J)r.  Geisliam  .lant!  ami  W.  P.  M'Kee  were  ap- 
])ointed  the  lirst  penitentiary  eotnudssioners.  They  selected  the 
Kite  at  Alton,  for  which  ten  acres  of  jiroun'd  were  donated,  lie- 
sides  the  proceeds  of  the  Saline  land  .nales,  the  lej^islature,  in  18.51, 
ni»proi)riated  $10,000  toward  the  eom|)letion  of  the  penitentiiiry. 
The  tirst  buildiny.  which  was  a  neat  stone  structure,  eoidained  -4 
cvU.-^j  and  was  r.'idy  for  occupation  in  IHli'.i.  The  syntem  of  State 
l)rison  conlinement  in  Illinois  has  ever  been  (excejit  in  the  ease 
of  some  special  .sentences)  what  is  known  as  the  congregated  in 
contradistinction  of  the  dreadful  .solitary  plan,  in  vogue  in  renu- 
isyhania  and  elsewhere. 

The  criminal  code  had  been  adapted  the  preceding  legislative 
session  to  the  pejutentiary  system  by  abolishing  the  barbarous  i»un- 
ishment  of  whipping,  the  stocks  and  pillory,  and  substitutingcoji- 
finement  and  hard  labor.  A  close  ob.server  of  the  eftects  of  this 
change  (Gov.  Ford)  states  that  the  increase  of  crime  for  15  years 
following  greatly  exceeded  the  relidive  increase  of  the  population 
in  Illinois. 

For  the  first  5  years  the  State  conducted  the  prison  herself,  A 
warden  was  biennially  elected  by  the  legislature,  who  received  a 
salary  of  $000,  and  3  inspectors  were  also  elected,  whose  i)owera 
and  duties  were  much  the  same  as  those  of  our  present  i)einten- 
tiary  comnnssioners.  They  received  $2  a  day  each  for  the  time 
actually  employed,  not  to  exceed  $100  each  annually,  however. 
Whether  candidates  for  this  position  were  numerous  or  not  we  are 
unable  to  say. 

Under  the  law  of  1837  the  inspectors  were  authorized,  in  their 
discretion,  to  farm  out  the  convicts  and  give  a  bonus  of  $800 
annually  besides.  Accordingly,  on  the  10th  of  June,  1838,  the 
penitentiary,  then  containing  38  convicts,  passed  from  the  control 
of  the  State  into  the  liands  of  a  lessee,  Mr.  S.  A.  Buckmaster. 
Thence  forward  the  lease  system  was  continued  for  29  years — from 
1838  to  1867.  In  1842  it  was  leased  to  Isaac  Greathouse  and  k. 
Buckmaster,  but  without  a  bonus  from  or  expense  to  the  State. 
In  1845  it  was  re-leased  to  S.  A.  Buckmaster  for  a  term  of  8  years, 
the  bonus — $5,000  annually—now  coming  to  the  State;  besides 
which  he  agreed  to  feed,  bed  and  guard  the  prisoners,  pay  physi- 


920  lU^TOUY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

ciiiiis'  bills,  fof's  of  th(i  insjxMttors,  nnd  sjivetlic  State'  hannlcss  from 
all  cxpt'iisc.  The  Irjisi^  was  siibsiMjuciitly  extended  '>  years  on  tlio 
same  terms.  Under  the  lease  system  tiic  lessee  was  vested  with 
thei»owersof  a  warden. 

As  the  nun>l)er  of  eonvicts  increasi^l  additiolnil  eells  were  bnilt 
from  time  to  time,  and  oilier  buildinj^s,  sucdi  as  the  warden's  vesi- 
dence,  etc,  for  all  of  which  the  State  paid.  In  IS  17  there  were  *.)({ 
eells  anlliorizcd  to  be  eonstrnctted.  J>y  l.S.~)7  the  eells  nundiered 
-.")(),  and  the  (;onvi('ts,  averaj^inj;  two  to  a  cell,  far  ext;eed('<l  the 
capacity  of  the  institntion.  At  this  time  the  ]>enitentiary  was 
leased  to  8.  K.  Casey  for  it  years,  on  the  same  terms  as  the  iJiick- 
master  lease  of  1SI.">.  The  le};islalnre  at  the  same  session  pro- 
vided for  the  buildinjf  of  a  new  prison  with  1,000  cells,  which,  it 
was  thou};fIit,  wonld  be  ample  for  j^eni'vations  to  come;  bat  the 
limits  of  its  eapa(;ily  were  reached  in  less  than  7  years.  The  old 
l»rison  was  to  be  sold.  The  inspecttors  were  discontinned,  a 
snperintendent  provided,  and  3  commissioners  eharyed  with  the 
snpervision  of  the  new  strncture.  They  were  instructed  to  (;on- 
tract  with  the  lessee«and  employ  the  convict  labor  in  the  bnild- 
iny  of  it.  The  new  prison  was  located  at  Joliet  on  a  tract  of 
7-  lt)-100  acres  of  land.  Its  (construction  was  commenced  the  same 
year,  temporary  structures  for  the  workmen  beinj;  jnovided.  In 
May,  IS.jO,  i)risoners  were  forwarded  in  batches  of  40  or  50,  and 
in  . I  line,  18()0,  the  Alton  penitentiary  was  finally  abandoned.  An 
area  of  1(5  acres  is  at  i)resent  inclosed  within  the  main  walls  of  the 
Joliet  prison,  which  are  0  feet  thick  and  li.")  hi;^h.  The  prison 
proper  contains  !)00  congregate  cells,  100  separate,  and  100  tor 
females. 

In  1S63  a  6  year  lease  was  given  by  the  State  to  J.  M.  Pitman, 
Avho  was  to  keep,  provide  and  work  the  convicts,  and  save  iho 
State  harndess  and  free  of  all  expense.  Js"o  bonus  was  to  be  paid 
either  way.  Three  others,  Boyer,  liuck  and  Buckmaster,  each  a 
one  fourth  interest,  bought  in  under  Pitman.  Owing  to  disagiee- 
ineiit  between  them,  Buckmaster,  in  April,  ISOl,  bought  out  all 
his  partners  and  received  an  assignment  of  the  lease  to  himself, 
Pitman  surrendering  his  charge  as  warden  to  Gov.  Yates.  Buck- 
master  took  in  a  number  of  lyartners,  the  two  Mitchells,  Acres,  Job 
and  Judd,  he  retaining  a  one-third  interest. 

At  this  time,  400  cells  were  completed,  but  .500  in  the  west  wing 
still  remained  unttnished.  The  commissioners,  under  the  pressure 
for  room  (the  number  of  i>risoners  being  very  great  and  steadily  ou 
the  increase),  authorized  the  new  firm  to  finish  these  cells,  whicli, 
together  with  repairs  and  other  changes,  made  a  claim  against 
the  State  by  January,  18(57,  considerably  exceeding  $100,000. 

It  now  became  apparent  that  State  appropriations  beyond  a  lim- 
ited amount  of  a  few  thousand  dollars  could  no  longer  be  looked 
forward  to,  and  the  Arm  having  found  purchasers,  on  the  28th  of 
January,  1867,  in  consideration  of  $200,000,  transferred  the  stock, 
flxriires  and  lease  to  Messrs.  Burns  and  Hatch.  The  latter  ad- 
mitted to  the  partnership  tliree  others— -Bane,  Osburn  and  Dus- 
tin—and  sanguine  in  their  new  vocation,  the  firm  obtained  from 
the  legislature  an  extension,  or  rather  a  new  lease  for  8  years  from 
and  after  the  expiration  of  their  assigned  lease  iu  1869,  upon  the 
same  terms.    They  were  thus  the  lessees  till  1877. 


OGLESBY'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


927 


I'p  to  this  time,  owiii;^  to  the  Stntc's  cxpciKlitiinvs  lor  work  (lone, 
wlih'li  was  wt'U  paid  I'or,  as  piii»li(!  corpdratioiis  always  j»ay,  llio 
Icasiii};' of  tlic  coiivicl  labor  liad  proved  mor«'.  or  less  protitaUIti  to 
tlit^  lessees,  no! willistaiidin;;'  the  lii^ih  prices  of  i»ro\  isioiis  and 
elolhiiii;,  and  th(>  constaiilly  an;;iiientiii^'  niniilier  of  eon\  ids  diir- 
in;;-  tli(^  war  and  iiiiniediately  after,  laany  of  whom  were  physically 
disabled.  Hut  now,  with  the  speedy  completion  of  the  buildin.y, 
State  appropriations  tnust<'euse,  and  the  lessees  were  tlii'own  upon 
their  own  business  enteiprise  for  niannfa'tni'inii  eoiiliaets  and 
outside  jol>s.  Tliese  thin<;s  had  lieeu  for  a  lonj;'  time  of  secondary 
consideration.  The  pc^iiitentiary  work  had  eonse(pienily  suIicicmI 
in  character  and  it  (!ould  illy  *  onipete  in  price  with  oth(>r  like  man- 
ufactured articles. 

Tlie  new  lessees  in  a  short  time  ai>i)reluM!ded  the  situation,  init 
instead  of  attemptinj;' to  improve  the  management  of  the  concern, 
the  discipline  of  its  innuites  and  character  of  the  woik  lik(^  Imsi- 
ness  men  of  enerj^y  and  i)]uck,  they  were  apiialled  l)y  the  prospect. 
They  saw  nothin<r  but  utter  ruin  before  them,  as  they  alleged, 
and  tlirew  ui)on  the,  State  tlieir  threatening;'  losses.  They  notified 
the  <;'overnor  they  should  aban(h)n  the  institution  on  the  ."{Oth  day 
of  .lune,  18(17.  Jt  is  ever  thus  in  contracts  between  States  and 
individuals  ;  the  former  are  bound,  but  the  latter  w  ill  find  methods 
to  either  secure  pn)fits  to  themselves,  or  if  loss  tlireateiis,  to  cast 
it  upon  the  State. 

In  this  emei'^jency  the  governor,  as  we  stated  in  the  outset,  con- 
vened tlie  legislature  to  take  actionin  tlie  i»remises,  either  by  again 
leasing  tlie  penitentiary,  or  to  provide  for  the  State  taking  control 
of  it.  The  policy  of  State  control  had  been  mooted  befoie  upon 
liumanitarian  grounds.  It  was  ugred  as  the  duty  of  the  State  to 
retain  custody  Jind  control  of  its  convicts,  provide  them  employ- 
ment, look  after  their  welfare,  and  seek  to  reform  them  ;  and  that 
the  hiring  of  them  out  for  private  gain  was  unchristian  and  iu 
contlict  Avith  public  morals.  The  governor  advocated  uu 
abauiloninent  of  the  lease  system,  believing  that  the  pen- 
itentiary could  be  made  self-sustiiining.  A  committee  was 
a|)i)ointed  to  make  ii  thorough  investigation  of  the  conduct  and 
workings  of  the  prison  during  the  recess,  which  the  leigisluture 
took  until  the  25th  of  June,  ensuing.  At  this  time  it  was  deter- 
mined that  the  State  retain  control  of  the  penitentiary.  Three 
commissioners  were  provided  for  (to  be  then  appointed  but  made 
elective  at  the  next  regular  election),  a  warden,  chaplaiu,  physi- 
cian, matron,  &c.,  and  thus,  ou  the  1st  day  July,  1807,  the  peni- 
tentiary passed  agaui  into  tlw  control  of 'the  State,  the  tirst  time 
for  29  years.  At  this  time  000  cells  ami  the  warden's  reiiidence 
Avere  comi)leted ;  $175,000  had  been  expended  thereon,  the  orig- 
inal estimate  of  the  entire  cost  being  but  $550,000.  It  is  how- 
ever, a  superb  structure,  complete  iu  all  its  appointments  and 
fully  equal  to  any  iu  the  United  States.  The  convicts  numbered 
1,0()0.  It  proved  a  grievous  burden  to  the  State  at  tirst.  Large 
sums  of  money  weredenmmled  and  obtained.  Everything  was  to 
buy  almost — machinery,  stock  and  tools.  The  sum  of  $300,000  w  as 
appropriated.  In  1809,  $350,000  more  were  api)ropriated  to  de- 
fray its  expenses,  $50,000  going  to  pay  the  late  lessees  for  stock, 
machinery  &c.  Iu  1871  $175,000  more  were  required  to  i)ay  de- 
ficits. 


ij 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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928  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Tlie  choice  of  coiiiiiiit;sioiiersl)y  the  people,  reiul?niig  them  in- 
dependent of  executive  supervision,  did  rot  tend  to  promote  that 
harmony  and  unity  of  action  among  tliem  requisite  to  the  attain- 
ment of  success.  In  the  spring  of  18G9,  they  were  found  to  dif- 
fer widely  upon  imi)ortant  points  in  the  management  of  the  es- 
tablishment, and  in  1871  the  legislature  thoroughly  revised  the 
law  for  the  government  of  the  penitentiary.  Tlie  a])pointment 
of  commissioners  was  vested  in  the  governor  after  the  expiration 
of  the  terms  of  the  then  incumbents,  and  they  were  to  be  subject  to 
removal  by  him  at  his  discretion.  It  was  also  made  the  executive's 
duty  to  semi-annually  visit  the  penitentiary  and  examine  its  af- 
fairs thoroughly.  The  commissioners  were  empowei^ed  to  hire  out 
the  labor  of  the  convicts  on  sealed  bids,  a  special  or  semi  lease 
system  which  seems  to  be  the  secret  of  its  i)resent  success.  Since 
then  its  uiauagemeut  has  steadily  improved,  the  discipline  is  of 
the  highest  order,  and  nnder  the  last  year  of  Gov.  Palmer's  ad- 
ministration the  penitentiary  has  become  self-sustaining  and  in 
future  will  probably  yield  a  surplus. 


Chapter  LXVII. 
18G9-1873_ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERi^OR   PALMER. 

Bepublican  and  Democratic  State  Comentions-Ufe  and  Character 
0/  Governor  Palmer-Legislation,  the  Tax  Grabbing  Law,  Lake 
±ront  Bill,  Land  Companies,  dtc.—The  Constitution  of  1870— 
Tlie  Great  Chicago  Fire. 


Wheij,  m  18G7,  Geu.  Palmer  failed  to  obtain  the  Republican 
caucius  nouHuation  for  17.  S.  senator,  the  feeling  iirhif  S  be 
came  very  genera  to  reward  him  for  his  eminent  servi^ei  w  h  the 
governor.shii,,  and  he  was  thence  tacitly  looked  forwardio  as  tbe 
Republican  candidate  for  that  oflBce  in  1808.  But  the  object  of 
tins  high  distinction  was  far  from  seeking  it.  In  March  1865  he 
wro  e  that  the  invalid  condition  of  one  ot"  his  chddreTwoiild  cItJi 
pel  his  absence  from  the  State  during  the  ensuing  camjmirLm^a 
he  would  consequently  be  unable  to  do  his  full  sS  of  hibor  ?n 

the'  .ti™  Asnb^r  '""^T  ''"'  ^"  «^^«"^^1  hJomXe  itd  o? 
tion  buf  ihef  ?v     no  .r^  uow  sprang  up  for  the  exalted  posi- 

tion  out  the;y  had  no  desire  to  embarrass  Gen.  Palmer.  The  Hon 
R.  G.  IngersoU,  under  date  of  Chicago,  April  3d  asked  Mm  to 
state  explicitly  whether  he  was  a  candidatl  or  av^uW  ?Li  t  the 

teZTbe'a  ^^Tf  '^'  '^^^^"1^^'  "^  -™  norand do uot  in' 
Leuu  lo  ue  a  canuulate  lor  uovernor"    Tinf  iiio  ^ivj^„4-: .        i 

thought  by  some  of  the  RepuWTpress  might  bfovSne  S 
the  (Jarlmville  Free  Democrat,  his  former  home  organ  tZCht 
that  '4or  some  time  past  it  had  observed  strenZis  ettSs  madf  hi 
certain  quarers  to  compel  Gen.  Palmer  to  annourcrr«;TrfthLt 
ncn- "  ^.r?  ''''V^^  Republican  party  if  nominater/Cgover 
uoi ,  LhaL  the  party  had  not  asked  him  to  take  the  position -that 
while  he  was  not  thrusting  himself  forward,  it  spokrSCur 
ance,  he  would  not  decline  the  nomination  if  tendemi  h  m  bv  the 
Peona  convention  To  this  the  Illinois  State  ^o^mS^ied^ 
«  We  are  requested  to  state  that  this  is  not  the  nosiLn  wSh 

01  ills  menus ,  that  if  the  nomination  was  jjressed  upon  him  he 

:ssttb:;^r"  ''^  ^^^^•^^^^^'^  -  ^  -—  to"Su^; 

6th  ^'^rXiS'";^"  ^^^^^  convention  of  1868  met  at  Peoria,  May 
Pnn.iwi^t^-  ^'''^''''"  presided.  An  informal  ballot  to  select  I 
candidate  tor  governor  resulted:  For  John  M.  Palmer,  263  votes^ 
Robert  G.  IngersoU,  117;  S.  W.  Moulton,  82;  J. T.Dubois  42 


'  Chicago  Post. 


59 


930  HISTORY  OF  ILIINOIS. 

The  irii'iids  of  Ansou  S.  ^liller  ret'usiMl  to  submit  his  uaiiic  ii<;aiiist 
Geii.  I'jihuL'r.  After  a  spirited  debute  with  reference  to  Palmer's 
candidature,  Gen.  Kowett  from  Maeoui)in  telejjraidied  to  him  :  "It 
is  asserted  that  you  will  be  nominated  for  {iovernor.  Will  you 
accept?"  He  replied  pronii)tly,  "Do  not  permit  nie  to  be  nomi- 
nated. I  cannot  accept."  AVhereupon  he  was  immediately  nomi- 
nated ;  the  first  foiMual  ballot  being,  for  Pahner,  317;  Ingersoll, 
118;  Moulton,  oli;  Dubois,  17.  Previous  to  this,  however,  a  let- 
ter from  hiiu  to  Horace  White  had  been  read,  stating  that  if  nomi- 
nated he  would  be  governed  by  the  duty  of  the  hour.  P>ut  ibr 
Gen.  Palmer's  repeated  objections,  he  would  undoubtedly  have 
been  selected  by  acclamation.  Lie  more  than  came  witliin  the 
Jetfersonian  rule,  neither  to  seek  nor  refuse  ofrtce. 

The  remainder  of  the  ticket  was  made  up,  either  on  the  first  bal- 
lot, or  by  acclamation,  of  John  Dougherty  of  Union,  for  lieuten- 
ant-governor;  Edward  Run*mel  of  Peoria,  secretary  of  state; 
Charles  E.  Lijjpincott  of  Casa,  auditor ;  E.  N.  Bates  of  Marion, 
treasurer ;  Washington  Bushnell  of  LaSalle,  attorney-geneial ; 
and  for  penitentiary  commissioners,  after  some  delay  and  discus- 
sion, the  old  board,  Andrew  Sluiman  of  Cook,  Kobert  E.  Logan, 
of  Whiteside,  and  John  IJeid  of  Will,  were  re-nominated,  (leu. 
John  A.  Logan  was  nominated  for  congress  from  the  State  at 
large. 

Tiie  platform  reannounced  the  Republican  doctrine;  condemned 
the  poIi<?y  of  President  Johnson  ;  denounced  all  forms  of  re])udia- 
tion,  and  aflirmed  that  the  indebtedness  of  the  United  States 
should  be  paid  according  to  the  letter  and  spirit  of  the  law  under 
which  it  was  contracted ;  that  the  principal  of  the  debt  should  be 
a  heritage  o£  the  future ;  instructed  in  favor  of  U.  S.  Grant  as 
the  Republican  nominee  for  president  and  tlie  natural  successor 
of  Abraham  Lincoln ;  and  oddly  enough  declared  in  favor  of  "  the 
most  efficient  means  to  raise  the  moral  staiulard  of  the  people." 

The  Democratic  State  Convention  met  at  Springfield,  April  15, 
18G8.  Hon.  A.  L.  Thornton,  of  Shelby,  presided.  The  proceed- 
ings were  not  harmonious.  The  disturbing  question  was  that  of 
l)aying  the  national  debt  in  ''  greenbacks,"  as  i)roposed  by  Mr. 
Pendleton  of  Ohio.  The  committee  on  resolutions  brought  in 
majority  and  minority  reports,  the  former,  (which  was  adopted), 
made  by  eight,  favoring  payment  of  the  5-120  bonds,  the  vast  bulk 
of  the  national  debt,  in  legal  tender  notes,  but  where  the  faith  of 
the  government  was  pledged  to  pay  gold,  to  so  fulfill  the  obliga- 
tion ;  favored  the  abolition  of  the  national  bank  system ;  and  in- 
structed the  delegates  to  the  national  convention  to  vote  as  a  unit 
for  the  nomination  of  George  H.  Pendleton  as  a  candidate  for 
president.  The  minority  report,  made  by  five  members,  insisted 
upon  paying  the  5-20  bonds  in  "the  lawful  money  of  the  country," 
gold  ;  and  opposed  trammeling  our  delegates  to  the  national  con- 
vention by  instruction  in  favor  of  Pendleton.  For  a  candidate  for 
go\ernor,  the  names  of  S.  A.  Buckmaster  and  John  R.  Eden  were 
l)resente(l.  On  the  first  ballot,  when  it  was  found  that  Eden  was 
largely  in  the  lea<l,  the  name  of  Buckmaster  was  withdrawn  and 
Eden  was  nominated  by  acclamation.  The  remainder  of 
the  ticket  was  made  up  of  William  Van  Epps  of  Leo  for  lieuten- 
ant-governor j   Gustavus  Van  Hoorbecke  of   Clinton,  secretary 


PALMER'S  ADMINISTRATION.  031 

of  state;  Jesse  J.  Phillips  of  Moiitfjomery,  treasurer;  eTolin  E. 
Sliannou  of  Kaiulolpli,  auditor;  W.  W.  O'Jirien,  of  Peoria,  cou- 
gressinau  at  larj^c;  and  for  i)euitentiary  couimissiouers,  Joliu 
W.  (Joiuiett  of  Cook,  W.  W.  Garrord  of  Edgar,  Caluey  Zarley 
of  Will. 

The  canvass  of  1808  was  iiuatteuded  by  interestiuf;  events,  and 
the  election  in  November  resulted  in  favor  of  the  Kepublicans  by 
large  majorities,  that  for  governor  being  44,707. 

John  McAnley  Palmer  was  born  on  Itlagle  Creek,  Scott  county, 
Kentucky,  September  i;3th,  1817.  During  his  infancy  his  father, 
who  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  renmved  to  Christian 
county  in  Western  Kentucky,  where  lands  were  cheap.  Here  the 
future  governor  of  Illinois  spent  his  childhood  and  received  such 
meagre  schooling  as  the  new  a,nd  sparsely  settled  country  afforded, 
to  which  he  adcled  materially  b_v  diligent  reading,  for  Avhich  he 
evinced  an  early  aptitude.  The  father,  an  ardent  Jackson  man, 
was  also  noted  for  his  anti-slavery  sentiiuents,  which  he  thoroughly 
imi)ressed  upon  his  (diildren.  Jn  18;31  he  emigrated  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  Madison  county.  Here  the  labor  of  improving  a  farm 
Avas  pursued  for  about  two  years,  when  the  death  of  the  mother 
broke  up  the  family.  About  this  time  Alton  College  was  opened 
on  the  "  nuinual  labor  system,"  and  in  the  spring  of  1834  young 
Palmer  with  his  elder  brother,  Elihu,  afterward  a  minister  of  the 
gospel  and  noted  for  his  learning  and  eccentricities,  entered  this 
school  and  remained  18  nu)nths.  Next,  for  over  three  years,  he 
tried  variously  coopering,  p"ddiingand  school  teaching. 

During  the  summer  of  1838  lie  formed  the  acquaintance  of 
Douglas,  then  making  his  first  (;anvass  for  congress,  who,  young, 
elcxjuent  and  in  political  accord,  won  his  confidence,  fired  his  am- 
bition, and  fixed  his  puri)ose,  Tiie  following  winter,  while  teach- 
ing lu'ar  Canton,  he  began  to  devote  his  spare  time  to  a  desultory 
reading  of  law,  and  in  spring  entered  a  law  ofJice  at  Carlinville, 
making  his  home  at  his  brother  Elihu's,  stationed  at  that  place  in 
the  ministry.  On  the  next  meeting  of  the  Supreme  Court  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  Douglas,  who  took  a  lively  interest  in 
him,  being  one  of  his  examiners.  He  was  not  immediately 
successful  in  his  profession,  and  would  have  located  elsewhere 
than  Carlinville,  but  for  the  want  of  means.  Thus  his  early 
poverty  was  a  blessing  in  disguise,  for  to  it  he  now  attributes  the 
success  of  his  life.  From  1839  on,  while  he  diligently  pursued  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  he  was  more  or  less  involved  in  local 
l)olitics.  Jji  1843  he  became  i)robate  judge ;  in  1847  he  was 
elected  to  the  constitutional  convention,  where  he  took  a  leading 
part.  In  1852  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  at  the 
spt'cial  session  of  February,  18r)4,  true  to  the  anti-slavery  senti- 
ments bred  in  him,  took  a  firm  stand  in  opposition  to  the  repeal 
of  the  Missouri  compromise  on  two  sets  of  resolutions  then 
before  the  legislature ;  and  when  the  Nebraska  question  was  made 
a  i)arty  issue  he  refused  to  receive  a  lenominatior.  for  seiuitor  at 
tlie  iiands  of  the  Democracy,  issuing  a  circular  to  this  effect.  Still, 
as  if  hesitating  to  break  with  his  i)arty,  a  few  weeks  later  he  par- 
ticipated in  the  congressional  <toiiventi«ui  which  nominated  T.  L. 
Harris  against  llichard  Yates,  and  which  apjjroved  unqualifiedly 
the  principles  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  act.    liut  later  in  the  cam- 


932 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


))iii;;ii  lie  iiiixlc  the  pliiii/^c,  iind  niniiiii^  for  t)i(^  scniitf;  as  hii  aiiti- 
Nf'liiiiskii  (Iciiiocnit,  was  rlccrlrd.  TIk^  Jbllftwiiifi'  \\inf<'i'  lie  juit  in 
noiiiinatioii  lor  tlin  (United  Hiatrs  Kciiati^  Mr. 'rniinhiili,  and  was 
one  of  III*'  t\y('  slcadfasl,  uwu  who  voted  for  liini  nntil  all  Mk;  wliij^s 
canni  to  tlicir  .sn|»i)oi't.  In  JHrifJ  lie,  was  made;  cliaiiinan  ol"  tlio 
licpnldican  Static  (Jonvciition  at  I{lt»()iiiin;!ton.  In  IS."*!)  he,  was 
dclcatctl  lor  (!oii<rr('SK.  In  ISfJO  iu'.  was  a  rcpnblican  elector  for  tiio 
Stat«i  at  hwiii'.  In  18(51  he.  was  ai)|)ointed  one  of  the  Hvc;  dele;;ateH 
(all  repuhiicans)  s(Mit  by  Illinois  to  tlu^  j>ea(M',  eoiif^ress  at  VVash- 
inj^ton.  In  that  body  hi'  advoctated  the  call  of  a  national  conven- 
tion Ibr  an  adjustment  of  th(^  <!ountry's  dilliculties,  and  that 
proposition  failinj;,  he  favored  the  measures  of  compromise  finally 
n'commemled.* 

When  the  civil  e,onfli<!t  br()ke  out,  ho  ollered  his  services  to  his 
country  and  was  ekicted  colonel  of  the  llth  re;;imerit.  Of  the 
en^a<;ements  in  which  he  participated  may  Ik;  nx'ntioned  the  ea|»- 
tnre  of  Island  No.  10;  Karininj;ton,  wlnire  he.  skillfully  «'xtricate(l 
his  command  from  a  dan^^erous  position  ;  Htone  Jiiver,  wlnue  his 
division  for  seviual  hours,  on  tln^  .'{1st  of  Decc^mber,  held  the 
advance  and  stood  like  a  rock,  ami  tor  his  f;allantry  here  lie  was 
made  ."Major  (leneral  of  volunteers;  (!hi(;amau;4a,  where  his  and 
Van  Cleve's  divisioiis,  for  two  hours,  maintainecl  tlieir  position, 
when,  by  overpowerin},^  numbers,  they  were  cut  olf.  Umler  Slier- 
iinin  .Major  (leneral  Palmer  was  assigned  to  the  <'omnmnd  of  the 
14th  army  corjis,  and  pi>rti<;i])ated  in  tin;  Atlanta  campaign.  At 
I'each  Tree  Creek  his  j)ruden(!e  did  much  to  avert  disaster.  When 
(len.  Mcl'herson  fell,  and  (1(^1.  Howard,  a  Junior  olll<;er,  was  jtro- 
inoted  t()  thecomnnmd  of  the!  army  of  the  Tennessee,  bothGeniirals 
IJooker  and  Palmer  asked  to  be  relieved. 

In  February,  l-Sti"),  (len.  I'almer  was  assigned  to  the  military 
admmistratinn  of  Kentutrky.  1'his  was  a  deli(;ate  post.  Ken- 
tucky was  about  half  rebel  ami  half  union,  the;  latter  daily 
fretted  by  the  loss  <U'  their  slaves,  lie,  who  had  ))een  bred 
to  the  rules  of  the  common  law,  In^  has  said,  trembled  at  the  con- 
templation of  his  (ixtraord i nary  ])ower  over  th(^  ])ei'sons  and  ]n()- 
I>erty  of  his  fellowmen,  with  wliich  he  was  vest«:d  in  the  (;ai>a<Mty 
of  military  (Governor,  lint  it  is  not  our  ])rovinc(!  to  detail  his 
jwlministration  in  Kentucky.  Sutliciiit,  m)twithstaiMling  the  many 
objections  urged  against  him,  it  is  now  conceded  that  he  blemled 
a  conspicuous  r(!spect  for  municipal  law  consistent  with  liis  func- 
tions as  a  military  commander. 

The  business  of  Gov.  Palmer's  life  has  been  the  pursuit  of  the 
law.  Few  e.xcel  him  in  an  accurate  appreciation  of  tln^  dejyth  and 
scope  of  its  prin(;iples.  The  great  number  of  his  able  veto  nn-s- 
sages  abumlantly  testify  not  oidy  this  but  also  a  rare  capacity  to 
j)oint  them  out.  iie  is  a  logi(ral  and  cog«'nt  reasoner,  and  an  intei- 
esting,  forcible  and  (!()nvincing,  though  not  tluent  nor  ornate, 
S!]>eaker.  Without  brilliancy,  his  <lealings  are  rather  with  facts 
and  ideas,  wlii(;h  be  marshals  in  solid  phalanx  and  leads  to  invin- 
cible c,on(!lusioiis.  And  while  he  ever  betrays  the  hedgings  of  legal 
rules,  he  is  a  statesman  of  a  very  high  order.  IMiysically,  he  is 
above  the  medium  hight,  of  robust  Iranu',  ruddy  complexion  and 
sanguine-nervous  tempeiament.     >'ature  has  endowed  him  with  a 

'  THken  from  "Annuls  of  the  Army  of  the  Cuinbcrlunil,"  a  volume  of  biographical 
8kutcbM. 


PALMISU'S  ADOTNIKT RATION.  033 

lar<,'e  craniiil  (Icvclopinciit.  ITo  is  Kocial  in  <liK])o.siti()ii,  <^iisy  of 
iipproiidi,  iiii()st(uiCati()U.s  in  his  habits  of  lilo,  cohva'X  in  deport- 
nicnl,  (li^Mioci'iitic.  in  liis  nianncrs,  and  as  a  man  of  tlu^  ])i'o]>l<',  ho 
has  a  iar^^c  syinjiathy  tor  liis  chiss.  JIc  has  btM'ii  indiit'erent  to  tho 
a('(|iiisition  of'  wealth. 

On  the,  )ne<'tin{;  of  tlie  h^{,nslatnre,  in  Jannary,  18(J(>,  llio,  llrst 
thinjj;  toaricst  i>ui)Ii(;  atteiilion  was  tliati>ortion  of  (lov.  I'ahner's 
inaugural  inesKaife  whic-li  took  broad  State's  rij^hts  {ground.  In 
disenssinj;  the  ri^lits  of  railroa<ls,  their  oppressive.  <'liar},'es,  and 
tlie  leiiiedies,  lie  called  attention  to  the  pro[)osition  in  sonn^  qnar- 
leis  to  enlist  the  national  jjfovernnient  in  the  (creation  of  rail- 
I'oad  ('orporations  to  constiiiet  railways  in  this  and  otinT 
Stales  ami  oi)erat(!  them,  wliieh  he  deprecated  :  "Alr(!a(ly  the  an- 
thority  of  tin'-  State  is  in  a  measnre  j>aralyz(!<l  by  a  ^"-rowin^j:  con- 
vi(t1ion  that  all  their  jtowers  are  in  some  sense  deiivative  and  sub- 
ordinate, and  notorijfinal  and  indcj)endent;"  lie  asserted  that"  one 
of  (he  bestestablishe«l  and  most  distinctly  recofinized  fi)rinciples 
which  underlie  our  system  of  jjovernment,  wasj  that  the  federal 
^oveininent  is  one  of  ('numerated  powers;"  that  it  was  "  lhe<!l(!ar 
duty  of  the  national  {iovernment  U>  d(H!liiie  the  exercise  of  all 
doubtful  powers  wIkmi  the  neglect  to  <lo  so  woidd  brinji:  it  into 
fu'lds  of  le^'islation  already  oe(Mii)ied  by  the  Stat<'s;"  aiul  that  "a 
frecjueut  recurnMice  t<»  the  fundamental  piinciples  of  government 
[wasj  essential  to  civil  liberty." 

Such  old  democrati(;  docitrine  was  distasteful  to  many  republi- 
cans, who,  with  a  portion  of  their  press,  <ook  grouml  in  opposi- 
tion to  it.  The  (b'mocrats,  on  the  other  hand,  we're  heartily 
])l<'ased  with  it,  au<l  it  was  moved  by  them  in  the  hous(^  that  .'{">,- 
000  copies  of  the  message  be  printed,  which  i»ass(;d  with  consid- 
eial)l(^  reluctances  In  the  senate;  the  republie-ans  moved  to  cut 
down  this  number  to  2,000,  and  here  also  the  democrats  beetame 
the  cliami>ions  of  the  reiHiblican  governor  in  a  debate  which  fol- 
lowed, characterized  by  no  little  acrimony.  Indeed,  the  coieliality 
in  the  dominant  party,  between  the  legislative  and  <'xecutiv<;  de- 
]>aitmeuts,  was  for  si  time  thn'atened  with  interruption.  Finally 
the  senate  coiu'-urred  with  the  house,  only  to  reconsider  its  vote; 
after  the  lai)S('  of  near  two  weeks,  ami  the  intliction  of  many 
sjx'cehes,  the  re'solution  was  agreed  to. 

The  session  of  bStJO,  th«'.  last  uneler  the  tlexible  constitution  of 
IStS,  a  I'cvision  of  which  had  t!en  been  authorize'd  by  the  i)eople, 
was  moved  upon  l)y  the  monopolists,  the  lobbyists  and  the;  "rings" 
with  a,  thirst  for  advantages  and  spoils,  unprecedented  in  the  his- 
tory of  legislation  in  this  State.  Their  action  was  characterized 
by  an  audacity,  a  j)rodigality,  and  an  al)an(lon  m-ver  belbre  ex- 
hibited. Their  remarkable  success  in  ]S(J7  had  but  whetted  the 
apjx^tites  of  the  cormorants.  Notwithstanding  (lov.  I'alnier,in  his 
message,  characterized  speeiial  legislati()n  as  anti-republican  and 
dangerous  to  the  liberties  of  the  people,  saying:  "Many  of  the 
most  important  functions  of  government  are  now  (tlainuMl  and  ex- 
ercised by  incorporations  by  special  laws;  they  take  private  j»rop- 
erty  and  imixise  and  cdllect  taxes;  they  eonstru<:t  railroads  and 
canals,  and,  in  many  instances,  l)y  the  exercise  of  their  vast  pow- 
ers, control  tlie  <;ouise  of  trade,  and  distract  the  business  of  the 
whole  countiy" — iiotwithstaiidingtliis  warning,bills  to  theniimber 
of  L',l:78  w'lv,  introduced,  covering  every  conceivable  object  for 


934  HISTOllY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

c'orpoijite  ])uiiK)se8,  nearly  all  of  whidi  sought  some  adviuitaye 
over  tli(?  {^t'lierul  laws  ol"  tin*  State  or  tlie  people.  Tlie  then  leail- 
iiij;'  orj^aii  of  llie  (loiiiinaiit  )>ait>  was  eoiistraiiied  to  say  lliat  "  no 
l)re\  itnis  legislative  body  has  exhibited  such  unblushing  disregard 
of  all  the  re<pnrenients  ot  eoininon  deeeney  as  the  legislature  now 
in  session,'' — that  it  was  ''  reckless  beyond  preee(U'ni."* 

JJut  it  was  early  found  thrre  was  an  incumbent  of  the  exec^niive 
ollice  with  both  the  will  and  industry  tolook  intotheirlitllesclicines 
before,  they  became  laws,  and  with  the  courage  and  capacity  to 
expose  their  many  machinations.  l*erhai)s  this  exercised  some 
restraining  iiilluence.  In  obedience  to  his  determination  to  care- 
fully overhaul  every  bill  before  signing  it,  and  to  give  him  time  to 
do  so,  the  legislature  took  a  recess  from  JMarcli.Sih  to  Aprill  Ttli. 
Of  the  2,478  bills  introduced  nearly  1,700  were  passed,  an  im- 
mense mass  of  dry  legal  verbiage,  but  none  escaped  his  i)atient 
scrutiny — a  labor  and  investigation  never  before  bestowed  npt)n 
the  acts  of  a  legislature.  lie  sifted  from  the  mass  a  large  mnnber 
which  lie  deemed  inimical  to  the  constitution,  or  to  pui>lici)olicy, 
and  ut  great  pains  reduced  his  objections  to  writing,  in  terms  re- 
spectful and  indicating  the  ripe  jurist  and  forcible  reasoner.  lint 
Lis  vetoes  in  nearly  every  important  instance  were  overridden  by 
a  detennined  body,  unwilling  to  brook  what  they  were  i»leased  to 
charaeterze  an  arrogance  of  both  legislative  and  judicial  fuiu;tions 
by  the  executive.  The  veto  under  tlie  constitution  of  J.S-lSwas  of 
little  value  further  than  as  a  short  stay  of  proceedings  to  induce 
the  legislature  to  pause  and  reflect  ui)ou  their  action.  Its  free 
use  by  the  executive  was  not  without  an  interpretation  as  beiii?? 
only  a  greater  exhibition  of  insubcudination  to  partisan  require- 
inents,  after  his  first  avowal  of  State's  riglitsdoctrines.  With  a  short 
session  of  three  days,  the  veto  messages  were  disi>osed  of;  ajid 
after  voting  eacli  member  $40  in  addition  to  the  $300  i)reviousIy 
voted  to  each  for  roomrent,fuel  and  contingencies, over  and  above 
his  per  diem,  in  utter  violation  of  tlie  constitution,  the- general  a: 
sembly  of  18G9,  on  the  20th  of  April,  adjourjied  sine  die. 

Among  the  a(!ts  of  general  interest  passed  at  this  session,  was 
one  limiting  railioad  charges  for  passenger  travel  to  a  maximum 
rate  of  3  cents  per  mile.  The  governor  fulminated  his  veto  against 
it,  holding  that  when  a  charter  is  om;e  accepted  by  those  to  Mhoni 
it  is  made,  it  ''  in  all  essential  circumstances,  takes  upon  itself  the 
qualities  of  a  contract,  and  at  that  instant  passes  from  legislative 
and  becomes  subject  to  judicial  control.  Such  a  contract  upon 
Avell  settled  principles  of  constitutional  law,  cannot  be  impaired." 
It  was  passed  over  the  veto,  but  has  been  a  dead  letter  ever  since. 
If  law  grows  out  of  the  necessities  of  a  people,  then  it  is  high  time 
that  our  courts  overruled  tlie  Dartmouth  College  case,  or  revolu- 
tion will  do  it  for  then.i. 

What  is  known  as  the  "  tax  grabbing  law"  to  pay  railroad  sub- 
scriptions, passed  at  this  session,  is  such  a  reprehensible  specimen 
of  legislation  as  to  well  merit  consideration.  It  provided  that  all 
counties,  townships,  cities  or  towns  having  contracted  bonded 
debts  in  aid  of  the  construction  of  lailroads  through  any  of  them, 
were  entitled  to  register  such  bonds  with  the  State  Auditor,  where- 
upon it  became  the  duty  of  the  treasurer  to  set  apart  to  their 

"'^hlcayo  Tribune, 


palmer's  administration.  035 

credits,  to  be  M])i)lif<l  toward  tlio  ])ayin('iit  of  tlicir  railroiid  in- 
debtedness, animiilly,  tor  10  \ears.  (1)  all  the  taxes  for  any  purpose 
Aviiatsoever,  arisinj;  Ironi  t lie  properly  ol  a  railntad  so  aided  and 
situate  within  such  municipality;  {-)  so  much  of  the  8tate  tax  as 
miji'ht  be  collected  upon  an  iiu-reased  assessment  on  all  the  prop- 
erly of  any  such  municipality  over  and  above  the  year  1<S(>S,  ex- 
cepliuff  in  both  (;ases  the  -  mill  and  Stale  school  taxes.  It  was  a 
qu<'sii(»n  whether  this  was  an  appropriation  of  i)ublicnioMev,  which 
the  Supreme  Court  had  decided  lo  Ik^  within  the  province  of  the 
legislature  un<ler  the  power  to  appropriate  money,  or  whether  it 
Avus  violative  of  the  princii)le  of  ecjuality  of  taxati(»n  recoj::nized 
by  the  constitution.  The  jiovernor  took  the  latter  view,  and  in  a 
very  able  message  vetoed  the  bill ;  but  it  was  passed  over  his  veto. 
The  act  is  very  in{;eniously  drawn  with  reference  to  these  two 
views  and  by  its  terms,  really  only  diverts  the  taxes  paid  upon 
the  property  concerned,  the  same  a.s  other  property,  however  the 
proceeds  may  return  to  the  coiporation  or  nuinici])ality.  The  late 
S.  K.  (Jasey,  senator  from  Jefferson,  championed  it,  but  it  is  said 
to  have  btH'ii  framed  by  a  ^Ir.  Cassells.  It  was  desi<;ned  for  the 
benefit  of  Southern  Illinois,  which  had  fallen  behind  in  the  race 
of  railroad  developement,  and  met  with  violent  opi)ositi(>n  from  the 
north,  being'  denounced  as  wron{j  and  nnjust  by  every  prin- 
ciple of  law  and  honesty.  It  played  an  imiMutant  part  in  the 
cond)inations,  rings,  and  manouvering  generally,  during  that  re- 
maikable  session,  ami  became  a  law.  The  bomls  registei'cd  under 
the  act  amount  to  about  $l.'J,()0(),()(t(),  and  the  tax  annually  di- 
verted by  it  amounts  to  over  $00,()()0,  which  will  probably  be 
largely  i'crcased  under  the  revenue  act  of  1873.  This  Wius  not  the 
first  and  only  time  that  a  portion  of  the  State  tax  has  been  di- 
verted  for  the  benefit  of  the  localities  which  yield  it.  In  ]S()7  a 
law  of  that  kind  was  passed  for  the  benefit  of  Mound  City,  and' at 
this  session  another  to  relieve  Alexander  county  for  her  sui)port 
of  negro  paupers. 

LaJic  Front  Bill. — Chicago,  like  a  modern  Briareus,  besides  many 
private  measures,  now  grasped  for  four  jtarks;  i>arks  the  mu'th, 
south,  west  and  east  of  her;  the  three  first  named  to  be  connected 
by  a  grand  boulevard  or  avenue,  400  feet  wide.  These  .'i  parks 
were  to  end»race  hundreds  of  acres  of  land,  n\nch  of  which  would 
Lave  to  be  acquired  by  process  of  condemnation,  and  which,  un- 
less duly  guarded  by  just  and  proi)er  legislation,  was  liable  to  be 
converted  into  a  business  whereby  to  disi)ose  of  unsaleable  lands 
at  high  prices,  and  to  acquire  the  poor  man's  lot  without  due  com- 
l)ensation,  by  setting  off  benefits  against  damages. 

But  of  these  park  measures  what  wasknosvn  as  the  Lake  Front 
bill  was  by  far  the  most  important.  To  raise  a  Dark  fund  it  was 
proposed  to  confer  upon  the  city  council  of  Chica;'-o  power  to 
sell  all  the  right,  title,  and  interest  of  the  State  to  a  strip  of  canal 
land,  .'ilO  feet  wide,  lying  east  of  Michigan  avenue,  and  extending 
fnnn  l*ark  Kow  north  to  Monroe  street,  containing  82  acres,  land 
and  water;  to  confirm  the  Illinois  Central  railroad  in  its  riparian 
ownership  to,  and  further  for  the  State  to  make  a  grant  to  it  of 
the  submerged  lands  constituting  the  bed  of  Lake  Michigan,  east 
of  its  railroad  track,  extending  north  and  south  nearly  two  miles 
in  front  of  the  city,  and  covering  an  area  of  1,050  acres,  over 


D30  HISTORY  OP  ILLINOIS. 

which  the  iiavifjabh!  wiitiTs  of  the  hike  rolled  to  a  depth  o\'  i'roia 
10  to  1:5  feet.  Tliis,  of  itself  was  i('};iU(l<Ml  as  an  iin|)«aial  j;iaiit; 
but  it  was  I'uJther  proposed  that  llie  tStale  transfer  to  the  three 
railroad  coiupaiiies  (U'literiiij;  there,  her  li  bloeks  of  ;j;roiiiid  iioith 
of  INIoiiroe  street  and  east  «)f  Miehi^au  avenue,  iu  consideration 
of  .'j!cS()0,(K)(),  payable  to  the  cit.v  of  (.!iiica;;(),  for  park  puipost's,  iu 
four  equal  iiistalliuents — a  price  so  ridiculously  low  as  to  fall  short 
of  its  a(;tual  nuirket  value  by  $1,S(K),(M)().  And,  as  if  auti(M|)atiny: 
objections  from  Chicra^^o,  which  claimed  title  by  deilication,  it  was 
provided  that  if  the  city  couiu;il  did  iM>t  quit  claim  to  the  railroad 
coni|)anies  within  4  months,  Immu};'  prior  to  the  nuiturin^  of  the 
second  installment,  they  sluadd  be  released  from  further  i)ayment 
and  yet  hohl  the  property  by  fee  simi)le  title  from  the  Stale  for 
one-iourth  the  sum  oli'ered.  These  lauds,  excejit  the  bed  of  tiie 
hUve,  had  been  dedicated  for  i)ublic  use,  but  while  the  State  had 
parted  with  her  benelieial  proprietory  title,  they  were  still  rcfiarded 
us  subject  to  her  paramount  authority  and  mi;;ht  control  or  dis- 
pose of  them  as  would  best  promote  the  purposes  of  dedieatioM.* 

Tiie  bill  was  passed  contrary  to  the  wishes  of  a  lar};e  majority 
of  the  people  of  Chi<^  iji'o  and  her  rei)resentatives.  Tlie  governor 
vetoetl  it  on  account  of  the  inade<pnu!y  of  pri".e  to  be  i)ai(l  for  the 
3  blocks  of  ^rouiul ;  of  there  beinj;  no  limitatioii  lixed  for  the  «:om- 
iiieiieemetof  the  outside  harbor  imi)rovements;  of  the  State  having 
reserved  no  rif;ht  to  limit 'duiryes  for  the  lelief  of  comnier(!(>,  and 
because  the  i)roperty  was  not  to  be  sid»ject  to  taxation.  IJnr  it 
was  promi)tly  repassed  over  the  veto.  It  was  one  of  the  measures 
in  the  chaniied  circle  of  legislation,  ordained  to  becorie  a  la w.t 
Steps  under  the  law,  however,  have  been  arrested  by  injunction, 
issuiujf  from  the  U.  S.  Circuit  Court  at  Chica<;(). 

Of  tlie  Hood  of  local  and  private  acts  i)ernicious  iu  princii»le  and 
contrary  to  public  policy,  we  can  only  cite  a  few  from  the  many 
that  incurred  the  governor's  veto.  A  number  of  localities — 
Bloomingtou,  Joliet,  Canton,  Bond  county,  &c. — sought  franchises 
to  enable  theiu  to  employ  the  taxing  power  of  the  State  to  raise 
money  to  be  exi)emled  for  mere  private  si)eculative  or  fanciful 
ol)jects,  such  as  to  induce  railroad  compaines  to  locate  their  ma- 
chine shops  and  erect  depots;  to  start  private  manufacturing 
establislnnents;  build  hotels,  &c.,  all  sui)posed  to  be  of  general 
value  to  the  place  securing  them,  and  toward  which  those  nu)St 
deeply  interested  sought  to  compell  all  the  helpless,  voiceless  and 
reluctant,  to  contribute  alike  of  their  property. 

Then  there  were  acts  for  the  iucori)oratiou  of  land  companies 
(already  luunerous),  whose  sole  aim  was  to  create  huge  land  nujuop- 
olies,  esca[)ethe  embarrassments  attaching  to  personal  ownership; 
the  casualities  incident  to  trade  and  business  ;  distribution  after 
death  ;  aiul  keep  out  of  market  for  a  long  term  of  years,  with  the 
speculative  intent  of  enhancing  its  value,  property  needed  for 
homes  for  the  people,  which  in  the  hands  of  private  parties  would 
be  improved  and  rendered  more  valuable  to  the  State.J  A  nota- 
ble instance  was  the  "Illinois  Land  Company,"  which  owned  scmie 
1,200  acres  iu  East  St.  Louis,  sought  to  be  controlled  as  above,  for 

♦  Gov.  Palmer's  Message. 

t  There  is  a  not  a  very  secret  scandalous  lilstory  connected  wltli  the  passage  of  this 
measure  wliicti  we  do  not  care  to  revive  liere. 
:|:  Gov.  Palmer's  Message. 


PALMKK'S  ADMINIS'l'RATlON.  037 


a  period  of  L*.')  yt'ars.  lliit  the  most  |)r<'8Uin|)tnous  of  tlicso,  cor- 
])()niti()us,  iimler  ii  titl(!  at  tli<^  .saiiu^  time  the  most  sechielive,  not 
exeeptiii'>-  lliat  of  the  "  Illinois  lienevoh'iit  lioan  Companv"'  lor 
u  pawn  broker's  establishment,  was  that  of  the  "  Sonthern  lOmi- 
jjnint  Aid  .Soeiety,"  a  title,  as  the  <;ovei'm)r  said,  which  " sn;;';;»'st3 
ideas  of  weary  stninjiers,  feeble  and  ]»oor,  on  tiie  one  liand,  and  of 
benevolent  men  on  the  other,  ministerinp;  to  their  wants,  feedin}? 
the  huiijjjry  and  elothinfj;  the  naked;"  bnt  winch  really  establisheil 
otlices  in  about  30  counties  of  this  State,  (the  principle  one  at 
Cairo),  to  speculate  in  lands  tlnit  omi{;rants  would  be  likely  to 
need,  and  receive  their  money  and  other  valuables  on  depost,  buy 
and  sell  exchaufje,  and  by  means  of  a  captivatin;;  title,  win  their 
conlldence.  *  Not  one  i)rovi.v".)n  of  this  act  contemplated  the  aid 
or  relief  which  its  title  imported. 

An  imjiortant  event  of  this  session  was  the  ratification  of  the 
ir)th  aiiu'iulment  to  the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  givinj? 
Buflraye  to  tlie  blacks. 

Oiir  Keic  Connfitiition. — The  year  of  {jfraco,  1870,  will  be  distin- 
guished in  the  annals  of  Illinois  for  the  i»eaceful  revolution  of  her 
organic  law.  It  is  a  grand  feature  in  the  governments  composing 
this  (heat  Kepublic  that  they  frequently  undergo  most  radical 
and  inii)ortant  transfonnations  without  tunndt  or  outbreak  IVom 
the  populace,  showing  that  their  will  is  the  source  of  power.  The 
constitution  of  1848  had  tor  years  been  systennitically  violated  in 
its  plain  and  positive  ju-ovisions  by  nearly  every  dei)artment  of 
State.  Tlie  last  executive  under  it,  himself  records  that  "  The 
history  of  American  States  presented  no  exau  jle  of  a  governnu'iit 
more  defe(!tive  than  that  of  Illinois."  Ofticers  received  or  took 
compensation  for  their  services  under  authority  of  laws  known  to 
be  inconsistent  with  the  constitution  ;  and  what  was  designed  by 
its  framers  to  be  a  most  economical  go\ernment,  became,  iu  fact, 
extravagantly  expensive.  The  (ilear  limitation  upon  the  powers 
of  the  general  assend)ly  was  overborne,  and  legislation  was 
often  hasty,  imprudent  and  depraved  nntil  the  people  felt 
that  their  public  and  private  rights  were  unsafe;  that  the  ofticers 
charged  by  the  constitution  with  the  enactment,  the  interpreta- 
tion, and  the  enforcement  of  the  laws  were  alike  unworthy  of  their 
full  conlidence.  t  The  notorious  evasions  of  the  plain  requirements 
of  the  constitution,  and  the  ])ernicious  practices  thus  indulged, 
tended  to  sap  the  integrity  of  the  jjublic  service  generally,  while  it 
must  have  also  contributed  to  lessen  the  respect  if  it  did  not  beget 
the  contempt  of  the  people  for  all  law.  A  popular  reverence  for 
Jaw  is  the  most  essential  guaranty  for  the  stability  of  the  State,  the 
peace  and  good  order  of  society,  and  the  protection  to  life,  liberty 
and  lu'operty  of  of  the  citizen. 

It  was  therefore  high  time  to  erect  new  limitations  upon  the 
l)owers  of  the  several  departments,  instead  of  those  persistently 
disregarded,  and  viewed  as  obsolete.  Upon  the  qiestion  being 
submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  jieople,  at  the  election  of  November, 
1S(!8,  the  revision  of  the  old  constitution  was  by  them  ordered. 
The  succieeding  legislature  authorized  the  election  of  delegates, 

*  Gov.  Palmer's  Veto  Messaj^o. 
+  Palmer's  Message,  1871. 


9.1« 


HISTORY  OP  ILLINOIS. 


()i])))oi'ti()ii(Ml  to  tlio  districts  iiiid  (;()i'r('.s])()ii(liii;;  in  niiinhcr  to  the 
ic|»i('s('Mtiitiv«'s  in  tin-  lower  iionso  of  tlir  ^^ciicriil  asscnilily.)  wiio 
wcic  to  nn'ct  at  Sprinniirhl,  Dcccnilu'r  Vi,  l.S(51),  to  iiiti'j',  ri'vi.se, 
or  anii'iid  llie  constitntion.  Of  tiio  S'l  nu'inbcrs  ri-tnrncd,  14  wmv. 
hct  down  an  rcpnhlican  in  politics,  and  11  as  democrat ic.  i>ut  1.1 
Avere  cli'cted  on  inde|)endcnt  tieiu'ts,  ail  in  repnldican  districts,  of 
whom  S  were  democrats  and  7  re|»nl)liej  Thns  neitner  i)art.v 

had  a  majority  in  the  convention,  and  tim  "  iniU'pendents"  held 
the  balance  of  i»ower,  of  winch  they  made  the  most.  ItsnuMuhers 
Avere  (composed  of  learned  jnrists,  experi«'n<!ed  statesmen,  and  pro- 
fonnd  thinkers,  whose  work,  prepared  with  much  care,  has  been 
very  ;;('iierally  jn'ononnced  the  best  and  wisest  in  its  lindtations 
ancl  restrictions  tinit  the  union  affords.  Whether  time  will  api)rove 
this  hi;;h  encominn)  remains  to  be  seen.  We  can  alliidt^  to  only  a 
lew  of  the  i»rominent  features  wherein  it  dill'ers  from  the  old,  and 
which  are  re<;arded  as  salutory  reforms. 

The  chan;;e  from  the  fee  system  to  that  of  fixed  salaries,  fair 
and  amitle  in  their  amounts,  will  tend  more  ])erhaps  to  eradicate 
the  vice  of  evading'  the  law  and  eh'vatin^  the  standard  of 
the  public  servici!  than  anythinjjf  else.  The  .salary  system, 
in  the  0|»tion  of  county  boards,  may  also  be  extended  to  county 
otl'i'crs.  and  if  settlenu'Uts  with  these  are  properly  enforced, 
will  both  save  and  in<;rease  materially  the  revenue. — Special 
le<;islation  has  been  very  p;reatly  circumscribed,  anil  irrevocable, 
private  franchises  and  immunities  are  prohibited.  This  <loes 
away  with  a  most  fruitful  source  of  (;orruption  in  that  departnu'iit 
of  irovernment.  It  breaks,  in  a  measure,  legislative  riiiys  and 
<leRtroys  the  business  of  the  professional  lobbyist,  and  the  result  is 
the  halls  and  i-orridors  of  the  eapitol  and  hotels  are  tlironj;ed  no 
more  by  this  shrewd,  j^enial  and  ele<>antl3'  attired  class,  ever  on 
the  alert  and  ready  with  a  hint  to  this  member  and  a  whisper  to 
that,  and  an  adroit  sufjfiestion  to  another. — While  the  number  of 
members  of  the  j>eneral  assembly  has  been  about  double,  thestejis 
to  be  ]>ursued  in  the  ena<!tment  of  laws  are  retarded  and  hedj;ed 
by  wise  provisions  ;  the  former  i)ractiees  of  reading  bills  by  their 
titles  only,  and  their  passajje  by  the  bundle,  known  as  the  omnibus 
system,  are  i)revented  ;  ami  while  the  per  diem  .;ompensation  of 
members  is  allowed  to  be  raised,  being  now  $5,  the  rein-ehensible 
l)ractices  of  entering  into  speculative  contracts  or  "commutations" 
with  State  officials  or  others,  for  stationary,  fuel,  etc.,  voted  to 
themselves,  which  at  the  last  session  under  the  old  constitution 
axeraged  $500  for  each  member,  and  aggregated  $54,000,  besides 
their  pay  of  $2  a  day,  and  charges  for  committee  rooms,  often 
neither  occupied  Mor  perhaps  rented,  are  all  efl'ectually  squelched, 
ami  instead  members  are  allowed  but  $oO  each. — To  the  governor, 
w  ho  heretofore  as  part  of  the  law-making  jiower,  was  a  mere  ad- 
visory agent  and  for  want  of  power  destitute  of  inllueuce,  has 
been  given  a  qualified  veto  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the 
State,  with  good  results  so  far  as  exercised.  Prior  to  this  a  bare 
majoritj'  of  the  legislative  department  of  government  was  practi- 
cally the  sui)reme  i)ower  in  the  State. — One  of  the  grossest  wrongs 
to  individuals  heretofore  was  the  taking  of  private  property 
by  municipal  and  other  cori)orations  for  i\ublic  use,  as  it  was 
called,  without  compensation,  by  setting  off  fancied  benefits,  no 
matter  how  general  to  the  vicinity,  against  the  damages  of  the 


PALMER'S  ADMINIHTUATIOX.  039 


owner.  Tliis  cnniiot  now  be  doinj.  Ni-itluT  (um  a  niiijori^y  (ol'lou 
r«'in('s»'ntinj{  little  or  no  proixTt.v)  of  Jiny  niiniicipiility,  now  vot« 
to  lend  its  crcciit  or  impose  a  <lcl)t  upon  tlu'  jiropcrly  of  llu'  niin- 
orilv  lor  tin-  hciiclit  of  sonu^  corpoiatioii  or  iinproxciiH'iit. — TI'O 
H't'iicral  asscnildy  is  proliiliitcd  from  disciiarjiiii;;  an;  county,  city 
or  town  fr(»m  its  proportionat*'  siiarc  of  taxes,  tiic  (*oinmiitaM»»n  of 
Kiicli  tuxes,  oi-  tliedivertiny'  of  tliem  from  the  treasury,  as  n.  drr  liio 
rnilroiid  tiix  ^jralthinj^  law  of  l.S(il». — The  revenue  article  (tf  lie  old 
const  it  uti(»n  has  been  rcnden'd  more  clllcient,  and  with  late  lc;;is- 
hition  will  bear  nmre  evenly  upon  the  pntiterty  of  the  State.— The 
two  mile  tax  was  aliolished. — Minority  representation  in  the  le^-is- 
lalnre,  by  means  of  cuniidiiti\e  voting,  is  a  new  but  jtromisin^ 
fciiture  in  the  ori^anic  act,  ado[)ted  f<jr  the  lirst  time  by  any  State 
in  the  union. — Our  judiciary  system  has  been  rendeied  uniform, 
and  jireally  modilied,  whether  for  ;;<»od  re(piires  to  be;  iis(!ertained. 
To  county  courts,  as  supplemented  by  a  late  law,  Inive  been  yiven 
extended  civil  Jurisdiction,  and  they  are  authorized  to  try  ndnor 
criminal  cases  with  a  view  of  savinj>' to  counties  larye  expenibture.s 
for  boarding'  i)risoneis  while  awailin;;'  the  terms  of  the  circuit 
courts. — Ibit  the  pidvision  which  seeks  to  control  the  railroads  o*' 
the  Stii*^'-  [)rohibitiiiy  parallel  or  competinj;  lines  from  eonsoli<la- 
tion,  auv.  hicli  declares  all  railroads  [tublic  hijiliways,  re(|uirin}j 
the  j;('i!cral  assembly  to  establish  reasonable,  nuiximum  rates  o  ' 
char<;t's,  and  to  iirevent  unjust  dircriminations  and  extortions,  is 
one  which,  if  sustaincl  by  the  courts,  promises  to  be  one  of  the 
most  important  in  its  benelicial  residts  to  the  peoi)le,  as  it  is  one 
now  elicitinji'  the  ^-reatest  public  interest.  The  (picstion  whether 
a  ])ower  has  j;rown  up  in  the  State  greater  than  the  State  itself  is 
How  in  process  of  solution. 

The  Great  Chieiujo  Fire. — Chicago  was  first  laid  off  in  1<S3(>,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  liver  of  that  nanu;.  Prior  to  that  the  i)()int  was 
known  as  J^'ort  13Marl)orn,  built  by  the  government  in  1804.  By 
an  uni)recedente(i  growth  and  i)rosperity,  Chicago  had  by  1871 
attained  lo  a  city  of  ,'iO(),()00  souls.  As  the  ia<liating  centre  of 
more  than  a  dozen  trunk  lines  of  railroads,  leaching  far  into  tlie 
interior,  with  their  innumerable  bran(;hes  and  connections,  she  is 
enabled  to  grasp  with  iiriarian  hands,  as  it  were,  the  products  of 
a  vast  and  feitile  region  ;  possessed  of  an  extended  lake,  (!anal, 
and  river  commerce,  and  a  large  numufacturing  interest,  and  ani- 
mated by  enterprising  and  sagacious  capitalists,  eneigetic  mer- 
chants and  pushing  business  men  generally,  she  was  truly,  iH)t 
only  the  chief  city  of  Illinois,  but  the  emporium  of  the  great 
northwest— the  pride  of  her  State  and  the  wonder  of  the  civilized 
world.  While  she  had  miles  upon  miles  of  structures  of  tlie  nu)st 
combustible  nature,  being  wood,  her  large  l)usincss  centre  was 
built  up  of  brick,  stone  and  iron  Wocks,  massive  in  size  and  of 
raie  architectural  beauty;  her  palatial  residences,  profusely  s(!at- 
tered  through  nuiny  parts  of  the  city,  but  particularly  toward  the 
hike,  front,  were  the  admiration  of  every  visitor,  besides  her  many 
well  built,  superb,  and  costly  church  edifices  and  various  elegant 
l»nblic  institutions,  all  these  were  solid,  non-combustible  struc- 
tures, regarded  as  fire  proof.  But  in  the  great  conllagration, 
which,  like  death,  knew  no  distinction,  the  stately  block  and  most 
ornate  column,  as  well  as  the  lowliest  wooden  shanty  of  the  poor, 
found  a  commoii  leveler. 


940  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

It  was  on  the  night  of  October  8th  ami  9th,  1871,  that  the  ocoau 
of  tlauie  burst  upon  the  doomed  city.  For  eighteen  consecutive 
hou.s,  borne  by  a  parched  and  strong  soutliwesterly  gale,tlie  Firo 
Fiend,  gathering  strengtli  and  volume  as  he  marclied,  strode 
througli  the  fated  city.  The  tire  broke  out  in  a  poor  quarter  1^ 
miles  s(mth\vest  from  the  business  centre,  which  was  closely  built 
xi})  of  inferior  structures  that  kindled  like  tinder  and  bhizc<^  like 
a  bon  tire.  The  tiame,  fanned  by  the  gale,  was  so  intense  th  it  the 
lire  department  was  powerless  before  it.  At  midnight,  having 
devoured  oOO  buildings,  and  burnt  over  an  area  of  175  a(;res, 
reaching  the  southern  limits  of  the  burnt  district  of  the  tire  of  the 
night  proceeding,  which  was  of  no  inconsiderable  magnitude  ordi- 
narily, and  Avhich  it  was  exiiected  would  arrest  it,  the  licking 
column,  casting  a  shower  of  kindling  brands  far  in  advance,  easily 
leaped  the  south  branch  of  the  river,  lighting  where  several  blocks 
of  wooden  rookeries,  the  abodes  of  s(]ualor  and  vice,  aiibrdeil  it 
vivifying  food.  Sending  otf  liankii  g  columns  to  the  right  and 
left,  it  pursued  a  due  northeast  course  before  the  driving  wind  to- 
ward the  court  house,  the  large  stone,  brick  and  iron  structures  in 
its  way,  commoidy  called  Are-proof,  many  of  them  among  Chica- 
go's handsomest  blocks,  crumbling  and  melting  dowMi  by  its  su» 
l)er-heated  breath  as  completely,  if  not  so  speedily,  as  those  of 
wood.  All  hope  of  staying  its  progi-ess  was  now  abandoneil,  and 
the  eflbrts  suspended.  The  court  house,  from  whose  basement, 
(the  common  jail)  150  piisoners  were  released  to  save  their  lives, 
Avas  built  of  large  blocks  of  stone,  and  though  standing  isolated 
in  the  middle  of  a  scpmre,  succumbed,  its  great  bell  falling  from 
the  dome  n  i-li  a  Ivst  dying  i)eal.  At  this  time,  as  if  instinct  with 
a  deadly  strategy,  the  tiie  tlisabled  the  pumping  engines  a  mile 
in  advance  at  the  waterworks,  which  cut  off  the  supply  of  water. 
Buildings  now  would  suddenly  ignite  all  over,  and  the  danger  to 
human  life  became  exceedingly  great. 

The  left  flanking  column  of  flame,  gathering  volume  as  it  pro- 
ceeded, swept  all  that  part  of  the  city  in  the  angle  made  by  the 
south  branch  and  the  main  river.  The  right  also  gathering  head- 
way as  it  went,  took  a  detour  almost  due  east  from  the  south 
branch  toward  the  lake  and  northward,  making  a  wide  swath  and 
rioting  in  the  destruction  of  the  most  superb  hotels,  sjdendid  bus- 
iness blocks,  and  elegant  dwellings  in  the  city.  Ilere,  in  the  sonth 
di\ision,  the  fairest  and  most  ornate  portion  of  Chicago,  and  the 
great  centre  of  her  wealth  and  commerce,  -100  acres  were  swept  over 
by  the  terrible  flames  and  3,050  buildings  laid  in  ashes.  But  aside 
from  the  great  value  and  beautj'  of  this  i)ortion  of  the  city,  less 
than  one-third  in  territory,  or  the  number  of  houses,  was  as  yet 
swei>t  over,  or  cunsumed.  The  three  colums  of  tiame,  toward  noon 
on  the  Oth,  (Monday)  intensified  by  their  union,  now  vaulted  across 
the  river,  and,  nmrching  in  solid  phalanx  at  double-quick,  licked 
up  evei'ything  in  the  way;  the  ocean  of  flame  with  a  terrible 
crackling  roar  as  it  advanced,  in  a  few  hours  burnt  oYcr  an  area 
of  1,470  acres  of  the  2,533  in  the  north  division,  leaving  oidy  500 
buildings  standing  out  of  the  13,800  which  it  contained,  and  ren- 
dering homeless  75,000  people. 

As  a  spectacle  the  conflagration  was  at  the  same  time  the  sub- 
liniest  and  most  appalling — terrifying  to  the  weak  and  unnerv- 
ing the  strong.    The  roaring  flame  and  crackling  wood,  the  crash 


PALMEll'S  ADMINISTUATION.  941 

of  falling  buildings,  the  detoiiiitions  of  explosive  material  iu 
them,  and  the  maddened  Babel  of  human  voices,  all  intermingled, 
were  awful  ami  terrifie  in  the  last  degree. 

The  scenes  in  the  streets  of  the  burning  city  beggar  description. 
All  the  baser  attributes  of  the  human  heart  founil  manifestation. 
Fear,  precipitancy,  profanity,  insults,  obscenity,  rapacity,  theft, 
robbery,  arson  and  assassination,  all  wrought  to  the  highest  pitch, 
"with  intoxi<!ation,  and  amid  the  noise,  confusion  and  turmoil,  found 
Aeiit  and  ran  riot.  Great  crowds,  fascinated  by  a  mingknl  feeling 
of  horror  and  admiration  at  the  grandeur  of  the  terrible  s])ectacle, 
moved  witli  the  dazzling  columns  of  lire  as  it  proceeded.  Now  and 
then  the  crash  of  a  wall  near  at  hand,  the  report  of  explosive  oils, 
or  the  rumor  that  they  were  surrounded  by  the  lire,  or  that  a 
bridge  was  burnt  to  cut  off  their  retreat  Mould  scatter  them  iu 
pi'ecipitate  flight,  panic  stricken.  In  many  cases,  people  were 
driven  into  the  lake  for  refuge  against  the  scorching Hames.  Capi- 
talists, rushing  to  their  vaults  to  save  their  valuables,  were  over- 
l)owered  by  the  suffocating  heat,  and  never  seen  again ;  others, 
loaded  with  treasure,  were  stricken  down  by  assassins  and  robbed. 
The  speed  of  the  conflagration  and  its  great  heat  were  such  that 
it  was  impossible  to  save  nuich  property.  Besides,  owners  of  ve- 
hicles, taking  advantage  of  the  occasion,  charged  enormous  prices 
for  taking  loads  ;  $10  to  $50  was  common  and  $1,000  is  recorded. 
Stores  were  opened  and  the  crowds  invited  to  help  themselves  to 
goods,  as  they  must  all  go  at  any  rate,  while  others  were  entered 
by  ]u)rdes  of  pluiulerers  uiuisked  ;  and  goods  piled  up  in  the  stieets 
to  be  carted  away,  were  si'ized  aiul  freely  borne  off".  The  torch  of 
the  incendiary,  for  purposes  of  plundering,  was  added  to  the  gen- ' 
eral  conflagration.  Saloons  were  thrown  open,  and  under  a  free 
invitation,  their  contents  flowed  unchecked,  nuiddening  the  vicious 
and  stinuilating  to  ruftiaiiism.  Amidst  the  turmoil  of  the  cra{!k- 
ling  and  roaring  Are,  falling  walls,  dazed  animals  dashing  about, 
streets  gorged  by  i)assing  vehicles  and  crowds  of  people,  and  the 
shouting  and  uproar  of  men,  fanulies  became  separated,  children 
cried  for  parents,  wives  and  mothers  wailed  and  became  distracted 
and  husbands  and  fathers,  skurrying  hither  and  thither  in  vain 
searchings  for  the  lost  ones,  were  frantic  with  agony  and  desjjair. 
It  was  a  night  of  iinspeakable  horrors.  Many  incidents  of  tenants 
occupying  rooms  in  the  upper  stories  of  high  business  blocks  wrai)t 
in  flames,  suddenly  appearing  at  their  windows  begging  for  assis- 
tance from  the  frantic  crowd  below  and  some  of  whom  found  succor 
aiul  others  that  perished,  are  related  with  thrilling  effect  in  the 
papers  of  the  time. 

The  loss  of  human  life,  which  can  never  be  accurately  ascertained, 
has  beenes':imated  at  250.  During  the  first  two  weeks  following,  the 
remains  of  107  persons,  consisting  often  of  but  fragments,  or  so 
charred  thf,t  few  could  be  identified,  were  collected  by  the  coroner 
and  interred.  It  is  supjwsed  that  the  intensity  of  the  heat  iu 
many  cases  wholly  consumed  the  bodies,  leaving  no  vestige  be- 
hind. Thy  whole  area  burnt  over,  including  streets,  was  -',124 
acu'es;  number  of  buildings  destroyed,  17,500;  sidewalks  burnt, 
121  miles;  total  value  of  property  swallowed  up  by  the  devouring 
element,  $  195,000,000,  on  which  there  was  an  insurance  of  some 
$45,000,000,  leaving  a  net  loss  $150,000,000 — these  figures  being 
approximate.*  

*  See  History  of  Chicago  and  the  Great  ConHagratiou. 


I 


942 


H  [STORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


About  08,5(K)  people  were  bereft,  not  only  of  homes,  business, 
and  property,  but  even  shelter.  These  collected  at  points  on  the 
beach  of  the  lake,  in  the  old  cemetery  south  of  Lincoln  Park,  but 
mostly  on  the  bleak  prairie  back  of  the  city.  Many  were  blinded 
I'roin  snu)ke  and  blistered  with  lu'at.  Not  less  than  one  hundred 
women  were  thrown  into  prenmture  parturion  from  fri};htaiid  the 
excitement  caused  by  the  terrible  scene.  All,  the  sick  and  help- 
less, the  younjj  and  old,  the  vile  and  vicious,  the  beyfiar  and  mil- 
lionaire, were  here  promiscuously  huddled  toji;ether.  Without  snf- 
licient  clothiiifj'  in  the  chill  Octoi)er  rain,  whicii  set  in  durin<i'  the 
night  of  ^Monday;  destitute  of  food  since  Sunday,  and  all  more  or 
less,  exhausted  from  liunger,  the  sufierings  of  the  smitten  ones 
was  exceedingly  great. 

And  now  was  manifested  on  the  part  of  the  people  of  tliis  broad 
land  and  the  civilized  portions  of  Europe,  whither  the  slio(tk  had 
thrilled,  a  ncble  synii»athy  and  practical  benevolence,  attesting 
the  brotheihood  of  man.  First  the  people  for  hundreds  of  miles 
in  every  direction,  in  prompt  response  to  the  dick  of  the  telegraph 
(and  but  for  this  modern  handmaid  to  the  business  of  the  world, 
many  nnist  have  perished),  sent  in  hundreds  of  car  loads  ot  cooked 
food  and  provisions  of  all  kinds  an  1  raiment  of  every  descrii>tion, 
in  (piantities  more  than  sutlicient  to  )  lieve  the  wants  of  the  suf- 
ferers. JJureaus,  to  systennitically  d  libute  the  donations,  were 
organized.  Next,  and  almost  sinudtaneously,  followed  most  liberal 
contributions  of  nuniey  in  large  sums  by  lu'arly  all  our  great  and 
nuiny  stnall  cities  and  some  from  Europe,  aggi-egating  some 
$7.(H)(),000.  Governor  Palmer,  deeming  it  a  propei  occasion,  con- 
vened the  genefal  assembly  in  extraordinary  session  on  the  4tli 
day  after  the  tire,  and  that  body  donated  virtually  to  the  stricken 
city,  $2,955,340  from  the  treasury  of  the  State — finding  in  the 
great  emergency  a  way  to  evade  the  strict  provisions  of  the  new 
constitution  for  this  purpose  by  redeeming  the  camil  from  the  lien 
of  its  deepening  by  Chicago,  which,  though  a  valuable  improve- 
ment to  that  city,  is  dead  and  unyiehliug  capital  to  the  State;  but 
no  one  will  blame  the  legislature  for  this  benevolent  act  so  neces- 
sary umler  the  (!ircum;-,tances.  Six  i)er  ccntun^  bonds,  payable  in 
10  years,  were  to  be  issued  for  that  amount.  Not  less  than  one- 
fifth  nor  more  than  one-third  of  the  jiroceeds  were  to  be  used  in 
restoring  the  bridges  and  public  buildings  on  the  old  sites,  and 
the  residue  in  payment  of  the  bonded  debt  of  the  city,  and  to 
maintain  its  fue  and  police  departments. 

Immediately  succediug  the  tire,  stories  of  incendiarism  for  pur- 
poses of  plunder  became  rife;  that  theft,  robberies,  and  arson 
were  the  order  in  the  unburnt  portionsof  the  city,  and  that  hordes 
of  "roughs"  from  other  large  cities  were  on  the  point  of  invasion. 
The  ignorant,  desjierate  from  their  losses,  were  represented  as 
possessed  by  a  mania  for  further  destruction ;  others  in  great 
masseij.  together  with  the  police,  as  taking  the  law  into  their  own 
Laiuls,  shooting  down,  beating  to  death, or  hanging  to  lamp-])osts, 
numerous  alleged  olienders,  without  close  sciiitiny  as  to  their 
guilt  or  innocence.  These  stories  which  weic  utterly  untrue, 
gained  credence  in  the  city  at  the  time  and  a  considerable  panic 
prevailed.  Telegrams  disseminating  them  were  sent  broad  cast 
over  the  land,  and  the  flying  fugitives  from  the  city,  whose  exovlus 
by  the  IGth,  amounted  to  00,000,  impressed  witii  these  stories, 


palmer's  administration.  943 

s])reiul  reports  of  seeing  blackened  e,ori)se.s  of  robbers  and  incen- 
diaries banging  to  gibbets,  (ien.  Anson  Stager,  a  prominent  cit- 
izen, telegraphed  Gov.  Palmer  oi.  the  lOtli  that  gieat  <^)nHterna- 
tion  and  anxiety  existed  ()n  account  of  the  presence  of  •'roughs" 
and  thiew".  olundering  in  all  directions,  and  that  two  incendia- 
ries were  shot  the  night  preceding  while  in  the  act  of  tiring  build- 
ings. 

Under  the  ai)prehensions  ju'evailing,  the  police  force  was  largely 
increased,  1,500  being  sworn  in  on  the  west  side,  and  oOO  on  the 
south.  Indeed,  on  Monday  morning,  j\[aJor  Alstruf  had  tendered 
the  services  of  a  battalion  of  three  militia  comi)anies  to  the  su- 
perintendent and  were  accepted.  G(tv.  Palmer,  in  answer  toGeii. 
Stager's  dispatch,  proliered  a  military  force  to  the  city,  to  preserve 
property  and  enforce  order,  which,  in  the  reply  by  telegraph,  was 
immediately  requested  by  the  mayor,  to  be  sent  by  special  train, 
and  later  on  the  same  day,  1,000  muskets  and  amunition  was  also 
asked.  Adjutant  Gen.  11.  Dilger,  at  once,  by  telegraph, ordered  to 
Chiea^'O,  the  ''liloomingtou  National  Guards,"  "Champaign 
Cadets,"  "Sterling  City  Guards,"  Itock  Fall  Zouaves,"  "Rock 
Island  Light  Artillery"  with  four  pieces;  and  under  his  imiuediate 
charge,  the  "Springtield  Zouiives,"  "O'Mara  Guards,"  and  Capt. 
Donigan's  colored  company,  liOO  men,  the  latter  arriving  there 
early  the  next  day,  the  lltli,  and  before  evening  the  other  militia 
companies  also  arrived,  nuiking  a  military  force  of  510  men,  well 
armed  and  equiped  to  protect  the  property,  maintain  order,  and 
enforce  the  laws  in  the  city.  l>ut  Gen.  Dilger  now  found  the  wild 
rumors  of  lawlessness  to  have  been  greatly  exaggerated,  and  the 
mayor,  professing  no  knowledge  of  the  dispatches  calling  for 
State  troops  and,  at  the  time,  conliding  In  the  strong  arm  of  the 
military  power  of  the  U.  S.,  was  ready  to  issue  his  proclamation 
entrusting  the  peace  of  the  city  to  Lieut.  Gen,  Phil.  II.  Sheridan, 
of  the  U.  S.  army,  who  was  stationed  there.  The  State  authority 
being  thus  superceded  by  that  of  the  U.  S.,  Gen.  Dilger,  with  a 
portion  of  his  force,  after  some  three  days  time,  returned.  Some 
of  the  police  authorities,  jealous  of  the  military  occupation  thus 
assumed,  protested  against  it  for  the  reason  that  policemen  were 
acqainted  with  the  people  and  possessed  large  discretionary  pow- 
ers in  the  arrest  of  i)arties,  the  prevention  of  breaches  of  the 
peace,  and  the  commission  of  crimes;  whil«  a  soldier  was  the  rig- 
id instrument  of  orders,  regardless  of  consequences.  The  city, 
however,  was  surrendered  to  the  military,  U.  S.  regulars  being 
ordered  thither  from  Omaha,  Forts  Leavenworth  and  S(!ott,  and 
from  Louisville.  The  police  were  ordered  to  act  in  conjunction 
with  the  military,  good  order  was  maintained  throughout,  and, 
what  .was  perhaps  of  more  iuqjortauce  than  all  else,  confidence 
was  restored. 

At  the  time  that  the  citj-  wa^  thus  turned  over  to  military 
rule.  Gen.  Sheridan  directed  a  ^'.itizen  of  Chicago,  Gen.  Fraidc  T. 
Sherman,  to  enlist  and  organize  a  regiment  of  infantry  for  20 
days,  to  serve  as  guards  in  protecting  the  ])roperty  of  the  city. 
They  swore  allegiance  to  the  U.  S.  and  obedience  to  the  officers  ai>- 
pointed  over  them;  they  were  to  arrest  all  citizens  who,  in  their 
judgment,  might  be  suspicious  persons,  and  fire  upon,  wound  or 
kill  any  one  refusing  to  obey  their  commands  to  halt,  after  a  cer- 
tain hour  iu  the  uight.    I",  the  regiment  was  a  comijauy  of  cadets 


944  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

— students  from  the  University  of  Chicago,  mostly  yoiuifj  and 
non-residents.  To  this  regiment,  asserted  by  liigh  authority  to 
have  been  illegally  called  into  being.  Gen.  Thomas  W.  Gros- 
venor,  a  citizen  of  Chicago,  who  had  earned  his  title  by  mereto- 
rious  conduct  in  the  late  war  and  was  maimed  for  life,  became  a 
martyr.  About  13  o'clock  in  the  night  of  the  20th  of  October, 
while  quietly  proceeding  to  his  home,  he  was  ordered  bj'  a  young 
cadtt  to  halt  »'id  give  the  countersign  or  pass-word,  and,  disre- 
garding the  order,  was  deliberately  shot  down,  expiring  in  a  few 
hours  after. 

The  Governor,  who  it  seems  was  not  adv^ed  until  about  the 
17th  of  the  full  extent  of  the  military  occupation  of  Chicago,  which 
he  deemed  a  violation  of  law,  both  State  and  national,  had  in  the 
meantime,  written  a  letter  to  the  mayor,  coached  in  no  anibiguous 
terms,  vigorously  protesting  against  that  functionary's  virtual  ab- 
dication of  his  office  aiul  turning  the  city  over  to  the  military 
control  of  the  U.  S.  soldiery,  asserting  the  adequacy  of  the  State 
to  furnish  all  needed  protection  to  the  smitten  city.  The  mayor, 
stung  by  the  lecturing  epistle,  rei)lied  that  when  the  lives  and 
property  of  the  people,  the  peace  and  good  order  of  a  large  city, 
were  in  danger,  it  was  not  the  time  to  stop  and  consider  ques- 
tions of  i)olicy.  But  the  killing  of  Grosvenor  was  a  circumstance 
to  awaken  reflection  upon  the  anmalous  posture  of  affairs,  and  2 
days  after,  at  the  request  of  the  mayor,  the  occupation  was  discon- 
tinued. 

His  excellency,  however,  did  not  allow  the  matter  to  drop  here. 
He  wrote  and  urged  the  State's  Attorney  of  Cook  county  to  bring 
the  murderer  of  Grosvenor  before  the  grand  jury,  and  to  advise 
that  body  to  include  in  the  indictments,  besides  the  party  doing 
the  act,  11.  B.  Mason,  the  mayor.  Lieutenant  General  Sheridan, 
and  Frank  T.  Sherman,  colonel  of  the  20  day  regiment,  as  being 
equally  guilty.  A  sharp  and  not  very  elegant  correspondence 
followed,  and  the  matter  getting  into  the  public  press,  much  criti- 
cism was  evoked.  Later  General  Sheridan  was  again  appealed  to 
by  prominent  citizens,  to  cause  4  companies  of  U.  S.  soldiers  to  be 
stationed  at  Chicago  for  the  protection  of  the  immense  amount 
of  stores  in  charge  of  the  lielief  fund  and  Aid  Society,  and  upou 
his  request  at  Washihgton  they  were  granted.  This  still  further 
intensified  the  nuitter,  and  the  governor,  in  a  letter  to  President 
Grant,  protested  againstthis  step,  asserting  the  abundant  ability 
of  the  Stat©  to  protect  every  interest  of  the  people  dependant 
upon  its  internal  i)eace  and  good  order.  The  letter  was  referred 
to  Gen.  Sheridan  with  instructions  to  rescind  all  orders  in  conflict 
with  the  laws  or  consti*^^ution  of  this  ►State.  P-'otesting  now  against 
an  officer  of  the  army  pissing  upon  a  matter  so  grave  and  lmi)or- 
tant.  Gov.  Palmer  broaght  the  whole  subject  before  the  legisla- 
ture and  that  body,  after  a  thorough  investigation  by  a  commit- 
tee, who  brought  in  majority  and  minority  reports,  on  the  25th  of 
January,  1872,  sustained  the  former,  declaring  "as  unlawful,  and 
an  infraction  of  the  constitution,  both  of  this  State  and  the  ^T.  S., 
the  so-called  military  occupation  of  Chicago ;"  but  the  federal  au- 
thorities were  exonerated  from  intent  to  wilfully  trespass  upon 
the  constitutional  rights  of  this  State,  or  to  interfere  with  its 
properly  constituted  authorities  during  the  emergency  of  the 
great  fire. 


I 


